Sunlight, a rude intruder breaking through the carefully drawn blinds, shattered the remnants of my dreams. The events of the previous night, the confrontation with my parents, the mysterious book, all felt like a fever dream, a fantastical escape from a stifling reality.
Sitting up in bed, I flinched at the throbbing ache in my head, a testament to the emotional rollercoaster of the night. Briefly, I considered burying myself back under the covers and pretending the world didn't exist, but a small, square object nestled beside my pillow caught my eye.
It was a letter, addressed in elegant handwriting to "Amber Reyes." My curiosity piqued, I tore it open, the crisp paper whispering secrets.
The note was brief, containing only two lines: "Dear Amber, Please ensure all gifts are opened and thank-you notes are written before this evening. We expect them on your desk by dinner. Also, a very happy birthday to you. Fondly, Mom & Dad."
Fondly? The word felt like a cruel joke, a mockery of the icy confrontation we'd just had. They expected me to play the part of the grateful daughter, to gush over presents I had no interest in, all within a few hours?
Anger flared hot in my chest, quickly followed by a crushing sense of defeat. They didn't care about my feelings, my desires. They only cared about appearances, about maintaining the image of the 'perfect' Reyes family. Last night, my rebellion had been a minor inconvenience, a blip in their meticulously controlled world.
But amidst the disappointment, a flicker of defiance sparked. They could control the parties and the gifts, but they couldn't control my thoughts, my dreams. The Book of Exile and the mysterious companion still sat on my nightstand, waiting to be explored.
With a sigh, I pushed myself out of bed and started tackling the mountain of gifts. Each beautifully wrapped box held a piece of who they thought I should be - the social butterfly, the fashion icon, the future trophy wife. Opening each one felt like a performance, a forced act in a play I never signed up for.
By lunchtime, I was halfway through the pile, a headache throbbing behind my temples. I forced myself to take a break, grabbing a granola bar from my hidden stash and collapsing onto the window seat.
Gazing out at the world beyond the mansion walls, a world that seemed so much more vibrant than the gilded cage I resided in, I felt a surge of yearning. What adventures were waiting out there? What secrets were hidden beyond the carefully manicured lawns?
Suddenly, a glint of light caught my eye. Nestled between two trees across the street, partially obscured by overgrown foliage, stood a small, ramshackle building. It looked out of place amidst the sprawling mansions and manicured lawns, a relic from a bygone era.
A curiosity, almost irresistible, gripped me. What was that place? Was it abandoned? Did it hold any secrets of its own?
My attention was ripped away from my musings by a notification on my phone. It was a message from Alice, my anchor amidst the storm that was my life.
Alice : Happy Birthday, Amber! Hope your parents didnt give you too much of a hard time last night... Come by the library after school if you can. We have a new shipment of books that just arrived, and I know some of them would be right up your alley.
A smile spread across my face. Alice was the one person who truly understood me, who saw beyond the facade my parents had created.
Finishing my meager lunch, I tackled the remaining gifts as fast as I could. By the time my parents got home, all the notes were written (with varying degrees of sincerity), and I sat at my desk, the Book of Exile and the mysterious leather-bound book opened before me.
"There you are, Amber," Mom announced, sweeping into my room, Dad trailing behind her. "We trust you've completed your tasks?"
I nodded curtly, not wanting to engage in any further conversation.
"Good," she said, her voice as cold as the marble floor. "Now, get ready for dinner. We have guests."
More business associates, I assumed, another night of forced smiles and shallow conversations. The thought filled me with a suffocating dread.
As my parents left the room, I cast a furtive glance at the books waiting on my desk. The Book of Exile seemed dormant, but the other book pulsed with an intangible energy, emanating a call I couldn't ignore.
Picking it up, I once again traced the swirling vortex symbol on the cover. This time, as my fingers touched it, the book emitted a faint blue glow. A tingle shot up my arm, momentarily stealing my breath. Startled, I dropped the book, a gasp escaping my lips. It landed with a soft thud, the blue glow fading but not entirely extinguished. My hands trembled, a mixture of fear and excitement coursing through me. This wasn't a regular book; it was something more, something alive. I must be hallucinating.
