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The hall clock struck midnight. I could hear the howls of the guest in room 1D. I walked into the kitchen and pulled out the ground monster for my monster.
But rather than bring it into him, I propped open the front door to the No Spell. I made a pile of the meat in the street, knowing it would be as appealing to a hungry werewolf as a free ice cream sundae to six-year-old. I topped it with Ajax's unwashed clothes. I then laid a trail from it to my guest's room.
I grabbed a silver serving tray in case I was in need of a shield and loaded it up with another wad of ground monster. One hopes they will not have to resort to such tactics, but as mama always said, a Monster Scout is always prepared. Then, steeling my courage, I pulled out my key and opened room 1D.
I was met with a snarling, furious wolf who threw himself at the bars of the cage.
"Now, now, none of that," I said, laying the meat trail from the hallway to the door of the cage. "I failed to inform you that below the stainless steel is a layer of silver, so even if you did somehow manage to bite your way through the bars, it would kill you." I walked over to his small en suite bathroom and washed the meat off my hands, drying my fingers on his clean towels. "I told you that you could check out anytime you like, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to invite you to vacate the property now. As promised, though, I have brought you a midnight snack. It's dine and dash. Most definitely to go."
I picked up the silver tray and took a big breath. He threw himself against the bars again, but he was starting to salivate.
"We're going on a little hunt, my friend." I swung open the door and hid behind it, ready for him to turn on me. He took a swipe in my direction, but I placed the tray between him and me. I was a witch and werewolves tended to leave us alone, but if you get a werewolf hungry enough, he'll take a bite out of anything that is close. But all that fresh, bloody meat smelled way more appetizing than some tired old crone. Wisely, the werewolf decided it was a better choice. He went tearing out, gobbling up the trail. He didn't stop until he was outside in the middle of the road, snarfing down the bloody pile beneath Ajax's laundry. He also ate Ajax's clothes.
It was a dirty trick, fooling him into associating Ajax's scent with food, but one does not reason with a werewolf.
I raced after him, pausing for just a moment as Precious stepped out of my office to hand me my broom and the last of the vampire blood. She was scared but resolute.
"Lock the door once we're gone," I said, taking Broomie from her. "And whatever you do, don't follow us. I'll be back. And if I don't? The No Spell is yours. I wrote it all down and put the instructions in my desk." I took off my glasses and pressed them into her palm. "Wear these. Don't take them off. Don't you let that coven of mine or that wicked John Doe steal from you."
"Don't say that, Miss Spell," she protested.
I gave her hand a squeeze. "I'll be back."
I grabbed my broom and flew out the front door. It slammed shut behind me. Good girl. The noise was startling enough, it caused the werewolf to lift his head. I pulled my broom a little higher, figuring sticking to the sky and out of jaw-snapping range was a better choice. He was angry that the food was all gone and began snuffling around the road for more. I prayed there wasn't anyone out taking in the night air. I had half a vial's worth of magic left. I needed to make it last and saving some unsuspecting someone from this beast was not how I wanted to spend it.
He snuffled around the dirt road, and then suddenly, caught Ajax's scent. He was off like a rocket. He ran for a good hour and didn't slow up until he came to the edge of the elfin woods.
But that is where we both stopped. Him, because there is a silver fence around the perimeter. Me, because I knew what the elves did to witches who snoop around, and needed a minute to gather my courage.
He pawed at the railings, yipping with pain as he touched the silver. Even in his mad state, he knew better than to enter.
Unfortunately, I didn't have the privilege of common sense.
He took off, I think trying to figure out a way around. Once on a blood trail, werewolves would stalk their prey until the sun came up. He'd wake up naked somewhere in the morning and be mad as heck, but I wasn't particularly concerned about keeping him as a repeat customer at this point.
I hoped the elves would sense someone kidnapped Ajax and he was not wandering around their woods of his own accord. Elves and dwarves are notorious for killing each other first and asking questions later. There was no way of knowing if they'd throw both Ajax and his captor in their prison. And the unfortunate thing about elves is that they have such long lives, what seems like a week or so in the clink can be ten or twenty years in Other Side terms.
