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“I can hear you.”
I snapped back, bumping against the stacks. A pair of blue eyes peered at me from between the shelves, watching from the other side. “Who are you?”
“I am Talibah. Who are you?”
I squinted trying to get a better look at her. All I could see were her eyes. They were level with mine, making her about my height. Her voice also sounded young, putting her near my age too.
“My name is Aella,” I replied, taking a step closer. “I came here with my friends. Have you seen anyone else in here?”
“I have seen no one. No one comes here. Talibah is alone.”
“You’re alone? But how—?” I gasped. “Oh no. Drakos said two students and an instructor disappeared down here two years ago. Of course you won’t remember, but maybe you’re one of them. He thought you guys died, but this prison is clearly”—I gazed around a room that could not be underneath Deucalion Academy—“outside the realms of normal.”
Talibah giggled. “You are funny, Aella. Say, do you want to play a game?”
“No.” I looked up and down, searching for a sign or hint of something. Which way was I supposed to go? Where were my friends? “I don’t have time for games. I need to find my friends, a key, and the way out of here.”
“I can help you find all of those things.
“You can?”
“Oh yes. Talibah has lived in the library for many years. I know all of its truths and secrets. I will give you knowledge too—”
“Thank you. I appreciate—”
“—if you play my game.”
My smile dimmed. “I see.” Something, I couldn’t quite say what, made me grasp the hilt of my dagger.
“Okay, Talibah.” I took a step to the right and she moved too, maintaining our distance. “I’ll play your game. What do I have to do?”
She tipped her head, giving me the briefest glance of a wide nose and the corner of a smirking mouth. “What is it that no one wants to have, but everyone hates to lose?”
I frowned. “Wait. A riddle?”
“Incorrect.”
Books exploded off the shelves. I flung myself to the ground, and landed hard on my elbow—dropping the dagger. It skittered away and disappeared under a large, hairy paw.
My jaw cracked on a scream as Talibah’s young, pretty face forced out through the hole—the only human thing about her.
Golden-brown wings unfurled from her back, buffeting a gust of wind that blew my lip half over my nose. She arched her back—slinking her lion’s body through the hole.
“S-s-sphinx,” I rasped. “You’re a sphinx!”
“Wrong again.”
Something flashed out of the corner of my eye. I threw my hands up—two useless shields that slammed back into my face when her tail whipped me, sending me flying against the bookshelf. My head and spine struck the wood hard—lighting my vision with black spots and rocketing pain down my back.
Crashing on the floor, I strained to push up on my hands and a hard force struck me again.
“Agh!” I tumbled across the floor, cracking every limb on the way. A falling book caught my jaw and I bit my tongue. Blood filled my mouth. “W-wah—”
Talibah stalked toward me. Her paw rose high—lethal claws glinting in the orblight.
“War,” I screamed, throwing my arms over my head. “The answer is war!”
“What!”
