I glared her way, squinting daggers. “That’s a sick joke.” The words burned like acid in my throat, then it dawned on me. “Just because I went to the initiation doesn’t mean I’m joining Nexis.”
“Please, like you ever had a chance with the Watchers, anyway.” She shoved her book aside and matched my gaze with withering fury. “And you better not tell anyone about that meeting at the coffee shop. Or that I’m involved.”
“I would never do that.” My jaw dropped straight onto the carpet. Air puffed from the gaping hole, but I couldn’t wrap my mind around her words.
“Good, I’m glad to hear that.” An odd sort of smile played at her lips. She flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Good luck with your research.”
“Thanks, I think.” I muttered under my breath and beelined across the room to the card catalog.
Without another word, I yanked open the top drawer of the skinny five-tiered file cabinet. It banged open, almost dumping its yellowed index cards all over the floor. I thumbed through the angel section, scouring the tiny type for books on Santa Lucia and church.
“Jackpot.” I fist-pumped the air, reading the card again. These books were in stack number seven, the dark corner of the library. With a gulp, I swallowed the lump of fear creeping up my throat. Time to be brave. If not for me, then for James.
I zigzagged to the other side of the room, then tiptoed down the last aisle. At the end of the row something banged into my shin, and I almost face-planted right into a tall ladder. It completely blended in with the cedar shelves. Pushing aside the ladder, I scanned the numbers, then the titles, but the books I wanted were nowhere in sight. They had to be in the turret.
The dimly lit tower extended up twelve feet or so, with old books stacked around its three sides.
“Impressive.” The only light seeped in from two porthole windows ten feet up, highlighting the section I needed. That meant one thing—time to climb the ladder. It creaked on its rusty hinges as I rolled it into place.
If only I could swing around like Belle from Beauty and the Beast, it might be less creepy. James was right. I really did love libraries. But I was on a mission—a mission to figure out why James disappeared and why Nexis kicked him out. I couldn’t fail this time.
On shaky legs I climbed upward, rung by rung. With even shakier fingers I pried the thick leather spines of two books from their hiding places. As I descended, the ladder wobbled beneath me. Belle would’ve never had to put up with this.
Finally, my feet touched ground again. I lingered in the musty old corner. The cool darkness cradled me. Ten times safer than Julia and her mean-girl vibe.
I spread my books out on the nearest table, turning my back on her even though she was on the other side of the room. The first dusty tome listed a bland paragraph about the Nexis sect, but no juicy details. I shoved that book aside and moved on to the next.
“Please let me find something, anything.” This decrepit book had a whole chapter on St. Lucia and the many churches named after the patron saint of the blind. There was even an illustration of a baroque-style church in Italy, similar to my postcard.
I read the next lines with bated breath, afraid if I so much as moved a muscle the words wouldn’t be true. The book stated that there was a church dedicated to St. Lucia in almost every major city. Could there be one in New York?
The paragraph went on to say that since St. Lucia was a popular saint among the three societies, there would be no way to tell for certain which secret society controlled the church. But I just skimmed the rest of the page. I couldn’t care less.
New York was a big city. There had to be a St. Lucia church in the Big Apple. Pulling out my phone, I typed in St. Lucia church, New York. The results came back to me almost instantaneously. There were two St. Lucy’s churches in the area. One in New York City, and one in New Jersey. I’d try the one in Harlem first.
I gasped and suddenly forgot how to breathe. This couldn’t be real. Did I really just figure out part of my brother’s postcard?
From across the room, Julia glanced up from her book. “Sounds like you found something good.”
“You can say that again.” My lips curved and my cheeks lifted in an enormous grin. Excitement buzzed a nervous tingle through my veins. I knew just who to tell about my little revelation.
Quickly, I shot to my feet and raced out of the chapel.
On the steps, the brisk air nipped at my cheeks. As soon as my feet hit the sidewalk, a cold hand grabbed mine. Familiar gray eyes stared back at me.
“Lucy, I need to talk to you.” Will tugged me down the sidewalk.
“Great.” I mouthed to the now-blue sky. “Can it wait?”
“I’m afraid not.” Will sprawled out on a stone bench under a cluster of red maples. He patted the space beside him. “Have a seat. I won’t bite.”
“You said that before. I’m not so sure.” I stood tall, dropping my bag on the spot where he wanted me to sit. “What do you want?”
“Listen.” He slung his arm across the back of the bench. “I’m worried about you. First, you disappear in the middle of an important initiation. Now it looks like you’re falling for the wrong guy.”
“That was no ordinary initiation, more like some kind of test of my abilities. Well, I failed.” Miserably, I should add. His eyes widened and his chin tilted,
