Twenty-Four
The ladder stopped about a metre or so away from the ground, or from what I could tell from the dim light above. I let go and landed in a crouch, about an inch deep in sludge. I prayed it was stagnant water.
A second later Dexter dropped down beside me, and the man shut the hatch after us.
'Oh yeah, not a trap at all.' I muttered.
'Don't be such a baby.' Dexter scolded lightly. 'Now come on.'
I felt him move away, and immediately followed. 'How do you know you're going the right way? Where the Hell are we going?!' I cried indignantly.
But just to annoy me, torch lights flickered on, revealing that we were walking down a long hall. Immediately my claustrophobia kicked in, but I swallowed it down.
We were walking through thick sludge, and I could've sworn I saw more than one decomposing body part.
But as we went on the sludge loosened until it became clear water, and in turn that became stone then grass.
'I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.' I said as we stepped out into a massive room, full of light and colour, sounds and smells and creatures that couldn't possibly be from this earth.
'We're in a FAERIE kingdom?!' I hissed.
'Yeah,' Dexter looked back at me. 'So?'
'So? Whataya mean SO? We can't be here! We have to leave, now!' Just as I turned to go people stood in my way, and we were suddenly surrounded.
As we were pushed back-to-back, I muttered, 'If we get out of here, I'm SO kicking your ass.'
We were pushed back more, until I tripped and fell in a beanbag.
Righting myself, I saw Dexter sit beside me and looked up to see the two massive thrones made of trees and flowers sitting on a high stage.
A man and woman, both incredibly beautiful with light green skin sat atop the thrones, wearing royally coloured clothes and jewellery.
The woman had long, membranous wings that moved slowly in an invisible breeze, whilst the man's were small and spiky-looking.
'It's nice to meet you both. You, Bellatrix, have a very colourful profile down in the Underworld.' The faerie queen smiled slightly.
'Oh, well, it's nice to be known.' I said softly, not breaking eye contact.
They both turned to Dexter. 'If you would kindly refresh our memory as to why you have requested our help?'
I faced him too, giving him my well-known 'I'm about to kill you' face. 'Yeah Dexter. Why did you ask to have their help?'
'You know of my sister's...agreement with the Crossroads Demon.' It wasn't a question, but they nodded their acknowledgement anyway.
Around us, other fae gathered like a jury at court.
Dexter kept talking, but I stopped listening as a tiny little faerie skipped past my legs, holding a little platter of foods.
My stomach rumbled audibly, and just as I was about to grab a strangely greasy fruity thing, I remembered- you can't eat anything from the faerie realm. If you do, you're stuck there 'till you die...or worse.
The faerie smiled wickedly, and bit into my finger.
I bit back a swear and stuck my sweet-tasting bleeding finger into my mouth and paid attention to the conversation again.
'And if we do agree to help you,' The faerie queen turned her full attention to me, 'Do you promise to abide by our laws?'
'Yeah.' Dexter said, and after a second I nodded my agreement.
'We could help your sister out of her contract- though it should be binding.' The king said as the queen looked away, and it dawned on me then.
How I could've been so stupid before- of course we'd be here only because Dexter wanted to save me again.
'But that is only if she wants us to.' Both sovereigns locked eyes with me, and I narrowed mine.
'Trixie, don't pretend to be brave.'
'Who's pretending?' I cried.
'I know you don't want to die- you're just too proud to ask for help.' He said.
'You wanna know the truth?' I said angrily. Screw making a scene. I never cared before, why would I care now? 'I'm tired, Dex. I really am. And if I die in the next couple of months- then so be it. I don't really want to do this anymore.' I stared at him, daring him to defy me. After a second, he made a noise that was a mix between a laugh and a choke.
'Now you're full of crap. You love hunting stuff down! And you know we need their help. So swallow your ego, and say you want their help.'
I turned to the sovereigns of the faerie kingdom.
'I don't want your help. If I'm meant to cheat this bastard, I can do it myself. Now can we please go?' I stood.
Dexter sighed, knowing the battle- this one, at least- was lost.
'You can go.' The faerie queen told Dexter. Shooting me a sly smile, she said, 'But you are blessed with our company for eternity.'
Dexter stood too, standing close to me and showing how much taller he was than me. 'What? But she didn't-' He looked down at me, 'You didn't-'
'I didn't!' I cried. 'I didn't eat anything! Why do I have to stay?'
'Oh, but you did.' She gave another sly smiled, officially starting to get on my nerves. She indicated to my still-bleeding finger, white-green eyes daring me to object.
'I...I got bitten, but I didn't eat anything.' I said.
'Unless there was juice on your fingers.' Dexter muttered, mainly to himself.
'You sneaking little bitch.' I snapped. 'What the Hell?!'
'Dexter, you are free to leave. But Bellatrix- I hope you enjoy our Underworld.' The crowd cheered.
