Sorry about the delay in all my stories. My tablet, where all my original copies of my stories are kept, broke and has put me at a major setback. I have also started other original stories of my own and therefore would take longer to update my fanfictions.

I also want to confess that I do NOT like writing in first person. I find it quite challenging and I have seriously struggled in writing this story. However, I do like the foundation I have for A Vampire's Weakness, and I refuse to abandon it or any of my other stories. I ask that you bear with me and please be patient.

For now, here is the next chapter! And for those of you who think this story sounds like the Hunger Games, I recommend you read Eragon by Christopher Paolini. You'll see the similarities there and it's a really good story.


8) The Book of Baxter

"Are you certain that what we're looking for is in this library?" Flegimdur complained, perched on top of a ladder leaning against the vast shelves of the castle library.

"Only one way to find out," Gumitryn grumbled before placing another book back in the shelves.

"Where the hell is Marshall? Should he not be helping us look for the bloody book?"

"He went back to the village." I was really starting to get frustrated with his complaining. We have been foraging through thousands of tomes in order to find anything about the Elders but have found nothing of the sort.

"Why?" Flegimdur grilled.

"To check Tamara's library if ther–"

"Another library?" Flegimdur jumped from the top of the ladder and thumped on the ground. "Are you implying to me that we must scour every godforsaken library in Aaa to look for―whatever the hell it is we are looking for?"

"If we must." Gumytrin threw a book onto the table. Every now and then, I would see him look at a book for a very long time, then, somehow meeting an unknown standard of his, made a stack by one of the various tables in the center of the library.

"Would it not be easier to pay the temples of the Prophets a visit?" Flegimdur threw himself onto one of the cushioned seats.

"If you know where the temples are," a deep voice started as Marshall appeared beside Gumytrin, "then by all means, lead the way."

"Vampire tricks," Fleimdur muttered after regaining his composure. "You are the one who has had a thousand years. Don't you know where they are?"

"If the location of the temples were common knowledge, what kind of protection would they be?"

"I highly doubt that knowledge obtained after a thousand years can be categorized as common."

"The Temples of the Prophets," Gumytrin cut in as Marshall turned to skim the spines of the books, "is protected by various creatures, curses and whatever magic the ancient generation of Aaa can conjure over thousands of years, way before Marshall was even born. Keeping their locations secret and out of script is an added precaution."

"Out of script?" I repeated. "If it was kept out of writing, then why are we searching for the location in all these books?"

"Because that is the only hope we have," the vampire sighed and made his way towards where I stood. "Larx has hunted down, tortured and killed every soul that could have possibly known about or had information on the locations."

"And since the other Elders are still alive, he hasn't found any information or anyone of any great use?" I absentmindedly grabbed another tome on the shelves, avoiding the vampire's stare. I had hoped to distract myself from his presence but I could smell the faint scent of pine needles and smoke, and feel a small heat coming from him. Aren't vampires dead? Shouldn't they be deprived of any heat?

"I doubt he hasn't," Gumytrin replied.

"Wait, how does that make any sense?" Flegimdur stood to his feet and stared at the elf. "Nothing can withstand Larx's torture methods, not even the mightiest of kings. How did he not get any information? Not," he quickly added, "that I wanted him to get any at all."

"Well, there were only a handful of people with that knowledge," Marshall answered and, to my relief, turned his attention to Flegimdur. "That kind of knowledge if powerful and dangerous. If they tried to reveal the location of the temples, whether or not it was in their own will, their mouths would have refused to open."

"And that would have frustrated the Lich so he just did away with them, I suppose?" I chimed in, putting things together.

"Exactly."

"How many people knew about the locations? Surely he didn't get all of them?"

"Well, whoever he didn't get is definitely one lucky bastard. What have you got there?" Marshall gestured at the small red leather bound book in my hand. I looked down on it for the first time and identified it as more of a journal or diary than a book. Strange markings lined the border of the stained red covers.

"I'm not sure." Not knowing what else to do with it, I handed it to him. As soon as his fingers made contact with the journal, a sizzling sound was emitted by the book and smoke appeared where Marshall was touching it. He jerked his hand back as if burned. And he was. His pale fingers were scorched black. The book landed with a thud on the cobblestone floor. The strange markings I was staring at were burning gold then quickly faded back to their original brown color.

