Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

T hunder rumbled in the distance, and an icy wind swished through the mesh of the carrier. Paige shivered, both from the breeze and the spooky house looking over her.

"What are you doing out of the car?" Drucinda shouted from their left.

"These two are too difficult to control," Henry answered.

Paige's vision blurred as Henry skirted the car and the carrier smacked off his hip. "Ugh, is it always this rough?"

"Usually," Dewey said with a nod. "What do you think it's like banging off your hip?"

"I do the best I can do."

"I didn't say you didn't. And it's far better than being stuck in the archives."

"Have you found anything?" Henry asked.

Drucinda glanced up at the dark shell. "No, nothing alarming on the outside. I still don't like it."

Paige's stomach twisted in a knot. Was her mother there? Were they hiding inside? Or was this a false lead?

Gravel rustled from the other side. Paige crawled to the other side of the carrier and peered out. Devon approached, shoving his weapon into his waistband.

"Anything?" Drucinda asked.

He shook his head. "Nothing. Looks clear."

Drucinda crossed her arms, the leather of her jacket creaking as it creased. "Well, I suppose we should head inside. But you three should stay out here."

Paige clenched her fists and pounded against the soft side fabric. "No!"

Drucinda leaned down, her massive face hovering outside of the carrier. "Don't get your tiny knickers in a twist. I just want to see if anyone's in there."

"I want to go, too. My mom could be in there, and I'm not missing out on discovering her."

Drucinda sighed as she straightened and waved a hand toward the SUV. "Get back inside. Same rules apply."

"No," Henry said with a shake of his head. "No way. Someone else is babysitting them or they're going."

Paige grinned up at him. He was finally taking charge.

Drucinda narrowed her eyes. "Are you joking?"

Henry lifted his chin. "I am not."

"Get back in that car with those two and wait until we've checked the place." She jabbed a finger toward the vehicle again.

"No," Henry said, standing his ground. Paige waved a fist in the air in silent solidarity. "I won't do it. She bit me. They are constantly arguing. I can't take anymore."

Her arm deflated along with her proud smile. Henry wasn't taking charge, he was wimping out, as always.

"She's six inches tall. There is no possible way it could have done any damage."

"The dragon threatened to bite me, too. I'm not putting myself in harm's way. Those two feed off of each other."

Drucinda reached for Henry's shoulder and yanked the strap away from him. "I'll take them. I can handle a tiny human and a teacup dragon stuffed in a pet carrier."

"I can take them, Dru," Devon offered.

Drucinda waved the comment away. "Let's just get in there. We've wasted enough time. When we get in there, be quick but meticulous. And keep your eyes peeled, we have no idea what we're walking into."

Devon retrieved his weapon again, and they approached the door. Drucinda rapped her knuckles against the wood and waited.

No one answered. She shot a glance at Devon and wiggled her eyebrows. "Let's go."

She leaned away from the door and kicked it in. Paige shifted back and forth, trying to get the best view she could through the mesh. The dark foyer didn't allow for many clear details.

Her knees wobbled as she waited for Drucinda to scan the entryway before she stepped inside. Her frustration built. She wanted to race inside and search every dark corner for her mother. But she was stuck inside the carrier. And at her size, it would take the rest of the year for her to get through the place. She was stuck going at Drucinda's pace.

With the carrier slung across her and bouncing off her hip, Drucinda stuck her weapon at arm's length as she stepped slowly into the dimly lit space.

Devon followed, his weapon held straight out as he scanned the spaces Drucinda didn't.

"I'll wait out here!" Henry called. "Just in case someone should sneak up on us."

"Your fiancé is a real wimp," Drucinda said, her focus never leaving her search for threats.

Paige sighed. "He's not my fiancé."

Drucinda eased a set of double doors open on her left and peered through the crack before she slipped inside and swept her weapon from one corner to the next. "Do men always follow you home from your adventures?"

"No," Paige answered. "And I wish this one hadn't."

