Chapter 5 - wanted: hottie strategist guy

Klaus felt an foreboding chill up his spine as he climbed down from a high shelf in the Great Library of Greenhill. Suddenly feeling paranoid, he hugged his book tightly against his chest. He cast a furtive glance down the aisle and saw that he was all alone. Dead silence and the musty smell of books filled the air.

It was rare for Klaus to feel ill at ease here in the library. Shu had sent him to Greenhill to continue his studies after the war ended. Here it was peaceful and quiet, and he could concentrate completely on his research. Today, however, he felt undeniably spooked for some reason.

His worst fears were confirmed when he found himself suddenly staring into the predatory grin of a white bat. "S-S-Sierra?"

The bat metamorphosed into a slender albino woman with bad hair, still grinning predatorily. "Hello darling," she said, voice as rich and sweet as honey. She coquettishly toyed with one of the blade-like silver locks that hung to her shoulders.

"Uh . . .h-how nice to see you again. W-what are you doing here?" he stammered, discreetly inching away from her.

Stepping discomfortingly close to him, the vampiress clamped her alabaster hands on Klaus's trembling shoulders. Her eyes narrowed. She ran her tongue over her fangs. "Kiss me."

Klaus's book hit the floor with a loud thwap and a flutter of pages as he bolted.

Sierra growled grumpily. "Not again!"

. . . . .

Trailing her fingertips lightly on the row of embossed spines, Apple walked down an aisle in the Great Library of Greenhill. Once she might have been interested in the contents of these books, but she had more important matters on her mind.

Emelia said Klaus would be here. Where is he?

Apple was a bit taken aback by the shrieking blur that tore across the hall. Another blur followed shortly thereafter. Her glasses were dislodged by the sonic boom that ensued in its wake.

. . . . .

Klaus looked frantically to his right and left for an exit, but it appeared that he'd come to a dead end in the labyrinth of bookshelves. He heard the ominous flapping of bat wings behind him.

He could imagine the headlines tomorrow - Bloodless Corpse Found In Mythology Section.

Suddenly the shelves directly in front of him swung open from the wall with a whining squeak. A small hand and part of a yellow sleeve emerged from behind it, beckoning.

There are no dead ends in Greenhill.

Not one to second-guess a stroke of good fortune in a crisis, Klaus eagerly dived into the abyssal black passageway.

. . . . .

"You saved me! Thank you so much, I. . ."

"Ouch!!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I pushed you, didn't I? Are you all right? So sorry . . ."

"I'm okay. I just bumped my head. Hang on just a second while I get a torch lit. Don't move."

"Um, may I be so bold as to ask who you are and why you're lurking here in a secret passage?"

"Am I really lurking?"

". . . . I think so. . . How long have you been lying in wait here?"

"Not that long."

"Oh, I guess it's not proper lurking then."

A match blazed.

"Apple? Is that you?"

Apple wondered how he could see her, as he always seemed to have his eyes closed. "Yes, Klaus. I came to Greenhill to ask you for a very important favor."

"What might that be?"

"I'd like you to consider a position as strategist for the Toran Republic."

"Why do you need my help? What about Shu? I thought you and he were . . ."

Apple's face screwed up like she'd tasted something sour. "SHU IS A @#$%ING ASSHOLE!! I don't care how gorgeous he is, I'm not going to put up with his condescending bullshit! Do you have any idea what I had to go through to get him to help me the first time?!"

Klaus judiciously decided not to pursue the subject.

Apple wrenched a torch from a wall sconce dripping with cobwebs. As it caught fire from her match the light in the corridor increased exponentially, revealing the shadowy form of a surly vampiress.

Apple and Klaus chorused a horrified shriek.

Sierra pointed angrily at Apple. "Why you little . . . !! You think you can take my darling away from me?!"

Apple quickly regained her composure. She pushed her glasses up on the bridge of her nose and faced Sierra. "Yes," she said flatly. "Klaus is a big boy. He can make up his own mind." She gestured to Klaus, who was curled into a fetal position behind her and whimpering.

"I'll do anything you want, just get me away from that maneating nocturnal hussy!"

Sierra crossed her arms indignantly. ". . . . . . . . . . I'll let you have him on one condition."

Apple raised an eyebrow. "And what might that be?"

"You must find me a new boyfriend that's just as cute as Klaus is!!!"

"Heh. Do you prefer blonde or brunette?"