I didn't scream.

I'll give myself credit for that.

Instead, I made a sound between a yelp and a whimper, falling backwards onto the floor.

I stared up at the painted ceiling of Fallon's room. Small faces stared down at me, hidden away in the corners. They whispered amongst themselves.

Were they always there?

They were small creatures, the size of my whole hand. I noticed that they all had big, round purple coloured eyes like dewdrops that shined. Small tufts of hair jutted from their head like a dandelion.

They wore dresses in small scraps of clothes, probably something Fallon made them.

I guess I figured out where all those doll clothes went.

"Forgive us," one of them spoke. They sounded like they inhaled too much helium. "We did not mean to startle you."

"Um...hello," I said, placing a hand over my heart and getting up. "Sorry about that. I'm still new to all of this. I'm sure you don't mean me any harm."

The small brownie that had sat on my shoulder earlier pulled at my pinky.

He—I'm assuming it's a he—was wearing a small green cap and a pair of overalls.

"Where is our mistress?" He asked me. "Will Sir Goodfellow return to us with her?"

I sigh, leaning against the doorframe. It was as if her room was completely drained of colour.

"Honestly, I don't know." I glance at him. "What's your name?"

"Gion."

"That's a nice name."

"Thank you!" He puffs his chest out. "My mistress named me."

The book still lies there.

A small Crystal vial containing purple liquid floated above the pages. A thin gold chain wrapped around like seaweed, bobbing with invisible movement.

Gion hid behind me. "Mistress told us to put this in the book before they came for her."

It showed off such an eerie glow. The shadows of the room danced around us, distorting themselves as they were pulled towards the vial.

I reached my hand out and snatched it before the shadows could touch it.

It felt ice cold in my hand. I wanted to drop it but I couldn't. It was almost as if they refused to let me go.

"What is this?" I asked, shaking the liquid. "Some sort of...potion?"

The purple liquid swirled around, almost like a lava lamp before settling down at the bottom again.

Okay.

Definitely weird.

Gion closed the book, using his whole body. He laid on top of the book.

"Mistress did not specify." Gion's tuft of hair stood up straight, the ends bristling. "I only know that she ordered me to hide it."

"When?"

"Just before she was attacked." He said. "Mistress told us that they could not take this no matter what."

"But why?" I ask, holding up the vial to the light. Maybe there was some sort of clue.

He closed his bright Violet eyes, hanging his head. "I wish I knew, my lady. We have failed our mistress."

Poor thing.

I touched his little head with my index finger, petting his hair. It was nice to know that Fallon had such loyal beings looking after her.

I could only fathom what they were feeling. It was probably more than what I was going through.

"Gion," I said softly, "Trust me, you didn't fail Fallon. You did exactly as you were told. You protected this and helped me. I think if she was here right now, she'd thank you."

Gion lifted his head, his eyes sparkling with big fat tears.

Brownies were strange creatures but you couldn't deny their cuteness.

"Really?" He asked.

I nod my head and he burst into tears. Sobs rack his small body as his tears roll down his face. Soon after all the other little brownes started to cry.

One of the brownies with pink hair blew her nose on the sleeve of my sweater. "Oh, poor Mistress! How they must torture her so in the Realm?"

"Torture?" I echoed. "Realm?"

Gion started to cry harder. "Those horrible brutes of the Summer Court! How dare they try to take away our mistress! Have they no shame!"

"What's the Summer Court?"

He rubbed at his eyes. "It's a horrible, horrible place. They have banished us to be forgotten in the Mortal Realm."

"Yeah, I gathered that...but why?"

I was in a room full of crying brownies. The room was filled with high-pitched sobs and it took me time to calm them down.

Gion pressed his face against the fabric of my jeans. "If only there was a way to find our mistress."

I sighed and continued to pet his little head. "Well...I tried but Darien refused."

"Goodfellow left us to protect you but he is not our master," Gion said defiantly. "Only Mistress can command us!"

"Oh, Gion," I whispered. "I can't go. I hardly survived last night. Darien said I would last long in the Fae Realm as a human."

"Do you trust him?"

"Do you?"

"Mistress told us to."

"Then there's your answer." I pointed out. "But this vial is concerning."

I play with the gold chain, the contents of the vial sparkling briefly.

