“Hey, can I see it?” I slowly inspect the oversized fae coin as it warms my palm, and I freeze as symbols slowly appear on it. “I’m not seeing things, am I?” I ask, my voice slightly shaky as a foreign language appears. On top of the language I can’t decipher, a couple of reddish-brown sharp angles appear in random places on the coin. Running my finger over it, some dust comes off, and I catch a whiff:iron.Why is there iron on a Fae coin? They are vulnerable to it, or theyshouldbe. Why is that on here?
“Nope, it’s definitely alien. Doesn’t surprise me since we’re supes. Aliens exist now, too,” Lynx states, throwing up his arms in frustration. “Someone else I’ll have to fight off to keep Rez away from. Damnit!” He turns and walks back to his spot.
“I’m more concerned with the iron that just appeared on the coin than not being able to read it,” I casually mention, and half the room whips around to stare at me.
“What?” Ryker leans over to look at the new appearance and turns slightly pale as he stares at it in horror before backing up.
We’ve never tested whether he’s allergic to iron, but being that he is half fae, we’ve just assumed he is and kept it away from him.
Chester leans over and narrows his eyes at the coin in my hand.
“Can you read it because it looks like gibberish to me.” Chester hangs his head in defeat.
“It’s okay, Chestie baby. You’re great at other things,” Moni cheers him up.
“You won’t be able to, if it’s a Fae coin. It will be spelled to those who pledged their loyalty to or whose realm it is. So normally, if it’s a Winter court, the fae coin would be white. Autumn would be burnt orange, Spring would be pink or green, and so on,” Ryker explains, finding a sleeping bag to sit on.
“So, an iridescent holographic coin probably belongs to which realm?” Rez questions.
“Not a realm, it would be an individual,” Ryker confirms the problem.Whose medallion does this belong to?
My body jolts as electricity flows up my spine, and shadows ink past my eyes briefly. Blinking, trying to figure out what the fuck just happened, the coin catches my eye once again, and I realize I can read it this time.
“Hey… um guys. I think I just had a seizure or something because now I can read this thing,” I admit wearily, nervous that something is going on with me that’s unexplained again. Ever since Cain hijacked me, I’ve decided to be more forthright and tell people if something feels irregular.
Since Levi is done patching up Rez, he comes over and peers over my right shoulder. Rez is slowly rolling down her tank top over her bandaged ribs as she walks over, and she gives us a confused look.
“Oh! I can make out a little bit!” she rejoices, but immediately squints and groans in pain. “Ugh, never mind.” She grabs her head. “It’s not worth the headache. I don’t think my powers are up to it. Sorry." She waves away the coin and heads over where JP is with the food.
“It’s okay, Kitten. You need to heal,” Knox coaxes.
“No, you’re not crazy, Ezekiel. I can read it too.” Levi turns it slightly, looking more pale. “And if I’m reading that correctly,we’re in bigger trouble than I thought.” We share a worried look before he turns and moves to the fire.
“What does it say, and how come you two can read it?” Moni asks, cuddling up to Chester.
Ryker, Knots, and Knox come over and take a look at the coin, and judging by their reactions, I take an educated guess as I take a seat by the fire.
“If I had to guess, since only Knox, Ryker, Levi, and I can read the coin, our Horseman powers are allowing us to read it. And to answer your question, Moni, it’s not good. To sum it up, it proves that the Cyanide and Bailiwick group down there was working together to take us out.”
“Which means there will be others,” Knots cuts in.
“Yes,” Levi confirms.
“These are instructions on how to kill us,” I continue.
“What?” JP’s head jerks up in surprise.
“I wasnotexpecting that,” Rez squeaks.
“Wow, the kahonas on this guy,” Lynx groans. “I’m serious. He must not be able to walk.” He gets up and moves to the fire, plopping down next to Rez. “A wheelbarrow is holding his nuts as he’s motored around.” He shakes his head in shock, looking to Rez. “Could you imagine. Do you think we’ve met this guy?”
“What kind of instructions?” Chester asks, bringing us back to the issue at hand.
“Pretty much, it points out our weaknesses,” I admit, but continue, giving examples. “Like telling them Levi is a mage, but his power is emotions. Knox is a shifter, and his animals are a wolf and a Gryphon. All of our stuff, even information about Rez’s weird barrier.”
A few of us, including myself, shift uncomfortably as that information sinks in.
“Why would someone even risk taking on an assignment like that?” Moni asks, pulling on her tail.
