“Then, for Chaos’s sake, would you listen for one freaking second! Our goal is the same!” I shouted. Boudicca led a quartet of badass she-pixies in a bombardment, all four of them slicing through the air, legs extended, preparing for their trademark dropkick.
Charlotte yelped in surprise when the pixies made contact. “I knew you were involved! I knew it!” She threw out two lassoes in an attempt to wrangle the pixies, but they were too fast. Boudicca managed to land a dropkick to her cheek, and two other she-pixies snatched up her hair and wound it around her eyes, blocking her vision. “Why are you doing this, Persie? Why are you getting these monsters to kidnap people?” she spluttered, trying to clear her hair out of her eyes.
“I’m not!” I resisted an eye roll. “They’re on our side. That’s what I’m trying to tell you, but you need to quiet the heck down so I can explain!”
My tone threw me—I rarely got this riled, and never with people I didn’t know—but I was thin on patience these days. Fergus had already pissed me off, and now Charlotte was intent on getting on my bad side. If I showed weakness, she’d eat me alive, and I couldn’t risk getting marched down to Victoria’s office. No one would pay attention to the truth there, either.
Boudicca chattered something back at the remaining pixies and they swarmed around me, forming another defensive circle to protect me against Charlotte’s Telekinesis. This time, however, it looked like they’d adapted yet again. They gripped hands and dove toward the floor, bright violet light sparking between them. An ancient chant rose up from them, and they rose with it, spinning faster and faster in their circle until a translucent veil of purplish Chaos rippled around me. These incredible little critters had built me a shield, to keep me safe from Charlotte.
“You’re lying.” Charlotte ducked and pulled her knotted hair away from her eyes, batting away the pixies who weren’t forming the shield. They’d split into a defense group and an attack group. “You just want to protect your Purges. You’re as bad as Nathan; just another monster lover.”
As Boudicca and her warriors retreated inside my shield, Charlotte got to her feet. Her eyes widened in shock as she took in the pixies’ protective shield.
“What… are they doing?” she said.
“They’re defending me against you, because you attacked me. They aren’t nasty creatures. They’re kind, and they’re loyal, and they don’t deserve your hatred. It’s not about loving monsters, it’s about respecting them.” I huffed out a sigh. “And they’re trying to help. See, they know if I can’t get you to hear me out, then the people who were taken won’t be coming back again. And that will be on you.”
“They’re protecting you?” She looked as though she’d just found out the Earth was round. Evidently, this scenario didn’t fit with her preconceived notions of what a monster should and shouldn’t be.
I had to wonder just what kind of Monster History was being taught in this place. Hadn’t they heard about the Battle for Elysium, where countless monsters had given their lives to save the world? Sure, Tobe had coaxed them into it, but they’d fought side by side with magicals. The same went for Murray and the gargoyles, when my uncle went to take down Davin Doncaster. By Finch’s count, Murray had chewed Davin up at least twice—all to help my family and their friends.
I glanced at Boudicca and she flashed me an encouraging grin, though it didn’t quite reach her big eyes. After losing her people, I guessed it would take a while before her smiles were whole-hearted again. “The pixies didn’t kidnap anyone. They’ve been helping me track down the real culprit, who just so happens to be behind that door.” I gestured to the faint outline. “Do you remember those strange orbs we saw during orientation?”
Charlotte frowned and nodded slowly. “Yes. A prank or something.”
“Not a prank. They’re Will-o’-the-Wisps, and they’re the ones doing this. They hypnotize people and guide them through that gateway, and then those people don’t come back. I’ve just been through, but the guy who’s running the show kicked me out because I didn’t fall under the spell.” I rattled off the words as fast as possible, not knowing how long I’d have her attention. I elaborated on what I’d seen in that mysterious realm, and told her everything I could about the Wisps, the Door to Nowhere, and Fergus freaking McLeod, until I ran out of breath.
“And now, I can’t get back in to save everyone,” I finished. “But if you take me to Victoria, you can kiss your friends goodbye, because she’s not going to believe a word of this and they’re going to stay lost and zombified in there. It doesn’t fit with her story, but it’s the truth. I swear on Genie’s life.”
For the longest time, Charlotte didn’t say a word. She lowered her hands to her sides and paced, thinking. I hoped that was a good sign, but I’d seen how quickly Charlotte could turn—literally and figuratively. If she went into bear-mode, or worse, I didn’t know how the pixies would fare.
Abruptly, she turned to me. “I read about Will-o’-the-Wisps once, but they haven’t been seen in decades. Looks like extinct creatures are popping up all over the place, thanks to you.” Was that... jealousy? Maybe? Her expression softened a touch. “Lucky for you, I’m inclined to believe you, since I know you don’t have the ability to create Wisps. Only someone with Necromancy skills could do that.”
I nodded, hardly able to believe that she was listening. I knew who the