Taking a deep breath, I cautiously reached for the book again. This time, the tingling sensation was milder, a pleasant hum resonating in the room. As my fingers grazed the symbol, a holographic image shimmered into existence above the page.
The image depicted a bustling marketplace unlike any I'd ever seen. Towering structures, adorned with intricate carvings and symbols, pierced the sky while strange creatures - humanoid but with vibrant skin and flowing cloaks - bartered over exotic goods. In the foreground, a woman with flowing silver hair and eyes that shimmered like galaxies stood gazing out at me.
Her gaze seemed to lock with mine, a flicker of recognition passing between us. Before I could grasp the feeling, the image dissolved, leaving behind only the swirling symbol on the cover. My heart pounded in my chest, a barrage of questions swirling in my mind. How the hell did that just happen? Who was this woman? Was she Anya, the exiled one mentioned in the Book of Exile? And more importantly, how did this book connect to my world?
Looking around my room, I felt a sudden claustrophobia. The walls seemed to close in, the gilded furniture mockingly opulent. This sterile environment no longer felt like home; it felt like a prison. Although it had never really felt like home in the first place.
I stole a glance at the clock. Half an hour remained before dinner. It wasn't much, but it was enough. Grabbing the Book of Exile and the mysterious book, I shoved them into my backpack, along with a granola bar and a small water bottle.
Before leaving, I looked at myself in the mirror. Gone was the resigned daughter of wealthy parents; in her place stood a girl ready to take control of her own destiny.
I tiptoed out of my room, past the grand staircase, and towards the back door. Reaching the familiar oak door, I paused. What was I doing? Running away? But the thought of another night of stifling small talk with my parents' associates felt unbearable. This library trip wasn't just about books anymore; it was about escape, about taking a small step towards the world I felt an inexplicably strong pull towards.
Slipping out the door and into the cool evening air, I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the fresh air I so needed. The path to the library was familiar, one I'd traversed countless times before. Every step I took closer to it, I felt a familar warmth envelop me.
Reaching the library, the imposing stone facade greeted me like an old friend. Inside, the familiar scent of the place washed over me. Alice, perched on a ladder, was reaching for a dusty tome on the top shelf.
Hearing the bell above the door chime, she looked down, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Amber? Shouldn't you be... er... getting ready for dinner?"
I couldn't help but smile. Alice, bless her perceptive heart, knew something was wrong. Briefly, I explained the nightmare evening, the cryptic books, and the overwhelming urge to escape. As I spoke, Alice climbed down the ladder, and brushed the dust off her clothes, which made her start coughing uncontrollably.
"Are you okay?" I asked, concern lacing my voice as I patted Alice on the back in an attempt to ease the coughing.
"Wow," she breathed after the cough attack. "I'm fine Ames, dust and me, dont get along well, thats all. You really shouldn't have run away. Your parents will be worried, and thats twice in a row now."
"I know," I admitted, deflating slightly. "But I just... needed some air. And to see you."
Alice squeezed my hand. "I understand. Come on, let's go to my usual nook. We can figure this out together."
She led me to a secluded corner of the library, tucked away behind a towering bookshelf. Here, we sat on plush armchairs, the hushed whisper of pages turning and the rhythmic ticking of an antique clock the only sounds.
"Alright," Alice began, her voice low. "Let's start with these books. Show me what you have."
Cautiously, I pulled out the Book of Exile and the mysterious book. Alice's eyes widened as she examined them, her fingers tracing the intricate designs on the covers.
"The Book of Exile," she murmured, "I just thought it was a plain old book, you see it only reveals its true identity to those it wishes to...and well all this time I had no idea I had it in my posession." her voice filled with awe. "I've read about it in ancient texts, but I never thought I'd see one myself. It's said to contain secrets of forgotten magic and exiled entities."
My pulse quickened. Could this be a clue to understanding the woman in the holographic image?
"And this other one," Alice continued, flipping through the pages of the mysterious book. "There's no title or inscription. But the illustrations..."
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHnck7mLm0