"That is not an ordinary book," Flegimdur observed lamely as he and Gumytrin made their way to where we were standing.

"Are you alright Marshall?" The vampire was cradling his burned hand. He was growling softly.

"Marshall, is it not healing?" Gumytrin whispered, startled.

"Not an ordinary spell on that damned book," Marshall panted. "Hand won't heal."

"Let me see that." Gumytrin gently grabbed his burned hand. I saw the muscles under Marshall's shirt tense. He let out a hiss when the elf touched his burn. "I could probably break this spell but it'll take some time." He led the vampire to lean against the wall then hurried to one of his stack of books.

"Don't," rasped Marshall. Flegimdur, who bent to reach for the cursed tome on the ground, froze and drew his hand away.

"Best you don't touch that," Gumytrin mumbled then went up to Marshall with a book in his hands. He started chanting a spell in language I couldn't understand. Flegimdur stared at the book.

Curiosity was getting the best of me. Flegimdur watched me reach for the book. "What in the name of hell you doing? Don't—"

I snatched the book from the ground. A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Flegimdur's jaw dropped open, even Gumytrin was surprised. Only Marshall, whose wound was fully healed by the elf, seemed to keep his composure when I touched the book.

"How—?" Flegimdur started.

"I assume it doesn't hurt humans." I turned the book around, inspecting it. Besides the scribbles on it, it looked like an ordinary book. "It is in a human castle after all. Perhaps the owner did not want anyone to get to it."

"Besides other humans," grumbled Flegimdur. Something about the way he said 'humans' made me clench my fists.

"Well, Gumytrin has yet to touch it," I countered.

"I don't doubt your previous theory, Fionna. So, if it's all the same to you, I'm not going to try."Gumytrin smiled. "Though I am curious about those marking on it. They are magical signatures aren't they? But I do not recognize any of them."

"That would be because they are goblin magic." Marshall straightened up as Gumytrin finished tending to his injury. He stared at the book but did not come closer. "I can read some of it, but I can't touch it. It would be a bother if I am unable to turn the pages."

"Then Fionna shall help you while Gumytrin and I scour these vast shelves once more." Flegimdur dragged the elf towards the ladders as Marshall led me to one of the tables, making sure to stay clear from the book in my hands.


"Hey, wake up."

Someone was shaking me awaking, though it didn't do much good since it was so gentle. My eyes snapped open, only because my time hunting in Thornwood made me a light sleeper, to find Gumytrin standing over me.

"It's time to go," he whispered as I shook my head. Marshall and Flegimdur were busy putting back books on the shelves. I had fallen asleep on the table where I was supposed to helping the vampire with the goblin-cursed book.

"What―how long...?" I started.

"Have you been asleep?" Gumytrin finished with a chuckle. "Not long. Marshall found out all he could from that journal." He nodded towards the small red book in front of me. "Unfortunately it wasn't much."

"What did he find out?"

"Not much," Flegimdur grumbled, making his way towards them. "Just the owner of that infernal book."

"Which would be who?"

"Someone by the name of James Baxter." Marshall held out his hand for me. I took it and he helped me to my feet. He pointed at Baxter's book. "You should probably carry that around. It's safe to presume that this guy is also human so you're the one who's going to be able to talk to him. I doubt any of the rest of us can have a normal conversation with him. Especially Flegimdur."

"Do you know where he is?" Gumytrin asked as Flegimdur shot a glare at the vampire.

"No. That is the next task we have before us," Fleimdur answered. "Though how we are going to find this man is beyond me. Is there a spell that we can use to track him down?"

"Although there are tracking spells," Gumytrin started, "I doubt we would be able to use one this James Baxter. There are only a few things out there that are beyond vampiric regeneration. If he was able to put one in that book, then he has probably taken many precautions."

Something nagged at the back of my mind. I knew there was a way to find this guy. I just need to remember how.

"Well, how about we begin with who exactly this James Baxter was," Flegimdur suggested.

