The walk across The Isle was quick. I had no clue whether or not Liam would be at the B&B, but I didn’t know any place he’d be instead, nor did I have anyone to ask. Best to start at the beginning. Thankfully, the beginning was also the end of my short journey.
“Lily!” Liam rose from a seat at the coffee house just outside of the B&B. It could hardly be called a house, however. Born of a small wooden shack, the cafe’s only seating consisted of a few rickety tables plunked outside, and the only employee was a nervous young man who was so twitchy I wondered if he wasn’t high on espresso fumes. Liam waved. “How are you, dear? Let Sylvester know your order.”
I nodded to the twitchy espresso man called Sylvester. “One cappuccino, please.”
“Come, join me.” Liam pulled out a chair next to his. “What brings you around so soon?”
I waited to dive into my story until the cappuccino arrived a minute later, the frothy beverage delivering the jolt of caffeine I needed. Ranger X’s gesture had been nice, but the pot of coffee he’d made had been as undrinkable as a tub of gasoline. As I sipped, Liam watched me carefully.
“It’s good?”
“The best,” I said, glancing around. When it was clear that nobody was within listening distance, I bit my lip and struggled with where to start my request. There was no good place, so I dove right in. “I hear you have the ability to obtain, uh…” I hesitated. “Hard-to-find materials.”
Liam’s face didn’t register surprise, though one corner of his mouth quirked upwards. “I may, or I may have a friend who can help, depending on your needs.”
“This is private?”
“All of my business is private. Completely.”
“I’m looking for Dust of the Devil.”
Liam sat back. “Powerful. Dust of the Devil is a very volatile ingredient. May I ask what you plan to use it for?”
“Did the last Mixologist ever ask you how to find it?” I didn’t want to lay all my cards on the table before Liam gave me a peek into his hand. “From your reaction, it sounds like you’ve heard of it.”
“I’ve heard of it, though I’ve never sold it.”
My heart sank. “So my grandfather didn’t come to you for help?”
“I didn’t say that.” Liam crossed his arms over his chest, sizing me up for a long moment. Eventually, a ray of understanding crossed his face. “This is for your friend. The vampire.”
I shifted but didn’t answer either way.
“I’d forgotten about that. He only asked me for it once, many years ago.”
“If you don’t sell it, do you know who does?”
“It’s not a who…” Liam paused for an excruciatingly long moment. “It’s a where.”
“Where?”
Liam nodded. “The plant is self-sustaining. As I mentioned, it has volatile tendencies, so I refuse to transport it, as do most other traders.” My face must have sunk in dismay because he raised a finger. “Don’t look so blue, Lily-bell. Fortunately for you, it grows right here on The Isle.”
“No way,” I breathed out. “Really? I’ve been looking everywhere, and it’s right under my nose?”
“Not so much,” he said carefully. “It’s dangerous to use, and it’s dangerous to harvest. It lies within The Forest.”
I swallowed. “Can you lead me to it?”
Liam laughed softly. “My job does not require my hands to get dirty, and I like it that way. Some say I’m a pansy, but I don’t mind. I’d rather be a pansy than an idiot. I’m sorry, I don’t venture into The Forest.”
“But how will I find it?”
“Are you sure you want to?”
I thought of Poppy’s worried expression when she’d told me she was only taking a quarter of her necessary dosage. “I need it. Whatever it takes.”
“Fine. Give me your napkin.”
Chapter 19
Under the branches of a tree in bloom—
To the left of the biggest, yellow mushroom.
There, you’ll locate a desired find—
Take only enough; leave plenty behind.
I spent a few minutes in silence analyzing the riddle Liam had left on the napkin. “What’s wrong with good, old-fashioned directions?” I grumbled. “This means nothing to me.”
“Because you’ve never been to The Forest,” Liam said. “The Forest is a mystical place full of wonderful, dangerous things. Within The Forest’s boundaries, things have a tendency to move and flow with nature. There, directions are not a fixed entity, merely a directional tool.”