My talk with King Cassius had me on edge all day and seemed to have set the whole world off its axis. The fear and foreboding glances from the lords and ladies in the castle hovered over my head like a heavy cloud full of rain and thunder. My yellow dress and bare feet scuffed down the elaborate hallways packed with nauseating splendor. A seldom fairy with legs and arms connected by chains stood aside running feather dusters over suits of armor, statues, and other godly trinkets. They all gave me weary looks before quickly returning to work.

With an armed escort my interest was piqued when we passed through a hallway filled with large candles covered with waxy faces. A man in a red robe stood near one speaking into the flame. The wax mouth moved in response to his questions. Daarith once told me they have a way to communicate to people across distances, much like a telephone. While the science or magic behind it baffled me, I was intrigued to use one despite not knowing whom I would contact.

After traversing a few more long affluent hallways we arrived at my new room. A large black wooden door with a lock the size of a bowling ball opened. I was shoved inside. Divide and Hijinx were waiting to greet me, an unusual smile was exchanged between the two as the door behind me clicked shut.

"Welcome, Hope," meowed Hijinx, flicking his fluffy orange tail over the bed sheets.

"Good to see you out of hiding, Hijinx," I said scratching the cat on the top of his head. He purred in delight.

"How's your leg?" asked Divide lifting my dress. "Oh, the bleeding has worsened. You should stay off it for the rest of the day. I'll fix you up and let the guards know of your condition."

"It doesn't hurt," I said. "Your medicine is working great."

"Of course it is," responded Divide leading me to the daybed. "But medicine can only help it so far. Rest is the best remedy for you now."

Hijinx jumped up beside me, a pillow in its jaws.

"Thank you," I said placing it comfortably behind my head. "Y'all are too kind." Divide went to work removing the bandages and collecting hot water into a basin. Her hands delicately dipped in and out of the water scrubbing my bleeding wound until it was clean and the bleeding had stopped.

When Divide had finished her handiwork, my leg was propped up and she assured me that I should take it easy. I wanted to see Owen and Zeno and make sure they were well taken care of and see to that the guards had not abused them in any way. Hijinx confirmed that they were escorted to a communal room filled with all the amenities and luxuries of a royal guest.

There was a knock at the door. A young girl entered carrying a tray of pan-seared quail and steamed vegetables. My mouth watered at the sight. No sooner had I eaten the whole meal did Divide leave. Hijinx curled on the pillow beside me and together we both fell into a lumbering sleep.

As I rested, boorish images and scenes filled my dreams. I recalled the visions I had scryed in the desert of Owen wrything on a stone table and the dark figure with the boney fingers hunched over him. I saw my sister being interrogated by men and women in suits with purple sunglasses and a briefcase flashing the letters EO. A scene of home engulfed in flames rolled through my mind followed by my abuelita lying on a hospital bed. The final scene was me walking through a forest charred to ash just before the roaring flames of a dragon consumed my sight.

My body jerked awake. Sweat dripped off my brow and my breath struggled to gain composure. I looked around. For a moment I had forgotten I was in Blackstone's grand castle and a glorified prisoner to the king. I heard scurrying in the room. Hiding behind the bed were two spider monkeys in vests with shackles around their wrists and ankles. In their hands they had trays filled with more food.

Light leaked in from the window. I had slept through the night.

"Good morning, Mirrorbender," said one of the monkeys hesitantly. "Please don't mind our intrusion. We bring your breakfast, courtesy of the king to see you well."

"Thank you," I said rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I felt my hair. It was a right mess.

The two monkeys bowed and placed the food on the tray by my side. The door opened and Heist dressed in his Red Heart cloak stomped inside. The monkey's bowed their heads and shifted backwards as he approached. Looking at the plate full of food, Heist couldn't stop himself from plopping a grape into his mouth.

"Certainly beats the dungeon," he joked. I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, the decoure is an improvement but the circumstances are still the same."

"You need to lighten up a bit," he said leaning against the arm of the daybed. "It's a great morning outside. Starting to get a little cold. Soon the snow will be falling in the north and people everywhere will be celebrating the winter solstice."

"I'm guessing you people don't celebrate Christmas or Thanksgiving?"

"Never heard of it," said Heist plopping another grape into his mouth. "Is it a fun festival where you are from?"

"Eh," I said, shugging. "It lost its true value long ago. Just an excuse to spend money on things you don't need causing a stress overload and an attempt to get along with family that may hate your guts."

