Chapter 196: The Book
Ash was missing Violet desperately. He’d lost count of the days. His heart just feeling empty. It had set him on Ash. He became aggressive and agitated. Snapping on everyone around him.
Since returning to the capital in Bucharest things have been busy and messy. Lilith seemed to have been having dreams. They didn’t make sense, just flashes of random images that were blurry, too blurry, she couldn’t make them out.
Some had wolves and felines fighting monsters. Others had a man’s blurred face. Some were just black and filled with pain she felt so deep in her bones.
Everyone has been trying to help. But it’s only gotten worse. Moving from dreams that kept her from sleeping, to now moments in her waking hours. It pained the Leviathan to see his little queen so distressed and being unable to help her. He knew it was coming, the memories buried by Artemis were unlocking themselves. And he just had watch as piece by piece Lilith was crumbling.
Arya was still unreachable. As usual... She dropped the bomb about the coven pulling out and her returning with news of their agreed change of course and Violet’s possession.
Ash’s brothers had arrived the day before last. With Rosa and Delilah in tow.
Vlad had been working with Ash and Oliver on strategies for war with monsters.
Jeremy was researching the Turned, their weaknesses. Their origins. And the Leviathan was tight lipped as ever about everything. And they weren’t desperate enough, yet, to the price for information that the Leviathan charged.
He had a purpose and limits to what he can do as a spirit of the ancient world. The time before humans.
He was basically a glorified and glamorized historian. But the cost was flesh in one form or another. Everything had a balance an order and this was one of them.
So, it was up to him to figure it out. He worked day and night until he was red in the eyes. Rosa was bringing him food and drinks trying to keep him healthy. Jeremy couldn’t look away, he was determined to find the answers.
For all the reading and research, he’s done over the years he never dug this deep into the origins of things.
Digging through an old archive, a book he found hidden by magic.
It was written in an old language. Jeremy felt it was familiar, like he’s seen it before, but couldn’t remember where.
The book was sealed shut; he couldn’t open it. He couldn’t help but feel like this book was what he was seeking.
He had to find a way to crack it and dispel the magic.
Taking the book from the archive to his lab in the castle.
When Rosa went looking for him to bring him dinner, he hadn’t come out again. She held out hope every night that he would join them for dinner.
She checked the library and the archive, and he wasn’t anywhere.
She sighed. And brought the tray to their room. Passing by a door she could hear Jeremy swearing.
Opening it she found the room a disorganized mess. Which was very unlike Jeremy, the most composed and organized person among all the brothers. Jeremy looked haggard and defeated.
"What’s got you so worked up? You look a mess mi amor." Rosa asked him.
"I think I found a book with answers, but I can’t open it, and I have no idea what language it’s in. I’m searching through everything and just as I think I’m close to cracking it, I couldn’t be further away." Jeremy slammed his forehead into his desk. "This is the most frustrating thing I’ve ever dealt with."
"Even a teenage girl?" Rosa teased raising one eyebrow.
"Yes! At least with a teenage girl there’s support groups and blogs. There’s nothing. Not even in any of the archives. And I’ve searched everywhere, Rosa. I swear I’ve seen this language before. But I can’t figure out where." Jeremy groaned.
"Can I take a look. I probably haven’t either and can’t help, but satisfy my curiosity please?" Rosa asked.
"Sure, be my guest." Jeremy tossed the book to Rosa.
Rosa looked at. The blue leatherbound book with the old faded gold scripting on the cover.
"It looks like old fae." Rosa said.
"Fae, how do you know what old fae looks like?" Jeremy asked.
"My father has an old fae book he got from a witch. They say witches are descendants of fae." Rosa told him. These symbols look similar. Not the same but similar enough." Rosa answered handing the book back she adds "Maybe ask if the Leviathan. Why else is he here if you can’t help at all without a tax. Threaten to send him back. Lilith is a badass, but the entirety of you all and the army is too much for him, and if he won’t contribute to the effort, he doesn’t need to eat our food or warm a bed here."
Jeremy took in what Rosa said. ’Fae?’ He questioned. ’What other languages were around in the time the fae still walked this earth?’ Jeremy tried to connect the dots. But couldn’t, ’Rosa’s idea about threatening to revoke his acceptance into the circle wasn’t a bad idea, but would Lilith back them or what it causes a fight between them?’
It was worth the risk. And he was almost desperate enough to sell a finger for some information.
"I’ll do that. That’s not a bad idea of suggestion.
Jeremy pulls out his phone and calls His brothers and his father to meet in the council room.
They agreed and when Jeremy finished his calls, he looked to Rosa and saw the tray on the table she was sitting next to in the comfy lunge chair in the corner.
"Is that for me?" Jeremy asked.
"Yes, of course. If I don’t bring you food and wait for you to finish, you’d be too focused to eat. Now, eat." Rosa stood up and walked the tray over.
He smiled; his little wife knew him so well. He sometimes thinks back to when he first met her and how prejudice he was against her. How even then there was something about her that called to him, and it made him mad, mad at her, mad at himself. But it was there. It had always been there. He was just too much of an asshole to admit it at the time. He remembered the first time she took his breath away. When she came to his concerto in that stunning yellow dress. Her hair all done up. She looked breathtaking.
After he ate, they went to the council room to meet up and with their family.
They all gathered round the table, taking their seats.
"Why did you call for us?" His father asked.
"I found something." Jeremy said to everyone in the room. "I found a book and I think it might hold some of the answers we’re looking for."
"Well, go on, show us the book." Vlad said.
"Why did you say might?" Oliver asked.
"Because I can’t read it and I can’t open it. It’s in a language I can’t read or find anywhere. And the magic that binds the book, its powerful stuff. I need Arya to help with dispelling the magic." Jeremy answered passing the book around the table.
"Rosa thinks it might be related to the language the Fae used in ancient times. Her father has a book with similar wording and it’s a fae book her father bought at an auction." Jeremy added.
"It’s certainly and old language. What do you think, Ash? You’re awfully quiet?" Vlad asked.
"I think it’s high time the Leviathan pays his rent and tells us what he knows about this book." Ash growled.
"Agreed." Oliver butted in.
"I was thinking the same thing, and that’s the other reason I called this meeting. I want to threaten him, give us answers, or leave, we’re done hosting someone who can’t help when there is this much at stake." Rosa dropped into the conversation now.
"Wow, look at you, miss manipulative, I didn’t know you had it in you." Oliver winked. Jeremy shot Oliver a warning glare.
Oliver just laughed it off. Completely unconcerned with his brother’s threat.
"So, it’s agreed, we make him talk or kick him out?" Ash asked.
"What about Lilith?" Oliver asked the very real question everyone was silently wondering.
"If she doesn’t stand by us, then she can leave too. This isn’t about good dick, it’s about getting my granddaughter back." Vlad growled.