Blood Beyond Darkness by Stacey Marie Brown Page B

stuffed it in a back drawer of my mind. “Better to go now and ask for forgiveness after.” I couldn’t stay in the room one minute longer. Without warning, I bolted up, taking Cal and Simmons with me.
    “Warn a pixie when you are going to erupt all over the place!” Cal yelled as he flew in the air. Simmons settled back on the bed.
    My feet moved frantically in front of my patio doors. “Cal, I am going. You can help me or not.”
    “Without my help, how will you know how to get there, huh?” He flew up to look me in the eyes. His hands on his hips.
    A grin grew on my lips as I turned to the other pixie. “Simmons?”
    Simmons looked around, unsettled by my smile. “What?”
    Cal’s mouth hung slightly open. “Are you kidding me? You’re not being fair, girlie.”
    “What?” My eyes widened. “I am only asking. He doesn’t have to say yes.”
    “Oh, come on. We both knew he’ll do anything you ask.”
    Simmons’ head snapped between us. “What? What do you want to ask me, my lady?”
    “She wants you to take her to the Otherworld.” Cal flew down to the bed.
    “What? You want me to escort you against the Unseelie King’s orders to the Otherworld?” Simmons’ eyes grew to the size of dimes.
    “Yes,” I confirmed.
    He gulped and glanced down. I knelt, becoming level with them. “Simmons, I have been trapped in my own misery for too long. I’ve been a terrible friend and daughter. I need to fix the mess I made.” I paused, knowing the power my next words would have on him. “As future Queen, I ask for your service, soldier. I need your help.”
    Simmons lifted his head, pride filling his chest and face.
    “What a load of fairy farts.” Cal let his head dramatically drop back. “Could you tug at his little pixie heart— ”
    “I will do it,” Simmons cut him off.
    “Oh, what a shocker.” Cal threw up his arms.
    I leaned in and gave Simmons a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.”
    “What makes you think I am going to go along with you?” Cal stomped toward the edge of the bed, his amber eyes sparked with annoyance.
    “I need you to stay here to tell Lars after I’m gone. You can even say you tried to stop me.”
    “Sprite spit! You really want to shorten my pixie life, don’t you?”
    “ Ahh, it keeps you young.”
    “Yeah, because if I am dead, I won’t age,” Cal grumbled. “I’m not stupid enough to go against the Unseelie King.”
    I wiggled my eyebrows. “Yes, you will.”
    He eyed me, quick to catch my meaning. “I cannot be bought, girlie.”
    With that I started to chuckle.
    “All right!” He shrugged and sighed. “You know my weakness. I cannot fight you either, you evil sorceress.” He slung his arm across his eyes dramatically.
    “Thought so.” I grinned.
     
    A few hours later I found myself deep in the Otherworld. The forest on the Dark side reminded me of my dreams before I knew my true nature or powers. Shadows clung to each crooked tree, wrapping so tightly the lines blurred where one tree ended and the other began. Limbs kinked and twisted, curling into the night sky, only letting the moonlight beam down in rays through the branches. It looked like the dark enchanted forest you always imagined in your head as a child, full of goblins and monsters. I wasn’t afraid. As much as I had loved the forest of the light, I found I loved the forest of the Dark even more. The magic filled my lungs with dense air and sparked energy into my body.
    “This way, my lady.” Simmons’ wings vibrated the air, giving off tiny sparks. It made me wonder if this action was where the idea of pixie dust came from. Magic charged their surroundings, and the friction of his beating wings caused the aura to glimmer behind him. I had never noticed it before. If it was because the magic was thicker here or because it was so dark I could finally see it, I didn’t know. It was cool nonetheless.
    The deeper Simmons took me into the Dark Fae forest, the more I noticed the creatures. A