A Study in Spirits

by Byrd Nash

  From one earring dangled a piece of tarnished metal, a cylinder about two inches long. Seeing Logan staring at it, Emma tugged at it, saying, “It’s an antique key.”

  “Oh. That’s interesting. It doesn’t look like any key I’ve ever seen before.”

  “It’s from Japan. Locks and keys look different,” said the girl as if that was explanation enough.

  The landlord permitted them to remove the old carpet on the understanding that he wouldn’t replace it. They could discard it into a dumpster located on the warehouse lot.

  Ripping it up didn’t take long. Afterward, the team used vacuum cleaners to battle all the dust they raised. After a lunch break, they began painting the walls in the living area and kitchen. Celia and Emma had already painted their rooms and shared bathroom themselves.

  “Don’t worry about the drips,” said Celia, eyes shining with a vision of the completed project. “It will make the old wood floors look like art.”

  Logan wasn’t sure about that, but since Granite was not tidy with his paint roller, he appreciated that they could make mistakes.

  After painting, they set up fans to blow out the vapors. The fans were all identified with names written on tape from the students who had lent them to Celia.

  “I don’t think you can sleep there tonight. Maybe not for a few days,” Logan warned the naiad.

  She agreed. “The smell would give me a headache. We’ve made plans to sleep in the warehouse for a few days. It’s not heated, but should be okay for a couple of nights. We’ll use the bathroom and kitchen in the apartment.”

  Looking at all they had accomplished, Celia said with satisfaction, “It already looks a lot better thanks to you and Granite.”

  The two were standing by a hotplate plugged into an extension cord that Celia had run outdoors from the kitchen. Emma was sitting cross-legged on the ramp, working on her laptop. Granite had gone off to dispose of the rolled-up carpet waste. They heard occasional booms as the bundles landed inside the metal container down the alley.

  “How’s the new roommate working out?” asked Logan, trying to keep his voice low.

  “Keeps to herself most of the time. Em doesn’t make a mess, so she’s already much better than my last roomie,” Celia reassured him.

  “You don’t know much about her?”

  “She’s human, Logan. I don’t fear for my life if that is what you mean. Don’t worry. It’ll work out fine. If it doesn’t, it’s only a year. My class schedule this semester is pretty intense, so I’m not home much anyway.”

  They were both sipping a homemade tea that Celia had made. Logan was more familiar with coffee but thought he’d give it a try.

  This close to Celia, Logan could smell her perfume. He reminded himself that while the girl was attractive, she was also fae. She’d be gone in a year, back to Italy. No sense in getting anything started that would go nowhere.

  Celia asked him, interrupting his thoughts, “Was Brigit able to get her old job back? She mentioned she was going to talk with her old boss. But I haven’t seen her for weeks. Not since the party.”

  “Seems so,” Logan said. So it seemed Brigit might also be avoiding Celia. “They weren’t happy about her leaving during the summer. That’s the garden store’s busiest time. But she’s a hard worker, and they’re lucky to have a dryad.”

  “That’s good to hear! I guess she’ll be paying half the rent at your place now?”

  “Yeah, she wants to keep the balance.”

  Last semester, when Brigit helped him with Sibyl, he hadn’t asked for rent. This semester the dryad insisted on paying her half despite his weak protests. He had to admit the money was making it easier to justify the apartment to his parents. Though he still hadn’t told them he was sharing with a female dryad. Better not to rock the boat with his Mother and her prejudices.

  “Speaking of Brigit, there was something I wanted to ask you —.”

  Before Logan could complete his question, the booming from the trash receptacle stopped, replaced with sounds of shouting.

  “Did you steal those test questions?”

  Covered with dust and dirt, Granite wiped his face with his hands, smearing the grime more. Standing with the soles of his shoes on the edge of the dumpster, he looked down at Brigit. He asked innocently, “What test questions?”