"He was handy when we were being held hostage by Devon, though," Dewey interjected.

"That was hardly a hostage situation," Drucinda said as she crept across the sitting room toward another set of doors.

"I was literally locked inside his castle after being kidnapped. What would you call it?"

"Wooing, darling. I call it wooing."

"That's not even…whatever. Normal wooing doesn't involve staging a car accident, stealing the person you intend to woo, locking her in a creepy bedroom, and then demanding she marry you so that her future father-in-law won't kill her."

Drucinda inched the doors open and peered into a wood-paneled hall. "Sounds like textbook daywalker wooing to me."

Paige searched the nearly black hall for any sign of anything. With the mesh blocking her view, she couldn't get a clear picture of most of the gothic house outside of the thick, carved wood and the old stone walls.

"Well, I didn't ask to be wooed. And I still think it's strange."

"To each their own, I suppose."

Paige scoffed. "Like you would enjoy that."

"Of course, I would," Drucinda said as she slid another door open and peered into the room. "Though I wouldn't have been quite so helpless. I would have cracked him across the face more than once. That would have led to a good deal of sparring and perhaps a good deal of–"

"Stop," Paige said. "That's enough. I don't need any more details about how you'd respond to wooing, thanks. "

"I'm just saying," Drucinda said as she finished her pass around the dining room and moved on, "it wasn't a hostage situation. Though your beau seems to believe it was."

"He's not my beau. I told you that."

Drucinda crept further down the hall. "You're really adamant about that. Why not send him packing?"

"How?"

"Are you seriously asking me how to break up with your boyfriend?"

"He's not my boyfriend. Never mind. Let's just search this place for my mom. Stop distracting me."

Drucinda swept her weapon around another room before moving on. "You really are way too sensitive, darling."

"I'm sorry. My missing mother happens to be a sore spot with me."

"Again, I'll point out, that I actually knew her. This is just as difficult for me. And I'm not whining."

"You're right. You were definitely closer to my missing mom than me."

Drucinda sighed as they reached the last room in the corridor and found nothing. She stepped inside and set the carrier down on a table before she unzipped it.

Paige burst out and stalked across the table. "Finally, freedom."

Dewey buzzed into the air, gaping at the room. "Wow, this place is super creepy."

"I sort of liked it. I wondered if it would go up on the market now since it seems to be vacant," Drucinda said as she studied the carved goblins gracing the corners.

Dewey waved a hand at her. "You can keep it. I hate goblins. I can't believe you like them after our encounter in the catacombs."

"That little exercise when I was a child? That was delightful. These carved creatures remind me so much of our little adventure?"

"Adventure!" Paige exclaimed, her hands on her hips. "We were nearly killed and the world overrun by goblins."

A grin crossed Drucinda's sculpted features. "Exactly. Which is why I have so many fond memories."

Paige screwed up her face as her mind processed the comment.

The smile slipped from Drucinda's face, and she hinged at the waist to lean closer to Paige. "I also have fond memories of your mum. She was my best friend, you know. Outside of Devon, I didn't have many friends. In fact, it may surprise you to know I didn't have any female friends outside of Reed."

Paige crossed her arms and stared at the leather-clad woman with her perfect bone structure, perfect hair, and sculpted body. "You don't say."

"Surprising, isn't it? I've always chalked it up to the snarky attitude, but apparently, that's not it."

"I enjoy your snarky attitude," Dewey said, landing on Drucinda's shoulder.

"Thanks, little man. I enjoy yours, too."

Paige crossed her arms, heat rising into her cheeks as frustration filled her. "Can we focus, please? My mother could be locked somewhere in this house while you two fawn all over each other."

Drucinda sighed. "Sadly, I don't think anyone is here."

"Then it's a dead end. A false clue."

Drucinda ran her fingers along the mantel over the massive cold hearth at the center of the interior wall. "I don't think so. Someone was here recently. The place has been used."

"But was my mom?" Paige asked.

