I want to see people happy. There’s enough pain in this world.

You set out the address with the coin in your pocket. Maybe there’s something to this. You think about helping people, maybe this could lead to a job offer. Either way, you’ll take this seriously. That text was a bit worrying after all. You thought about giving the coin back, or at least offering. It’s expensive after all.

You dress and bring your phone to be safe.

It takes you awhile of walking to get there while your fantasies flood your head about what you could do. At the very least, maybe you could meet someone through this. You weren’t sure what type of person they would be though. Probably a bit controlling? Maybe that’s not such a bad thing, maybe it’s just the reason why you’re doing it.

There’s a stairwell to a basement door that’s red mahogany. You start thinking maybe you were right and this is real. You descend down the narrow staircase, halting before the door. After turning to open it and failing, you knock.

A slit in the door opens and some angry looking eyebrows and intense eyes stare at you.

“Password?”, the man says in a grumpy voice.

You hold up the coin.

His eyes bug out.

He opens the door, he was dressed like a butler

“Come in, sir.”

A robust library formed the walls and a bar formed a center island. You followed the butler as he escorted you. A small number of patrons lightly talking to each other under some delicate classical music you couldn’t place. You’d heard it before. They were all in varying states of dress, completely ignoring the code that you assumed would exist for a place like this.

There was extremely intricate carpet of red and gold. It’s amazing to be sure. Wonder how they got the money? Nothing illegal you hope.

You saw a girl, astonishingly beautiful. You had to pull your eyes away to avoid ogling her. That wasn’t normal for you.

You were pulled into a room in the back through a small narrow corridor. A small refined office with a bespeckled man sitting at a desk. He spoke first as the butler exited and closed the door.

“I haven’t seen you around here before. What’s your business here?”, he questioned.

“I found this coin under a bridge. I was curious so I came by, I don’t know if it's yours but if you could find the owner I’d be thankful,” you respond.

“Can I see it?”

You hand it over, and the man trades his glasses he’s wearing for some strange looking ones. They remind you of something that would be used to inspect gems. You knew that small writing wasn’t annoying to just you.

“Oh no, she got another one. You’re polite too. That girl, maybe I should chase her out,” he sighed.

“I’m sorry, who got another one?”

He sighed again, and gives you a compassionate look.

“From here on, it’s nothing but danger and learning hard lessons. You can understand what I mean, right?”

“Um, who are you? What is this place?”, you asked, even though you had a good idea.

“The rules first. Agree or not, that will determine what I will tell you.”

“Okay, tell me the rules then. I’m-”, you started to introduce yourself but the man gestured for you to stop.

“First of all, don’t ask names. Names are powerful. Giving your name is also a rookie mistake. Protecting your name in the regular world from those who would find it out is difficult, but once someone uses your name in front of you then you know they are an enemy. First rule, no names.”

“Second, don’t bother telling anyone about us. There are types of people you don’t want to anger in this world. I’m one of them, but I’m not the worst. Secrecy is vital, even if you get caught doing something you’re on your own. There have been people who blabbed, it never ends well for them. There are things worse than ****, you know.”

I felt a chill down my spine as he continued. Is this real?

“Third, work out things amongst yourselves. If you have a problem with someone, you deal with it. If you come to me to work out a deal, that’s fine, but don’t complain to me unless you have something to offer. Currency in this world changes hands fast, and currency types change depending on the person you’re selling or buying from. Let’s just say money isn’t much of an issue for most of us.”

“Fourth, you have to learn what you can from here. The books are precious. Some are dangerous. Take a book and you become my enemy. Donate a book, especially if it’s one without any nasty runes in it, and I’ll be a little bit more of your friend. Stay here, or that girl out there, the pretty one with silver hair? She’ll be able to do whatever she wants with you. I mean whatever she wants. You’re safe here though, she probably won’t try much here. I’ve been looking for an excuse to chase her off anyways and she knows that,” he continued

You had to ask something at that point, you were already getting overwhelmed.

“Whatever she wants? Like the coin said, this is some mind changing cult or something?”

“Well,” he laughed, “just imagine that there’s a lot of secrets in this world that have been kept secret. Secrets that make up everything that you are, and there’s people like me who seek that knowledge and keep it. Everything that you do, everything that you think you are, with study in my library you can alter it. In yourself, and in others. Some use it for good, others evil, and others are like me,” he continued.

“I’m a bookman. I like books. Treat my books well, and you’ll have a safe place to stay here. Oh,” he said, like he remembered something as he was talking.

“I wouldn’t advise you to trust anyone, even me. I like being honest and fair, no matter what. However, that girls staying here, the only other one doing so. I’d like to help you if I can, but I can’t do too much about her specific talents. Do whatever you can to avoid her. Even just looking at her too long is dangerous.”

“That’s, I thought you said this place was safe?”, you questioned.

“You’ll understand. Make sure you buckle down and read dutifully. If you haven’t guessed yet, it’s everyone for themselves. I’m a bit different in how I operate, and I’m not the only one like this. Keep that in mind.”

“I’m not sure about all this, If I leave that girl can control me somehow? Magic?”, you say.

“Yes. Magic is close enough. Please don’t leave, for both our sakes. Break a rule and things will get difficult for you quickly even here. The butler outside will escort you to a room, take care” the bookman said.

You left the room and the butler was waiting outside, he showed you around to the room assigned to you complete with a key. The place didn’t look like much from outside, but it was at least a small house with eight rooms upstairs squished to the side with the middle of the floor open to the bar on the first floor. Once you go outside, you’ll be fair game.

Not that you have any idea what’s going on or what she can do.

Looks like it’s difficult already.

Your head is full of questions with only one answer. Reading books.

You crash into your bed and ruminate over what’s possible and what’s not, what’s dangerous and what threats might exist from that girl. It all washes over you like a wave.

Read the books. That was the only solution.

You looked at the room key the butler gave you.

Do you believe this? Do you really want to stay here? Maybe this is all a lie or joke or some cult.

You…