Phoenix Academy - Lucy Auburn Page 0,30

much bigger than I assumed—almost two feet high, with a human-like shape and soft golden skin covered by a shimmering silk dress. It reminds a little of... well, a pixie, like Shimmer, who teaches one of my classes.

My classes at Phoenix Academy. The school where I go. It's my home, which is, I'm realizing now, very far away from here.

"I'm not a bat." The creature tucks its gossamer fairy wings against its back, a distinctly feminine voice coming from its golden mouth. "I am Nehamae, the guide of this circle of Hell. I harvest lost souls and guide those who leave the path. And the four of you have thoroughly left your path."

"But my magic led us here," I counter, my mind forming pieces of memories. Beside me, David reaches up to pluck a melon from the tree, and I swat the fruit out of his hand. "Why would my magic want us to come here if it's not a part of our path?"

"Fuck if I know." It's strange to hear curse words coming from the mouth of such a delicate little creature. "Human magic is often lost in this place. It can be guided, but seldom in the right direction. That's why I'm here—to show you to the door, which you have somehow left behind." She sniffs and jumps out of the tree, landing in the meadow grass and staring up at us imperiously. "Follow me if you wish to live."

"Live?" Reggie stares at her with a frown on his face. "We're not dying."

"Au contraire, human shapeshifter, you very much are. The three of you, at least—I can't say the same for the phoenix." She waves her hand in my direction. "Her spirit alone may survive down here for generations to come. But the three of you have been tethered to the bowels of Hell body and spirit. You won't last long before your spirits are unmoored from your bodies... at which point, Hell will own you for eternity."

"Doesn't sound that bad if I can stay down here." Reggie brings a piece of fruit towards his mouth, and I wrench it from his grip. "Hey! I was going to eat that."

"Which is exactly the problem." I throw the fruit on the ground and stomp on it thoroughly. "Let's get your clothes. We're following the creature—Nehamae, sorry—out of here one way or another. I'm not going to let the three of you die in Hell."

The little fairy adds, "You should listen to her. This place is ephemeral. It won't last for long. Once it's gone..." She snaps her fingers and bares her teeth. "The demons will tear you limb from limb. And unlucky you, that won't be the end of it, because your spirits will reassemble and it'll happen all over again. And again. And... well, you get the picture."

I definitely do. But I realize that I need to make sure this fairy is trustworthy before I let her lead us through Hell towards the unknown. So I tap into my naturalistic senses for the first time in ages and unfurl them around me.

Reaching towards the fairy, I sense her consciousness. She startles at my touch, then sighs. "Fine, witch. Go inside my head if it reassures you."

It will. Just like I would with a deer or a wolf, I dive into her conscious and subconscious mind. What I find is a strange new world. The fairy—that's what she is, I've decided—can see in what feels like a dozen colors. Her eyes sense parts of the light spectrum I didn't even realize were visible. With sensitive skin, she can feel every ounce of magic around her, including the aura of my witch powers.

There's no deceit inside her mind. Weariness for the journey ahead, and more than a little bit of frustration that she's saddled with us, but she's telling the truth. A long time ago an ancient mage set her here to help wandering souls return to their rightful place—and it's all she's done since, for what must be centuries.

Many of those she's tried to help have died down here instead.

Others have gotten out. Most of them young mages who got too curious. A few Grims here and there, something that makes me shudder a little. One or two magical creatures I've never heard of.

Those that don't listen and accept her help tend to succumb to terrible fates. Demon hordes tear them limb from limb. They get stuck in the various traps here, minds tortured for eternity. Or they simply