Ezekiel P.O.V.
I looked at her lifeless body, lying on the floor of the study. I stroked her dark hair from her face.
"I saved you from your father. You saved me by not killing me. I saved you from Flynn. It's your turn now, Jade. Save me. Because if you let that thing kill you, I will be next. Not that it matters much, because you won't be here. But try anyway, save me Jade." I begged.
Her eyes fluttered open. She grabbed my hand and held it tightly.
"I'm scared." She quivered.
"I know." I breathed, relieved she was alive. "Don't worry, I'm sure there's a way to get it off you."
"No, I'm not afraid of the eel. I'm afraid of that man. Of Flynn. I couldn't move, but I could hear. I heard you stop him. He tried to kill me! Severel times!" She said panicked.
"He doesn't know you. He... Isn't good with strangers. Last time strangers entered the library he lost the three things he loved the most. He's been through hell and he's still trying to get them back. He was just trying to save what little he has left. He won't try and hurt you again, not now that the dangers gone. And if he ever did, you know I wouldn't let him."
She nodded, sitting up slowly. She looked at the eel who was pulsating on her arm, it's teeth still linked to her wrist.
"I think I'll name him Jack." She mused.
"Name him? He's a parasite feeding off you! Don't name him! No way, he's coming off."
I reached at the thing, I'm not sure why, it would be stupid and risky to try and remove it on my own. She slapped my hand away.
"Don't hurt Jack!" She said almost offended.
"Okay, we need to go out there now. There are people waiting to see you're okay. You know Cassie will be worried sick. She's probably giving herself a headache calculating whether you survive or not." I told her.
"Cassie!" She yelped, jumping to her feet and rushing to the door. Despite having been here a short while, Cassie and Jade had become good friends. I jumped after her and reached the door where she stood. I took her hand and opened the door leading her out. As soon as we were in sight Cassie thudded into Jade.
"I'm so glad you're okay!" She gushed. She then started to fall limp in Jades arms and Stone pulled her off carefully. He sat her down in a chair and told her to remember the smell of sausages.
"She's been killing herself with the same statistical equations over and over, if you hadn't come out soon she may have fainted." Stone said shaking his head.
Baird and Flynn weren't in the room. Jenkins looked Jade over, carefully examining the eel.
"It doesn't seem to be hurting her..." He mumbled.
Flynn and Baird walked into the room. Flynn looked at Baird walking behind him as if he was making sure everything was okay. He walked right up to Jade and extended his hand.
"Welcome to the library." He said a little too loudly as if he was trying to earn someone's approval.
She looked at me. She was so unsure of everything. So terrified. She needed me. She needed us. I nodded at her, showing her he was safe. Well, as safe as Flynn ever got. She placed her hand in his. They didn't really shake like you'd think they would. Just held their hands together for a second. What they exchanged was much better than a casual handshake. They exchanged trust.
"Okay." Flynn said. "We think that she may be a guardian. To be more exact Ezekiel's guardian. We believe, in time, you will all have a guardian of your own..." He explained.
"We assume the library knew that. Or even planned it. Her arrival, then Flynns. The eel... It was all planned and prepared so she could properly defend Ezekiel." Baird continued.
"We think despite her lack of fighting abilities, the eel, now bonded with her, will fight for her." Flynn told us.
"His name is Jack." Jade spoke as though she was singing the first line of a song in a performance and only just finding her voice.
"Okay. Jack." Flynn smiled at her. "I want you to think of something you want. Better yet, just feel that emotion. Feel desire, feel need, feel want. Concentrate on that feeling and Jack should do, whatever it is you need him to. Go on, try it." He said and we watched with anticipation.
Jade closed her eyes. Jack's tail, previously motionless, flicked back and forth, slowly getting faster and faster. His whole body then began to whirl around, all but the head which stayed fixated to her wrist. It went in a large circle and even seemed to be getting larger as it did. Suddenly it pointed straight up in the air. Without warning it lunged itself at me wrapping around my waist. I was pulled, like it was retracting itself, until I was forced right in front of Jade. I was so close to her I could feel her breathing on me. Apparently she felt my breath too because she opened her eyes in shock. When her eyes opened, Jack unwound himself from me, like pulling on a string and tugging it loose. He returned to his normal size and rested his body on Jades arm.
"Ezekiel!" She said, nearly falling into me.
"Hey, Jade." I responded while steadying her so she wouldn't lose balance.
I heard a deep chuckling from behind me. Rolling my eyes I turned to the source, Stone.
"Guess it's not hard to figure out what she wants, huh?" He said between laughing.
Before I could make a fool out of myself by getting angry at him Flynn interviened.
"Okay, good. Good start. Now concentrate on something in the room, other than Ezekiel..." He told her.
Stone stifled another laugh and even Cassandra couldn't hide her smile. Jade closed her eyes again and Jack took off, he darted to the door-portal where we had left our recently acquired goods. I had forgotten all about them. It picked up a diamond necklace, a ruby bracelet and a gold Rolex watch. It slid them all on its back. It slithered around Jades neck and wrist (the one it hadn't attached itself to.) leaving the jeweled peices on her when it left. The thing then headed towards me. I started backing up but it was quick. It circled my wrist leaving the Rolex there. Maybe this thing wasn't so bad after all. The pick pocketing possibilities alone were endless. Jade opened her eyes and Flynn started clapping slowly.
"With a little practice you should be able to do many things with "Jack". Aiding Ezekiel, defending him... You are going to make a fine guardian." Flynn said, and Jade beamed.
There was doubt in my mind for a moment, but now, everything was going to work out. Everything was going to be perfect. The slow clapping began again but it wasn't Flynn this time. We looked towards the entrance of the Annex, and out he emerged. He must of snuck in without anyone hearing. As he spoke Jade rushed to my side and almost hid behind me.
"Librarians! Terribly sorry for the intrusion. But, I believe you have something of mine."
He looked towards Jade who looked at him with fear, disdain and reverence, all at the same time.
"Father." She spoke as her grip tightened on my arm