Fairy Bad Day

by Amanda Ashby

  He nodded, then, without preamble, he lifted one of his crutches high in the air and sent it smashing into the creature’s face, his aim true despite his lack of sight. The darkhel fell back away from the table and went tumbling to the ground, while high above them, Rupert and Trevor let out another gutsy cheer of appreciation.

  Emma ignored them as she forced her injured foot to cover the distance between herself and her slaying kit. She emptied the entire bag onto the ground until she found the unused packets of Sour Skittles. Then, without wasting a second, she crushed them one by one with her fist before ripping them open. Skittle dust blew up in her face and clogged her nose, but she ignored it as she grabbed her mom’s favorite dagger. As she worked she noticed that Loni had managed to drag everyone else out of the room and was now making her way to the table where Emma’s dad still lay.

  Emma sent her friend a silent prayer of gratitude as she watched Loni pull him off the table and drag him outside the burned kitchen.

  “Can you possibly be serious?” the darkhel snapped as it got to its feet, its face a mask of fury and anger. “How many times do I have to tell you that you can’t win? You can’t kill me, and by the time I’m banished, it will be too late because—”

  “Who says I can’t kill you?” Emma hurried back toward her enemy, waving the packet of Skittles in her hand. “Curtis, stand back, I know exactly what to do.”

  “So there is a Sir Francis hotline.” Rupert flew down. “I knew it.”

  “Don’t be a moron.” The darkhel knocked the small fairy out of the way. “It’s not some great idea she’s borrowing from a dead slayer with delusions of grandeur. It’s just a trick.”

  “Well, trick this,” Emma shouted as she lunged and then jumped up off her good ankle. As she became airborne, she used her mom’s dagger and slashed it across the darkhel’s throat. The minute the foul creature fell to the ground, she leaned over and started to pour the crushed Sour Skittles into the open wound. The darkhel reached up and pushed its talons deep into her calf muscle, ripping away at the tendon as it tried to use her leg to help it stand up. Emma ignored the pain that lanced through her.

  “It won’t work, you know. You can’t kill me,” the darkhel said, its voice full of rage and venom.

  “I can kill you.” She poured more Sour Skittle powder into the angry gash across its neck. The powder instantly started to bubble and blister, and Emma used the butt of her dagger to smash it deeper into the wound. “And by the way, this is for my mom.”

  “You’re wasting your time.” It gurgled in a weakened voice as it dug its talons farther into her flesh. But instead of standing up and throwing her against the wall, as she had half expected, the darkhel continued to lie on the floor. Emma tried to stay focused as she poured another Skittles packet onto the wound and watched as vile yellow fluid started flowing out like lava down the side of a volcano.

  “This is for my dad.” She gritted her teeth as she reached for another packet.

  “And this one’s for Curtis.” Still the creature didn’t loosen its grip, but Emma forced herself to ignore the pain as she poured the final packet of smashed-up Sour Skittles into the gaping, hideous wound and ground the powder in.

  “And this? This one’s for me,” she said as she stood back and watched in anticipation as the wound continued to hiss and fizz, eating into the darkhel’s thick dark skin until a deathly stench of burning flesh and evil started to sting her nostrils. But before Emma could quite figure out what had happened, the darkhel suddenly lifted a gigantic arm and sent her flying back across the room. She landed in a heap next to Curtis.

  “Emma—” he started to say, but she hardly heard as she watched the darkhel once again stand up to its full height, again spreading its giant wings the entire breadth of the room.

  “I told you that you couldn’t kill me,” it snarled as it started to stalk toward her, its dark red eyes narrow and glowing. “And the sooner you—”

  But whatever it had been going to say was lost as it suddenly widened its eyes and clutched at its chest. Next its gigantic wings wilted like a flower on a hot summer’s day and its lethal talons fell limply to its side as the darkhel dropped to its knees, its face a picture of stunned disbelief. Then it fell to the floor, its mouth grimacing in an almost comical way. Somewhere in the background Emma could hear Loni screaming.

