In books we trust

“Oh my god, look at this gorgeous bookstore! Isn't it the best thing you have ever seen?” squealed Riley, grabbing Anika's arm in glee. “Come on, Nikki, we HAVE to go in!”

Not bothering to wait for her friend's response, Riley dragged Anika bodily into the store. Sighing so deeply it seemed to come from the depths of her soul, Anika followed her oldest friend into the depths of the ‘gorgeous’ store. To be honest, it WAS gorgeous - with light flooding through the glass in the giant bay windows on either side of the entrance, double-height ceilings and books everywhere.

Then again, this was Edinburgh and there has been no shortage of gorgeous vistas since they landed. Granted, London wasn't exactly gasping for a pretty view or two but there was something about the Scottish city that grabbed her by the throat. Riley of course fell in love with the place the minute they got out of the train and stepped off the Waverly Steps onto Princes Street.

“Riley, please do not start grabbing books - we are here just for the weekend and cannot possibly carry extra bags of shopping back with us!” Anika warned, though she knew her friend wasn't paying her a blind bit of notice.

Old book smell was Riley's crack and she would never be able to pass a used book store without popping and rummaging through the stock. Working part-time at the University library while actually studying Library Science wasn't enough for her to get her fix. Anika knew she had to be the stern voice of reason - as always - and it wasn't as if her friend left her credit card smoking at Sephora! But they had long run out of space in their lodgings and their roommate Rakesh threatened to drop a box of books at the thrift store the next time Riley hauled in more books.

In the span of time Anika took to look around the store - it was definitely pretty - Riley had dived into the basement, eager to come across a treasure. The dank smell and the dust motes dancing in the air were enough to make Anika hold on to her inhaler and move towards a sunnier corner of the main floor.

That was how she found herself in the Manga section.

Shelf after shelf was filled with colourful graphic novels with their sharp drawings and bold script. Her younger sister was a huge Manga fan, so Anika recognised a few characters.

“Hmm, maybe I could pick up something for the ol’ cretin - though she might have these already, if they are any good.” Anika muttered to herself.

Jiujitsu Kaizen! screamed the one by her hand. Even Anika knew better than to buy one of that - being the fanatic that her sister was, there was nothing she wouldn't have already.

Anika moved further along the shelf. Less graphic novels, more foreign fiction it looked like. Still Japanese, though. The picture on the cover reminded Anika of the forest from the Natalie Dormer movie and she picked it up. Gently thumbing the pages open, she looked at a colourful page with bold kanji lettering and a colourful painting of a clearing in a forest. A short but startlingly red tree stood in the middle of a pond, with its frond like leaves spread across two pages, feathery and ethereal. Anika didn't know what trick of the light was there that made the reflection of the tree seem like the water was rippling.

Slightly spooked, she quickly turned the next couple of pages.

And that was when something dropped out, and fell on her foot. Anika glanced down. It was a thick yellow paper, from the looks of it, folded twice. She bent down to retrieve it. Opening it, she was disappointed to see a blank page.

What did you expect, Anika? The Marauder's Map?

Even as she turned the parchment one way and another, she noticed something on the bottom edge. Bringing it closer to her eyes, Anika squinted at the faded brown marking. What was it - a Japanese alphabet?

Even as her warm breath fell on the page, more characters began to appear. Whoa, not freaky at all, that! More than a bit spooked but determined to get to the bottom of it, Anika blew gently on the page. Fine lines began to appear. Then a square block or two. She blew again, to see more images show up. After the third time, she could make it out to be some sort of a map.

Damn, this has to be the most exciting thing to happen to her! Maybe this is the Universe paying her back for all those missed sleepovers and helicopter parents hovering over her. What will this secret map lead to?

In a sea of black and white, one block shone brightly green. Though none of the squiggles were marked, Anika guessed it to be the map of a place. Was the green building the one she had to find? A treasure hunt? Oh why didn't she pay more attention when her sister blathered about JJK this and Sanyeo that? Maybe that would have helped her figure this puzzle out.

Anika turned the parchment - there was a big dot on the reverse of the green blob! A shot of adrenaline burst through her. She blew all over this side of the parchment, hoping the same trick worked a second time.

She let out a Riley-like squeal when small lettering started appearing like magic. And weirdly, it looked like English?

Anika squinted at the sheet, bringing it closer to her.

"Dear Intrepid Explorer, you are formally invited...to the grand opening of..."

Oh. My. God! A secret invitation in an old book.... does it get more magical than that?

Anika hurriedly blew on the paper again to unearth more lettering. Grand opening where? Fighting visions of her wearing dark robes and following a mysterious lady down narrow passageways, Anika came to the rest of the text:

“...Peking Palace. For the best dimsum in town, find us at Chamber Street.”