Violet Eden Chapters 04 - Endless

‘After the flood, the bloodline continued in secret. Our family tree is extensive and our role has remained the same – collectors and scribes of knowledge, our lives are extended in order that we can provide as much service as possible. Our purpose is to remain in the background; we never take sides and only document events.’
    ‘That’s why you never wanted to get involved,’ I said, feeling guilty yet again that we had dragged him into our messes.
    Heshrugged. ‘Old habits. But I long ago left my position as patriarch to other, more willing, family members. I am, for all intents and purposes, just a long-lived barman with some regenerative powers that I can sometimes share.’ He glanced at Steph and Onyx.
    Onyx threw back a shot of something and slammed the glass back on the bar. He’d just realised it was Dapper who’d healed him after the exile attack. Steph’s hand went to her face. She’d made the same connection.
    ‘What is this book you speak of?’ Evelyn continued, ignoring everyone’s reaction to Dapper’s revelation and getting back to business.
    ‘Do you know how the Library of Alexandria was destroyed?’ Dapper asked the room.
    ‘No one does exactly,’ Steph chimed in. ‘Some say the fire was started by Julius Caesar.’
    Onyx nodded. ‘And, of course, Mark Antony pilfered thousands of scrolls to woo Cleopatra.’
    Dapper nodded.
    ‘Another theory was that the patriarch Theophilus had the books destroyed when he turned the Temple of Serapis into a Christian church,’ Griffin added.
    ‘Or that it was Caliph Omar, when he took the city of Alexandria and gave instructions for the library’s holdings to be destroyed,’ Dad said.
    When everyone turned to stare at him, he gave a dry laugh. ‘What? I studied history. Omar ruled the contents as “superfluous”.’
    ‘Happy times,’ Spence threw in, earning a stern look from Griffin.
    Dapperwent back to the minibar and poured himself a long drink. ‘And over what period were all of these events?’
    ‘Six, seven hundred years?’ Steph answered quickly.
    Dapper gave her a smile. That was Steph – brainy with the best of them and not about to be outdone.
    ‘The truth is that the patriarchs lost faith in the human world. Humans could no longer be trusted to keep this knowledge – and in particular, items of power – safe and sacred. At the time of each of these events the patriarchs used the distraction to remove the scrolls, starting with the most important and ending with the least. Over time, they converted them into books and translated them when possible – the previous translation always destroyed afterwards. There is only ever one version of any text in existence.’
    ‘Why?’ Lincoln asked.
    ‘Patriarchs are untrusting people. Knowledge is power.’
    Lincoln nodded. Enough said.
    I eyed Onyx – who hadn’t said anything since Dapper’s disclosure.
    ‘You knew, didn’t you?’ I asked him. I could see Dapper’s words were not a surprise to him.
    He smiled broadly. ‘Of course, rainbow. I’ve been around a very long time.’
    Dapper snorted. ‘And I told him last week.’
    Typical.
    ‘Descendants of the bloodline spend a minimum of one hundred years in service, protecting the knowledge. I did my stint beneath the ground, living with three others of my line, guarding one of the prime knowledge wells in Egypt. It gave me plenty of reading time.’
    ‘Andthat is where this book you speak of is now?’ Evelyn asked, leaning forward.
    ‘No. The well was discovered and destroyed. We saved what we could and decided it would be better to separate and divide up what remained. Over the years I’ve returned most of the books to those more devoted to the cause than I ever was, but …’ the corner of his mouth lifted. ‘Let’s just say that everyone likes to be prepared for a rainy day.’
    ‘Where is it then?’ Evelyn snapped.
    Dapper gave her an unfriendly look. I understood completely.
    ‘You’re all going to have to move back from that wall,’ he said.
    We all stood and shuffled back – Lincoln moving closer to me. Protectively.
    Dapper closed his eyes and started to say something quietly – chanting.
    ‘Gaelic,’ Lincoln whispered in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
    After a minute or two, the living-room wall started to move towards us, the mantelpiece splitting in the middle, opening up like two massive doors.
    ‘Open sesame,’ Zoe said, her voice filled with awe.
    Spence was grinning