Chapter 1
~Jade POV~
It was so relieving to be back in my small hometown after four years of living in a big city to study witchcraft. I recall the excitement when I had left my hometown for the crowded metropolis when I heard they had admitted me to the wizard academy. It has been my dream to study at that prestigious university, but after four years and graduating as the top student, it didn't feel how I expected.
New York wasn't for me, nor was the United States, so I came back to Scotland, back to the town where I was born. I could describe my hometown as old, regal, and spellbinding. It is a city of shady roofs, dark stone, tight streets and stairways, hidden nooks, and passageways. To live in this town is like living in a majestic, gothic maze — gloomy but with a cozy feeling to it.
The condescending big cities just weren't for me, so when I arrived back at the place of my heart, where my family and friends were, I couldn't be happier. It brought me nostalgia for good times and relief to be away from a heart-wrenching breakup.
"I am telling you, girl. Big-city guys are just jerks. They think the entire world revolves around them." My friend, Cassandra, spoke with a definitive voice, grimacing as she sipped from her coconut coffee, her aqua-blue eyes closing in contentment. She was half-mermaid, as her mother was human and her father a merman. I always enjoyed it when she told me her parents' love story, which made me want to experience such an emotional adventure myself. I was a pure-blooded witch — my parents were high-ranked wizards who graduated from the university I had finished with top results.
"I know. I think I experienced that on my own skin." I muttered, swirling the little spoon in my coffee, watching how the dark liquid danced as images of Harry flashed before my eyes. Picturing his pearly-white grin and dark brown eyes made me want to fly on the broom back to him, only to turn his cheating ass into a rat.
I wasn't going to cry anymore over him. I knew I shouldn't have gone for the most popular and charming wizard in college. He was too good to be true — all the promises he made, the romantic memories, and the sweet words. They were all lies to help him get through the exams.
He used me. That bastard.
"Oh. I like that vengeful fire in your eyes, sweetheart." Cassandra purred with a smirk, and then her expression turned serious. "But thinking about him, even in negative ways, isn't going to solve what you feel inside."
"Then what do you suggest?" I asked her, running my fingers through my long golden hair in exasperation.
"First, you're back in your hometown and should catch up with everything." She suggested, and then a knowing smirk curled on her lips. "And maybe later, see some single guys?"
An unamused expression plastered over my features. "Cassy. I got out of a toxic relationship full of lies two months ago or so. The last thing I want is to jump into another and get bitten again." I replied with a bit too much harshness.
"Maybe get bitten in a good way. I know some single vampires in town." She trailed off in a singing voice, and I quickly shook my head.
"No, thank you. I rather wait for my soulmate than jump from one guy to another to fill in the void Harry had created." I told Cassy, who chuckled, brushing her long scarlet curls over her shoulders.
"Still believing in soulmates? We are not ten years old anymore, Jade."
My hand grips the little spoon harder, and I purse my lips, glancing out the window of the coffee shop.
"Your parents and mine believed in soulmates. That's how they got together, and we are here, Cass." I firmly spoke, the atmosphere getting tense from the delicate subject.
My friend's cheeky demeanor dissipated, and a serious expression crossed her face. "Alright. You do have a point," she spoke, and her pale hand gripped mine in a gentle hold. "I simply don't want you to let this heartbreak affect you." I sighed, nodding. Cassy could sometimes be too cheeky for her own good, but I knew she meant well.
"For now, I only want to find peace. That's why I came back. This place always made me feel like I belong here." I told her as a wave of melancholy washed over me like the cold autumn rain.
"Then let's hang out. Visit places, have fun!" Her joyful self came out like a jack-in-the-box, making me chuckle.
"Fine." I sighed heavily with a smile. "But no guys. No hook-ups. No blind dates. No one-night-stands." I expressed with a definitive tone, making her smirk.
"Mermaids honor." She saluted, both of us laughing, then going back to finishing our coffees, before leaving.
"So? What's new about in town since I left?" I asked Cassy after we paid for our coffees.
"Not that much, but I know something which will pique your interest." She replied, and I quirked an eyebrow, smoothing down my black bell long-sleeve blouse.
"What is it?" I asked her as we exited the cafe.
"A new library! It opened one year ago, and I knew from the moment I saw it that you would love it." The word library instantly sparked my interest, like a flame to a moth.
"Now you're speaking my language. Let's go!" I told her, my mood already switching from gloomy to sunny.
She laughed at my excitement.
Cassy led the way to this mysterious library she talked about, and when we got there, the outside of the library alone made anticipation fill me. She knew I had an addiction to books. Since I was a little girl, I found a way to live a thousand lives through infinite pages filled with stories beyond what the real world could understand. The architecture of the library was a mix of Renaissance and Baroque — very elegant with a royal aesthetic. It was almost like the architecture of the building called me in like a wicked serpent luring me to bite from the forbidden apple.
