Page 30 of Purrfectly Peculiar Pixie: Phlox's Story (Perfect Pixie Series Book 5)

Leon

Shocked silence filled the air. Janus’s body hovered and then collapsed as if the strings holding him were suddenly severed. The inked tattoos covering his skin evaporated like they’d never existed. Still broad and large, Janus’s ears became small, like a human’s. Curled into a ball, he lay there on the ground, shivering but alive.

Arie stared, mouth opened and eyes wide with disbelief. Alpha Belview recovered first and ordered, “Janus, I wish you to rise.”

Nothing happened.

“Janus! You will do as your master commands.”

Aurelia appeared again, this time outside the barrier, kneeling by Janus’s side. “He no longer has a master to command him.” Looking up at Arie’s seething face, Aurelia remained calm. “I believe he was warned. As were you.” Standing, her attention turned to Erasmus. “It is as you said it would be. The magical bindings were destroyed when you returned Janus’s soul. He is alive and…human.” Aurelia said that last with a bit of confusion. No one still living knew if all djinn were created from humans or if witches used other species. Given the similarities between Aurelia and Janus, most likely Aurelia’s original form had been human also.

“You…y-you can’t,” Arie muttered. “It’s not possible.”

“I believe you have just been proven wrong,” I answered, most likely echoing other thoughts.

“No.” The word started out low and grew in strength. “No!” Arie growled.

“I do not believe Alpha Belview takes defeat well,” Lucroy said, tone icy.

Peaches huffed and taunted, “You’d think by now he’d be better at it.”

Arie roared and when he turned, his arms were covered in fur and claws sprouted from his fingertips. “You think this is the end? You think you’ve defeated me?”

Vander sighed, long and deep. “He’s right, you know. This shit will keep going until he’s dead.”

“Alpha Belview’s sentence under fairy law is clear,” Ray answered. “Peaches, while your aide has been appreciated, I believe it is time to leave its safety.”

“Be my guest, but also be careful,” Peaches answered eagerly. “There are still a lot of wolves out there and not many of you.”

“There’s plenty of us,” Parsnip said, flying high and chest puffed out. “Besides, it’s clear most of his pack doesn’t want to fight.”

“Shawn’s mother might be out there,” Peaches reminded us.

“Damn,” Vander cursed. “Your beloved has a point, Lucroy. I hate killing the innocent.”

“Then try and just knock them out,” Parsnip answered. “We’ll sort out who’s who later.”

“Easier said than done,” I said while allowing my transformation to overtake me. While not as tall as Lucroy, my vampiric form was impressive. When I glanced in Phlox’s direction, I had to look down. My beloved had already shifted. Puffed up, he appeared twice his actual size. Claws digging into the ground, it was clear Phlox was ready to rend flesh from bones.

“Shit, that’s what he is?” Peaches said, flying lower. “Dylan and Ruthie will be sorry they missed this. He’s so freaking cute.” Directing a hand Phlox’s direction, Peaches yanked his fingers back as Phlox bared his teeth and swatted.

“I do not believe that wise, beloved,” Lucroy said while coming to Peaches side.

“Do not underestimate him due to his size,” I defended my beloved before leaning over and raking my talons through his thick fur. Pleasured pride rolled through me when Phlox easialy allowed the action. “Stay close,” I whispered.

Phlox’s low, grumbling answer was somewhere between a hiss and meow.

The sound of tearing fabric met my ears. Arie’s pack shifted while the alpha himself did a partial shift, appearing like something out of a horror film. Remaining bipedal, it was a form only strong alphas could hold. Sedrick should be here. He should have the pleasure of bringing Arie Belview to heel. But Sedrick Voss had learned a lesson Arie Belview never would. Love was far more precious than hate and revenge. Sedrick was where he was needed, where his life resided, where his soul came alive.

Arie’s words were garbled when he spoke. “Pathetic, hiding behind a pixie’s power.”

Peaches’s opened his mouth, but Lucroy’s taloned touch silenced him. My king understood as well as me nothing Peaches said would make Arie Belview understand. His words would be wasted.

“Kick his pompous ass,” Peaches said.

Lucroy answered, “With pleasure.”

Stepping through Peaches’s barrier was as easy as walking down a street. His magic swept over me, its welcoming strength inviting me back when I wished. As soon as we were on the other side, Arie raised his head and howled. His pack answered that call and came running. It was impossible to tell a reluctant wolf from an eager one.

