Taury began.

“Ma-“

“Don’t say my name near a human, Wings.”

“He already knows both of our names.”

That caused Malkek to freeze for a moment.

“How?”

“He was the mist at the meeting.”

He looked at me with an interested regard.

“So, you have quite a bit of magic if you could pull that off.”

“I suppose so, sir.”

“… Interesting, despite knowing my name, you don’t use it.”

“I believe that if we have any hope of getting our message across, then it wouldn’t be in our best interests to use your name against you.”

“… Smart for a mere human.”

“Thank you.”

He rolled his eyes.

“So, Taurael, what is the problem so severe that you would risk your life and return here.”

“Malkek, the demon that attacked William before, he knows all of our names.”

That caused numerous pixies that had gathered to flinch.

Malkek sighed.

“Please, there is no way a demon would know our names.”

“The demon told William our father’s name.”

Malkek froze. Then a presence, cool and in fury.

“Excuse me… the demon… did what?”

Taurael began to shiver.

“It t-told Wi-“

“I heard you, Murderer, but how would a demon know about our father’s name.”

Then his eyes narrowed.

“I see. It was you.”

Taurael shot up.

“What?! No! Why would you assume that?”

“Because you killed them and got banished, of course you would spread their names. You likely told the demon all of the pixie names you know.”

“Hey! Let off.”

Malkek turned to me with a sneer.

“Does the human intend to order me around? This is my poor excuse for a sister, if she wishes to die, then I can kill her. You make the foolish account of defending her? Its clear that she told the de-“

“She didn’t.”

“And how wou-“

“Because I know that she wouldn’t do that, and as her brother, you should know that as well.”

Malkek was angry.

“Enough, it is time to finally deal with this irritating threat!”

He slashed.

So… I yelled.

“STOP!”

Then Malkek stopped.

His blade. His wings.

He fell, and Taurael, despite nearly being killed by him, caught him out of instinct.

I calmed down.

“Release.”

Malkek pushed Taury away and floated up to my face.

“… What… was… that?”

“Don’t try that again.”

Malkek was smart, he clearly recognized two things.

First, I controlled him.

Second, I didn’t say his name once the entire conversation.

“I ask again… what was that?”

“My magic.”

He raised his brow and floated.

“Interesting, Morgan clearly was hiding something from us. Tell you what, I’m game, how do you know that Taurael didn’t tell the demon.”

“Two reasons, First, she never had the chance to. Second, she didn’t kill your parents in the first place.”

That caused him to flinch.

“And how would you know that?”

“My power also allows me to enter someone in a suggestion phase, while testing the limits, Taury got me to put her in there. During that time, she stated quite clearly and truthfully that she didn’t do it.”

“Please, she likely broke out and lied and simply pretended.”

“How do you pretend have glowing eyes?”

Malkek blinked.

“Okay, I admit that would be a bit hard to do, but pixie dust would do the trick.”

“Glowing white eyes.”

“…”

“So…”

“Alright, that would be hard to fake… No matter. We will not discuss this now. How does the demon know our names.”

“We don’t know.”

“Hm, well, this is concerning. If the demon knows our names, then I will have to temporarily block off the nexus, as if he gets here, then it would be disastrous.”

Taury nodded.

“I think that would be best.”

Then Malkek said something shocking.

“Well, you should also stay here, so he can’t…. use you to reopen it.”

Then Taurael smiled, her brother still somewhat cared.

“I would like to, but I’m kind of contracted to William right now.”

Then he froze.

“Pardon?”

“Yeah.”

“Was it Morgan?”

The anger was surprising.

“Y-yes?”

“That… little… she had no right to force a contract…”

“No! I… accepted it.”

“Why would you-“

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

He looked at me and his eyes flashed into understanding.

“I see. Well, keep that power under wraps, if one of the two were to discover it, then it would be catastrophic.”

I nodded.

“And… tell Morgan that I never gave her permission to initiate a contract.”

“Yes sir.”

“Well, head on back through the nexus, I need to seal it, and I can’t do it with you here.”

“Understood.”

We reentered the Tesseract, and Taury sat for a moment. Then a tear dripped from her eye.

“He still cares.”

“I don’t think a family member can ever fully lose that love.”

“Why?”

“Because there are few bonds greater than blood. Because of that, it would only make sense that he would somewhat care, and once finding a near irrefutable proof of your innocence, he now has no reason to hold back on it.”

“I see…”

“Though, he still tried to keep up his mask.”

“He did, but he failed.”

“Well, let’s get back to Morgan and tell her your brother’s message.”

“Yeah… but yeah, Morgan definitely crossed a line with virtually forcing a contract.”

“I would imagine.”

We reentered the palace.

Then Chvek was standing there.

“Ah, you have returned.”

“Yeah, the Pixie guy sealed his end of the nexus.”

“Very good, the lady wishes to speak with you.”

We followed the tall butler to the hall where Morgan wasn’t.

“…”

“What?”

“Where is Morgan?”

“I am here.”

I jumped and spun, but I still couldn't see her.

