Page 19 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie: Phlox's Story (Perfect Pixie Series Book 5)

Phlox

Erasmus wasn’t what I expected. Then again, having never met a necromancer, I wasn’t really certain what to expect. Black on black clothes? Dark eyeliner and eyeshadow? Sallow cheeks and a morose demeanor? Yeah, none of those things seemed to fit the man casually sitting in Peaches’s living room. The area was small, Erasmus even smaller, but the diminutive necromancer sucked up all the space.

Erasmus’s shaggy, dark brown hair gave the appearance he’d just rolled out of bed. His clothing did nothing to persuade me from that opinion. Erasmus’s faded t-shirt looked like it was a couple washes away from falling completely apart. His baggy cargo pants were equally worn with frayed edges kissing his tennis shoe-clad feet. Dark leather straps covered his wrists and his fingertips ended in dark blue painted nails.

“Pops said you need my services.” Erasmus smiled easily, showing off perfect white teeth. Erasmus leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “I saw the amount he said he’s charging, but the thing is, this is my business, not Pops’s.”

“Are you asking for more?” Parsnip asked, tone biting.

“Nah. Less, actually. I’m not greedy. You’ve got a problem and I’m a possible solution.” Erasmus leaned back and shrugged.

“Maybe he’s not as much of an asshat as his father,” Parsnip said, cocking his head to the side, taking in Erasmus’s comfortable posture.

Far from offended, Erasmus’s grin widened. “I’ll pass your opinion on to Pops. It’ll make his day.”

“I’ve no doubt,” Vander lamented. “Gaia, I need a beer if I’m gonna get through tonight.”

“Sorry, Van. I’ve got apple cider and water. No beer,” Peaches apologized.

Vander waved him off. “No worries. I’ll self-medicate when I get home.”

Parsnip rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything else.

While Lucroy didn’t appear terribly impressed with our latest visitor’s attire, he seemed a bit mollified by Erasmus’s words. “Your father led us to believe you are the correct necromancer for the job.”

Again, Erasmus shrugged. “I suppose that remains to be seen, but I’ll see what I can do.” He spread his arms wide and added, “That’s the best I can offer.”

“Well, it’s a damn site better than what anyone else in the room can say.” Vander rubbed his hands over his facial scruff before sighing. “I wish Sedrick could be here. Phil too,” Vander offered Parsnip. “I hope the problem in the mine isn’t bad.”

“And that Ruthie’s truly on the mend,” Peaches said, and Parsnip eagerly nodded.

Sedrick and Phil were supposed to be here but there’d been an unexpected issue with the Voss mine and Sedrick’s presence was needed. Phil could have driven out to Peaches’s on his own but evidently Ruthie got into a little trouble and had to shift a few times to heal a broken leg. She was still a bit hobbled and with Sedrick gone, Phil didn’t want to leave Ruthie and Dillon alone also.

“We can fill them in later,” Peaches said.

Lucroy remained silent, gaze fixed on Erasmus. The sun wouldn’t set for another three hours. While it might not be a physical threat, I’d noticed Lucroy was a bit grumpier when he had to be up during the daylight. The time of the meeting definitely ruled Leon’s presence out.

Erasmus’s gaze swept the room. “Not that this isn’t fun and all, but vampire company excluded, I don’t see anything dead around.”

Peaches sucked in an angry breath. His wings sped, filling the room with golden dust.

“Whoa.” Erasmus dramatically covered his nose. “Can you ease up on the pixie dust. I didn’t mean any offense.”

“Gaia save us.” Vander pressed his thumb and forefinger against the bridge of his nose.

“Ray and Wendall should be here soon,” Parsnip attempted to soothe. “They just had to snag Sylvie’s body. They travel a lot faster than—”

The air vibrated, a bright vertical slit ripping the air. Ray’s head popped through. He took a moment to peer around the room before simply stating, “We will take this outside.” The atmospheric tear sealed shortly after he disappeared.

“Shit, that’s impressive.” Erasmus’s eyes widened, bright green and wide.

“Yeah, yeah. Fairies are all that. Come on, Parsnip. Let’s do what the pretty fairy says and head outside where there’s more room.” Vander pushed out of his chair and Parsnip followed. I motioned Erasmus to go before me, and Peaches and Lucroy brought up the rear. When we exited the house, Lucroy kept to the shadowed porch.

