Chapter 8 : Strange Dreams
Night in Ashvale was usually peaceful.
Except, of course, when your house contained a former demon queen masquerading as a six-year-old with an affinity for fire and a knack for stealing socks.
Elias stirred awake to the sound of something scratching against the floorboards.
Shhk... shhk... thump.
He sat upright in bed, rubbing sleep from his eyes. Moonlight spilled in through the wooden shutters, casting faint shadows across the small room. He blinked, adjusted his eyes—and frowned.
Rhea's bed was empty.
Blankets tossed. Pillow on the floor. No sign of the girl.
"Rhea?" he called, voice still groggy.
No answer.
He scrambled to his feet, grabbing the robe hanging by the bedpost. The cold floorboards bit at his toes as he padded out into the hallway. The scratching sound came again, this time from the main room.
Shhk... shhk...