  “Don’t pull that dumb jock routine with me,” yelled Brigit. Her temper was red hot, and her curls twisted in agitation. “I’ve been checking up on you. You and Chad, that troll on your team.”

  Granite threw the roll of carpet into the dumpster and jumped down, feet together, knees bent. When he hit the pavement, the old concrete cracked.

  “Why did you do that?”

  Brigit was not one to be intimidated. She struck him in the middle of the chest with her pointer finger.

  “You either broke into the library and got those test questions, or more likely, paid someone to do it. Or you didn’t do it. Yes or no?”

  Each push of her hand caused Granite to step backward. In her fury, Brigit didn’t consider that the eotan could have slapped her down or wonder why he didn’t.

  “If you didn’t do the crime, just say so.”

  “I may not be great at math,” said Granite, “but I wouldn’t cheat to get ahead. You should know that.”

  “You wouldn’t do it for yourself. But, I know what a soft touch you can be. In pulling in some favors, I’ve found out something interesting. Your buddy, Chad, is about to be expelled due to his GPA. If he doesn’t pass this class, he’s out!”

  Granite didn’t answer. Brigit stamped her foot and demanded, “Answer my question!”

  By this time in the conversation, Celia, Logan, and Emma arrived to see the bulk of Granite towering over the small form of the dryad. Before any could ask what was happening, the eotan called out to the new arrivals.

  “Can you believe this? Brigit thinks I stole some test questions.”

  “And can you believe this?” Brigit countered, cutting off his evasive tactic, “You still haven’t denied it.”

  “Who’s this girl?” Em asked Celia.

  “My dryad friend — the one I told you about — Brigit Cullen.”

  As was her nature, Celia would have said something conciliatory, but Logan’s hand on her arm stopped her. He stepped in front of the two girls to be closer to Granite and Brigit. Logan was careful to keep his arms at his side in a neutral position. While he considered them his friends, their magic made them reckless sometimes.

  “That’s a serious accusation, Brigit. Why do you think Granite would cheat?”

  It might have been part of his bard ability, but Logan’s words were calming. The tense atmosphere between the two fae relaxed somewhat.

  “My ID and login were used during a break-in at the library. Test questions were stolen.”

  She pointed a finger at the wrestler.

  “It has been — oh so helpfully — pointed out to me that my bondmate just happens to be taking that course this semester. I remembered during our tutoring sessions last year, we used my password and login. Granite typed it in himself due to my disability.”

  “So what if I am taking that class?” the wrestler responded defensively. “That doesn’t make me a thief.”

  “Really?” demanded Brigit, crossing her arms. “I’d say it makes you the number one thief candidate!”

  Logan interjected, “What does this other guy have to do with it? This Chad guy?”

  “He’s a teammate —” Granite started to explain, only to be interrupted by Brigit.

  “A teammate that is from your home court in the Perilous Realm. A teammate that is also an eotan. A teammate that happens to be failing and who will soon lose his place at LOTTOS if he doesn’t pull his fat from the fire.”

  Everyone stared at Granite. He shuffled his feet, giving a helpless shrug. “Look, he asked me if I knew a way he could pass the class. I told him I could put him in touch with someone that might help.”

  “Not the
Doppelgänger again!?” Celia cried out in dismay.

  “No. It’s a place where people who need something meet up with others who can help. Online. Like a club.”

  “Some club!” snapped the dryad. “You’ve put me in a horrible position. Between Scylla and Charybdis.”

  “Who?” asked Granite puzzled.

  “Greek sea monsters,” supplied Celia helpfully. However, no one was paying the naiad much attention for Brigit was back to full rant mode. The dryad paced furiously back and forth, waving her hands in the air.

  “Paul, the Doppelgänger, wants me to snitch you out, you idiot. If I don’t help him discover who vandalized the books in the library, I could be expelled! And what makes this even more insulting!? I could be tossed out of here because someone stole the test answers to the most basic math class that LOTTOS offers!”

