Page 22 of Perfectly Petite Shorts (Perfect Pixie)

This couldn’t be happening. How many times had I thought that in the past ten years?

Too many to count and yet I couldn’t stop thinking it.

Georgiana was fading. The magic sustaining her life was nearly gone.

I stared at the ring on my finger, its onyx surface cut through with red veining.

Georgiana had used up the last bits of magic creating it for me.

I’d begged her not to, but she’d quickly reminded me of my first lesson—never argue with a brownie.

“Vander.” Georgiana’s tone was soft, as if it took too much energy to say that simple word. “Come. Sit with me.” Her small hand waved me over.

Sitting on the edge of her tiny bed, I laid my hands over hers. Time had darkened my fingertips. They’d blacken more as I aged just as my hair would continue whitening. While still young, I was at a more respectable age than when Georgiana and Byx found me in that alley all those years ago.

“You should save your energy,” I gently scolded.

Georgiana waved me off. “I believe that ship has already sailed.” Her smile was soft and full of apologies. “I never wanted to leave you and Byx.”

“I know.” And Gaia, if there was ever anything I was certain of, it was that.

Georgiana squeezed my hands. “There’s not much time left.”

“No, we’ll figure something out.” I’d been searching for a cure since the day Georgiana told me she was suffering the same fate as her mother.

I’d come up short on nearly every avenue I’d explored.

There was one possibility, but I’d found it too late.

If we’d started storing Georgiana’s magic, it could have been siphoned back into her.

By the time I realized the possibility, she’d already lost too much and there was absolutely nothing to spare.

Georgiana’s magic no longer renewed itself.

Storing it away would have been pointless.

“Oh, Vander. It’s far too late for that and you know it.”

I shook my head, my too long hair flopping back and forth. “No. I refuse to believe that. I—”

“Hush. It’s time to think of the future. A future without me in it. ”

It felt like the house fell on my chest, crushing it.

I couldn’t think of such a thing. I couldn’t even imagine it.

I didn’t want to imagine it. Georgiana was more than family.

She was… Gaia, there wasn’t a word that had been created to describe what this small brownie was to me.

She’d saved me in every way someone could be saved.

Even now, at the end, she was still trying to save me.

I suspicioned it would be a never-ending task.

“I know you don’t want to discuss this, but we need to.” Georgiana inhaled, raising her diminished frame. The blankets covering her barely lifted. Her eyes slipped closed, and when she opened them again, they shone with determination. “I’m leaving Byx in your care.”

I jerked back, stunned. “There has to be somebody better than me.”

“There’s not. She belongs with you.”

I gripped her hands tighter. The ring Georgiana had given me quiescently sat by two others I’d crafted myself. “I can barely take care of myself, Georgiana. How do you—”

“Hush. You’ll do just fine. She’ll be safe with you.”

I tightened my fingers further. “I don’t—”

“I do. Trust me. Trust my sight. You love her.”

“As if she were my own,” I answered, my words choked with emotion.

“Byx loves you too. She’s special. Others will come for her.

They’ll try and use her magic. You can’t let them do that.

Only you can protect her—from others and herself.

” Georgiana frowned. “There’s a chance…she might be like me.

This horrible disease might be inside her too.

You have to make sure she doesn’t wind up like me. You have to—”

“I’ll do everything I can. I’ll lay waste to anyone that touches a hair on her head, and I’ll figure out a way to beat this shit.

” I already had an idea. Thinking of storing Georgiana’s magic came too late to help her, but might help Byx.

I just needed to find a way to weave the magic into a form that could do that.

Georgiana’s lips lifted into a fond grin. “I know you will. That’s why I’m leaving her with you. That’s why I chose you, Vander.”

The tears stinging my eyes finally fell free, slipping down my cheeks and dripping onto our clasped hands. There was no way I was worthy of this. No way Georgiana should choose me, and yet, here we were.

“I don’t want you to leave me. To leave us ,” I amended while thinking of Byx. We’d mourn differently, but our level of grief could consume us.

“I know, but this is what the magic chose for me.”

Georgiana believed in the magic the same way I believed in Gaia. Both could be cruel mistresses. Sometimes I praised Gaia, and other times I wanted to scream and rave until the walls crumbled.

“The magic can go fuck itself,” I childishly answered.

Instead of scolding me, Georgiana laughed.

The sound was a pale echo of memories of her joy.

“That’s my Vander. Always pushing. Always fighting.

It’s why I know you’ll do everything you can for Byx.

” Eyes going wider, Georgiana whispered, “I’ve seen what you can do, what you will do.

The road will be difficult, but I promise you a happy destination. ”

I stared at the dark ring on my finger. “That’s why you gave me this.” I raised my ringed finger.

Georgiana’s grin turned into a smirk. “Yes, well, I did say the journey would be difficult, and you are a stubborn ass at the best of times. You’ll be a fool, and you’ll have to do a fair bit of groveling, but as long as you trust the magic, you will find your peace.”

I hung my head. “And Byx?”

“Byx will be just fine, as long as she has you.”

I’d never fully understood the visions Georgiana had. She always called it the sight . I’d experienced hundreds of visions with Georgiana over the years, and they all looked horridly painful. She’d never once complained. I’d cursed enough for the both of us.

