They returned to the mirror room. It was strange, when Evabelle opened her eyes it appeared as though they had never left. She stood in the exact spot from before. Her arms were up as though blocking the wind, though it was gone now. The ring of gray powder was gone. The only thing in the room was the clear crystal, which had been at the ring's center.

Del went over and scooped it up and put it back in the sack. Without a single word, he left the room with Evabelle's gaze following him the entire way. His words were still echoing in her head.

"Evabelle,"

She jumped. She had nearly forgotten that Lucis was there. She looked at him.

"Did you still you want to see the library?"

Evabelle blinked. She had forgotten the library, but now... Evabelle nodded vigorously. "Oh, yes, please."

Lucis smiled and held out an arm for her to take. "Then come with me, my lady, the gateways to a million lives is this way."

Evabelle grinned and nervously took his arm. Lucis was actually a fairly easy person to be around. She liked the way he called the books gateways and the library the room of other worlds. He really did see books the way she did.

The pair of them left the mirror room, and this time, Evabelle saw the silver frame on the inside of the room. Now she knew what it meant. And the two of them went down the stairs to the landing between where the two staircases split. There was a large blank wall facing them. Evabelle had thought it odd when she had first seen it, and she still did. There was no painting or decoration, just an empty wall.

Lucis slipped his arm away and began to slide his hand across the wall. His fingers caught on a niche and he pulled.

Evabelle gasped as the hidden panel slid away revealing two, tall dark wood doors.

Lucis turned back to Evabelle. "Alright, close your eyes."

"But-"

His eyes were wide. "Please."

Evabelle complied. She heard the large doors open and felt Lucis's hand slide under hers. Slowly he led her forward.

"Okay, open them."

She did and her mouth dropped.
It was massive. The biggest library that Evabelle had ever had to pleasure to lay her eyes upon. She stepped out to the railing, putting her hands on the cool metal and drank it in. They were on the third floor up. Below them, Evabelle saw shelves the spiraled around the room. When she looked up, she saw books, rising on more levels than she could count. It was magnificent.

"Do you like it?" Lucis asked.

Evabelle turned back to him, absolutely beaming. "It's wonderful!"

"I'm glad." His eyes roamed the colossal book room with affection. "This is my favorite room, the library. It's in the center of the entire place, the heart of the Sanctuary." His eyes flashed back to Evabelle. "Seems appropriate, don't you think?"

Evabelle nodded.

Soon Evabelle was almost running up the level stopping to look at the thousands of books, and wonder on which one she should read. She felt like a child on Christmas and she was probably acting like one too.

Lucis, also, was wandering through the maze of novels. He had pointed her to a map that displayed the kinds of books that were on each floor. He himself didn't need one. He had practically memorized the place. That meant Evabelle had a lot to catch up on if she wanted to get where he was.

Calandra came a few minutes later. She called for Lucis. Apparently everyone wanted to hear about what had happened at the stone tower. Lucis excused himself, telling Evabelle to relax and enjoy herself.

Evabelle was definitely enjoying herself. The map showed so many different kinds of books. She found what level where some of her favorite books were on as well as others she had never heard of yet sounded fascinating.

As Evabelle explored this new paradise, she found herself thinking about Lucis. He was so kind and strong. He knew exactly what to say to her and knew what to do in stressful situations. He knew how to keep a level head just like a real hero. A hero. A hero he expected her to be. I haven't shown any sign of heroism.

Her finger fell upon a large leather-bound book that claimed to be filled with basic factual information. Normally Evabelle hated non-fiction, but this wasn't what most would call non-fiction, it was the basic info on of all legendary creatures.

That's exactly what she needed. So Evabelle reached up and pulled out the leather-bound book with the title in swirly silver writing, Day and Night. Curiously she wondered what the title meant. She looked around the surrounding books and saw that they had the volume translated in many languages. Of course, this one was in English. She let her hand glide across the embossed cover, her mind still lost in thought of this whole occurrence that was happening to her, of all people.

The others showed skepticism about her, which they should. But Lucis was insane. He had this complete, unalterable faith in her. Her hands tightened around the large book. Until you believe in yourself, I will believe in you for you. "But why me!" She exclaimed aloud suddenly.

"Why are you so infuriatingly cute? I don't know, I've been asking myself that same question."

Evabelle let out a squeak of surprise at the wolfish face that grinned at her through the book case, and tumbled backward, nearly dropping the book, and knocking into a small table that held an expensive looking vas. She tried to catch it, but with her hands full and her own balance compromised, she didn't have much of a chance.

Before she could blink she found herself in a low dip. With one of the man's arms around her, the other outstretched, holding the flowery ornament. Faux's eyes danced as they stared at Evabelle. His face was so close their noses nearly touched. "Well, well," he grinned. "Maybe I should startle you more often."

Evabelle felt like passing out there and now. "I...um..." Desperately, how she wanted to get away from him at that moment.

