Emily hadnât really thought about anyone being there. It was too late at night and no one roamed the back of the bookshelves like she did. Peering around in the dust for a first edition or signed copy missed by Sharon, the bookstore owner. Sharon was patient with her long shopping expeditions. She was an odd woman with a glimmer in her eye that said she knew more about Emily living in a world of fantasy than Emily herself did. But then thatâs the way it had always been.
It was nearly after 10:00 when Emily stumbled on the translated mythology, with drawn pictures full of satyrs, centaurs and other half human half man creatures sheâd forgotten about from her days in college courses where the dull professor had droned on and on bringing no life to the subject. She studied the pages carefully, pushing her glasses back up on her nose and adjusting her long braid back over her shoulder. Sharon called out to her âEm, Iâm just going to lock up, will you close the back door behind you as you go out?â
âSure, Sharon, I found one I think I want, can I take it home?â The owner called out her agreement and Emily bolted out the back door, the book clutched under her coat.
She made it to her apartment in record time, fixing a quick cup of tea and then grabbing the book again. While sheâd changed into her favorite silk kimono sheâd found it opened up by her dresser. Puzzled sheâd looked at it again, it was turned to an illustration of centaur, half horse half man. Heâd been holding a woman in front of him, hand under her arms while she struggled, a minotaur bent over her nakedness grazing her breasts with a long tongue while several smaller satyrs watched the scene, their faces masks of lust.
Emily had been shocked at the turn of the pictures. It was obviously some kind of mythological erotica. She hadnât planned to read it but...now that she had it home she wondered what else could be there. She looked at the picture again as she picked the book up and moved to her bed. The womanâs face was an image of fear and something else, maybe arousal.