"Sounds rather tiresome." Heist chuckled. "Why can't people in your world just come together to have fun and put away all those negative things?"

"You clearly don't know my world," I said sitting up and reaching for a strawberry. "So why are you here? I know you didn't just come to eat my breakfast."

"Perhaps," he said, smiling. "No, I came to see if you wanted to go to the royal library and maybe a tour of the castle."

"You gonna carry me?" I said lifting the blanket off my injured leg. "Cause I won't be walking any time soon. I've got to heal up so I can slaughter that dragon the king and the court keep complaining about."

"I got a wheelchair if that helps."

"Sure but only if Owen meets me at the library."

"That can be arranged," said Heist snapping his fingers. A nurse dressed like Divide with bandages covering her face and arms rushed in pushing a wooden wheelchair. He whispered to the nurse, she nodded, then hastefully left. Heist helped me into the wheelchair and together we left the room.

"Where to first?" I asked.

"Well there is always my favorite place, the kitchens. Then there is the lovely east tower. On a clear day you can see the ocean. Oh and the barracks where my men and I stay, and then there is the beautiful courtyard where but three hundred years ago a princess of Blackstone eloped with a servant and were discovered hiding in the trees. It caused such a great scandal that after nearly losing his head, the king was forced to grant the servant lordship otherwise his daughter would take her life. It was the first and the last time someone born of lowly class found themselves of royal blood."

"Blackstone sounds like it has a rich history," I said as Heist began scooting me down the hallways.

"Oh so much. Maybe when you're not researching dragons you can take a look. I recommend the title, The White Stones of the Black City." Heist winked.

We wandered down the castle's corridors. Heist was quick to inform me on some important Juprus customs and historical know how. Despite the pair of Black Diamond soldiers who followed us wherever we went and Heist's careful choice of words to some of my questions, I learned quite a bit of detailed information regarding the current king and his rise to power after dethroning his brother. I even had a chance to ask Heist about those candles with the waxy faces.

"Those are Luxers," he said spying one hunched over on a desk. "Enchanted candles that allow one to communicate through the flames. The candles themselves possess a little sentience and may answer questions based on information they have overheard. Though if one wants to be discreet with their words, the Luxer may glow a black flame. Otherwise destroying the Luxer will keep any secrets it holds hidden."

"Interesting," I said. "Can I try one out?"

"Not while you are a prisoner, king's order," said Heist. "Even Xuxa, general of the Red Hearts, couldn't override that decree."

Around the corner a loud tapping of heels banged on the stone floor. Lucinder clutching a large book balanced on his exceedingly tall heels appeared before us.

"Mirrorbender," he said giving both Heist and I a sour look. "And lieutenant."

"Good morning, grand chancellor," said Heist.

Lucinder brushed his auburn hair over his shoulder.

"What pleasure do I owe to have crossed paths with you two today?"

"I am headed to the library to research dragons," I said folding my arms over my lap.

"Splendid," said the man struggling to remain poised in his stilts. "If there is any information you need regarding the beast that books do not tell you, please let me know. Despite my busy schedule, I will be sure to make time for you, Mirrorbender. Just be sure to wear the appropriate attire next time."

"Thank you, chancellor," I said nodding my head.

"Oh, and Mirrorbender Hope, to save myself time later, you have been invited to dine and sip tea with the king and the lords later tonight. Will I expect your council?"

"I...ugh...sure I guess."

"Excellent," said Lucinder raising his nose in the air. "I will send for you. Good day, Mirrorbender and Lieutenant."

In a brisk tilted run, Lucinder hobbled down the corridor nearly falling at every crack his heels stepped in. Heist and I couldn't help but snicker with each close call caused by Luncinder's vain footwear. Rolling beyond where Lucinder had come, we arrived at a pair of large wooden doors.

On the doors were etched an image of a dragon encircling a lonely mountain of white stone. Its fiery breath consuming the mountain and surrounding crags. The doors opened as we approached. A hiss of warm air and the smell of fresh parchment leaked into our noses.

