The Trouble With Slaying

The Trouble with Compromise

Shaw led the way into the botanical garden where the Fae had agreed to meet us. Sawamura and Liam went a little stiff, sensing things I couldn't pick up. I just took a good look around and at first didn't see anything. Then a light flutter of purple and blue butterfly wings caught my eye.

She was a pretty little thing, though she would have been skeletal if she had been full size. Her eyes were a little too big, and a vibrant purple. Platinum curls supported a little crown of sparkling gems, and her wispy clothes in greens, browns and a splash of red were perfectly tailored to allow her every range of movement without revealing a thing. The tiny sword on her hip was probably an adequate defense, no matter the size of her enemy.

I slowly held out a hand and she blinked her large eyes at me, cocking her head curiously. I wondered if offering her my hand to stand on was rude, like standing too close to the Sylph had been, and turned to ask Sawamura. They were disappearing through the plants.

I jumped when a small weight landed in my palm and smiled when I looked down at the Fairy. She motioned for me to continue, then lightly sprang from my hand to my shoulder and sat down, her large wings brushing my ear every now and then.

Once I had seen the first one, or perhaps because she was showing no fear of me, the rest were popping up all over the place. Most mimicked actual butterfly colors and patterns. Others I had never seen before. They all blinked over large eyes at me as I hurried after the others and finally caught up in the center of the garden, where wrought iron table and chairs were set up.

I frowned, figuring those had been set up by the humans of the establishment. Fae didn't like iron. Thankfully, the tabletop was glass, so the little winged people were standing atop it to talk with their guests.

Shaw glanced at me, then blinked in surprise when he caught sight of my passenger. She abruptly abandoned me to fly over and take her place among the other royal looking Fairies on the table. He grabbed my shoulder and tugged me in close to whisper in my ear.

"You didn't bully her, did you?"

I wrinkled my nose and shook my head. "No!" I frowned. "At least, I don't think I did."

Shaw sighed and then we were both distracted as every Fairy in the place, except for the ones on the table, took flight and rose in a spiraling vortex of soft wings.

"Looks like we're starting." Shaw took a seat and I joined Sawamura and Liam, standing behind him. Then I was blinking in surprise as the colorful wings dispersed and I realized there was someone else at this meeting. I bit my tongue before making an outburst, but I could tell Sawamura was just as surprised as me. Liam was trying to hide a grin.

The Sylph slowly eyed each of us, sitting back in her chair gingerly with arms and legs crossed. Her gaze abruptly fell to the Fairies. "I told you I could handle it."

Shaw stiffened. "I was told we had this job."

The eldest male Fairy of the group jumped into the air, hovering between our factions on black and white striped wings. "We thought it prudent to send a bigger team than either of you could provide on your own. This witch had already wiped out both squadrons I have sent after her. None returned. Which is what prompted us to seek out the help of the Were's and Vampires to begin with. If even they will not move against her, then sending as many as possible seems like a wise thing to do. You have my word, you will both receive what you were promised."

Shaw glanced back at us, looking for concerns. The Sylph snapped. "I work alone! I don't need to be part of a team."

Shaw turned back to her when none of us made any complaint. "Then don't come along. We'll happily accept your help for this job and this job alone, but only if you're completely on board. I won't have you dragging everyone else down with this independence shit."