With each step down the narrow stairway, Livy feared for her life. Not only were the stairs at least a hundred years old, they probably weren’t meant to be descended at such a high speed and in soaked rain boots.
Holding tight to Matthew, she ran after Sherlock. “Sherlock, wait!”
After a few more slippery steps, the stairs opened into the basement. Only lit by an old oil lamp, Livy’s eyes landed on stacks and stacks of books.
“No, no, NO!” She heard from one of the stacks in the corner.
Still grasping Matt’s hand, they walked towards the stack. “What’s wrong?” She said peering around the stack. Her eyes landed on the crouching British man, violently shuffling through books.
“For one, the organization of this library is absurd!” He glanced up at her then threw the book he was holding across the room. Livy jumped. “I can’t find anything!” Livy watched him stomp off into another corner, muttering inaudible curses.
“So…what’s going on?”
Livy turned to Matthew. He was staring at her with a confused look. “Right,” she said, forgetting that he was still lost. This was a delicate situation. She had read hundreds of times of how the protagonist would explain their new found purpose to their close friends and family. For Harry it was a letter, for Frodo the ring. For her…she didn’t know what she had to prove her power besides Sherlock. She hoped it would be enough. “I’m a WordSpeaker.”
Matt blinked twice. “You’re a what?”
“A WordSpeaker.”
He paused for a few moments. “Isn’t everyone a word speaker?”
Livy was about to rebuttal him, but then closed her mouth. Technically, he was right. Everyone did speak words. She felt her cheeks turn crimson. How was she supposed to claim she wasn’t crazy when everything she could say was proof of it!
“You’re correct, Matthew.” Sherlock said coming around another stack with a worn book in his hands. “Every individual has the ability to speak words, but not all believe in what they say.”
Livy and Matt looked at one another then back to Sherlock. He rolled his eyes at their confused looks. “Olivia has a rare gift, one that is no longer present in your realm. When she speaks, she always believes in what she says. Whether it’s a question or an answer to the question itself, she has faith behind the words she uses. That is why, when she speaks of certain literary characters while holding their story, they come to life. She believes them to be real, so they are.”
Livy held her breath, waiting for Matthew’ response. After a few moments, he cleared his throat. “That’s—”
“Yes, yes, it’s amazing, wonderful, stupendous,” Sherlock cut in, “but we have more important things to do besides catch you up on the details.”
Matthew furrowed his eyebrows and was about to say something when Sherlock cut him off again. “Olivia, I have found it, VasíleioBiblios.” He held out the worn book in his hands. It was full of dust and dirt. Carefully, he placed it in her arms, watching the book. As soon as it touched her skin, the pages began to glow brightly.
“Just as I thought,” Sherlock said, peering down at the book.
“What do I do?” Livy asked, holding the book like it would explode.
“Of all things to ask, Olivia, especially you! What else does one do with a book?”
Livy nodded and pulled the fragile cover open to the first glowing page. “It’s blank,” she said disappointed.
“Patience,” Sherlock whispered. Livy looked back down at the page. She was about to give up hope when faint words, written in blue ink, began to scrawl along the paper. She gasped, causing Matthew and Sherlock to tower over her.
696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEahRMlK4B
Information is what you need in order to see inside,
but there are different places to where your research lies.
696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OhLqSFqAE
Numbers and letters used as one to bring knowledge to the world
Make sure to speak with clarity or your words will surely swirl
696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCtoYPEW1S
“A riddle,” Matthew said, speaking softly in her ear. She shuddered as it sent shivers down her spine.
“Obviously,” Sherlock snorted in her other ear. “But what is the answer?”
“Well, numbers and letters, it could have something to do with math,” Matt suggested.
“Why would VasíleioBiblios, the gateway to my realm, want anything to do with math? Honestly, Matthew I’m beginning to think a naked mole rat has more intellect than you.”
“Back off, man, I was just guessing,” Matthew growled.
“You need to stop guessing and start thinking, or better yet, don’t think at all, you may hurt yourself.”
Livy tuned out the arguing towers and stared at the page intently. Numbers and letters, numbers and letters… It suddenly hit her like a ton of bricks.
“It’s Dewey,” she whispered. Sherlock and Matthew were arguing too far above her to hear what she said. She grunted and held the open book close to her face.
“The Dewey Decimal System.” The book began to glow brighter and shake violently. So violent, it dropped out of her hands. Matthew and Sherlock paused their bickering and stared at the book, which had begun to change. No longer was it a book, but a man, made entirely out of pages.