I summoned all my bravery and aimed my broom over the top.
As if by magic, all the magic was sucked out of my broom. It stuttered and dropped from the sky. I realized I was lucky that I hadn’t flown much higher.
I also realized how lucky I was to have been stripped of all my magic. The protective barrier would have drained every last ounce of my power if I had tried this as my former self, leaving me a husk of a witch. But I was not my former self. I was already magicless, if you didn't count the little bracelet I wore that allowed me to siphon off other creatures. The bracelet was discharged, I was going to have some nasty bruises, but I was still alive and sane, which seemed like a victory.
I had never actually set foot inside the elfin forest before. Though we shared the Other Side, they were not friendly to neighbors. The trees started small, but within twenty feet of the fence, the woods became so huge and thick, I could barely see any deeper.
I yelped as I felt something touch my foot. The creepers of the tree were reaching out to taste my high-heeled boot. I didn't even want to think what might happen if they didn't like my flavor.
"I beg your pardon," I greeted them, wondering if they had any sentience or were pure killing machines. I tried to hide the fact my hands were starting to shake. It was like facing down a room full of vipers and not knowing if they were going to strike. "I am looking for a friend. He goes by the name of Ajax. He appears to have been kidnapped by an evil sorcerer and I felt it was my duty to see about getting him back safely so neither of them disturbs you. I'm sure you can understand my worry. May I pass?"
The roots seemed to consider my question. The wait seemed eternal, but finally, they began to retreat.
"Any chance you saw where they went?" I asked as sweetly as I could muster. "My mission is merely to secure his release and leave. I will not be imposing on your hospitality any longer than necessary. Anyone? Anyone see where they went?"
Slowly, as if in consultation, the roots came together, writhing and surging. And then, the path parted, leaving an open trail for me to walk through.
I released the breath I was holding. I'm not entirely sure why they were helping me, or if they were even helping me. They very well could be leading me to my doom, but since I didn't have any other choice, I said, "Most kind. Thank you for your assistance!"
I walked into the forest and tried to ignore the way the undergrowth shifted and spun to cover where I had just been. I told myself it was to hide my tracks from those who might follow, rather than an attempt to keep me from finding my way home.
I tried to keep a running commentary as I picked my way through the woods for the better part of an hour. Figured best to be upfront about what I was doing in case anyone was listening. "As I said, my name is Miss Spell. I run the No Spell Hotel. You must come to visit. Just trying to mount a rescue of my friend, Ajax. Quite a lovely small man. Not a dwarf. Definitely not a dwarf. Just a small, wee little man who is under my employment. Quite the jewelry maker—"
Suddenly, I stopped. Standing in front of me were five of the most exquisite creatures I had ever seen in my life. Beautiful but terrifying. Three women, two men. They almost seemed to be made of light. They were dressed in tunics and tights colored to match the forest around them. They were tall and willowy, so thin they could hide behind a tree. That was something my hips would never allow me. Their eyes were strange, piercing like a hawk. And the tips of their ears were pointed.
And speaking of pointed, all of them had arrows pointed directly at my heart.
I had elves.
I slowly held up my hands to show them I was unarmed. I mean, aside from a broom and half a vial of vampire blood.
"You trespass," stated a woman. Her blonde hair hung as smooth as a freshly pressed sheet. On her brow, she wore a silver circlet. I didn't know much about the whole political structure of the elves, but I knew they had a queen and it appeared she was now standing in front of me.
"Your royal highness...?" I hazarded.
She nodded that I understood correctly who I was addressing. I held out my skirt, trying not to appear ridiculous as I negotiated the voluminous material while still holding onto Broomie, and dipped into a sweeping curtsy. I heard some murmurs of approval from her entourage and saw out of the corner of my eye that they were relaxing their arrows.
