Beyond the Bookstore Door

A meeting has been called.

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At the back of a charming bookstore, situated in an old, stone bank, there was an oddly ornate door. The old wood had runes carved into it, painted over with cartoonish flowers. Copper rivets held the entire thing together, preserving the magic and the wood.

I grimaced at the monstrosity as I dusted off my wool coat, having escaped the numerous women in the romance section ogling my resemblance to their favorite crazy male lead. (Absurdly handsome, an employee had once told me. Long ago, I was considered rather ugly. How times change.) Everything back in place, I pushed the door open and stepped through its curtain of magic.

On the other side, sitting behind a desk that took up most of the room, was a squat, balding man. His narrow, darting eyes and too-uniform liver spots gave him away for what he was.

A goblin.

"Invitation?" He grated.

Slipping my hand in the inner pocket of my coat, I pulled out a thick, overly-decorated card and handed it to him. He scanned it and nodded.

"Welcome."

“This better be important."

He hopped off his chair, revealing himself to be about four feet tall. "Lady Katsy wouldn't invite everyone to a tea party."

"You haven't been with her very long, have you?" I asked, following him to the wall. He began scraping his nail in ancient patterns along an open section of brick.

"Maybe about a half a century."

"Just wait. She's not as proper as you think she is."

He finished his inscriptions and the outline of a door began to glow. Giving it a shove, he opened it and motioned for me to enter.

"Here you go, sir." He must have cared for Katsy quite a lot to get so offended. What had she done to warrant such loyalty from a goblin? They didn't usually get along with our kind.

The stairwell beyond the door descended through a spiral, much like the towers where we had been forced to guard the cursed princesses of olden times. At the bottom, I came to another door, this one of heavy wood and worn with age. Taking one more deep breath, I strode through the door.

A wave of chatter hit me.

"It's been so long!"

"I heard you had a young one, congratulations!"

"Are you still wearing that? It's a little old fashioned."

"You haven't changed at all."

"I didn't think you were still alive."

They mostly ignored me as I approached. Mostly. A man with a copper beard turned to me and grinned, slapping me on the back as if we were old friends.

We were not friends. Not anymore.

"Garreth! How have you been? I read stories about your company all the time! Doing well, eh?"

I straightened once again as his jovial assault on my shoulder finished. "Jamison. I was unaware you would be here."

He let out a belly laugh that, had he not been in human form, could've shook stalactites loose from the cavern ceiling. "Grumpy as ever, I see."

"Ah, leave him alone, Jamison. He just likes to keep to himself." Katsy appeared as if from nowhere. She gave me a grin. "I wasn't sure you would come, given the weather."

"I assumed it was important. But if it's not, I can always leave..."

"No, no, no. Don't be like that." She frowned, but it was more like a playful pout than real hurt. "It is important. We just need a few more to get here and we can get started. In the meantime, have some snacks, catch up with the others, and find your seat."

Mercifully, she led Jamison away so I could have a moment to look around and take in the scene. Nine figures stood around the cavern, a section of which had been dressed up to look like a ten-year-old girl's birthday party, complete with balloons and streamers. There was a banquet table lined with a bright pink tablecloth and covered in an array of food.

This is where the similarities ended. At least, I highly doubt that ten-year-old girls would eat sheep brains and pig liver, nor that they would wash it down with mead and ale. I opted for the lemonade sitting in a bright pink pitcher at the end of the table and made my way to my usual seat.

It had been at least a century since I'd been here last, but the golden throne I'd placed here when the council originally formed was still in pristine condition, almost glowing in the firelight. A fresh set of cushions supported me as I sat down with my drink and waited.

It didn't take long for the last two stragglers to arrive. Once they'd gotten their own plates, Katsy swept an arm before her, creating a wash of magic that sealed the doors, preventing anyone from entering. No risk for interruptions or intruders.

Katsy nodded. "The cavern is secure. You may revert, if you'd like."

More magic filled the cavern as several guests stretched and shed their human skin. Chins elongated into snouts, backs sprouted wings, nails became claws. After an uncomfortably long few minutes of groans and growls, about half the humans had been replaced with dragons. They stretched and shook, glad to be rid of their human disguises.

"Everyone comfortable?" Katsy asked, still in her human form.

When no one denied their comfort, she nodded and continued.

"I understand it was a bit out of the ordinary for me to call everyone like this, so I thank you all for coming on such short notice."

"Get to the point." I heard to my left. A male dragon, amber in color, curled across a pile of treasure. Jamison tossed him a glare.

"As I'm sure many of you know, I host the Oracle. For a few weeks now, she has been having unclear visions, warnings of something coming. I thought it best for her to tell you herself."