"If you love the exterior, then the interior will blow your mind," Cassy said with a smirk and motioned for me to enter. Rolling back my shoulders, I walked forward to the massive double doors.
When I opened the doors and set the first foot in, I thought I stepped into another world, into another timeline. The interior design romanticizes art and knowledge with a sultry touch that embraces a studious vintage look. The architecture inside was gothic — extensive ornate woodwork, ceiling details, and intricate trimwork. Imagine lots of wainscoting, coffered ceilings, and built-in bookshelves. The immense windows allowed lots of natural light to come in. They resembled a lot the cathedral windows. The colors dominating the library were dark and moody: lots of black, dark brown, wine red, Slytherin green, and a drop of white. The stained glass of the windows made an ethereal glow appear as the sun streamed in.
Globes and other quirky trinkets adorn the dark mahogany tables across the enormous library. Leather couches and other antiquities, like marble bust statues, stand out. Seeing the endless shelves full of books, I can only wonder what stories they hold.
"Cass... This place is breathtaking!" I exclaimed as we stepped further down the dark hardwood floors.
Cassy chuckled, putting her hands into the pockets of her faded jean jacket.
"Told you." She clicked her tongue. "Many people come here, even ones from the neighboring towns. Ever since he opened the library, it had been a success."
"Who is he?" I asked her as I glanced at the elegant books on display, admiring the 3D details on the hardcovers.
"Draco Viper."
"Never heard from him before," I told her, too consumed in my love for books to pay visual attention to my best friend.
"Medusa's son."
Right before I could grab a book from the shelf, I stopped as Cassy's words hit my ears. My eyes widened, and I slowly turned my attention to her.
"Medusa's son? I thought that was all a myth." Cassy pursed her red lips and shook her head.
"He is anything but a cheap myth. Come with me," she motioned for me to follow her, and we tip-toed between the enormous shelves of books. I was behind Cassy as she stopped to peek around a corner. She made a hand motion for me to look, too.
"There he is," she whispered, and when I peeked around the corner, I saw a man close to the back of the library, arranging books from a roller on the shelves.
The man was tall, reaching around 6'7 from how easy it was for him to reach the higher shelves. His skin was a mint green with luscious scales that reminded me of emeralds. He was wearing black slacks with a white button-up with the cuffs rolled to his elbows. I could see all sorts of snake tattoos on his forearms that vanished under his clothes. Over the button-up, he had a black dress-vest, hugging his nice physique. He had the body of a swimmer; broad shoulders, a V-torso, and slim hips, and the slacks he had, gave away long and powerful legs. An elegant green tie was neatly done around his neck, and a fancy watch adorned his wrist.
What piqued my attention were the round-framed shades covering his eyes and the black slouch beanie he wore.
"Is he blind or...?" I asked Cassy, making reference to the shades.
"Oh, no. He can see just fine." She told me. "The glasses are more for the other's protection."
"Other's protection?" I inquired.
"Yeah. Much like his mother... his stare turns people into stones. The beanie hides the snakes."
"Snakes? You mean..." My eyes widened.
"Yup. He has snakes for hair. A piece of advice. Try not to get on his bad side. Two vampire thieves tried to steal someone night from the library some antiquities and the next morning, the authorities found them turned into statues."
Shock filled me at the story, and I couldn't pull my gaze from the male gorgon.
"And after that, an Orc gangster gang tried to assault him to take his wallet. The Orcs ended up like the vampires. Stone."
"And they didn't arrest him or...?"
"No. He was put off any charges because the vampires and orcs were former convicts. Plus, Draco had a pretty good lawyer. You can say he is a sneaky snake." Cassy tried to make a joke to lighten the mood, but I couldn't shake off the icy chills running down my spine at the information about this new character.
"Wow... and I thought nothing outstanding would ever happen in this town." Cassy nodded at my remark.
"Yeah... like I said, just keep your distance from him, and you should be fine. I don't want to see you turn into a piece of decor." I furrowed as my best friend gave a slight chuckle.
"That's not funny," I told her with a serious face.
She cleared her throat, and we moved away from around the corner, walking away. "Yeah, sorry about that. Oh, shit!"
"What's wrong?" I asked her, concerned, as she glanced at her watch.
"I promised my sister I would help her paint the kitchen. She just moved on her own last week." She groaned, clearly not feeling like playing Picasso with her sister.
"Sorry, but I have to leave. If I don't go, my sister will never make me forget it." Cassy said with an apologizing expression, and I offered an assuring smile.
"Hey. It's alright. Actually, I was looking forward to finding some books to read, and we both know what would happen if you stayed with me."
She smirked. "I would fall asleep while you're glued to the book."
"I exactly." I chuckled.
"Alright... well... you go have fun with your books while I help my sister. Maybe tomorrow we can have lunch and then go shopping?" She suggested.
"It's a plan," I replied, and she grinned.
"Sweet! See ya!" she exclaimed, while she ran off to the exit of the library.
Finding myself alone, surrounded by books, I decided to go search for my next read.
