"Another one locked up and kept safe from the world," Jake Stone announced as he put their newest acquisition under glass.
He glanced at his Guardian, Eve, and smiled. She smiled back.
"And now," she asked with a hint of the smile in her voice, "we get the day off you promised me?"
He'd been promising her a day off for awhile. Not just a day off, but a day off where the two of them did nothing but watch stupid action movies, eat pizza, and romp around in the king sized bed he'd bought just for that purpose.
He winked at her. "Can't wait. Let's go tell Charlene we're clocking out until the day after tomorrow."
"Sounds great."
Jake was tempted to press her against the newly placed glass and kiss her, but Eve had a rule of no displays of affection while they were working. They mostly obeyed it, though the stacks had seen their share of stolen kisses, and one time his desk had seen substantially more than that. Still, Eve liked to keep her work and home lives separate, and Jake was more than willing to let her have her way in that—and in pretty much everything else, if truth be told, unless it went against his instincts when it came to their job. Occasionally, Eve was moved to break her own rule, and Jake was more than willing to break it right along with her.
She was looking down into his face, studying him, her expression suddenly serious.
"What is it?" he asked.
She shook her head. "Nothing. It's nothing."
He frowned, curious, but he didn't get a chance to question her. His cell phone rang shrilly and, since he was still on the clock, he had to answer.
"Stone."
"Is this the Librarian?" a soft, accented voice asked.
"Yes, I'm the Librarian."
"I need to meet with you."
Jake glanced at Eve. "Now?"
"The fate of the world may depend on it."
He sighed. It always did. "All right. Where can I find you?"
"Is this line secure?" For the first time, he noticed some unease in her voice.
"It's secure."
She rattled off an address, and Eve was holding a pen and paper out to him because she knew him well enough to know that his mind was often so busy that he forgot little things. It was one of the disadvantages of having an IQ of about 190.
Jake quietly jotted down the address and agreed to meet her there as soon as he could. As he hung up, Eve was looking at him questioningly.
"Sorry, darlin'. Looks like we're gonna have to put off that day off a little longer."
"So I gathered," she accepted dryly. "What's going on?"
"I have no idea, but she sounded concerned."
"How concerned?"
"She said the fate of the world depended on it."
"Doesn't it always?" Eve echoed his earlier thought.
"Well, I am the Librarian."
"And I'm your Guardian. Let's go meet this mystery woman."
XXX
The address the mysterious caller had given them brought Jake to a section of the city he'd never seen before. The streets were rundown and mostly contained rickety warehouses. They even passed a boarded up factory as they got closer to their destination.
Everything was quiet, but Eve insisted on walking ahead of him. She wore her soldier face, and he knew she was aware of everything around them. As he watched her, he admired her grace. She moved in lithe, fluid lines. Many—usually those she was facing off against—were intimidated by both her size and her prowess, but Jake thought she was beauty in motion. He'd told her that once, and she'd laughed at him.
She stopped abruptly and asked, "Are you watching my ass?"
Jake knew this was her way of telling him there was no obvious danger.
He acknowledged her rare show of humour by replying, "Don't I always?"
She glanced at him over her shoulder and gave him a wink before striding up to a nearby doorway. It belonged to a sagging warehouse devoid of paint and boasting two windows covered with plywood.
"This is it."
He could see her body once more go into protective mode as she went up and knocked on the door. She knocked twice before it was open by a beautiful young woman.
"Hurry!" she said without preamble. "Come in."
There was a sense of urgency in her movements, so Eve and Jake followed her, saving their questions.
As soon as the door closed, the woman said, "Thank you for coming. I wasn't sure where else to go, and I was sure this was something you should be aware of."
"What is it?" Jake asked. "What's going on?"
She led them through a dim hallway and into a messy room filled with a hodgepodge of different things. Most of it was sticking out of boxes, but there were also scattered books and other items that were mostly used for research.
"Please excuse the mess," the woman said, indicating the room with a wave of her hand. "This isn't usually where I'd be entertaining. Until a few hours ago, we had a very nice office." She paused before quietly adding, "Three hours ago, there was a 'we'."
This caught his attention. "I think you'd better explain."
She nodded. "My name is Lamia. Up until three hours ago, I worked with Professor Jonas Shiar..."
"That name sounds familiar."
"It should. We met standing in line to interview for your job."
Jake frowned, thinking. He didn't remember her, but he had a faint memory of Shiar.
"He was fascinated with the study of medieval history and magic. His fascination fascinated me, so we became partners. A month or so ago, he started working on this new project. I asked him what it was but he kept saying he didn't know enough to share yet. All I knew is that it had something to do with a painting."
"What happened to Shiar?" Eve asked, to the point as always.
"Three men broke into our office and killed him. I managed to get away, and I took our research with me."
"Who? What men?"
"Shiar said they were members of the Serpent Brotherhood."