A woman stepped into the light, previously hidden in the dark shadows and a curtain of magic.

A handful of the guests snarled.

"You dare bring an outsider here?!" One dragon snarled. He was joined by a chorus of angry agreement. They slowly advanced on the stage, ready to spill blood. I sighed. I hated having to step in at these things.

"Enough!" I bellowed, taking a position before Katsy and the Oracle. Jamison and another also took up vigil at the stage. All of us were members of the original council. "All of you know the Oracle has been a friend to our kind for centuries. She has always been welcome here and shall continue to be."

"And who are you to order us around? Just some washed up old fool who prefers to wear a human skin?!" It was the amber dragon from earlier. I recognized him now. He'd caused quite a bit trouble a few years back, nearly leveled a town because a kid listening to a music player bumped into him. Nasty tempers used to get you killed quickly. Perhaps we should have kept that rule.

"I am the last dragon you want to anger." I replied, unleashing the smallest amount of my power, my eyes glowing, shadows crawling around as the air began to distort. It wasn't much by my standards, but it was enough to send the dissenters back to their seats, one by one. Finally, only the amber dragon crouched before me, realization settling in his eyes

"It's you. I should have known."

Jamison stepped forward, careful to stay to my side in case I decided to let loose. "You better back off, laddy. If he decided to kill you, you wouldn't have a chance."

After another moment of glaring, he finally backed up, settling uneasily on his pile of treasure. I gave the room a sweep, making eye contact with each in the room until I was sure they wouldn't cause any more trouble.

"The room is yours, Katsy. Oracle." I gave them a small bow as I returned to my seat.

Katsy nodded to the Oracle. The woman stepped forward again, this time a little more cautiously. She must have awakened as the Oracle only recently, wearing slacks and a magenta blouse instead of the traditional garb of her station. She cleared her throat.

"I've been having... visions lately and only in the last few days have they become clear." She paused to take a shaky breath. "The Catalyst has been born."

A torrent of whispers ran through the room.

"Where?" Someone asked.

The Oracle shook her head. "It's still unclear."

"The Oracle doesn't know?" Another asked their neighbor.

"A child is much harder to locate than an adult. They haven't left any marks on this world yet." The neighbor responded.

"Are they going to bring calamity?" A voice called to the stage.

Katsy shook her head. "It's impossible to tell right now. The reason we asked all of you here today is to inform you as per our agreement, and ask that all be on the lookout for the child. If you find them, inform the council and we can decide where to go from there."

I glanced at the others. All were lost in thought. I trusted some to do as Katsy asked, simply informing the council and making a decision as a group, but others...

With her announcement done, the Oracle stepped back. Quiet discussions broke out and lasted longer than the meeting itself had. Finally, human forms were restored and the general decision was made to leave.

I remained in my seat, watching the others filter out of the cavern. Eventually, only those from the original council remained. Jamison shuffled forward and sat on the edge of the stage, his face in his hands.

"I can't help but feel that could have been handled better." he said.

Katsy sat next to him. "You know that phrase, 'quick like a band-aid?' I've always thought that was a good method for handling things."

"This was not one of those moments." Henrik, the other dragon who'd stood on the stage with me.

Jamison dropped his hands in his lap and looked up at Katsy. "A fresh Oracle AND announcing the birth of the Catalyst? Too much."

Katsy stuck out her lip. "Everyone needs to know."

I pushed out of my chair. "You should have told us first. We could have put up more protective barriers, prepared the others for what was about to happen."

"Everything ended up fine."

"Only because they stepped in!" The Oracle reappeared, still shaking, but channeling it into anger instead of tears. "What were you thinking, Katsy?! They were going to eat me!"

"We wouldn't've let that happen, lass." Jamison said, his face softening.

Her anger fizzling out, exhaustion lined her features and she sat on the edge of the stage. Henrik gave her his most disarming smile, one I'd seen make many a maid blush when we were young.

"Hey, you'll be okay. We're all here."

"Don't you be giving her those smiles." Katsy countered. The two slipped into familiar bickering and I turned to the Oracle.

"I'm sorry she didn't prepare you enough. Are you alright?"

She looked over at me, unsure. "I'm fine."

"What's your name? Unless you'd rather be called Oracle."

A grimace. "Oh, please, don't. Having weird dreams and sudden powers is bad enough. My name is Sally."

"A pleasure to meet you, Sally. You can call me Garreth." I held my hand out and she shook it cautiously. She said her next question carefully, as if frightened how I might react.

"Why... why were they all so afraid of you?"

"May as well tell her." Jamison said. "She'll find out eventually anyway."

