Page 7 of Dryad’s Treasure

“Why not?” Now there was a hint of disappointment.

“Been there, done that. It’s a waste of time. Nothing I say will sway you, and why should it? You’ve known everyone here for…” I waited for Elvira to fill in the blank, curious as to just how old she was, or perhaps the better way to say it was how long she’d been dead.

Elvira didn’t bite and answered, “Long enough.”

“And you’ve known me…” This one was easier.

“Less than a day.”

“Exactly.” I snapped my fingers and threw Elvira a wink. “I missed the trust train by a mile. There’s no way to make up time, so…wasted effort.”

I think Elvira might have huffed but wasn’t certain. “You are an odd creature.”

“Says the ghost.” I rolled my eyes and didn’t care if Elvira saw. “At least I’m alive.” That might have been a low blow. I didn’t know this particular ghost well enough to know. If it was, Elvira didn’t let on.

“For now,” Elvira cryptically answered, admittedly giving me pause.

“You know something I don’t?” It was possible. Elvira could go where others couldn’t. Perhaps she had an inkling as to what Huxley had hidden.

“No.” Irritated anger filled that singular word. “Tenzen was clever, and I did not know he was dangerous until it was too late. I knew he was up to something, but…” Elvira twisted her head, her memories taking her away from the here and now.

“You didn’t realize he was dangerous, that he’d harm the ones you care for.”

“No. I did not believe he would harm the ones I thought he cared for. Obviously, I was wrong.”

“Don’t take it too hard. From what I understand, you’re hardly the only one.”

Elvira’s plush lips thinned and her face momentarily morphed into something ghastlier. The disturbing image was there and gone before I could flinch. “I should have known better.” Elvira’s attention zeroed back in on me. Her head tilted at an angle that wasn’t entirely natural. “I will not make such a mistake again, Grayson Delarue. I will not lose anyone else. Am I clear?”

Oh, Elvira was clear all right. She was clearly threatening me. “Crystal.”

“Excellent.” If possible, the smile stretching her lips was even more macabre than her earlier visage. “It is good to know you will use care when dealing with my friends.” With that parting comment, Elvira dissipated. Her presence could have still been in the room, but I didn’t think so. She’d laid down her threat and left. Message received.

I had no real intention of causing anyone here harm. But I’d been alive long enough and was experienced enough to understand that even the best intentions didn’t always work out the way we wanted them to. It was impossible to state no one would be harmed when I didn’t even know what I’d find or what that something might do.

Asking the impossible hadn’t stopped Elvira. Maybe because her continued existence was a nearly impossible thing. Elvira was probably used to such things and had come to expect them. I’d try not to disappoint her but made no guarantees.

“Insanity.” Leaning back on my hands again, I stared at the ceiling. Treasure’s song whispered in my ear, tugging me in different directions. The feeling was distinctly uncomfortable and a far cry from the joy I typically experienced. Keir was lucky I liked a challenge. Otherwise I would have walked right back out the minute the cacophony of noise met my ears. “This place is absolutely insane.”

“No argument here.” I jumped, skittering to the side as something light walked over the top of my hand. “Hey, watch it! You could have broken somethin’.”

My eyes widened as I stared at the diminutive form. “A house dweller? The compound has house dwellers?” I repeated just to clarify what I was seeing.

“Don’t look so damned shocked. We ain’t extinct yet,” it huffed before sitting, one leg pulled up and elbow casually resting on its cocked knee while staring up at me with its crimson eyes. I hadn’t seen a house dweller in years. Decades really. This one was just as grimy and dusty as the last one I’d seen. Some said house dwellers looked like miniature monkeys. I’d always thought they looked more like a monkey crossed with a cat. Their ears were too pointed, and they had whiskers like a cat. The tail could go either way. At less than four inches tall, house dwellers lived within the walls, crawling through nooks and crannies and making seemingly impossible spaces their homes. They also helped keep a house clean. They weren’t as good as a home-and-hearth pixie, but they were industrious little devils, feeding on dust mites.

“Can’t say that I’ve ever seen a will-o’-the-wisp before. Wouldn’t have even known what you were if I hadn’t heard all the fuss earlier.” The small house dweller stuck their finger in their ear, leaning into the itch. “Keir must be pretty desperate.”

Recovering from my shock, I nodded. “Seems that way to me.”

“Huh” was all I got.

“What’s your name?” I asked while looking around for more. “Are there others?” As large as the compound was, the place could certainly provide for a large population.

“Name’s Henry, and nope, it’s just me.”

That was…unfortunate and sounded lonely. “Henry. Does that mean you identify as⁠—”

“I’m all male,” Henry answered while running his hands over his puffed-out chest, a lascivious smile tilting his lips. At my quirked brow, he let loose a hearty laugh. For such a small creature, Henry made a lot of noise. “Hah! The look on your face.” Doubling over, Henry rolled around as great bellyfuls of laughter filled the room. “Oh, that right there’s priceless.” Wiping at the tears making dirty streaks down his face, Henry finally settled, rocking back and forth, appearing as if he might tip over at any moment.