"Dammit," Jake swore. "What are they after?"
The Serpent Brotherhood was the traditional enemy of the Library. They had started out as Librarians themselves, but they'd been corrupted by the promise of ruling the world with magic instead of protecting the world and magic from each other. Jake had faced them many times over his term as Librarian, and he knew they were led by a wildcard named Dulaque.
"I don't know," Lamia shook her head, "but it had something to do with this."
She went over to a stack of books and papers and picked up something rolled and held with an elastic. She brought it over and handed it to Jake while Eve watched with wary eyes.
"What's that?" Eve leaned forward to peer at the large sheet of paper as Jake unrolled it. It held a painting that he recognized immediately.
"The Crown of King Arthur."
"You know it?" Lamia seemed surprised.
He shrugged. "My strengths are art and history." Studying her curiously, he had to ask, "What are yours?"
At first, he didn't think she'd answer, but after a pause she grudgingly told him, "Math, physics, and spacial visualization."
"The painting, Librarian." Eve stressed his title to get him back on track.
"Oh, yeah. King Arthur's crown has been lost for a very long time. If both Shiar and the Serpent Brotherhood are interested in this painting, maybe it's a clue to finding it. I'd love to see the real thing. Either of you have a clue who owns it?"
Lamia shrugged. "I didn't even know what it was."
Eve hauled out her Smart Phone, saying, "I told you, you need to upgrade your phone. It's The Crown of King Arthur?" She pushed some buttons. "Oh, here we go. It's been hanging in the Munich Museum of History and Art for as long as anyone can remember."
"I'm coming with you," Lamia stated flatly. "Shiar died for that crown, and I'm going to see his quest finished."
Once more, Jake studied her. She looked fierce and determined, and she had survived an attack by the Serpent Brotherhood.
"Fine. I'll call Charlene and get her to get us three tickets to Munich. With any luck, they'll be ready for us before we get to the airport. Grab your passport, Lamia, and let's go."
XXX
"The brochure says the painting is down this way," Jake said, glancing at the paper in his hand.
As he started down the stairs, he felt a light hand on his shoulder. He turned to see his Guardian looking distracted.
"I'll be right back."
Eve turned back, and Jake led Lamia to the painting. As he approached it, he frowned, realizing it wasn't nearly as old as it was supposed to be.
"This is a fake," he murmured.
"What?"
"The paint. It's not right." He got closer so he could study it more easily.
"Hmn," Lamia said behind him.
"Something?" After all, she had been interviewed for the Librarian position, and she might see something he missed.
"I just wonder."
"What is it?"
Lamia ran her fingers over the edge of the frame and nodded to herself. "As I thought. There had to be a reason a fake hung here for so long. There is a binary code along the side here. I think it's a message."
"Coordinates?"
"Yes. Using this as a fixed point to lead to..."
"The crown?"
"Why don't we find out?"
Jake quickly looked around for Eve, but she was nowhere in sight. He'd have to catch up with her later.
They followed the trail out of the museum to an old sundial in the front. There was script around the outside, and Jake recognized the language.
"The crown of the Celts lies seventy leagues to the Great Woods."
Lamia glanced at him. "What does that mean?"
"It means the crown is buried in the Black Forest."
"What's this about the Black Forest?" Eve asked as she walked up to them.
She looked calm and unruffled, though her hair had fallen a bit out of her loose ponytail and there was a rip in her t-shirt.
"Where did you disappear to?"
"There was a problem. I took care of it."
He nodded. "You always do."
This earned him a faint smile. "If we're heading to the Black Forest, we'll need supplies." She hesitated, and an expression of uncertainty came to her face.
"What is it?"
"I don't know. I just have a bad feeling about this."
Jake had known Eve long enough to trust her instincts. He nodded. "We'll be extra careful."
She touched his arm briefly. "I won't let anything happen to you."
"I know you won't." He noticed Lamia watching them with interest, so he left it at that. "Come on, ladies. Let's go find the Crown of King Arthur."
XXX
The Black Forest was tricky. They rented an old, beat up truck and drove to the middle of nowhere. Jake hadn't been expecting to find an ancient henge, but it was the last barrier protecting the Crown. With Lamia's help, he eventually cracked the mathematics based puzzle while Eve thwarted an attempt by the Serpent Brotherhood to kill them all.
Feeling exhausted but triumphant, they all returned to the Library, where Jake put the crown in one of their magic proof cases.
"Another job well done," Jake said as he gently placed a glass dome over their newest acquisition.
"You don't think the Brotherhood will give up that easily?" Eve asked. "This is the ultimate prize."
"With the new perimeter alarm, no one can get in unless one of use lets them in," he reminded her.
Instead of agreeing with him, she frowned. "Something still feels wrong. I can't put my finger on it, but it's making my skin crawl."