  Knowing how tricky the fae could be in answering, Logan asked Granite directly, “Did you steal Brigit’s ID? Use it for this club? Use it to help your friend? Or know anything about how this could have happened?”

  Granite looked uncomfortable. He was not a good actor. Seeing his discomfort, Brigit exclaimed, “Aha! So you admit it? Stupid me. I defended you!”

  At the looks given to him by his friends, Granite pleaded, “It’s not what you think. I didn’t give him Brigit’s ID, but he did use my computer a few times. And I found him going through my desk one day. He said he needed a pencil. He might have found it. I don’t know.”

  “When you see this buddy of yours,” Brigit snarled, “let him know I’ve called a Fiat against him and you. You all better figure out something quick to undo the damage this little prank caused.”

  “I just found someone that could help him! I would swear by anything, Brigit, I didn’t know he was going to use your ID. Anyway, it’s only one test.”

  “You idiot,” hissed Brigit, “Paul doesn’t care about the test. Whoever did this also deleted a bunch of computer files — entire books in the library — dissertations filed by LOTTOS students.”

  “I don’t know anything about that!” protested Granite. “All I did was put the guy in touch with someone. He was given the test questions before the midterm. I don’t know how they did it. And I certainly don’t know anything about books disappearing!”

  “Perhaps you should ask Celia’s new roommate about it,” suggested Jib.

  The púca had spent most of the day hunting mice in the warehouse, and its sudden appearance was dramatic. Just the way it liked it. The black cat was sitting above the dumpster on the concrete ramp, putting it at eye level with those standing below.

  Emma had been hanging at the back of the arguing group. At their stares, she looked ready to bolt.

  “That’s a wild accusation, Jib,” Logan told Jib in a low, solemn voice.

  Em pulled her baseball cap further down over her face.

  “It’s like the cat said, I did it.”

  Truth and Consequences

  Emma didn’t know why she admitted to the theft. Maybe it was because she didn’t like the accusation of being a book vandal.

  “Let’s hear what she has to say,” said Logan. “She didn’t have to admit to anything.”

  That guy probably defended her because they were the only two humans there. During the fight, Em had become aware of how different the fae were from herself in a way that living with Celia for a month had not.

  While Brigit and Granite argued, the ground trembled under her feet. An old tree root, growing through the concrete, burst from its prison and started to grab Granite’s leg.

  The newcomer, a black girl with pointed ears, crossed her arms, tapping her foot. She was a small girl, but ferocious. Granite scratched his head, looking down at his big feet while Celia told Emma to take her time.

  “I sometimes do computer work for the challenge. And for money. I mean, an allowance from home only goes so far, right?”

  The girl, Brigit, eyed her with suspicion. “Celia told me you were here on scholarship.”

  “I am. But it only pays for tuition. It doesn’t pay fees, housing, or food. My dad’s a firefighter. My mom teaches kindergarten.” When Em started speaking, her voice was soft, but it grew stronger as she continued.

  “They hadn’t planned on me attending an expensive European university. I was supposed to go to a tech school back home. But I was invited to a video game conference. The reward I won was a scholarship here. My parents insisted I come for a year and have the college experience they always wanted me to have.”

  Em tucked her hands in her pockets, the earring swinging under her earlobe.

  “Everything here in Geheimetür costs more than back home. When I saw an ad for an easy job, I took it. I figured it would tide me over. The client supplied the password. He told me it wasn’t being used and wouldn’t be a problem.”

  “Cheating on a test? You didn’t see anything wrong with that?”

  “Look tree-girl,” retorted Em, finally letting her irritation show. “I’ve known plenty of pretty girls who gave a smile to a teacher, and suddenly, their failing grade got changed to passing.”

  Celia, who had used this tactic once or twice on a teacher, had the grace to blush.

  “Life isn’t all fair and square,” Em continued, her voice becoming passionate. “You think a grade on an essay test isn’t due to what your teacher thinks of you? Grades are subjective. Those with money or power get what they want. That’s how the world works, princess.”

