Slay Alive

Chapter 11

eleven

I end up walking aimlessly after Cade leaves. I don’t go after Lucien on account of not being sure I can take the vampire murder entourage he’s got tailing him. Apparently stalker skills don’t transfer over just because I stepped into the real Duskweaver’s life. The longer I walk, the more my thoughts turn to who Duskweaver is. I don’t know how else to think of her than by her last name. Rhia never told me her name or anything about her. Why would she be desperate to leave this world? What is she doing in my world?

Rhia didn’t answer me when I asked if she was me but I guess it could be the same for her like it is me. I’m not her but people think I am. Fortunately no one knew her here because she left before they met her. The only person who knew her here was Cade.

“You show back up you talk different, you walk different, you even smell different.”

Holy shit. I must look like her to him. I raise my hands to my face, trailing them over my cheeks, nose, lips. Everything feels the same. When I pass a shop window, I look at my reflection and I don’t look any different. Even if I do look like her to Cade, he knows something isn’t right. Just another reason to steer clear of the vampire on top of the fact that he said he hopes Lucien eats me because that’s what he would do. Cade’s angry face flashes in my memory. I can see him in the glass as clearly as myself. I drop my eyes from the glass and keep walking. I don’t stop until I leave the Veiled Quarter and end up in front of the Eldritch Library. The sun is low in the sky and the gold map of Briarwood glints dully in the dying sunlight.

I walk towards the library and slip inside before I can think too much about it. Coming here feels right. Despite its size, it’s cozy inside the library. Warm light fills the space from sconces and when I move over the hardwood floor, thick plush rugs muffle my steps. Paintings of Briarwood Hollow’s past line the walls. Oddly enough, I recognize the scenes from when I visited the library in game. The beauty of the oil paintings I’m now standing in front of didn’t communicate through my game screen, though. I walk along looking at the familiar scenes until I stop in front of a painting I’ve never seen before. It’s a nighttime scene with ninety percent of the painting shades of black and blue except for a single figure at the center of a woman. She’s dressed in a red dress and stands with a torch lifted over her head. She looks determined, stoic and resolute as she stares out of the canvas with the night at her back. She stands like a guardian holding back the night and I can’t help but stop and really look at her. The light of her torch pushing back the night pulls at me for some reason.

Who was she? Why does she look so determined?

No sooner do I think the thoughts that I get an answer.

“Her name is Thespia.”

I jump at the voice and turn to see a man watching me. He’s dressed nicely, the way I’d think a librarian would be with gold wire-rimmed glasses and a pressed tweed coat, dark slacks and white collared shirt but there’s something familiar about him that I can’t place. He’s handsome and young, definitely at odds with what I would assume a librarian would look like despite the clothing.

Why do I feel like I should know who he is? Maybe Duskweaver knew him?

He clears his throat and steps closer to me. “I didn’t startle you, I hope. I couldn’t help but notice you took an interest in our leading lady,” he says with a nod towards the painting. Messy blond hair falls into blue eyes the color of the summer sky and when he smiles at me a dimple shows in his left cheek. Realization clicks into place.

Gabriel Von Helsing

LORE HISTORIAN

Charming Aristocratic

A descendent of the storied first vampire hunters to bring safety to Briarwood Hollow, Gabriel inherited a wealth of vampire hunter knowledge and history. Known for his meticulous nature and zeal for history. Gabriel is driven by his quest to honor his family’s legacy and document the nuances of vampire and hunter lore. Personality- Compassionate, adventurous, and charming. Drawn to those with a thirst for knowledge and adventurers.

Gabriel has always been sweet, a nice reprieve from some of the moodier game options to romance. Connecting with him was never trouble. His stories about Briarwood Hollow always kept me coming back for more. I’m glad he’s here.

“Gabriel?” I ask and blink in surprise.

His smile falters. “Do I know you?”

“No, sorry. I, ah, I’m a new hunter. Just arrived in town and I was told you were the man to talk to if I wanted to get a handle on Briarwood Hollow’s history.”