  “What’s going on? Emma, what’s happening?”

  “I think she’s killed it,” Gilbert announced as he tentatively flew down from his spot on the ceiling and inspected what was left of the darkhel. Emma watched the creature’s giant chest cavity slowly sink away as if something was sucking it down from underneath until all that was left was a large pool of foul black liquid.

  “Is he right? Did you kill it? It doesn’t feel like it’s still here.” Curtis turned to her, his left eye swollen.

  “I don’t know.” For a moment Emma just stared at him as the reality sank in. “I—I mean, yes, I’m pretty sure he’s dead.”

  “Oh yeah,” Trevor confirmed. “He’s definitely dead. Nothing alive could possibly smell that bad.”

  Emma took a deep breath and sighed with tentative relief as Loni raced over, her face pale.

  “But how did you do it?” her friend demanded.

  “Don’t laugh.” Emma gingerly let Loni and Curtis help her to her feet. “But I used Sour Skittles. I figured if they were lethal to Trevor and Company, then maybe a whole bunch of them ground up might do the trick on this fellow.”

  Loni widened her eyes for a moment, then said, her voice filled with concern, “So how do you feel?”

  “Like I’ve done five rounds with an invisible fairy,” Emma replied as she started to scan the room. “But what about my dad? Is he... I mean, did the darkhel—”

  “Scratch him?” Loni interjected before quickly shaking her head. “Thankfully no. And none of the others are scratched either. Though they have been thrown around quite a lot and are in shock, not to mention suffering a few broken bones, but it could’ve worse, so much—”

  But whatever Loni was about to say was lost as Emma’s dad suddenly limped into into the kitchen, followed by what looked like a Department of Paranormal Containment medic, but all Emma was aware of was that her father had now enveloped her in his arms and her face crumpled and she started to sob.

  “It killed her. Mom. That’s how she died. She figured out that you were the Pure One and that it might try and get to you, and the only way she could stop it was to give her life.”

  For a moment her dad was silent, then he tightened his grip, his voice hollow and hoarse. “She never even mentioned anything about sacrificing her life. Not once. I would’ve tried to make her change her mind.”

  Emma shook her head and pushed away her tears. “It wouldn’t have worked. Mom wasn’t just protecting you; she was protecting us all. That’s just how she was.”

  “I know.” Her dad’s face was racked with pain. “I wish it could’ve been different but trying to stop her from doing what she thought was right was like trying to stop a hurricane. That’s one of the things I love most about her.”

  Emma stiffened. “You said you love her. In the present tense.”

  “Of course.” Her dad looked surprised. “Always. I could never stop loving your mother. Did you really think I could?”

  Olivia suddenly appeared in the doorway, Tyler at her side, looking around the burned-out kitchen in confusion. The minute she caught sight of Emma and her dad, she let out a strangled sob and hurried over.

  “You’re both safe.” She grasped both their hands and squeezed them tightly. “Are—are you okay?”

  “We’re fine.” Emma pushed away her tears as her dad put a protective arm around Olivia’s thickened waist, and for the first time in . . . well... ever, she didn’t feel sick at the sight of it. “We’re both fine,” she started to add, but before she could get all the words out, the world began to buckle and spin beneath her.

  “Emma, your leg.” A pair of st
rong hands caught her just before she fell and she twisted around in time to see Curtis behind her, holding her up. She knew something was wrong and she followed his gaze down to her leg.

  There was a long angry slash running all the way down from her thigh to her ankle and the wound was bleeding profusely over the floor. Emma bit down on her lip as she realized just how much damage the darkhel had done. And now that she looked at her leg she could feel burning hot tendrils of poison go racing up and down her entire body like it was on fire. She turned back to Curtis and winced. “I think I might’ve screwed up. It really hurts.”

  “Of course you didn’t screw up. It’s just a scratch. You’ll be fine, Emma.”

