Chapter 26
The old pathway in the Crystal Vale had been at the center of a small spring bordered by snapdragons.
Little colorful motes of light floated about, and small strange creatures watched us from the foliage.
I no longer felt nervous about forming another pathway.
If more darkness waited, we could handle it.
Penelope stood off to one side, eyeing both the small gathered fairies along with some of the larger ones, including Varian.
Her imp was with her, which was a surprise, but I supposed Varian was so stoked about getting his pathway that he was fine with not only an extra devil, but an imp standing witness.
The human, however… I wasn’t sure how Penelope had convinced Varian about that.
Isadora was beyond thrilled though. She had her little magic tracking device and a satchel full of who knew what.
At least we could assume if any explosives were needed in the fairy realm, she would have us covered.
“Are you ready?” Crispin asked, morning light making his eyes look extra blue.
I shrugged, jostling Ringo. “No time like the present.” We didn’t have any supplies this time, because we would only need to travel the pathway to check for extra darkness, and to anchor the vortex, then we could return.
As Mistral, Sebastian, Gabriel, and Crispin all moved closer, I drew the Realm Breaker.
It was a pretty flawless unsheathing, if I said so myself.
Penelope watched us with pursed lips as I pointed the blade skyward, balancing it with a two handed grip on the hilt.
Crispin had already shown me the star map, and I knew the feel of the Crystal Vale.
I focused on that energy and the map in my mind, and that was enough.
Magic from each of the guys poured into me, and that magic poured seamlessly into the Realm Breaker. Light flashed, then shot up into the sky. I held on, letting the power flow through me until the pathway solidified.
When my vision cleared, Penelope’s perpetually pursed mouth was hanging wide open. She stepped toward the pathway, unblinking eyes staring upward. “It’s just like it was before.”
Isadora’s eyes reflected the light. “This is so cool.”
Varian cleared his throat, stepping around Penelope and closer to the pathway. He looked up, then at me as I lowered the sword. “Consider us even.”
I resisted the urge to snort. I’d hardly call us even, but I was glad I could finally be done with him.
“Shall we depart then?” Penelope looked at me expectantly. The other gathered fairies watched the imp as it hopped excitedly from foot to foot.
Sebastian stepped up to my side, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You shall depart when you please. We’ve created your pathway. Our contract is done. We need only anchor the vortices.”
Penelope’s childlike wonder died in the blink of an eye, and suddenly she was a sharp-tongued devil once more. “It takes ages to travel a pathway without a celestial! She must take me to my desired location. It’s only fair.”
Varian had turned to speak with his gathered people. They had plenty of supplies, and were prepared to travel on their own. As far as Varian was concerned, the less celestial involvement, the better. Beyond making the pathway, that was.
A day ago, I would have been content to walk away and let Penelope figure things out, but now that I had seen Sebastian trapped in his own darkness, I had a better idea.
Before he could say whatever disparaging thing he had planned, I held up a hand.
Reaching the fairy realm quickly was obviously important to Penelope.
We just had to figure out how important.
“I’ll take you,” I said, pointing one finger on my raised hand before Penelope could say anything. “On one condition.”
“Name it.”
Hells, this was actually going to work. “Destroy your original contract with Sebastian. Let him return to the hells as he pleases.”
“Now—” Sebastian started.
“Done,” Penelope said. “But you have to bring me through the pathway, and to a place of my choosing.”
Sebastian scowled as I held out my hand, and Penelope took it. Magic flared between us, sealing the new bargain.
“That was entirely unnecessary,” Sebastian huffed.
Mistral stepped toward us, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Gabriel and I should get back to the Bogs. We are expecting new arrivals through the pathway soon. I imagine you can handle this yourselves?”
I kissed his cheek. “I’ll be back before dinner.”
Gabriel smiled at that.
“I should report to the king,” Crispin sighed. “He’ll want to know that the fairy pathway is done.” He looked up at the shimmering path. “Though I would love to go…”
Later, I mouthed. Because even if Varian decided to keep the guys out of the Crystal Vale after this, he couldn’t exactly keep me from jumping someone directly to the pathway.
Crispin gave me a little bow, then joined Gabriel and Mistral.
I gave one last questioning look to Varian, who scowled. “We’ll travel on our own, thank you.”
I didn’t think he really meant the thank you, but it would be a lot easier just bringing Sebastian and Penelope. And Ringo and the imp, of course. And looking at Isadora bouncing with excitement as much as the imp, it seemed like we were bringing her too.
I held out my hands and was surprised when Penelope latched right on, twining her fingers with mine. Her imp held onto the hem of her coat and Isadora took her other hand.
Sighing loudly, Sebastian took my free hand. He could act annoyed all he wanted, but I knew he was just as curious as I was to see what his sister was so desperate to find in the fairy realm.
The moment we touched down, Penelope instructed me where to go.
It wasn’t as easy to take direction from someone I wasn’t bonded to, but eventually we made it to the tavern she wanted.
The place looked absolutely ancient, made of stained dark wood and surrounded by moss-covered trees.
The grass was thick and lush, with more dancing colorful lights.
Penelope ran in ahead of us, making it past a few onlookers who were staring openly at me, Sebastian, Isadora, Ringo, and the imp. Isadora dropped to her knees right then and there and puked.
A flurry of questions followed, then excitement over the pathway, then more questions.
Several of the fairies spoke English, probably because they’d had big plans to trick lots of humans before the pathways were destroyed.
A good thirty minutes passed before we finally made it into the tavern with an offer of food and drinks. Plenty of drinks.
We were jostled inside to an empty table, our shoulders pushed upon until we sat, then the fairies ran off to fetch food and drinks. Other patrons in the tavern stared, but my stare was all for Penelope.
She sat at a table with a cat-like creature.
I had seen a few of them in the Crystal Vale before.
Their necks and limbs were longer than a normal cat’s, their eyes huge and oblong, and their fur came in various colors.
The one she sat with was deep green, its eyes a matching emerald.
It lifted its chin as Penelope scratched it, her lips moving almost imperceptibly as she cooed softly to the creature.
“She went to all of this trouble…” Sebastian trailed off.
“For a cat,” I finished.
“Ridiculous.”
I laughed. Isadora seemed too distracted by all the fairies to notice our conversation.
Sebastian put a hand over mine on the table, drawing my full attention. “You don’t want me to kill my sister.”
He didn’t say it like a question, but still I answered. “I do not.”
“And I don’t get to destroy your grandfather either?”
“Correct.”
He sighed heavily. “What have I become?”
I didn’t have time to answer him as the fairies returned with food and drinks.
Everything smelled divine, and there were small colorful cakes I knew Crispin would love, so I would have to pocket a few.
Ringo hopped right to the table and went for the cakes, so I would have to pocket them sooner rather than later.
I snatched one and bit into it as I watched Penelope with her long lost fairy cat. Normally it wasn’t a good idea to accept food and drinks from fairies, but I’d chance it and let fate decide the ending.
It had worked out pretty well for me so far.