Finvorra rubbed his double chin, his bloodshot eyes held a malevolent gleam. It hadn’t taken him long to deteriorate his human body, thanks to whiskey, cigars, and massive quantities of junk food. “I should report ye to the Seelie Court’s Council; let them decide yer proper punishment.”
Kheelan stared back, refusing to show emotion. But inside his stomach churned at the words. He’d only been reported once before to the Council. At age sixteen, he’d foolishly hoarded his cash, bought a motorcycle, and taken off, intending to ride and hide from his captors.
He’d learned there was no hiding from the Fae. Within two days, the branding tattoo on his hand sent out a homing signal and they hauled him in for sentencing. For two months he was forced to work in an underground cave with the tommyknockers. No sunlight, no contact with anyone of his kind, only mushrooms and water for sustenance, and constant shoveling. He thought his back would be permanently stooped from the ordeal. Even now, the sight of mushrooms made him nauseous.
“Well, what do ye have to say for yerself? Ye have no business snooping in our records with yer manky, boggin’ human hands.”
Oh, he was a fine one to speak of filthy hands with his sour whiskey breath and greasy hair. Kheelan wanted nothing more than to spit in that hateful face.
When he spoke, though, his tone was neutral. “I was curious, that’s all.” He shrugged as if unconcerned with the consequences. “Besides, I was sent here to find out what’s going on with the pixie disappearances. I thought there might be something in the Fae records to help with that.”
“Liar.” Finvorra’s voice shook with anger and his face was mottled. “We’ve been here almost a month now and ye haven’t found out anything yet.”
“I’ve narrowed down the area where they’ve gone missing and initiated contact with a human. I’m confident I’ll learn more in the next day or two.”
“Ye had better.” Finvorra raised a fist in warning. “Samhain is only eight days away. Get that information and get it quick. If the Unseelie Fae have learned our battle plans from the pixies, we’re at a serious disadvantage. Is that what ye want? If ye think we’re hard to live with, imagine if the Unseelie Court gets the upper hand in our realm.”
Kheelan almost smiled. Finvorra wasn’t going to turn him in. If he failed in his mission, his Guardian failed along with him. The Seelie Court Council would realize Finvorra was unfit and incompetent as a Guardian once he opened that foul mouth.
Finvorra smirked. “Don’t think I have to turn ye in to the Council for punishment. As ye know, I have me own methods.”
Kheelan braced himself.
Finvorra raised an arm and pointed a long crooked finger at Kheelan’s knees. A bolt of blue light exploded from his fingertip.
He was on fire. Every nerve from kneecaps to toes pulsated with excruciating pain. Kheelan collapsed to the floor and grabbed his knees with his hands. They burned at the contact and blisters formed on his palms. He wouldn’t look at his legs, horrified at what he might find. Finvorra had gone completely mad. Kheelan forced himself to take long, deep breaths and closed his eyes. The smell of burnt flesh, his flesh, sickened him. Finvorra laughed in sadistic delight.
“The fun has just begun,” his Guardian promised.
Another bolt of the blue electricity hit his lower back. The initial burst of pain passed, leaving him dizzy. His ears tingled from a faint jangle of bells, as if he were falling down a well and the sound far above him. More fairies? Before he could decide if this was good or bad, he gratefully slipped into unconsciousness as the pain rolled away.
Kheelan awoke to find a familiar green-faced elemental sprite with oblique eyes and pointy ears grinning at him in anticipation.
Hefeydd. Kheelan couldn’t have been happier to see his old friend, until he saw Ealdun also appear from behind Hefeydd.
“Ye look like a gray-faced bogie singed from dancing too close to the fire,” said Ealdun in a merry, high-pitched voice.
With the regained consciousness, the pain also returned, worse than before, and Kheelan was unable to suppress a groan. Bile rose in his throat and his stomach heaved.
“Looks like a bad case of the collywobbles,” Hefeydd chimed.
“Believe me, it’s a lot more serious than a stomach ache,” Kheelan managed to grind out.
“We know laddie, helps a-coming,” one of them said.
Kheelan rose up on his right elbow and looked around the room. “Where’s Finvorra?”
His Guardian stood frozen solid, still and unblinking as a block of ice, a cruel smile on his face and finger pointed to deliver yet another blow. “What did you do to him?” Kheelan managed a twisted smile, hoping the damage to Finvorra was permanent.
Hefeydd gave a vague wave of his hand. “Just a wee immobilization spell until help arrives.”