Chapter 3: Secrets
Danny sulked into the library and looked around. He had no idea where Annia would be but he had exhausted all other possibilities. So down each aisle Danny went looking for her.
"Where is she?" Danny muttered. Suddenly, he saw a flash of silver in black and Danny remembered the silver clasp in Annia's hair. "Annia?" A head popped out from behind a bookshelf.
"Oh, it's you." Annia said as she stepped into the aisle. She clasped a book to her chest and had a bored look.
"Um, yeah, I wanted to tell you something." Danny said rubbing his arm. He was all of a sudden very embarrassed and felt a light blush cross his face.
"Yes?" Annia asked, tilting her head. Danny's gaze began to drift to the floor till he snapped his head up and looked at her.
"I'm sorry for the way I was treating you." He said. Annia closed her eyes and smiled.
"Thank you Danny, for your apology, but," She said as she opened her eyes again. "Why were you being so mean to me?" Once again, embarrassment swept over him.
"I, well. I don't really know." Danny replied. Although honestly, he was just very uncomfortable around her. It had to do with the ghost presence that seemed to linger about Annia like a creepy aura. And that made Danny uneasy.
"Well, I'm sorry for intruding on you and your friends today." Annia said as she walked over to an obscure table. As she sat, Danny followed and took a seat across from her.
"It's not a problem." He said. Danny now felt uneasy with the conflicting issues of wanting to be around Annia and not wanting to deal with the aura.
"I'm glad." Annia sighed as she slid the book onto the table. They both then fell into an awkward silence that misted over them quietly but choking the air around them.
"So, you're new here right?" Danny asked, trying desperately to make conversation and fix the rift he had caused.
"Yeah I-" Annia started but paused as Smashing Pumpkins erupted from a fallen CD player. The owner quickly snapped the player off but not before the librarian had caught him.
"I moved here from Krik in Europia." Annia finished, speaking slightly louder to dominate the sounds of the student being reprimanded.
"Europia?" Danny asked. He had heard of the small, distant country that had sprouted up suddenly near France. It was an odd country with rulers claiming to be the descendants of Greek gods.
"Yeah." Annia said, slight annoyance tinted her voice since the conversation between student and librarian had exponentially grown louder.
"They bothering you?" Danny asked, gesturing to the pair. Annia stood and nodded her head.
"Very much." She muttered. Suddenly, a light flickered in her eyes and Annia reached for her belt.
"Silence!" She yelled as she pulled out a silver bell. The librarian turned sharply but froze as the bell sounded. Danny winced in pain as the sound rippled through the air. He leaned forward and clenched his jaw.
"Danny?" Annia asked hastily. She snapped out of her daze as she realized what she had done. She turned and saw the librarian, yelling silent words but advancing all the same.
"Stop." Annia ordered as she quickly took out another bell and rang it. Danny screamed a silent curse as this sound ripped through him. But the entire school froze except for them.
"Danny?" Annia repeated as she replaced the bells and darted quickly to his side. She was terrified at Danny's weakened body gasping for air.
"What was that?" He struggled to say.
"The first was Cassiel, the Silencer. That's why it's so hard for you to talk. The second was Anael, the One Who Walks. It froze everybody in the school, at least. It's painless for humans but I forgot it hurt ghosts. I'm sorry Danny. I'll fix you right up." Annia explained. Danny turned too quickly to look at her and felt a pain wrench through his body.
"How'd you know?" He questioned. He felt panicked since he was in a very vulnerable position with a girl who knew who he was and he had no clue who or what she was.
"I can't tell you that." Annia said very seriously. She then leaned close to Danny's face.
"Free the body." She whispered slowly. Danny felt a warmth seep through him and he felt a tingling in his body after it subsided. But he could move and wasn't in pain.
"Who are you?" He demanded. Annia kneeled on the floor next to him and looked sheepishly away.
"I can't tell you." She murmured.
"I think you really should." Danny retorted and felt anger rising again.
"I can't," She said and turned to him. The anger was dashed as Danny saw the tears well up in Annia's eyes.
"My whole life has to be a secret." She said and stood. "I'm sorry." With that, Annia turned and ran out of the library, muttering something under her breath. A shock rippled through the air and movement began again.
"Where did that girl go?" The librarian asked hotly. Danny reached forward and grabbed the book Annia had left.
"I don't know." He muttered and stood to leave.