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The shelf itself was no different from the others, except for the small golden snakes that decorated its sides.
“What is it?” Bayla appeared beside me and looked at the books.
“Umbra literature...” I whispered quietly, as if the word might burn my tongue.
In fact, they could, but not here, in a secret room filled with forbidden books that someone had probably saved from destruction.
Damn, there was literature on Umbra here.
If Quentin knew...
My heart contracted further.
“What is Umbra?”
Bayla sounded curious.
“Dark practices,” I replied without looking away from the shelf. “Forbidden practices...”
Concern mingled with Bayla's curiosity. “In what way?”
“The Circle and the Councils have banned these practices. Their use is punishable by the maximum penalty.”
“Why?”
“Because they're afraid,” I sighed, trying to put all my distaste for these people into my voice. Unsuccessfully.
The Circle had no idea that the Councils were using Umbra to make the serum. How could Amara have missed something like that? And who else knew about it besides Gloria and Harlow?
“The dark practices are more powerful than anything you can imagine.”
I didn't know myself what dimensions it possessed. All my knowledge was based on what Quentin had already taught me, and that was far from enough.
“What is the reason behind that fear?”
I touched the leather bindings, which must have been the oldest. Illegible runes adorned their surface, pressed into the leather and filled with gold.
“The Councils are afraid of what they cannot control.” My fingers continued to wander over the gold engraving. “Always remember that.”
“What exactly is Umbra? I thought every Quatura was gifted with a specific element.”
“True. But Umbra is capable of expanding those powers. Anyone with supernatural blood can theoretically access it.”
“Interesting...”
I nodded as the possibilities that Umbra opened up for us flashed before my inner eye like an increasingly fast-paced movie.
“Indeed.”
I set down the lamp and took a thick book bound in dark brown leather from the shelf.
Introduction to Umbra.
The only English-language title.
My heart skipped a beat.
This could be my key to escaping the pact with Quentin.
