Page 42 of Midnight Kingdom

Somethin’ in her eyes change an’ I get real scared. She sit up a little more, but I can tells she weak. “Tell me how they get the rifts open, or else you’ll find yourself being blamed for the destruction of this Veil.”

“Descruction o’ what Veil? What you talkin’ ‘bout?”

“This world won’t last much longer, little sprite. An’ when it goes, you wouldn’t want all your… friends to blame you?”

“They wouldn’t never think I could do somethin’ so bad.”

“From what I heard of your conversation with Cambion, it doesn’t appear he or the others believe you, even when you’re telling the truth.”

I get real angry when I realize she was eardroppin’ on elf boy an’ me conversation.

“Do we have an understanding?” she ask.

“You ain’t gots no power left…”

Her fake kind smile turn into somethin’ real scary an’ I hear my heart beat pick up. “Are you sure?”

No! For all I knows, she been fakin’ this whole time!

Dick.

I ain’t givin’ her what she want, though. I ain’t that fuckin’ dumb. But I decides ta play dumb anyways. Make her think I be helpin’ her. “I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout nothin’, ‘specially how ta get into The Veil, honest. But... but I can find out. I real smart, an’ they don’t see nothin’ I do.”

She look like she thinkin’ it over an’ I hold my breath till my poor little lungs hurt.

“All right, Fluff, I’ll give you a chance to prove yourself. Bring me whatever information you can find on The Veil and how the Necromancer is able to open portals to the other world.”

“An’ what I gettin’ in return?”

“Considering the fact that I was the one who put Variant in power... there’s nothing Ican’tgive you in return. So don’t disappoint me.”

I nod, but the whole time I be wantin’ to tell her my name ain’t Fluff.

Dick.

The others won’t believes me. That true. But I don’t need ‘em to. Masky will. Masky an’ I ain’t exactly best o’ friends, but he listen. He care ‘bout us faerie creatures, even if everyone else thinkin’ we useless. Yeah, I’ll tell him.

Holy shit. What my life comin’ to, that I willin’ to trust someone who talk to spirits like a wacko. That’s it. I finally gone clean off the edge. I be fuckin’ crazy, like the rest o’ these damn giants. Next thing I knows, I’ll be drinkin’ blood an’ visitin’ my stone lover in graveyards. Not like I got somethin’ against Shadow King goin’ to see Thoradin—I ain’t judgin’. Too bad Pretty ain’t here, though, I could really use one o’ her belly rubs.

The Queen Heifer give me indigestion an’ I ain’t even eaten yet.

An’ where the fuck be Noni an’ the others? I’m here all alone with this crazy witch an’ a elf who prefer the company o’ them trees in the forest. Aima the only Unseelie I ever met who ain’t a complete dick. But... we’ll see. Just need ta wait till Pyre come back. The Mother Heifer won’t be able to bully him ‘round. He a lot bigger than Shadow King, an’ more powerful than anyone I ever knows.

I fly over to the window in the kitchen, my favorite spot. I watch outside, waitin’ for my companions to come save me from this crazy bitch they think is gonna save us from Variant. If only they knew she just out for herself.

***

EILISH

The Echoing Spire

“We’re nearly there,” I whisper. My body is sore and my mind feels like one of the harpies is digging its talons into my brain, trying to pull out memories that aren’t ready to come forward. Pyre is still quiet, but we lean against each other as we make our way to the Echoing Spire. It’s beautiful this close. Less than a mile away; I can feel the ripples of magic coming off it.

“Don’t be alarmed when you see them,” Pyre says suddenly.

“See who?”

“The Sentinels. It’s a dark brotherhood of keepers who protect the spire’s magic from anyone who is not the guardian. Because you’re with me, they’ll grant you entrance, but proceed with caution.” Pyre takes another step and falters. I’m by his side instantly as he continues to sway on his feet. I can’t carry him if he falls unconscious again, so I try to hurry things along.

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