Page 78 of The Last Kelpie

“But they're not all like this. The older books contain nice stories. Some get a little mischievous, sure, but nothing terrible like these.” I motioned at the modern books.

“Because someone else wrote these books. The authors of the older books weren't trying to destroy myths, but this bastard wants us all to fade.” Áedán glared at the stack of modern books.

“Wait, what's that?” I pulled out the wooden chair tucked in against the desk. On its seat was another modern book.

I picked it up. As with all the others, it bore the spiral on its cover. The first page bore the word “Kelpie” at the top. Beneath it were the changes I'd noted, from single words to the complete alteration. But it didn't have a fade date on it.

“It's the kelpie myth, the general story of your people.” I looked up at the shelves, baffled. “But I didn't find any books on your family or clan members. Why would they single you out?”

“Because the rest of my people faded without a fuss,” Áedán growled. “I'm the tenacious one, clinging to life.”

“So they had to target you directly,” I whispered. Then I straightened my shoulders, clipped my torch to my jeans, and shoved the modern books into my backpack, including the kelpie book and Áedán's. “We need to get these to the Velasca. All of them.”

“There are dozens.” Áedán was already pulling manuscripts from the shelves and filling his pack. “We cannae carry them all.”

“Then we make multiple trips. But we're not leaving them here.”

We worked in silence, filling our backpacks, and then I took them to our rental car while Áedán guarded the door. A few people milled about, and we couldn't allow one of them to find the scriptorium. It took over an hour since I had to stroll casually to avoid attention, and Áedán had to shut the door whenever people came into the workshop.

Finally, we were both in the car with a trunk full of books. I started the rental car and drove us away from Skara Brae. We were going to have to stop and purchase some suitcases to transport the books. But at least no one would find them now.

“I still cannae remember what's true.” Áedán stared out the window. “The fisherman—I have both memories, and they both feel real.”

“The real one will destroy the lies.” I hoped I was right. “Once we're away from this place. I'm sure you'll recover.”

“What if I dinnae?” He looked over me. “What if it's corrupted me too thoroughly? What if I cannae tell the difference between who I was and who they say I am?”

“Then I'll remember for you, just as I promised.” I took his hand. “I'll remember every story you told me. Every truth. And I'll keep telling you until you believe it again.”

His fingers tightened around mine.

When we stopped to buy suitcases, I called Julian.

He answered on the second ring. “Ethan. Did you find the spiral?”

“Yes.” I glanced at Áedán, who was outside the car, leaning against the hood. “It was a key. Áedán figured out how to unlock it, and a portion of the wall opened. There was a staircase that led to an underground room full of books and scrolls. There were ancient books there, full of stories about myths. Good stories, all with the spiral on their covers. And each one ended with that sentence about truth. But then we found modern books, all written by the same person, telling terrible stories about myths that also ended with that sentence. And those myths have all faded. Someone noted the date of their fading.”

“Dear God,” Julian whispered. “How many?”

“Eight modern books, over sixty old ones, and twenty-six scrolls.” I paused. “One of the new books is about kelpies, and another is about Áedán. Not his myth, but his life. It's unfinished and contains several stories from Áedán's past. I recognized some that he'd told me. They were all altered. He read a few of them, and now he can't distinguish between his real memories and the false ones in that book.”

“Don't let him read any more. Not a single word.”

“I won't. I took the book away from him.”

“Come home, Ethan. Bring all of it. Every book you found. Every scroll. Caelum needs to see them.”

“We've already got them in the car. We've just stopped to buy some suitcases.”

Julian's voice came through the phone strained. “How is he?”

I looked at Áedán again. He hadn't moved. Just stood there with the wind tearing at his clothes and hair, staring at the shop we'd stopped at.

“Scared,” I whispered.

“Tell him the truth over and over, Ethan. And get him back to us as fast as you can.”

“I will.” I hung up, got out, and walked over to Áedán.