Nespos Bunnyhop didn’t acknowledge that I was being a pervert because he continued. “We're very lucky here. The humans who own this house have an enormous fence and they work all day. Sunup to sundown, five or six days a week. We're left with a glorious place to enjoy our lives." He looked around and sighed in contentment, then shuddered and continued, "In our stiff-state, we not only look like statues, we go into a stiff-state with our minds too. It’s almost like sleeping, but deeper. We have no idea what goes on during that time, but we awaken when humans are no longer around. We also go into fast stiff-states when we’re unsure of whether there's a human nearby. Like when we heard the gate opening when you arrived. When the three of you were in the garden, and we weren’t yet sure if it was safe to move. In our fast stiff-state, we're more aware of what’s going on. We’re simply assessing the situation.”
He looked at us intently, each of us in turn. “During our stiff-states, gnomes have been disappearing. This isn't unusual per se for our way of life. It is usual in these humans’ garden because this couple is very attached to us. It's the way of the gnome to sometimes be sold, given away, or even thrown away. We were sad about the changes, the losses, but understood. That is, until we found broken pieces of gnomes toward the rear of the gardens.”
Beth gasped. Daniel looked upset. I didn’t know what to think. “Why do you think there were broken pieces?”
Nespos stood up taller. “Someone's been smashing my people. Probably human children, but you never know. Now, great Karma, I would ask that you use your powers to make things right for my people. Use your powers to right this mighty wrong.” He pushed aside the branches of a bush and revealed what looked to be a gnome’s hand. “Before we lose more of our gnomes.”
Everyone stared at me, which was something I still wasn’t used to. Usually with these cases, my friends and I all contributed to fixing the problem, but today had been something else. Still, I was pretty sure this was the kind of stuff that my powers were meant to be used for, so I’d do my best.
I looked at Nespos Bunnyhop and matched his serious gaze. “I’ll try.” Heck, if gnomes were really being smashed, that was terrible. That was murder of a sentient, aware being.
The gnome released the branches and gave a small bow. “I’ll show you the other pieces.”
We headed through the garden, careful of the beautiful plants, and the tiny gnomes playing in all directions.
The gnomes were so small and so fast that I had to take a step back to really take them in. They were all painted different colors, with little accessories like hats and ribbons. Some had tiny bags, some had little bells on their hats, and some held tiny tools.
The gnomes laughed as they moved through the garden, enjoying their little lives.
When we made it through the rest of the garden and reached the woods, Nespos knelt beside another bush and showed me the top of a gnome’s hat, and a few other pieces I couldn’t quite identify. My stomach flipped.
“Did you find these pieces hidden around like this?” Beth asked.
“Not as well hidden, but, yes, they'd been tucked and hidden beneath various branches.”
Beth gave me a loaded look. “That doesn’t sound like human children being mischievous.”
“When did this start happening?” Daniel asked, his tone filled with tension.
Nespos sighed. “A few days ago.”
Daniel looked at Beth like he was asking for permission to continue asking questions, and she nodded. “How many gnomes have gone missing?”
“Six in total.” The older gnome sounded more than a little worried.
“Emma should be able to figure things out,” Beth told him reassuringly.
I wished I was as confident as she appeared to be. “I’ll try,” I told him yet again. "I promise you I'll try."
This time, I took a deep breath and called forth my powers. I reached deep within myself, seeking the magic within. It was like a spark of electricity that ran through my veins. I focused on the spark and called forth the power, willing it to take shape. Unfortunately, I felt nothing. Nothing at all. The spark wasn't there this time. Super strange. Surely there was something that needed my powers right now? The murder of all these gnomes was a good enough reason for Karma to do its thing.
Beth frowned. “I can sense magic here.”
“What kind of magic?” I asked, frowning.
She shook her head. “I’m not sure, but I get the sense someone used magic here recently.”
There must be something here for me. Maybe I just wasn’t feeling it yet. Shaking my hands at my sides, I started forward, moving away from the garden and into the woods, walking at random as I tried to reach for my powers. When I hesitated, Beth strode in front of me, and I followed her without a thought because she had that look on her face, the one that said she was onto something.
Nespos Bunnyhop shadowed our every step. Silent, but his expression was intense. This wasn’t a job for him. This was about his people, and he worried about them. Not that I blamed him. If my friends started disappearing and body parts showed up, I’d be nervous too.
“Wait,” Daniel said, and now he inhaled deeply. “There’s a smell.” Now we all followed him as he moved through the woods, until he stopped once more, looking at me with wide eyes. “It’s the same scent I picked up where the tree was cut down.”
“What does that mean?” Nespos asked, looking confused.
Daniel kept moving but answered over his shoulder. “I’m not sure yet.”
But I was. A chill rolled down my spine, and the woman's faceless face flashed through my mind again. Karma. She was involved in this gnome business too? First, the changeling, then the dwarves and the tree, and now the missing gnomes? What in the world was going on with this woman?