"Well, he's a very good sorcerer whose intent was to make a lot of people happy," Marshall replied. "From what I read in that blasted book, he was very dedicated to the monarchy and the people of this village. He fled when the soldiers came centuries ago."

"Centuries?" I gasped. "Are all magic users ageless?"

"They can be," Gumytrin explained. "There are spells for prolonging life but none of them have an easy price to pay, therefore, very dangerous. Baxter probably has a link with this village. It's the most likely explanation."

"What do you mean by 'link'?"

Flegimdur threw his hands in the air. "Questions of the incompetent."

I glared at him but Gumytrin only chuckled. "A link depends on the host, whoever put it on them, why and what the consequences of the spell were. There's not much I can tell you besides that it his lifeline―the source of his agelessness if you will. The only one who can tell you more about this link is James Baxter himself or the one that put it on him."

"Or if he placed it on himself," Marshall added.

"Is that possible? To cast a spell that powerful to oneself?" I asked him.

"Possible? Yes, but very difficult and not mention dangerous.

"Then we must make haste and find this man," Flegimdur grumbled then started herding us out of the library. "We may not know where he is but I doubt he is here. Let's go somewhere else."

"Where do you think we should go?" Gumytrin exasperated.

"I think Fionna might have an idea." Marshall stared at me. "Don't you?"

How did he know that? "Well, I think I do," I mumbled.

"What do you mean you think you know?" Flegimdur asked irritably.

I glared at him. "I mean I know where you can find out basic information about any citizen that lives in Terrafoire. However, if this guy is as old as you say he is, I'm not sure if he would be there."

"Where?" Marshall asked.

"Meat Man said the record was in the City Hall but I'm not sure if it's still there since that was where the soldiers stayed."

Gumytrin turned to the vampire. "You've been in this village longer than anyone. Literally. Does that record exist?"

"I haven't heard of it. Then again, the people who knew of me knew that I was a vampire, which was enough to raise their guard around me. Everyone is entitled to their secrets. And I really didn't think I would need to know about it."

"So we don't know if it exists or not?" Flegimdur grumbled.

I really wanted to hit him. Was he implying that I was lying? "It exists," I hissed at them. "I just don't know if it's in the City Hall or if it even has this James Baxter character."

Marshall elbowed Flegimdur. "I have over heard some of the villagers talking about a directory being moved to Tamara's library. Is that the same as the record?"

"I would think so."

"Then to the library we go," Gumytrin exclaimed happily.


"This is a library?" Flegumdur asked incredulously.

We trotted up to the outside Tamara's library. I can understand his confusion. It was the oldest building here besides the castle itself. It looked about as comfortable as a crocodile's mouth, probably as dangerous too. Though, for its age, it seemed to hold up nicely.

Marshall dismounted one of the horses that the elves left behind for them. Flegimdur followed suit. "Flegimdur and I will scout the place. You two stay here." The two of them cautiously made their way to the door while the elf and I waited on the back of our horses.

"Fionna, could you show me Baxter's book?" Gumytrin asked when the other two disappeared into the library.

I nodded and fished the book out from the bag Cake had packed for me. Just the sight of that green little knapsack made me miss her, Lance and Geemo so much. I pushed those thoughts away and opened Baxter's book for Gumytrin.

"Do you have any idea what goblin scriptures are doing in this book?" I asked.

Cumytrin thought for a moment. "Well, from what Marshall told us, Baxter's birth pre-dates that of the goblins' demise. Baxter probably knew of goblin sorcery and thought it best to place some on his journal."

"If he was loyal to the King and Queen of the humans, and this village, why write it in an incomprehensible language?"

"Perhaps he wrote this after Larx's rise to power. Marshall Lee had said that he recognized the words 'Prophet' and 'Elder' somewhere in its pages."

"Did the races back then have good relations?"

Gumytrin sighed. "Not many people know about the time before the Lich came into power. Larx likes to believe that history started with him—that anything before him was insignificant. He burnt all the books and killed all the historians when he came to power."

I shivered then wiggled my toes in my fur boots. The snow had stopped falling but the icy shill was still there. Marshall had given me his cloak and refused it when I tried to give it back. I looked back at the book in my hands and leafed through the pages. Something just didn't make any sense to me. What exactly were goblin words doing in a human's book? Did have secrets that he didn't want to the rest of the humans from knowing?