Thoughts of Byx were both soothing and suffocating.

How was I supposed to raise a brownie child?

Byx was more like the teenage version of a brownie, and if anything, that was worse.

The weight of responsibility hung heavy, and yet I knew I would find a way.

It was the least I could do to repay her for…

My thoughts trailed off, wandering back to that dank, horrid alley she and Byx had found me in.

I can’t pay you , I’d said. Georgiana told me then that money wasn’t the only form of repayment. I hadn’t understood at the time. I did now. This was how I repaid my debt. Only it wasn’t a burden. No matter how difficult I thought raising Byx would be, I never once thought of it in those terms.

I managed to scrounge up every last drop of confidence and said, “I’ll take care of her.”

Georgiana’s knowing smile would have been answer enough. “I know you will. You’ll take care of each other.” Her eyelids slipped lower, and Georgiana’s fingers lost their grip. “I’m sorry, Vander. I’m afraid the fatigue is taking over again.”

That happened with increasing frequency. Georgiana slept far more than was normal. She was down to only being awake a few short minutes of the day. She’d stopped eating two days ago and barely drank any water. Soon she would close her eyes for the final time.

“I need to see Byx the next time I’m awake,” Georgiana said, confirming my fears.

“I’ll make certain she’s here.” It was difficult keeping her out of her momma’s room. I often found Byx curled up next to her, Georgiana none the wiser as her body slept through the encounter .

“Thank you, Vander.”

There would never be a need for Georgiana to thank me. I’d told her that before and she’d reminded me of our first lesson. I’d stopped arguing fairly quickly.

Georgiana’s eyelids fluttered closed, and her hand went lax within mine.

I remained where I was, holding those fragile fingers, Georgiana’s dark brown skin a stark contrast to my pale white.

If it were possible, I would have moved heaven and earth to save her.

But some things were beyond magic, or at least what magic allowed.

“Vander?” Byx’s soft voice interrupted my thoughts. “Can I come in?”

Roughly scrubbing my tear-stained cheeks, I motioned Byx in. “Sure.” I waved her inside. “Your momma’s sleeping again.”

Byx crawled up on the bed, snuggling up to Georgiana’s side. The sight tore my heart to shreds.

Clearing my throat, I managed to say, “Your momma wants to see you the next time she’s awake.”

Byx’s fingers carded through Georgiana’s hair, brushing it away from her face. “It’s almost time. Isn’t it?”

There was no point in lying. “I’m afraid so.”

Byx’s eyes slid closed, her tears joining my own. “What will happen when she’s gone? Who will I live with?”

I gazed at Georgina’s limp fingers before my eyes tracked to her serene face. Trust the magic . I swallowed hard and asked, “Would you like to stay with me?”

Byx’s head turned, her large brown eyes swimming in an ocean of saltwater. “You mean live with you? As in, you’d be my guardian?”

I nodded. “If you’d like.” Despite what Georgiana said, if Byx wasn’t comfortable with the idea, then I wouldn’t push it.

I shouldn’t have worried. Rocketing off the bed, Byx threw herself at me. Releasing Georgiana’s hand, I caught Byx up in my arms and squeezed her to my chest. “You mean it?” she asked, as if she was afraid to hope it was true.

“I mean it. It’s what your momma wants. It’s what I want too.”

Byx pushed away and I let her get a little distance so I could look into her eyes. “Momma’s smart. You need someone to take care of you.” Byx’s small chin jutted out. “You’re a mess without us.”

I hadn’t thought I’d be capable of laughing, and yet that’s exactly what I did. “No arguing that.”

Byx chewed on her bottom lip before giving a firm nod. “Okay then. I’ll stay with you.” Her head cocked to the side, and she asked, “I can still see Grandma Lilian. Right?”

“Anytime you want.”

My answer appeared to appease any of Byx’s misgivings.

“Okay then. You’ve got yourself a deal.” She thrust out her hand, and I grasped it within mine.

I was always careful not to squeeze too hard.

Going up on her knees, Byx poked a finger into my chest. “But just so you know, if you screw up, I’ll zap you just like Momma. Don’t think I won’t.”

Laughter once more slipped through my lips.

“I never had a doubt. Come here, kiddo.” Byx fell into my arms again, and I cradled her to my chest. Georgiana had trusted me with the most precious gift of all—her daughter.

I would do everything in my power not to betray that trust. Maybe we weren’t related by blood, but Georgiana was right.

Found family was just as good, if not more special, than blood relatives.

Byx was as much my daughter as she was Georgiana’s.

“Are we going to be okay?” Byx asked, her voice unusually soft.

I considered the question before finally answering, “Eventually.”

Byx was quiet for a moment before she said, “I hope so.”

Trust in the magic. “I know so. ”

I held Byx as she fell asleep. Lying her beside Georgiana once more, I tucked them both in before rising and finding a nearby warlock sized chair.

Stretching my long legs out, I rested my hands on my belly while staring at the black ring on my finger.

Twisting it this way and that, I tilted my head back, my eyes slipping closed.

I’d rest while I could while watching over Byx and Georgiana.

I’d jealously guard what little time the three of us had together.

Before Byx and Georgiana found me, Time had felt never ending. But now…now there simply wasn’t enough.