Okay, I lied.
---
I had done this so much in the last few months, it didn't even faze me that I'd ended up in
Arizona – of all places.
After using the Library portal in the old Scott Town Hall, I had taken precautions for subsequent trips to the Library. Or, should I say, the Library portals. I'd never actually set foot in the Library itself. I'd just bounced from doorway to doorway, mostly the three that I'd already visited (who in their right mind put a portal in an
outhouse, for goodness sake?).
The only time I'd gone to somewhere different was the one time I thought I'd actually ended up in the Library. Turns out it was a bathroom in the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. That was an embarrassing time.
This time, though – this time, I'd come so close. I'd actually seen the Library. And, for some reason, they were holding a wedding in the Great Hall.
I took advantage of this knowledge – and the fact that I knew exactly where I was in the East Valley. Though it was ungodly hot outside, I managed to sneak over to a Hallmark store in the strip mall behind the In 'N Out Burger. An appropriate wedding card would help, I thought. Among the little tchotchkes on display, they had a tea time set, complete with a steeping ball that had a tag that said
Congratulations! on it.
Bingo. A perfect gift for the bride.
After paying for both items, I headed back to the burger shop. I'd started timing it, and I knew that the portal would probably – hopefully – be active again in 30 minutes. That was about five minutes from now.
I sat down at one of the tables and wrote out a quick "Congratulations" on the card, signing my name. I filled out the tag on the seeping ball – which I'd had them put in a gift box – with "TO: PHIX".
I looked at my watch – it was time. I wandered back into the bathroom.
I wasn't disappointed. I was back in the portal "hallway" again, and I strode determinedly to the entrance doors of the Library. This time, the door was open – and, it appeared, the reception part of the wedding was starting to wind down.
I slipped in, trying to look like I was supposed to be there – holding the card and the gift. I worked my way over to the bar, and got the attention of the lady behind the…
Oh. It was Tina.
"Hey there!" She looked at me with those silver, swirling eyes of hers. "Haven't seen you at the shop in a long time!"
"Hi, Tina," I said weakly. "Uh, where's the gift table?"
"Oh, it's over there, in that little alcove with the old record player," she pointed it out. There was a pile of gifts and a box, ostentatiously decorated, that was obviously for cards. "Did you need anything to drink while you were here?"
"Uh, no, thanks," I replied. "Not right now. I don't think I want to tempt fate…" I looked up toward the ceiling of the Great Hall. "…Or wear out my welcome." She shrugged and smiled.
"Come back and stop by the store next time you're in the Twin Cities!" She bubbled cheerfully. "I'll have a Café Americano with a double shot of caramel and vanilla ready for you!"
I smiled weakly at her, and headed off to the alcove. Halfway there, I was nearly bowled over by a sphinx who was clutching a set of clothing – and cursing to herself.
"Scuse me," she said as she headed towards a door marked "LADIES".
I kept my tongue – and my thoughts – to myself.
---
I walked over to the box, deposited the card, and placed the tea set on an open spot on the table.
Turning around, I got my first really good look at the Library.
It wasn't quite what I expected. The Great Hall looked more like an old reception hall, with tables and a dance floor and two bars – the one being run by Tina, and another one being run by some being that I couldn't quite make out. Whatever it was, they had multiple arms that helped in their mixing of drinks.
"Excuse me," a voice interrupted my reverie. "Don't I know you from somewhere?" I turned to see a bespectacled, red-headed woman, with pale skin and a rather revealing red dress. I eyed her for a moment.
"Can't say that I have," I replied. "Joseph Houk," I extended my hand, looking her over. "Department of Corrections, perhaps?"
"Oh yeah," she said, taking my hand. "I think I met you during that incident with the fae kid." She shook my hand, once. "Suzanne McBride, Federal Bureau of Investigation."
I nodded in recognition. She'd been the one who had to take the "prince of the Fae kindred" into MIB custody.
"Ah. Makes sense. You here as a heavy for the reception?"
"No, my, uh, niece – of sorts – was part of the wedding. My partner and I just got here a few minutes ago. Sounds like we missed a little brou-ha-ha involving one of the guests."
"I was wondering why people seemed a bit on edge," I posited. I caught a glimpse of her looking around nervously. "I get the feeling that you're just about as much of a fish out of water here as I am?"
"Just nervous," she replied. "I didn't have a very good introduction to this place, first time Lily and I set foot here." She pointed over to where Phix and her new hubby were seated. "She nearly tore our faces off."
"She was just doing her job, I'd reckon," I replied. I thought for a moment. "I think I heard that the Jaguar Girl came to your rescue that day?"
"How'd you know that?" She turned with a start.
"Well," I shrugged. "Probably the same way that I also know that she was unintentionally returning the favor."
Now Suzi gave me a confused look.
"What?"
"Yeah. Turns out, years ago you stopped her from being sexually assaulted while she was locked up in a mental ward."
"But," she began, then stopped. The wheels started to slowly turn in her brain. "The psych ward rapist? But that was about a decade and a half ago."
"The Jaguar Girl hasn't always been in her thirties, you know." This didn't come from me. The shadows around the boxes coalesced into the shape of a being – a girl. With a strange, almost elvish look. And even stranger markings on her face.
"Mom's not going to be happy with sis about her outburst," she said, looking out at the party. The girl turned to Suzie. "Relax, we've got things under control now. Go say hi to your niece before she gets carried away with that minotaur she's dancing with."
Suzi nodded and walked off, nervously, into the throng.
"As for you, Mr. Houk," the girl turned towards me.
"Hi, Tsillah." I gave yet another weak smile.
"You have been nothing if not persistent," she said. "That's been duly noted. And Ms. McBride never had equated what she'd done in that psych ward to Monica's current existence. Good one," she nodded slightly.
"I've only been trying to access the Library for about the last two months," I began in protest.
"And my sister has been the only reason why you've been unsuccessful," she replied.
"Nudge?"
"Yes. She thought it would be humorous if we just kept you to the portal system. However," she turned and considered the small gift that was sitting on the table behind us, "I think you've shown enough care that you deserve limited access to the Library."
"Really?"
"Yes. Your help with the young fae was a big part of that."
"Not something I'd want to go through again," I replied.
"Understood. But the person with the final say as to your access, well," she turned and looked back at the bridal party table. "She's a bit occupied at the moment."
"Character is what you are in the dark." - D.L. Moody
"You should never run from the voices in your head. That's how you give them power." - Jin
