What harm was it going to do? It wasn't like Ami was forbidden to read anything from that area. Even if there had been some silly restriction on the foreign works, no one would object to her using them, as often as she was there. Her reputation did precede her, in a sense, and her taste in works was well regarded. If Ami ever needed a book, the staff would be certain it was for very good reason, and happily oblige her.
Of course, had she known her reputation was on the verge of being forever changed, she would have let this book go. Ami did no such thing, and instead let curiosity spurn her onward until she'd read the entire strange passage aloud. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but she felt compelled to test out her spoken enunciation of the Latin phrase rather than mentally voice it.
Then the lights in the library began to flicker. It was a momentary occurrence, almost subliminal, but the sort that was beyond ignoring once observed. She hadn't imagined it. Even though the lights immediately went back to normal, she couldn't get it out of her mind. The timing of that had been, well, creepy.
Ami was getting the hint. It was time to put the book away and find something else, or maybe just go home altogether. Then just as she reached for the book, she felt an electric tingling sensation shoot through her. From her fingertips to her ears and straight down to her toes, it coursed through her like a rippling aftershock.
"W, what on earth..." Then before her eyes, the Latin phrase began to change. As if someone, or something, had taken the ink on the page and molded it to make other characters like one would a batch of clay. Soon enough it was Japanese, and Ami understood it perfectly. As her eyes widened, she realized with growing horror that those had been the very words she'd just spoken... Latin or not.
When Ami spoke them aloud again, her voice was even softer, and far, far shakier. 'In p-....penance... all my... earthly possessions... must be f, forsaken...for the day..." Penance? Earthly possessions? Was it some kind of chastising punishment for sinners? It made no sense to Ami... but when her hands began to move from the table and reach for her own collar, the meaning of them became far clearer.
Her fingers were soon undoing the collar of her blouse. They were as literal as could be. "No, no... I, I can't stop myself...!" Ami whispered in a somewhat louder tone as fear began to settle in. How was the book compelling her? How could she stop it?! Ami had no idea, but if she didn't do something, she was going to undress right then and there!
There was still the book. Maybe she could undo this horrible effect by using another passage... or maybe that would make it worse. She could simply hide, and try to get a hold of herself,or even ask for help. Surely someone would understand Ami would never do that of her own accord!
By the time Ami felt her top button coming apart, she made her choice. Ami decided to...
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