Chapter Four

Schatten stood at the window, staring into the cold grey daylight. It was raining, had been for days, and he seemed content to stand there and watch.

“Schatten are ya’ll alright?” Theodore inquired gently, moving to stand next to his quiet friends. Lawrence had joined Schatten by the window an hour ago, but hadn’t moved since.

“Theodore, have you ever considered how much of a gift rain is?” Lawrence started, watching the leaves of a nearby tree quiver in the storm. When no answer came he continued, “When it rains, life is put on hold. The animals hide away in their dens to stay dry, people begrudgingly go outside with their coats and umbrellas but more likely curl up under a blanket on the couch. It allows us, those who loath the sunlight, the warmth, that which has been put on hold, out during the day. Rain brings life to dying plants before drowning them and when it rains a wave of calm permeates every facet of life…”

“Y’all might be admiring it, but y’all have been there long ‘nough.” Theodore shifted, turning to face the two men close to him. “Did y’all forget there’s work that needs doin’? Lawrence, ya’ll have been there for an hour but Schatten’s been there, doing nothin’, for two days! No food, no sleep, nothin’ ‘bout that lil’ lady. Don’t let the rain wash away your daylight opportunity.”

Suddenly Schatten moved. Theodore was right, this was his opportunity for action. Barely taking his eyes off the rain, he grabbed his jacket. The long, black trench coat with blood red silk lining wasn’t built for such a heavy downpour, but it would do.

“Where are you going?” Lawrence asked as Schatten turned from the window for the first time in days. The calmness of the rain had started to seep into his already calm and even voice, making it seem like a deep well.

“To take advantage of the storm.”

“Myrna!” Myrna snapped back to reality when her name was called. The library was not a very busy place, making the workers prone to day-dreaming. The head librarian was a stocky man, short and round with a balding head. “Can you file these for me? They go in the back room.” It was only then that Myrna noticed the heavy box he was carrying.

“Sure.” She grimaced, taking the box from his arms.

To get to the back room one had to pass through an old hallway. It was often dark and musty, hardly anyone went back there. Books that needed repair, were never touched, or just very very unpopular were doomed to life in those shelves, most likely never to see the sun again.

Placing the box on the floor, Myrna kneeled before the shelf of damaged books and took one out of the box. “Aw, who treated you so badly?” The red, hard-bound book’s spine was broken, several clumps of pages coming loose. She opened the cover, peering at the list of people that had checked it out. “No one?” she groaned, the lined paper was blank.

Tenderly, the delicate book was stacked on the shelf as she grabbed another. “Crime an’ poonishment?” Myrna turned quickly, nearly falling onto the shelf. Before her now was the strange German man she had met in the garden. What was he doing here?

“W-why are you here? Who are you?” Despite her attempts to calm down Myrna’s voice shook slightly. The smoothness with which this man moved reminded her of the woman who had appeared in her bedroom. Their eyes held the same look of power, but his were much softer, sadness and wisdom left them looking worn.

“Vy vould someone harm such a vork of genius?” Slowly he crouched, gently taking the book from Myrna’s hand and peering at it.

“Answer my questions!” Anger washed over her features, if he wouldn’t answer her questions then she wanted him gone.

The man looked up from the book, now level with Myrna. His long brown hair, though pulled back, dripped water heavily onto his already drenched trench coat, the fabric pooling around his feet like a puddle. “My name is Schatten. I came to speak to you.” He offered, handing the book back to her.

After a moment Myrna stood carefully. “Shadow in German. Beautiful name.” Schatten smiled and bowed a little, also standing. “Why do you want to speak to me?” Slowly she grabbed another book, stacking it without looking. Suddenly she noticed she had been hiding her right hand from the man, the ring still firmly in place.

Schatten merely smiled, also grabbing a book. “Ven I took you back to your house, I left some things. I am sorry about that night, I did not foresee anyone valking past.” He put the book on the shelf, glancing at Myrna slightly, weighing her reaction.

“You were the one that left the book and the music box… Why? They’ve caused me a lot of trouble, if you’ve come to get them you’re welcome to them.” She caught a look in Schatten’s eyes, a brief wave of coldness and worry, a touch of fear. She continued, sensing he wanted to know more. “A woman was in my room after you left me. I had assumed she was with you, but I guess not?”

“No.” Myrna moved to grab the book Schatten had placed, it was in the wrong pile. He caught sight of the ring around her finger. “She did not take the ring?”

“She tried—“

“You vere not hurt vere you?”

Myrna smiled at his worry, “I appreciate the sentiment, but I can take care of myself.” She placed the book in the correct pile before turning to look at him, he was still dripping. “You know what she is?” When Schatten made no move to answer she continued, “She tried to take the ring, yes. But it wouldn’t come off. I did not tell her where the book and the music box are but she knows I have them. Why did you leave them?”

Schatten seemed preoccupied now, he stared at the stacked books. “Was sie wissen, daß ich nicht?” he whispered, thinking quickly.

“Excuse me?”

Schatten quickly turned to look at Myrna, caught a little off guard. “Nothing… The items are safe? You said the ring vould not come off?” Slowly he extended his hand, silently asking to see it.

“They are. I moved them here, no one will find them.” Carefully Myrna put her hand in his, watching him carefully as he looked over the ring. “Your hands are freezing!” she exclaimed, almost pulling her hand back. Though the warmth of the room had begun to dry him off Schatten’s skin was pale and cold, little warmth in it.

Schatten put his fingers to the metal band, lightly pulling. It didn’t budge. “How interesting… I did not know such a thing vould happen.”

Slowly Myrna pulled her hand back, placing it in her pocket. “Who was that woman? What are those items?”

Schatten frowned, putting his hands in his pockets, “Her name is Yvette.—“ A ray of sunlight worked it’s way across the floor of the room, hitting the rim of Schatten’s coat. Quickly he moved away, glancing out the window at the clearing sky. “I am sorry. I must leave. I vill speak to you again.” The tone of his voice and the expression on his face gave away nothing but now there was something different about the air around him. Quickly he nodded, vanishing on the spot.

Slowly Myrna glanced at the right sitting around her finger, what had she gotten into?