I gawk at what appears at the side of the woods and feel as if I’m about to join Moni, too.
Levi
As soon as I unlock the bathroom door, Reaper is out the door and down the hall. I swear, he’s a menace that only a mother can love at times. Instead of going down the stairs to meet Emer, I head back to the sitting room to retrieve him. I findhim sitting on the sofa, which I believe Rez had told himnotto do.
“Reaper, isn’t the rule no sitting on the furniture? You know you’ll leave burn— Oh. Ha. Never mind.” I stand behind him and give him some long-deserved pats on the head as he singes the fabric. Satisfied with his destruction, I grab his leash and almost pick him up off the sofa when I hear it:familiar voices.
The TV is still broadcasting the Gauntlet, and there, front and center, is Rez’s shield. It looks different, but it’s surrounding everyone while the Pucanucks close in on them. It takes a moment for it to click, but horror hits me. Emer was right, watching it completely takes you out of the game, and it’s easy to separate yourself from the horror that’s going on inside of it.
I’ve studied the fae extensively, and this was going to be my shining moment with the group, yet I’m not with them.Fuck. Instead, I’m here hamming it up with Emer of all fucking people. Ryker might be part Fae, but he’s never been interested in the side that disowned their own son and grandson.
I quickly study the surrounding area as best I can to help narrow down where my family is. I know we’re in the summer realm, for sure. Emer is a princess and all, but she would not be allowed to simply hide out in another realm where the Gauntlet is not being run in. Hence, this castle.
As the camera pans out and focuses on more pucas in the trees, I get my first real clue.The trees.They are white and black hawthorne that grow on the Western side of the realm up along the Silvermist River.
Shit. If pucas surround them, it’s only a matter of time before they will attract the Capradilla. Knowing Rez, she’ll want to pet and adopt the damn thing, not knowing it’s a carnivore, and that’s how it attracts its prey. The ache in my chest from thinking her name is minuscule compared to what it once was, and I smile slightly at the sensation. I wish I could still feel that initialhit of magic from Earth. That light, crisp, and warm energy that flowed into me is dangerous. It can easily become as addictive as a drug, and I understand where someone without restraint could lose control of themselves and effortlessly become corrupt.
Reaper whines then growls, pulling my attention back to the TV where the pucas slam against Rez’s shield, and I find myself twitching to send a spell to help.
I want to help, to be there with them, not placating a spoiled princess, but I need to purge myself of this rot first.
“Come on, Reaper. Let’s go. We need to get back to our family,” I say, picking him up before turning around to be met with two guards.
“Princess Emer is waiting,” the first guard says to me, holding his hand out to the door like a guide.
The other guard is holding a dampening cuff, and I look him in the eyes. “That won’t be necessary.” He nods and puts it away, but keeps his eyes on me.
I hug Reaper close to me, soaking in his warmth as I walk down the stairs, releasing another ball of poison from me. Now that I know what to do, it’s as easy to do as casting spells for Lilith’s clothing line. I could probably do this in my sleep. The problem is knowing what Earth will accept.
“Stay close to me, we might only have a second,” I whisper to Reaper before setting him down.
Reaper barks and circles me, almost causing me to trip over his long tail and leash, but it compels the guards to back up as Emer walks up to us.
“Leviathan. There you are.” Her smile drops slightly as she takes in Reaper. “And with your pet.”
“Yes, believe me. You want him to use the restroom outside. You don’t want his acid to eat away that beautiful castle, do you?” I smile at her as her eyes go wide.
“Of course not.” She gives me a polite smile as she takes my arm. I allow her, even though now, I no longer have the urge to pull her into me, where she will be close. Since the effects of the potion are reversible and the rot is slowly leaving me, I’m able to feel the difference between what’s real and what’s been manipulated by that curse. I would rather not take her arm, but I still have to play the part if I want to get Reaper and me out of here.
One of the guards opens the door for us, and we walk outdoors while Emer starts prattling off facts about her castle. Ignoring her as I nod along, I take note of our surroundings, guards, magic users, or any staff that’s close by. I would have no problem overpowering Emer and getting away, but it’s the people around her that I might need help with.
It’s a good thing I have a chaos helper with me.As we turn around the corner, I pull a little bigger ball than what Famine advised, but I’m in a hurry, and I plant that into a flower bed that we pass, and almost let out an audible sigh as Earth sends me another blast of her pure energy as we pass.
Reaper whimpers, and I look over my shoulder to see a blackened footprint in the grass from where I previously stepped.Oh, I see. Sorry, that was too much, Mother Earth. Got ya.This balance shit really does suck, but I do understand this is a partnership. How about smaller doses but multiple times? Will that work?
“Levi, are you even listening to me?” Emer pouts.
“Of course,” I say confidently and pull on my recording spell for the question before this one.
“Then what did I just ask?” She throws me a scolding look.
“You asked if I wanted to go to the maze or the Orchid garden,” I say flatly, giving her a bland look, and her eyes widen.
“Ah… Why, yes, I did,” she stumbles for a moment before continuing. “Which would you prefer?”
Considering my options, I nod to the maze.
“Let's go to the maze. I think that promises more privacy for us,” I tell her, and her eyes brighten at the prospect. We take off towards the maze, and as we go, I pinch off the ichor of my sore and exchange it into the Earth for fresh magic.
