Chapter 2
Two
Martin
Sweet Gaia. I had no wish to challenge Keir’s judgment, but in this case, it was difficult containing my protests. The battle was most likely lost before it began. “He’s probably lying,” I flatly stated. “Grayson will—”
“Gray,” the will-o’-the-wisp interrupted. “You can call me, Gray. All my friends do.” He followed that statement with a cheeky wink that had me seeing red.
“Grayson,” I ground out, barely containing my leaves, “is only saying that because he wants unlimited access to the compound. Will-o’-the-wisps don’t give up what they find. They keep it and hoard their findings.”
Grayson had the audacity to waggle a finger my direction. “Not true. Or, at least, not completely true. It depends on what we find. I mean, if I find a dead body, I’ve no use for that.” He visibly shuddered. “No use at all. I’d give that up in a heartbeat.”
Keir laid a hand on my shoulder, squeezing tight.
I took the hint and snapped my mouth shut, my teeth clacking with the force.
“If you agree to work for this institution, you must hand over anything and everything you find, Mr. Delarue. That is nonnegotiable. If that is not possible, then I must thank you for your time and kindly ask you to leave.”
I swear, Grayson Delarue had two facial expressions—mischievous grin and smirk. “That’s a harsh request.”
“Not a request,” Keir said, shaking his head. “That’s a hard and fast rule. There are concerns regarding what Tenzen Huxley might have left behind, what he hid within these walls and beyond.”
“I’d say that concern is valid,” Grayson answered, adding another facial expression into the mix—concern.
“I did a quick survey while I was waiting.” Elvira was right to come and get Keir and me as quickly as she did.
Who knew what this will-o’-the-wisp could have done if left alone longer?
“I stand by what I said. There is a lot here. How much of it is tied to Huxley and how much of it belongs to those still living within these walls is difficult to say.”
Understanding hit me like a sledgehammer. I could see the same reaction in Keir when he asked, “You cannot distinguish between the two?”
“Maybe?”
Oh, this creature…
“Don’t get your bark in a bunch. Honestly.” Grayson rolled his eyes. “Obviously, the two of you have no idea how this works. I can’t exactly tell who’s hiding the treasure. Now, with that said, different desires give off varying songs.”
“Songs?” Keir asked.
Grayson nodded. “That’s the best way to explain it.
Given time, I’ll probably be able to home in on Huxley’s specific melody.
If that’s the case, then I’ll be able to be a bit more exact.
I doubt that will be the case in the beginning.
Your staff will need to understand that.
I’m not a malicious creature, but I won’t deny taking pleasure in the hunt and their ensuing reactions. ”
Branches sprouted from my fingers. “In other words, he won’t apologize if he discovers something another would rather keep hidden.”
Grayson snapped his fingers. “Exactly! You’re smarter than you look.”
My branches elongated, begging to wrap their length around his neck. Given Grayson’s overall coloration, I was betting he was a cool will-o’-the-wisp. That meant he couldn’t burn my bark, which in turn made physical strangulation a possibility.
Head bent, Keir rested his chin on a bent finger.
I knew that look. He was taking in this new bit of information and processing it, weighing the pros and cons.
Silence reigned for a few moments. Coming to some sort of conclusion, Keir raised his head.
I could read the determination in his eyes and steeled myself to accept his decision.
I had a feeling having Grayson around would be worse than our recently lovestruck kitsune, Hikaru.
“I would request your discretion if you find treasure we are not actively seeking.”
Grayson tilted his head to the side as if contemplating. “I can adhere to that. Most likely what I find won’t be profitable anyway.”
Keir cleared his throat. “Which brings up an interesting point. You said earlier that you didn’t desire to keep everything.”
“No dead bodies,” Grayson reiterated, making Keir wince.
“Yes, well, hopefully there won’t be any of those.
Although…it’s possible.” There was a wealth of sadness in that statement.
We were still missing two of our members.
According to Hikaru, if they were alive, the kitsune should be able to find them.
Considering he couldn’t, we had to assume they were deceased.
We’d be missing more if the wind elemental, Alethia, hadn’t compiled enough energy to seek out our medium, Tabitha Clark.
Alethia led us to the bodies of so many of our fallen.
