Author's note; I do not own characters, I make no profit, and I am eternally grateful to Valawenal for her assistance, tutelage, and unflagging support.

The Librarians and the Book of Myths

Chapter 3, A Swooshy Kinda Boom

Cassie's ears were ringing and spots danced in front of her eyes. As her vision slowly cleared, she tried to focus on Ezekiel as he helped her to her shaky feet. What just happened? What had he just said about Jake? And where was Jake?

"Ok, getting you up was maybe not such a brilliant idea. Here…" Ezekiel slid a chair towards her. "You should sit down."

"Yeah, maybe." She gratefully collapsed into the seat. "It's ok. This happens sometimes. I'll be fine in a few minutes."

"This happens sometimes? This happens?" Ezekiel's incredulous exclamation startled and confused her further. "What….books explode around you on a regular basis?"

Alarmed, Cassie quickly scanned the table. The mythology book, in all of its splendor, sat innocently on the table- unmarred (and definitely not exploded). She looked back to Ezekiel questioningly, but her words were cut short by a bellowing roar.

"What…have…you…done?" Jenkins, in full Jenkins-mode, stormed into the room with flushed cheeks and fire in his eye. Cassandra cringed as his shout brought her headache back to full throttle.

"Nothing. Nothing. I just had a spell, that's all. Please stop yelling."

"Um…Cass…about that spell thing..." Ezekiel mumbled.

Eve swept into the room with her usual grace and efficiency. "Easy, Jenkins. Nothing looks broken, including Cassandra and Jones." Col. Eve Baird, was officially the Guardian of the group, a decorated government trained specialist who provided protection and security for The Library's most vulnerable assistants. She was tall, blond and stunning, which tended to fool her adversaries into underestimating her- a mistake Cassandra knew that no one had ever made twice. Despite her unique and deadly skill set, Eve found herself, more often than not, in the reluctant role of peacemaker. Cassie noted the silent eye roll as Eve mentally prepared to smooth some ruffled feathers.

"Oi…listen…the book…Jake…." Ezekiel said, his distress accentuating his already prominent Australian accent.

Jenkins whirled on Baird and sneered in a haughty tone, "And of course you would know, Col. Baird, if any of the priceless, mystical objects in this room were damaged, because you are an expert on such precious artifacts. Because you have been their caretaker for hundreds of years! Oh, wait…I believe that was actually me!"

"Guys, you really need to listen…" Once again, Ezekiel tried in vain to capture their attention.

"Jenkins," Eve said soothingly "Look around. All your precious toys look just fine. Now, if we can all just settle down, perhaps Jones can tell us what that blasting sound was. And then I really think we need to get Cassandra into a bed. Looks like whatever thing she had took a lot out of her."

"It wasn't a spell…."

"It was just a spell…"

"My...my...toys?"

Ezekiel and Cassandra spoke simultaneously, as Jenkins sputtered in disbelief.

"Listen. Just listen. Oi, you people, stop and listen…Jake just…"

"Jenkins, enough. We will sort all this out later. Look at Cassandra, just look at her! She needs rest. Help me get her up." Eve clearly had had her fill of the theatrics. "Yeah, the children got into some kind of mischief. But nothing is broken, so just get over it. Help me with Cassandra. Ezekiel, go get a wet cloth and a glass of water. Jake, go….damn it, where is Jake, anyway?"

"I've been trying to tell you…"

"Perhaps Mr. Stone has enough maturity to know better than to play with my toys." Jenkins grumbled.

"Wait." Cassie blurted out "Wait. Where is Jake? He was just here, wasn't he? Did I imagine that?"

Ezekiel groaned and said "Jake just touched the book and then Cassie and I ..."

"Easy, Cassandra." Eve said, "Just relax. You will feel better after you get some rest. Come on, Honey. Let's get you out of here." Eve spoke kindly as she and a clearly annoyed Jenkins assisted Cassie towards the door."

Jones waved his arms back and forth in the air. "Ok. Ok, people. You just go ahead and ignore me! We'll just see if you get interested when the book jumps up and eats you! Don't expect me to help you out because it's not like I am important. I mean, I am not even important enough to listen to. Like, I am not even here, right? Yeah, Jones is just a ghost or something because it's clear that no one can see or hear me. Wait…you can see and hear me, right? I'm not dead? Seriously? Am I dead?"

"Jones," Eve said with a heavy sigh, "What on earth are you babbling about? And where is Stone? We could really use his help, since you are so self-absorbed today."

Generally more unflappable, Ezekiel uncharacteristically lost his composure. Waving his arms, hopping from foot to foot, and in a high squeaky voice, he raved "Gone! Stone is gone! Gone, gone, gone! He touched the stupid book and there was a big bright flash and a swooshy kinda boom and then poof, Jake was like, gone."

"What? Seriously, Jones? And you didn't tell us? What were you thinking?" Eve scolded.

.

.

.

Against her express wishes, Cassie was tucked into bed by Eve, in an adjoining room which was chiefly used for medical treatments when needed. Her protests ignored, Cassie planned on sneaking out once they were otherwise occupied. She rested her head on the pillow to wait for her opportunity but soon lost her battle with fatigue and fell into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.

In the adjoining room, the others spoke quietly. Eve had herded the men back to the table and asked Ezekiel to explain, in detail, about Jake's disappearance. Eve and Jenkins gazed at the mythology book as Ezekiel completed his tale.

"You say he just touched it?" Eve asked.

Ezekiel replied "Yes. Just barely grazed his fingers across the page. There was no 'abracadabra', no magic wands, no genie's lamp…"

"It's never the genie's lamp." Jenkins interjected.

"Whatever" Ezekiel sniped back.

"Boys, please. Let's focus. Your thoughts on this, Jenkins?"

Gazing at the ceiling in concentration, Jenkins mentally tallied the various possibilities. "Well, the book could be cursed. A garden variety curse could do this. Or perhaps the book functions as our back door does, teleporting to other locations. It could be a hide-and-seek enchantment that renders a person invisible, but I would think that Mr. Stone would have found a way to make his presence known by now if that were the case. And of course, we don't know that the book was involved at all. There are many magical objects in this library and we have many enemies who might be manipulating them."

"Well, great." Eve snapped impatiently, "That really narrows it down."

"You have more useful thoughts, Col. Baird? Please do share."

"It's not my job to know about artifacts, Jenkins. It's my job to protect. It's just too bad that we don't have someone who has been a caretaker of these objects for hundreds of years. Oh, wait…isn't that you?" she replied sarcastically.

"Helloooo…!" Ezekiel interrupted their tirade. "I have a thought about this book that I would like to share…you know, if I had anyone...anyone at all… who would actually listen to me!"

"Oh, please Mr. Jones. Do tell us your thought. I am sure that it will be most enlightening, given your extensive knowledge of magic, and of books, and of Greek Mythology and well, of anything." huffed Jenkins.

Narrowing his eyes, Ezekiel speared Jenkins with a steely look. "Well, mate. I admit that magic and books are not my specialty. And truthfully, I know very little about Greek mythology. But…" he said as he pointed to the illustration on the open page of the book. His hand stood motionless. Eve and Jenkins looked at the hand, then slowly lowered their eyes to the illustration he was pointing at.

Ezekiel's voice, when he spoke again, was almost a whisper. "And do correct me if I am wrong, but should Atlas be wearing a flannel shirt, jeans and steel toed work boots?"