Chapter Text
Jon makes his way through the near claustrophobic towers of bookshelves that make up this section of the Library he’s currently hurrying through.
He thinks it might be Russian 18th century prose, but he truly doesn’t care at the moment.
Jon picks up the pace through the narrow passages, he wants to get this over with as fast as possible, and the headache building in his temples isn’t exactly improving his mood. On one hand, getting this mission filed away would mean it was officially over, on the other, it also meant he’d just get another, just as pointless, one soon after.
The mission had been a simple, easy job. Low level magic world, no issues, simply show up at the designated bookstore and order the volume. He had to wait a few days, but there was nothing interesting to see or do, so he spent the down time reading a few books he’d brought along.
Other Librarians might enjoy these missions, no fights, no undercover secrecy, no bartering with the local fae or vampire population, basically a weekend off, but when these missions were all Jon ever seemed to be assigned, he had promptly gotten frustrated with this kind of work, and it was beginning to gnaw at him.
Jon turns a narrow corner, and breathes a sigh of relief when he is met with the sight of one of the Library’s dusty computers.
He switches it on and sits himself at the small desk, logging in with impressive speed and clicking on to his personal mail.
There’s only one general staff update on etiquette, which Jon doesn’t even bother to read. If he has to read one more reminder to the Library’s dress code, he will throw a fit.
He hurriedly types up his report for his mission, barely keeping his disdain professionally hidden in his choice of words, and sends it off to his superior with a final click.
The book is swiftly deposited in the top drawer of the table, and he shuts it with a satisfying little bump, instantly sending it off to its rightful place within the Library.
Jon slumps in his chair as soon as the book is gone. He closes his eyes and sluggishly rubs at his temples to try and soothe the bone deep tired feeling he can’t seem to shake these days. If only he could get a proper, exciting mission to actually use his skills. He didn’t train years for a position at the Library for this nonsense.
He’s abruptly shaken out of his thoughts when a nearby door is slammed open and out stumbles another person. He doesn’t even get to form any words to the new arrival, when he’s already accosted with a loud “Jon!”.
“Hello, Tim” he replies, trying to keep the tired out of his voice, and with a creak he manages to sit up straight again.
Tim beams at him, “what are the odds! Did you just get back from a mission too?” he waves what seems to be a very shiny book in demonstration, clearly just retrieved from whatever world he just left behind.
Jon nods at the computer in front of him, “just sent off my report. Utterly boring retrieval, as usual.”
Tim laughs, “you keep complaining about our missions. What did you expect, high adrenaline spy stuff right away? Jon, we barely got promoted to proper Librarians a year ago, of course we’re getting the bottom of the barrel.”
Jon huffs and crosses his arms defiantly. They’ve had this conversation before, both before they got promoted and were just trainees together, and after their promotions (which happened at just about the same time, thankfully) when Jon realised how dreadfully boring he found the work he was given.
“Anyways,” Tim shakes his head, knowing full well this line of conversation won’t get them anywhere new, “this is great timing, me and Sasha are supposed to meet up soon and have a proper catch up, we’d love to have you join us! We didn’t know when you’d be back, but this is perfect, now we can go together.”
He gives Jon his best charming smile, wiggling his eyebrows with unspoken promises of fun times ahead. Jon’s scowl breaks, and he chuckles at Tim.
It’d actually be nice to get some social time in with his friends before they’re all inevitably sent off to new, mindless missions, retrieving whatever book the Library might want. He’s almost about to say yes to Tim’s proposition, when the computer dings, signaling that someone wants his attention.
“Hang on,” he turns back to the computer, and clicks on the newly received mail. His breathing stops for a short moment when he sees it’s directly from the Head Librarian himself, Elias.
He quickly skims the mail. Elias wants him at his office immediately. For a mission. He stands up so fast the chair clatters to the floor loudly, the sound quickly swallowed by the never ending bookcases surrounding them.
Tim raises his eyebrow quizzically at him as Jon gathers his things at lightning speed.
“Sorry, I can’t go with you and Sasha. I, uh, Elias needs me right away,” Jon explains.
This makes Tim frown. He glances over at the computer, but Jon rapidly turns it off, and is already halfway through the room and out the door.
“Say hi to her from me! Tell her I’ll definitely join you next time, please. Goodbye Tim!” And then he’s off and out the door, leaving a stunned and confused Tim behind without any proper explanation. It’s fine , Jon thinks, he’ll apologise next time they see each other. Whenever that may be.
The way to the Head Librarian’s office is always an easy route, as any larger door will take him directly to it if he has clearance. Which he does.
The excitement of having said clearance, and being personally requested buzzes through Jon, leaving him a little light headed. Finally , he thinks, maybe I’ll receive a proper mission .
Locating a doorway in an ornately cut oak wardrobe, he quickly steps inside and slams it shut. He can faintly feel his Librarian mark on his back responding to the magic of the door, and in an instant he’s sent off to the right coordinates within the infinite Library itself.
Without even taking a moment to get his bearings, he hurries out of the door, stumbling into the waiting area of Elias’ office.
He’s greeted by Rosie, Elias’ secretary, with a short nod. She is furiously clacking away at an ancient keyboard, dim blue light of the computer screen reflected in her pointed glasses.
“You can go in, Jonathan. He’s expecting you.”
Jon straightens his posture as best as he can, and enters the main office. He commends his legs for taking him in the right direction with only the lightest of tremble to his step.
It’s just a tad too dim inside to properly make out distinct details on the many, many books that make their home in Elias’ office. The thick green carpet swallows Jon's footsteps as he walks, and the tall windows that would usually display a grey and empty world, have their heavy curtains drawn.
Jon has never actually been to the Head Librarian’s office before, and he’s almost too overwhelmed by the experience to fully take it all in.
He’s swiftly brought back down to this plane of existence by the striking voice of Elias himself.
“Ah, Jonathan. Wonderful you came so quickly, please, take a seat”, the older man says pleasantly, gesturing to an armchair in front of the desk of which he is currently seated.
With a deep breath, Jon nods and takes a seat in the chair.
Elias smiles at Jonathan, leaning comfortably on his arms resting on the giant, frankly too lavish, oak desk.
“I’m not going to keep you in suspense, I called for you because I have an important mission for you.”
Jon sucks in an excited breath.
“I believe you’re the perfect candidate for this sort of mission,” he produces a manila folder from a drawer, and slides it in front of Jon, giving him a nod to go ahead and open it. Jon scrambles to reach for it and open it, flipping through papers.
“The book I want you to retrieve is a one of a kind retelling of the first fae versus dragon war. It contains several unique chapters found nowhere else in the many different worlds. It has been particularly hard to track down, and we’ve already tried to retrieve it before. I believe you’re familiar with the former Librarian, Gertrude?”
Jon frowns at the thought of the Librarian in question, but nods in response.
“What do you know about her?”
“Oh, well,” Jon starts, trying not to fall over his own words, “she was a high ranking Librarian, until she returned from a mission empty handed and somehow out of her mind. She tried to burn down the Library several years ago, and died in the chaos. It’s become quite the legend with us newer Librarians who were only trainees when it happened.”
Elias smiles, seemingly satisfied with the answer. Jon feels strangely proud.
“That’d be the gist of it, yes. Anyways, she was assigned to this mission before her untimely demise, but I don’t want you to feel threatened by this. I have been watching your progress, and I’m of utmost confidence that you can handle this.”
Elias gestures to the folder in Jon’s hands, “as you can see, the book in question is currently somewhere in this world’s Scotland. The year is 1910, and this world’s fae population has kept things mostly peaceful. You’ll be arriving in southern England in a smaller village, werewolf territory. They’re on peaceful terms with the local vampire community, so there shouldn’t be any trouble for you there.”
Jon grasps at the folder a little tighter in excitement. Werewolf territory! Even vampires close by!
Elias continues;
“There’s a bit of current currency in the folder for you, but you’ll receive more from the Librarian in residence, along with a new set of clothes and a more thorough briefing of the world and your trip to Scotland.”
Jon flips through the pages, nodding along to what Elias tells him. His head is swimming with all the information, the praise to his abilities, and the prospect of a mission that’s significantly more thrilling than usual. He barely registers Elias’ chair scraping gently across the carpet as he stands up.
“I must clarify that this mission is very important, and you will be handing the book directly to me as soon as you have it.” His steel grey eyes bore into Jon’s, and all he can do is nod mutely in response.
“Good,” Elias says, and Jon gets the distinct feeling that this conversation is over, and he hurries to stand up.
“Good luck, Jonathan.”
“Th-thank you,” Jon manages, clutching the folder to his chest. “I’ll do my best.”
Elias smiles at him again, “I know you will.”
And with that, Jon is out in the waiting room again, not even acknowledging Rosie. He flies through the many corridors of the Library, making way for his personal sleeping quarters.
He would usually rest up before a mission, take his time to get ready and make sure he’s gotten some sleep in beforehand, but the overwhelming need to prove himself with this mission makes him forgo his usual routine.