  But whatever he was about to say next was lost as Emma’s head started to spin and the world went black.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Emma was floating somewhere on a white cloud. It was nice. She felt weightless, and when she looked down at her leg, it was exactly like it had always been. A tiny scar under the knee from where Tyler had once bet that she couldn’t climb over the hedge at the far end of the practice field, but otherwise intact. No sign that a darkhel had ever dug its poison talons into her exposed flesh.

  She flexed her toes. They definitely felt normal. Then she realized that someone else was standing beside her. Mom? She widened her eyes. You’re here.

  Of course I’m here. Her mom smiled at her and Emma felt a surge of happiness go racing through her.

  This is so great. Emma settled deeper into the cloud. There’s so much I want to talk to you about. The darkhel. The Pure One. Why didn’t you leave more notes? It was so hard to find. I was really scared.

  But you did it, my darling. I knew you could. You have no idea how proud I am of you. Who would’ve thought that my daughter would be a fairy slayer? The only person in history to have ever killed one.

  Thanks. Emma started to beam but the smile quickly fell from her face as her mom stood up and pressed a kiss into her dark straight hair. Mom, what are you doing? Please don’t go. Not again. You need to stay here with me.

  Her mom turned back with a sad smile. Emma, my love, it’s not me who is going, it’s you. This is not where you’re meant to be, but don’t worry, I’ll always be here waiting, watching, loving. Now just close your eyes, sweetie, and everything will be fine. . . .

  “Emma, don’t freak out, but you’re in the infirmary,” a voice said from somewhere nearby, and Emma forced her eyes open. She noticed that a familiar hand was entwined with hers and that the room smelled of vanilla cookies.

  “Curtis?” She turned her head and saw that he was lying in the bed next to her, an angry bruise making its mark under his left eye. However, whatever pain it was causing him didn’t stop him from shooting her a lopsided grin. She immediately felt better.

  “I’m right here. You’re okay.”

  “But how? The darkhel scratched me. I felt it. And why don’t I feel woozy? I always feel woozy when I’m in a hospital.”

  “It’s probably because you’ve just spent the last eighteen hours sleeping,” Curtis said as she wriggled into a sitting position. “It tends to stop all wooziness.”

  “Where’s my dad and Olivia? Are they okay?”

  “They’re fine, just very tired. In fact, it took the doctor about fourteen hours to convince them you were okay and that they should go get some sleep. Even then they didn’t go willingly. I think they’ll be back soon,” he assured her, and for one perfect moment Emma let herself bask in the warmth of his golden smile before the vision of his ruined glasses, lying crushed and useless on the ground, forced its way back into her mind. Of Curtis’s devastated face as he looked at them. His future destroyed. Destroyed by her.

  “I didn’t save you, though, did I?” she asked in a desolate voice just as a dull sound of static rang in her ears. She glanced up to see Rupert, Gilbert, and Trevor darting into the ward with what looked liked bunches of plastic flowers in their tiny hands. She hated to think what LEGO set or Barbie doll they’d stolen them from.

  She ignored them as the guilt continued to well up in her like a fountain.

  “Emma—”

  “No, Curtis.” She folded her arms to let him know that he couldn’t dismiss her so easily. “You might not want to talk about it, but I do. I just want you to know that I’ll do whatever it takes to convince Principal Kessler not to send you home.” As she spoke the fairies continued to hover around the ceiling, shooting her impatient glares.

  “Emma—”

  “I’m serious. Maybe I could go out with you and be your eyes or something? We worked pretty well together, so he might go for it. Or—”

  Rupert let out a small cough, and Emma turned her attention toward the ceiling.

  “Yes?” she said in a testy voice. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate their help, but their timing right now wasn’t the best.

  “We just wanted to check that you were okay.” Trevor flew toward her, holding out the bright pink plastic flowers. “And to say thank you for everything you did for us.”

  “Speak for yourself.” Rupert poked his chin into the air and didn’t move from his spot by the ceiling. He looked very rock-and-roll. “I’m not saying thank you. Did you see how liberal she was with those Sour Skittles? Powder was flying everywhere. I could’ve been killed!”