Drucinda spun to face her and jabbed a finger in her direction. "That's the question we must answer. Since it appears we are alone, I suppose you two can do some exploring on your own. Don't get into any trouble."

Paige offered Drucinda an unimpressed stare. "Are you joking? How do you propose I get around? It would take me a day to walk the length of the hall. And I'd probably break my leg jumping down from here."

"Ride on the dragon. He has wings. He can fly."

"An excellent idea, Dru," Dewey said as he fluttered into the air and landed on the table. "Your chariot awaits."

"Did you just call her Dru?"

"Just climb on, Paige."

The itch to find her mother or any sign of her drove her to approach the teal dragon. He lowered his chin to the table so she could climb onto his back.

"Alright, let's go."

Dewey flapped his wings and rose in the air. "Ouch. You're pinching me."

"I'm afraid of falling. You're clumsy."

"I am not," Dewey shot back. "I can't help it it's harder to lift off with a monkey on my back."

"I'm not that heavy," Paige answered as he sailed out the door into the hall.

"I have to adjust for it, though."

"Oh, stop complaining, and let's have a look around."

"I'm going, I'm going." They buzzed back toward the foyer with Drucinda trailing behind them.

Devon stepped into the dimly lit space as they sailed toward the stairs.

"Anything?" Drucinda shouted from behind them.

Devon shook his head. "Empty. Which is a good thing and a bad thing."

"Right. Let's have a look around upstairs. "

Devon crooked a finger at Dewey and Paige. "Should they be out?"

Drucina's heels clicked across the marble floor. "I don't see the harm. I doubt everyone is hiding upstairs. The place is deserted."

Devon flicked his eyebrows up as he trained his gaze on them again. "Paige, I could–"

"I'm fine. Let's go, Dewey."

"Okay," the dragon answered as he flew up the stairs. "Let's see if we can find any clues up here."

Paige glanced over her shoulder as they left the other two behind. "Thank goodness. I needed a minute alone."

Dewey swung to the left and continued up the stairs to the hall above. "I imagine this is hard on Drucinda. She–"

"Oh, please. Really?"

"Well, she did know your mom. Heck, she went to prison for murdering her friend. A friend who seemed very dear to her."

"Sorry, I just have a hard time imagining anyone dear to Drucinda."

"She seemed to like both her mother and her grandmother. Just because she's super tough doesn't mean she doesn't have feelings."

Paige heaved a sigh as they zipped past several doors. "You're right."

"Are you just saying that to shut me up? I can't see your face, so I can't tell."

"No, I'm not. You're right, Dewey. I guess I shouldn't be so hard on her. Maybe deep down she is sensitive."

"I wouldn't go crazy, Paige. I'm not saying she's some kind of weeping wimp. I'm just saying she seemed attached to your mom."

"I guess as long as she has my mom's best interests at heart, that's all that counts. Should we try some of these doors?"

"Which one?" Dewey hovered in the air as they stared at the many closed doors.

"Ummm, should we just start at the first one and work our way down the hall, then back on the other side?"

Dewey wrinkled his nose, his horns wiggling. "Okay."

"What?" Paige asked.

"Maybe we should get Drucinda."

"What for? She finally let us free."

"I'm scared. Who knows what could be behind those doors. And we'll be powerless to fight back."

"We're not powerless. We've beaten werewolves, vampires, and shrieking pixies."

"Yeah, but that's when you were normal-sized. Now, you're tiny. I'd have to do all the fighting. It's one thing to ride around on your shoulder and cheer you on. It's another when I have to do the hard work."

Paige heaved a sigh. "Just go over there and start checking rooms. Drucinda doesn't think anyone is here."

"Fine, but if I get killed–"

"Yeah, I know. You'll come back to haunt me," Paige said as he flitted over to the first door and wrapped a paw around the knob.

"Of course not. I can't come back to haunt you. Ghosts aren't real, Paige." Dewey clicked his tongue at her. "I was going to say that I'll hate you for whatever short life I have left."

