The Fox’s Tale

As Sam and Ryan digested this news Ellery sprang on top of the bus in a crouch. “It’s me you want! Let the rest of them go!” she bellowed into the darkness.

“Not a chance, pretty lady! Not when the pickings are so bountiful. Besides, I promised my wife a fox fur coat!” The first voice that had taunted us answered, and his friends responded with laughter. Ellery grinned in triumph and jumped back down.

“Well, that’s just ridiculous. Shifters change back to humans when we die. Fucking amateurs.” My eyes landed on Ellery and I stopped my tirade. “Whatever you’re thinking, I want you to deeply reconsider it,” I said as I shook my finger at her.

Ellery grinned back at me, her teeth sharp. “They’re holed up on the edge of the human realm, and they’ve charmed themselves against Unseelie magic. They clearly don’t have a clue about how devastating Seelie powers are, how many non-faerie powers I’ve copied over the years, or how much they’ve pissed me off.”

Her eyes got that same silver hue that they'd taken on when she was fighting the Monroes and my heart sank to my already churning guts.

“Ellery, please, whatever you are thinking of doing, please don’t,” I begged.

She smiled at me, a smile I knew better than to fully trust. “I’m going to create a diversion that they can’t possibly ignore so that the safety of the portal to the Unseelie realm can be reached. We’ve got to get everyone to safety, Alexander, and it is the closest one.”

She pressed herself against me and then toyed with the ear Lucas had pierced. “Call Lucas, Alexander. I can’t open the portal, but he will be able to.”

After a moment's hesitation I put my finger to my ear lobe. “Lucas?” I asked in a tentative voice, feeling like an idiot.

‘Sir?’ he replied in my head. Okay, that was weird.

“We’re in a bit of a jam, Lucas, and I’m going to need you to open a portal for us.”

‘Us? Just who is us? You and the Crown Princess?’

“Yeah, but also the rest of the basketball team.”

‘Have you taken leave of all your senses? You want me to bring humans and the rest into this realm? Do you realize that’s a treasonous offense?’

“No, I didn’t, but it was Ellery’s idea and we are under attack so we can throw ourselves on the mercy of the Queen when we get there.”

‘You’re under attack? Where?’ His voice had taken on an edge of panic.

“No man’s land, that’s all I know.”

‘Tell me when and I will open the portal.’

“Roger that.” I let go of my ear. “Lucas is on board. Now, tell me what you’re going to do.”

Ellery turned to face me and ran her hands over my shoulders. “Did you know that Aurelia is a dragon Shifter?”

“Excuse me? She’s a what?”

“Dragon Shifter. And well, when I was younger, I thought breathing fire would be an excellent skill to have in one’s repertoire. I’m going to set the motherfuckers on fire and then everyone is going to run like hell towards that rock.”

She pointed to an outcropping of rock some thirty yards away from our hiding position. “That’s the border of the Unseelie realm. Call Lucas when you’ve reached the halfway point and you should all make it to safety.”

“What about you?” I demanded.

“I’ll join you when I’m done.”

“You promise?” I asked, not bothering to hide the suspicion in my voice.

“Of course, Alexander. I don’t want to stay here.” She gathered the team together. “On my signal I want you all to run like you’ve never run before straight towards that rock. Don’t stop and don’t look back. You’re a team, stay together. Understand?”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Ellery smiled and then pulled me in for a kiss. “I love you.”

I shook my head. “Ellery, you’re going to do something insane, I can tell. Please, sweetheart, don’t do it.”

“I’ll be fine Alexander. They want me alive.” Ellery turned and walked away stepping into the open air. I tried to go after her, but Lee grabbed me.

“What the fuck is she doing?” he cried.

“Is she insane?” yelped Nick.

“Oh my goddess!” Scott’s hands flew to his head and he clutched his hair. All I could do was watch with my heart in my throat.

“You cunts want me?” she roared. “Then come and get me!” She threw her head back and when she snapped it forward fire shot out, lighting up the forest where the hunters were hiding.

She turned her head in our direction and screamed, “go now!”

We didn't have to be told twice. The entire team took off running like the hounds of hell were behind us. Ellery must have managed to do something to help as we were all wearing dress shoes and no one slipped. I noticed when we reached the halfway point and grabbed my ear.

“Lucas!” I yelled. “We’re coming in hot!”

Up in front of us I could see a portal opening; a strange hazy image of what looked a Victorian era living room appearing on the rock. We all put on a burst of speed, anxious to get to safety. I shoved a few of the humans along, urging everyone forward.

As the team pelted through the portal I slowed down and turned back to see how close Ellery was to catching up. She was standing in the middle of the flames making a come at me motion with her hands.

“No!” I screamed and tried to run back to her, but my teammates grabbed me and hauled me kicking and screaming her name through the portal. I jerked myself free as the portal snapped shut leaving nothing but a bare stone wall behind.