The Grims

Chapter 18- Air

"Cima?"

"Yeah?" Cima questioned, snapping out of her own world.

Isis suddenly gasped as Cima tugged Gonner back. "A dead end in the road, a bad element I forbode!"

"Isis, how about you take an eternal snooze and leave us alone?" Gonner asked snarkily.

"Look over there!" Dixie pointed at the lighthouse, making Cima snap her head in the direction.

"The lighthouse?" Gonner questioned.

"Aren't we looking for a high place?" Cima asked her sister, getting the idea. "The air element must be hidden up there."

"Let's go," Dixie said, grabbing her sister's hand.

The three of them went around the ravine as Isis ran after them. They looked at the keyhole for a moment before Gonner stole Cima's keys out of her pocket. He used the keys to make the door unlock. Cima smirked as she stepped back, knowing that he'd done this one too many times.

"You know, for a secret bandant, you are totally clueless," Isis commented.

The lock clicked and Gonner looked back at Isis. "You were sayin'?"

"Beginner's luck," Isis scoffed as Cima playfully rolled her eyes.

"We take what we can get. Even if it means having a pirate who's... clearly lost his touch." Cima smirked as she held up her keys.

"I expect a 'thank ye', not an insult." Gonner crossed his arms.

"You know I'm poking fun, honey," Cima said quietly, making Gonner smile.

They started climbing the staircase, Cima taking the far lead. She climbed with excitement, wondering what was in store for her and her sister. She loved adventures, she loved exploring. That's why she loved road trips with their mother or going to far-away cemeteries with their father.

"And... we've reached the top!" Cima said excitedly, but quietly.

She opened the door without a squeak and walked out. Her sister smiled at her excited face as they stared at the roof of the lighthouse.

"I hate to be the one who always has to remind you, but the proverb says if a ray of light flashes, zombies get turned into ashes!" Isis said.

"Why do you think she can see in the dark?" Dixie snorted, pointing at Cima.

"The book said that birds are associated with the air element," Cima said, rolling her eyes at Dixie's comment.

"Someone should go up there to look around," Isis said.

Everyone looked at Dixie. "Why do I have to go?" Dixie whined.

"It's your part of the Azoth, sis," Cima reminded her. "I'll go behind you. How does that sound?"

"Fine," Dixie grumbled. She pulled out a donut.

"What be that?" Gonner asked.

"A snack we mortals enjoy," Dixie explained.

"How can you think about food right now?" Isis scolded.

"It's not for her," Cima said as Dixie started up the ladder.

The bird squawked and Cima climbed the ladder worriedly. Dixie waved the donut in front of the bird.

"Are you hungry, little birdie?" Dixie questioned.

The bird stopped and flew over to Dixie. The donut fell from Dixie's hands and Cima swiftly caught it with the end of her sword. She changed the direction from Isis's head to the ground below them, so Dixie would have plenty of time to get the thing.

"Focus on whatever catches your attention," Cima reminded her sister.

"I think I know where," Dixie said quietly as she walked the roof. "What are the chances the air element is in here?"

"Crack it open! Let's find out," Gonner said excitedly.

Dixie tapped it lightly against the roof. "It's hard as a rock." She kept tapping it until a tiny horn broke through the shell. It looked like a fairy, but one with a devious expression. Dixie grabbed the fairy. "Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you." She turned around and showed her sister. "Look what I found!"

It suddenly poked her in the arm, surprising Cima. She climbed onto the roof hurriedly. She grabbed the fairy before it could do anything.

"Pesky little menace, aren't you?" Cima growled as she held the fairy tightly. It morphed into a rock, leaving Cima curious.

They hid before the old woman could come up to catch them. They ran into the woods once again, Cima handing the egg to her sister. The egg was not hers. "And it is almost midnight, so the constellation should be... this way." Cima pointed toward Vitriol's house.

"The creature you landed was a Silf. These fairies are the magical identity of the air," Vitriol explained, holding up the egg.

"Then why did it petrify?" Dixie asked curiously.

"To preserve the power," Vitriol said simply.