We’d no more stepped outside than a flurry of bright lights swarmed toward us. Seeing one was impressive, but a cloud of twinkling stars was something to behold.

“They’ll want some of your dust. Are you okay with that?” Peaches asked me politely.

“It’s fine. I’m not sure I’m ready to be swarmed, so maybe just a few at a time.”

Peaches’s smile was near angelic. “They can abide by the rules. They’ll be thrilled.” Peaches met the horde a few feet out and laid down the current law. Thankfully, they seemed eager to abide my wishes.

“Fuck, it’s been an age since I’ve seen sprites,” Erasmus said, lifting his hand so one could perch. His grin appeared natural and completely at ease. “Pops has a colony in the forest surrounding his house. I used to play with them when I was a kid. I still go out and visit when I can. I’ve got no idea what they’re saying, but I like the high-pitched language.”

Personally, I thought there was something wrong with Erasmus’s hearing. But I suppose to each his own.

The air shimmered again, and Ray walked through the portal he created. Wendall wasn’t far behind and in between them was Sylvie’s limp corpse.

I drew in a deep breath. The witch looked like she’d just had her heart ripped out moments before, not days ago. Fresh blood still leaked from the wound.

“Stasis spell,” Wendall helpfully supplied when I gasped. “I know, I was surprised too when I saw her. The fairies Aunt Silvidia sent to the compound placed a stasis spell over the entire place. No one’s getting in or out, and nothing decays or decomposes. It’s like time stood still inside.” Wendall shivered. “It was weirdly uncomfortable being inside.”

“I should have had you remain in the garden outside,” Ray said. His tone was cool but there was a niggle of concern that softened it.

“No. It was fine. Weird, but okay.”

Trinket danced on Wendall’s shoulder, cooing and chirping her agreement.

“What the hell?” Erasmus leaned in and unwisely poked a finger in Trinket’s direction. The little scuttlebutt puffed up and opened her mouth but didn’t lunge. “Holy shit!” Instead of being afraid, Erasmus’s grin took up his whole face. “Those are some impressive chompers.”

Ray closely monitored the situation. “Scuttlebutts are very discerning. It is fortunate she does not believe you a threat, necromancer.”

Pulling his arm back, Erasmus stuffed his hands into the deep pockets of his cargos. “Nah, not a threat to anything living, that’s for sure. Now the dead, that’s a different matter.”

Ray placed Sylvie’s body on the ground, face down. While he wasn’t rough with her corpse, he wasn’t overly respectful either.

Crouching, Erasmus placed his elbows on his bent knees. “I’m assuming this is the witch you want brought back. I thought there was a troll too.”

“If necessary, will retrieve him when we are finished with the witch,” Ray answered.

“Whatever. Makes no difference to me.” Erasmus shrugged but remained crouched where he was.

We waited, standing in silence as we ringed the dead witch and necromancer.

“Do you require anything else?” Ray calmly asked.

“Nope. Just me,” Erasmus answered. “No chicken sacrifice, blood, verbal mojo, or anything else. Quiet sometimes helps, but I don’t think that’ll be a problem with you lot.”

Erasmus wasn’t wrong. No one seemed willing to speak, not even Peaches. He’d flown back to Lucroy’s side and was snuggled in close. I don’t think any of us were looking forward to today. Curious, yes. Eager, not so much.

“Okay. Times not really wasting, but I think we can all agree the sooner this is done, the sooner everyone can relax.”

“Anytime you are ready, necromancer,” Ray said. Erasmus bristled but didn’t contradict what he was.

Eyes slipping closed, Erasmus took two large breaths, exhaling deeply. I was no necromancer, but he appeared to be centering himself. When he said, “Gotcha,” I wondered if what I’d thought was correct or not.

“Time to wake up and spill what’s left of your guts, Sylvie Tabitha Danube.”

I’d been unaware of her last name, let alone middle. When Sylvie’s body jerked, it took every ounce of self-restraint not to do the same. It was incredibly unsettling.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Parsnip said and when I glanced up, he did look a little green. Vander wrapped his arm around Parsnip’s waist and took a couple of steps back. Given Parsnip’s reaction, I was glad he was to her back. I had a frontal view and couldn’t say it was pretty.

