We move out and shiver as we step out into the cold, early morning air. Only me and Klevon, though, since the three vampires seem to relish the chilly air.
We follow Klevon to the library where they had the Magic Sensor. As Klevon warned, it took us four hours to reach our destination. Thankfully, the Owusu's built it in a less chilly place. In fact, dewy grass is underneath our feet.
Klevon leads us through a cobblestone path where some elm trees–which nature pruned into eerie shapes–flank us. Klevon is telling us how much he likes the place because he can be alone and can practice his swordsmanship any way he wants.
As we come closer, the library comes into view. The said library, however, does not look like a library. It only has a small door that is only four feet in height. As Klevon opens it, the smell of old parchment and leather-bound books greets us.
"Pardon the musty smell. I am the only one who likes this library," Klevon says.
Klevon stoops down and enters through the tiny door. We follow him down the creaking stairway and into the basement.
"How many levels are here?" I ask, remembering that the libraries the King of Owusu mentioned have six or more levels.
"There are only three levels here," Klevon responds. "The Magic Sensor is at the bottom level."
"This place feels like magic," Inanna remarks. "Rather than a library."
Klevon grins. "You got it right. It's one reason why I love this place."
Klevon moves towards the metal stairs at the end of the room. We descend to the second level, which is packed with rows of bookshelves. As we make our way toward the third level, the musty smell becomes stronger, the stairway becomes cracked, and there are missing plasters on the walls.
The bottom level is a landing that opens up to a larger room with only five bookshelves in the middle. The entire floor is covered in dark red rugs.
"Oh, wow!" Gezer comments. "I think I have an idea of what my favorite place will look like."
"No copying," Klevon says. "This is mine."
"You only like this place because of those trinkets," Gezer responds and points at the shelves of magical tools. "I like this place because it's stagnant and stale. Not to mention that no light comes here."
I point at the lamp and ask, "So, those lamps are powered by magic all day and night?"
"That is right," Klevon answers as he moves to one of them. He opens one drawer and takes out what we came here for. "There's the gem I am looking for," he says.
I peek at what he is holding. It looks like ruby but more like a darker shade of red.
Gezer peers, too, and touches the Magic Sensor. "Oh, you got an original."
"There are fakes?" I ask.
"A couple, but they still do their purpose."
"And this?"
"If it's not the original, it will break after a single use," Klevon answers.
"Should we put in our magic, then? There are three of us, so the calibration will be more accurate."
"Before that, I think all of you should check this out," Ninus says. He is looking up at one picture hanging in the corner. Inanna is standing beside him and is looking at the same portrait. We all come closer and look at what he is pointing at.
Gezer and I exclaim at the picture. Inanna is quiet while Ninus asks, "Who do you think looks like this?"
Suddenly, Klevon drapes his arms over my shoulders and says, "I guess this might be why I am smitten with you, Kaiya. You've been with me since I was a child."
I pinch his arm and approach the painting. It can't be. The portrait really looks like me. Only cleaner and wearing a beautiful dress. However, on closer inspection, I can see that it's been over two centuries old.
The vampires and the others already said I am immortal, but it seems surreal that I was even here centuries ago.
"Seems like you are an Owusu King lover before, Kaiya," Inanna comments while pointing at the portrait's title. "You probably shared a mate bond with one of Klevon's ancestors before."
I let my fingers brush through the metallic title of the painting. I can feel a familiarity with it, but I don't remember it.
"Oh wow, a couple of these books are about you, Kaiya," Gezer informs. He is already browsing through one book.
I move towards him and peek at the page. He points at one passage in particular. "See here," he starts. "We already know that Vessels stop giving birth once the maximum limit of offspring is reached. However, yours is a bit different."
Klevon and the others come closer as we listen in to Gezer.
"Apparently, your mate will die young before he successfully impregnates you. It says that freak accidents will happen until your mate dies."
"But I got pregnant with Theo's child," I say.
And he is still alive. Suddenly, realization dawns on me. I stare at Gezer and whisper, "I was the cause! That is the reason Theo has been attacked a lot lately! The reason his life is always in danger! It's all because he mated with me!"
"That's exactly what it's saying here."
Then Klevon laughs. "You are like a ticking bomb, Kaiya."
"It's no laughing matter!" I scold and hit his arm.
"Oh!" Gezer exclaims. He places the book back onto the bookshelves and looks for another title. "Here it is."
"What now?" Inanna asks. She is as curious as I am, even if we are only here for that magic sensor tool.
"All her babies will die except for that of an Owusu man. The Owusu bloodline had been altered to match yours, Kaiya. It says here that the birthrate with an Owusu is higher than a normal human or werewolf. It is to escape your destiny in love. A way to trick the Moon Goddess. It all says it here."
"Oh!" Klevon says. But annoyingly, his tone is upbeat. "I saw you before Theo did on the hunting park. If I were a King then, I think you would mate with me instead, right?"
I ignore his question. I dislike the connotation. It is saying that I fit Klevon better than my own mate! I won't just accept it. And so, I ask, "How will we know that everything that is written there is true?"
"Hmmm, let's see," he mutters. "Oh!" Gezer looks at me.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask.
"Theo and you. Your strategy is for you to get impregnated. That way, your body will poison the Moon Goddess once she descends!"
I frown. It's true that we are rebelling against the Moon Goddess, but ours is nothing so serious as the need to poison a goddess.
"Now, I don't understand why you come up with that notion."
Gezer takes another book from the bottom shelf and shows it to me. "Because you and Theo being together is already against the Moon Goddess' wishes. The two of you are restarting what this Owusu forefather started centuries ago. Theo may be a King, but he doesn't have the blood of the ancient Kings. Also," Gezer flips a couple of pages and adds, "If you get pregnant and bear a child past your maximum number of offspring, other than poisoning the Moon Goddess, you will also cease to become a vessel."
"That can't be all true," I say.
"Only one way to find out," Gezer says and looks at Klevon, who is already massaging his chin as if in deep thought.
Gezer continues, "Make love with Klevon. Create a child together. Then let's see if you will cease to become a vessel."