The flirtatious Anahalian straightened up with his arm still around Evabelle's waist. He placed the vase back on its table and reached out to stroke her face. "Why, my dear, do you look so distressed? There is no need, for I am here."

Evabelle struggled to speak. She moved her mouth, but all that escaped was a tangled squawk.

His grin widened. "Speechless, my lovely?" But surprisingly he removed his arms and leaned against the bookcase still giving her his crooked grin. "Why 'you,' what?" He said.

Evabelle's legs felt like jelly as she wobbled a few steps back, finally falling into a chair at a small reading table, holding the book close to her chest. She glanced back at him nervously. "I don't... um..." She swallowed. "Oh, it's just...just Lucis. I mean, well you've seen me. I'm not a person who saves people. I'm really nothing special. I mean, I know you're just messing around, but you see that I'm not really a hero don't you?"

Faux was quiet for a moment. He had his arms folded and his eyes thoughtful. "I don't know if I'd say I'm messing around. You are a beautiful girl, there is no denying that."

Evabelle blushed. "I can't say you're a hero or not. I've barely got the chance to know you. There is always the potential for greatness."

Evabelle nodded. "You said it though. You barely know me, so you cannot say. Well, Lucis barely knows me either, yet he has all this faith in me, and it scares me. It's like he sees me and just knows everything is going to be alright."

Faux chuckled. "Ah, the beauty of innocence." He murmured. "But really there are many reasons to why Lucis is the way he is. There's an oracle, an Anahalian blessed with the sight of times ahead that spoke of you as the hope for us. There is also the fact that Lucis is the one of the kindest, wisest people that I know." Faux said this with sincere admiration in his voice that made Evabelle wonder how he and his cousin could have such different views on the same person. "But what I really think the reason is for Lucis's faith in you is because he needs to believe in someone. Often when we do not believe in ourselves, we put all our belief on others."

Evabelle stared. Normally she could not look at a boy directly for more than a few seconds without turning away, but now she was staring. "Are you saying Lucis doesn't believe in himself?"

Faux shrugged. "I've known Lucis for a long time. He's always been kinder and wiser than I could ever be, even though he is younger. I got myself into trouble a lot and it was him who showed me out. He helped me as I watched him go through his own struggles. He seemed fine with it all and I was sure he was so steady and firm that even though he was not always treated right, he wasn't affected so much. But now I'm older and I know that any cruelties hurt and affect you to a degree. Lucis is no exception. I'm not saying he has the right to just dump all his faith on you. That's not right. It's selfish, but Lucis is a good person."

It was an actual serious conversation coming from Faux. Evabelle wondered if this was a monumental moment. His words though, made Evabelle think. His own struggles? He hadn't always been treated right? It sounded awful; whatever had happened. But did he really not believe in himself? Lucis just seemed so confident and sure.

Evabelle glanced back up at Faux, who was no longer there. "Faux?"
Suddenly warm air blew on her ear. "Yes, my lovely?"

Evabelle let out a terrified squeak and jumped to her feet. Faux was leaning over the table, grinning at her. At that moment, Evabelle realized all seriousness was gone and Faux was back to his creepy, flirting self. "I... um..." Once again she was stuttering. "I-I-I..." She glanced down at the book in her arms.

Faux held up a hand. "Say no more, princess. Your passion for reading, I find absolutely adorable, so I will not interfere with it." He took a low bow. "So I shall take my leave, so that you may delve into the wonders of words." He straightened, gave a wink, and left.

Evabelle stared after him. Faux was so...so...there really wasn't a word for him. He could change personalities so quickly. He went from ridiculous, to serious, and back again in a matter of seconds. Evabelle bit her lip. She really wanted to ask him more about Lucis, but her own fear of boys kept her where she was.

Finally she sat back at the table and opened Day and Night. She had just opened to the introduction when another voice spoke from behind her.

"So, you've returned from the beyond?"

Evabelle looked up to see Aza standing there.

Aza grinned at her. "So what did this Kayne say?"

Evabelle sighed and closed book as Aza sat in a chair next to her. Soon Evabelle was recounting the events that occurred at the stone tower, leaving out the bit where she was briefly alone with Del.

"So basically, we're stuck here." Aza said after Evabelle finished.

Evabelle nodded. "Yeah, well unless we destroy the Annihilator sickness."

Aza shook her head. "That makes no sense. The purpose of you getting to the Anahalian world is to do just that. You have to be on that side, don't you? That's where they said the magical legendary tomb thing was, right?"

"I think that was to cure those who were already infected, but they were talking about shutting it down permanently. We have to find this Averno and whoever's working for him and stop them from causing more destruction." Evabelle replied.

"Sounds like we're going to be here longer than we planned, then."

Evabelle nodded. "Yeah, well, we didn't really know how long we were going to be here, but it does seem like our time has increased."