"Right," Paige said. "It's a chance I'll take. Now, open that sucker."

"You asked for it." Dewey shoved the door open and buzzed backward as it creaked on its hinges in a slow swing toward the interior .

Paige bounced on his back. "Go in there! We can't see anything from out here."

"Okay, Paige. Give me a second. I wanted to make sure the room was clear."

Dewey slowly flew back toward the open door and peered inside the room, wrapping his claws around the carved door jamb.

"Empty," Paige said as she scanned the sheet-covered furniture. "And doesn't look like it's been in use."

"Yeah, maybe no one has been here in a while." Dewey ran a digit over the mantel as he flew past, cutting a wide line in the thick dust.

Paige's stomach flip-flopped at the statement. "Drucinda thought people were here."

"Yeah, but this part is clearly unused. It looks like it hasn't been used in decades. So–"

"No," Paige interrupted with a vehement shake of her head. "No, people were here."

"Obviously not, Paige. Look around."

Paige squeezed her eyes closed as tears stung them. "No. Because if people weren't here…"

"Then neither was your mom." Dewey sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry. But if this is a false lead, better that we find out now so we can get on the right track."

"You're right. It's just…for the first time in a while, I had hope. And now…"

"There are still a lot of rooms to go. Let's keep looking."

The corners of her lips turned up despite her blurred vision through her tears. She patted his head. "Thanks, buddy."

"Wow," he said as he flew from the room. "The head pat thing is annoying."

"I told you. Though, I've gotten used to it. I don't mind it so much anymore. "

"Well, I do. Stop doing it." He pushed inside the next room and they scanned it. Similar to the first space, a thick layer of dust covered everything and cobwebs stretched from wall to wall in the corners.

Paige's heart sank as room after room went by with no traces of recent life.

They closed the last door in the hallway before it turned a corner, and Paige let out a sigh. "I'm starting to think you're right. This is a dead end."

"Well, let's be thorough. There's still a bunch of rooms to go. Maybe even some around the corner here."

Dewey sailed into the next hall and slowed to a stop. In front of them, a set of double doors framed by red curtains stared back from the end of the hall. "Should we try that one first?"

"Sure," Paige said with a shrug. "I bet that's an entire suite of covered furniture."

Dewey zipped down to the doors and flung them open. He stopped short of entering the room, his jaw unhinging.

Paige scanned the space. Polished, dust-free furniture stood around the room. The bedsheets were rumpled as though someone had recently slept in them. A mirror, brush, and comb sat at a vanity along with an atomizer of perfume.

"Dewey!" Paige exclaimed, her hand rapidly beating against his side. "Someone's been in this room."

"Yeah, and recently, too. There's not a speck of dust." He ran a digit over the dresser near the door.

"Open a drawer," she said.

Dewey tugged one of the wide drawers open. Neatly folded clothes lay inside. He pulled out a garment and unfurled it. "A dress."

Paige's heart skipped a beat. "Women's clothes. Could these have been my mom's?"

"I don't know. Let's explore further. "

"Go over to that vanity."

Dewey nodded and crossed the space to the mirrored furniture piece. Paige leapt off his back onto the tabletop and ran to the brush. "Red hairs!"

She grinned at her dragon partner. "Dewey, I think my mom was here."

Dewey glanced around the room. "Maybe there are more clues."

Paige narrowed her eyes at a white paper tented on the mantel. "What's that?"

"I'll get it. Stay there." He hurried over to the note and snatched it. "Paige! It has your name on it."

She waved her hands, motioning for him to give it to her. Dewey unfurled it and let it fall to the vanity. The paper, bigger than she was, landed face down.

Paige struggled to lift it. With help from her dragon partner, they turned it over. She struggled to read the massive words in front of her, but soon the meaning became clear.

Her stomach turned over, and her heart sank. Had she just ruined any chance of finding her mother?