Whole rooms just for old books.
It made no sense. You couldn’t fill one room with Link’s favorite books, let alone a whole building. There weren’t that many Star Wars novels in the world.
“This is Duke Humfrey’s Library, the oldest reading room in the Bodleian,” the tour guide said. “It houses maps, music, and rare books dating before 1641. You will notice that many of the volumes are chained to the shelves. Prior to the invention of the printing press, books were quite difficult to replace and were, therefore, extremely valuable. The chains are long enough to allow people to read the books, while assuring they remained in the library, where they belonged.”
Link pointed at the chains. “They lock the books up like the leather jackets in the Summerville Mall. Think they’ve got Harry Potter in there?”
Floyd frowned and pushed her blond hair out of her eyes. “We need to figure out how we’re gonna ditch this tour and find your friend.”
The tour guide led the tourists down the hall, and Link grabbed Floyd’s arm, stopping her.
“Let them get ahead of us,” he whispered, nodding at a nearby staircase.
When the last person in the group reached the end of the hallway, Link grabbed Floyd’s hand and pulled her up the steps. But he didn’t take into account how much faster a quarter Incubus moved than a Caster, and when he rounded the corner three flights up, the momentum sent her flying into his chest.
She was staring up at Link, trying to catch her breath, when a guy walked by. The guy took one look at Floyd pressed up against him and gave Link a nod of approval.
Link felt his face getting hot.
Floyd stepped away from him, smoothing her T-shirt. “It’s nice to see there are dirtbags in the Unified Kingdom, too.”
Link gave her the smallest hint of a smile. “I guess when it comes to dirtbags, it really is a small world after all.”
Link followed her through the doorway and into a huge library. Stacks of books towered above him, like the ones in the Caster Library, the Lunae Libri. Except these were even dustier. In the center of a large room, students were studying at long tables, while others read in carrels. He scanned the tables, searching for Liv’s blond braids. There was no sign of her, but Link spotted someone who looked like John—if John had been a huge nerd.
A big guy with short black hair exactly like John’s was sitting alone at one of the tables across the room. But instead of John’s usual black T-shirt and leather motorcycle jacket, this guy was wearing a nerdy blue button-down beat-the-crap-outta-me shirt that John would never have been caught dead in.
That can’t be him.
“Why are you staring? Is that him?” Floyd whispered.
“I’m not sure. But if it is, I think we’re caught in the Matrix.” Link walked over to the table and the nerdy guy who he wasn’t sure was John—until the guy held up his hand and Link saw John’s Binding Ring glowing brightly. Then the guy looked up, and Link saw his Caster green eyes and the embarrassed expression on his face.
“I knew it was you,” Link said. “Holy crap.” He grinned. “It’s like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, except they only stole your clothes. I hope.”
John grinned and pushed up the sleeves of his button-down, like that would somehow make it look cooler. “It’s for Liv. To help her fit in.”
“Yeah? How’s that workin’ for you?” Link raised an eyebrow.
John shrugged, and Link messed up his hair. “Keep tellin’ yourself that, man.” Link cracked an imaginary whip in the air with one hand.
John shoved him away, studying Floyd. “Are you gonna introduce your friend?” He said it casually enough, but Link understood what he was really saying. At least, what he was asking.
“Yeah, sorry. This is Floyd.”
“A Dark Caster?” John asked, as if he could see right through the colored contacts Floyd wore when she was around Mortals.
“Is that a problem?” she asked.
“Fine by me. I’ve seen Link with a Dark Caster girl before.” John turned to Link and raised an eyebrow.
“She plays bass in my band,” Link said, hoping the message was equally clear: Dude, long story. Don’t ask.
“Our band,” Floyd said, annoyed. “Which doesn’t exist anymore.”
“The infamous Sirensong?” John looked at Link. “Does that have anything to do with the reason you’re here? Speaking of which, where’s our favorite Siren?”
Link’s expression darkened. “That’s the thing. Rid’s in trouble.”
Or worse.
Link left out that part. He could barely stand to think about the possibility that Ridley was dead. There was no way he could say it to John.
John sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Is that supposed to surprise me?”
“It’s not that kinda trouble. This is serious.”
“It’s always serious.”
Floyd spoke up. “She’s missing, and we think Silas Ravenwood might have her.”
“What?” John froze at the mention of Silas’ name. He had more history with the Ravenwoods than any of them. “How did she get mixed up with Silas?”
“He was lookin’ for me. You and me, really. He wanted to avenge Abraham’s death, and keep Rid in a cage, or somethin’ like that. This tool Nox Gates sold us out,” Link rambled on, barely taking a breath. “We almost got away, but they found us. There was a car crash, and the Beater caught on fire. I don’t know what happened to Rid, but we’re pretty sure Silas has her. He’s the head of the Caster Mafia or somethin’ like that. So I need you to help me find the labs.”