Then one of the walls shifted into a familiar figure, and Morgan stepped out. A robe of roots formed over her.

“How did the Pixie respond?”

“He sealed the Nexus, oh and he told me to let you know that you had no right to force Wings into a contract.”

Her eyes narrowed and Chvek looked at me with a measure of surprise with my boldness.

“Don’t forget, my magic keeps you alive. I can revoke it at any time. The Pixie and I have a deal, the next time you see him, be sure to let him know that the next time he sends an insulting message through you, that you will pay for it.”

“Ah yes, the age-old insulting message, ‘don’t force my sister to sign herself to a random guy you pulled off the street.’ How offens-“

I fell over, clutching my chest and began coughing.

“Don’t take an attitude, human.”

She knelt next to me.

“Remember, I own you, don’t try to anger me.”

I glared but kept quiet.

“Good, it seems even the mutts can learn.”

She floated up.

“Now, leave me, go back until you can tell me more about your magic.”

“I can actually.”

She looked back with a raised brow.

“Oh? What has my magic gifted you?”

“I have an affinity for fire magic.”

“Why, how impressive for a human. Practice it and make sure to empower it, I’ll have use for you in the future.”

Then the roots underneath me moved and shifted me and Taury out of the palace, and the door slammed behind us.

…

“Okay, that cements it, she is terrifying.”

Taury nodded in grim agreement.

_

“So, what do you think?”

“About what?”

“You know…”

Taury looked at me.

“How… how could she have killed them yet have such anger towards a threat to their memory?”

“What… what if both of you were framed?”

Her glance shifted into surprise.

“Knowing how cruel she is, you still defend her?”

I sighed.

“She seems less evil and more uncaring and above it all. She doesn’t seem as evil as she simply doesn’t see what she does as cruel or wrong. I think she’s more immature than evil.”

She snorted.

“If she heard that, she’d hang you from a vine.”

“Probably.”

…

“So… Malkek now knows…”

Taury nodded.

“Yeah, he responded a lot better than I thought. I, and most other pixies there, thought he was about to kill you.”

“I think its because I stopped him.”

She looked at me again.

“What do you mean?”

“He was about to kill you, but I know that he cares for you, so if he actually did… then it would have been torturous for him…”

“… I… see…”

Taurael was still trying to process most of what happened this night.

“Tell you what, it’s still dark, lets get a little bit of shut eye.”

“Agreed.”

I laid down on my bed and closed my eyes, Taurael sat on my pillow before beginning to snore, but this time… I didn’t mind it.

“ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ”

SHE COULD BE A BIT QUIETER THOUGH!!!

_

In my science class, I mixed the chemicals.

“Son?”

“Yes, sir?”

“How did you do that?”

“What?”

I looked at my concoction and saw that it was shimmering.

“Um… I don’t actually know.”

“Incredible… what mixture did you do?”

“I just used the recipe that you gave us.”

“Interesting, so how did yours end up so much different?”

Grace entered.

“William? The principal wants to speak with you.”

“Um… okay?”

I walked out sleepily, and Taurael flitted onto my head tiredly. The door shut.

“So, does the principal actually want to talk to me, or did you want to?”

“Both…”

“Okay, what do you want to talk about?"

“A warning.”

“What?”

“You do realize that you are emitting an intense aura, right?”

“I am?”

“Yeah, if I didn’t know better, I’d think that you were some sort of higher fey. Now, listen, Morgan shouted in rage last night. We don’t know why, but the organization that Brent works for is getting scared, and now you are suddenly emitting an aura like you’re some fey big shot… be careful.”

“Thanks… how do I hide my aura?”

“A relic.”

“I don’t have any.”

Grace sighed.

“Here, take this.”

An amulet formed in her hand.

“It should block your aura quite a bit.”

“Um… thanks.”

“Don’t look so shocked, I’m an earth golem, we are infused with magic power. Making a blocker relic is child’s-play.”

I smiled.

“Well, thanks.”

“Uhm… no problem.”

Taurael began to glare at Grace.

“Ahem, I do believe we are here.”

“Oh, right, well, the principal wants to speak with you. You should go it… oh, and a bit of advice. Don’t mention any magic, she thinks that the whole thing shows stupidity.”

“Alright.”

I entered and the principal sat there, in her chair… on the ceiling.

“Um…”

“What? Never seen a sky chair?”

“Can’t say I have.”

“Well, it’s powered by electromagnets. These, combined with the little bits of metal in jeans, allow me to sit on the ceiling.”

“You would need incredibly powerful magnets to get the metal on the jeans to be what holds you up.”

“Indeed, so I designed them. It was originally supposed to be a punishment, but I found that it actually helped me think a lot better.”

Then she stood and walked across the ceiling.

“More magnets?”

“Yes, and my shoes are steel bottoms.”

Then she jumped, did a flip and landed in her regular office chair.

“Now, do you know why I asked you here, Mr. Cambell?”

“No?”

“Well, it’s for quite the simple reason, you were able to solve an equation that numerous teachers have failed to solve by hand for years.”