I tossed him a glare for interrupting before returning my attention to Sally. "We were able to get them to back down because we used to be called the Compass Rose."

"Like, on a map?" She asked.

"That was the reference. At least after maps existed." I motioned to each of us in turn. "Katsy of the North, Jamison of the East, Henrik of the South, and Garreth of the West. The four founding dragons of the council and, at one point, the four most powerful creatures on the planet."

Henrik jumped in. "You see, Sally, most of the dragons here were relatively young, a few hundred years at the most. The four of us--"

Katsy smacked the back of his head. "It's rude to reveal a woman's age, Henrik."

He laughed as he rubbed his head, clearly enjoying his time heckling her. We didn't get together often, and it can be lonely when you're so powerful even creatures of myth fear you.

"Garreth in particular can be scary." Jamison said. "He used to have another name: The Executioner."

I could tell she didn't want to ask the inevitable follow-up, so I 'ripped the band-aid off,' as Katsy was saying. "When dragons, or any other powerful creature, got out of hand, I was the one sent to kill them."

"What about knights and all that stuff?" She asked, cocking her head. She seemed to be getting a little more comfortable, despite my revelation.

"The dragons in those tales were young and foolish, often under some sorcerer’s spell." I folded my arms and shifted my feet. "I took out the world-shakers."

She quieted, soaking in all the information while Katsy and Henrik continued to bicker. When I glanced over, she had him in a headlock, commanding him to apologize for something.

I fought an amused smile. It was unfortunate that I'd have to end their fun.

"So, what are we going to do?" I asked. Everyone froze and turned to me.

"About what?" Katsy asked.

Jamison sighed, that kind of longsuffering sigh a dad makes when his children are being overly silly. "About the Catalyst."

"We told everyone to be on the lookout for them and let us know. What else is there to do?"

"Ever the optimist. That's why we love you." Henrik said. "Did you see their faces? At least half of them looked like they were ready for a little baby snack."

"Would they really eat a baby?" Sally asked, horrified.

"Not openly." I replied. "But they may search for the child secretly and dispose of them. A few others are likely to take the child and raise them for a more favorable outcome for themselves."

"I have a question."

We turned to her.

"What is the Catalyst supposed to do? Why are they so important?"

With a look I silenced Henrik's sarcastic remark before he got it out. "There was a prophesy once that the Catalyst would change the world. Speculation arose on how. Some think it will destroy the world so a new one can take its place. Others believe they will cause some sort of ascension event."

"From the tone in your voice, I'm guessing you believe otherwise."

"We have a bit more information than most, having such constant access to the Oracles." Jamison added. "One managed to scry some more information, at the cost of her mind."

She paled a bit at that. I wonder if the potential physical cost of her powers hadn't occurred to her. "What did she discover?"

"The change would be to balance the world." I said. "We believe that means the magical world and the modern world will once again be one, though I can't imagine that transition will be easy."

"That kind of power..." She mused. "We should protect the child, shouldn't we? If the others really have dangerous intentions?"

Jamison nodded. "We probably should. Whatever the child is destined for, we can't condemn it just for living."

"But we just told everyone to report if they found the child." Katsy said. She wanted to be fair, wanted to avoid conflict. She'd always been like that, despite her power. Or perhaps because of it.

"And we will. Once we ensure the child is protected." Henrik added, finally getting serious.

"How do we find them?" Sally asked. Jamison gave her a sympathetic smile.

"The quickest way would be for you to find them with your power. But as was said, the child is young, and it seems you are new to your powers. We will need to train you. In the meantime," he looked at each of us, "we can use various methods to search. Between the four of us, we might just be able to find them before anyone else."

Katsy sighed. "Fine. But we have to inform everyone when we've found them. Not where," She added when Henrik looked over to her. "just that we found them. Some of them will understand, at least."

"So it's settled. Everyone look for the child so we can protect them. Agreed?" Henrik said.

"Agreed." We repeated.

Sally stopped me as I neared the door. "I didn't want to say before, but... I've seen you before today."

That was not something I wanted to hear from an Oracle.

"What was the context?" I asked.

"It was in the visions of the Catalyst. Every time, flashes of the child, destruction, and then your face."

"Was I the one causing the destruction?" It's possible. If I had to defend the child, it might end in a catastrophe, depending on who I was defending them from.

"I... don't know. I don't think so." She bit her lip.

"What is it?"

"I think you were crying."

That certainly wasn't good. I turned back to the door. "Is that everything?"

"Yes."

"Call me if you learn anything more. Katsy has my number."

And with that, I left to face the uncertain future she'd given me.