The Archive of the Forgotten (Hell's Library #2) - A. J. Hackwith Page 0,69
yourself.” Then a glint in her eye turned harder, angry. “It’s wrong. It’s more than wrong. The selfish librarian has done more harm than even I could have anticipated.”
“Claire has given everything for the Library.” Hero’s voice was sharp. It was a surprise to feel Rami bristle beside him too. But then his brain caught up with his mouth, and a little guiltily he added, “As has Librarian Brevity.”
“Not everything. She could never give enough to make up for what she has done. Humans can’t understand the real meaning of sacrifice.” Probity no longer looked at Hero like a pitiful rescue. Her mouth thinned into a fine line, as if she was steeling herself. “Even a broken book is still loyal to the woman instead of the true librarian,” she said. “She’s not worthy of your devotion, little book. I wonder if you would be so fond of your human librarians and authors if you knew how many books just like you they’ve turned to dust. They’re a parasite on the Library.”
“Watch your tone,” Rami said, low as a threat.
“I mean no disrespect, Master Watcher.” Probity held up a placating hand, but the new tension in her shoulders wasn’t reassuring. “I do respect the work you do, securing and passing judgment on muddled mortal souls; it really is a wonder.”
“I’m no judge,” Rami objected, and Probity tilted her head.
“Well, you should be.”
“Yes, humans are terrible. Not like you muses,” Hero said archly. “Tell me again, where were you on the day a demon came to burn us all? The only muse I recall seeing on the battlefield was Brevity.”
Probity flinched. “The Library fights its own battles,” she said before adding, a little softer, “I would have come if Brevity had called me.”
“So help now,” Rami said. “What do you know that we don’t? What do you know about the ink? Why did it remain when the books were burned?”
Probity didn’t answer for a moment. She took a step forward, closer to what seemed to be the film of water separating them. “You really don’t know, do you?” Her voice was wondering. “But how could the human not know? Not recognize . . .”
She trailed off, and the silence tripped past Hero’s last remaining bit of patience. “Not know what? If you will not help us, then why should the Library ‘cooperate’ with you?”
Probity tucked her arms around herself until her hands disappeared in the volume of soft knit. She chewed on her bottom lip, and the prospect of something sadder that Hero couldn’t guess. “I’m trying to save you, little book. Whether you believe me or not. That ink represents the best opportunity to save stories that I’ve seen in all my many years. It deserves to be used, not locked up in a dusty vault. That ink is the heart of a story. Every story. I’d give anything to protect that.”
“Then tell me what that means so we can fix it!” Hero threw up his hands even as he felt exhilarated. To save stories. The moment he’d laid eyes on the unknown substance, a quiet voice at the back of his mind had whispered a possibility. That ink could repair his pages where the Library’s efforts had failed, so Hero could see his story again after all. That was what Probity was hinting at; it had to be. That ink was the key. The hope he’d kept firmly buried began to worm its way up his chest.
Probity appeared torn, debating before speaking again. “I’ve told you enough to unravel the lies the Library has told you. Anything more and you’ll run back to that cruel human with accusations. I might have even said too much already.” A sigh drained out of her like a surrender. Her eyes turned wet, and she diverted her gaze to the ground. “That can’t happen. It can’t. Things are too important, and moving too fast now for it to happen, no matter my own feelings. You wanted to escape Hell once, didn’t you?”
Hero was too preoccupied with his thoughts to notice the sudden change in Probity’s tone. At least, not until Rami gripped his shoulder in warning. “We will be missed, should we not return soon,” Rami said carefully. “We’ll be on our way.”
“Hell, one of the judgment realms.” Probity seemed to be considering to herself. “Really, they are all so very much the same. One damnation is the same as any other. I wonder how those are connected.”