Standing on shaky legs, Sylvie slowly rose. Head lifted, her glazed eyes traveled the area, attempting to make sense of the nonsensical. The hole Leon punched through the center of her chest continued leaking. If I lowered myself to just the correct angle, I’d probably be able to see clear through to the other side.

“Who are you?” Sylvie asked, and this time I did shiver. I knew she was dead, that Leon and I were safe, but I couldn’t forget the casual way she spoke of ending Leon’s life or her plans to sell me to the highest ogre bidder.

Sylvie’s eyes locked on me. “I know you.” Confusion gave way to recognition, and she drew in a hissed breath. Hands flying, she began chanting words that sounded familiar and yet remained foreign.

“Ah, ah, ah.” Erasmus waved a naughty finger in front of Sylvie’s face. “None of that if you please.”

Sylvie’s hands dropped and her mouth hung open, words lost. She stared. I think we all stared, waiting to see what Erasmus would do. His crossed arms and causal stance were underwhelming and more than a little disappointing.

“Thank you,” Erasmus said, sounding endlessly polite. “Sylvie Tabitha Danube,” Sylvie flinched when Erasmus spoke her full name. “These individuals are going to ask you questions and you will answer them.” Erasmus’s tone changed when he said the word will. There was a weight to that singular word that wasn’t present in the rest of them. Sylvie must have felt it too if her full body shudder was anything to go by.

“Who are you?” Sylvie asked, teeth gritted. The twin bloody trails leaking from the corners of her lips made her appear even more macabre.

“Someone who’s in control of your very essence,” Erasmus answered.

Sylvie’s sucked in breath wheezed through her damaged body. “Necromancer.” The word came out more curse than statement.

Erasmus gave a slight bow. “I take it you have some idea the situation you’re in?”

Mouth slamming closed, Sylvie’s jaw worked from side to side. I wasn’t sure if she’d been aware she was dead when Erasmus brought her consciousness back or not. If she hadn’t and just figured it out, Sylvie didn’t seem nearly as disturbed as I thought she should be.

“I will answer nothing. Send me back across the vale.” Sylvie’s lips twisted with hatred. “You are a vile, unnatural creature. Your warlock sire should have put you in the ground when you were born.”

I flinched at her words wishing Leon was next to me, holding me like Vander held Parsnip, like Ray placed a comforting hand on Wendall’s shoulder, like Lucroy ran his hand up and down Peaches’s back, easing his wing muscles. I’d never felt the need for another so sharply as I did in that moment.

Far from visually offended, Erasmus rubbed the back of his neck and let loose a weighty sigh. “You seem confused, Sylvie Tabitha Danube. You are not the one in control. I am.” Again, those words carried weight. It was difficult to tell in the sunlight, but I thought I saw Erasmus’s eyes gleam when he said those words. “Now, they will ask you questions, and you will answer them truthfully.”

“Or what?” Sylvie sneered. “I’m already dead. You can do nothing to me, necromancer.”

Erasmus was quiet for a few seconds. He stood there, hands stuffed deep into his pockets, eyes locked on Sylvie’s corpse. When he finally spoke, his words were laced with underlying confidence. “Looks like you wanna do this the hard way. That’s okay. It’ll take more time and it’ll be hell on you, but I don’t really care. The opinion of a witch who’d participate in a pixie trafficking ring means nothing to me.” I’d yet to hear Erasmus’s voice so cold. “Now, as for what I can do to you…” This time, the glow lighting Erasmus’s eyes was unmistakable.

An unholy scream erupted from Sylvie’s mouth. Head thrown back, she wailed into the sky before bending over, hands clasped over the hole in her chest. The scream went on and on, repeating without relenting.

Vander’s jaw was taut while Parsnip’s lips were parted in horror. Peaches buried his face in Lucroy’s chest while the vampire stood statue still, his hands clasped over his beloved’s ears. The sprites flew away, fast and furious. And Erasmus, he just stood there, hands still stuffed in his pants’ pockets, shoulders loose and posture at ease. His eyes retained that ethereal green glow.

Following Lucroy’s example, I slapped my hands over my ears, not that it helped much. Sylvie’s scream tore through my brain. My jaw clamped tight, teeth grinding while I prayed to the goddess for the sound to stop.