Gabriel brightens when I say that. “Ah, a hunter with a thirst for knowledge. You’ve come to the right place, my friend. Consider me your personal guide to all things Briarwood Hollow.” He gives me a mock bow and when he lifts his head there’s a look in his eyes I know well. Gabriel is checking me out hard.

I think of Cade then for no reason other than to torture myself. What explanation other than torture is there to think of the vampire when I have a gorgeous librarian offering to be my personal anything.

I smile and drop my eyes. “I-well, thank you, kind sir.”

“Sir? I preferred you calling me Gabriel,” he says with a wink. “But forgive my manners and let me introduce myself properly. I am Gabriel Von Helsing, the head librarian here at the Eldritch Library.”

“Head librarian? That’s quite impressive for someone your age.”

“My age? You mean someone that’s not a doddering fool? Yes, it is.”

I laugh. “Yeah, when I think head librarian it’s always someone of a more geriatric persuasion.” I hold out my hand for him to shake. “I’m Bonnie Duskweaver.”

Gabriel shakes my hand with an easy smile. “Pleased beyond all reason to meet you, Bonnie.”

“Likewise, Gabriel.”

I spend the next hour with Gabriel and the longer I’m with him, the longer I feel more settled in Briarwood Hollow. The feeling of excitement and feeling at home comes rushing back in the library with Gabriel. It would be a feat to not remember why it holds such a special place in my heart around Gabriel. The man lives and breathes Briarwood Hollow. True to his word, he does his best to answer each and every question I have about it, including Thespia.

“She was Briarwood Hollow’s first vampire hunter and my great-great-great grandmother. We are quite proud of her.”

“Why didn’t you lead with that?”

“It’s a bit odd to lead off with that in a city full of vampire hunters, Bonnie.”

In my playthroughs with Gabriel he’s far more flirty than he is in real life. Turns out, I prefer a more serious Gabriel. When I catch sight of the twilight sky outside of the library, I realize I should be going. I’ve lost time tracking Lucien, a strategy that I decide still has merit in the grand scheme of things. It might piss Cade off but that’s fine. I’m going to stay far, far away from the vampire until I’m out of this world.

“I should be going. Thank you for, well, you know everything. I appreciate you spending time with me.”

Gabriel smiles warmly at me and closes the Compendium on Briarwood Hollow’s Heroes we’d just been reading, because like Gabriel said, “To be a great hunter, you must first know the greats.”

“Do you have any plans this evening?” he asks.

“I’m not sure,” I tell him. “I have to check in at Hunter’s Watch. I’m still new and not really sure how this hunter thing is supposed to work out.”

He nods. “I had hoped to ask you to dinner tonight but I understand your duties must come first.” The smile he gives me when he pulls his glasses off to clean them makes my cheeks flush.

“It’s hard work trying to compare to Thespia,” I tease him. “But I’d like dinner. Another time, maybe?”

Gabriel inclines his head. “I would be honored. I’ll walk you out if I may.”

Butterflies flutter in my belly. “You may,” I tell him, suddenly feeling shy. I haven’t felt this kind of nervousness since I was a teenager with a crush. Maybe Lucien isn’t necessary at all. Why can’t I try and see this quest line through with Gabriel? He’s interested enough and I do like him. I’m tongue-tied though when I walk with Gabriel to the library entrance. I wasn’t lying that I do have to check in at Hunter’s Watch. It would be good to see Tamsin and figure out what I’m supposed to be doing as a hunter while laying low. If I do that, then maybe I can make my way back to the library and Gabriel tonight. Yes, I like that plan. Especially as more time will let me get my thoughts together so I don’t fuck this up with Gabriel. He’s not going to suddenly lose interest in me because I take an hour for myself, right?

I hesitate when we get to the library doors. I could accept his dinner invitation and push on. Maybe if I did I’d be home by tonight. But as tempting as the thought is, I don't do it.

“Goodbye, Gabriel,” I tell him with a shy smile.

The handsome librarian gives me a little bow in return. “Fight well, Bonnie.”

I leave the library with a spring in my step, feeling lighter than I have since Preston dumped me.