The Book of Life

Created for the Big Short story contest. 1,000 word limit.

         Jeanna tiptoed through the silent dark halls of the enchanted castle.  All was quiet and still and the coldness fell over everything like a blanket.  Jeanna shivered.  This was the first chance she had had since coming to the wizard's school to explore the castle by herself.  It was hard to believe, but it had been only two days ago when the wizard had found her in the village.  He had told her that she had power, hidden talent for magic, and that he had come to give her the opportunity of a lifetime.  He would give her a place to sleep, meals to eat, a life where she would not have to fight to survive each day.  He would teach her how to harness her magic, which she had not even known existed. Jeanna, the abandoned child, would finally have a place to belong.

         Jeanna, however, did not care about learning magic, or even about the food and bed.  Her life was difficult, and food was almost always scarce, but she had survived against all odds for years, and she knew that if she had to, she could do so again.  No, what drew her to the castle was not the temptation of tangible luxuries; it was the whispered tales about the book of life, possessed and coveted by the same wizard who had come to Jeanna.

         The book of life was said to contain the names of all those ever born, along with the stories of their lives.  It was an extremely dangerous book, spelled and protected against any with evil intent, allowing only a chosen few to read it.  It was this book that Jeanna found so irresistible, the reason, in fact that she agreed to come to the wizard's school.  She hoped, despite the illogicality of the idea, that she would be able to find the book and that it would be able to tell her who her parents were and what happened to them. 

         When Jeanna had been a toddler, she had been abandoned, left only with a few hazy memories of a woman who had sung to her and a man who had swung her around and around while she giggled with glee.  She could only assume that these people were her parents, and she found it hard to believe that they had abandoned her of their own free will.  And so, Jeanna found herself on a desperate and most likely fruitless search for the book of life, her one last chance for answers.

         Jeanna crept along the corridor, quietly opening and closing the doors she passed. She had earlier decided that the book was most likely in a library, where it would blend in with other books.  She had no idea where the library might be, so she decided on a simple plan of trial and error.  The library had to be behind one of these doors and she would try as many as she could before morning.

         Later that night, when the moon was at the peak of the sky, Jeanna found what she was looking for.  The door had swung open without a sound, revealing a treasure.  The room contained thousands upon thousands of books, with shelves reaching up as far as Jeanna could see.  The dome shaped roof was made of glass, and the moon shone down brightly, giving the library a ghostly air.

         For a moment, the impossibility of her task, pressed down on Jeanna. It would take years to look through all of these books. Who knew if the book of life was even here, or if it had existed in the first place? No, Jeanna thought.  She must not think like that.  If she did not find the book tonight, she would look again the next night, and the night after that.

         She began to roam through the shelves, randomly selecting books and glancing at the strange titles as she passed by.  She had just paused for a moment to rest, leaning against a bookcase, when she heard a thump from behind her.  A book had fallen off of its shelf, landing open on the floor.  The moonlight illuminated it and it seemed to Jeanna that the tendrils of silver light began to move and twist as she walked nearer.  As soon as she picked the book up, she knew what it was.  The faded gold letters on its green cover gleamed faintly, spelling out The Book of Life. She sat down heavily and closed her eyes, hardly daring to believe that she had actually found it, or rather, that it had found her.

         Why is it that you have come, child? A deep ancient voice asked.  Jeanna's eyes flew open, and she stared down at the book in her hands.  She was certain that the voice had not spoken aloud.

         I have come to find out the truth about my parents, she answered hesitantly in her mind.  She could sense a presence radiating from the book and wondered if it was crazy to assume that the book was speaking to her.  Then again, this was an ancient, fabled, and very magical book she was holding.

         The feeling of someone in her mind increased and Jeanna sensed that the being was debating something.

         Do you truly want to know? Can you handle the truth, whatever it may be?
 
         I can, she answered firmly, banishing all doubts.

         Then I will show you.

         Jeanna sat as still as a statue as images played across the back of her closed eyelids. She saw her parents, knew their names, and heard their voices.  She saw the few happy years she had had with them and saw the day they were kidnapped and she was left alone.  She watched as they were taken across the sea and imprisoned in a fearful fortress, guarded by magic far more powerful than she had ever imagined.  Jeanna saw it all and the images imprinted themselves on her heart.  When she finally opened her eyes, it was with a new determination.

         Their story is not yet finished, whispered the voice.  You can determine the ending.  But if you try to rescue them too soon, you will fail, and they will die.  Jeanna nodded.

         Thank you, she said simply, and closed the book.

         She would stay here then, at the wizard's castle, at least for a little while.  She would learn how to use her magic and would become strong enough to survive a journey to the fortress.  When she was ready, Jeanna would follow her long-lost parents across the ocean and bring them home.



Word Count: 1,096