Chapter Forty-Four

                                    

                                          
Surprise! Two Chapters today :) 
Calin stepped through the portal at my side without hesitation. His easy acceptance made me truly happy to finally share. Watching his reaction when we entered instead of our surroundings reminded me of how I felt when Zach brought me for the first time.
Amazement.
Excitement.
Disbelief.
Above that, I was excited just to have him here. To finally share the heaviness of my family secrets without worrying about the repercussions. Like my mom, I vowed to tell Islene. If nothing else, her visions would include me, which would offer me additional protection.
I cleared my throat and looked away from Calin. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
"That's like saying Buckingham Palace is just a building." Calin snorted, continuing to look around. "It's unbelievable. Like seriously hard to believe. Isn't this the gazebo from your house in Briarville?"
"Blew my mind too, but at least it explained why Zach and my mom kept coming out to repair it. She never used it to come back here. Only Zach did that." I shrugged. "It's the only place here our phones will work. Something about it being connected to both worlds and the rest of the Kingdom remaining separated."
"Does it ever feel pretentious calling it the Kingdom?"
"Every time I say it." I laughed and grabbed his hand. "Come on. I'll take you to the library and later after I see Zach I'll show you the back. Some would find it morbid but I think it's cool."
"Morbid?"
"It's better to just show you. Don't worry. It's nothing bad."
Calin's steps slowed when we reached the path lined with statues, forcing me to decrease the power-walk that brought us from the gazebo. I wished we could run through. I didn't want to explain, but if I distracted Calin now he may be too distracted to notice the image of me.
"So... yeah." I cleared my throat. "Apparently, every leader in my family is memorialized as a statue after they pass on the torch, so to speak."
"So your mom?"
"Uh... And me. But we aren't stopping, so look quick. It's embarrassing."
Once again, I picked up our pace, only having to tug a little harder when he paused at the door. He nearly won when he resisted, his head tilted back to stare at my replica above the door.
"Nora..."
"Seriously. Do not pay that any attention."
"But you're—"
"—on display without consent or doing anything to deserve it," I said, and pulled his hand again.
Calin finally gave in, though his steps were slow and his head remained tilted up until we passed through the doorway. Once we were shut inside, I managed to keep a decent pace again. I pointed down halls and at the doors as we passed, giving a thumbnail sketch of what we'd find—as least, I hoped I was. The halls were still a maze.
Finally, we reached the library, and I was pretty sure we only backtracked once. I hoped Calin didn't notice. If he was struck by the enormity of the library as I had been—and it looked like he was—it was a good bet he didn't notice the misdirection.
"So." I cleared my throat and gestured inside the room from the doorway. "I assume this will make sure you aren't bored while I go find Zach? I'll try to be quick, I promise."
"Are you sure you don't need me to come with you?" Calin glanced at me and back to the shelves of books.
"No. Stay. I'm kind of jealous you get to browse. Every time I've been in here, it's been with a purpose." I laughed. "In fact, if you're here, it will give me a reason to finish with Zach sooner so I can join you."