They’d been beyond our help, but at least we’d been able to give them proper rites according to their individual species’ needs.
Inhaling, Keir shook away his mental angst. My friend had been forced to do that far too often recently. “I’ve little interest in monetary treasure, although I doubt Tenzen found such things important enough to conceal.”
I couldn’t agree more. Monetary wealth held its own form of power, but that wasn’t what Tenzen Huxley had been after. The power he sought was even more damning.
“Well, that’s disappointing,” Grayson answered on a sigh. “However, as Martin was kind enough to point out, I’ve kept enough of my findings over the centuries that I’ve no real need for more jeweled trinkets.”
“I see,” Keir answered, although his crinkled brow spoke differently. “What is it you desire then?”
I’d yet to see this smile tug Grayson’s lips.
It was a little mischievous and a whole lot devious.
He said he wasn’t a malicious creature, but that grin said something different.
“I’m a simple will-o’-the-wisp. I want the unusual—the rare and unexpected.
This hunt won’t be easy. It might even be a bit…
Well, I suppose that’s my problem, not yours.
If we’re talking payment, then I will say that I’ll let you know when the job is done. ”
Keir sucked in a breath while I turned and paced. “No,” I answered. “How can we agree to that when we have no idea what you’ll find? Keir, you can’t let him—”
“Nothing deemed harmful or dangerous to others,” Keir said, ignoring my rant. “And nothing sentient. At least, not without their express agreement.”
“Sentient?” It was the first time I saw Grayson appear truly puzzled. “You think there might be, what, something living hidden here?” Grayson looked around, as if that something might suddenly pop out of a nearby wall.
“Sadly, it’s possible,” Keir answered. “It’s also the reason I’m willing to risk employing you and agree to your questionable terms.” Keir gazed at me as he said the last, letting me know he agreed this was a risk, but also reminding me of the stakes if we did nothing.
“Interesting.” Grayson didn’t appear put off. In fact, he seemed eager. “I’m glad I answered your call, Acting Director Keir.”
“I sincerely hope I can say the same when this is finished,” Keir answered.
“Oh, I always find what I’m looking for. That I can guarantee.” There was nothing false coloring Grayson’s bravado.
Gaia help us.
“I’m worried,” Jima said. Being a ferret shifter, he was the smallest of us and possibly the most vulnerable. He was also the sneakiest and had taken down his fair share of maleficence via intel alone.
“You’d be a fool otherwise,” Frost answered via video conference. “And we all know you’re no fool. It’s a risk, Keir. No two ways about that.”
“It is a risk worth taking.” Tabitha appeared to agree with Keir before taking a sip of her tea.
We’d gathered in Keir’s living room, a low banked fire adding more comfort than warmth.
“Excellent tea, Keir. All these years and I’m still unsure how you do it.
Perhaps I should ask Elvira to spy on your tea-making skills. ”
“As if I would agree to such a boring endeavor.” Elvira rolled her ghostly eyes. “Really, Tabitha. Is that what we’ve come to?”
“You say that only because you can no longer appreciate good tea,” Tabitha answered.
“Tea’s a shit drink,” Elvira answered. “I might have spied if it were coffee.”
“Sacrilege,” Tabitha protested, a hand dramatically placed over her heart.
Jima snickered before taking a sip of his own tea.
“Excellent tea aside, I think it’s worth allowing Grayson into our space.” Keir brought the conversation back on track. “I won’t argue your concerns. They’re all valid. Most likely there are issues we haven’t even thought of that could come back to bite us in the ass.”
“I’ll say,” Frost answered. “I’m glad I already moved all my stuff out.” A shiver went through his voice. “I hate to think of that will-o’-the-wisp poking around my things.”
“I didn’t realize you had something to hide,” Tabitha teased. “Please, do tell.”
“As if,” Frost responded. “Besides, it’s not like that.
None of us really know how a will-o’-the-wisp does their thing.
” Frost rolled a hand, making the screen jump.
“From what I do understand, what they find isn’t always traditional treasure.
” Frost tapped his temple. “It’s a mind thing.
Or maybe an intention thing.” He shrugged.
“I have no idea. The point is, that the definition of treasure could be different to each and every one of us. It’s how we think of it when we tuck it away that’s important.
Does that jive with your understanding, Keir? ”