A bit of an intro, but also open
Who: Breeze Tavern and OPEN What: Shelving the books When: night Where: Library Rating: G for now Status: Incomplete
"But you love books, then,” Aunt Queen was saying. I had to listen.
“Oh, yes,” Lestat said. “Sometimes they are the only thing that keeps me alive.”
“What a strange thing to say at your age,” she laughed.
“No, but one can feel desperate at any age, don’t you think? The young are eternally desperate,” he said frankly. “And books, they offer one hope —- that a whole universe might open up from between the covers, and falling into that new universe, one is saved.
Breeze Tavern had no favorite authors, the same way she had no favorite people. But damn if that Rice woman didn't come close. She closed the hardcover, hearing the cellophane cover crinkle on the binding as she did. She put in on the shelf, between other fictional works by the author and turned back to her shelving cart, ready to push it onto the next row.
Most university libraries were open late, leaving it available for late night study sessions and procrastinators finishing up lengthy papers. But Alden's library never closed. It couldn't, as it would be discriminatory towards their part of the student body that was strictly nocturnal, like vampires.
Which is what Breeze was.
She was technically the head librarian, and though she could work during the day, it was easier for her to take the night shift. She liked the extra quiet and the work load wasn't as heavy, meaning there was no need for extra help. Those that did assist, usually called on her anyway. She knew the library well and had had almost two centuries of reading under her belt to know most the material.
In life, Breeze had worked under her father at his tavern in Ireland and had grown up poor and ignorant. One of the first things she'd been able to do when she'd turned was learn to read, and she'd had a passionate love affair ever since.
Which was fine, since that's all she had an affair with lately. Bar patrons back in the 1700's had clouded her judgment of men for years and she spent a long time reveling in being a viscous killer of them, seduce and destroy. Though her bond with her childe in the 1980's had been more sisterly, she'd be lying if she said the two hadn't experimented a little. That had ended badly and her child was long dead. There had been a brief but dizzying romance with an ancient vampire, who had lavished her with expensive gifts and exotic experiences. But that too ended badly when he'd abandoned her, leaving her her gifts and a place to live, but not a word of explanation.
So romance? No longer high on Breeze's to do list.
And now she was in a college town, head librarian, and a counselor of Naur house. The university had felt her qualified to deal out guidance, due to a long history and her now stable demeanor.
Her dark mouth smiled. Breeze Tavern: murderous vampire turned stable guidance counselor.