Persie Merlin and the Witch Hunters - Bella Forrest Page 0,36

growled, straining with her eyes, until they were pretty much bulging, to get some kind of image across. Persie was the one with the best interpretation skills; we would have to do our best to intuit what the pixies were saying.

We wouldn’t have to stretch our limits far, because I had a feeling I already understood what Boudicca was getting at. “A monster attacked her?” I said.

Boudicca chirped her confirmation and growled again, for good measure.

“Did Persie Purge the monster?” Genie pressed, panic evident in her strangled voice. This was her worst nightmare come true. I’d seen Persie go through it, fearing that her best friend might be lost forever, and now Genie was experiencing the same agony. I wanted to put my arm around her or hold her hand, but I didn’t think the timing was appropriate.

Cynane snorted, which sounded an awful lot like “no way.” To add to the implausibility, she disappeared down Genie’s sleeve before popping back out with her arms up, snarling cartoonishly.

“The monster took Persie by surprise?” I translated.

Cynane lowered her arms and nodded, her face relaxing into sadness. These three adored Persie. They must have been experiencing the same fear and worry that Genie was. I knew I had to be the one to stay calm and logical.

“Did this monster take Persie away?” I asked, rubbing Boudicca’s back gently, urging warmth into her.

She chirruped a sad “yes.”

“Do you know where?” I continued.

Boudicca scratched her chin in thought before shaking her head and miming herself passing out. That didn’t require much interpretation. Something had surprised Persie, had attacked her and had taken her away, but the pixies had been knocked unconscious before they could see where. Still, the pixies seemed to have a sixth sense for their creator. Even in their weakened state, they might be able to lead us to her.

“We need to look for her,” Genie gasped, breathing too fast and too shallow.

I nodded in agreement. “First, we need to call for backup. We don’t know what we’re dealing with here. Whatever took Persie is likely dangerous, and I don’t think it’s wise to proceed without letting Victoria know what’s going on. There is strength in numbers.”

“We can’t wait that long!” Genie shook her head, holding her free hand to her chest as though she was in pain. Recognizing the signs of an anxiety attack, I stood behind her, placing my arm around her waist.

“Breathe, Genie. Follow the rise and fall of my chest.”

She dropped her head and tried to relax, her hand closing over mine in a desperate grip. Her ragged breaths wheezed in and out as she did as I’d instructed, copying the slow intake and exhalation of my breathing. After a minute or so, we were perfectly in sync, her panicked breaths having slowed to a normal pace. In Genie’s sleeve, Cynane grabbed Spartacus and did an impression of what we were doing, which I chose to ignore.

Tentatively, Genie twisted to look up at me. “Call Victoria. You’re right—if Persie’s in danger, I want all hands on deck to get her back.” She looked to the pixies in her sleeve. “And you two can pack it in. This isn’t the time for jokes.”

I removed my arm from Genie’s waist and took out my phone, dialing the head huntswoman. I realized, as I did, that I wouldn’t be able to tell her about the pixies without getting myself, Persie, and the pixies themselves into a world of bother. I quickly formulated a lie to cover us.

Victoria picked up after two rings. “Nathan?”

“Victoria, we’ve got a problem.” I leapt right in. “I’m at the lookout point on the cliff path with Genie Vertis, and we’ve found evidence that Persie is in trouble. We can’t find her anywhere, just a piece of jewelry and signs of a scuffle. Do I have the go ahead to use a tracking spell on the jewelry?”

I heard a sharp inhale on the other end of the line. “No, do not proceed. Stay where you are and wait for back up. We can’t be sure what we’re contending with. I’ll dispatch a squad of hunters immediately.”

“Affirmative.” I hung up, knowing there was no use in arguing. Once Victoria made up her mind about something, she rarely changed it.

“What did she say?” Genie asked.

“You won’t like it,” I said grimly. “We’ve been told to wait for the cavalry.” Sure enough, her face twisted into a grimace, her hands subconsciously tightening around the pixies. They squealed and whacked her fingers,