The Librarians and the Selkie Pearls ~ Chapter 1

Margaret MacAlistair walked up to the strange door and paused to smooth the pleats in her flared skirt. The pearl buttons of the dress matched the single strand of pearls at her neck. It was an old fashioned look, but she knew often both children and adults felt more comfortable when things were a little old fashioned. Maggie knocked firmly two times. After a few moments she heard footsteps and the door opened slightly.

"You have the wrong address. We aren't expecting any deliveries today."

The door began to close and Maggie shouted through the crack, "I've an appointment at the library. This was the address on the card."

The door was suddenly flung open, and a white haired man in a suit and tie peered at her suspiciously. "What card?" he asked.

Maggie open her small clutch and pulled out what looked like a formal invitation. "It says to come at this time for an interview."

The man glared at the card, then at Maggie. "You'd better come in then. Although I can't think why we need another librarian."

Maggie followed the man down a long hallway to what seemed to be some kind of workroom. He stopped at a tall table and turned on her suddenly.

"Why do you think you can be a librarian?"

"I don't. The card said I was to interview as a guardian."

The man was rendered speechless for a moment, then burst to to broken and fragmented sentences that quite frankly didn't make much sense to Maggie.

"Another guardian…" he muttered as he paced. "Absurd…but I guess there are three extra now…Flynn doesn't really need one…but Baird will be furious…You don't look like a guardian…"

Maggie held out the card. "Perhaps you would like to look at it."

The man snatched it from her hand and looked intently at the gold script. His eyes widened at the words, You are invited to interview for a prestigious position as a Guardian with the Metropolitan Library.

Maggie waited silently as he man pondered the card, then looked up at her, then back down at the card. He began to pace again, and Maggie shifted slightly. Her new heels were starting to pinch.

Just then a set of double doors flew open, and four rather disheveled looking people tumbled through.

The blond woman noticed Maggie first. "What's Jackie O. doing here?"

The man beside the blond looked her up and down. Maggie raised an eyebrow at him and he grinned. "Nah. That dress is Dior's post war New Look," he drawled. "Jackie's suits and pillbox hats were about fifteen years later."

The blond woman rolled her eyes. "Never mind the fashion commentary. Who is she and why is she here, Jenkins?"

The white haired man cleared his throat and held out the card. "She's been invited by the Library, Colonel Baird."

Colonel Baird read the card, her eyes growing wide. "She's a Guardian?!"

"Why do we need another Guardian?" asked a young Asian man with an Australian accent.

"Maybe the Library sent the invitation when time was unraveled and Colonel Baird kept dying," offered a slim red haired woman.

Maggie coughed slightly, and all eyes turned to her. "So," she began, "who does the interviews?"

Everyone looked over at the white haired man. He shrugged. "I guess I'll do the interview. My name is Jenkins. What are your credentials?"

Maggie held out a typed sheet of paper. "Here's my resume."

The man read over it carefully, his brow furrowed. "This doesn't make any sense," he said at last. "You worked at the Warehouse, which is certainly in your favor, but there's nothing here that would qualify you to be a Guardian."

"Well, you know how the Warehouse works, so I'm unlikely to be surprised by much. And I've run several large households before that, sir…some with children," she added dryly.

"Wait a minute," said the man who had commented on her dress. "Are you a nanny?"

"Nanny, cook, household manager. Whatever the job entails," answered Maggie.

"I don't need a nanny," protested the younger black-haired man.

"Jones, you of all people absolutely need a nanny," snapped the blond woman. Colonel Baird, Maggie reminded herself.

"Get off my back, Baird. I do just fine thank you. I am a Librarian," Jones snapped back.

"If the Library sent the invitation, then the Library must think we need her," stated the red head.

"Cassie, you don't have to try to be the peacemaker all the time." sighed the other man.

The red head clenched her jaw. "That wasn't what I was doing."

Maggie began to rub the pearls of her necklace lightly between her fingers. "I think," she said, raising her voice slightly, "that you are all tired and a little on edge. Maybe we should talk after you've cleaned up and rested a bit."

The four looked at her, then silently turned and went up the stairs to their rooms. Jenkins narrowed his eyes and walked over to Maggie.

"How long have you had those pearls?"