“Enough,” Erasmus finally said, his eyes fading back to human green. Sylvie’s screams trailed off into intermittent whimpers. At some point, her corpse had fallen to the ground leaving her on hands and knees.

Erasmus crouched down in front of her, much like he’d done before bringing her consciousness back.

“You said I couldn’t do anything more to you. I believe I just proved that I can and will. I can make you relive the pain of your death again and again and again. Since I’m not immortal, I can’t do it for eternity, but I can maintain it as long as I’m alive. I don’t even have to be nearby. I can be on the other side of the world, and it wouldn’t matter.” Placing the tip of his finger under Sylvie’s chin, Erasmus lifted her head so he could stare into her eyes. “And that’s just a taste of what I can do. I assure you, Sylvie Tabitha Danube, I can do far worse. I can rip apart your soul until there is nothing left. You will cease to exist. Or I can send your soul to a place where it will be tormented for eternity. The choice is yours.”

Erasmus removed his hand, allowing Sylvie’s head to drop. Standing, he shoved his hands back into his pockets.

“Now, I believe there are some questions my associates would like to ask. It would be infinitely easier on them if you would stand, Sylvie Tabitha Danube.”

Sylvie stood. Her legs were shaky, but she managed. I honestly didn’t think she had another choice.

“Will you answer their questions honestly?” Before she could answer, Erasmus held up a halting finger and added, “Fair warning, I will know if you are lying.”

Hatred, pure, hot, and all-consuming glared through Sylvie’s eyes. Through gritted teeth, Sylvie agreed. “I will answer.”

“Excellent.” Erasmus’s gaze scanned our group. “Not sure who’s up first, but she’s all yours.”

I immediately looked to Ray. His slightly inclined gesture let me know the floor was mine.

Stepping forward, Sylvie’s hatred found a new target in me. Yeah, right back at you, I thought while pushing my own disgust into my gaze. Whatever miniscule sympathy I’d felt earlier dissipated when I stared into her cruel eyes.

I started out with the obvious. “You performed a transportation spell with the direct aim of capturing me, a pixie, to sell for profit. Is that correct?”

“Obviously,” Sylvie spat.

“And you got someone extra, someone not expected.”

“Lucroy Moony’s second.”

“Yes, Leon. At first you were upset but soon figured out you could potentially profit from his capture. You contacted someone to see if Leon was worth more dead or alive.” Those words felt like ash on my tongue. “Who did you contact?”

Sylvie’s lips twisted into a sneer. Fresh blood no longer leaked to the surface. Now the dried substance cracked and flaked with her skin’s movement.

“I don’t know.” Her grin was monstrous with its joy.

My wings snapped open, and I flew to her eyelevel. “You do know.”

Sylvie’s laugh was more cackled glee than joy. “Oh, but I don’t. All I have are code names and server contacts. I don’t know for certain who’s on the other end. I don’t know who pays my bills or who is in charge.” Sylvie’s hate-filled eyes traveled to Erasmus, focusing on the necromancer. “He knows I’m telling the truth. You’ve done all this for nothing,” she spat.

I turned, hoping Sylvie was lying. One glance at Erasmus’s face along with an abbreviated head shake let me know she wasn’t.

Furious, I spun and began pixie pacing. Hands gripped into tight fists, my brain fought for calm. There had to be more we could get from her. I knew Hamish was still working on her computer. He might still be able to track the IP address but there was no guarantee. Frustration threatened to consume me. I needed to calm the fuck down and think. I needed to—

“If you’ll allow me.” Ray’s frosty voice cleared a path through my mental cloud.

“Go for it.” I waved a hand in Sylvie’s general direction.

“Thank you, Agent Frost.” Ray didn’t bother moving from Wendall’s side. He remained at Sylvie’s back when he asked, “How many pixies have you captured and sold?”

I braced myself for the answer, but a collective pixie gasp filled the air when Sylvie casually answered, “Seven.”

Seven. Seven pixies.Even if she considered me one of them, that left six unaccounted ones out there. I grasped the fabric over my chest, the ache in my heart nearly unbearable.

“And you sold them all to the same buyer?” Ray asked.

“No.”

“Were all the buyers associated with the same organization?” Ray asked, undeterred.

“Yes.” Sylvie was sticking with one-word answers but so far she was being truthful.

