Harley Merlin 19: Persie Merlin and the Door to Nowhere

by Bella Forrest

  Lying flat on the ground, squelching around in the mud, I realized that it was finally over. The Door wouldn’t take any more victims, and the Wisps had paid for what they’d done—not only to Lorelei, but to everyone they’d dragged into that realm, and everyone before that, whom they’d led to certain death. And my friend had returned to me in one glorious piece.

  A voice cut through the ensuing silence. “Are those… pixies?” I didn’t recognize the man who’d spoken, and instinctively lifted a hand to protect my monsters. It came as quite the surprise when Charlotte got to her feet and folded her arms across her chest.

  “Yes, they’re pixies, and if anyone even thinks about hurling Chaos at one, they’ll have me to deal with,” she said sternly. “None of you would be here if it weren’t for them, so show some respect. The same goes for Persie.”

  I struggled not to cry as Genie helped me up and put her arm around my shoulder. “She saved us.” She glared at the Institute folk. “And so did the pixies.”

  “Those monsters… helped?” Xanthippe looked dumbstruck. “Monsters don’t help.”

  Charlotte nodded. “Well, these ones did, and a lot of them died to rescue you all. And if we’d kept on thinking they were the bad guys… Well, I don’t need to keep repeating myself.”

  “Thank you, Persie, and… uh… thanks, monsters.” Xanthippe took a step forward, looking at Genie sheepishly. “And I guess I owe you both an apology, for things that… I might’ve said. I had a bit of time to think, in that world. I guess people get things wrong sometimes. So, I’m… sorry.”

  Genie smiled and gave me a side-squeeze. “Apology accepted.”

  “Nathan also helped.” I felt bad leaving him out, when his choice of book had been the catalyst in this rescue mission.

  A rumble of gratitude spread across the graveyard, sounding like the murmurs of the dead. But it was a start—a sign of better days to come. Victoria would have to see that my pixies had been instrumental to our success in freeing everyone, and I hoped she’d appreciate their sacrifice. I allowed myself a sad smile, knowing that this victory had come at a price. But I’d succeeded, and I’d proven the innocence of the pixies. Maybe, just maybe, that meant everyone would start to realize that not every Purge beast was a bloodthirsty, mindless monster after all.

  Thirty-Four

  Genie

  Three days passed like three seconds, while life at the Institute gradually returned to normal. Well, sort of. Lessons hadn’t restarted yet. Victoria had put out a blanket order for all of the returnees to spend a week in quarantine, in case of Fergus-world side effects. I’d chosen to quarantine in Persie’s room, or I’d have died of boredom. Plus, Nathan snuck Boudicca out of her orb most mornings so she could keep us entertained. And man, did pixies know how to be the life and soul of the party. She taught us how to jig, pixie-style; she’d snazzed up some flowery headbands for us; and she’d started a tournament of what I liked to call “toothpaste archery.” She’d also given us a few lessons in pixie-speak. Of all the monsters Persie had Purged, she was my fave.

  As for my memories of Fergus’s messed-up paradise, they’d grown fuzzy. I knew I’d yammered on about my dad and arranged marriages, but I couldn’t recall the exact words I’d said. Still, it was therapeutic in a way. I felt like I’d hashed out my issues without intending to. That could happen when you were stuck on a loop for… however long I was in there. I knew, more than ever, that I wouldn’t settle for an arranged marriage. The gut-wrenching Fergus-and-Lorelei story had further cemented my thoughts on love. I wanted what they’d had, minus the sacrifice and Wisp-trapping and anguishing death. I wanted a love that made people cry in a good way. If I couldn’t have that, then I didn’t want any of it. End of story.

  “Relax, Mom, it’s honestly fine.” Persie’s desperate gaze pulled me from my thoughts and back into reality. She’d called her mom on video chat to relay everything that had happened, and it wasn’t being well received.

  I dove into frame. “It really is fine, and you know I wouldn’t fib where Persie’s concerned. Victoria cleared her of all charges, and everyone’s okay. No harm done.”

