They couldn’t help but smile as well as they saw how excited she became over the books. A seeker of knowledge? Truly, this pleased the Inutricem. Knowledge was power, they knew, and it was always such a refreshing sight to see someone actively want to gain it. Watching silently for a moment as she flipped through the pages, the otherworldly being tilted their head just slightly.
Their eyes seemed to glow for a moment as they thought about the book she described. “… Ah.” There was an understanding in their gaze as they gave a soft nod, crouching down to pull something out from under the count. “We believe this the book you speak of.” True, it had been lost for quite some time; they had grown fond of it and the stories it held, not only in its pages, but in its travels from generation to generation. Placing it in front of her, the Inuentricem offered a small smile.
“All of them have arrived here in a different manner, at different times.” They explained as they picked up one of the books, browsing through it absent-mindedly. “All that is lost ends up in our shop, and we merely keep watch until they find their ways home. And if there is no home for them to return to, then they stay with us until a new owner wishes to take them.”
She kept missing subtle hints that this man was more than what meant the eye. Sea-green depths had been far too occupied with the scriptures before her to take notice of the initial glow he gave off from his own. Once again, she was digging into the books and flipping through pages gingerly as not to damage it. The antiquity of these books made their worth so much more.
“You, you know what book I speak of?” Sarah’s voice dribbled with doubt as he assured her that what she had been seeking for so long was in his possession. Her heart drummed rapidly and she barely could contain her own excitement. The book from generations past would now be returned, but what price would she need to pay?
When the book was placed before her, Sarah’s hands shook uncontrollably. Ashamed that he would see, she lowered them below the counter top. For a moment, she did fall silent while words lodged themselves in her throat. After the brief, awkward moment, had passed, she did finally find the courage to speak. “Do you recall who brought this here? When it arrived?"
There were so many questions she wished to ask!
This book was valuable to her, even if it was filled with stories of monsters and the like - stories that would be told to children and meant to give others the chills and fright.