Someone touches my shoulder. They shake it. "Miss. Miss. Miss Wes. Ember!"

My eyes open abruptly, I look around, I am lying on a stone floor next to a fire that is now just coals. I push myself up off the cold floor and onto my knees.

Looking up, I see the man that complimented me on my curry yesterday. He is holding a book. The Tempest by William Shakespeare. Huh.

He is tall, probably a head and a half taller than me, and lean. He has golden brown hair that looks like he just woke up and didn't touch it. He has green eyes that make my breath catch. His skin in porcelain and spotless. His eyes twinkle with amusement as he grins at me.

When I realize he had just caught me sleeping, possibly snoring, in the library, my eyes widen and I hastily use my fingers to comb through my hair.

He chuckles under his breath. "Did you spend the whole night here?"

I try to speak but my mouth has a disgusting taste in it from not brushing my teeth. Instead I just nod.

"No one thought to show you to your room?"

I shrug and stand up, brushing some stray ashes from my pants. I put a hand in front of my mouth and say, with an embarrassingly sleepy voice, "I decided to finish a book rather than head back with everyone else, I told them I could figure it out."

"Ah, I am in the midst of a fellow reader."

I begin to shake my head, but he continues, "You are allowed to take the books from the library, in case you didn't already know."

How can he make me feel so ignorant, in so little time?

"I didn't know... But it doesn't matter now, I finished it."

"Would you like help finding another?" He asks, smirking.

"No thanks, I'm not really into Shakespeare."

"Have you tried it? The Tempest is my new favorite, even though I usually prefer more recently published books."

"No and I'm fully capable of finding a book myself, thank you." I don't know why I am being rude and defensive.

"I am sure you are," He says, his smile never wavering. This is all a game to him! "I've just been here longer than anyone else in this castle, other than the Queen herself, of course. And I spend a formidable portion of my time in this very library, but if you do not want my help, I understand."

I can see he is trying to contain laughter. I frown. "What's you name?"

"Bennet."

"Fine, Bennet, educate me. Where should I go to find the greatest book I will ever read?"

"The greatest book? I would have to say...follow me."

He leads me to a bookcase. He reaches behind some books and pulls a lever. A hidden staircase. He turns around and wiggles his eyebrows at me, when he hears me gasp.

We go up one, two, three flights of stairs until we are in a room covered with books that seem to be organized in no particular way. Inside there a is a chair facing a window, that overlooking a beautiful garden.

"What is this place?"

"This would be my section of the library. I keep all the books I've read in here. Since reading isn't very popular with the other competitors, no one notices."

"But how did you even find this place?"

"I saw her Queen Charis open the bookshelf one day, and tried it myself the next. This room was untouched, dust ridden. I made it my own get away. As for your book..."

He nods to the left, "My favorite books, sorted by genre, year published, and then author."

"How much time do you spend in here?" I mutter, more to myself. I walk over to the gigantic bookshelves.

I run my fingers over the spines. I see Grimm's Fairytales, Looking for Alaska and everything in between. "Almost every spare moment I've had, especially in the past five months."

"So you're a book geek?"

"I enjoy reading, yes, but this room is where I go when I want to be alone."

"Then why'd you show it to me?" I ask, my fingers halting on a copy of Pride and Prejudice.

"I was trying to figure that out myself." He admits. "Have you found anything you would like to read?"

I grab a random book, which turns out to be The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare.

I grab it and pat the cover, "I'm all set. See you later."

"Wait, I forgot to mention, you can't take the book out of here."

"Didn't you say-" I begin.

"You can take books out of the main library, my library is a different story."

His library? "Then why'd you show me the books if I can't read them?"

"You can read them, it just has to be in here. I will be willing to share my hide out if you won't steal from my book collection."

~

I count the bookshelves as I pass, four, five, six, seven. I pull the lever on the seventh and it swings open to reveal the secret staircase.

I wander up the stairs until I find the door leading to Bennet's library. I knock before opening the door. It's empty, the only light filtering from the sheer curtains. I can see perfect white clouds gathering above the maze of flowers and trees.

I turn on the gas lamp, because electricity is apparently not a thing in Ersetu. When the lights are all on, illuminating the room, I see that instead of the one chair that was there only three hours ago, there are two chairs, both sitting in front of the window.

I smile, and sit down in one of the chairs, I have to remind myself to cross my legs, because I only have dresses, which I hate, in my room. I am wearing a light yellow ankle length conservative dress, that is a bit to formal for my taste.

The mute woman that showed me around yesterday was in my room and did my long black hair in and elegant updo, which is something I would never do to myself.

Opening the book I chose, I begin reading.

I sit in silence, completely absorbed in the Shadow World, that I almost don't notice the sound of the door opening.

Bennet walks in, humming as he carries a painting easel. He sets it down and grabs some paint from off a table. As he goes to grab a canvas, he notices me.

His voice and steps halt in unison. A wide grin spreads across his face, "You're back."

And not looking like a hobo, I add silently. "Yeah but I can go if you want to paint." I say, getting up.

"No, no stay! There will be millions of other sunsets in my existence, I would much rather talk with a beautiful woman such as yourself."

Is he flirting with me? "You're such a tease."

He takes the seat beside me and we talk.

----------------------------------------------------

It feels like forever since I've updated. I have been working on another story I plan on sharing after this book, and I'm really excited about it!

So tell me, do you like Bennet? What about bookworm Ember? I didn't originally plan on her liking books so this is a little strange for me.

Don't forget to vote, comment and share!