Chapter 2: The community library (next 4)

“Maybe, there has something he doesn’t want us to see.” said Heracles.

“You mean the mirror.” Gwen lowered his voice.

“I guess so.” said Heracles. “Whatever, we should leave.” he added. Then they both went straight to the eighth floor. It’s not difficult for them to see the community library. It was located on the left of the corridor only few steps from the staircase. Heracles and Gwen walked in and were really overwhelmed. The community library was very large. It was several times bigger and higher than their family library. Big bookshelves filled with books nearly reaching on the ceiling. Everything there was in big size. Even book, some of them were large, thick and heavy. Heracles and Gwen turned tiny between giant bookshelves. They walked and observed around. There had many people who they had never seen. They sat on chairs or even floor, stood or walked along the bookshelves but all of them had books on their hands and were focusing on reading, not to pay attention on any other. Heracles and Gwen didn’t want to bother them. They kept walking to find the librarian and also took a look of the library. There must have millions of books. History, magic, fly, potion, herb, recall, treatment, prophecy, control…; many kinds of them were there but some of them even didn’t have any title, some were too old to see their titles and some had their own titles but Heracles and Gwen didn’t understand what they meant. Almost of books were new and had pleasant smell but some of them were very old smelling hard to describe, wet, frowsty and time. Because of curiosity Heracles and Gwen took some of them, opened and tried reading. The first book Heracles took was a large and very thick book titled “All of the three worlds”. Very excited, he opened it at one but every page was empty. He flipped through the book over and over. At last, he’s disappointed putting it back to its place. He and Gwen left the place coming to other bookshelf. That time, Gwen discovered another book titled “The secrets of underground”. It had black cover having a picture of a man with curly black hair. The man wore a crown, sat on a throne. His one hand was on his chin and the other put on shoulder of a three-head hound. He looked straight out but Heracles and Gwen couldn’t manage to see his face though it there was not covered by anything. A creepy feeling appeared as Gwen took the book but it didn’t stop him not to open the book. He and Heracles put their head together then he opened. Immediately, Heracles and Gwen felt dizzy as the book were opened. They concentric circles spun as they looked in pages. Gwen almost felt back. Heracles was not better. His head hurt like a hammer. Gwen slammed the book. Sweat poured out from his forehead and his friend’s. They both took another look on the book then put it back on the bookshelf. Fear remained in them. Swept drops of sweat out of their heads, they have to stay there for minutes. The fear made their feet attached to the ground. Later, Heracles made his feet step ahead. He helped Gwen free from the fear then they both strode off. They wanted to go to the librarian as fast as they could. However, they lost. Standing between bookshelves they didn’t know exactly where they were. Nobody there the place was completely deserted. “Which way, Heracles?” said Gwen.

Heracles hesitated for a moment. “Try going forward.” he said. 

Then they walked. After minutes, they passed many bookshelves but still didn’t find the way to go out. They stopped. “Heraccles - do you think we went back to where we were?” said Gwen. 

“I think we did not.” said Heracles. He looked around. Then suddenly he caught whispers. Heracles kept silent to hear. 

“Hey look! Do you see the boy?”

“Who?”

“The boy has blonde hair.”

“Yes, I see. Who is he?”

“He is Heracles.”

“Heracles!” several other voices came out. “Is it the boy?”

“Yes, he is.”

“Really? Where is he? I want to take a look.” another voice came out.

“Heracles!” called Gwen, shook on his shoulder, “What’s wrong with you, Heracles?”

“Uhm – do you hear whispers?” said Heracles, turned to Gwen.

“Which whispers?” Gwen raised his voice.

“You don’t hear?” asked Heracles

“No, I don’t hear anything.” squealed Gwen. He strangely looked at Heracles.

“Maybe, I imagined it.” said Heracles. 

Gwen frowned. “You have something weird, Heracles.” he said.

“Shhhh!” Heracles put finger on lips, “Keep quiet. I hear something.” he said.

Both of them kept silent and Heracles focused to listen. 

“He seems to hear us.” the whisper came again.

“Oh, he is a special child.” then laughter came out. 

“What are you looking for here?” the voice of a woman behind Heracles. He turned and immediately realized a familiar face which he had seen in their family library. She was exactly the same as their family librarian. Heracles and Gwen rounded eyes looking on her. “Why are you here?”

“Why am I not here?” asked the woman.

“I thought you have to in our family library.” said Heracles.

“Yes, you have to. We just met you there.” squealed Gwen.

“Oh – this must be the first time you come here.” said the woman.

“Yes, we are.” Heracles answered. 

“That's why you mistook me for Alethea. I am Audrey. We are sisters.” said the woman.

“Are you twins?” asked Gwen.

“Not twins. We are five sisters.” said Miss Audrey.

“Five sisters? “Who are the others?” squealed Gwen.

“They are the other family librarians.’ said Miss Audrey. “But, what are you doing here?” she added.

“We come to borrow books for this term.” said Heracles.

“Oh – you want to borrow books.” said Miss Audrey. “Which year are you?” she asked.

“We are the second.” answered Heracles.

“The second year - the books you need are not here.” said Miss Audrey. “Follow me.” she added. 

Miss Audrey went. She led Heracles and Gwen passed some aisles and at last, came to an ordinary bookshelf filled books they felt familiar, not too attractive and strange. “The second year – you need copies of Basic magic control - the second book by Albertus Magnus.” said Miss Audrey. She reached and took two books from the bookshelf. She turned and gave them to Heracles who was behind. Heracles gave one to Gwen “Copies of The holy sound Lyre by Romanos.” she added, looked up. Two books stayed next to the others on high place that she could not reach fluttered then flew down her hands. She turned and gave them. “Copies of Potions by K. Lucretius, The holy sound Lyre by Romanos.” she added, took the books one after the others and handed them to Heracles and Gwen, “Uhmm- fly – the second year have to study fly and  Basic principles of hovering by J. Aristotl is the book you have to read.” she said, got two copies of the book. “It’s also the last.” she added, turned to them, “Follow me. I want have to write your names.” 

 Miss Audrey walked ahead. Heracles and Gwen followed her. They passed aisles before coming to a desk. Miss Audrey made her way to stay behind it. She got a notebook then opened. “What are your names, boy?” she asked.

“I am Heracles – I am Gwen.” they in turn answer.

Taking a quill Miss Audrey dipped it into to an ink bottle then wrote their names inside it. Names of Heracles and Gwen appeared inside her notebook. Then other words themselves began appeared on the paper with the same blue ink used to write Heracles’s and Gwen’s names. It showed the information about them. 

“Okay – It’s all. You both now can bring those books. Remember, you have to return them after the term.” said Miss Audrey.

“Thanks you.” said Heracles, “Uhmm,” he hesitated. Miss Audrey raised up, looked on them.     

“Do you need any more help?” she asked.

“We really don't know the exit. Can you show us?” asked Heracles.

“Oh – it’s not difficult. You follow this way, pass three aisles then turned left. Go ahead through four bookshelves then turned right. Keep walked straight. You will find the exit.” she said.

“Thanks Miss Audrey. We really don’t know how to leave this place if we don’t meet you.” said Heracles

“It’s because of your first time coming here. If you come here often you won't be.” said Miss Audrey.

Heracles and Gwen followed Miss Audrey’s instruction leaving the community library after that. They came back their family dorm.