Ink and Embers

nuing the suspense, emotional tension, and the sl

te pressing against her thoughts. Her mind kept spinning, replaying every glance, every phrase Adrian Voss had uttered in class. The more she thought a

mained elsewhere-fixated on that note, the cryptic words, and the sudd

rself standing at the foot of the steps leading to the building that ho

. The dim lighting of the hallways gave it an almost abandoned feel, the floors creaking underfoot like

But that didn't m

too high, and then she spotted it-the entrance to a hidden stairwell. A narrow wooden door with

ty, that trait her father had once fostered in her, got the best of h

expecting her. A musty smell of old pa

ped down, she realized she was being led deeper into the heart o

a threshold, like step

had walked or how long it took her to reach the room at the end of the hallway. All she kn

appeared as though it had grown from the walls themselves. Her

opened wi

of artifacts, from ancient relics to brittle parchment scrolls, were displayed under glass cases. But what cau

contents filled with obscure volumes. Dr. Adrian Voss, his back turned to her,

em to hear her footsteps, so quiet were they on the stone floor.

g she didn't understand

d, and Dr. Voss turned sharply, his e

n edge that made her feel like he was always se

of what to say. "I..

face, quickly masked by a carefully c

weight of the moment settle bet

his gaze never leaving hers, calculating, assessing. "What

hroat dry. "It looks li

ryone," he replied, his tone suddenly ha

her pulse quickening

o the scattered papers on the desk, then back to her. Th

ice colder than she expected. "It's dang

a jolt of something almost tangible

didn't

asked, her voice barely a whisper, the weight of the question h

, his expression flashing with something unreadable bef

was a man of many secrets. Some of

rce. She stepped closer to him, closing t

eyes flickered to her lip

ng," he said quietly, his voice lo

g in the air

long, too tight. Eliana's heart raced in her chest, her hands

, just barely. "Y

be ready. She didn't want to be prepared for whatever was coming. But

g," she said, h

d for the first time, Eliana saw something human behind

to," he replied, his v

as he reached for one of the books on the desk. He

tand, Eliana. But we'll see if