“I see,” Ray calmly said. “A lot of money has changed hands. Money can be a precious commodity to some, but the current scale seems exorbitant, especially considering the risk. Should they be found out, death will be swift and immediate.”

Sylvie said nothing. She stood there, staring out into the distant orchard and lips little more than a thin line.

“I am curious what one would need with all that money. What would make the risk worth it?” Ray mused out loud but still hadn’t asked Sylvie a direct question. He corrected that calculated mistake when he asked, “Do you know the purpose of those misbegotten funds?”

Sylvie hesitated before she answered, “I’m sure I wouldn’t know.”

“Lie,” Erasmus flatly stated. “You get one warning, Sylvie Tabitha Danube.”

Sylvie’s hatred only grew and for a minute I thought her head might explode with all her barely suppressed rage. “I do not know exactly, only that they are seeking something rare, something powerful, something that can even destroy your precious Fairy.”

Wendall gasped, Trinket wailed, and Ray remained stoically silent.

“Something that can destroy Fairy?” Vander shifted closer, fingers still entwined with Parsnip’s. “What in the hell could that be? The only thing I can even think of is… Gaia, no. That can’t be it.” Vander’s head turned toward Ray. “She can’t be talking about what I think she is.”

“I believe it is entirely possible,” Lucroy said, walking closer to the porch edge. The sun was lower in the sky, its rays not as potent. Leaving the porch, Lucroy walked into those dying rays without hesitation. Peaches flew by his side, yellow-gold pixie dust trailing in his wake.

“Shit, fuck, and damn,” Vander cursed while palming his forehead.

My attention snapped between each of them, wondering what I was missing. “What?” I asked. Beyond brownies, I couldn’t think of anything that might be a threat to a fairy, let alone the land of Fairy. “What am I missing?”

“I’d like to know that too,” Erasmus said. He didn’t sound nearly as casual as before. “Anything that threatens Fairy gets my attention.”

Ignoring Erasmus and me, Ray asked Sylvie, “Is that their goal? The destruction of Fairy?”

She shrugged. “I have no idea what their objective is, only that whatever it is they are looking for is the most powerful weapon ever created.”

“Djinn.” Parsnip’s voice was so low I barely parsed the word.

Erasmus’s shoulder snapped taught. “Djinn? They don’t exist.” Eyes wide, Erasmus gaze fell on each and every one of us. While I’d not been involved in the incident with Aurelia, I knew of it and knew that djinn did indeed exist.

“I mean, they used to, but that was a long time ago and…” Erasmus’s words drifted while he came to terms with the fact djinn were real and still present within the world. “Well, fucking fuck.” Erasmus threw his hands in the air and twirled, walking away while his mind processed the fear assaulting his heart.

Sylvie’s grin was nothing short of evil. “If that is what they seek, you are all dead. Including you, necromancer.” She raised her voice, allowing it to travel the distance Erasmus walked.

“Yeah? Well, looks like you bit the big one first,” I spat. It wasn’t a very good comeback, but it was all I had.

Ray was more professional than me and asked Sylvie a few more questions she didn’t know the answers to. Erasmus confirmed she wasn’t lying. Sylvie didn’t know where the other pixies she’d kidnapped were. She didn’t know the true name of any of her contacts. She didn’t know how many others were involved in the ring. In the end, she didn’t know a hell of a lot and what she did know only served to scare the shit out of me.

“I believe we are finished,” Ray finally said. “You may do with her as you will, necromancer.”

“His name’s Erasmus,” Wendall scolded. I was glad he spoke up. I didn’t know Erasmus well enough to say if I liked him or not. What I could say was that he’d done what we’d asked and not charged as much as his father requested. What I also knew was that his abilities were scary as fuck. Could he really do all the things he threatened Sylvie with? I wasn’t certain. The very idea was horrid. While Erasmus himself wasn’t so bad, what he was capable of was. I could understand why others were so leery of necromancers.

Erasmus gave Wendall a fist bump as thanks before becoming serious. Erasmus exhaled deeply before he said, “Sylvie Tabitha Danube, I release you. May your afterlife be a reflection and judgement of your living days.”

Sylvie’s eyes shot wide before her corpse crumpled to the ground, little more than an empty husk once more.

We all stood there, staring at the Sylvie’s unmoving remains.

“Ray, do you—” Wendall started.

