The Expurgatory Threat Assessment Board places the entity codenamed AMBRY in Hazard Category 5. All attempts to contain or negotiate with the subject have failed. Glimpsing the entity’s true form can leave permanent physical and psychological damage. Do not engage unless with intent to destroy.
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In an instant Ambry was up in the air, hovering cautiously above the table she’d just been sitting on. “Who are you?” She demanded.
The stranger’s eyes didn’t leave Ambry for a moment, even as he shut the front door behind him. She didn’t like the way he looked at her, it was as if he was staring at some kind of precious artifact. “My name is Kole.” The man stated, a smile still planted on his face. “Although I’m guessing that’s not really what you want to know, little pixie.”
Ambry’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t like this Kole guy’s tone one bit. And it was becoming increasingly clear that he wasn’t some friend or associate of Sebastian’s. Which meant he was an intruder, most likely a thief come to try and acquire some of Sebastian’s more valuable magical items. “You need to get out now.” She growled, hands balling into fists at her sides.
Kole took a few steps further into the room, causing Ambry’s body to tense up immediately. “I can’t do that, not after I waited so patiently for the perfect moment to come in.” He said smoothly.
Ambry raised a questioning eyebrow. “Why not wait until the house was empty if you were itching to rob the place?” She asked. “Unless you’re not as smooth a criminal as you think you are and neglected to realize your target has a companion.”
A low laugh came from the intruder. “Well that’s easy.” He said with a smirk. “I’m not here to steal some of your witch’s trinkets, I’m here for you.”
A chill ran down Ambry’s spine at those words. What had been the first thing Kole had said upon entering the house? ‘There you are’ right as his eyes landed on her. This wasn’t a robbery, this was a kidnapping.
“What the hell do you want with me?” She hissed. At first she wondered if he was after her pixie dust. But she quickly dismissed that idea. Pixie dust may be valuable, but Ambry knew it was plentiful enough that there really wasn’t a black market for it. So then why take the risk of pissing off a witch by abducting his companion?
Kole raised a finger as he began to make his way even closer to Ambry. “Ah, I see your witch friend decided not to tell you.” He mused, stopping a few feet away from the coffee table.
Ambry flew back a few inches further from the man. “Tell me what?” She asked through gritted teeth.
Kole chuckled. “Your wings, they’re worth a small fortune.” Ambry’s eyebrows shot up. Her wings? She had never once heard anything about pixie wings being worth anything. A pixie’s wings were a part of their body. It was bizarre, like telling a human their arm was especially valuable. “You see, pixie wings are the key ingredient in the most powerful healing potion ever created.” Kole continued. “Of course the Council banned the potion a long time ago, but there are certain people who are more than willing to bend the rules to obtain such a potent concoction.”
‘Key ingredient?’ ‘Healing potion’? How had Sebastian never told her about any of this? Surely he must have known, the guy was basically a walking encyclopedia of magic knowledge.
“Considering you pixies so rarely stray from your isolated little civilizations, a pixie wing potion hasn’t been brewed in who knows how long.” Kole remarked. “But when I caught wind that a local witch had gotten himself a pixie for a companion, well I couldn’t pass up an opportunity like that.”
Ambry had heard enough. In a flash she zipped over to the small potted plant sitting on the entertainment center. All it took was her fingertips grazing one of the leaves for her to establish a connection with the organism.
All magical beings were connected to a specific branch of the Mageum. Creatures such as ghosts and ghouls were connected to the Spirit Sphere. Werewolves, harpies, and the like were connected to the Animal Sphere, and so on. As for pixies, they were connected to the Earth Sphere. This meant that their magic was derived from the earth itself. This allowed them to manipulate the natural features of the earth with just a touch. And it was with this ability that Ambry intended to defend herself.
In an instant, a thick green vine shot out of the once tame houseplant. The tendril kept growing rapidly until it had snaked its way around Kole’s right arm. Before the man could attempt to use his other arm to free himself, an offshoot of the first vine launched itself at his left arm, quickly giving it the same treatment as the right.
A look of frustration flashed on Kole’s face momentarily before his eyes focused back in on Ambry. He gave a dry chuckle. “Well aren’t you a wily one.” He stood there, immobilized but looking completely at ease. It sent a shiver across Ambry’s skin. He looked plenty stuck but why risk leaving him bound only by his arms?
Ambry adjusted her grip on the plant, ready to send another vine for Kole’s legs, but she never got the chance. Suddenly the man’s arms ignited into red and yellow flames. Ambry gasped, only able to watch as the fire quickly burnt away the vines and yet miraculously left the clothing and skin of Kole’s arms completely undamaged.
So he was a witch. Ambry should have guessed given how effortlessly he’d broken into the house. This was bad, very bad. He wasn’t just some standard human thug. That she could handle on her own just fine. But a witch, not to mention a witch who seemed quite adept at wandless magic, was a whole other ballpark.
If there was one thing Ambry hated it was backing down. She was as stubborn as a mule and hated to lose. However, she knew when she was outmatched. She was dealing with a surprise attack from an unknown opponent who had clearly come prepared. Her best bet was to flee while she had the chance.
Not wasting a moment, Ambry darted towards the open door to Sebastian’s bedroom. The window had been left open a crack, just enough room for her to squeeze through. However, before she could make it past the door frame, a blast of blue energy abruptly enveloped her. The moment the energy made contact with her, she felt every muscle in her body go rigid. In an instant she had gone from flying to plummeting uncontrollably to the floor.
Ambry couldn’t even close her eyes to stop herself from seeing the fast approaching ground. It wasn’t too high of a drop, she wouldn’t die, but she had little doubt that she’d end up with at least one broken limb. But before her body could collide violently with the hardwood floor, a massive hand suddenly shot out underneath her. Ambry dropped easily into the palm and the moment she made contact with the warm skin she found her body freed from the magic that had been holding it immobile.
Before she even had the chance to adjust to lying on a giant palm, the hand holding her began to shift. Ambry let out a sharp yelp as long fingers began to snake their way around her body, not stopping until the pixie was held firmly in Kole’s fist.
Flib: We've been conducting an experiment to see what Doogy will and will not eat.
Buckler: Grass? Yep!
Flib: Moss? Yes!
Buckler: Leaves? Oh yeah.
Flib: Shoelaces? Weird but yes.
Buckler: Worms? Sometimes.
Flib: Rocks? Usualy nah.
Buckler: Twigs? Rarely!
Ambry: How did you... test this?
Flib: We just hand him stuff and say "eat this" and if he eats it, he eats it.
Buckler: We need to distract them. Ambry. Find something you can throw at them so that we can escape.
Ambry: Got it. [ She picks up a huge rock. ]
Buckler: No! Something small.
Ambry: I understand. [ She picks up Flib. ]
Flib: Really?