"You're thinking about something." Gumytrin smiled. "Please, enlighten me."

I sighed. Out of the three of the men she just met, she was the most comfortable with Gumytrin. "I was just thinking—if James Baxter's purpose was to spread happiness, why would he have a book that could hurt the other races? Was he only concerned about the humans?"

"I've heard from my father that of all the races in Aaa, it was the humans that opened their arms the widest for the other races. My guess is that when Baxter was still around, humans weren't the only ones calling Terrafoire their home."

"Which doesn't explain why he has a book that can harm other races."

"Well, we don't know that," the elf pointed out, his breathe visible in the coldness. "Only Marshall was burnt." He eyed the book warily then held out his hand. "Let me see it."

I stared at him bewilderedly. "Are you mad? It could burn you!"

"We won't know for sure unless we try."

"But what happens if you do get burnt? Will you be able to heal yourself?"

Gumytrin paused. "I know which spell to use but I just need someone to steady my hand for me. You could do that, can't you?"

I hesitated. Was it really necessary to know if it would hurt him? "I suppose."

Gumytrin smiled. "Alright then, hand it over."

"You don't need to touch the whole book. Just brush your fingers against the spine."

Gumytrin drew his horse towards me and Mochro. "Alright, here I go." I held out Baxter's book as he ungloved his hand. He reached for it with shaking fingers—I couldn't tell if it was from the cold or something else —and brushed it lightly. As soon as he touched it, a similar sizzling sound came and smoke started to form. I quickly snatched the book away as he yelped in pain. He jerked his hand away and fell off his horse.

"Gumytrin!" I heard myself yell. I leaped down from Mochro and ran to where he was lying on the snow. His face was scrunched up in pain.

"The spellbook―" he rasped. "It's in that bag." With his good, he pointed at a brown leather bag hanging on the side of his horse. I grabbed the book—thank Glob it was the only one in there—and dropped down beside the elf.

"Should I get Marshall?" My voice was trembling. The burn on his hand looked worse than Marshall Lee's even though he only brushed it while the vampire grasped the book with his palm.

"No," he rasped. The rolled to his side and opened the book. After finding the right page, he started chanting the same unfamiliar language he used with Marshall. "Grab my—injured hand—and hold—hold it between—your palms," he panted.

I did as he instructed. The carefully took his injured hand in mine and placed my other palm over it. He continued his incantation. My throat had gone dry and my heart was racing. Even though the temperature was freezing, sweat formed on my temple.

Gumytrin's face suddenly relaxed and his breath calmed. He finished the incantation and smiled at me. I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding. "I must apologize. I must have given you quite a scare."

I sighed in relief. "You did. But I suppose it was necessary."

"I would hope so. I would not be pleased at all if all that pain would be unimportant in the future." Gumytrin heaved himself back on his feet and offered his out for me. I took and he helped me back on my feet. "Hmm, I wonder why Marshall didn't come out when I touched it."

"How would he know—that's right, vampire hearing."

Gumytrin nodded. "Exactly, he should have heard everything you and I did."

"Perhaps he thought you were able to take care of yourself."

"Perhaps, but I know it's not me would be worried about." He raised a slender eyebrow at me.

I flinched in surprise. "Me? He would be worried about me?"

Gumytrin sighed. "What the fallen angel said was true. Marshall doesn't rescue everyone that is in trouble. In fact, he usually turns a blind eye if it is not anyone he knows. He is not heartless," Gumytrin added at my horrified expression. "He's a thousand years old, and he's lost track of his moral code. Living a very long time is by no means pleasant especially when you see others around you die and you alone stand untouched by time."

"He's alone?" I whispered softly.

"I don't see him around with anyone else. Nor do I know of any other vampires." Gumytrin shook his head and decided to change the subject. "Have you been inside this library?"

"Yes," I replied while brushing off the snow and dirt on my knees, glad for the topic change. The concept of living forever overwhelms me.

"Is it big?"

"Not really. It's just a simple library. There are stairs leading to the upper shelves. But its structure is not complicated at all."

