I shivered as he took another volume from the shelf, this time hurling it at me. I ducked, it slamming into the wall behind me.
He approached almost casually, business shoes tapping against wood floor, blue eyes glinting.
"Come now, Eliza..." he stroked my cheek with his hand. "You were never one to play innocent."
"I am innocent!" my voice was harsh and raspy, flinching from the touch.
He exhaled a minty breath over me. "Little... liar... Liza..." with every word he threw another books onto the flame. There went The Odyssey, Pride and Prejudice, and The Epic of Gilgamesh.
"No..." I whispered.
He put his right foot on my knee. "Tell me where it is."
"I don't know," i replied weakly. His shoe pressed down harder, threatening to dislocate my kneecap.
"I'm patient, Eliza...but not that patient." He kicked my gut, knocking the breath out of me. I clutched the small leather bound volume behind my back. He'd have to pry it from stiff cold fingers.
He smiled, as if he could read my mind. "My dear Lovely-Liza..." he caressed my jawline. "Give me it... then it will all be better..."
I tried not to focus on his fingers and instead clutched the binding more tightly. "I don't have it... I passed it on..."
"To whom?" his eyes burned.
I struggled to find a name, a place, as the leather in my hand begged me to find something good.