His skin was shaded with different pages ranging from bright white to aged yellow. Leather bound covers were strung together to form a toga. Livy looked up at the man, who was as tall as the basement ceiling. Pages and words swirled around the base of his toga. His ink black eyes stared back at her. She felt Matthew reach for her shoulder, pulling her close to his chest.
“Olivia Taylor,” the paper man boomed. He didn’t have a mouth, but his voice seemed to speak through every one of his pages. “Do you have the Mythoskleidí?”
Too stunned by the paper man and Matthew’ strong arm wrapped around her shoulders, Livy didn’t answer. She suddenly felt a pressure in her left hand. She looked down to see the iron key Sherlock had earlier. She looked up at him. He gave her a quick nod then stared back at the man. She took a deep breath and stepped forward.
“I do,” she said, more confident than she felt.
“Very good,” the paper man replied. “You may proceed.” The pages then shifted from the form of a man to a door. The pages that had once been his body were now interwoven with the leather covers to create an arch way, the dark space between symbolizing a door.
Switching the key to her right hand, she grasped it tightly and walked towards the arch. Once she stood directly in front of the black space, a key hole appeared. Taking a deep breath she plunged the key into the hole and twisted it. The space quivered as the basement door had and opened.
“Superb job, Olivia,” Sherlock said approvingly. He clasped his hands behind his back and joined her in front of the door. “Well, we best keep moving.”
“Wait a minute,” Matthew stomped towards them, “You’re not going anywhere with her.” Matthew grabbed Livy’s arm and pulled her back to him.
“Stop manhandling, Olivia. As an intelligent woman, she is free to choose whichever path she wants.” Livy gaped at Sherlock’s compliment of her. “Of course, only an idiot would choose to stay behind.” Livy pursed her lips. There was the real Sherlock.
Matthew spun her around, taking her shoulders in his hands. “Liv, please, I don’t know about this. What if something happens to you?”
She took in a deep breath, trying not to be hypnotized by his eyes. “I’m sorry, Matt. I need to do this.”
“Excellent!” Sherlock said. “Now can we get going?”
Matthew didn’t let go of her shoulders. Instead he squeezed them tighter. “I—I can’t let you go. Not alone.”
Sherlock scoffed. “She won’t be alone, she’ll—”
“I’m coming with you.”
Livy’s heart leapt at the intensity in his eyes. She was hoping he would come along on this insane journey.
“Absolutely not!” Sherlock sneered. “It’s not yet time.”
“What are you talking about?” Matthew scowled back.
“If you take the sequence of events out of order—”
“Sherlock, I’m sure it will be fine,” Livy said with a small smile. Sherlock gave her a demeaning glare that sent chills down her neck.
“Very well, but I will not take the blame for things that will happen.” With that he stalked into the dark abyss.
Livy looked back to Matt. “Are you sure about this? I don’t really know what I’m doing.”
Matthew smirked. “I’m sure. Plus I feel uneasy about leaving you with that Brit.”
“He’s not just a Brit, Matt. He’s Sherlock Holmes, the best Brit ever!”
Matthew shook his head and grimaced. “Regardless, I don’t like him.”
Livy couldn’t suppress her grin. Matthew Hughes was jealous of Sherlock Holmes! Could life get any better? Or weirder? She then remembered what happened earlier that day. Before she could ask about Peyton, she heard a voice.
“I don’t have all day to wait for you two to figure out how your legs work,” Sherlock called from the archway.
Matthew blew a gust of air out of his mouth.
“Come on,” Livy said, tucking the key and Sherlock’s story into her messenger bag. “He’ll only get crankier.”
696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yS8PoveJc
Dark mist swirled around their feet as they crossed the threshold of the arch. The door immediately shut behind them, disappearing without a trace of it even being there. Livy reached back, found Matthew’ hand and held tight. She didn’t care if she was being too bold, she was just happy to have him there. He squeezed her hand once for reassurance. Feeling more confident, she began to walk. The squeak of her boots filled the spacious void.
After what seemed like ages, a dim light began to appear. Livy tugged on Matthew, urging him to walk faster. The two quickened their steps, until they reached the border where darkness met light.
Livy gasped. “What is this place?”
Her eyes gazed upon thousands and thousands of books, all placed within shelves that reached up into the infinite. What was even more amazing was the books themselves. Zooming and soaring, books flew around the shelves, shelving and re-shelving themselves.