I cleared my throat, not yet lifting my head. "Your Highness, Queen of the Elves and ruler of this land, a dear friend has been kidnapped and brought unwillingly into your realm. I am attempting to rescue him and was led here. Have you see him?" I rose. I held up my hand a little above my waist. "About so tall? Looks like a dwarf?" I saw the mood begin to sour. "But he's just a small person! Not a dwarf. DEFINITELY not your sworn enemy in the magical world. He's my friend. His name is Ajax and he is just... naturally grumpy. But not a dwarf who would wish anyone any harm. Merely an innocent stolen from our home."
The five elves bent their heads together and spoke in their native tongue, a language I had never learned. I didn't know much, but I believe they were trying to figure out whether to kill me now or wait to see if I was lying and then kill me then.
"I assure you, no need to kill me! I come in peace! Very poor manners to kill a woman in need!" I pointed out.
A man standing beside the queen stared me down. He was well over six-feet tall. His blond hair hung in waves and curls to his shoulders. He was impossibly beautiful. Probably shooting of all sorts of elfin glamour at me without even realizing it. His tunic featured a touch of embroidery, and I wondered if he had done it himself because he enjoyed sewing or if it was a sign that he was of rank or favor. His chiseled face was a mask and showed no emotion. "Your name, witch?" he demanded.
I held out my hand. "Miss Spell." He didn't take it, so I tried gracefully to withdraw it. "If you'll forgive me, I'll hang on to the rest of my name in case it could be used against me. And you?"
The elves once more whispered to one another, but finally they came to an agreement. Humorless and stern, he replied, "Killian of Greenwold."
"A pleasure to meet you," I replied. I motioned to the rest of the group. "And your company?"
"My family," he stated. "They do not speak your language."
I gave them a friendly wave in the hopes that they would be able to recognize my goodwill. "Enchante. And what were you all doing out here in the woods? Surely not looking for a little old witch like me? Anyone else lose a friend?"
He motioned to the sky. "There are dragons."
My throat became dry. "Ah."
When dragons fly, it is bad news for all of us. I searched the skies nervously. The elves do what they have to do when taking down those beasts. They are the Other Side's first line of defense, mainly because at some point over the millennia, they formed an alliance with the "good" dragons.
The elves love to collect treasure, items usually considered by the dwarves to be stolen treasure, hence the feud. To protect their hoards, the elves put it all in caves, and there is nothing a dragon loves more than a cozy cave filled with gold and jewels.
Unfortunately, vampirism is not reserved for humanoids. Dragons can be turned, and they go from creatures of gold and red, to the purples and greens of damaged and dying flesh. The living dragons are wise and powerful. The undead dragons are creatures of destruction.
I'm guessing if a crew of dragon slayers were out, we weren't dealing with the nice guys.
"Then I really must find my friend," I stated. I moved to try to continue on my way.
"Who is your friend?" Killian called.
I turned to him.
For all of his impassivity, I caught a hint of concern, a crack of kindness in his demeanor. I had a flash of insight that perhaps his coldness was due to the fact he did not want to be here at all. That rather than going to kill something, he would prefer to help me save someone.
I straightened my back and lifted my chin. "One of my employees," I informed him. "A man who works at my hotel... a man... who is my friend. My best friend. My best friend has been kidnapped and I fear the worst. I will never be able to forgive myself if anything happens to Ajax." The last sentence caught in my chest and I choked back the emotions threatening to cripple me if I acknowledged them. I could not yet lose myself to my fear. I had to keep focused on my goal. I was here for Ajax.
There was just the slightest shift in this man called Killian. A change no one else might have seen if they weren't caught in his electric blue eyes. "Come with us," he said. He reached out his fingertips just an inch toward me. "We shall help you."
The group around him murmured and I didn't need to be able to understand elfish to know they didn't approve. But he stopped them all and spoke a harsh word to the queen. Her face flushed with anger and she spat something back. His jaw clenched and he stood silent, but he stared her down with his challenge. She wasn't happy about it, but finally, she nodded.
He turned back to me. "We shall help you."