“Peaches, I believe it is time to revive Aurelia,” Ray interrupted.

Peaches’s wings fluttered. “Do you really think that’s necessary? I promised her she could rest and that I wouldn’t contact her unless absolutely necessary.”

“Wait.” I held up my hands, palms out. “Hold up. Aurelia, the djinn? You want to wake her up?” I gazed around the group and gawked, “She’s here? You have Aurelia on the land?”

“You have a djinn?” Erasmus gawked, his voice a couple octaves above its typical cadence. “Are you serious right now?”

“Erasmus.” Ray used the necromancer’s name this time. “You have our thanks. We may wish to revive the troll at a later time, but not immediately. You may go if you wish.” I was halfway surprised Ray didn’t order Erasmus to leave. I think Erasmus was just as surprised.

“Are you kidding me? I’m not going anywhere. Until about five minutes ago, I didn’t know djinn truly existed and now you’re telling me you’ve got one and are about to bring them out. Yeah, not about to miss that.”

Vander grunted. “Listen, kid, djinn aren’t something you want to get involved with. Aurelia’s…”

“Not that bad,” Parsnip finished. “We think,” he added with less certainty.

“Regardless, Peaches will have control of her object of attachment,” Ray attempted to reassure.

“That is little comfort when all of Aurelia’s previous masters are deceased,” Lucroy coldly replied.

“It’s okay,” Peaches attempted to soothe. “It’s not like I’m going to ask her to do anything beyond maybe give us some information. I probably won’t even need to make a wish.”

Wendall left Ray’s side, Trinket on his shoulder as he made his way toward Peaches. “You know, I’d like to see her. I never got the chance to thank her for saving my life.”

“A djinn saved your life?” Awe was clear in Erasmus’s voice. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”

“Not in the least,” Wendall happily answered.

“Gaia, this is insane.” Erasmus plopped down on the ground, legs crossed. “Pops is never going to believe this.”

“No, he will not. He will also never hear of it,” Ray said, tone stern.

Erasmus’s head snapped up, his gaze harsh. “Are you telling me I have to keep quiet?”

“If you value your life, then yes,” Ray answered easily.

Erasmus’s jaw snapped closed, and his eyes narrowed.

“Ray, you really need to work on your delivery,” Wendall tsked before crouching in front of Erasmus. “He really doesn’t mean to be so direct and scary.” Wendall’s fingers wiggled when he said the word, scary. “He’s actually a big softie,” Wendall whispered even though all of us could hear him, including Ray.

Erasmus eyed Wendall as if he were crazy. “Hellfire Rayburn is not a softie.”

“Indeed, I am not,” Ray agreed.

Wendall waved him off. “Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration. I was just trying to point out that we need you to keep quiet about this for everyone’s safety. We’ve already got one crazy out there possibly searching for a djinn. We don’t need it getting out that they truly exist and have others going off the deep end trying to find them. And for Peaches’s and Lucroy’s safety, it’s best no one know they’ve got a djinn stashed somewhere nearby.”

Erasmus raised an eyebrow. “You’re telling me I shouldn’t worry about a vamp having ready access to an all-powerful djinn?”

Lucroy looked as annoyed as a vamp can. “I assure you, necromancer, I have no use for such. I have found my beloved. Peaches is all I require. My second life is well and truly fulfilled. There is nothing a djinn can offer that I do not already have.”

“And I’ve got Lucroy and my bonded orchard.” Peaches flew up and kissed Lucroy’s temple. “I’ve got all I need too,” Peaches defended even though Erasmus hadn’t seemed bothered by the knowledge that a pixie had access to a djinn.

Blowing out a breath, Erasmus hung his head. “Gaia, this is surreal.”

“Tell me about it,” Vander agreed. “But it is what it is.”

“You didn’t tell the Magical Usage Counsel that Aurelia’s object of attachment remains on Peaches’s bonded land.” I wasn’t sure if I should be irritated by that or not. In the end, I thought I understood and said just as much. “Unless something changes, you’ve got my word I won’t mention it.” It was as much of a promise as I could make.

“Very well,” Ray answered. “Peaches, if you will please retrieve Aurelia.”

Peaches flew off into his orchard. None of us followed. I didn’t want to know where he’d stashed Aurelia’s object of attachment. Controlling a djinn only had one final outcome—death.