  Nathan had also been cleared and had somehow wrangled the benefit of not being stuck in his room all day. But I was secretly glad about that. I’d started to look forward to his morning Boudicca deliveries. He usually stayed to chat and watch the pixie’s antics, and I sort of liked having him around. He suited a casual atmosphere. It warmed him up and loosened his natural stiff-upper-lip-ness. And, as it turned out, he had some funny bones of his own. Naturally, Persie had told me how livid he’d been when he’d heard me babbling about arranged marriages. I wouldn’t say it had made me swoon, but I liked that he’d jumped to love’s defense.

  “I just don’t understand why you didn’t call me,” Harley replied, her tone momified. “I could have helped.”

  Persie groaned under her breath. “I told you, the signal went down due to a storm.” She hadn’t told her mom about Victoria’s Institute-wide comms block in case it made her more nervous. “We handled it, Mom. If things had gotten worse, you know I’d have tried to get in touch once the signal came back, but they didn’t. And you’re kind of missing the point—I managed to control monsters and rescue everyone, by myself. Well, with help, but mostly by myself.”

  I patted my friend on the back. “She even swam in a grave filled with water. I don’t think I’ll ever get the stink out of my nostrils.” I winked at Persie. “You don’t need to worry. Persie totally owned the show, and now everyone at the Institute is in awe of her. Myself included.”

  Harley reeled back in horror. “You. Swam. In. A. Grave?!”

  “To reunite the bones. I told you that already.” Persie shot me a did-you-have-to-say-that? look. “Everything really is fine, and people are being a lot nicer to us now.” She paused, realizing she’d messed up. “Not that they weren’t before! I just mean, we’ve found our footing a bit more. And people aren’t as scared of what I can do, which is great news.”

  I even got an apology from that uppity cow. I grinned at the memory of a sheepish Xanthippe saying she was sorry. If I could’ve taken a picture, I’d have framed it. But the fact remained—we weren’t pariahs anymore. Who knew that all it would take was my best friend saving a bunch of hunters and trainees from a lovesick spirit and a horde of evil Wisps? We’d have done that from the start, if someone had given us a heads-up.

  “Ooh, and Persie’s allowed to carry puzzle boxes at all times, so you don’t need to have any more sleepless nights about her Purging something she can’t catch,” I chimed in, giving Persie a nudge. “Unless she spews up an army of, like, dragons. Even then, she’d probably just befriend them, so it’s all cool.”

  Harley shook her head in despair. “I’m not sure I’ll ever sleep well again.”

  “Mom, you have to trust me.” Persie leaned closer to the camera. “I fixed everything. Don’t I get some credit for that?”

  Harley sank back in her chair and sighed the kind of sigh only a mother can expel. “I’m… insanely proud of you, Persie. What you did is incredible, by anyone’s standards. And I know I’m being hypocritical, worrying about you being in danger when I was doing similar things at your age. But it’s my job to worry.” She managed a half-smile. “Nothing you can say will change that. You could be in a cotton-candy bubble, and I’d still worry. But I am so very proud of what you’ve achieved.”

  Persie relaxed. “That’s nice to hear.”

  “Will I be able to see these pixies in the Bestiary?” Harley asked. “I’m always curious to see what you’ve created. It used to be artwork, but I suppose Purge beasts are sort of like living art.”

  I snorted. “And the gargoyles are the really ugly portraits that make people giggle.”

  “Gargoyles have their merits,” Harley said, laughing. “You’ve just got to make sure they don’t get too fond of you, or you’ll never get the slime out of your clothes. Murray has always been partial to licking.”

>   Persie’s eyes brightened. “Victoria let me keep the pixies here, in the Repository. She’s not sending them on to the Bestiary, so you’ll have to see them when you visit. I think you’d get along well with one of them.” She grinned, and a flutter in the corner of the room signaled an eavesdropper.