“Look at their weight,” Vander said as he formed a sigil and slammed his hand into it. “Remember, the reluctant ones didn’t appear as well fed.” The wolf running at him fell to the ground, knocked out but still alive.

I wasn’t sure judging by weight alone was wise, but it was better than nothing. A large, fully fleshed out wolf leapt at me. Twisting, I drove my talons into its underbelly, tearing through entrails and ripping them out as I pulled away. The wolf went down, rolling on his side and quickly bleeding out.

Phlox sped past me. Jumping high, he latched onto the back of a smaller wolf, this one appreciably leaner. Teeth sinking in, Phlox shook his head and sank his claws deep. As the wolf attempted to buck him off, I grabbed it and slammed its head to the ground. The blow was hard enough to knock the wolf unconscious, but not deadly.

We tried weeding through the onslaught, but they kept coming. I’d just pulled my talons out of a large chest when something slammed into my side, nearly driving me to the ground. A sharp, stinging pain ripped through my side. Twisting, I managed to throw my attacker off. I barely held in my surprise when I turned and saw it was a very human Janus, wielding a wicked dagger. Fresh blood leaked from a split lip, my own borrowed blood dripping from the blade in his hand.

Janus’s grin no longer held a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth, but it was just as wildly sadistic. Maybe more so with its touch of desperation.

“I’d forgotten,” Janus huffed, breathing labored. “I’d forgotten what I was before that witch found me.” Janus’s smile widened. “I was a killer before.” He laughed gleefully. “That’s why she chose me. I was mercilessly deadly even before she made me what I was.” Holding up his dagger, Janus gazed at it lovingly. “She used my favorite weapon as my object of attachment. I didn’t remember that, but I do now.” Janus tilted his head and stared at the night sky. “I might be human, but I’m still going to kill you.” Twisting the blade, he pointed at my head. “A vamp can’t live without their head or heart. You’re too fucking easy to kill.”

My side ached but was already healing. Crouched low, I readied myself for the attack. Janus took a single step before he screamed. Scrambling around his back, Janus turned, and I could see Phlox. His claws were deep in Janus’s skin, as were his teeth. Climbing Janus’s back, Phlox made his way toward the tender flesh residing along Janus’s neck. I knew what he meant to do and moved to help him.

Phlox’s claw and my talon met, each sliding through Janus’s thick neck, slicing through each carotid artery. Blood spilled like lava down Janus’s chest, soaking his skin. Janus blinked, fingers clawing at the open wounds. But it was too late. Far too late. Janus was already dead, his mind simply hadn’t caught up with the physical blow.

Leaping off his back, Phlox landed on all fours before running in my direction. I picked him up, placing his smaller form on my shoulder, holding him much as Wendall did Trinket as we watched the light die from Janus’s ancient eyes.

It was a rather uneventful end to a magical life. When I glanced up, Aurelia stood in the background. She’d chosen not to engage in the fight. A mere spectator. Her expression was unreadable as she looked down on Janus’s unmoving body.

A shot of fire flickered to my right, pulling my attention to Ray as he trapped a group of wolves within a flaming inferno. It was a cage they had no hope of escape from. Trinket was nearby, tail wrapped around the slender neck of a smaller wolf. The wolf bucked and ran but eventually its legs went out from under them, and they fell to the ground, unconscious.

I searched for our main target, finally finding Arie Belview in the back of the fray, using his pack as a living shield. They had no choice but to fight. Some of them obviously relished the bloodshed while the majority only obeyed Arie’s command for fear of what would happen to their loved ones. It was clear that Arie Belview would offer his entire pack to slaughter for the chance of survival. While we strived to save those who did not truly wish to fight, it was becoming increasingly difficult to adhere to those high ideals. Keeping them alive took far more effort than dispatching them.

Jumping from my shoulder, Phlox shot into the melee, and I followed. We worked our way toward Vander and Parsnip. I’d wondered what use Parsnip would be. The pixie flew just out of wolf reach, scattering dust in his wake. Enough dust made it close enough to the wolves to induce sneezing fits. The distraction gave Vander enough time to formulate a sigil and put them to sleep. It was a surprisingly effective system.

Lucroy’s body flashed through the heart of the pack, breaking them up as if they were little more than pool balls.

Ray’s arm raised, blazing sword lashing out and slicing through a heavy body. The scent of burnt fur hit my nose and made me cringe. Raising his arm again, Ray suddenly stopped, his body turning and stilling.