Maggie gave him a conspiratorial smile. "Mrs. Fredericks gave them to me when I went to work at the Warehouse. They aren't terribly powerful. They just encourage people to do what they know deep down is the right thing to do. All four of them were tired, hungry and dirty. It was ridiculous for them to stand here arguing with each other when they'll be able to deal with things better after they've rested and cleaned up."

"Maybe the Library knew what we needed after all," said Jenkins grudgingly. "So, we can skip over the part where I try to convince you that magic is real, since you're using it so effectively. Librarians work to recover and protect magical artifacts so they don't fall into the wrong hands. Typically Guardians are called to protect Librarians in the field, and as such have significant combat training or experience. You have none of that."

"Colonel Baird is their Guardian," Maggie stated, nodding. That made sense. She took charge and seemed to keep the others in line. "Are you a Librarian too?"

Jenkins shook his head. "I'm research and I oversee running things. You know, the Library and the Warehouse don't really get on. We have similar goals and overlapping jurisdictions, like some government agencies. Why did Mrs. Fredericks let you come?"

Maggie shrugged. "It was time for a changing of the guard. And when the invitation came, Mrs. Fredericks said if the Library was poaching Warehouse staff there must be something big going on. So you're research support for the Librarians," Maggie said thoughtfully. "Maybe they need Guardian support too."

Jenkins eyes widened at that. "Interesting idea. What have you seen that makes you think that?"

Maggie looked at him in disbelief. "Seriously? The young guy, Jones, is trying to prove himself and covers it up with a lot of bluster. They sometimes ignore the red head because they think she's too fragile. The other guy is just plain lonely, and Baird is wound so tight trying to reign them all in, they are only able to function by focusing on their job. That's why they fell apart when they came in. They aren't friends and they're barely a team. Taking care of people means more than just making sure they don't die."

Jenkins gestured to a chair and then sat also, leaning in towards her. "Ok, tell me what you think you can do."

Twenty minutes later, Baird and the Librarians wandered back downstairs, looking a little sheepish.

Jenkins turned toward them. "Well, we have a second Guardian," he stated. "This is Margaret MacAlistair."

"You can call me Maggie," she added.

"Yes, Maggie is going to be Baird's counterpart here in the Library."

"What does that mean, exactly?" asked Baird.

"Well, I can't do your job out in the field, but I can help take care of people here," Maggie answered softly.

"Yes, as she put it to me earlier, taking care of people means more than making sure they don't die," Jenkins added.

"I'm your Nanny McPhee…Your Lucy Eyelesbarrow…Your Den Mother to Lost Boys. You can think of me as a friend, mom, even Father Confessor if that helps," Maggie added. I'll take care of running household things. Make this a home, not just a workplace."

"I think it's weird, but the Library does what it wants, I guess," smiled Jones. "I'm Ezekiel Jones, by the way. World Class Thief."

"Cassandra Cillian," said the red head sweetly, holding out her hand.

"Jacob Stone," drawled the other man with a nod and a wink.

"And I'm Colonel Eve Baird," stated the blond woman. She looked searchingly over Maggie and didn't smile.

"Ok," said Maggie, rubbing her hands together. "Now, where's the kitchen?"

Jenkins hesitated, and the others looked away. Jones gave a slight shudder.

"Is there a kitchen?"

"Oh, yes," Jenkins answered quickly. "It's a magical kitchen."

"Oh. Does it do all the cooking?"

"Well…" he drew out the word, as he searched for the right way to explain it. "The kitchen doesn't cook. That is, it doesn't cook by itself. It allows the cook to…cook," he finished feebly.

Maggie raised an eyebrow. "Allows? And is it safe to assume that the reason you're all acting hesitant is because the kitchen hasn't allowed anyone to cook?"

Jenkins nodded. "It's temperamental."

"When was the last time anyone cooked there?"

"Umm…We've tried a few people off and on, but the last time anyone was there for any length of time was the Dark Ages. Of course, the library's never chosen someone to be a guardian like this, so maybe that's a good sign?"

Maggie sighed, "Well, you'd better introduce us."

Jenkins gestured toward a door in the back, and Maggie followed him.

The others turned and looked at each other.

"Did she just ask to be introduced to a kitchen?" murmured Baird.

