Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly #1)(41)

“I said there’s fluid between two pieces of glass.” His tone was disapproving, as if my lapse in attention was an insult. “That fluid has a magnetic powder in it.”

“And?”

“And since electricity is magnetic, the magnetic powder moves within the lenses according to the energy around. Come on—the particles are easier to see in the sunlight.”

He pushed the goggles up my nose and over my eyes again. Then I felt his hand clasp my elbow. He guided me toward the eastern wall on the right. We walked, my footsteps careful and controlled, as he continued to explain.

“All free energy leaves a residue behind—something traceable. I calibrated the goggles with grave dirt, so now the magnetic particles are attracted to spiritual energy. That way when something Dead has been in the area or touched something—”

“Like the letter the walking corpse delivered?” I interrupted. “You said it was covered in spiritual energy.” I strained my neck this way and that, scanning everything we passed. We turned around and walked back toward the armchair and private collections room.

“Yeah, like your letter. The magnetic powder moves toward the residue, and the fluid clears up.”

“Does it work?”

He sniffed. “Of course it works.”

I stopped walking. “Then why don’t I see you?” I squinted and tried to make out his features. “Don’t living people make the powder move since we have spiritual energy too?”

“Good question,” he said. “The general principle is that our spiritual energy is attached—it’s woven into our bodies. When we die, the spirit and the body split apart. One half heads to the other realm while the other half goes into the ground.”

The hairs on my arms pricked up beneath the faille of my gown. “So that spirit my mother let in, it’s just pure spiritual energy?”

“Exactly. And the walking Dead, they’re mostly just rotting corpses with a bit of energy to animate ’em.”

I lowered the goggles and gazed at him. “And that energy isn’t attached, so it leaves a residue.”

“Right again.” He measured me with a narrow-eyed stare, and then his lips quirked up with pleasure.

My mouth went dry. I shoved the goggles back up. That smile was unnerving.

I stepped hesitantly back toward the private room, searching around as I’d done before and taking comfort in the blurry darkness of the lenses. At least now I couldn’t see Daniel’s face. Except the darkness wasn’t so dark anymore. In fact, the fluid wasn’t muddy at all. I could distinctly make out the bookshelves to my left, the wall to my right, and the velvet armchair ahead.

But no—I couldn’t actually see the armchair. All the magnetic powder had clumped where the chair should have been in my vision. The more I gazed at the fuzzy blob where I knew the chair stood, the more everything else came into focus. Something magnetic was pulling the powder toward the chair.

“Mr. Sheridan.” My voice came out husky with shock. “Mr. Sheridan, come quick.”

He appeared in my field of view: messy blond hair, bright green eyes, and concern wrinkling down his brow. He and the rest of the library looked exactly as they would without the goggles. Only the armchair remained dark and indistinguishable.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I think... I think...” I dropped my voice to a whisper. “I think the Dead were here.”

Daniel slid the goggles off my face, brushing his fingers along my jawbone in the process. I gasped in surprise. His fingers were rough and warm.

He pressed the lenses to his eyes and whistled softly. “You’re right.”

My heart thumped with a nervous hope. I grabbed at Daniel’s coat sleeve. “Maybe my brother was here,” I breathed. “This was our chair, and... all his letters had energy on them, so maybe Elijah’s covered in residue too and leaving it behind.”

He removed the goggles and stroked his jaw and stared at my hand on his sleeve. Then his eyes shifted to my face. “It’d be possible if he was around it, but... but still, it shouldn’t leave such a strong signal. The magnetic powder is clumpin’ so tight that it’s like a walking corpse is sitting there now. This is a lot of energy, and it’s fresh.”

“Come on then.” I ignored his bark of surprise and hauled him by the coat toward the circular desk. Perhaps someone had seen who had been there.

I asked the same librarian from before. “Did anyone sit in that chair recently?” I pointed back. “The red one near the private collections room.”

Daniel planted his hands on the desk. “Someone within the last two days. And whoever it was would’ve been there awhile.”

She gnawed at her lip. “Yes, I do recall a man there yesterday.”

“What did he look like?” I said.

“He was young. And big.” She tapped her shoulders. “Broad.”

“Bigger than him?” I cocked my head toward Daniel.

The librarian assessed my companion and then flashed him an approving grin. “Oh yes, this man was bigger.” She ran her tongue over her lips. “But you’re taller.”

“Did he have spectacles?” I pressed.

“No. No spectacles.” Her eyes stayed locked on Daniel.

“Is there anything else you remember?” I said urgently.