Ariel’s mouth fell open. “For fake murdering him?”
“For standing up for myself,” Stella said. “For fighting for what I want.”
Ariel leaned her arms on the high desktop.
Stella continued, “It dawned on me how long it’s been since I’ve stood up for myself and been firm about what I want. I know this is a lousy comparison because I was literally fighting for my life tonight, but before all of this”—she waved her hand through the air to mimic a windstorm—“I’ve done next to nothing to assert my needs or pay attention to what I truly want. But that’s all going to change. I’malreadychanging.”
The most recent purple words popped back into her mind. She opened the drawer in the circulation desk where she kept her purse and notebook and pulled out the latter. She flipped to the page where she’d been cataloging the violet words. She added the newest ones. Now the collected words read:I fell in love once. Did I ever tell you that? He was excruciatingly handsome and no ordinary man, but one built from paper and rich black ink.
She handed the journal to Ariel.
Ariel read slowly. “Definitely sounds like a story.”
“I know,” Stella admitted. “I’ve written so many stories, never finished anything, and words have been showing up for years, but never this way. Never with such intensity. The more I think about the last few days, the more I know it’s all connected. Maybe this is the beginning of my first novel.”
Percy walked toward them, but he kept an eye on Jack as he swept up what remained of Hook. Stella’s chest tightened, and she whispered so only Ariel could hear. “Even Jack’s appearance is part of what’s happening to me. He can see the words,mywords, and no one else can.”
“That has to mean something,” Ariel agreed. “Have you had any more thoughts about how we can make his stay permanent?”
Stella shook her head. “I’m asking Arnie as soon as I can.”
Ariel glanced at how close Percy was to them and quickly added, “Careful with Percy. He’s giving off a superintense vibe.”
“Meaning?” Stella asked, making eye contact with her brother.
“He’s as mad as a hornet.”
“Fantastic,” she said dryly. “Let’s lock up and turn off the lights. Percy, I’ll be right back.”
“I expect a full explanation,” he said.
“I expect you’ll need a stiff drink afterward,” Stella said as she walked off. Any expectations she had for getting to bed soon and resting before the festival tomorrow were becoming less and less reachable.
Chapter 19
“This needs to be stopped immediately,” Percy demanded in the library foyer. His face had become blotchier and more scrunched as the minutes of explanation continued. Now Stella feared he might self-combust.
“We have it under control,” she said, which wasn’t a complete lie. With Hook no longer lurking and plotting doom, the remaining library inhabitants were harmless.
“This is under control?” Percy barked. “A dead, not-dead pirate tried to murder you with a sword tonight. Look at your arm! You’re in way over your head. We need to tell Arnie.”
“No way!” Stella argued, raising her voice for the first time that evening. “He’s recovering from a heart attack. We’re absolutely, 100 percentnottelling him anything. Do you want to send him into A-fib?”
“Then send all the characters back now,” Percy said. “Including Jack.”
Stella inhaled sharply. Jack moved in her periphery, and Ariel’s body tensed beside her. “Why would we do that?”
“Because this has gone too far, Stella,” Percy said. “This whole paranormal thing you’ve got going on here has to stop. You don’t need to be involved in something so dangerous. Tonight is a prime example. You can’t handle this. What gives you the right to bring fictional characters to life?” He pointed straight-armed at Jack. “Who’s next? Genghis Khan?”
“Don’t be absurd, Percy,” Stella said, laughing. “We’d never do that, and you can’t bring out nonfiction people anyway.”
“This isn’t funny!” His voice pinched like that of a child on the verge of a tantrum. “This is too much power for you. Or for anyone. I can’t believe Arnie has been doing this all these years. It’s irresponsible and unsafe. Why would he let you, of all people, bring out a murderous pirate?”
“Well, to be fair, he didn’t,” Stella admitted. “I didn’t think any of this was real, but”—she laughed uncomfortably—“surprise! It’s all legit. Arnie would have advised against Captain Hook if he’d been here.”
“So even you admit you don’t have enough responsibility or the intelligence to have this kind of authority,” Percy said. “Send everyone back now. Right now, Stella.”
Stella stared at her brother. She didn’t have the intelligence? Did he realize how offensive that sounded? He’d always been the supportive older brother, the responsible sibling looking out for her best interests. But now she saw him as someone who didn’t even know who she was anymore. That was clear by his persistent urgings to sell their home and his recent insistence on her taking an accounting jobin Miami. It was no secret she wasn’t excelling at life in Blue Sky Valley, but half a dozen changes had already happened in less than a week. Her life was starting to resemble something exciting and adventurous. Working in the library had taken on new meaning and importance for her.
