Blakeshire (Insight #9)(58)

I couldn’t even tell how close he was to me anymore, if he had made it past that ghost or not. Carefully, I crept up to the door and leaned closer as I closed my eyes and tried to call forth my insight of emotion. I knew I felt Drake’s rage, but I didn’t think it was on the other side of that door; it felt like he was below me or something.

“Are you trying to get a black eye?” I heard Aden say.

In defense, my eyes flew open and I stepped back. Aden was standing above me on the second floor, just outside of a double doorway with an old book in his hand.

“This is our cell. You like it?” I taunted.

“Cell?” he said with a doubtful tilt of his head before he stepped back into the doorway where he was before. I glared up at where he disappeared, then glanced back to the door, giving it one more thrust with my energy.

“What is your issue?” Aden yelled as he appeared in a doorway that was just below the one on the second floor.

“He just locked me in here,” I said as I charged toward him so I could figure out what was in that room behind him. I was almost positive I had gotten a glimpse of one of my worst obsessions just behind him.

Aden stepped aside slowly with a ridiculous grin on his face as I laid eyes on one of the most massive libraries I had ever seen.

Behind those double doors was a room that was two stories high and as wide as a football field. There were rows and rows of books, lofts with reading nooks, tables; it was like a small little heaven. I knew this one room held more mysteries and untold stories than a lifetime would allow me to unravel.

I was speechless, and for a brief second I forgot that I was furious with Drake Blakeshire at the current moment.

“Where have you been?” Aden asked me.

“I told you I had a date today.”

He looked at me like I was insane, then shook his head and glanced away, clearly forcing himself not to look into my mind and see that day. “One long day,” he said under his breath. “Why are you having a boxing match with the door again? You know if he did lock that door, you could just appear on the other side of it and unlock it. Use your head, girl - or is it too far in the clouds at this point?”

All I could do was shake my head at him and blush as I looked away. “That’s not the point,” I said with a sigh as I lost myself in the view of the endless books. “What are you doing?” I asked as I looked down at the book in his hand and the paper that was covered in his handwriting.

“My to-do list,” he said, nodding to his hands. “You would not believe the history of this place that I have figured out—it’s like every dark fantasy story rolled into one. I’ve got more notes in my room,” he said, glancing to the doorway across the hall.

“Your room?”

“Yeah, this is our wing. Olivia and the others have rooms, too. Yours is at the end. I was supposed to make sure it was on point for you. After that, I started digging into the history of this place, looking for saltwater or deaths by saltwater—let me tell you, that’s caused a few sleepless nights, but I think I have a few ideas we can work with.”

“Good,” I said as I realized I was only halfway listening to him. I swear I could smell the knowledge in the room before me; it took all I had to keep my focus. “Unlock the door and let’s figure this out. Wait. What do you mean my room is on point?”

“The door is not locked. And I want to see your dream again first. The room; that’s a Chara thing,” he said with a smirk.

“A what?”

“Their heritage. They build homes; start when they are kids and by the time the soul mate is found at twenty or so it’s done. The home is like the final...I don’t know how to say it, I guess if it is on point then the right soul mate was brought home.”

“He had you design a room for me? This is Esterious, not Chara.”

“No,” Aden said, raising his brow to tell me that my sarcasm was making me look idiotic. “You can’t build something like this overnight. It’s been in the works for a while. He only added a few things, and in his defense they could not have been added before because this dimension does not support them. And for the record, it was Olivia that asked me to check it out. She brought more of your things from home here. Pictures of your family, little things to make you feel at ease.”

“Matchmakers,” I grumbled.

“Nope. Good people. We don’t have to stay here if you don’t want, but that was your battle cry the other day. Quit getting mad when people give you what you want.”

I clasped my locket, the only proof I had that today really did happen.

“I was attacked by Alamos. Where is the bathroom? I need to wash my day off.”

“The old man?”

“Yup. Have a look,” I dared as I stared up at Aden and let him see what I saw when I came back.

“That is one dream you don’t want to come true,” he muttered under his breath as his protective stare rained down on me.

“Bathroom.”

He just stared at me as if he were trying to figure out what he should or should not do.

“Aden!”

He raised his hands defensively. “I’m trying to figure out if it’s bad luck or not.”

“Going to the bathroom? Bad luck?”

“No, seeing your room. I don’t know if Drake should show you or if it’s cool for me to. Maybe you should just use my bathroom.”