“Stay back.” I said, creeping up to the door. The thumping noise came directly from the other side, loud and repetitive.

There was a mumbled noise, like someone trying to speak through a cloth. I swallowed and pushed the door open, ready for a horrifying sight like the previous one.

The sound of rattling metal greeted me as dozens of chains anchored to every point in the room recoiled. A book floated in the center, flailing against its restraints. Then it shot forward toward me.

The chains locked it in place right at the edge of the door.

“What the hell is that?” Clarissa said, revving her chainsaw.

“It’s a book.” I said, raising my eyebrows.

It was bound what looked like a thick, glossy leather — or maybe a plastic, bright red and free of any logos. The trim on the edges danced with a rainbow of magical lights.

The cover tried to open, the chains around it budging with the effort.

I took a step closer experimentally. The book didn’t lash out at me. It slowly floated down to where its chains were anchored into the ground. The book spun, turning it’s cover first toward the anchor in the ground then back to face me.

“You… want me to untie you?”

The book nodded yes, bobbing in midair.

I looked back over the party of humans. Would the book still be here later?

This could only be one thing. The vampire had mentioned a catalog in our castle. This had to be it. But why was it bound and chained? Was it dangerous? Dangerous to everything… or just to vampires?

I couldn’t ask it any questions. But leaving it here would surely end with the vampire hiding somewhere in this cavernous college campus acquiring it.

I kneeled down and looked at the chain. It was locked in place by an ancient looking metallic lock. I gave it a kick.

The lock fell free, falling onto the ground, and the book immediately started flailing. It slammed against the other side of the room, chains popping free, then into the ceiling. It dangled dozens of chains behind it, creating a raucous noise of metal as the chains that bound it fell free.

“Finally!” The book said. It’s covers opened and closed as it talked, as if they were a mouth. “Are you the leech that paid for me? Why the hell did you have me tied up?” The book asked.

“Paid for you?” I asked. “What are you?”

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“I am the Codex of Acquisitions, a mighty fragment and single shard of the Catalog!” The book said. It began to glow brighter, hovering in the air above us. “I open the door to the empire’s every good! Bound within me is the knowledge and history of millennium! I grant access to the vast resources of the empire… for a price!”

“Like, a creepy blood price? Or like a money price?”

“A money price!” The book said, shooting until it hovered within an inch of my face.

“So you’re literally just a catalog. Codex… I’m going to call you Cody.” I said. “You’re not… dangerous, are you?”

The book harrumphed, then spoke smugly.

“I am the right hand of the Territory Controller that purchased this city. As their empire grows, I will as well!” The book laughed. “Now take me to them.”

I stared at the book. Then I squinted. The way it talked was familiar, though I hadn’t heard its voice before, its confidence and word choice was undeniably similar to the same voice that had described my skills.

“Okay.” I said. “I’ll lead you to him.”

The book hovered over my shoulder. I wasn’t sure if I should tell it I was the territory controller — I would talk to the others first. It was a strange, magical artifact. It could be dangerous. Doubly so if it was in the hands of the unknown swordsman vampire.

“You’re taking that possessed book with us?” Clarissa asked, glaring at the Catalog.

“I’m calling it Cody.” I said. My eyes scanned the vast cavern around us. We waited at the bottom of the stairs as the procession of unskilled survivors led the shopping carts up the ramp.

“My name is not Cody. I am the Codex of Acqusitions! I am a shard of the almighty, world devouring Catalog! I am the emperor’s will, manifest!” The book floated upward, glowing brighter and gesticulating by hovering about in the air.

“You’re really bad at describing skills.” I said.

The book dimmed, hovering low to the ground. Behind it, more shopping carts were being pushed up the ramp. Their wheels squeaked, among the loudest noises in the quiet, dark expanse.

“Well, I didn’t think that you would live. Most of the time all of the locals just perish.”

“Most of the time?” I asked, turning to Cody. “How often does — how many times have you done this?”

“This is my Fourth Integration.” Cody said. He sounded arrogant and smug — it was an odd thing coming from a book. “But never before have my renters had the gall to chain me up in a basement!”

“Did they do it because you’re annoying?” Clarissa asked, scrunching her nose.

“He is kind of annoying.” I said. “Give me the actual description for [Wicked Implement,] please.”

“I answer only to the Territory Controller!” Cody said. When it spoke next, it’s voice was monotone and mechanical. “[Wicked Implement] is a medium range skill belonging to the Sanguine Class family. [Wicked Implement] projects a blood based crescent shaped projectile up to a maximum range of ten meters, costing 10% of total blood pool. ”

Cody recoiled, floating backwards away from me in the air.

“You… You killed the territory lord!”

Well, so much for keeping that secret.

I started following the last shopping cart up the ramp. The little old lady pushing it was struggling and huffing. I smiled at her as I took the cart over and began pushing in her place.

“You’re — it was that vampire, wasn’t it? They always choose to incarnate as immortal races. It figures.” Cody kept talking in my ear.

“Are you obligated to answer all of my questions truthfully?” I asked the book, looking at it curiously. It hovered in front of me.

“Are you implying I would lie!” Cody said. Then, “The Codex of Acquisitions is able to provide a limited set of knowledge. Some things may be omitted to protect the safety and sanctity of the Catalog.”

We stopped only a few turns up the stairs, where the line of shopping carts had stalled. Most of the survivors were moving forward up and out of the cave. I looked for something to brace the shopping cart.

Inside of it was a box containing a propane grill. I pulled it out and braced the shopping cart before heading up the ramp.