I watch as the two catch up. There are punches involved and name-calling and then … the two hug again as if they haven’t seen each other in a very long time.
Clearing my throat, I interrupt their reunion, “Pipperton? Is it? Why have you been sent? And what do you know?” I ask.
Lillie smirks and moves to my side, “Daxell, you should be happy that he’s here.”
“Why?” I ask pointedly and then pull her into my arms. She gives me a sour look but doesn’t pull away.
Pip clears his throat, “Daxell? It’s a pleasure to meet the one that completes our Lillie JoBug.” He smiles, his toothy grin before continuing, “The bag you are looking for? Well … it was taken from this place as soon as Lillie dropped it. The demons of discarded things absconded with it and now we have to determine where they took it.”
Poppy exclaims, “Demons of discarded things? Is that an actual thing? Seriously?” She drawls the word out.
Pip looks chagrined, “Yes, Poppy. This world is not like The Otherworld. Everyone here wants to make it to the next level. They want beyond the Great Divide. Here in the Fields, they have a purpose and mostly that purpose is to cause mischief or torment or they create havoc.”
Sighing heavily, LJ asks, “What do we do next? We need to find that backpack.”
“Tonight you need to rest. All of you do. Luc was explicit about that. We saw from his fortress your ascension. We can provide a safe haven as we explore the possibilities of where that elusive backpack has ended up. Come … It’s getting late.” Pip motions us to a rock outcropping that I don’t remember being there before.
“Wait! Won’t our presence here endanger you all?” Suddenly, I’m worried about how those in The Underworld will track us going forward. How they may find us in the midst of innocent imps. Find their hidden borough. I can’t have that.
Pip smiles and nods, his horns rival my own demon’s, “It’s okay. We have a majical protection. Only those that have permission can pass into these caves. You are all under my protection. Come. We have much to discuss and we need to plan on how we move forward. Everyone is expecting you.”
“Sounds like a plan. I know that I need some time. Time to digest everything. Will Paynga be there?” Lillie asks.
“Yes, Momma will be there. She’s looking forward to seeing you again. She’s preparing a place for you to rest. Come. We shouldn’t linger here any longer. The Slavers have been restless and now that Mammon is back they’re eager to please the greedy bastard.” Pip turns to lead us into a darkened cave entrance.
Lillie holds her hand out to me, “Daxell, you coming?”
I take her hand in my own, “Yes, Lillie. I will always follow you. Even into the dark unknown.” I smirk, but pull her to my side, needing her beside me because that’s exactly where we are headed.
35
The Borough
(Lillie Joanna)
Growing up, Lachlan and Timbra and I heard tales of the time that Da was in The Underworld before the battle that brought Morríganna down and restored balance to the realms. Pip and Da’s tales got to be so big over the years that we kids chalked them up to the two reliving the days when they first met. Pipperton has always looked upon our Da as the father that he was robbed of as a wee little imp-child and Da … Well, Da loves him like his very own. It’s been too long since I’ve seen Pip. Mama and Da will want him to come for a visit after we put all this nasty business behind us.
The cavern that we entered not that long ago looks just like I imagined it as a child listening to the two recount their meeting and I ask, “Pip, is this the same cavern that you pulled Da into all those years ago to escape the noctorbeast?”
“Yes, it is. Just around the bend, it will narrow a bit and there will be a set of stairs carved into the rock leading down. Mister got real woozy as soon as he saw them. Your Da was not in a good way at the time. I knew he needed help, so I went to get Momma and my uncle. It wasn’t his fault, mind you, they can be a bit intimidating, seeing hows there’s no handrails and the steps are steep and appear to descend into the darkness.”
Daxell squeezes my hand, and asks, “How old were you Pipperton? When you met Alaric that is?”
“I was just a child, about yea high.” He holds his hand out above the ground indicating that his height was that of a child maybe eight years old.
“The way I remember the tale, Pipperton, you were very brave.” Poppy croons and lands nimbly on his shoulder. She has always seemed smitten with our little imp and her posturing tells me that her little crush is still in full force. Although, he’s not so little anymore. His shoulders have filled out and are now quite broad, his hips slim, and his biceps rival Daxell’s. Just like the rest of us, he’s grown up and is now a fully mature male imp. Impressive to say the least.
Nothing could have prepared me for the sight awaiting us as we come upon the stairs that seem to lead down to nowhere, I stifle a groan and turn into Daxell. Closing my eyes, I say a little prayer that I make it to the bottom. This staircase is the things that nightmares are made from and I’ve not even stepped out onto them before a bit of vertigo makes my head begin to swim. Pipperton