Her agitation made him nervous. Eve wasn't someone who jumped at shadows. "Okay. We'll go see if we can find out what's going on."
She stiffened, her face suddenly going blank.
"Eve?"
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" he asked just as the perimeter alarm went off. He shared a look with her and said to Lamia, "Stay here. We're going to check that out."
There were shouts and thumps and bangs. Eve was off like a shot, her long legs quickly eating up distance. Jake ran behind her, trying to catch up. They rounded the last corner to see a bunch of men coming out of the elevator. There were at least ten, and Jake's jaw dropped as he saw the Brotherhood symbol everywhere.
"How did they get in?"
"I don't know."
They both ducked back around a bookshelf as one of the men let out a round of bullets in their direction.
"I need my gun," Eve said grimly as they crouched behind the shelf.
"Where is it?"
"I left it in the room with the Crown."
He nodded. "We'll go back for it."
"Let me lead. I think Lamia might be working with them."
"Lamia?"
"How else could they have gotten in?"
Jake suddenly felt stupid, which was not a familiar feeling. "But she seemed so cut up about Shiar."
"It's the only thing that makes sense."
"And I left her with the Crown."
"Then we'd better get back."
They ran back the way they'd come. Eve entered the room first and stopped short. When Jake tried to pass her, she put her arm up to prevent him.
"Hello, Guardian, Librarian." The voice was smooth and slightly arrogant. It belonged to a tall, gaunt man. Menace came off of him in waves, and his eyes were cold and hard. His arm was around Lamia, and the Crown was in his other hand.
Though he'd never seen him before, Jake took a stab with, "Dulaque."
Dulaque smiled and it was chilling.
"Give me the Crown," Eve said calmly and evenly, the threat plainly evident.
"Isn't that cute?" Dulaque sneered. "You think you're in control."
Eve took a stride forward, and Dulaque put the crown on his head. His sneer got nastier, if possible, and he held up his hand. Somewhere in the Library, the sentient sword, Excalibur, was doing whatever swords did when they weren't hanging out with Librarians and Guardians. The thought flashed through Jake's mind and he suddenly knew what Dulaque was up to.
"Eve!"
"Excaliber, to me." The words rolled off of Dulaque's tongue.
Eve reached him before the sword did, but Lamia stepped in front of her. Lashing out, she smashed Eve in the face with her fist. Eve faltered and took a step back before rounding on her and giving a blow of her own.
Excalibur was suddenly in Dulaque's hand, and Eve was exchanging blows with Lamia. Her back was to Dulaque, and Jake saw what was going to happen even though she couldn't. He ran forward, but he was too late.
Without even hesitating, Dulaque ran Eve through. Jake roared and sprang at him, but the old man was stronger than he looked. Instead of falling, he twisted, and it was Jake who fell. He hit the floor, and his breath left him in a whoosh. As he gasped for air, he helplessly watched Eve. She was clutching at the hole below her breasts, her face pale with shock. Blood stained both her hands and the blade. She crumpled soundlessly to the floor, the stain growing to quickly pool around her. Jake waited for Dulaque to turn Excalibur on him, part of him wanting it because he couldn't even imagine living without Eve.
The blow never came.
"Go!" Dulaque snapped at Lamia, who was staring at Eve in shock. "Tell them to take everything they can find. I'm taking the crown to safety."
Jake absently saw Lamia swallow hard but nod. Most of his attention was still on Eve. He couldn't look away.
Dulaque's voice was like a mosquito's drone as he said, "Good night, Librarian."
There was a sharp pain, and Jake was suddenly swallowed by darkness.
He must have been out only seconds because Eve was still breathing when he woke. It was shallow and rattled loudly enough that it was the first thing he heard as the darkness receded.
"Eve...Eve..."
His head felt as if it were splitting in two, but he struggled to his knees. Not bothering to try to get to his feet, he shuffled over to Eve. Her skin was pale and clammy, and she felt cold to the touch.
Not knowing what else to do, Jake gathered her up and pulled her close to his body. Her blood smeared his arms and his clothes. The sight made his own breath catch, and a tight band around his chest made it hard to breathe.
"Don't leave me, Eve," he pleaded, burying his face in her hair. He knew it was a useless plea; wounds caused by Excalibur were always fatal. All that she had been to him flashed through his head. Best friend. Guardian. Lover. The voice of reason . His strength and determination when his own had run out. He didn't know how to be the Librarian without her. "I love you, darlin'. I love you."
He held her tighter as the rattle stopped, and the room was filled with silence. Shaking, he started rocking her, his eyes dry but his heart breaking.
It felt as if he held her like that for hours, but it couldn't have been very long because he heard the Library start to fold in on itself in response to Dulaque's invasion.
At the sound, Jake forced himself up to his feet. Determinedly, he bent and picked his Guardian up in his arms. If he was being forced from the Library, there was no way he was leaving her behind.