Gumytrin stared curiously at the shabby building as he spoke. "Are there any backrooms? A basement or an attic perhaps?"

"I'm not sure. Perhaps there is an attic and basement, but I know for a fact that there aren't any backrooms. Though there is an area that Tamara has closed off."

Gumytrin thought for a moment. "Well, unless Lady Tamara built a maze under her library, those two are taking awfully long time in checking for danger." He drew his sword and stalked towards the door.

I returned his spell book back his bag and returned Baxter's book in a bag hanging by Mochro's side. Next, I drew Miltiades from her sheath on the back of the saddle and rushed to where Gumytrin was waiting. He peeked through the window. "There's no sign of anyone in there," he whispered. "Not even Marshall or Flegimdur."

Gumytrin led the way to the front. Before he could open it, there was a loud crash, someone shrieked and an inhuman screech ripped through the air. The earsplitting scream sent a familiar feeling of fear and dread down my spine. "Chimeras?" I gasped.

The elf nodded then pushed me behind him. My hands wrapped tightly around Miltiades, finding that one sweet spot. Gumytrin kicked the door open and leaped inside. I followed behind him and almost gagged. The smell of death and decay was suffocating. It was dark inside. The only light came from the windows in the second floor, spilling out to the center of the library. In front of us was chimera in the shape of a grotesque spider with a snake's head. Its dull black eyes found us and hissed.

"Get back," Gumytrin whispered over his shoulder.

Before another second passed, I felt a large weight drop on my shoulders and drag me down to the floor. I yelped but there was something rough covering my mouth. My head reeled from the rancid odor. My back slammed against the wall and my wrists were pinned. I opened my eyes and gasped, gagging at the decaying smell. A chimera had me against the wall. A chimera, in the shape of a human.

It was pale white without any hair and as tall as Urgic was. The only thing it was wearing was tattered brown pants. Shackles with broken chains were wrapped around his wrists and ankles. A cross stitch was sewn over its eyes, shutting them close forever. A metal muzzle covered its mouth but did nothing keep its pungent breath in.

"Fionna!" Gumytrin yelled from somewhere I couldn't see.

The human chimera jerked my wrist. I grunted in pain as Miltiades flew out from my hands. It dragged me to the shadows and pinned me down on the floor then roared at me. It took all my strength to hang on to my consciousness from the terrible smell. Holding my breath, I kicked it right between the legs.

It howled in pain but didn't slacken its grip. I shut my eyes—they were no use to me in the dark— and listened intently. I heard another chimera hiss and assumed it was the first one we saw. There was a clash of metal then a Gumytrin grunted. The chimera on top of me roared again but it stopped then hissed—the hissing softened a little. Oh Glob it's going to strike!

The image of it reeling back then biting me formed in my head. Without even thinking, my feet rose to the air and found its torso. I tried to push it off, but the only thing I accomplished was slowing down the inevitable. My arms were still pinned, my eyes shut and my head reeling from the decayed odor.

I felt myself lifted into the air then slammed back down. I gasped for breath, choking at the suffocating stink and opened my eyes. It was still pitch black but the human-chimera's pale white skin seemed to glow. Something dug into my back—something sharp. It was thanks to the jabbing pain that I was able to stay conscious. What was it?

The human-chimera let one of my arms go then grabbed my hair. I gasped in pain as it pulled. My freed arm scrambled through the folds of my dress and grabbed whatever it was that was stabbing into my side. It was the choker, and I distinctly remember that it had a sharp end.

It leaned closer to me ―I could feel the warm and rotten breath on my neck. I wrapped my fingers around the choker and plunged it into the side of its next. It flung me into a table―pain resonated through my being as several of my ribs cracked―and howled in pain. Just then, black and red flames ran in vertical lines against the walls and ceiling―like a cage of fire within the walls of Tamara's library. They left black lines of scorched wood and burned books on the shelves.

Groaning painfully, I rolled to my front and pushed myself to my knees. Thick, warm liquid flowed down the side of my face―blood? To my left, the human chimera howled then ripped the choker from its neck. It flung it towards me. I scrambled to my feet but, still dazed from the chimera's throw, swayed on my feet. The choker hurtled towards me like an arrow aimed at my face. Then it stopped. Right in front of her. With someone clutching it.

