Page 38 of Fallen Angels

She look all concerned like. “He watch the naughty king and the Unseelie to make sure they not tapping into the veil. Spirit magic dangerous. Only Master know how to control it. Noni walk through the veil with him and them spirits and she hear stuff too.”

“Like what? What ya hear?”

She shake her head like she ain’t supposed ta say nothin’.

“Outs with it.”

She swallow real hard but then she start confessin’. “Noni hear the Unseelie Court talking about the naughty king. Unseelie Court say he out of control and need to be teached a lesson. Noni gets scared and goes home, but first she see the pretty Unseelie lady get hurt by the naughty guards.”

The pretty Unseelie Lady? “You talkin’ ‘bout Aima?” I ask an’ that little brownie just nod right quick. “When you sees this?” I leans up ‘gainst the wall, an’ inhale real deep so my chest pull out further. Noni needs to understand jist who she be dealin’ with. Noni cross her little legs and sit down next ta my feet. She lookin’ up at me with them freaky big eyes o’ hers. They kinda pretty.

“Noni see Aima hurt after you and gargoyle man taken by the naughty king.”

“Did you see you a big ugly satyr too? He gots a nasty ass beard an’ real long hair.”

Noni nods. I can tell she thinkin’ real hard. “Noni see him. He real big, Mr. Flumph. Noni see him at the Unseelie palace. There be lots of naughty soldiers at the Unseelie palace. They make the big satyr beg and he fight lots and lots of soldiers, but he not win.”

“Why he not win?” I interrupt. “They kill him?”

“No, they tooks him to the dark place in the Unseelie kingdom. That be a right bad place from what Master tell Noni,” the annoyin’ critter finishes. Thank fuck.

“So they gots Aima and Assface in the Unseelie Palace?” I repeat. “The elf ain’t gonna like that one bit.” I fly up to the table, leavin’ Noni on the floor where she looks all worried like she done said too much. My feet pounds on the table and I grab the font o’ the elf’s shirt to make him looks me in the eye.

“What the hell do you want, sprite?” he snarl all scary-like. But I not so scared o’ him. Not when he dress like he do.

“Yer allies been taken by your fuckhead brother!”

“My allies?” he repeats.

“Kolver, the fugly satyr, an’ your old girlfriend,” I spit backs at ‘em. “Aima.”

That shuts him up real nice an’ I hurry over to Pretty ‘cause she let me sits in her lap an’ that be the most comfy place ta be, I reckon. I notice she been might interested in this Necro character, Pyre. She been watchin’ him nonstop.

I think he ain’t too bad even if he a whole lotta crazy fer talkin’ to ghosts an shit. An’ that mask make him look a little weird-like. He a lot better when he take that mask off. But his eyes... they the real scary part o’ him. Ferget the tattoos all overs his body an’ the dark robe. Them eyes give me the shivers.

“How did Theren get Kolvar and Aima?” the elf ask as he turn to face Pyre.

“Aima surrendered to Variant’s soldiers after putting up a good fight,” Masky explain. “She’s a member of Theren’s council and Variant was unable to kill her without risking a war with the Unseelie.” He pause for a second. “I'll help them escape when Aima reaches out to me again.”

“What about Raflamir?" Dragan barks.

I can't believe this dick gonna ask ‘bout that schemin' elf! What be there to ask? Raflamir done sold us out to Variant! Ain’t nothin’ more ta know!

Noni peek her head up over the table an make her eyes cross over her nose. Then she duck back outta sight. She look up again an’ I stick my tongue out at ‘er an’ she just copy me, which make me real mad like ‘cause I ain’t in the mood ta play no dumb games. Good thing Pretty there to pats me on the head so I keep my cool.

“Raflamir is unharmed,” Pyre inform us. “I only hope whatever he gained in return for your capture is worth the guilt that will plague his soul for the rest of his days.”

“That does little to ease my anger,” Dragan grumble. I agrees with him, but Pyre shake his head like what he spoken oughtta be enough.

“Raflamir faced an impossible decision,” Pyre begins but Dragan shake his head.

“Bullshit! He sold us out and he should answer for it.”

I notice Cambion be right quiet.

“I’ve looked at your past,” Pyre tell Dragan an’ the gargoyle look all surprise like. “I have walked by your side, through time, while you were dreaming. You’ve never had a family, Dragan. You do not know the horror that fills you at the thought of losing someone you love. You’ve never had to watch someone slip through your fingers as you fight to keep them alive.”

“I watched Baron die,” he grunts. The vamp look over at him real quick an’ then he look away. Cambion look at the gargoyle too like he be surprised King Shadow Dick even mentioned the vamp. I be surprised too.

---