Dust (Of Dust and Darkness) - By Devon Ashley Page 0,33
into this pit isn’t your punishment for not getting sick. Mimosa wouldn’t want this for you. You have to know that.”
The old pixie just shrugs. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll be seeing her again soon enough.”
It disturbs me the way she says that, and the way a smile creeps across her cheeks.
“Don’t say that. You’re the strongest pixie I know. And these pixies need you. I need you.”
“They only need comfort and guidance, Rosalie. You have a generous heart, and I hope you’ll be able to provide that for them when the time comes.”
She rises, pushing down on my shoulder for support, then hobbles away. The night is beginning to really darken, but flashes of light over the horizon light up the pixies sleeping in the pit. They’re all such pitiful creatures these days, but I know their beauty still resides beneath their weather-worn, damaged skin. There has to be a way to get them out of here and back to the life they deserve.
A collective gasp comes from two tables up. My brows furrow as I lean into the walkway, expecting to see a spriggan coming down the line before scheduled. But what I see is the frail form of a pixie crumpled up on the floor. I gasp and rush towards her, just as the pixies surrounding her fall back into work mode. Their lack of action still surprises me, even though I know most lack the emotion to respond appropriately. But still. How could they be so flippin’ heartless? One pixie continues to look on, her face filled with longing, as if she envies the pixie on the floor.
I gasp again, this time with a force so strong my lungs feel the urge to burst. Oh no-no-no-no-no!
Even in darkness, the flickering flames on the tables light up something very familiar: dark hair wrapped in a tight bun at the crown of her head, silvery streaks trying to gleam. The weight of my body crashes on my knees and the burn tells me I’ve scuffed some of the skin off. I feel the heat radiating off her skin as I pull to cradle Juniper in my arms. But as hot as the cave is, the heat feels worse than it should be. It seeps into my skin, almost burning me.
“Water!” I yell. “Someone get the bucket!” No one directly around me moves but I pray to Mother Nature that one of the lucid pixies in this cave obliges.
The heat steams the lining of my throat with each breath. I know Juniper feels it too as her breaths become deep and almost painful, her body collapsing in my arms with each exhalation. She looks up to me in a daze, her eyes glazed over. I wonder if she even knows it’s me holding her. Or if she can hear me.
“It’ll be okay, Juniper,” I say, rocking her gently back and forth. “It’ll be okay.”
A bucket scrapes the ground beside me. I catch a blur of violet with the next passing flicker of light. Light blue hands immediately wash the sweat that swims down Juniper’s face and neck. Sudden coughing makes us both freeze and look to the entrance. A spriggan makes his way towards us, long before scheduled, and I realize what an idiot I was to call out for help. Willow would have helped me regardless.
“Drop her,” Willow insists as she pulls out of sight.
Flabbergasted, I snap, “What?” She’s got to be kidding!
“Drop her!” she hisses. She pulls on my shoulders. My body leans back but I refuse to budge my grip on Juniper.
I’m engulfed by light as the spriggan nears me. Willow no longer urges me to abandon her and backs away. The noise of hands thumping on tables increases as the pixies around me fearfully work harder. My heart speeds tenfold, now realizing the situation I’ve put myself in. This spriggan seems lumpier than the others, with really extensive brow bones that shadow his eye cavities and make him seem even more menacing than normal. He leans the lantern in for a closer look and cocks his head. His pause is frightening, and I feel the tremble as it spreads through my limbs.
I take a quick breath, trying to find the courage to smooth the fear from my voice. “Please,” I plea, my voice cracking. “She just needs food and some salve for the fever and she’ll be well again.”
He watches me intently for a moment, debating what to do. The lantern is set on the floor