Averyn POV
I had no intention of being in the library that long.
I was just browsing through some books when the school bell rang, startling me enough for me to nearly drop my bag on the floor.
"This is great," I said quietly as I hurried to put everything away on the shelves.
But then something caught my eye: a sensation.
It was not a physical thing. It was something much more profound. It was like a faint, whispering voice that drew me in. As I reached for the last book on the shelf, I stopped dead in my tracks and looked towards a dark corner at the back of the room.
My heart began to race.
"You're crazy. Get to class," I told herself.
But my feet had already taken me there.
At first glance, the book did not look out of the ordinary.
It had a simple cover without any title, and the dark leather was smooth and worn from repeated use. The position of the book was also very unusual, in that it was not lined up with the other books.
As soon as I touched it, everything around me stopped.
The mood shifted.
There was a tingling sensation spreading throughout my fingertips.
I retracted my hand, feeling my pulse racing, "Whoa...that's different." I said to herself.
As I slowly picked it up again, I felt a strong feeling of warmth running through my palm. This feeling was almost like being aware of what was happening instead of the weird tension that had built up in my chest.
Abruptly, I swallowed."I guess I'm going crazy, " I whispered.
The book was of a size that it could be put into my backpack without any difficulty. While in class, I never opened the book.
It was never revealed to my classmates.
The book stayed on my mind heavily all day long; I found myself drawing bizarre designs in my notes. I hardly even enjoyed lunch.
I think I should keep the news from the other girls. It was heavy on my mind for the remainder of the day.
When Jade noticed that I had been so quiet, she remarked that it was never a good thing.
Without thinking, I blurted out, "I found a book!" Gianna blinked.
"That's it? I thought you were going to tell us you were joining a cult." Carmira, in a soft voice, said it wasn't helpful.
Ruelle tilted her head. "What type of book?" I
said, "I don't know, but it feels important".
The girls looked at one another. "A sleepover?" Jade said suggestingly.
I nodded. "Yes. Tonight. "
Lunara was alone in the library. She was standing between the two rows of shelves. She was sensing it now.
The Codex was alive and it was awakening.
The enemy would also sense it.
Lunara clenched her jaw and changed direction toward the window. She was looking down at the town of Evershade which was still oblivious to the danger.
Please, she prayed, give them a little more time.