"Marshall―" My voice caught in my throat. The vampire stood behind me with his arm outstretched over my shoulder, clutching the chocker covered in black blood in his hand. His cold unmoving chest was pressed against my back―it was the only way I knew it as him.

From somewhere behind us, I could hear Flegimdur cursing, Gumytrin chanting spells and another chimera's roar. I felt a powerful arm wrap around my waist then the floor disappeared underneath my feet. The human chimera growled and chased after us. Light from Marshall Lee's spell illuminated its body. It seemed to glow, scars and chains covered its body―evidence of its damnation. I couldn't understand how it could see us with its eyes sewn shut.

Marshall swore under his breath and jerked his arm towards it―blood from the choker flung onto the floor. One of the black and red ribbons of fire detached itself from the wall and whipped at the chimera. The chimera fought against it but hissed in pain when it made contact.

Without wasting another second, Marshall threw me over his shoulder then leaped onto the second floor. He raced to the one of the doors―the flames moving aside to let their master pass―and yanked it open. Inside was a small rug and a glass ball perched on a pedestal in the middle of the room. He shut the door. His flames from under the door provided the only light. He hurried inside and sat me down against the back wall. The vampire's crimson predatory eyes glowed in the darkness. I heard him fumble around for a moment then I heard the sounds of a match. A small fire erupted in front of me, sending shadows over Marshall's handsome pale white face. His fangs were bared and his breath was ragged. Miltiades and his black sword hung on his hips while his blood red axe was strapped over her shoulder.

"What happened?" He rasped as he lit one of the candles scattered to the corners of the room.

My head reeled. Words formed in my head but my mouth refused to let them out correctly. I muttered something the sounded like gibberish until Marshall pressed a cold finger on my lips. A chimera roared outside.

"Stay here and―" He was caught off when he noticed what was in his hand. "Where did you get this?"

"Wh-what?" I managed to croak out then cringed at the intense anger that flashed through his face.

"Where did you―?" A loud crash resonated from the other side of the door. Suddenly, something started pounding on the door. Cracks appeared quickly on the frame.

Marshall swore under his breath. He shoved the bloodied choker into my hand. "Keep it hidden," he hissed then disappeared out the door.

My head started to come together. It registered Marshall's anger and the situation outside. I let out a groan. I felt sore everywhere. The stench of death was not as bad in the small room as it was outside it. I stared at the choker in my hands, trying my best to ignore the commotion outside. Marshall knew what it was, however, he didn't know that I have it nor that Meat Man gave it to me. Does he know what it is? Why was he so angry?

Another scream came from outside. What in the name of Glob was going on out there? In my mind's eye, I imagined Flegimdur and Gumytrin teaming up against the scorpion chimera while Marshall took on the humanoid one. I stuffed the accessory back into my pocket and struggled to my feet. Pain waved over me but I just growled and ignored it. I made it halfway through the room before my knees gave out under me. I collapsed on my side, the glass ball sitting in front of me. Spots swam in my vision. Darkness crept at the edges of my sights. The glass ball started to glow―wait, glow? Ignoring the screaming pain in my side, I pushed myself into a sitting position.

"Ah, the village wench," a familiar voice purred from the swirling lights of the glass ball. "Alone, are we? Where is your vampire caretaker?"

Nothing could have stopped the chilling shivers that ran down my spine. The pain in my side and the noises outside suddenly no longer mattered. I stared wide-eyed at the white and blue swirls as rapidly spun in the glass ball. Blood pounded in my ears but my breathing was shallow.

The lights stopped spinning and formed the shape of a face―a face with pure white hair, wrinkled leather blue skin and sunken yellow eyes. I stared in utter horror as the face split into a rotten yellow smile.

"We haven't officially met―well, not face-to-face. My dear Fionna, my name is Angelica. The real Angelica."


Review :3

In case any of you were looking for any good books to read, may I suggest the City of Bones by Cassandra Clare? It is incredible and an emotional roller coaster ride. It is so worth it to read it. I highly recommend it. It is also going to be a movie that comes out in August:)