“This is Lady Fantasia’s Zo̱ntanós Vivliothí̱ki̱, or Living Library,” a British voice said from behind her.
She spun around. “Sherlock! How long have you been there?”
“Long enough to be ready to continue,” he retorted. Too amazed by a copy of Oliver Twist that zoomed by, Livy ignored he’s sarcastic tone.
“It’s amazing,” she whispered, as she walked towards the shelves. She lifted a finger and caressed the spines of the old books. As if they were happy to see her, the books wiggled with delight at her touch.
“It’s amazing,” Matthew repeated, joining Sherlock. He looked at Livy. She seemed so happy amongst all the books. He looked closer. Something was changing.
“Sherlock, what’s happening to Livy?”
“Wonderful isn’t it?” Sherlock replied. “In my realm, each person is shown as their true self.”
Matthew looked over at the British man, who now wore a grey plaid deerstalker hat and smoked calmly through a wooden pipe. He then looked back to Livy. Her hair had grown from hers shoulders down her back. Her sweatshirt and sweatpants had transformed into a sleeveless light blue dress, ending just below her knees. With each step, shimmers of gold and silver dust flowed from the dress. Matthew gulped. He had always found Livy attractive, but now she was…
“Captivating? Yes, she is,” Sherlock said, as if reading his mind.
“How did you—”
“I know many things, obviously, but you do not, so listen closely.” The British man glowered at Matthew. Though they were the same height, Matthew knew he couldn’t challenge the Brit, but he didn’t break eye contact just the same.
“Olivia is meant to save not only my realm, but yours as well. It is my job to keep her story on tract. I can’t have her being distracted by nonsense.” Sherlock puffed smoke out of his pipe.
“I’m not going to leave her,” Matthew said, crossing his arms.
Sherlock rolled his eyes. “Of course that’s your true self.”
Matthew looked down to see that his appearance had changed too. His dark clothes had been replaced with a flowing maroon top with a white jacket trimmed in gold. His shirt was tucked inside of tan pants which were tucked inside of black boots. “What is?”
Sherlock turned, looking back at Livy as he puffed smoke once more. “Olivia is a free spirit. She allows her mind to wander and to wonder. My realm reflects this. She is wild, whimsical and free. While in your realm she is caged and hidden.” Sherlock turned back to Matthew and eyed him skeptically. With a regretful tone he begins, “You are loyal to those you care about and will always protect them if you are able. Hence your appearance here, in both realms you are a hero.”
Matthew smiled, satisfied that Sherlock gave him a compliment. But then it faded. He wasn’t a hero. Not even close.
“Matthew, I am being serious though,” Sherlock said, bringing him back from his painful memories. “I need to know you won’t rush Olivia’s story.”
“What happens if it’s rushed?”
The Brit sucked in a deep breath of his pipe then blew it out slowly. “Unspeakable things.”
“Isn’t it wonderful, Matt?” His grim thoughts were interrupted by the beautiful figure walking towards him. Matthew held his breath as Livy’s violet eyes sparkled up at him. She was even more captivating from the front. Her skin glowed. Bright circular gems, the same color of her eyes, swirled down her temples. He wished he could tell her everything. How he felt, why he didn’t act upon it, but he couldn’t. Not yet.
“Yea,” he smiled weakly. He could see the disappoint flash through her eyes. It sent a pain through his stomach. But, as always, she quickly smiled again.
“Olivia, you look exquisite,” Sherlock said from behind Matthew. For the first time, Livy looked down at herself and gasped. She touched the fabric carefully, as if it would disappear. Glitter flowed from the material and swirled around her fingertips. What had happened?
“Sherlock—” she began then stopped when she saw the change in the British man and Matthew as well. Sherlock looked how she pictured him when she read his adventures the first time. It was funny how her view of him changed each time she read his stories. Then there was Matt. He looked incredible. Almost like royalty. The tan pants hugged his legs perfectly. The maroon shirt, opened slightly at the top to reveal his firm chest. She had to suppress a groan. She bit her lip and turned away as her cheeks began to flush. “Uh, thanks, you guys look good, too.”
“You’re going to have to control your emotions, Olivia.”
“Sherlock!” She snapped her attention back to see his eyes gleaming with amusement. She pursed her lips, trying to fight the smile growing on her lips. She looked back at Matt who was looking at her. He looked more handsome now than he ever had, but something seemed different in him. He gave her a smirk, sending her heart flying once more.