  “Victoria thought it would be important to Persie’s development,” I added sagely. “This way, she gets to visit the pixies and spend time with them, so she can relate to what she’s created. They’re genuinely amazing. I never knew monsters could have these huge personalities. Everyone in this place has a lot to learn from her.”

  Harley’s smile widened. “I’m just glad you’re both safe. I knew there was a reason you two were best friends. Just don’t make this a habit, okay? Less saving the world, more learning.” She leaned forward conspiratorially. “Kes is driving your uncle up the wall. He’s so jealous of the pair of you. But now that Tobe has banned him from the Bestiary, he’s diverted his efforts into monster-study so he can get into the Institute when he’s old enough.”

  “Tell him there’s a spell I can give him if he wants to sneak into the Bestiary without old Tobes knowing.” I flashed a mischievous smirk, channeling my pixie friend.

  “Don’t even joke.” Harley rolled her eyes. “He’d snap up the offer in a heartbeat.”

  I chuckled. “Who said I was joking?”

  “From here on in, it’s all about studying and training,” Persie interjected before her mom had a heart attack. “And I swear I’ll call you—”

  Her sentence was cut short by a knock on the door. The hunter behind it didn’t wait for permission to come in.

  “Victoria wants to see you in her office,” he said gruffly.

  Persie immediately stiffened. “I’ll have to call you back, Mom. And, seriously, you don’t have anything to worry about. We’re fine, everyone’s fine.” She pressed her lips to her fingertips and put them to the camera. “Bye. Speak soon.”

  She swiped the end-call button before her mom could reply. “What does she want now?”

  “I’m betting it’s good news,” I encouraged. “She’s already raked you across the coals for sneaking out and stuff, and you got away with a reluctant ‘thank you’ and a slap on the wrist. Now that things are getting back to normal, I bet it’ll be about developing your control. She wants you to be here, Pers. Everyone does.”

  She sighed and stood. “Let’s hope you’re right.”

  With that, she left the room, leaving me and Boudicca to get started on another round of toothpaste archery.

  Thirty-Five

  Persie

  I followed the hunter through the hallways, but he didn’t lead me where I’d been expecting to go. Most chidings took place in Victoria’s snazzy office, but he seemed to be taking me to the Repository.

  My heart plummeted. Maybe she’d found out about Boudicca’s trips out of her orb and planned to give me a warning about it. Although Nathan would technically get the rap for that, since he was the one who kept dropping Boudicca off like my room was some kind of pixie daycare. Not that I minded having her. In fact, I loved it, which was part of my concern. I didn’t want Boudicca to have to go back into her orb full-time, not after what she’d done for me and the abductees.

  “She’s in there.” The hunter ushered me through the Repository doors before turning on his heel and striding back the way we’d come.

  Drawing in a deep breath, I stepped into the bubble jungle. Victoria stood by the window on the far side, staring out at the verdant scenery—the clash of greens and gray-toned blues, where the clifftop met the sea. Forcing my legs forward, I walked toward her.

  “You sent for me?” I said to her imposing back.

  She glanced over her shoulder at me. “Yes. I thought you might appreciate the change of scenery.” She beckoned me to stand beside her, so the two of us were looking out at the landscape together. Her arms were slotted into their usual position behind her back, her torso straight like a soldier’s. And I felt as though I was about to be put through my paces.

  “Thanks,” I replied dumbly.

  She kept her gaze on the horizon, and the lack of eye contact unnerved me. “We haven’t had a chance to properly discuss what happened. As you know, I have been busy arranging quarantines and having teams scour the new wing for any more unknown entities. Now, however, I think it’s time we spoke frankly with one another.”

  I fidgeted awkwardly. “I… don’t know what else you want me to say.”

  “Then allow me to begin.” She sighed quietly. “First, I must thank you, once more, for the part you played in rescuing our missing people. I do not wish to minimize what you did for them. That being said, matters might have concluded more smoothly had you been truthful about the pixies being Purged from the outset, and had you come to me as soon as you discovered the existence of the Door.”

