My demon growls, “Hold on little sprite, we are about to leave the shadow world. I think we have found my Lillie Joanna, but she is … different.”
“Different how?” Poppy askes as we gently land by what looks like a sand statue. All but her head and upper torso are covered in sand that seems to have a life of its own as rivulets of granules are coursing all about her, and it appears as if she is being pulled down into the sandy earth. She breathes out, “Sassafras and scarab beetles, what is happening to Lillie?”
“She’s being assimilated into the Fields of Punishment,” I say as my demon allows me to shift back to my natural form.
“Assimilated? That can’t be good. We need to get her out of here.” Poppy demands, her tiny wings fluttering manically.
LJ murmurs, “It’s not real. None of this is real.” She doesn’t even see us. It’s then that I see that she is covered in their evil pixie dust. It glitters in the low light like a fine dusting of coal.
My demon growls, “We need to wake her first. She can not be moved until the spell is broken.” I look for the demon spawn responsible for the torment that LJ is enduring. When I spot the offensive creature watching from around a dead tree, I demand, “Release her, spright. She does not belong here!”
Laughter bounces around us as more than just the one evil sprights answer in unison, “You think that this can be undone, duke?”
“Yes,” I bellow. “I demand that you undo your wicked spell now!”
“We do not answer to you. Although you are powerful, we answer to Lucifer and the Fields. If you want to take her from this place you must break the spell that binds her. But be quick!” They quip, “Soon there will be no going back. She will be tied to this unholy place forever.” The dark sprights snicker, their twittering laughter setting me on edge as I watch more of LJ disappear under the sand and earth that continues to creep higher, claiming her body and soul.
Not knowing what else to do, I walk over to where LJ is held immobile. I lean in and gently take her head in my hands and tilt her head up to look into her distant, unfocused eyes. She shakes her head and murmurs, “Is it you, Daxell? Why are you here now? Oh …” She sounds defeated when she spots Poppy, “You brought Poppy. The two of you are here to torment me some more? Please … I can’t take anymore.” She looks down and she sinks further into the ground.
“No. No, honey cheeks. Look at me. You were right. We are meant for each other.” I lift her head and touch my lips to hers and gently kiss her enticingly full lips. Closing my eyes, I wait for her to pull me closer and nothing happens. Pulling back, I all but shout, “Wake up LJ. I’m here. I’m going to get you out of here.”
Her eyes flutter closed and she murmurs, “That was nice, but none of this is real. I’m in hell and nothing here is real. Nothing.” Then she whispers as the sand encases her neck, “I just want to go home.” Her voice trembles as a single tear leaks from her left eye and trails down her dirt-covered cheek. I lose it, and roar into the crimson sky as my demon takes control.
Poppy is by my side and fluttering around both of us. Not sure what to do. What to do? Nothing has worked up to this point and then I look at Poppy. Pixie dust? Could it be that simple? Could her light dust counteract the dark sprights dust and break the spell?
I growl, “Poppy, you’re the answer. Your pixie dust is the exact opposite of theirs. Can you dust her? With only light and happy thoughts? Help her remember? It may be the only thing that will break their wicked spell.”
Poppy nods vigorously, “Yes. I’m on it, demon boy.”
I step back from LJ and watch as Poppy goes to work. Her first pass is a gentle dusting and I hear the dark sprights react in anger, their screeching is music to my ears. They don’t like what Poppy is doing and that clues me into the fact that we are finally on the right track. “Again,” I demand, and Poppy dusts her again.
Slowly, LJ seems to come around. She looks at me and her broken state is evident, I march toward the little demons responsible for her current state. “I will smash you all into a bloody pulp for the harm that you caused my mate.” Smoke curls from my nostrils and floats above my head.
“Dax?”
I whip my head around and see that LJ has been released from her prison, “Mate.” I breathe out. “Mine.” My arm whips out to haul her to me. I inspect her, my eyes traveling over her, “I should have gotten here sooner. I did not protect my mate.” My demon asks for forgiveness and lowers his forehead to LJ’s. She pulls away and cowers from our touch.
She whispers, “This isn’t real. None of this is real.”
Poppy looks at me and says, “I think she’s going to need some time.” Her face is full of sorrow and she moves to comfort her friend the best that she can.
I turn to the wicked sprights that are pissed by our interference in the Fields of Punishment. “You have done enough! Stand down, you vile bloody creatures. She is no longer any of your concern!” I bark at the mischievous creatures and they slink back into the shadows. Turning back to LJ and Poppy, I say, “We need to go.”
LJ shrinks from me, “I’m not … I can’t … I don’t know what is real and what is an illusion. I’m …”
“You’re confused and that’s okay, but Daxell and I are here to get you out of this