A heavy weight fell across the land. The sounds of battle dwindled as the oppressive feel hit each and every creature. The night went deathly silent. Not even the wind dared breathe.

“My queen,” Ray reverently said, flaming sword disappearing into the ether.

Queen Silvidia’s arrival stilled every snarl, rooted every paw, and grabbed every creature’s attention. A crimson, nearly see-through gown barely covered her small body. White hair flowed around her shoulders and flowers bloomed throughout. Queen Silvidia’s peach eyes swirled as they glanced around the carnage.

“It appears as though you have been very busy, Hellfire.” Queen Silvidia’s voice was like liquid honey, dripping and sticking to every pore. Phlox leapt into my arms, and I cradled him to my chest. His deep, resonating purr rumbled through my skin.

Queen Silvidia’s bare feet gently walked along the ground. Flowers bloomed within thickets of bloodshed. When she reached Ray, Queen Silvidia slid her fingers against his cheek and warmly smiled. “You have done well, Hellfire. As expected.”

“And you, my queen?”

Queen Silvidia’s smile scrunched her eyes. “Oh, I had my own bit of fun. Hamish was quite cross with me for being so hands on.” Twisting to the side, Queen Silvidia waved her hand. “You may come out now. Let your loved ones see you are safe and well.”

A head cautiously peeked out from the atmospheric tear floating near the ground. That head led to a body, others just as cautiously stepping through, their stunned eyes wide and fearful.

Yips and joyful howls erupted as wolves shifted back to their humanoid forms. Shouts of unexpected happiness filled the silence as loved ones collapsed into each other’s arms, sobbing with released anxiety.

“It was just as the young wolf, Shawn, relayed,” Queen Silvidia said. “They were locked inside rooms. Gilded cages meant to keep his pack under tight reign. Pathetic,” Queen Silvidia spat, her eyes narrowed and gaze traveling to where Arie stood. “I have never seen an alpha sink so low.”

Arie backed away, shoulders bent, and teeth bared. He snapped in Queen Silvidia’s general direction, but the action was little more than base theatrics. The wolves standing between Arie and the Queen of Fairy slinked away, tails tucked between their legs. Low, pleading whimpers replaced angry growls. Lunging, Arie snapped at his fleeing pack. Clearly, their loyalty only ran so deep. Self-preservation was a far more powerful motivator.

Ignoring Arie for now, Queen Silvidia’s gaze tracked the blood-soaked field. “Wendall?” she questioned.

“He is safe, my queen.” Ray quickly explained what happened earlier. Oppressive power radiated from Queen Silvidia like oceanic waves. Holding my ground became increasingly difficult.

“Is this warlock still alive?” Queen Silvidia asked.

Vander cleared his throat. “He is. Unconscious, but still breathing. Activating that charm took a lot out of him and when I destroyed it.” Vander shrugged. “I think the magical backlash was a bit much.”

“You will give this warlock to me.” It wasn’t a request.

Vander’s jaw worked and his eyebrows scrunched. “He…he’s very young.”

“Youth is not a defense,” Queen Silvidia answered. “But I will take your thoughts into consideration. I will also consult the victims of his crime.”

Vander lowered his head. “Thank you, Queen Silvidia.”

Queen Silvidia’s answer was quiet dismissal. “Now, to finally deal with this unworthy alpha.”

Arie made a move, lunging not toward Queen Silvidia, but in the direction of the surrounding woods. Queen Silvidia’s tinkling laughter danced down my spine.

“How amusing.” She sounded genuinely joyful.

Arie didn’t get far. He ran into an unyielding, invisible wall. Enraged, he howled and immediately ran the other direction, only to have the same thing happen again. Alpha Arie Belview was trapped in a prison of his own making.

Continuing forward, Queen Silvidia didn’t bother stepping around the dead and dying. Her gentle feet did not shy away from the carnage, but stepped upon their flesh, using it as her own, gruesome red carpet.

“You were given a chance, Alpha Belview,” she calmly said.

Arie’s snarls and howls increased in volume before going eerily silent. He still wailed his frustrated anger, but it could no longer be heard.

“My, my. You are a loud one.” Queen Silvidia shook her head. Everywhere her hair touched, fresh blossoms appeared. Spreading her arms wide, Queen Silvidia motioned at the blood-stained ground. “Such wastefulness. And for what? Your worthless pride? Power? Revenge? Tell me, Alpha Belview, what has such endeavors gained you?”