“If you two are done oogling at each other, we actually have matters to attend to.” Sherlock clasped his hands behind his back and strolled next to Livy. He gave her a sideways glance. “Come.” Livy nodded. Looking back, she watched Matthew walk to her and nod as well. Disappointed he didn’t offer his hand, she followed Sherlock.
Lady Fantasia’s library seemed to extend for miles and miles. The books continued to zoom all around them and when she got close to one of the shelves, they wiggled as if they knew she was there.
“Don’t get them excited for no reason, Olivia,” Sherlock scolded as he puffed smoke through his pipe.
“What do you mean?”
He took the pipe out of his mouth. “Your gift is far more powerful here than it is in your realm. You need only to open a book here and its characters come to life. You need to be careful.”
“But bringing characters to life is such a wonderful thing.” She wasn’t sure why Sherlock was so upset.
“Must I explain everything to you?” He sucked in deeply. She stared at him and nodded. He blew out the smoke with a sigh. “If there are protagonists in a story there are also…” he waved his hand at her, beckoning an answer.
“Oh, right,” she said, suddenly feeling foolish. Of course there were antagonists in the stories too. How could she have been so dense as to think her power could only bring her favorite characters to life? Sherlock was right, as usual. “Sorry.”
Sherlock made a face. “Don’t apologize, it makes you seem dull and thick like your friend back there.”
Livy looked back to see Matthew sauntering behind them. What was with him? He hadn’t even reacted to Sherlock’s insult, which she knew he had heard. She was about to slow her steps and talk to him when Sherlock stopped abruptly, grabbing her hand.
“We’re here.” Livy had been so entranced by the books, she hadn’t noticed that the shelves had begun to disappear, leaving an empty space. She wasn’t sure what Sherlock meant by “here,” because she could see nothing.
“Sherlock I don’t—”
“Hush, girl, what did I tell you about patience?” Livy bite down her smart remark and waited. Soon enough a cream colored door began to appear. Its wooden panels were intricate in design and detail. Dark green vines spiraled amongst its frame where small pink roses began to bloom. As they took a step closer, an iron lock formed.
Before Sherlock could say anything, Livy took the key out.
“Good girl,” she heard Sherlock say before she placed the key in the lock. Without using force, the door creaked open. Livy paused and looked back. Sherlock was beaming with admiration, though his nonchalant stance and smoking would deem otherwise. She looked towards Matt. He gave her a smile and a thumbs up, but she could tell something was on his mind. She waited for a few moments, then couldn’t stand the silence anymore.
“Well, are you guys coming with me or not?”
“Of course, Olivia. You wouldn’t have gotten this far without me,” Sherlock said as he walked through the door.
Livy rolled her eyes, then looked back at Matt. “And you?” She asked quietly, hoping her voice didn’t sound like she was pleading. “Will you stay with me?”
Matthew walked up to her. Why was it now, that he couldn’t have her, he wanted her more than ever? He lifted his hand and stroked the gems down her temple. “Until you no longer want me.” Forcing himself to break away, he followed after Sherlock.
Livy took a deep breath to calm her beating heart, her skin still warm from his touch. Something was definitely up with Matt. First he was going out with Peyton, then he was protecting her from Sherlock, then he decided to come on this crazy adventure, and now he was acting as if he had been the one pining for her affection all these years! Livy huffed. As if she didn’t have enough to deal with, now she had guy troubles. Once her heart had returned to its stead beat, she returned the key to her bag and walked through the door.
As soon as she walked through the door, she stopped. In front of her stood the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She seemed tall and small all at once, swirls of blue and violent light encasing her perfect figure to form a long gown. Her long ivory hair cascaded down her back in a waterfall of curls. Upon her head sat a silver crown embedded with blue and violet crystals. The lights around the woman illuminated the room around them. The shelves of books had returned, but these books weren’t like the ones from before. These books were encased in gold and silver. Behind the woman, Livy saw a throne made entirely of glass pages and covers.
“WordSpeaker,” the woman said. Her voice was both commanding and gentle. “Please come forth.”
With slight hesitation, Livy walked forward. She glanced to her right. Matt and Sherlock were kneeling before the beautiful woman. Copying their form, Livy began to kneel when the woman spoke again. “You need not kneel, WordSpeaker.
Stunned, Livy stood up straight, her heart beating rapidly. The beautiful woman smiled then returned to her throne. “I am Lady Fantasia, welcome to our realm.”
Livy gulped. “Thank you,” was all she could get out of her closing throat.