  At the last word, Logan had put a hand on Brigit’s to stop her moving toward Emma.

  He said diplomatically, “Don’t get me wrong. I don’t agree with Em helping a cheater, but there is some truth to what she says. We all know the student who does no work but passes the class anyway. And remember, she wasn’t the one who posted the request. Nor did she have any connection at that time with any of us.”

  Granite awkwardly tucked his thumbs into his jean pockets, rocking from toe to heel. “I only wanted to help a guy out, you know. He’s a good wrestler.”

  “That’s not the point,” countered Brigit, who turned away from Emma to stare down her bondmate. “Maybe he is a good wrestler, Granite, but his cheating is a slap to all of us that worked hard for our grades. It undermines all the work you did studying last year. Should someone get a passing grade because they’re pretty, because they’re your buddy, or if they are a princess?”

  At the last word, she cast a dark look back at Emma.

  Granite protested. “Despite all the studying I did, I barely pulled a passing C. Some people aren’t talented in math like you are Brigit.”

  Celia agreed. “Sometimes, there are gray areas.”

  “Than why are we even here?” Brigit said, exasperated. “Why are we working towards a degree at LOTTOS? If it’s all handed out like candy, why spend the money or take the classes?”

  The dryad rounded back on Emma, pointing at her with her thumb. “Even if she doesn’t think there is anything wrong with cheating — and she should! — what about defacing library books? What about that, Ms. Hacker?”

  “I didn’t do that!” protested Em, her hands held up, palms forward in a defensive posture. “Not at all! I respect books. All I did was retrieve the test questions. I didn’t delete any files. I promise!”

  “She’s telling the truth,” said Logan. The three fae exchanged looks, obviously believing Logan’s statement when Emma’s hadn’t convinced them. They probably trusted his word over her, a relative stranger.

  After a pause, Em said, “When I was there, something else was also. I think it might have done the damage you’re talking about.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Celia. She was nervously running her fingers up and down the silver chain around her neck. Upset over the agitation between everyone.

  “When I was in the library network doing the job, I saw files deleted from the database. Later, something was moving about, physically shoving tables and book carts. When I ran, it tried to grab me.”

  Brigit’s me
rcurial fae temperament became calmer, considering Em’s statement.

  “Poltergeist?” Granite suggested, causing Brigit to reply, “Sure, the library has plenty of ghosts. “They like to play those types of fright-games: moving things, making noises, grabbing people. But I don’t think this fits.”

  Brigit frowned in thought, biting a fingernail.

  “While I can believe a ghost can suck all the power out of a computer battery, they wouldn’t be capable of this type of delicate surgery on a computer database. At least I don’t think so.”

  Emma explained more of what she experienced.

  “You’d expect blocks of areas to be destroyed if it was a computer failure. However, this was selecting specific titles from throughout the database.”

  “Then it’s intelligent,” said Logan.

  The earring dropped from Em’s ear and landed on her shoulder in the form of a small flying squirrel. The others were surprised at Obake’s appearance. The black cat rose on its haunches, its candle-flame eyes twinkling madly as its gaze fixated on the creature riding Em’s shoulder.

  The tsukumogami said, “There is a hostile, non-human entity in the library. It is not a human spirit.”

  Logan, remembering the strange monk at the party, said slowly, “I’ve seen it. Talked with it.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Brigit, while at the same time, Celia gasped, “You’ve met it?”

  “I don’t know what it was. But it wasn’t a ghost. It looked as solid as you and I. It also spoke with us, had a conversation.”

  Brigit countered, “Ghosts can appear solid, and they carry on a conversation as long as it is short. Usually, though, they just repeat whatever they were doing before their death. However, this summer, Jib and I met up with a creature posing as a ghost. It turned out to be a tulpa.”

  “Tulpa?” asked Logan, not familiar with the term.

  “Until we meet this thing, we won’t know what it is. Or why it’s destroying books.”

  Jib’s orange eyes narrowed. “Time to go hunting.”