CHAPTER SIX

Evie, Gallant, Coco, Dinah, André, Stu. Evie was Gallant's grandmother, Coco was Gallant's client. André was Dinah's son and Stu was his boyfriend. Isabel repeated this information in her head as she sat, curled up on a chair with a book in her lap. She adjusted her dress every so often to keep herself covered but also comfortable.

Discovering the library after abandoning everyone in the common room gave Isabel the feeling the relief that surviving the apocalypse hadn't provided. As long as there was literature, the world wasn't completely doomed.

The words weren't sticking, but that didn't matter. Simply having the weight of the book in her hands and the feeling of the pages between her fingers were enough. While it did make her yearn for home, it helped with the loneliness.

"Being antisocial is the key to madness in this place," Ms. Venable said as she stood in the library threshold.

For the first time that day, Isabel wasn't startled by Venable suddenly appearing. It was as if the book acted as a shield. "I'm socializing with the book," Isabel said as she marked the unread page and looked to Ms. Venable. "I literally can't stand the others," she admitted. "Met them, don't like them; I'd rather go insane than socialize."

Ms. Venable supposed she couldn't argue with that. She also had no sympathy for the Purples. They were all vain and vapid; absolutely insufferable twits. "And what makes you better than them?" she asked Isabel, challenging her.

There was a pause. Isabel could smell that bait; Ms. Venable was trying to find a reason to tear into her. "I never said I was." Then she smirked, straightening up in the chair. "But there must be something different about me?"

Ms. Venable frowned at Isabel's cocky nature. She didn't like this confident energy. "And what makes you say that?"

"Because you're talking to me." Isabel stood up from the chair and walked towards Ms. Venable. Perhaps it was being surrounded by books, or coming to the understanding that her fate was sealed and she couldn't fix the apocalypse and was now stuck with this life; no matter the reason, she wasn't so afraid of this woman anymore. Ms. Venable didn't scare her.

No, she did know exactly why she didn't feel intimidated by Ms. Venable.

"You remind me of someone," Isabel said quietly, vocalizing her realization as it hit her. "A woman who thought she was in charge everywhere."

Ms. Venable tilted her head to the side as she studied Isabel, not liking her proximity. She raised her cane, placing the end of it under Isabel's chin. "I am in charge everywhere."

Isabel's breath caught in her throat. She didn't dare move, even after Ms. Venable lowered her cane. Her heart was pulsing so fast that it wasn't even beating but vibrating.

The intimidation was back, which pleased Ms. Venable. "Remember your place."

When Isabel was completely alone, she finally relaxed her shoulders. Her heart still fluttered, but her muscles were no longer so incredibly tense. She bit down on her lower lip as she breathed deeply through her nose.

She returned to the chair and picked up the book. Trying to read was even more difficult than before. She also couldn't get comfortable in the chair. Isabel was fidgety; bothered. Ms. Venable had gotten under her skin.

Hours ticked by, and the feeling didn't go away. It was late at night, Isabel could feel it without even looking at the clock on her bureau. Despite the bed being surprisingly comfortable and her cotton nightgown soft, sleep wouldn't come.

The floor was cool against her bare feet. Isabel left her room and wandered down the corridor to try and shake off this excess energy. She considered spending time in the library again, but she was too restless to sit and read.

Outpost 3 was silent. The Purples had gone to bed long ago. There wasn't a Gray in sight. It was as if she was the only one person in the entire place. That fantasy vanished when she passed by a door and heard muffled talking between two people. How could that be? Everyone had separate bedrooms.

Isabel leaned in close to the door, trying to decipher what was being said. Suddenly, the talking stopped. Isabel barely had time to frown when the door swung open and she almost fell forward into Ms. Venable.

"Fuck, um… sorry," Isabel said quickly, her cheeks obviously red even in the dim lighting of the hall.

"What did you hear?" Ms. Venable demanded.

"N-nothing."

The word was barely out of her mouth when Ms. Venable's hand shot out, gripping her chin. Isabel winced as Ms. Venable's fingernails dug into her skin. "I do not tolerate eavesdropping."

"I wasn't!"

Ms. Venable's grip tightened. "What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't sleep," Isabel insisted. "I-I was just…" She couldn't find the words. Her brain was malfunctioning. Anything remotely coherent was getting jumbled before it could leave her mouth.

Fear overruled, and Ms. Venable could see that. She loosened her grip on Isabel's chin. Her fingertips traced the girl's jawline as she studied her, seeing that fear and also truth in wide, cairngorm colored eyes. "I had hoped you wouldn't be a troublemaker."

Still unable to form words, Isabel just shook her head. She had the power to stop this. Isabel didn't practice her magic, but she knew what she was capable of. Concillium was not out of reach for her. She could force Venable to stop if she wanted. She could make Venable lower her hand and step away from her. Isabel didn't do a thing.

"Troublemakers get punished, Miss Noble."

Isabel's name had never sounded so exquisite.

"I never told you my last name," Isabel realized out loud, her voice hushed as if speaking above a whisper would break this moment that she never wanted to end.

"I have ears everywhere. Nothing gets past me, and you will do well to remember that."

Ms. Venable released Isabel and stepped back into her room, slamming the door shut and making Isabel jump. Her heart was racing, not unpleasantly.

What the fuck was wrong with her? The world ended less than 24 hours ago and she was thinking about… no, she needed to stop. This was wrong. Where was her respect? She ought to be disgusted with herself. She was mourning the loss of her family only hours before and now it was like she completely forgot about them.

Books, yes that was a good idea. Shaking her head to clear her mind like an etch-a-sketch, Isabel continued down the hall to go to the library. She didn't know how much she'd be able to read; there was no way she could focus enough with her chest feeling all funny. She needed to at least attempt to get Ms. Venable out of her head.