  “And you would’ve been if our dark brother had had his way.” Gilbert flew back up to his friend, his wings flapping in an angry whirl around his neat plaid shirt. “We’ve discussed this. The slayer-girl actually saved your life, remember? And if Trevor and I can forgive her for the Sour Skittle incident, you can as well.”

  “Okay, so I guess technically you’re right,” Rupert reluctantly acknowledged before darting down and hovering just in front of Emma’s face. “Well done, slayer. Though next time just be a little more careful with where you spray the candy. That stuff’s dangerous.”

  “She’ll try and keep it in mind.” Curtis cut them both off in an impatient voice. “And now, if you want to leave the flowers and get going, that would be great because we’re sort of in the middle of something.”

  “Ooh, touchy,” Trevor retorted before he swooped down and deposited the flowers in Emma’s lap and winked. “Anyway, we’ve got a new bookstore to try out. Apparently they put real chocolate flakes in their cappuccinos,” he said, and without saying another word, the three of them disappeared out the door.

  “Okay, so that was weird. Since when do fairies make house calls?” Emma said as she absentmindedly picked up a tiny plastic bouquet of flowers. She was just about to push it behind her ear when she suddenly frowned and turned back to Curtis. “How did you know they had flowers with them?”

  “What?”

  “How did you know?” she repeated. “You’re sight-blind, remember, and while you told me you could still hear and sense their presence, it doesn’t explain how you knew about the flowers. They were holding them when you said it, which means you couldn’t see them, right?”

  Curtis grinned as he reached over to the small cabinet that was between their two beds and handed her a small flat canister. Her dad used something similar for his contact lenses and Emma studied it for a moment before glancing back up at him.

  “Oh my God—” She turned toward him, her cheeks flushed with hope. “Don’t tell me that you’ve got special contact lenses to let you see dragons?”

  “Not just dragons.” He unleashed his trademark smile and Emma felt her toes curl. “Pretty much everything. Apparently Principal Kessler’s been in touch with the guy who invented those glasses that I was wearing. Anyway, it turned out he’d moved onto smaller and more specific lenses. They still can’t work on regular sight-blind people, but apparently because I can hear and feel the presence of elementals, they can work on me.”

  “Curtis, that’s so wonderful. I can hardly believe it.”

  “Yeah, it’s pretty co—” he started to say, but was cut off as Principal Kessler and Nurse Reynes walked into the room.

&n
bsp; “I thought I told you to let her sleep,” the nurse chided.

  “I’m starting to think I should’ve woken her up ten minutes earlier,” Curtis mumbled as a frustrated expression crossed his face, which only made Emma grin even more. However, she tried her hardest to bite back her smile as Principal Kessler took a seat next to her bed.

  “So, Emma Jones, it appears you’ve had a busy week, what with finding an unknown fairy elemental. The oldest and most dangerous one to boot. Not to mention the fact that you’ve turned into an über-slayer.”

  “I’d hardly call it über-slaying. I used candy to kill an invisible fairy,” she protested as she wondered how long Principal Kessler planned to stay in the room. While it was nice to know she wasn’t going to get another detention, she would really much prefer to talk to Curtis.

  Unfortunately, Principal Kessler didn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave. He turned to Curtis and shot him a surprised look.

  “I gather you didn’t get a chance to tell her about it?”

  Curtis shook his head. “Besides, I still don’t really understand it myself.”

  “Understand what?” Emma stared at them both as Nurse Reynes pulled a large black folder out of her purse.

  “Understand the reason behind why you could see the darkhel,” the nurse explained as she flipped open the folder and proceeded to show Emma a series of figures that made no sense at all. “And why in your simulation fights Professor Meyers reported a marked increase in your strength and agility. Not to mention why you didn’t die from the scratch the darkhel gave you, and why you’ve healed so quickly from your injuries.”

  Emma automatically wriggled her twisted ankle and realized it didn’t hurt. She pulled back the sheets, but instead of lacerated wounds, she saw only a faint line of pink running down her calf. She looked back up at Principal Kessler and the nurse and frowned.

  “I don’t understand. What’s this all about?”