Page 6 of As Above, So Below

It’s a table suited to seat fourteen. Lined with matching chairs that have collected centuries of dust, save for the last few at the end, it’s meant for Netharis and his thirteen children. His thirteen vessels of death, Death Bringers.

We’ve never sat here together. Not once.

No one visits this library aside from me.

Vaelyn and Ylara will seek me out here, knowing it’s one of two places in the tower I have the clearance to visit. I’ve turned it into my little sanctuary in the hells. If such a thing could exist. The table is covered with dozens of books, some stacked quite hastily, others left strewn open to whatever page I read last. It’s an unsightly mess for sure.

Dragging my eyes upward from the disarray, the black metal chandelier hanging overhead comes to life with light as I bend and crook my fingers. A vast, yet soft circle of silver light fills the room, washing over the table to chase the shadows away exposing the titles and text. With a sigh, I seat myself beside the head of the table and draw a stack of three books closer.

Many of the library’s works are historical accounts of the hells, bestiaries on various demon types. Every once in a while, I’ve stumbled upon a roughly translated piece from the living realm. Finding them is like a breath of fresh air after emerging from a dark cavern.

Surprisingly, I’ve come across journals penned by Netharis himself.

I don’t know what I expected when I decided to read them. They’re nothing more than retellings of his victories, securing noteworthy contracts, or speculation on mortal politics. Nothing worth reading, nothing to help me find answers about the fae, about leaving the hells, or about ending myself.

In a moment of petty spite, I burned them.

He never noticed.

Pulling the first book from the stack, my eyes gloss over the title.The History of the Harpy.Pushing it aside, I move on to the next. The second book resonates under my touch, and I freeze, brows furrowing. It’s a strange crawling sensation, creeping along my fingertips and rising up my wrist. Malbolge runes dance over the leather surface, writhing toward the center, and arrange themselves.

Fated Celestials.

I pull my fingers away and shudder as the sensation ceases. What kind of defense mechanism does this book possess? And why is it here? I don’t recall retrieving this book, and I absolutely wouldhave remembered feelingthat.

Could Ylara have found it and left it?

Near the bottom of the cover, a name.Crissop.

It’s not a name I recognize, and I’m going to assume human as it sounds neither fae nor demon. Laying my palm flat against the cover, the creeping sensation shoots up my arm, faster than it had before, and I gasp, snatching my hand away.

No pain, just a strange pulling.

Raising the left sleeve of my black robes, I inspect my arm. Turning it over, searching for markings, or changes in my flesh.

Nothing.

Alright. Interesting.

“You have that look about you, Ves.” Vaelyn’s voice is teasing.

Startled, my eyes dart across the room.

Vaelyn approaches, striding into the center of the room at the far end of the table. His smile carries the mischievous glint I know all too well. He’s bored and now he’s come to entertain himself by annoying me.

“Vae…” My greeting trails off as I cross a leg over my knee. “You find me in a state of disarray.” I gesture to the books strewn across the table.

He runs his thumb along the back of each chair as he continues his approach. The grating sound of his talon cutting into the wood sets my face into a scowl. Head swiveling, his cerulean blue eyes sweep over the room.

“I see this.” He nods. “I hope for your benefit today isn’t the day Netharis decides to seek you out here.”

My laughter is bitter. “I’ve given Netharis no reason to visit me, and he hasn’t visited this library since—” I stop myself, staring at the pile of books blankly for a moment before I force myself to meet my brother’s stare. “He doesn’t visit the library. You know this,” I finish firmly.

Returning the book to the stack, I pick up the first book I’d moved,The History of the Harpy, and place it overFated Celestials.An attempt to hide the cursed book from his view. I don’t know how it ended up in the library, but something tells me it shouldn’t be here.

And I’m not about to be blamed for it.

Vaelyn has already proven his worth as the heir of the hells.