They spent the next few minutes walking through the aisles together. As they did, Octavia chatted merrily and about almost anything that seemed to come to mind. She was extremely pleasant and kind, loved the sound of her own voice, and was the type who seemed to exist to make others feel better about themselves.
Even if they didn’t find anything, Thalia was already feeling better about her situation, such was the librarian’s effect on her mood.
“Wait here,” Octavia said suddenly, her eyes widening as if from a sudden idea.
“Oh? How come?”
“I just remembered something!” Octavia clapped her hands excitedly. “A book was returned just yesterday, and I think it will be exactly what you need.” She giggled and then started down the aisles. “I will be right back!”
While she waited, Thalia strolled lazily down the aisle, her eyes scanning the various books, looking for nothing in particular. And that was when she heard someone speak her name.
“Thalia…” The voice came to her in a whisper. “Thalia… over here…”
Thalia started and spun about, gasping in surprise when she saw none other than Seraphine hurrying toward her. She stayed low as she did, and kept one hand up to cover the side of her face.
“Seraphine?” Thalia frowned as she watched her best friend’s little sister come for her. “What are you –”
“I can’t stay long.” She came to a stop before Thalia, but remained hunched over, her face still half-hidden by the side of her hand, her voice a low whisper. “I am here with my father,” she explained quickly. “Truly, I was not even sure it was you who I saw.”
“Your father…” Thalia perked up and glanced about as if trying to find him.
“Don’t!” Seraphine snatched her hand and pulled her down. “Do not let him see you.”
Thalia rolled her eyes. “It is quire fine, Seraphine. I am perfectly capable of dealing with your father.” She snorted softly. “He is the one who should be worried about running into me.”
“No, Thalia…” Seraphine’s eyes widened and for the first time, Thalia saw the fear in them. Worse than that, she noticed how the young woman was trembling. “Father is not to be taken lightly. He is… he is dangerous.”
“Seraphine…” Thalia felt a chill ripple down her spine. “What are you saying?”
She glanced around, double checking they were alone, and then her voice dropped even further. “I have never seen him like this. He has a temper, but this is…” She winced. “He is furious with you, Thalia. Truly, he has lost his mind, from the way he talks and what he says.”
“What does he say?”
“He blames you for what happened with Rosaline. And for some reason, he seems to think that… that… that…” She was stammering, unable to control the panic in her voice.
“Seraphine.” Thalia took her hand and squeezed it as she met the young girl’s eyes. “Tell me what he said.”
Seraphine swallowed her panic. “He wants revenge. He did not say it as that, but I know that is what he seeks. He is obsessed with you, Thalia. Always asking questions. Always prying about you and His Grace. I do not know what he means to do, but I know that he will not be happy until you and His Grace are –”
“This looks friendly.” From the shadows, Octavia appeared suddenly.
“Oh!” Seraphine jumped in the air as she cried out.
“I am sorry,” Octavia hurried. “I did not mean to –"
“I should go.” Seraphine pulled her arm free and spun about in panic. “Please, Thalia, be careful. My father has lost his mind,and I fear what he will do.” She ducked her head and rushed down the aisle, vanishing do quickly that Thalia wondered for a moment if she had imagined the whole thing.
“Well, that was rather strange,” Octavia said as she looked to where Seraphine had just disappeared. “A friend of yours?”
“Something like that…”
Thalia watched after Seraphine, caught between concern for her best friend’s sister, and fear for what she had just been told.
But what did she even say? That her father hates me? That he wants revenge against me? Is that really as big of a revelation as Seraphine thinks it is?
In many ways, it was not anything new. Thalia knew Lord Donmere hated her, and she knew from Rosaline how petty the man could be. While Thalia wished to dismiss Seraphine as worrying for no good reason, she could not dismiss the poor girl’s warning entirely. She had appeared terrified, and that was worth being concerned about.
“Sad news,” Octavia sighed. “I could not find the book. Someone else must have borrowed it.”
