“I’m going to look for another book,” I decided, pushing myself up from the desk.
Raena grunted. “Why? All the information about the nobility is here.”
“I’m not giving up just yet. There has to be something else that can help.”
Raena gestured vaguely at some distant bookshelves against the back wall. “I know there are some books about the different families down there. You might find something useful.”
I nodded and made my way over, leaving my companion tosulk at the desk.
The air in the far corner of the library was much cooler than where we had been sitting. There were also fewer candles, which made it difficult to read the thin gold writing of the book titles. I ran my fingers down the spine of each book, trying my best to make sense of the titles, but I found myself pausing when my hand brushed against a book that seemed different to the others. The cover was lavender, just like the spires of my parents’ palace, and there was something unusual about the texture.
I drew closer. Oddly, there was no writing on the spine, and when I went to pull the book from the shelf, it wouldn’t budge. No matter how hard I tugged, there was no movement at all.
Frustrated, I brought up both hands, jammed my fingers against the book cover, and used all my strength to heave. Finally, the book shifted as a loud click sounded through the walls. I almost yelped as the bookshelf swung towards me, but instead of crashing to the floor, it swung to the side to reveal a dimly lit passageway.
“It’s not polite to poke your nose in places you don’t belong, Princess.”
My whole body flinched as I whipped around. A few feet away, a hooded woman was leaning against a bookshelf, quietly observing me. She stepped closer, her face gradually being illuminated by the candlelight until, when she was just a few steps away, I could finally make out her features properly. It didn’t take me long to recognise that familiar pinched nose and thin mouth.
“Seraphina?” I breathed. “You’re that healer, from the King’s chambers?”
She dipped her head for a moment. “That is I. And you are Naria… Princess Naria from that little village in the woods. Soon to be Queen of Drothmore, I hear.”
“Not if I can help it.”
“Oh?” A smile crept up the side of her mouth. “You don’t want to marry the prince? With his current reputation, I can’t say I blame you.” She laughed quietly before raising an eyebrow. “Although that doesn’t explain why you were about to enter the forbidden library.”
“Forbidden library?” I blurted out, then shook my head. “It was an accident,” I admitted, brushing a stray curl away from my face. “Lukas isn’t interested in helping with my… predicament. So, I came here with a friend to try and find someone else who could. I was looking through these books because I thought there might be information about any powerful families who were allied with my kingdom. And then… Well, then I found this door.” I looked back at the open passageway. It was so dark inside, and the air pouring out felt strange and ominously heavy.
“How intriguing,” Seraphina mused. “I wonder, Naria, do you know anything about the Dark Kingdoms?”
The Dark Kingdoms?
“The what?” I blinked at her, my confusion only widening Seraphina’s smile.
“The three kingdoms that house the faeries, the merfolk, and the goblins,” she explained, leaning closer and dropping her voice to a whisper.
“Oh.” I paused. We’d studied magical beings during our lessons in the village, but only very briefly. We were taught that you’d have to venture far into the mountains beyond Drothmore to find goblins, while merfolk could sometimes be spotted diving in and out of the waves off the coasts of Ryntook. Our lessons on faeries, however, were even more vague. When it came to the fae we were taught only two things.
One, that they exist.
Two, that you should neverevergo out searching for one. We may both share the same realm, but faeries are fickle, selfish creatures, incapable of feeling any human emotions, and wouldhappily murder an entire household for a mere pretty crystal.
“Why are you telling me this?” I questioned her suspiciously. “Magical beings just roam the lands and seas like beasts. Even if they had kingdoms, and they could help, they’d never want to help me. I don’t have anything to offer.”
Seraphina’s blue eyes glistened. “Have you ever met a faery?”
“No.” I shuddered at the thought.
“Perhaps if you did, you would realise they’re not so beastlike after all.” She gestured at the dark passageway behind me. “I’d like to show you something, if you have some time to spare from your book hunting.”
Fear twitched inside my stomach and I glanced from the hallway back to Seraphina.
“Is it safe?” I asked in a quiet voice.
Seraphina chuckled and began to head into the darkness. “You won’t find any goblins or ghouls down here, Naria. Only the truth, which, for you, might be even scarier.” Her voice faded as I heard her descending a set of stairs.
I shouldn’t have done it. I should’ve stayed where it was safe and definitely human. But my own curiosity lured me into that passageway before I even had a chance to change my mind. So, I stepped forward. Behind me, the bookshelf swung shut, plunging me into complete darkness. My heart pounded in the silence until I heard footsteps again, and Seraphina appeared with a small candle clutched in her hand.
