Page 86 of Heartless Heathens

“Haven’t I been?” He punched my shoulder softly and I laughed.

“I think you’ve been teaching me to use a knife.”

“Why need a shield, when you can be a blade instead?” He challenged me with a cocky look.

I found I had no counterpoints to his argument.

“Do you like me?” I asked him and he gave me a look that was entirely too sarcastic.

Unlike Felix, Corvin was impossible to read.

“I like you just fine little lamb, why do you ask?” He raised both eyebrows while he waited for his answer, but I just shrugged a response.

“No reason.” I tucked my insecurities in my back pocket, content with the validation.

We found our way inside the underground tunnels faster this time around, and I realized that maybe he was right, maybe Reesa did talk a little too much. But she was kind, and it wasn’t something I was used to, so I was happy to keep her around, in small doses.

“Rule number one.” He started off without looking down at me, arm draped over my shoulder once again as we walked through the massive underground chamber.

It was insane to think that any time of the day this was a functioning, operating, place filled with people who knew and held secrets beyond my comprehension. It made me realize Corvin was right. These people had so much to lose, but they still risked it all to fight for a way of life that was important to them.

I was realizing that the church didn’t leave room for anything else. It didn’t give people room, space, freedom, or time to be anything else but…devoted. Devoted to a God who wouldn’t even spare them a second chance. These days, my thoughts alone would be enough doubt to condemn me to hell.

“Don’t wander. Don’t stray too far. And stay in my sight.”

“Those sound like three rules, and somehow they sound like the same rule,” I told him with a side eye.

“Good, then you don’t need me to tell you rules two, three, or four.” He said with a grin.

“Oh yeah? What would those be?” I nudged his side with my elbow and he messed up my hair under his large hand.

“The ass-kicking I’d give you if you didn’t listen.” He tugged me by the hand again, ignoring the dozens of people on the makeshift, cobblestone-street.

It was massive. It was hard to believe we were so deep underground that a place like this could house a building so large. It was nearly 30 feet tall, gigantesque, and covered in architecture reminiscent of the same cathedral the archbishop hid himself away in.

“Maybe close your eyes,” he said with a mischievous smile and I raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “It’ll be better that way, don’t make me blindfold you.” He pulled me up the steps and guided me inside.

I clenched his forearm tightly while he led me in, breathing nervously at the anxious thought of what would be waiting inside.

“Can I open?” I whispered.

“Just one more second.” He pulled me in a few more steps. “Okay,” he whisper-yelled and I let my eyelids flutter up.

“What?” I couldn’t hide the marvel in my voice.

There were hundreds, no thousands, maybe even millions of books in here. Every inch of every wall was covered from floor to ceiling with books. There were tight isles made of bookshelves everywhere you had room to turn. It was a dream.

A place like this couldn’t exist, because it meant that all of these books were real.

“I told you that the campus library was shit.” He took in the look on my face and added it to one of his wins. “And here, no one controls what you read.” He fanned his arm out like he was showing off the place in its entirety.

It was a wonder to behold in its magnanimous entirety.

“How does it work?” I asked him.

“Just pick out whatever you want. As many as you want. Just don’t stray too far okay?” I nodded and skipped away with a squeal, looking through the categories hanging from signs on the ceilings.

I had enough of non-fiction. Had enough of the false histories recreated by men who only cared to dilute the truth. I wanted to dive headfirst into worlds of fantasies, stories of the unknown, the magical, and the brave.