NOELLE’S POV,
Thorn and I have been flying over a desert landscape for a while now. It was a nice distraction to listen to Thorn going on and on about Dagahra. I know exactly how it feels to love someone so much that they are all you can think about. If I just picture Gabriel his face, I immediately smell his scent of pinecones and fresh winter air. But I never knew it could hurt so much to miss someone so I try to not think about him all the time. The meditation techniques Zeus showed me definitely help.
Finally, I spot something shiny pointing out from the sand. It is that I saw in my visions that the library is there because otherwise, I would have never known. I wonder how Faith was able to find it. Thorn puts me on the ground and I walk towards the shiny object. I brush some sand away and it looks like the top of some tower. I press all the different stones until I find one that I am able to push down. With a creaking sound, a hole appears in the roof with stairs leading down. I give Thorn an encouraging smile and say, “I will be back before you know it.”
Thorn lays down with his eyes fixating on the entrance. I slowly walk down the stairs, which lead to a massive hall with a bridge. I walk onto the bridge and gasp when I look down. The building is round with different levels of walls filled with books. I cannot even see the ground, there are just walls with books as far as the eye can see. On every level, there are some cozy chairs against the railings. I look around but all the chairs are empty except one a few levels down. I can see a bundle of blond hair sticking out which can only be Faith. I hurry down to the level and run towards Faith hugging her before she can even process what is happening.
“O my god Noelle! What are you doing here? I didn’t even hear you coming I was so focused on this book,” she looks at me with big eyes full of surprise.
I laugh, “It’s good to see you. Please tell me how did you find the library and did you find what you were looking for?”
Faith smirks, “I guess you have to be desperate or insane to find this place. I wandered the desert for days, all my food and water had run out. But stubborn as I am I didn’t want to give up and just kept walking until I passed out. I dreamt of a library full of mystical creatures buried in the sand and when I woke up I saw something shimmer in the distance. I walked there with my remaining energy and found the entrance. I passed out again as soon as I went inside and woke up on one of these chairs with food and drinks on the table. I believe you can only find the library when the library deems you worthy.”
I look around but it seems like Faith and I are all alone. I say, “Wouldn’t surprise me. Stranger things have happened with magic involved. Who got you your food and drinks?”
Faith raises her shoulders, “I have no idea, it always seems to appear when I am not looking. Although I swear I catch a glimpse of something shimmering sometimes. My best guess is the mythical creatures from my dream.”
Then she gives me a worried look, “There must be a good reason that you are here. How did you even find me?”
I sigh, “It is a long story and I will tell you on the way but unfortunately we have to go. Hades is attacking the Mortal Realm at dawn.”
Faith her face becomes pale and she grabs the book, “I wish we had more time. I found the right book finally but I haven’t been able to translate the spell yet.”
I take her hand and say softly, “We all could have used more time but we should go and be with the people we love.”
Faith stands up with a serious look on her face and talks to the walls when she says, “Please let me take this book with me. I promise I will take good care of it but I need it to continue spreading good in the world.”
It remains silent around us which we take as their blessing for taking the book. We hurry up the stairs and out of the library. I quickly get on Thorn his back and wait for Faith who is staring at the top of the library like she is saying goodbye. Then she sits behind me and I say, “You could always come back when the war is over.”
Faith squeezes my shoulder but doesn’t reply. While Thorn lifts us above the clouds I tell her about my lessons with Donna. I explain to her how fire magic works and also how my mind magic helped me to find her. Faith listens but she is very quiet, I guess we all have a lot to think about knowing tomorrow will be the deciding battle.
Just when the sun starts to go down I can see Dandion emerge in the distance. I recognize the glass castle but the rest of the city has changed immensely. All around the walls, there are huge holes covered with spikes. The walls themselves have guards on them and machines to shoot all kinds of weapons. Everywhere I look people seem to be busy training or preparing. I see weapons made of light and dragons with armor everywhere. My friends certainly have been busy while I was gone.
Thorn drops us off at the gate of the glass castle and then flies away again looking for his dragon mate. Guards in front of the castle immediately go out of the way when they see me. I feel a bit surprised that they know who I am. We walk into the first room which is the throne room. There is a big table in the middle with a little copy of the city and strategic pieces. I see the back of a woman with long blond hair, Julias, Holly, and Zeus.
As soon as we walk in they all look up. Holly her face lights up and she runs towards us hugging us together. I feel happy seeing all of them looking healthy but I immediately get scared because I am missing Gabriel. Zeus and Nolan join the hug and start to say how happy they are to see us. Holly looks into my eyes, “I better go get someone quickly who has been longing to see you.”
She runs outside the room and my stomach fills with nerves and anticipation. In the meantime, Julias joined us and I hug him tight. He gives me a warm smile and pulls the blonde woman closer. “Noelle this is Luna the ruler of Dandion,” he says.
I look at the blonde woman and my mouth falls open when I see it is the blonde angel lady I met at the beach on the day of the sacrifice to the King of the Sea. She looks at me friendly and says, “We have met before. Although I must say much has changed since then so it feels like it was years ago.”
I smile and reply, “Couldn’t have said it better myself,” I look at her holding hands with Julias and continue, “I didn’t think I would ever see you again but I am happy that I did.”
Just when I want to talk to her a bit more I hear running footsteps and I hear a familiar manly voice shout, “WHERE IS SHE? WHERE IS SHE?”