Mahogany and Teakwood

Chapter 42: Hemlock

i looked at the stripes

the monarch flies

i halt my cries

if my friend, if you can change

perhaps then so can i

They all whirled as Deceit raised a hand, capelet flaring behind him, snake eye flashing yellow.

Virgil's body collapsed, like all his bones simultaneously forgot how to be a skeleton; one by one the others met the same fate. Deceit, free from his need to keep Rapunzel and a roomful of fetches under control, clearly had the full brunt of his powers at his command again,

And Kate just sent the rest of Smile after the other snake!

Technically it was still seven against one, but two of those seven were preoccupied or barely conscious, and Deceit had managed to get the jump on the rest. Virgil fought the thrall, chest burning, but his limbs simply refused to move.

"Now." The faery curled his forked tongue around his fangs and licked the tip of one of his long, bladed nails as he approached. "I think this defiance has gone quite far enough. Let's see."

He paused next to a collapsed Rosa, still out cold, and Kate, who watched with wide, helpless eyes. The faery bent and nicked Rosa's face under each eye, drawing a small drop of blood with each cut.

"I need this one awake, so we can keep those pesky changeling powers under control."

Rosa came to with a gasp. She tried to close her eyes several times, face contorting as they kept flaring back open. Deceit moved on to Kate, who glared.

"This one, we can let sleep." He scratched her forehead.

Then to Patton. "Same with you."

To Virgil's horror, both their eyes fluttered shut as he pricked their skin. He must be using some combination of venom and blood magic.

Rapunzel he ignored, apparently deciding she was too weak to cause him any trouble. Virgil braced himself, knowing he was next.

"Roman!" Logan's voice sounded unnaturally strained. "Roman, leave the fetch and run!"

Deceit whirled with a snarl.

Logan had thrown the thrall enough to climb to his knees, and then to his feet. His eyes burned white, and he cupped his hand, crystalline frost creeping over his fingers...

"Oh, no you don't, half breed!" Deceit made a grabbing motion, and a sickly yellow light swirled around Logan's body, shattering the ice and rendering him immobile. Logan growled, splaying his hands, clearly fighting with everything in him.

Come on, Logan, Virgil prayed. In one last stroke of luck, perhaps, Logan had distracted Deceit before he could poison Virgil into unconsciousness...and Virgil had fallen so he could see everything that was happening. But what good will that do me if I can't break free?

Deceit tightened his fist and Logan's legs moved, stiffly walking the half-faery to the fallen podium.

"Remus!" The faery called as he followed, flicking his other hand. "Enough playtime; I require your toy."

Roman's and Remus' battle had carried them to the far side of the room. Nevertheless, Remus reacted immediately, blocking one last blow and sending Roman stumbling. Roman recovered, lifting his sword, but then Deceit's sickly light encased his head, and his limbs went slack.