It was Wednesday evening, Apollyon had returned from Hell to take over library duties from Kate, who was now on her way to the HEMA club. The old devil had been away all day to plan the new cat room and office with Jorogumo and Bastet.

After arriving at the fencing hall, Kate had expected Monica to be waiting here as she usually did. When the human didn’t show up even ten minutes after the official start time of the club meeting, Kate decided to head inside. There was this strange feeling of something wrong going on.

“Hey Jeff.”

“Ah, Kate. Here all alone today?”

“So, you haven’t seen Monica either?”

“No, I haven’t. I thought she’d be coming in with you.”

“I don’t like this. I’ll go see if I can find her since she hasn’t texted me anything either. If I don’t come back tonight, maybe come by the library tomorrow and I’ll tell you what happened.”

“You don’t need to tell me anything. But now you’ve got me worried.”

“I’m sure everything is fine, but I need to go now. Just in case things aren’t fine.”

“I’ll see you next week then and take care.”

“Thank you and have fun tonight.” Kate turned to walk back out of the fencing hall and teleport to the university basement. There was something she feared and needed to confirm.

Arriving in the basement corridor, her fears came true. The cult was in session and they were doing something magical. Kate took a moment to think and come up with a plan. Instead of storming in, she teleported to the library.

“Polly.”

“Yes?”

“We are dealing with the cult right now. I have a plan but I need the back of the main hall in Hell cleared out.”

“Cleared out as in shooing everyone away or removing the tables?”

“Just remove the tables, I need the area free. And tell everyone there to just play along.”

“Understood. Anything else you need?”

“Maybe be nearby for me to call you over if something happens that I need you for. Just be inconspicuous, okay?”

“Understood.”

“Good. I need to get going now before they do something overly stupid.”

Kate quickly returned to the university basement and took a deep breath. It was time for some acting.

Monica had been gagged and tied to the table. Patrick looked over to the old tome and stack of papers beside himself for further instructions. After a moment to steel himself, he got to work again, carving another rune into Monica’s skin.

He nearly dropped the Null Dagger when everything around him and the rest of the cult members changed. They suddenly found themselves in a cathedral-like hall, filled with massive shelves.

“What…?”

Kate sighed. She sat atop a freshly conjured throne at the very end of the library hall, looking down at the cult and the tied-up Monica. “I was expecting more.”

“M-more?” Patrick put the dagger aside and looked up at the demon.

The Nightmare got up from her throne and stepped down towards the group of out-of-place humans. “Look at you, a bunch of little mortals toying around with ancient powers you don’t understand.” She picked up the dagger. “You didn’t even get the ritual right. Lucky for you that I was watching.”

“But the instructions… you were watching? Who are you?”

“One thing at a time, Patrick Vandermeer. There is a price for peeking behind the curtains. You are mine now. All of you.”

Patrick turned to the other humans. “I’m sorry…”

“Aww, how precious. I’m not a harsh mistress, but you are my cult now. Maybe next time you will remember that actions have consequences. Well, with that out of the way, let’s get to your questions. This is a place of knowledge after all.”

“Right.”

“I am the Librarian. This is my library.” Kate removed Monica’s gag. “And you already know how I was watching you. You have served me well, Monica, your obligations are fulfilled.”

While Kate healed Monica’s wounds and untied her from the table, Patrick fielded more questions. “What are you? Are you really a demon?”

Kate chuckled. “Of course I am. Now, Patrick, it is my turn to pry into your mind. The dagger, who gave it to you?”

“There was this woman, brownish-red hair, green eyes, she gave me the dagger and the old book. I met her again a few days ago, she gave me these papers.” He scrambled to hand the stack of old papers to Kate.

“Interesting.” Kate wasn’t sure if to be surprised about Jolene’s involvement or not, but she definitely had to seek the eldritch entity out later. “These will stay with me. As will the dagger.”

“What will you do with us?”

“Once you understand that this is a secret you have to guard with your life, you will be returned to where you came from. I may call upon you or I may not. But I expect you to follow my commands.”

“Uhm… nothing else?”

“Patrick!” Laura, Monica’s friend, didn’t sound very happy with his question.

Kate put on a sly smile. “No, nothing else. You live your lives and walk your paths until it is time to serve me. And once you have fulfilled your duties, you return to your lives.”