“Really?”

“Yes, in fact, only recently has the solution been found by equaters.”

“Calculators?”

“Yes, whatever you people call them, but you are the first person to just walk up and solve it.”

“Alright?”

She opened a notebook and seemed to read from it.

“You know, I knew your mother.”

I flinched.

“What?”

“Yes, Amelia was an old friend of mine. We went to this college together, in fact.”

“Do you-“

She began scribbling.

“No, I do not know of where she could be, but take this.”

She ripped out a piece of the notebook.

“What is it?”

“Go there after school today.”

“Alright.”

She ushered me to the door.

“Well, head back to English class. And be watchful, strange people have been seen around campus.”

Then she closed the door.

“That… was odd.”

Taury shook her head.

“She was tapped.”

“What?”

“Listeners, both under her table, and on her sky chair.”

“So…”

“She kept it brief so people wouldn’t figure anything out.”

“Interesting.”

I walked to English class. The calling was also conveniently timed, right near the end of science. It would reveal if whoever she was talking about was following me, as they’d need my schedule to know where I was going next.

I saw a man in front of my English class. He was in an all-black suit.

“Pardon me, Mr. Cambell, correct?”

“Yes?”

“Wonderful. Please come with me.”

He flashed an FBI badge.

I followed him into a prepared office.

“Well, Mr Cambell. I’ve done a bit of looking into you. Son of missing Amelia Cambell and late Jacob Cambell.”

“Yes, that is me.”

“Wonderful, you are currently under suspicion for murder.”

“Why?”

I didn’t react, they would note a reaction.

“You don’t seem surprised.”

“I have nothing to fear. I didn’t do anything; I’m more confused on why I would be under suspicion.”

“Because a trusted man said that he saw someone with your exact description kill the victim.”

“Alright, and why would you leap to me?”

“Your mother was known for human sacrifice.”

“Of which she was innocent.”

My sudden snap caused the agent to blink.

“I see, I apologize. Indeed, it is still debated whether true by those who know, but because that exists, it connected to you.”

“I see, and who died?”

“A man by the name of Brent Adams,”

I flinched as I realized something.

“I see, and when did this happen.”

“He was found last night.”

“I see, and did he happen to come back to life?”

“What?”

“Brent Adams is in school right now. Why am I actually here?”

“****, I told him to stay home today. No matter.”

He aimed a gun at me.

“Listen, I know that Morgan’s roar had something to do with you. Tell me what it is, and I will let you go. If not I will be forced to shoot.”

“You don’t need to do this.”

“I’m sorry, but I do. And you don’t move either, pixie.”

Taury nodded.

“Come out, men.”

Numerous people came out. None I recognized.

“You, William Cambell, are now under the imprisonment of The Order. If you, or your fey pet, attempt escape, we will shoot to kill.”

That didn’t exactly go how I would have thought.

“Three.”

I turned to Taury.

“Two.”

The guys aimed at her, confused why she was counting.

“One.”

They glared.

“Boom baby.”

Then a bright light shone as she released a large amount of pixie dust.

“GO GO GO!!!”

She grabbed my hand and we fled quickly.

“They ran away!”

“That way!”

The men started chasing us. I ducked around a pillar and ran face first into Grace.

I collapsed like I slammed into a brick wall.

“What’s your problem?”

“Guys… chasing me.”

“Oh, well that’s not good. Order goons?”

I nodded then she sighed.

The guys walked up.

“Pardon me, official fbi business, this guy is under arrest for attempted murder.”

“Yuh-huh? Really, who did he attempt to murder.”

“Classified.”

“Pardon me, Jones, but for me you’re gonna need a better alibi.”

“Grace, this doesn’t concern you.”

“Pardon me, but you are after my friend, so you better give me a proper reason unless you want your men to be flatter than pancakes.”

Jones, the fake agent, smiled.

“Come on, Grace, I’m sure we can come to some agreement, this kid is dangerous, we know he was behind Morgan’s roar, and until we know why she roared, we can’t just let him wander. He could easily start a war, which you know we are not prepared for.”

“I won’t let you just fight a friend because of your cowardice, and I’ll tell you this much. This one seems to be Morgan’s new pet, you know as well as I do how protective she is of those. Taking him in would be far more dangerous.”

Jones faltered.

“I suppose you are correct. Fine. Men, we leave. I will not be the one who provokes Morgan by going after one of her pets.”

I was sitting in shock while the group dispersed.

“A pet? Really?”

“Heck, even if it isn’t true, Morgan would not like you being taken. Not only that, even the Order isn’t dumb enough to directly provoke Morgan.”

“Huh… so sassing her is a dumb idea.”

“Insanely dumb, anyone who’d do that would have to be… you didn’t…”

“I may have sassed her a bit.”

Grace sighed deeply.

“The fact that you are still alive then represents that Morgan has some reason for you to live, so I’d suggest using that excuse every time the Order comes for you, anyways, it’s lunch time.”

“Right.”

I got up with the help of Taury and Grace and we moved to the lunchroom.