Arie threw his head back. I imagined the wail of his howl but was thankful I could not hear it.

Queen Silvidia continued walking toward him. “Nothing. It has gained you nothing. Your daughter is dead. Your grandchildren want nothing to do with you. Most of your pack loathe your very existence. The Belview name will forever be associated with greed, death, and arrogance. And you are about to die. So much potential and yet you threw it all away for nothing. Worse than that, you orchestrated the death of dozens of pixies in your quest for the source of ultimate power.” Queen Silvidia’s gaze landed on Janus’s dead body. Aurelia still stood in the background, silently still and cautiously observing.

Deeply sighing, Queen Silvidia waved a disinterested hand in Arie’s direction. “Perhaps fairy law needs a refresh. One such as you should have been eliminated long ago.”

Phlox stiffened within my arms. Fairy law could already be brutal. I doubted any of us relished the thought of it becoming even stricter.

Arie threw his body against the barrier imprisoning him, headless of the self-harm he caused. It should have been satisfying. Instead, it was pathetically disturbing.

“Enough,” Queen Silvidia ordered and Arie’s body stilled but his eyes remained wide. “Let us be done with it.”

I’d expected some type of motion, a hand gesture, something that would indicate Queen Silvidia’s intentions. Instead, all she did was turn, disregarding Arie Belview’s gasp before his neck twisted, snapping his spinal cord and dropping the powerful alpha to the ground. This time, the silence emanating from Arie’s direction wasn’t caused by magical manipulation.

Alpha Arie Belview’s reign was over. His chest didn’t rise, and his black heart no longer beat. Just like Janus’s death, Arie Belview’s was disturbingly quick and simple. Death remained the great equalizer. There would be no second life offered to Janus or Alpha Belview. They’d squandered the ones gifted to them and had not earned a second opportunity.

Dismissing Arie’s corpse, Queen Silvidia made her way back to Ray. “My father would be terribly disappointed in me.”

“My queen?”

“I am afraid I have little interest in the torture he loved so dearly.” Queen Silvidia stared at her empty palm. “It has never held such appeal to me. I find the whole thing…tedious.”

Ray gave a discrete bow while the rest of us held our collective tongues.

“I trust you can sort out the rest?” Queen Silvidia asked Ray.

“Of course.”

“Thank you, Hellfire.”

I thought that would be it, that the Queen of Fairy would leave us. Instead, she walked toward Peaches’s barrier, stopping just outside it. “Peaches, may I enter?”

“Oh!” Peaches fluttered about, spreading golden dust everywhere. “Yes. Please do.” He waved her inside.

“Thank you. You have a lovely orchard. I would enjoy returning when the situation is calmer.”

“As long as you mean my land no harm, you are welcome anytime,” Peaches answered easily.

Queen Silvidia smiled, and her peach eyes glowed. “A most generous offer. Now, if you will allow, I will remove this warlock from your presence.” She stepped toward Ambrose, his body still unconscious and prone on the ground.

Peaches’s appeared alarmed and his eyes immediately sought out Vander. Queen Silvidia interrupted Peaches’s concerns. “He will be taken to Fairy but as promised, I will withhold judgement until I’ve spoken further with Warlock Kines and Philodendron. Is this acceptable?”

I thought Queen Silvidia asked more out of politeness than true need. Had she wanted, Ambrose’s body would already be in a holding cell deep within Fairy.

“More than acceptable,” Peaches said.

“Excellent. I will take my leave then.” Creating a new atmospheric tear, Queen Silvidia walked toward it, Ambrose’s body hovering close behind. “Hellfire, please tell my nephew that I am sorry I missed him today but look forward to seeing him soon. Do not be a stranger.” With that, the Queen of Fairy walked through the atmospheric slit and disappeared. The window sealed behind her.

The oppressive curtain Queen Silvidia brought with her dissipated with her absence. Familiar night sounds filtered back in, erasing the surreal atmosphere.

“Damn, djinn and the fairy queen.” Erasmus leaned against an apple tree, Aurelia oddly close by. “Pops is never going to believe this.”

“Sweet Gaia save us all,” Vander lamented. “Nikodemus will hold this over my head for the rest of my life.”

The universe quickly answered Vander’s painful lament. Phone ringing, Vander pulled it from his pocket and groaned. “Speak of the devil.”

Erasmus just laughed.