Aza took a deep breath and leaned back on her chair, tilting it back so it only stood on its back two legs. Her eyes were traveling over the contents of the spiraling library. "Well, personally, I'm not complaining. It is pretty sweet here. The people could do with being a little warmer, but the architecture is pretty sweet. I mean, just look at this library."

Evabelle cocked her head. "Hey, how did you find the library? Lucis had to show it to me. If he hadn't, I would never have found it. I mean the doors are hidden behind that secret panel."

Aza fell forward on her chair. "Oh, yeah. I forgot." She looked around the library now for something specific. "While you three were in the land of Angels, I got the chance to meet our new neighbors." Aza cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted. "Gem! Gem, where are you?" She lowered her hands. "I nearly forgot about that kid. She showed me the library. She said it was where you were, but when we came in, her cat ran off down one of these levels."

"Gem?" Evabelle murmured. So had Aza met Kai as well? She knew that Gem was his sister.

Soon the very same little blind girl from yesterday came running around the corner. Evabelle truly saw the girl this time. The child, Gem, had round, rosy cheeks that dimpled as she beamed all the way to her pointed ears. She had perfect, peachy-cream skin that was covered by more or less the same dress that Evabelle had first seen her in. The girl had that long, sunshine hair braided all the way down her back, just like her brother, although hers had many different flowers weaving in and out of it. Her eyes, though milky and blind, still appeared to have a light shine through them.

In the girl's arms a cat dangled, not in the way you would hold a cat, usually, with its front paws reaching for the sky with the butt hanging down over her arm, but the cat appeared not to care.

"I'm here!" The girl exclaimed a little breathlessly. "Sorry Jewels, here," She gestured with the cat. "Ran off after a fly, I think."

Aza stood. "Gem, this is Evabelle,

Evabelle this is Gem." She introduced them.

Gem stared directly at Evabelle, even though, she couldn't really see her, it still made Evabelle nervous, but she smiled politely and greeted the child.

"Hello, Gem, it is very nice to meet you."

"Hello, Evabelle. I am sorry for my rudeness yesterday. I should not have been in your room, but you see it is always exciting to meet new guests, so when I found your door open, I knew there was someone new to be friends with." The girl exclaimed excitedly.

Aza nodded. "Yeah, I heard that this was your little ghost, yesterday." She stared at Evabelle intensely. "And I also heard about your little nightly escapade. Going into a boy's bedroom, that is a big step for you." Aza grinned at her.

Evabelle blushed. "Nothing happened. I barely got the chance to speak to him really."

Aza sighed. "Yeah, that's what Kai said. He wanted me to apologize about last night and how you two were rudely interrupted, but I told him he would have to tell you himself. The guys a bit of a hermit, cooped up in that room. I told him he should get out more. I mean, have you seen his complexion?"

Evabelle nodded. "So you just went and talked to Kai and Gem while I was gone?"

"Well, after you left, I found CJ outside by the beach where we came in on. Don't ask me why he was out there, playing in the sand. Anyway, we went inside and Gem found us, and then she invited us to a tea party in her brother's bedroom."

Gem nodded enthusiastically, the poor cat swinging helplessly in her arms. "It was a lot of fun too, but CJ didn't really like to Jewels."

"Yeah, well CJ is allergic to cats. And besides, Jewels didn't really like CJ so much either." Aza smirked a bit at Evabelle. "Gave him a good swipe on the nose, is what she did."

"Is he okay?" Evabelle asked, now beginning to wonder where the bespectacled boy was.

Aza sat back down on the chair. "Oh, yeah, he's fine. His eyes did look a bit puffy, but he had an inhaler that seemed to help."

Jewels, the cat, mewled suddenly and squirmed free of her mistress's clutches and darted off along the level of books.

"Jewels!" Gem cried and dashed after the little creature.

Evabelle shook her head in amazement. "It's amazing. It's like she doesn't even realize she is blind."

"Hmm," Murmured Aza. "I don't think, you cannot not realize that you're blind. I think she just doesn't let it bother her. It is pretty inspiring, though."

"But she could fall or run into something and get seriously hurt if she's not careful." Evabelle watched after Gem anxiously.

"Her and her brother have been staying here for a few years. Maybe, she's just got the whole thing down. And then there's the fact that she's a magical elf. Who's to say that that doesn't help out a bit?"

Evabelle was reminded of her short conversation with Gem's brother. Normally our kind doesn't acquire such disabilities, or they are easily fixed, but Gem is a special case. "So, they are elves?" Evabelle asked finally.

Aza shrugged. "Yeah, well when I asked where they used to live, Kai was a little vague, but he said they were from the Elven Isles, so I'm figuring." Aza's eyes glazed over. "That albino is a bit of a mystery, I will say. I think he's not a big fan of crowds or something. He's really polite and everything, but he really didn't want to leave his room. It took some convincing to get him to agree to have dinner with us." Aza stared blankly ahead. "There is something just a bit off about him." She shook her head. "Well, everyone here is a bit on the odd side, though."