CHAPTER FORTY.

Badora returned to the castle as swiftly as he'd left it. Hippy, clamped under one of his arms like a rag doll, spent the whole time with her hand pressed to her face to block out the acrid, metallic stink of vamp sweat from his armpits. By the time they reached the castle she was ready to throw up.

The vamp strode inside, straight up the three flights of stairs and threw her to the ground at the muse king's feet. "Your fairy."

Hippy landed on her knees. She looked up at Pierus.

"I thought you were going to behave," he said.

"You never said how I should behave." She tilted her head and studied him. "Don't go getting all choked up over it."

His palm cracked across her face.

Hippy raised her hand to her stinging cheek and glared at him. "That hurt!"

"Get her off the floor." He walked away.

Badora hauled Hippy to her feet. He gripped her shoulders, bent down and spoke into her ear. "Do you remember my promise, Fairy? I said I'd kill you when you returned to Shadow. I'll be dreaming of that moment tonight. The taste of your blood. The sound of your last scream."

"Shut up one eye, or I'll pour fairy dust down your throat and make you vomit sparkles."

Pierus returned with a knife in his hand.

Hippy flinched. "What are you doing?"

"Something I've been wanting to do for weeks." He grabbed her one dreadlock. The blade flashed, sliced through hair. Pierus tossed the dreadlock over his shoulder. "That should help tomorrow. I want a blushing, beautiful bride, not a little monster with knots coming out of her head."

It took Hippy a minute to realise what he'd done. When it finally registered that he'd killed her only dreadlock, she screamed and leaped at him.

Badora grabbed her in midair and held her, kicking and screaming, inches out of reach of the muse king.

Pierus put his face close to hers. Only then did Hippy see how truly furious he was. His skin was white and his eyes so deadly cold they could have snap-frozen every killer rose in the garden. "Where is Nikifor?"

"Gone!"

He spoke to Badora without ever taking his eyes off her. "Lock her up. I don't want to see her until the wedding."

It was a long, long day. Alone in the bedroom with only the shiny dress for company, Hippy sat on the bed and thought about everything. She thought about Badora prowling the hall outside like a hungry dog, waiting for her to try to escape. She thought about Clockwork's face when she gave the cart that last shove. She thought about Nikifor dying of the vibe. She thought about Ishtar's warnings, about her mum and dad and her banishment from the tribe. Tears p.r.i.c.kled her eyes. She thought about Poppy, waiting back in Dream to hear something. She thought about Mr Silver and his insistence that she was the only one who could save Shadow. He'd had faith in her. He'd been the only one who didn't consider her a fumbling child. Right now, for the first time in her life, she wished she could be that child again, that innocent creature whose biggest problem was an overprotective family.

There was n.o.body left here to protect her now. Not even Fluffy Ducky. At least Clockwork had the last piece of the Apple of Chaos safe and sound.

She watched the light fade outside the window. Listened to the footsteps in the hall and the distant voices. She sat with her hand on her stomach, thinking about the child who would kill Pierus, and how that would never happen if she didn't think of something before morning.

She discovered her belly had developed a very slight curve. She wondered what the green-haired woman would think of her father. If she would turn out like him or be b.l.o.o.d.y Fairy through and through.

She fell asleep, exhausted and hungry, sometime after dark.

Hippy woke with a start when the door burst open. Morning light flooded the room and Rustam Badora's mask filled the doorway.

"Wakey, wakey, fairy. The muse king says you're to make yourself beautiful for him. It's your wedding day."

"I'm going to kill you today," Hippy said.

The mask remained smooth and expressionless. Behind it, Badora gave a low, amused chuckle. "Back at you, sweetheart. You're really a very unlucky fairy. Are you sure you were just dropped on your head as a kid and not cursed outright?"

The door closed. Hippy sat on the bed, eyes wide. Cursed? That was it. That was what she had to do. She'd seen it done. She knew she could do it, every fairy could. Pregnant fairies could curse best of all. She just had to get it right.

She went and studied the dress. She stripped and pulled it on over her head. Folds of shiny, shiny cloth settled over her hips and legs, brushed her skin. The fabric sparkled. She tied her belt with its pouches around her waist and combed her hair. This wasn't quite the wedding she'd dreamed of. She'd always thought her mother and sister would be there. At least there'd be Badora. A bit of vamp killing never hurt at a wedding.

The door opened again. Badora looked her up and down. "You look good enough to eat."

"I'm going to make you sparkle brighter than this dress."

The vamp king walked into the room, rather forcibly linked his arm through hers and led her back out. "You can't upset me today," he said. "It's far too special a day. I've been waiting to taste your blood for a long time."

"How disappointing for you." Hippy lifted her skirt so as not to trip while she descended the stairs. She decided not to point out to him the dust holes her dress was burning through his coat.

Pierus waited at the foot of the stairs. He wore a different suit than usual. It was dark blue and white, a tailored long tailcoat over wide-legged pants. His hair was immaculate. He smiled like a groom watching his bride approach, a sight that made her skin crawl. When she neared, he held out his hand. "My dear, you are a vision of loveliness."

Hippy smiled and placed her hand in his. "If Poppy was here, she'd shoot you."

