Immortal || Chapter 12

It wasn't too long after visiting Johnathan, I headed towards the library while I still had daylight.

I was glad to see the library was still open. Then again, I'm sure it closed at 6pm and it was only 1pm. So, I had my work ahead of me. Going inside I came up to the front desk where a middle-aged woman sat reading the newspaper. She wore glasses that rested on her nose with a chain around her neck in case they fell.

She glanced up at me with a smile. "Hello, Natalie. Can I help you with something?"

"I'm here for research on Johnathan Catcher," I said, getting straight to the point.

She looked at me confused but typed in the computer in front of her. She was biting the end of her pencil as she scrolled through the computer. Her concentration is deep.

I tapped my foot impatiently. I hoped this wasn't going to take all day.

"Ah hah. Here we are," she said, turning the computer enough for me to see. "There's some books on the Catcher Manor back in the old days upstairs if you want to take a look. They're under Town History in column B6."

I nodded and thanked her and made my way up the spiral staircase to the second floor. How many libraries do you know that are two stories?

It was quiet up here. Not a soul was spotted. I guess cause up here it was all town history. Who knew the Catcher family would be a part of town history? Then again, they seemed to be a big deal and the richest family around back in the day before I was even born.

I searched column B6 till I found a large thick book about the history of Catcher Manor.

The original manor had burned down in a fire.

"Interesting..."I muttered to myself.

"Mr. Catcher was a well-known man for his money and wealth. Not to mention his love for others. People looked to him for guidance in times of need. He was a very generous man with a lot of secrets. Rumors say he was hiding vampires in his cellar. Keeping them safe from The Counsel."

Vampires? There's no such thing as vampires. I lifted my eyebrow and continued to read. "It was said that a few of The Council members wanted to kill all the vampires. It was also said that one of the vampires wasn't too happy about this and the fact that Mr. Catcher was taking too long to think of a plan to save them. So, taking matters into his own hands, the vampire known as Jacob murdered Mr. Catcher and Mr. Catcher's son, Johnathan Catcher. After council member, Richard Chandler, infiltrated the manor killing all the vampires."

As soon as I turned the page, a picture met my eyes. A picture of Mr. Catcher and... Johnathan?

This couldn't be the Johnathan I knew now. He was dead... right?

Just then I heard a noise coming from somewhere. It sounded like it came from the other side of the bookshelf. I slowly closed the book and stood up, making my way to the end of the bookshelf, hoping against hope nothing would jump out and scare me.

"Hello? Anyone up here?" I whispered loud enough to be heard.

Peeking around the corner I saw no one. I sighed and went back to where I was sitting. I gasped. The book I was reading was gone.

Something weird was going on here. Was the Johnathan Catcher I saw in that picture the Johnathan Catcher I know now? Or is it all just a coincidence and the boy in the photo is an ancestor? I couldn't wrap my brain around it.

I looked amongst the many books that were surrounding the book I was looking at and found another on the Catcher family. Opening it I saw more pictures of the manor and family. Hugging the book tightly, I went downstairs.

The lady at the desk was still there, her nose in the newspaper.

"I wish to check this book out," I said, setting it down on the desk and shoving it towards her.

She glanced at me from the top of her glasses and nodded. "Find everything okay?"

I nod as she scans the book and prints out a receipt and hands it to me. With a smile I walked out of the library. Everything I've found out so far only left me baffled. Should I bring this to Johnathan's attention and see if he will tell me anything? Or should I wait and find out more? And what about his uncle? Where does he fit into all of this? I didn't see him in the family photo in the book that just disappeared. And perhaps someone took that book in fear of me finding out the truth. And if that is Johnathan, could he perhaps actually be a... vampire? Are they real?

I shook my head. This was making me dizzy. Vampires aren't real... are they?

I was in such deep thought I didn't realize I was pulling into my driveway. Grabbing the book, I went to my room. My mind is still going everywhere. Thinking back to the times Johnathan appeared out of nowhere. And his eyes... the red tint to them.

I pull out my laptop and turn it on, the book opens to the first page with a picture of the family. Typing in everything I could think of about vampires, nothing seemed to fit into everything I've witnessed Johnathan was able to do. His hearing was good. He didn't really come out during the day. (Thinking of the time he skipped school because it was daylight and the sun was out). I remember him acting strange that night he was walking me home from the movies. Then he just ran off.

Nothing made sense. What was going on? Who is Johnathan Catcher, really?