Staring into the tank all I could see was different hues of blue. I smiled softly. It reminded me of the ocean, all those beach trips years ago in the the Texas heat of summer. Closing my eyes I could still taste the salt water and feel the hot sand. I hadn't gone into the water in years.
Sighing in resignation I moved away from the glass taking note of the pedestals with different novels of varying thickness laying open. Glancing over I noted a quote from Plato 'Only the dead have seen the end of war.' How right that man had been, a philosopher ahead of his time.
I still wasn't sure if I was even making the right decision. It was the illusion of the freedom of choice. Taking in the multitude of books a smile crept to my lips. Library's had always offered comfort to me. The turning of the page, the smell of an old book, all soothing contentments that seemed long forgotten now. I spun the large ornate globe, placed just so in the spread of the library slowly moving past before fingering the spines of the books on a particular shelf. 'Otherworldly creatures','Potions,Poisons and Poppy Seeds' 'Vampires of the late 15th Century' such quere titles. Though I am one to talk.
Selecting a book from the shelf, titled 'Demons & Fey: Tales from the Brink' I opened the indigo cover ornate with silver lettering allowing the aroma of the pages overtake my senses. A calm ease washed over me as I smiled.
"Could you turn the pages please?"
Jumping out of my skin the book went flying from my hands as I whirled around defensively to the offending voice. "I didn't mean to startle you, forgive me." The blue book paused instantaneously above the floor flared apart before closing itself and nestling back into the open space from whence it came. Looking closer I saw movement in the tank much to my surprise, a man. An amphibious humanoid be exact, his skin different hues of blue only wearing black fitting trunks. He swam wish an ease in the water I wish I still had around the offending element, my face turned sour at the thought.
"Telekinesis. That is your gift?" Snapping me out of my thoughts I felt a blush creep to my cheeks. I had been caught staring.
"I'm sorry, yes of course." Answering his original question I extended an arm giving a wave of my hand one page of all four books turned with ease. "I'm sorry for being so rude…and yes telekinesis is my..gift. I'm Annie."
"Abraham, or Abe preferably, Sapien. And I have gotten worse reactions from my appearance." The seemed to be in good humor as he smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile in return. "It's a pleasure to meet you Abra...Abe. Your appearance doesn't bother me at all. I was actually…"
The large doors that I had passed through not ten minutes earlier, creaked open. I turned expecting to see the older gentleman I had spoken to on the phone but was surprised to see an agent in a suit a familiar one at that. Myers was it?
"Miss Delmonte, the Professor will be a little late." He offered a smile and was gone as quick as he came. He was new here as I was, but a week ahead. Apparently I'd missed out on a resurrecting demon by name of Sammael.
"Miss Delmonte?" Abe had pressed a hand to the glass as I looked at his hand in curiousity. He retracted his hand suddenly, I worried I had offended him once again.
"Please, I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you again...You're just..unlike anyone I've seen before."
I smiled at him pressing my hands to the glass trying to get a better look at his eyes.
"I'm afraid you have committed no offence, but I have." Looking at him curiously he explained. "My gift is the gift of 'psychic ability'. Its amplified through my hands you see…" As he trailed off I understood.
"I see...what did you see?" Curiosity overwhelmed my sense of personal preservation as I removed my hands from the glass slowly in shame for making him uncomfortable.
"The ocean." His statement was simple as if we had been discussing the weather, rather than him being able to see into my mind.
That made me smile as memories once again came to me. "I miss it. The ocean I mean." I looked up at him and found he was gazing back at me through the glass. His eyes were beautifully unique, as he was. A blush creeped up my cheeks again as I rubbed the back of my head shifting awkwardly praying he hadn't seen that in my mind.
"So Miss Delmonte, what made you come to the BPRD?"
"Annie...Call me Annie please. And believe it or not I'm an old friend of Liz Sherman's." I offered with a smile. "She mentioned this place after I asked about her sleep talking about some guy named Red. I never expected to meet him however." Smiling at the memory which had occurred not even a few days before.
It was almost dark. Sighing in resignation I scooted the iron chair back into place cradling the coffee cups, one in each hand, praying for what little warmth that was left would saturate into my frozen fingers. The snow had been falling for a while, casting icy sheets over the trees and pavement.
I took my time though it was cold, leaving boot prints in my wake as the building loomed ahead. The mental hospital seemed more daunting in the twilight, ominous. Fighting a shiver that crept up my spine I pushed open the gate with my hip entering the courtyard, to see a figure with a black shawl. Upon closer inspection I realized it was Liz, exactly who I was looking for, her mouth moving. She was talking to someone.
"Liz?" My smile faltered as I saw her jump and turn in surprise.
"Annie! Don't do that you scared me!"
Chuckling, I shrugged my apologies offering her the coffee which she took gratefully inhaling the aroma.
"So who were you talking to? Yourself?" Giving her a playful nudge I didn't miss her faltering face.
"Hey...you know I didn…"
"Whos this?"
"RED!" "Red?"
Looking over I saw Red, literally. The hulking figure was hard to miss even in the dark, yellow eyes standing out more than his height or muscle. On his head were the remains of where horns should have been and in hand a pack of beer. Taking him in was a pill to swallow, especially with the more aggravated he looked. Swallowing I mustered up my bravado though I found I didn't feel afraid to begin with.
"You got a problem with the way I look?" The irritation was clear in his voice. He nor Liz couldn't hide the surprised look that crossed their faces when I laughed.
"Not at all, I'm just surprised Liz didn't make you climb the tree to hide! It's a pleasure to finally meet you Hellboy, I'm Annie."
Sticking out my hand I found him looking at me with a mix of curiosity and bewilderment. "She told you about me?" He looked over my shoulder more asking Liz with shock.
"All good things." I held up my hands in mock surrender my grin widening. "I'm Lizzie's roomie! Next door roomie that is. Ill let you two have some privacy."
Liz didn't even have time to bristle in irritation at the nick-name, as I turned on my heel heading in for the night. Casting her a second glace, "Don't catch cold!"
….and now I'm here." Finishing up my story Abe had come out of the tank and I found myself looking at him again. His eyes bore into mine seeming to search for something.
"Miss Delmonte! A pleasure to have you here." The voice broke our attention to an older man at the top of the staircase. "I'm Professor Broom and I see you've met Abe. Found him in a tank with the inscription of Abraham Sapien in a hospital." His eyes seemed to cloud with nostalgia as a wistful smile etched to his features. "Ah! Now then, Agent Myers tells me you're acquainted with Ms. Sherman as well? What did you wish to speak with me about?" He had suddenly become serious, worry crossing his worn face.
"You see Professor...call it a 'sixth sense' if you will. Something isn't right. I sensed it the other night. The are dark forces on the move...and I'm concerned for Liz...for myself as well. I can't put a finger on it, but something isn't right. To quote, 'I feel a disturbance in the force.'"
That one earned a snort from Abe as the Library doors burst open.
"Explosion! The Hospital!"