A Messy Study

The fruity scent I had been enjoying was stifled by a damp, musky atmosphere as I was drawn deep into the cobblestone walls of the library's foundations. I sputtered through cobwebs that were out of range for the smaller librarian, who pulled me along with complete disregard for my comfort. She seemed practically giddy at the speed and ease with which she could descend now that age didn't hinder her. The torch-lit corridor soon opened into a square room. Most of the flat surfaces were bathed in worn papers, scrolls and books. Candles were burnt down to their base, indicating many long hours studying ancient knowledge. Besides written works, there were a few more practical items which, to my layman eyes, looked like scientific tools. Beakers, vials, and bubbling liquids sat on a sturdier table, along with other things that would be better described as alchemical. Sparkling crystals, glowing jars, and crude wiring combined modern and archaic technologies in ways that eluded me.

"Does Merlin know you're squatting in his spare room?" The first sentence I'd managed to say to the young librarian, and it was a fucking quip. Her response was to throw my arm toward a central chair, forcing me to stumble into it to avoid a full tumble. For a rickety, wooden seat, it held my weight well and was quite comfortable. Jeanie took a seat on my lap, draping her arms around my neck as her ass posed buoyantly on my thigh. Together we watched our mysterious tour guide shuffle through the top layer of paperwork on the large writing desk. Papers fell indiscriminately among countless others, hopelessly mixing them, but their owner didn't seem to mind. She crossed the room from bookshelf to table as she hunted down sources to search through. "Do you need a hand finding something?" I asked, hoping to break the silence. The woman shot a glare over her shoulder, her large frames slide partway down her nose, causing her to glare over them rather demurely, though I doubted this was on purpose. She pushed them back in place as she turned back to the latest scroll.

I leaned forward in my seat and managed to catch some mumbling from her. I only caught snippets of her rambling musing, never full sentences and sometimes not English. "...energy cloaking...proximal manifestation...possession?..." Who was this chick? Suddenly, she turned and approached me, then just as quickly, she stopped about a foot from me, feet planted widely with fists on her hips. Her petite figure emanated a powerful confidence; even Jeanie seemed transfixed. The librarian finally spoke.

"Why did you come here?" An innocuous enough question, or a trap to get my guard down. She stared again over her glasses at me, ready to read my face as I answered.

"The pursuit of knowledge." I responded, feeling quite cheeky for the situation I was in. The chuckle from Jeanie only motivated me. The librarian's eyes flickered slightly off my face before focusing back on me.

"You're not that cute." She warned. So I'm a little cute. "How did you get the Ring?"

"I found it." I blurted out. I don't know why I was telling her anything, but cooperating would probably get me out of here faster. My answer elicited a tired, frustrated sigh. She removed her elderly spectacles as she pinched the bridge of her nose. She looked back up at me, vibrant, emerald eyes taking me in again, almost in a new light. To her own surprise, she realized her old glasses were no longer necessary and tossed them dismissively to the table. She returned her attention back to me.

"How long have you had the Ring?" More questions. I was getting a little tired of the interrogation, and Jeanie's idle bouncing on my lap indicated she felt the same.

"Just this morning." I answered quickly. I tapped my foot impatiently on the heavy stone. "look, ma'am, I appreciate the tour of the library, but could I please leave?" My question didn't seem too important, but the smirk on the librarian's face indicated I gave the whole game away. I felt Jeanie's body tense up suddenly and focused her wandering gaze solely on the speaker for the first time since we were kidnapped.

"What's stopping you?" She asked through a predatory smile. I paused for a second. Why hadn't I left yet? Jeanie looked paler than usual, seemingly aware of something I hadn't discovered yet. With a smug scoff, I planted my feet with full intention to rise and attempt to find my way back to to the library proper. My toes spread and my calves flexed. Soon, my butt would separate from the wooden surface beneath it, and I'd stride to freedom. Any second now...The librarian couldn't contain her enjoyment. "Something wrong?" Now Jeanie was looking at me terrified and rose to her feet, placing me between her and the woman towering before me. "I already know you have a Reality Ring, so just cooperate before I make you, more than I already have."

"What do you mean? You haven't made me do anything. I just answered your questions." I squirmed in my seat, trying any angle that might get me out of the chair. This couldn't be another form of magic? Anything seemed to be possible today.

"Yes, though you weren't as honest as I had hoped for. The Ring's influence has strengthened your resolve impressively in a few hours, but not enough to fully resist." The librarian explained, raising her hand, palm facing away from me. On a slender finger rested a crudely made, silver ring. A ring that looked exactly like the one on my own hand.