Why did Fallon hide this?

Why did they—the Summer Court or Ghouls or whoever they are—want this so badly?

How am I involved?

There were so many questions but not a single answer. I was going crazy.

"Hey, Gion?" I get up, shrugging on some of the brownies. "Did Darien give you any other instructions?"

"Only that we were to take care of you in case he doesn't come back." He stated. "And to ensure your safety."

Safety?

Here? Really?!

I groan, running my hands through my dampened hair.

I knew longer knew what was out there. Since I could see through glamour, I didn't know what horror lurked outside.

I got out of Fallon's room. It felt suffocating to be in there.

I needed to think and have a drink. Preferably a whole bottle of wine of my favourite red.

I sank into the couch I had slept on, sitting on the edge as I braced my arms on my knees.

This was all too much.

Hidden secret vial. Ghouls and Skeleton. The Summer Court. Freakinf Darian and all his nonsense.

A whole two days ago I was worried about my car insurance premium going up because some idiot drove my car into a ditch and now I have to deal with...this.

Ugh.

Fuck my life.

The brownies were cleaning up Fallon's room. They had revealed themselves to me so I could hear and see them. They no longer lingered in the corner of my eye.

One of them hopped up on a table and started to tidy up the books and coffee coasters. Her bright pink dress and hair blended in with the flowers in the pot.

I rolled the vial between my fingers, feeling the cool glass. It didn't warm up at all on my grasp.

The purple liquid swirled ominously.

The longer I looked at it, the more tired I felt.

"What a useless piece of junk." I shoved it onto a pillow and lay down.

My body still hurt and I knew that I needed to rest.

"Do you require anything, my lady?" The pink-haired brownie asked me.

I gave her a small smile. "No, it's alright. I'm just going to sleep for a while."

"Of course, my lady."

<:——<<

I must've slept for an hour until someone shook me awake.

"—My lady!" Something pinched my cheek and I sat up like a corpse in a coffin. "My lady, you must awaken from my slumber!"

"Consider me awakened from my slumber." I run my eyes. "What is it?!"

Gion had climbed up to my shoulder using my hair as rope.

"There's someone at the door!"

"Oh, is that all." I laid back down, turning my head. "You can tell them to leave!"

"My lady!" He pulled my hair. "It's is the Ash Woman! She has found us!"

That got my attention.

I got up, nearly dislodging Gion from my shoulder as I looked for my shoes.

"Quick question? Does this Ash Woman look super pale with white hair and likes to smoke like a grandma in a nursing home?"

Gion looked surprised, his eyes so wide that they looked like they were going to pop out of his skull.

"How do you know?"

"We met once." I pulled on my boots.

"Then we must leave!" Gion called out to the other Brownies. "Kenti! Dert! Fetch the jacket and supplies! We must leave with haste!"

"Leave?" I glanced at the door. The brownies had barricaded it with pots and pans. One has even placed a rubber duck. "Isn't this place protected."

Dion grabbed my hand. "She has broken them. Our power is nothing without Mistress, the wards have fallen."

Shit.

Damnit, Darian.

So much for wallowing in pity for a whole week. I needed to get out of here.

Going through that door wasn't an option.

The only other way out of the apartment was through the fire escape. I hoped the brownies managed to fix it.

Someone banged on the door, nearly breaking the hinges. I could see smoke creep through the mail slot, creeping into the living room.

The brownies were throwing things at the smoke but it was doing nothing.

It was in vain.

"Dion," I said gravely. "Tell the others to leave!"

"We cannot!" He stomped his boot-clad foot. "This is our Mistress's home! We will not abandon it!"

Ugh, forget this. I grabbed Dion and placed him on my shoulder.

"Brownies! Follow me!" I yelled out as I wrenched open the door to Fallon's room. "For the sake of your mistress, get your little butts in here or so help me!"

That got their attention.

A small army goes past me and into her room. The last one skitters into the room with a butter knife in its hand just as the door blasts off its hinges.

I slam the door shut and lock it. Gion and some of the other enemies push the vanity against it.

I crouch down. "Listen to me, please. I don't know how any of this works and I'm more terrified than you right now. But if Fallon comes to find you all dead, then she'll never forgive herself."

"But—"

"You have done your duty," I said. "I'll find your mistress so please, save yourselves."