Lady Fantasia looked towards Sherlock and Matthew, who were still kneeling. “You may stand, Sherlock and friend of WordSpeaker.” In unison, both men shot up and stood on both sides of Livy. Livy looked at Sherlock who gave her a smirk. She smiled back. She turned to Matthew who was about to place his arm around her, but stopped. Why couldn’t she tell him that she craved for his touch?
“WordSpeaker,” Lady Fantasia said, breaking her from her fantasies. “You have successfully made it to the realm of Fantasia with your Companion and Protector intact. Although this may have been simple, your tasks will become more challenging with time.”
Livy raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips. Companion? Protector? What tasks?
Seeing her confusion, Sherlock intercepted. “Olivia, in order for your to even think about challenging ThanatosFantasia, you must first discover why our people, your literary characters are disappearing.” Livy continued to look at him with confusion. Sherlock sighed. “Right, I must treat you like you’re two years old. Very well. In every story you read the protagonist must go through a series of challenges or test, right?” She nodded, not appreciating his demeaning tone. “Well, your story is the same, but you must have a Companion and Protector with you.”
Livy opened her mouth then closed it again. This was a lot to take in. And she was still confused, but didn’t want Sherlock to know.
“These elements are required for you to succeed, WordSpeaker,” Lady Fantasia interceded. “We do not know why, but we know that they are necessary. That is was our most knowledgeable Protector was assigned to you.” Lady Fantasia motioned towards Sherlock.
“You’re my Protector?” She blurted out before thinking.
“Don’t sound so surprised, Olivia,” Sherlock said nonchalantly, still smoking his pipe. “In fact, you were the one who made my contract official.” He smiled smugly at her.
“What are you talking about, Sherlock?” She said, feeling her anger begin to rise.
“Olivia,” he said softer, “I can only be your Protector if you choose me to be it. When you bought my story, you sealed my duty to you.” Livy stared at him wide eyed. He turned back to Lady Fantasia. “I have to say I was a bit worried there for a moment when you almost bought Darcy instead of me! Could you imagine? That lout wouldn’t have gotten you here even with his boorish charm.”
If Livy wasn’t so overwhelmed at what was happening, she would have laughed. Sherlock was definitely possessive of who she spent her time with. Whether it was reading or in actual company.
“Sherlock, Darcy is a level nine Protector, just as you are,” Lady Fantasia said with an amused tone. Sherlock bowed deeply to her.
“My apologies, my Lady, but you know that I am the one most fit for Olivia.”
“That you are,” Lady Fantasia replied with a smile.
Livy had just begun to wrap her mind around what was happening when she remembered Matt. She turned to him. “So, if Sherlock is my Protector, you’re my Companion?” She squealed inside her head. Matt was her Companion!
“It doesn’t sound as important as protecting you,” Matthew said quietly.
“It’s not,” Sherlock snorted. Livy glared at him.
“A Companion is not only as important as a Protector, but one of the most essential components for a protagonist to succeed,” Lady Fantasia said from her throne. “While a Protector protects in a physical mindset, a Companion protects in an emotional mindset. While Sherlock will guide the WordSpeaker, you will encourage her to continue, even when she desires to go no further.”
Livy watched Matt as he took in the information. His Adam’s apple dropped as he gulped. She prayed he didn’t want to leave. She didn’t know if she could do this without him. Not caring whether he wanted her or not, she reached out and grabbed his hand. He spun his head towards her, his bright blue eyes pouring into her violet ones.
“Matt,” she said squeezing his hand. “I need you with me.”
He smiled and squeezed her hand back. “Until you no longer want me.”
Satisfied with the events playing out before her, Lady Fantasia spoke once more. “Your adventure awaits.” Suddenly, she disappeared in a glow of lights and sparkles. In her place, an aged scroll tied with a navy blue ribbon.
As if being led by an invisible force, Livy let go of Matt and walked towards the scroll. Carefully, she picked it up, untied the ribbon and unrolled the aged paper.
Blank at first, navy blue words began to form on the scroll, like before.
696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40HNFDvUDk
Heroes three, that you be
Your adventure now begins
696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMZd4dTXgj
While you have three, five more you’ll need
To ensure a happy end
696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKqIWpjkyE
Four are found in stories well known
While the fifth is the key
696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEm1moZv2c
Find the characters that are known and loved
For they shall all be free
Livy held her breath. What had she gotten herself into?
696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLRiXOfLAW
