Searching and finding
Albert persisted on his night visits to Marla, going there every night. Marla was more irritable each day, but less powerful too, or so he wanted to think. In the meantime, they kept researching. They had already found the direction of Marla's father, and now they only needed time to go visit him. Furthermore, they were to meet Octavia that same day to check out her book.
Octavia was living in a small flat next to the campus, on her own, her parents were fairly rich and had preferred to have her living on her own rather that sharing a bedroom. It was pretty convenient then, it meant that they would have a place to meet and be as noisy as they needed to. They arrived at Octavia's place just before eleven in the morning, Myriam insisted on taking something to eat because it might take longer, and even if it didn't she would feel bad if they hadn't brought anything.
Octavia was already waiting for them and invited them in. Albert remembered about what Marla had said in dreams. He hadn't told her because he didn't want her to think that he was defending Marla and because he thought that it would hurt her too much. He heard Myriam and Dalia proffering exclamations of admiration at the flat's decoration, but what impressed him the most was the massive collection of books that she had. She had set a table with some food to nibble and some drinks.
-I know that you're always hungry Albert, so I thought that it would be good to have something to eat.- she said smiling.
-Oh! I brought something too!- told her Myriam while giving her a bag.
-You shouldn't have.
-Of course, I had to! Don't be silly.
Octavia took the bag and put it in the kitchen. Myriam and Dalia sat on the sofa, Robert on an armchair, and Albert stood up checking the books, trying to find the one they had come to see. Octavia walked up to him.
-That's an impressive collection what you have in here.- he admitted.
-I've always loved reading and my parents have spoiled me a lot in this sense. But what you are looking for is not here. I was reading it last night, let me go take it.
He sat next to Myriam on the sofa and Octavia appeared almost immediately with it.
-It's the history of the city. It's a pretty rare book, the last king that lived in the castle ordered it to be written with all the story to that point. I think neither the Professor nor the university library has it.- she held it in veneration.
-So what does it say about Livia?- Albert inquired.
-Let me find it.- she sat on a chair, left it on the tea table and opened it. She flipped the pages carefully taking care not to break them. -Here we are. “The delicate Livia had the beauty of the sea in her eyes, her hair fiery red. The women from the court were jealous of her, the men desired her, but with all her beauty she still remained the base-born daughter of the bishop. Even all her power could not change that. People whispered that she was a witch on her back, that she had enchanted prince Francis to become his lover. Some say it was true love, but whatever it was, the fate of prince Francis was to marry another. When Francis married his betrothed, Livia entered the convent with the intention to become a nun. Her free spirit and her stubbornness, however, were stronger than her grief, and she left the convent. Even if failed, her stage led her to realize that she could do good in so many more ways and decided to create the Dreamers as a tool of peace. However, when Francis was killed in the hands of her wife, Livia went mad in grief and tried to use the Dreamers for revenge. They revolted against her and she sought refuge with a secret faction of the church. From that day on no one has heard about her again.”- she closed the book.
-Wow, that was... unexpected, in a way, but it stills leaves lots of questions unanswered.- said Albert.
-And it gets us in more trouble than we already were, now we really need to get information on what is really going on in the cathedral. Do you reckon it's time to use or little trick on the sleeve?- asked Robert to Dalia.
-Maybe we should wait a bit more, I would try to look for things that are in plain sight before sneaking in.
Octavia looked at them as if they were crazy. She started laughing when they all started staring at her in silence she stopped.
-So it wasn't a joke? You do have access to the cathedral? Of course, you have....- she said shaking her head.
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