The Broken Myth

Chapter Twenty-Three

                                                     Axel

I watch the fire flicker in the lantern. Collin is wrapped up in a huge leaf sound asleep. Who knew leaves could be that big. He is a huge idiot for coming here. Then again that makes me an idiot too for following him because now we're both in trouble. The fairies are know we're here. It won't be long until they come looking if they haven't already. 

Normally I wouldn't bring along stray animals but Collin asked me to bring it so I didn't really have a choice. I let it out earlier and it just stared at me and then speed crawled over to Collin and found himself a spot to sleep with him. He must really like Collin. Then again Collin is a hybrid, he just lost himself to the werwolves. I bet this gecko is his spirit guid, or was anyway. It probably doesn't understand why he doesn't remember him.

Thankfully I was able to turn his cage into some sort of lantern for warmth. Based on what I know from the myth, the birch trees indicate we're in the sky fairies territory. The centre of the colony. The Queen is here the most, meaning the chances of Max being here too is high. The question is how do we get up into the trees and make ourselves look like their guards.

Thats when it hits me. We saw three of them earlier- and their dead. So what if we just- pretend to be them? That might work but we'll have to act fast. I shake Collins shoulder until his eyes blink open and he gives me an annoyed look. 

"Collin I have a plan but I need to tell you some stuff first." 

"Its too early for training Axelllll" he mumbles. 

"Your not in New York, snap back into reality Collin." Thats when his eyes widen as I think he actually snapped back into reality. He springs to life bouncing out of his little trance. The little gecko crawls up his back onto his shoulder and then curls into a swirl to sleep again. Collin doesn't seem bothered. A bright smile stretches across his face as he looks at me. 

He bursts out "You remembered to bring him!" 

"You asked me to meaning you trust it so yeah. Whats its name?"

"His names Rex. He found me when I entered the forest and he's magic thats for sure." 

"Collin, everything here's magic." 

"I'm realizing that."

"Anyway, I think I know a way we can get to the kingdom."

"To find Max right?"

"Yeah...about her..."

"Axel enough hiding stuff, just spit it out."

"She's...your sister..." Every word was painful to say like it was cutting my throat. Shock soaks into his face slowly and then what looks to be guilt. I can't blame him. If I had a crush on my sister I would feel guilty too. It feels illegal. Then he starts to connect the dots. 

"Wait...so does that mean...that I-I'm a hybrid too...?" Now he clicks. I think he already knows the answer, he just doesn't want to face it. I nod my head sense it's too hard to say. He stares at me for a long while like I've betrayed him. Not long after he diverts eye contact and clears his throat. 

"Anyway... what was your plan?" 

"I say we change into the guards armour and pretend to be them."

"Okay but how do we even get there?" 

"Well the birch tree's mean we're in the sky fairy territory which is in the centre of the colony so the homes will be up in the trees. Your little gecko friend is magical right? So if he's willing too, he can get us up there somehow."  

Rex's head pops up and he gives me a sceptical look. He probably doesn't agree. 

"Or we can stay down here and be killed, your choice." I continue looking at Rex specifically but talking to both of them. 

Collin sighs, " Rex its our only option. We really need you on this." he says with a saddened expression. Rex rolls his eyes but nods his head. Alright now we can get to work. I go over to the bushes where I hid the body's, and pull out two of the soldiers. One with black hair and another with blonde hair. Perfect. The only problem is the eyes don't match. Eh, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it, for now this is our only option. 

Taking of their armour, the smell of their decaying body's  wafts in my face and makes me want to puke. If there's the smell of death when we get there, there will be suspicion. We need to clean these somehow.  I walk back from the bushes where Collin and Rex are chilling in silence. I clear my throat and their heads snap in my direction. I toss Collin one pair of armour. He scrunches his nose in disgust.

"Why does it smell like decaying flesh?"  he asks while plugging his nose. 

"Remember when I arrived earlier to save your butt? Yeah well I killed the fairies to do so and this is what we have to work with. Are you going to complain like a baby? Or can we move on." 

"No, We'll figure something out to mask the scent." 

Rex pops up again from his swirl and his tung hangs out of his mouth. He looks really goofy like that. He crawls over to a small stream by a bunch of flowers. Collin follows him without hesitating and I trail behind slowly. 

"Rex, whats up?" Collin asks. Rex's eyes glow purple and the flowers turn into glass. Whoa- I didn't expect that. Why is he showing us this? It was like Rex could read my thoughts, as he grips the stem viscously and tugs sternly until it breaks off, falls and smashes. The sparkly white stuff rises up off the glass and gets attached to the armour Collin's holding but it smells amazing. The sweet smell of vanilla. The cool thing is you can't even tell its on the armour. It's taken away the smell of decaying flesh completely. 

"Rex your brilliant, thank you!" Collin exclaims with a  bright smile. Rex rolls his eyes and does the same thing  to another flower. This time it has blue sparkles. It smells like the ocean breeze. It floats over to the other armour set and sticks there. Once again masking the scent of decaying flesh. 

Collin heads behind a couple trees to change first and then I go. Once we're both done we put our  old armour on top of the fairies body's. We walk over to Rex and I blow out the flame that's burning. Collin picks up Rex and sets him on his shoulder. This is where the fight begins. We're so close Max, just hang in a little longer. Rex's eyes glow purple again and tree branches and twigs come together to form a circle that makes a fully functional portal.

Collin and Rex go through first. I hope they know we're coming. I hope they know we will have no mercy and are ready to take back who they stole. We're ready to take Max home. Even if it means bringing a bloody war.