He was handpicked! For a mission of utmost importance! By the Head Librarian himself!
Jon speeds though freshening up, haphazardly throwing on a new and clean outfit without really paying attention to what he’s putting on, quickly filling his small leather bag with the minimum amount of necessities and slinging it over his shoulder. Deeming himself fine enough, he’s out of his quarters and heading for the closest portal door he knows to be nearby.
He takes a deep steadying breath before entering, even if it's not really doing much to calm his nerves. The door swings shut behind him with a soft click, and once again he feels the soft vibrations of magic responding to his mark. The world falls into place, and he can feel the distinct but vaguely different way this alternate world settles in around him.
Excitedly, he pushes open the door, wondering what sort of person the Librarian in residence is. They’re often high ranking Librarians who aren’t fit to go on missions as much anymore, but aren’t quite ready for retirement yet, and Jon likes hearing what they have to say about their life with the Library.
He steps into what he assumes is a bookshop, but the scene that greets him is far from what he had expected.
Books, papers, and glass litter the floor. The furniture has been turned over, windows are smashed in, and the door to the shop has been ripped off its hinges. Jon gasps and stumbles a few steps to the side, trying to not step directly on top of any large glass shards. This isn’t what he’s been briefed on. This isn’t what’s supposed to happen.
His eyes dart around the room, trying to make sense of it all. In the corner by the shop’s empty doorway, lies an unmoving figure.
On trembling, unsteady legs, Jon stumbles over to what he assumes would be Librarian in residence, hoping to make sure there’s signs of life. He kneels by the body, hesitantly reaching out and turning it over so he can see the face.
It’s an older man. Definitely from the Library. His neck has been ripped open, and blood has seeped into the floor, staining it permanently. Jon makes a high, frightened noise, and clutches his hand to his chest as if burned.
He doesn’t even have time to think about what to do, what protocols to follow, when there’s a loud crunching noise by the door. His head snaps up in attention, and he sees what’s clearly a werewolf, pupils dilated, panting heavily. His clawed hand is clutching so hard into the doorframe that it’s splintering beneath it, and Jon feels a deep terror grip his bones.
“You’re new,” the werewolf rasps out, keeping his yellow eyes focused directly on Jon. Prey.
Jon wills his mouth to work, tongue gone numb with fear. “I-I’m uh, I’m from the local library.”
The werewolf squints at him, then growls low in his throat. “You’re lying.”
Jon sits still on the floor, terror rooting him in place. Then it lunges for him.
The next turn of events barely register for Jon. He backs out of the way, missing the attack by a hairsbreadth.
The werewolf grabs for Jon with his claws on full display, and Jon only manages to escape his reach by hoisting himself up by the smashed out window, and haphazardly throwing himself out of it and into the alley it leads out to. He lets out a small gasp of pain as he lands on his shoulder, but he knows he can’t stay here. Knows that the werewolf will come after him, to kill him.
Thoughts racing, shoulder complaining, he takes off into the streets and down any small alley he can, hoping to shake off his pursuer. He can hear a piercing howl, too close for his liking. He clenches his teeth and speeds up further. The werewolf has called for backup, and Jon has no idea how many there are, where he is, or how to get away.
He spots a narrow alley with a stack of firewood half obscuring the passage and runs for it, nearly tripping and falling over in his hurry. The empty streets are deserted by people, and there’s no one here to help him.
Throwing himself into the alley, he squeezes up against the wall, hopefully hidden from view behind the tall stack of firewood. Jon attempts to catch his ragged breath, he’s dizzy with adrenaline running through him, and he just hopes he has enough time to get his bearings.
He suddenly feels the wall behind him disappear, and with a startled yelp, he’s pulled into a dark room and thrown onto a stone floor. He hiss in pain at the impact, but is shushed quiet by whoever pulled him in. The person in question is standing by the door, ear pressed into the wood, face scrunched tight in concentration.
It appears to be a tall man, not werewolf thankfully, from what Jon can tell by a quick glance, but he doesn’t allow himself to relax. He doesn’t dare move in fear of making a noise, so he simply sits in tense silence, eyes focused on the man by the door.
After what feels like an eternity, the man sighs quietly and steps away from the door, apparently deeming it safe. He turns to Jon, and for the first time allows him to get a proper look at who saved him. He looks down at Jon, glowing red eyes meeting his own.
Jon chokes down a whimper.
There’s no doubt about it, he’s in a room with a vampire. Alone in a room with a vampire, with werewolves out for him outside.
Distantly, Jon thinks he is in way more danger than he ever thought he would be.