  I lifted my chin, just as my mom did when she was going into an argument. “Not to be rude, Ms. Jules, but you laughed it off when I told you about the Door to Nowhere. If I’d come to you, you wouldn’t have believed me.”

  Victoria surprised me by laughing. “It’s not rude at all. You’re quite right. I should have trusted you, but you have to understand it from my perspective. You omitted the truth about the pixies being created, and that led me to believe that you might be lying again when you told me of their innocence. It sounded an awful lot like you just wanted to protect them.”

  “I did, because they were innocent,” I muttered. And one omission of truth didn’t make someone a chronic liar. “And you said you understood why I didn’t tell you about the pixies being Purged, initially. You can’t double-jeopardy me.”

  She nodded. “I concede that I was mistaken, and yes… I did say I understood, but that doesn’t negate the consequences, even after forgiveness has been given. What I am trying to say is, we need to be able to trust each other from now on. That means I want you to feel like you can come to me with anything. I will not judge you for a Purge, or I wouldn’t have invited you to join the Institute. You must never be afraid to ask me for help, or fear for your position here. If we are honest with one another, then you do not have to worry. I’m concerned because you seem to be expecting an axe to fall, and it clouds your judgment.”

  I bowed my head. “I guess I am expecting an axe to fall.”

  “Then it will be all the more important that we have an open line of communication, especially since some bad news has revealed itself.” A muscle twitched in her jaw, her eyes turning steely. “It is to do with something you mentioned to me, about your mother.”

  “My mom?” I peered up at her, confused. “What do you mean?”

  “One of the people who disappeared has not come back, a scientist called Charles Burniston. He went missing around the same time as Xanthippe, though he’d told one of his colleagues that he needed to go into town. That is why I did not, initially, add him to the list of missing parties. However, when he did not return to the Institute, I thought he might not have made it to town at all—I thought that he was taken from his quarters. Now, it is my belief that he was not taken by the Wisps as the others were, and that he did venture into town, but did not return.”

  I understood what she was getting at, though it sent a spike of terror through me. I’d assumed everyone who was missing had returned. Evidently, Victoria wanted to keep this within a very small circle of people, or the Institute would descend into panic mode once again.

  “Are you going to speak to my mom about it?” At the beginning of the Wisp mess, I’d thought the missing Institute people were linked to the missing magicals in the wider world. Now, to hear that one person might be embroiled in that mess… It made my blood run cold.

  Victoria finally turned to look at me. “I have instructed a team to liaise with her in due course. I apologize for not heeding your advice regarding the disappearances; I have grown so used to the Institute being insular that I forget there is help to be found beyond these walls.” She smiled. “I im
agine this experience has been educational for both of us.”

  “You can say that again.” I lowered my gaze shyly, her black eyes too intense for comfort. Still, it felt good to be acknowledged. Fresh troubles might’ve been brewing on the horizon, but at least Victoria was reaching out to the right people. Maybe, with everyone putting their heads together, the issue of the missing magicals might get solved sooner rather than later. Although it set a dangerous precedent if this Charles guy had been snatched so close to home.

  “Then we should part on good terms and move forward with honesty and trust.” Victoria put out her hand, and I tentatively shook it. “You have my heartfelt thanks for what you’ve done, and the thanks of this Institute. However, I would urge you, as the head huntswoman, to be careful as you walk your path here—for your safety and the safety of those around you. Take risks only when they are necessary, and when someone is too stubborn to listen.” She flashed me a knowing smirk and released my hand.

  With that, she dismissed me. I’d gone in anxious, and I was coming out feeling anxious in a different way. The notion that someone from the Institute had been taken had thrown me, even if the theory suggested they’d been snatched from a nearby town instead of from within this magical fortress. It was way too close for comfort, and I knew my mom would freak out when she heard.

  Slipping through the Repository doors, I almost ran headlong into Nathan and Genie.

  “What are you doing out here?” I asked, grabbing Genie’s hand and pulling her behind a statue of a Nimean lion. Nathan hurried to join us, all three of us crouching low in the shadows in case Victoria came out.