Magic was, as I learned, incredibly cool but also inevitably flawed. I could see that certain books buzzed with dangerous potential while others only had a faint glow to them. Oddly placed handles and door knobs were obvious markers for gates, but there were also other things like lanterns in the shelves and steps that led to the ceiling. But most importantly, there was no telling where anything led or what any of it was.

For all I knew, the stairs could lead to an endless void and the gates could lead deeper into the library or off a magical cliff. I mean, hell, the shelves creaked when I said something stupid around here. The library had gone from an endless maze to an endless maze filled with potential death traps around every corner.

But at least it was prettier to look at. I kept walking along, letting the catalog card guide me. Periodically, I checked my direction against the hearthhome by holding up the bracelet. As far as I could tell, I was being led further into the heart of the stacks.

I opened the guidebook periodically to look at the map. That might be too simple a way to put it. I would fold out the map on the floor and search in vain for where I might be. The map was large and nearly unintelligible with notes written in the margins that led to arrows pointing into various scribbles elsewhere.

The library was large, yes. But the designs shifted as you walked further in. The Garden was an easy example, but there were other areas where the ceiling rose high into the sky with books lining the walls up to the ceiling. Another area had grand desks and chairs with patrons reading by lamplight.

It took some time, but I found the general area I was in on the maps. I could tell because the shelves were laid out in a criss-cross pattern making it impossible to walk in a straight line.

"Soo, are you there?" The voice was muffled, but it was unmistakably Hanna's voice speaking from the guidebook.

"Hanna? To what do I owe the pleasure?" I mentally slapped myself. Apparently, it didn't even take the presence of a pretty girl to make me talk like an idiot.

She giggled (thank god). "I was wondering how your 'quest' was coming along."

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I looked down at the card which still pointed me forward without any consideration of distance or time to destination.

"I'm getting there. I think. I'm in a part of the library where the shelves are arranged in this criss-cross pattern." I folded up the pages and picked myself off the floor.

"That's the 'hatch.' That's where we house the books on animals and mythical beasts. The section you're looking for is just beyond there. But, Soo, you should know something before you get there."

"Does it have anything to do with the tunneling gate by the hearthhome?" I countered. "Because Maria already gave me a lesson on that one."

"Tunneling gate?" Hanna repeated. "Does that mean you finished the book? Already?" Her tone was one of surprise. Maybe even mild shock.

"Yeah," I said while trying not to knock over an errant pile of books. In this section, the books were arranged on shelves, off shelves, on carts. It was like someone had dumped the books anywhere they could. "I've been spending some time in the Garden and I finished it up the other day."

"Okay, but that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. It's about the book you're looking for." Her voice was strained. "I was supposed to get it myself, but given my history, Maria said she'd take care of it. I didn't realize she was going to assign it to you."

Nothing about that sounded good. Not the part about her history or the obvious concern in Hanna's voice.

"Hanna, you're freaking me out."

"Sorry, I don't mean to," is what she said. It wasn't convincing. "But I wanted to let you know. The book you're looking for isn't in a normal part of the library."

By that point I wasn't really listening anymore. See the library had shifted again. The lights grew dimmer and the flooring had become a gray marble tile. The air was cold. Not just temperature, but temperament. Unfeeling. Unwelcoming.

"You're there, aren't you?" Hanna whispered. Her voice was scratchy.

"Yeah, but I can't hear you all that well." I could hear my echo louder than her voice.

"It's because of where you're at now. Look down." I did and saw the drab marble tiling. It looked like it might've been magnificent in its prime, but it was worn and any luster it may have had was a distant memory. And then I realized what Joseph had told me when I first met him. There was no carpet here.

I was in a restricted section.

"You don't have to worry so long as you don't spend too much time there. The book you're looking for isn't very far in, but you should still be careful." Hanna's voice was barely a whisper. "Stay in the shallows and don't go too far into the River."

"The River?" I repeated.

"It's what we call that section. The books on the shelves tend to move from time to time. Almost like they're flowing," she explained. "You'll be fine with the bracelet, but try to avoid going in too deep."

There was more she wanted to say but I couldn't hear it. Her voice trailed off until there was no more sound. Nothing. Just an empty silence.