Page 36 of Satanic Shadow

I shrug. “I wanted to know more about Dane.” When she gives me a knowing look, I sigh. “For educational purposes obviously. I should know who I’m partnered up with, right?”

“You have no idea who he is, do you?”

“Of course not,” I reply. “Tell me. Please.”

“Dane’s from an extinct realm. He was the heir, but some people now know him as the Prince of Darkness. When their world perished, most of them lost the ability to contain their power, but somehow he kept all of his. Dane doesn’t have full control. But yeah… It was pretty nasty from what I’ve heard.”

I tuck the heavy book back into the hiding spot I chose on the third row of shelves. “Can you tell me what you know?”

She bites her lip. “It’s not my story to tell. All of them… the survivors, they lost a lot. I’m surprised Dane got out before the explosion.”

“When?”

Poppy glances behind me then around us, making sure no one is near. “A long time ago. He’s been searching the realms ever since.”

I frown. “Searching for what?”

“I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to tell. Some things are kept secret for a reason.”

The line between my brows deepens. “I don’t understand.”

“Keep this between us. I’m sure I overheard him talking about a blade. Him and Orsen were looking for it. That’s the only information I can give you.”

My brow furrows even further. “A blade?”

Poppy blows a bubble with her gum, pops it on her finger, then rips it off with her teeth. “I need to go. Speak to you later?”

I nod, confused. “Sure.”

She skips out of the library.

I turn back to the table, drop my bag, and go for the book again.

Hours later, no further forward with my research, I’m woken by the librarian slapping me hard and telling me to get out before she turns me into a puddle of vomit.

A shiver wracks through my body as I stare her down, paper stuck to my cheek. She eventually straightens her spine and goes back to her desk to stamp floating books.

As I check my phone on the way to the dorm room, I notice it’s two in the morning, and I received a message from Dane half an hour ago.

Dane:C109

That’s all.

I stop walking and stare, unsure of what this means.

The classrooms are all labeled like that, or maybe he sent it by accident?

Cstands for the cult studies corridor, and the1stands for the first floor, door nine.

Me:???

I know he’ll take forever to respond, so I click off my phone and make my way to the cult studies corridor. It’s late. Dark. The usual harrowing screams are silent, but I can feel eyes on me. I’m being watched as I walk through the darkness.

I grab a candelabra from a table sitting outside one of the classrooms, using it to guide me. The soft glow from the flames licks the walls, and if it wasn’t for the eeriness of the entire situation, I’d say this was a nice aesthetic.

If Wi-Fi were a thing here, I’d take a picture and post it to one of my socials.

I’ll make do with seeing it and living in the moment.