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nBarron sat outside, in the patio where Belle had placed him to dry after the number of times the vampiress had dipped him in and out of the tub of hot water. Never, never in his life had he been treated like this! The humiliation! If he could, he would have taken this girl's soul away back to the gates and told her what it felt like to dip them in hot fire but the fourth Grim was powerless. Stuck in the stuffed toy because of the reaper who behaved as a butler in this mansion, there was nothing he could do and he dreaded the thought of being stuck in this cotton bag for years, decades or only the reaper knew how long he had decided to attach him in the doll.

nIt made Barron question if the doll was burnt, would it mean his soul would release to go back to the gates? Because in truth, he was a reaper, a person who was dead.

nThe fourth Grim decided he had to get close to the fire but with no movement possibly he could only hope now someone would throw this ragged little thing he was in, in the fire. The girl had heard him last time which made him wonder if there was a way he could make her listen to him.

nMaybe she would freak out and think the stuffed toy was haunted and was under some kind of witchery. Barron nodded to himself in his mind.

nBarron was used to sitting idle most of the time therefore this wasn't anything new to him. He could see the apple orchard that wasn't too far from his vision and his mouth watered. Only if he could have a bite from the fruit right now.

nWhile Barron was sunbathing or trying to wind bathe as there was no sun to dry himself up out on the patio, Belle had dressed herself to head to the local library so that she could see if she could learn something more than from the butler. Though Lucas would have given her tidbits of information, Belle wanted more than that and also another reason was her mother.

nFor the past two to three days, it seemed like every time Belle spoke to the butler her mother would be there asking for her that made it obvious that her mother was trying to keep her away from Lucas. Her mother might have had good intentions but Belle didn't agree with what her mother thought. Though Belle grew fonder with every day that passed when it came to Lucas, it wasn't the same when it came to him.

nSomewhere, something told her that he had an inclination of how she felt but her ever stoic butler barely reacted to anything. His demeanor was always patient, a subtle smile of politeness that only fell when it came to talking to the servants.

nBelle who was dressed went to the patio and pressed Mr. Fluffs' belly to see if he had dried up but it was still wet.

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"I will be back soon, Mr. Fluffs. Dry up quick, okay?

" Belle looked at her rabbit and left Barron who had woken up from his nap because of the poke.

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"Where are you going?

" asked Barron who was bored,

"I keep forgetting people can't hear me,

" he grumbled under his breath.

nWhen Belle reached the old town of Bonelake which was one of the first few towns that were built, she hopped out of the carriage and went in search of the library. The library wasn't wide but it was definitely tall and long from the front to the back. Stepping inside the library, she saw the tall racks that were placed on either side of her with books in it.

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"Can I help you, dear?

" came a voice from her right and Belle noticed it was a woman librarian who was looking after this place. The woman was shorter than her by at least three-four inches. The woman's black hair was tied in a low bun and she wore a grey dress that went past her knees.

nBelle turned around to give the woman a smile,

"Hello. I was looking for historical books,

" she doubted the woman would know what the shadows and the land of the dead was.

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"Let me take you there,

" the woman offered with a warm smile on her face and Belle followed her,

"Is there something particular you are looking for?

" asked the woman as they walked past the tall racks and there was a sense of curiosity in the librarian's voice as she asked.

nBelle pursed her lips before saying,

"Maybe the book of the first Lord of Bonelake.

"

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"Of course,

" the woman's shoes clicked loudly across the floor while Belle's own shoes were lighter on the ground,

"These are the books that we have on the historical records.

"

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"Do you think there are diaries of the Lords or people from years ago?

" On this question, the librarian looked even more curious right now.

nThe woman looked at Belle with her brown human eyes to say,

"People weren't very well versed when it came to reading and writing, dear. The ones that belong to the Lords are taken away by the council and locked away somewhere we ordinary people cannot reach,

" Belle nodded understandingly,

"Let me get you a book that might interest you,

" said the woman and she looked at the shelf before her hand reached for a book.

nBelle was happy for the help even though it wasn't what she was going to read. When the librarian moved her hand in front of Belle, the young vampiress noticed the dirty nails of the woman that had turned black and rotten. Her eyebrows drew to a frown and she looked away not wanting to seem rude.

nAt the same time, her eyes sneakily went to look back at the woman's fingers. She had never seen anything like that before.

nPeople who were poor had it rough but the librarian didn't look like she was a poor woman.

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