“That feels… generous. Thank you.”

“Don’t be too hasty in your judgment. If you fail to keep the secrets you are now burdened with, you will be punished. And then there is the little matter of carving runes into the skin of someone I came to hold quite dear.”

Patrick interrupted her. “That was entirely me. Please don’t punish the others for it.”

“As you wish. General?”

Apollyon stepped out from between the shelves. “Yes, mistress?”

“Take Vandermeer to place where we can speak in peace. Monica will remain here for now. Then take the rest back to the border world.”

“As you command, mistress.” Apollyon teleported Patrick away. Before she could leave with the other humans, Laura spoke up again.

“I will stay here with Monica.”

Kate raised an eyebrow. “You care for your friend.”

“I do, and she is hurt and I didn’t do anything about that. Least I can do is be here for her.”

“You may remain. General, the others are yours.”

Apollyon bowed and teleported away with the other humans.

Kate turned to Monica. “Well, that was fun. Are you alright?”

Monica nodded. “I think I am, yea. Got a headache.”

“Patrick’s friend hit her on the head to tie her up.” Laura added.

“How rude of him.” Kate sounded disappointed.

Monica shrugged. “Not as rude as carving the wrong runes into me.”

“The wrong-“ Kate looked at the papers Patrick had given her. These were Atlantean runes, of course he would carve them wrongly. But if Monica was able to determine that, it could only mean one thing. “I see. We have matters to discuss in private and with other demons. I fear that I must ask more of you.”

“Sure. Working with you has been nothing but beneficial. Besides being hit on the head and used as ritual sacrifice.”

“I will get you one of our healers if you want.”

“I’ll be fine. Almost a bit sad that I didn’t get to keep at least one scar from the runes, that would be a fun story to tell.”

“You know you can’t mention any of this.”

“Of course. But I can say that some cult tried to sacrifice me to the demons and I got rescued.”

“I apologize for taking that opportunity from you.” Kate smiled in amusement. “I am glad you are well enough to joke around though.”

“Yea, I am too.”

“Me too!” Laura spoke up. “I’ve got a question, if that’s allowed.”

“Of course, go ahead.” Kate nodded.

“The way you and Monica talk to each other and the way you act in the library makes me think what you said earlier was just an act. I mean, you are obviously the real deal, you teleported us somewhere, but that wasn’t the real you, was it?”

“In part. Which parts are truly me is up to you to find out. One thing I have not exaggerated is the need to keep this a secret. There will be major repercussions if you leak any of what you now know.”

“I see. Well, better to know than not, I suppose.”

“Indeed. I will return you to one of the special rooms in the back of the library you know, so you two can have some time to let everything sink in. I need to take care of Patrick Vandermeer.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Monica had a question. “Before you go, how did you know what was going on? You aren’t spying through me, right?”

“I’m not. You didn’t arrive at the fencing hall in time, so I asked a few questions. I thought it prudent to check in with your occult study group first.”

“So, the ritual didn’t do anything.”

“Correct. We already predicated that. The fact that you can read those runes is a surprise. The others can’t do that.”

“I noticed.”

“Laura, if you take anything to the grave, it must be Monica’s ability to read the runes Patrick tried to use. The secrets of the library slipping out is bad, very bad, but the ability to read this language paints a target on a person’s back that will attract powers that are equal to us and wish to kill every single person with that talent.”

“Understood. I promise not to tell a single soul.” Laura nodded.

“Good. You may both leave the library whenever you want. If you need anything else, the front desk is staffed.”

“Thank you, miss Librarian.”

Kate teleported the two humans away. Before she could leave, Apollyon returned.

“An interesting show. They seemed to believe it all.”

Kate nodded. “They do. How is everyone?”

“Nirrti and Ama are amused when I told them what you did. The cult members are fine but a little scared. As for Vandermeer… it appears that the gravity of his actions has finally begun to sink in.”

“I need to punish him somehow, but I have no idea what to do.”

“Employ him for something that benefits others. That is what I would do.”

“What do you mean?”

“Make him do something for the public good, help people.”

“An interesting idea. I think I know what to ask of him.”

“Good. I will tell our visitors here that the situation has been resolved.”

“Thank you, Polly. For everything.”

“Always.”