Page 9

The Ogre Consulate worked with us, trying to rehabilitate addicted ogres. It was an uphill battle. Fairy law allowed the Ogre Consulate to oversee the process, only stepping in when rehabilitation failed. It was a depressing situation.

Having given the reason she’d sought me out instead of Keir, Elvira quieted, simply passing the time in my shaded canopy. Finally, Elvira said, “He’s not what I expected. The will-o’-the-wisp,” she added just to make certain we were on the same page. “He was not easily intimidated.” Elvira sounded distinctly disappointed by that fact. “I thought he’d be greedier.”

I silently huffed. I’d yet to meet a will-o’-the-wisp that wasn’t greedy and could hardly believe Grayson was different from the others.

“I’m not saying he’s not greedy at all, just that…I’m not really certain.” She quieted again before adding, “I think there’s more going on with him.” I shook my leaves, silently asking Elvira to explain. “He didn’t know I was there, at least at first. Grayson was silent and he appeared to be struggling. I’ve seen will-o’-the-wisps in action before. It’s been a while. I was just a child when Grandpa… Well, the particulars aren’t important.”

I did not believe that for a moment. Tabitha was the only one who truly knew Elvira’s history, and I sometimes wondered if our medium knew all of it. I got the impression Elvira’s past was hers and hers alone.

“What I do remember is that the will-o’-the-wisp Grandpa used quickly turned into flame. They were different than Grayson. The will-o’-the-wisp Grandpa used was burning flame, not cool like Grayson. Maybe there’s a difference between the two.”

The strain in Elvira’s voice let me know she didn’t really believe that.

“There was barely a blue flicker along his wrists and hands. And even with that, Grayson’s skin paled and there was a fine sheen of sweat on his brow. Something isn’t right, Martin.”

My branches drooped as I considered Elvira’s concerns. I’d known the ghost for over two hundred years. Elvira was levelheaded and very observant. I trusted her opinion and concerns. Had Keir hired a defective will-o’-the-wisp? Was there even such a thing? Most likely it was possible, and maybe defective wasn’t the right word to use. Maybe Grayson Delarue didn’t have the juice to do what was needed.

As if reading my mind, Elvira said, “Grayson came highly recommended. I was there when Keir spoke with Tabitha about it. It wouldn’t be like Keir not to thoroughly investigate Grayson before contacting him.”

Per usual, Elvira was right. Keir might be exhausted, but with something like this, he’d still be meticulous. So, if it wasn’t a lack of skill, then what was it? What had Elvira questioning Grayson’s capabilities?

With a huff, Elvira dissipated and reappeared in my canopy. She swung her legs over my branch, crisscrossing them back and forth like a child might. “Perhaps I’m making more of it than is there.”

I shook my branches in the negative, making Elvira laugh. She patted my branch, her hand sinking into my bark. “I appreciate your confidence and loyalty. Still, I’ve been known to be wrong before.” Elvira’s expression blanked. “Very wrong.” Her eyes remained distant until a shiver wracked her body, hazing her edges. With a shake, she came back to herself. “I suppose time will tell, as it always does.” She stood, a sure sign she was ready to leave. Before she fully dissipated, Elvira said, “Oh, by the way, I saw Henry headed in Grayson’s direction right before I left.”

My limbs fell, touching the ground. Wonderful, just what we needed. I suppose it had been too much to hope that our resident house dweller would keep to himself. There was no telling what the two of them would get up to together. Gaia knew Henry and Hikaru had been thick as thieves when the annoying kitsune had been in residence.

Knowing Keir would be busy for the foreseeable future, I took it upon myself to check on Grayson Delarue. He wasn’t difficult to find. If Elvira hadn’t filled me in, I would have been surprised the will-o’-the-wisp was where we’d left him.

The central corridor was halfway appropriately named. While it was central, it was more of a room than an actual corridor. The room had doors leading off in nearly every direction, acting like a central hub and often turning into a pass through more than a true room. Given that others passed through the room several times a day, it didn’t make sense to turn it into anything in particular. I still had no idea why the area had been designed that way. Then again, I was often left floundering when I considered the known layout of the Magical Usage Compound.

Had we been at full capacity, or even half capacity, I doubt Keir would have set Grayson up in the room. There would have been too much activity. As it was, with our numbers so drastically diminished, the room was hollow and empty. Much like the rest of the compound, sounds echoed through the disused portions, the sound painful with memories.

Opening a door, my eyes widened, and ire immediately went to the top of my emotions. Grayson lay on the floor, sprawled out like a starfish. I thought him asleep at first. I suppose he still could be if he were one of those individuals who slept with their eyes open.

Grayson made a striking form. Covered in more jewelry than any witch or warlock I’d ever seen, Grayson’s trinkets held no obvious rhyme or reason. There was no particular style to the hardware. Most likely, it was random. Will-o’-the-wisps liked displaying their treasure, stolen though it was. It was an uncharitable thought. Was it really stealing if the object had been abandoned? Perhaps not. Perhaps it didn’t matter. My perception of the situation wouldn’t allow a different point of view.

Now irritated with myself for finding anything about Grayson Delarue attractive, my voice took on a harder-than-needed edge when I said, “Hard at work, I see. Good to know Keir hired the right will-o’-the-wisp for the job. Perhaps I should speak to Keir now, let him know how seriously you’re taking your latest commission.”

In answer, Grayson barely raised his right hand enough to give me the bird. “Your precious treasure isn’t going anywhere.”

Pressure filled my fingertips, my branches itching to be let loose. “You don’t know that.”

Rolling on his side, Grayson lifted his head enough to ask, “Oh? Do tell.”

Gaia, he was irritating. Smug too. As far as I could tell, Grayson had no reason to be so cocky. “Others know something is here.” I didn’t bother saying that most of those individuals were now dead. Keir had related the story to me, how the previous head of the Warlock Council had been involved with Tenzen Huxley and had schemed to get control of the Magical Usage Council in order to get at whatever Huxley had left behind. It was the reason we were even aware there was something hidden.

Those warlocks were no longer a concern. That didn’t mean others might not come. There was no way to know if Huxley had spoken with anyone else.

“Not surprising.” Grayson shrugged before pushing himself up and sitting cross-legged. He patted an uncomfortable looking patch of concrete beside him. “Might as well sit instead of looming over there.”

“I am not looming.” I didn’t loom. I was a mighty oak for Gaia’s sake.

Grayson cocked his head. His silvery-white hair flopped, revealing blue highlights close to his scalp. His eyes were so pale blue they barely had any color at all. “You need to lighten up a little.” Grayson shook his body. “You know, shake off the tension and all that.”

My body responded by tightening up more. “You hardly know me well enough to make such a statement.”

Grayson had the audacity to yawn, as if my presence were tiring. “Whatever, I’m just saying you’d be a lot happier if you learned to relax a little.”