She was helping Lune into the pool when she collided into me, battered and bloody, her black eye swollen shut. Wrapping her arms tightly around me, she cried, “I missed you so much!”
“Get away from her! She has dark magic!” Lune panted, her voice strained with fear.
Jinx stepped back, her fiery eyes scanning me, taking in my transformation. Her clothes were in tatters, and her feet were badly cut. “I’m here now, and you’ll never have to worry about practicing with that bullshit army again,” I assured her.
“I don’t know what happened to you, but you look so good… like the queen of Charmden. I always knew you were special,” Jinx replied.
I wiped away a tear that slipped down her cheek. “I’m glad to hear those words coming from you,” I said, my heart swelling with love.
Jinx hugged me again. “I don’t care what they said you did; you’re still my sister. Hoax is on a rampage, sending his warriors to hunt us down and force us into training. I’ve seen so many fairies killed fighting his warriors in training. We need to do something!” she exclaimed, her body trembling with fear.
“I can kill him,” I murmured, the words spilling from my lips with certainty.
“That’s dangerous, Eboenia. You know how it feels to be burned by his staff,” she cautioned, concern etched on her face.
“That staff belongs to War, and he will get it back,” I responded.
“War? The Hex13 leader?” Jinx asked, her brow furrowing.
“Yes,” I affirmed.
“And you trust him? The leader of Hex13 who has been on a killing spree for these past months?” Jinx asked.
“Exactly! Ouuuuuuuuu!” Lune squealed, blood gushing from between her legs, circling around her in the pool.
“I need y’all’s help!” Blair shouted.
Jinx jumped into the pool to assist Blair with Lune. I sat on the cushion on the floor, crossed my arms, and watched Lune scream at the top of her lungs. Fairies carried their offspring forfour months. Sin had arranged for me to be his wife a month ago. I could imagine the hurt and betrayal Lune felt, giving herself to Sin only for him to turn around and ask me to be his wife. It stung; the feeling hurt like hell because at one point, Sin was my other half, and I had even put my life on the line to protect him.
“Where is your child’s father, Lune?” I asked as she pushed.
“Leave me the hell alone! He’s dead! Your demon capturer killed him,” she replied, her voice filled with anguish.
“You still want to pretend that I’m just making this up? You’re a stupid low-level bed whore!” I spat, and Blair shot me a look of disapproval, as if silently telling me to behave.
“I see his head. Push again!” Jinx said, standing between Lune’s legs. Lune grabbed Blair’s hand and pushed, her purple wings turning pale as she strained.
“He’s out,” Jinx said, holding a baby wrapped in green leaves, known as the fairy’s sack.
“He’s not breathing,” Jinx said, panic rising in her voice.
Lune sat up, snatching her baby from Jinx’s arms. “What’s wrong with him?” Blair asked, her tone frantic.
“I don’t knowwwww! He’s not breathing! I felt him kicking earlier… help meeeeee!” Lune cried, desperation lacing her words.
Blair picked him up and jumped out of the pond with him. She laid him on the floor and pressed his chest before blowing fairy dust into his nose to get him to react. I looked at his face; he didn’t have any eye sockets, and his nose was deformed, with pointed needle thin ears. His elf genes were strong, evident in the shape of his small jawline.
“Eboenia, use your wand!” Blair urged, pressing on his chest.
“I can’t bring back the dead. My magic isn’t that dark… yet,” I responded.
“Now is not the time for pettiness! Help us!” Blair yelled at me, her frustration boiling over.
“He’s dead, but he has the same crystal-shaped birthmark on his arm as Sin,” I replied.
Jinx and Blair looked at Lune, their expressions filled with sympathy. “Did you really have him by Sin?” Jinx asked softly.
“My baby is dead, and that’s all you care about—are the lies? Hand me back my son! Damn all of you!” Lune cried, her voice breaking.