My eyes lit up as we entered the brightly lit room. Shelves upon shelves of books lined the walls and large round columns. Against the pull of gravity, shelves pressed up on the ceiling with books rising from a podium by the expansive stained-glass window to their appropriate places in the room. One floated by my head. The golden spine and the glittering letters of the title flashed before my eyes. I reached out to snag it but it quickly floated away as if not wanting to be read. Heist pushed me passed stone tables littered with parchment rolls and spilt ink. Men in black robes with white hearts weaved back and forth from the shelves, arms full of books. Some stared at me and whispered to their friends while others so engrossed in what they were reading paid me no mind.

"Heist," I whispered, looking up his nose. "Who are these people again? I'm having trouble remembering the coding system of Blackstone. What do the white hearts mean?"

"Well," said Heist. He explained the system once more.

♠♣♥ = Prisoners

♤ = Lowest Class

♧ = Middle Class

♦ (red) = Upper Class

♡ = Sages/Scholars

♥ (red) = Militia

♦ = King's Guard

♢= Royalty

"Wow," I said trying to piece together all the people I had seen and place them in their prescribed class. "That's a lot to recall."

"It gets easier over time."

"So if prisoners are basically the symbol painted black, why are the rich folks not included?"

"Money," said Heist. "If you have the means you can buy your sentence and have it removed no matter how severe."

"That sounds corrupt," I said as Heist pushed me onward. "Do people take advantage of it?"

"All the time. That's why you never piss off a Red Diamond."

"Jeez," I said, recalling all those fancy dressed lords and ladies who dressed me in that horrible yellow dress.

"Eh," Heist shrugged. "What you gonna do? Money rules the world."

"So these magic users," I added, waving my hand at those pacing across the library. "They work for Blackstone's militia as well?"

"Some of them," said Heist. "Some are sages sent from Vetra. But most are here studying up on different magics. I'm sure you know, but magic may be used by everyone in Tartarus, yet few can wield it with skill and grace. Xuxa can barely summon a weapon from a WEAK."

"Is that why she carries around her sword?"

"Yep." Heist looked forward. "That's why you will never see her use magic. She considers it an embarrassment and a sign of weakness, but don't tell anyone I told you that. Keep it hush, hush."

Suddenly our chat was interrupted by one of the robed men. He wore large bug eyed glasses and had a long goatee under his crooked nose. The man leaned in forcefully at my face and smiled.

"Goody, goody!" he cried in alarm. "The mirrorbender of legend has come seeking knowledge at the royal library." The man removed his hood and reached out his hand. "A pleasure to meet you," he said. "My name is Booker. Head librarian of Blackstone's royal archives. Ah don't tell me your name." The man strained while biting his bottom lip. "Hope it was! Correct?"

"Yes, sir," I said shaking the man's hand. It was cold and wet. I grimaced. "A pleasure to meet you too."

"So I hear you are to fight the dragon. Come searching for information no doubt. The king's messenger informed me to allow you whatever works you may require to achieve your goal."

"That is very kind of you," I said.

"You will find all that you need right here. No need to look any place else."

"So I look for D and I should find dragons?" I joked. Booker laughed and squeezed his stomach.

"Oh my, we need to educate you on the Babel System." Booker pushed Heist and I towards a shelf. "You see we don't categorize books that way, we sort them by feeling."

"What?" I said dumbfounded. "Isn't feeling kinda biased?"

"Nonsense," cried Booker. "Here we have the F's. Dragons cause fear so naturally they would fall under F."

"Okay," I said slowly."But what about if I wanted to find a book on how to make apple tarts?"

"If you like apple tarts it will be found under D for delicious or S for scrumptious. If you don't like apple tarts, look under A for appalling."

"Why not also look under D for disgusting," I added. Booker placed his hands on his hips and gave me a very angry look.

"Don't be smart with me," he said. I watched his eyes wander up to the ceiling and his finger tap his chin. "I guess you could find it there too now that you mention it."

"Oh lord," I whispered, knowing this was going to be a long arduous task to research dragons.

"Well, best of luck, Hope," said Heist placing his hands on my shoulders. "I'll be back in a few hours to retrieve you." With that Heist hightailed it from the library. Booker gave me a warm smile.

"I believe you requested a Mr. Dubois to be present. He is waiting for you over in the left wing. We have made a special place with a table just for you."

"Thanks," I said as Booker sauntered off towards the D's possibly to research the disgusting nature of apple tarts. "This place is madness," I said to myself. "Where do I even begin looking for defeating dragons?" I started rolling my wheelchair down the aisles scanning the random assortment of titles on the shelves when suddenly a pair of hands reached out from behind and covered my eyes.