"Maybe it's like the helpful house," suggested Cassandra. "It's just had a really bad few centuries…"

"Oh, I've gotta see this!" said Ezekiel, as he took off after Maggie and Jenkins.

The others followed and crowded around as Jenkins pulled a large old fashioned key from his jacket and slipped it into the lock of a large wooden door. The metal scraped loudly as he turned the key. Then he lifted the rusty iron lever and started to push the door open.

"Wait," said Maggie sternly. She turned to the librarians. "You will not be helpful here. If this kitchen hasn't allowed anyone to work with it in centuries, don't you think overwhelming it with people out of simple curiosity is the wrong move? Let me see how we get along first, then perhaps you can come in later."

Jenkins unsuccessfully hid a smile at her words and tone of voice. Nanny indeed. Maggie had managed to take control of the situation and establish authority over the librarians and Colonel Baird, at least as far as the kitchen was concerned. The group meekly turned around and headed back to the workroom. Maggie stepped aside to allow Jenkins into the room first. He very slowly stepped over the threshold, clearly his throat hesitantly. "I…I would like to introduce you to Maggie MacAlistair. The library has asked her to come here as a Guardian. A new kind of Guardian. She would like to work with you…if that's acceptable."

Maggie softly stepped into the room behind him. The large room looked like it was part of an ancient castle. One large table sat in the middle of the room. A huge stone fireplace on one wall held a spit and a cauldron. Large iron cookware hung from beams in the ceiling. Dust and disuse permeated the space. Maggie kept her hands folded together and her head bowed, in a posture of respect. Her heart skipped a beat as she heard the room start to creak and groan. The pots and pans began to rattle.

"Oh boy," said Jenkins softly. "This is usually when the cookware starts flying around the room."

But after a moment everything settled down and then a whispery sound made Maggie look up. On the layer of dust that coated the large wooden table in the center of the room words were appearing. Probationary.

Maggie smiled. "Thank you," she said softly. "Do you have a name?"

More words appeared in the dust. I was called the Scullery Witch.

Maggie's eyes widened. "Well, that's not flattering. Is there any other name you would prefer I use?"

There was a pause, and the dust began moving again, this time a paragraph appeared. My name is Seraphina. You are the first in a long while that has approached me with proper respect, and so you will be given a chance. You may choose your preferred environment.

Maggie's eyes were sparkling. "Thank you, Seraphina. I appreciate your tolerance. I think it will be thrilling and enlightening to work with you. As for the environment, I'm rather old fashioned, but not quite Medieval. Could we have something circa 1940? Cozy, but functional. I think we will need a six-burner stove and probably two ovens. I'm not particular on brand, although I think a gas stove is preferable to electric. And a dishwasher would not have been typical in 1940, but would be helpful. Maybe we could put a wood panel on the front and sort of hide it? And I'd love a red clock on the wall in the shape of a tea pot and a radio that plays Big Band music…"

Maggie suddenly realized she was beginning to ramble, and trailed off. Jenkins' shoulders were shaking and the the dishes were rattling softly. "Are you…are you two laughing at me?" Maggie asked defensively.

Jenkins straightened up and wiped his eyes. "Yes, but partly because we're so relieved that it seems like you're going to get along. You won't need a dishwasher. Seraphina will take care of all that. You will need to oversee supplies and the actual food preparation."

Just then the room began to shimmer. Maggie blinked several times as the light became blinding, and when she could look around again she gasped. The kitchen was now a cozy 1940s room, very much like her grandmother's had been. One wall held a white icebox, and a farmhouse sink, complete with draining board. The opposite wall had two ovens, side by side, with a large stove top across them. Maggie was pretty sure Seraphina had made that up, she'd never seen a range like that in her life, from any decade. There was a charming fireplace corner with two small armchairs drawn up to it and a tea trolley between them. A sideboard for holding dishes and setting out serving pieces stood off to the side of the fireplace. The walls were a soft yellow and the curtains were patterned in tiny cups and teapots. Maggie breathed out a sigh of utter delight, and the dishes rattled happily. A small chalkboard hung on the wall, and words began to appear…I'm glad you are pleased with the room. I look forward to working with you.

"Thank you, Seraphina," said Maggie, smiling so wide her cheeks began to hurt. This was the most thrilling thing she'd ever seen. This kitchen would really compensate for having to mollycoddle the people who lived here.