Chapter 37

I look around the room she has taken me to. It must have been her bedroom because there's a wardrobe and a bunkbed in the corner. However, instead of a bottom bed there's a work desk that is currently covered with open manuscripts and books.

In the center of the room is a skylight in the shape of a circle. An oculus. The walls are lined with shelves with hundreds of jars. They're filled with stones, herbs, gems, shells, oils, bugs, and peculiar things like feathers and bubblegum.

Avianna picks up the jar with bubblegum, takes one for herself and then offers me one, "I just really like chewing. And no, that doesn't mean you can get me a chew toy as a thank-you gift."

I roll my eyes and take a piece of gum. As I pop it into my mouth, I feel my laughter die down, "Do you really think I'm not a human?"

"Do you?" I set my bag down and peer up through the skylight as Avianna adds, "Did you read my books?"

"I did," I smile as I hand them back to her, "Though they didn't really answer muc