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Chapter 9

“Stop here,” I tell the driver.

He glances back at me. “I’m supposed to take you back to the academy.”

“I just need to look at something in the library. It’s just a quick stop.”

The driver frowns then glances at the time. “Be quick.”

“Thank you!” I hurry out of the car and race up to the building and inside. The first thing I notice is how bright it is. Makes the one back at the academy feel dark and dreary—and the secret one even more so. There are also several groups gathered around discussing various things. Makes me wonder if they even have a rule about staying quiet for people to read.

I make my way to the back where the shelves are and find the books are all arranged in a similar fashion to the academy. And after flipping through a few books that look promising, I find nothing. Then I check a few other sections with the same result.

Why isn’t there more information on Queen Sirena? I’d happily take wild rumors over nothing. Does everyone think she’s nothing more than a fantasy? Or do merpeople simply not care about such ancient history?

There’s only one thing left to do before giving up. Or giving up here. I’ll have to use some creativity to find out more about her. Maybe try a bookstore or interview one of Valora’s oldest residents or something. Anything. I’m not stopping until I get the answers I need.

I head back toward the main desk and wait in line. Once it’s my turn, I ask my question as quietly as possible. “Do you have any information on Queen Sirena?”

The merwoman stifles a yawn. “Have you looked in the folklore section? Or mythology?”

“All of that, plus history.”

“I wouldn’t look there.”

I lean over the desk. “You don’t have anything?”

She studies me, her eyes widening. “Wait a minute. Are you …? Are you the princess?”

“Marra Ayers.” I nod. “Do you want to see my school ID?”

“Yeah.”

I dig it out of my pocket and hand it to her. I’d let her keep it if she could give me anything on the ancient queen.

She looks it over. “I’ll be right back.” Then she taps a few other librarians and whispers with them, and they each glance over at me.

My pulse races. Am I not supposed to be here? Are they going to call my dad or the academy to get me in trouble?

I never should’ve come here. But how much trouble can I really get into? One of the castle servants is the one who brought me here.

The librarian finally returns and hands me my card. “It’s an honor to have you here, your majesty.”

“You can call me Marra.”

She comes around the desk and waves me aside then speaks just above a whisper. “I can help you find what you’re looking for, but don’t mention this to anyone outside the royal class. Understood?”

“Sure.” My head feels light all of a sudden. Am I actually going to find something useful? Something more than I found in the academy’s secret library?

The woman leads me around the perimeter, past some bathrooms and doors marked for employees only, until we reach a dark wooden door that seems out of place from everything else in the building. She puts her hand on the knob and looks at me. “Very few have access to this part of the library. You can’t check any of these books out, but you can stay as long as you need to. We have a special exit and entrance down there.”

“Okay.”

Her palm and the knob glow a faint yellow before she twists and opens the door. “Hurry in, so I can close it before anyone sees.”

“Thanks.” I race past her, my pulse drumming in my ears, and descend down a curved staircase. This secret library is as big, if not bigger, than the one at the academy. I hear some conversation but don’t see anyone.

I follow the first row of shelves, reading the faded plaques on the ends. Each section has its own type of books, including an entire section on secret societies. My curiosity is burning, but I have to stay focused. I’m looking for information on Queen Sirena. I can always come back here another time.