Page 124 of Whispers of Wisteria
“It would rather kill you than look at you.” Gloria was watching Dr. Sartore disapprovingly. She tapped her finger on her desk. “It is only attached to me. You’d be putting your life at risk over sheer stupidity.”
How strange. Uncle Caleb had also once made a statement about Cécile’s ferocity, but she seemed so harmless.
“Why is that?” I asked. Gloria turned her golden eyes to me, and I hesitated slightly before adding. “I… I mean, is there a reason why everyone should be afraid of Cécile? Un…” I glanced at Dr. Sartore and swallowed. “Mr. Weaver said that she was scary too. Should we even try to find her?”
Dr. Sartore glared at me.
“Oh, him.” Gloria waved her hand dismissively. “He’s never agreed with our efforts. You’re fae, a shikigami would never harm you. Now, we shifters, on the other hand…”
They both shivered.
“Okay…” I still didn’t know why they needed me. “How can I help?”
“We’re scouting the area now,” Dr. Sartore said, crossing her arms. “But if nothing comes up, we need to think outside the box.”
I tilted my head.
“We’re going to search graveyards,” Gloria cut in, her eyes darkening. “You can keep an eye out.”
What was I keeping an eye out for?
“Do you not like ghosts?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. Maybe it depended on which animal they shifted into. I’d seen videos of cats and dogs growling at what appeared to be empty corners of the room where spirits supposedly resided.
But Titus didn’t seem to have a problem with them.
“Maybe it’s just dragons that aren’t afraid?” I mused.
“That isn’t it,” Gloria grumbled. “Ghosts are a nuisance. When you work with them, there’s always a certain individual who tends not to be far behind.”
Was she talking about Uncle Gregory?
“But no, the reason we need you is that, ultimately, Cécile is a spirit,” Gloria replied. “It might be unable to take a physical form at the moment, and tends to lurk in graveyards. Plus, shikigami like fae, so it’ll be drawn to you. So that’s the next logical place to set the trap.”
“Oh.” I pressed my hands into my lap and pushed my feet against the floor. “That makes sense.”
Gloria blinked at me and inclined her head. “You have something to say?”
“If Cécile belongs to someone in your quintet, why not just ask him where she is?” I asked. “Finn told me that an onmyoji can always locate their shikigami in this realm.”
Gloria pursed her lips and said ominously, “That would require speaking to Lee.”
“Is—is that bad?” I touched my lips.
“She doesn’t want to admit she lost Cécile again,” Dr. Sartore scoffed and leaned back in her seat. “Doesn’t exactly paint her in the most responsible light, does it?”
“Oh, shut up, you,” Gloria snapped. “We’re perfectly capable of locating Cécile on our own.” She glanced at me and added, “With your assistance, of course. The weather is supposed to be nice tonight, so we’ll plan to meet unless otherwise stated. I will pick you up at nine.”
“Tonight?” I shifted in my seat. “What are you going to tell Damen?”
Gloria narrowed her eyes. “That we’re looking for Cécile.”
I hesitated, touching my fingertips together. “But—didn’t he say something about this before? When we first met. He told you he’d send her back if she kept getting loose.”
Gloria froze, and her fingers grew taut. There was a sharp pause in the air before she finally said, “I’m an Elder. I don’t need his approval.”
“You will eventually, though,” I pointed out. “Right?”
After all this training nonsense was complete. It would be only then that we would be assured full command, and on that glorious day, the lesser fae such as Uncle Gregory and Bryce would be forced to bow to my rule.