Pierus led her to the centre of the entrance hall, where a circle of five fat candles burning on tall candlesticks gave the room an appearance of formality.

Badora stood in front of them. He picked up a big, heavy book from the small table and cleared his throat.

"Wait a minute," Hippy said. "Where's the bonfire?"

"You don't think I'm going to lower myself to such a crude fairy custom?"

"But I'm a fairy. I can't get married without jumping a bonfire."

"Once you're married to me you'll be a muse. Sort of. You don't need a bonfire."

"Then what's he doing?" She pointed at Badora.

"Officiating." Pierus jerked her closer to his side. "Since there's n.o.body else here to do it. Count yourself lucky, my dear girl, we're only performing the short version of the ceremony. Normally these things take days."

"Oh." Hippy gave him a big smile. "Okay."

A flicker of suspicion crossed Pierus's face. "Get on with it, Badora."

Hippy waited. She had to have the right moment. Really she could do it anytime, but a marriage ceremony was a serious thing. It required the raising of some kind of power, which would help. At least she hoped it would.

Badora intoned several words Hippy did not recognise, but that sent shudders down her spine. Vampish always had. Cold crept into the circle. Her fingers tingled. There was power.

Pierus sounded testy. "In words we can understand, Badora."

The vamp rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright. In the name of Mnemosyne I p.r.o.nounce you married."

"What, that's it? Who's Mnemosyne?" Hippy asked.

"The G.o.ddess of the muses. And my mother." Pierus smirked down at her. He laid his fingertips on her face, but spoke to himself. "And now you are my wife, and you look at me just like Pandora did on our wedding day."

The tingling in her fingers spread to her skull. Hippy hoped Mnemosyne hated Pierus as much as she did. She broke away from him and sank to the ground. The skirt pooled around her. She laid her hands on the flagstones, closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Yes, there it was. She could feel every current of power in the circle. The muse king's magic, the vamp king's deeply suppressed rage, the unformed energy of her unborn child.

"What's she doing?" Badora sounded concerned.

"Hippy. Get up." Pierus reached out for her.

She opened her eyes and connected with his gaze. His sleeve brushed her shoulder, and where the fabric touched, turned to ash.

Pierus uttered an exclamation and s.n.a.t.c.hed his arm away. "She's covered the dress in fairy dust!"

"Pierus, king of the muses." Hippy felt the power flow into her hands from the very castle floor. The candle flames around them flared and grew to three feet tall, casting deep shadows amidst the bright light. "I curse you to live in Pandora's shadow until the day you die at our daughter's hands. I curse your castle to fall into ruin around you. You will walk amongst mould and rubble." She tilted her head, still holding his eyes. He looked like a big trapped snake. "And I curse you to wear the most hideous clothes you can find. Forever."

She stood up. The power streamed from her fingers. She took a deep breath and made the last part echo while she pointed all that power at the muse king. "In the name of every b.l.o.o.d.y Fairy in Shadow, I curse you!"

The bolt of power that pa.s.sed from her to him almost knocked her off her feet. Then that power exploded outwards into the castle. Windows smashed. The stone under their feet cracked. Rocks showered from the roof.

Pierus uttered a yell and fell to the floor when a rock struck him on the head.

Hippy turned to Badora. "Play time."

Badora took the mask off and stared at her with his one eye. "What in Shadow was that?"

"Fairy curse." Hippy balled a fist and punched him in the good eye. The power must have been with her even then, because Badora went flying into the nearest wall.

Hippy fled.

"Stop her!" Pierus roared.

She bolted down the stairs, around the fountain and straight out into the roses. She ran faster than she'd ever run. Her feet barely touched the ground. The Arch pa.s.sed over her head. She set her vision on the distant end of the garden and ran for all she was worth.

The leaves turned toward her. The first twig to strike tore her dress and turned to dust in her wake. Hippy ran harder. She leaped the tendrils and vines sent her way. She could see the distant forest. The smell of fresh, loamy mud tantalised her.

Another th.o.r.n.y tendril tore her skirt and turned to dust. Then another, and another. The bottom of the skirt tattered into rags and shreds. She leaped and twisted and just barely kept ahead of the roses. A few more heartbeats and she'd be clear. She set her teeth. So close.

There was a tiny sting on the back of her heel. Hippy leaped clear and landed on the other side, out of reach. She scrubbed the back of her heel in the wet gra.s.s and took momentary stock. Yes, she felt fine.

She got up, picked up her skirts and ran for the forest. How far could Clockwork have got last night? Could Ishtar be on her way?

Footsteps pounded the ground behind her. Hippy ran harder, but she was starting to flag. She needed to rest. If she could only gain the shelter of the trees and get a minute- A blow to her back sent her sprawling into the gra.s.s.

Hippy rolled, jumped to her feet and faced Rustam Badora. He'd already moved between her and the forest. Mask and costume in place, protected from the sun, he carried Clockwork's axe. "Time to die, fairy," he said. "Pity you used all that energy cursing the muse king for nothing."

Hippy circled him. The short s.p.a.ce of time allowed her to catch her breath. Her heart pounded. "Where did you get that axe?"

"I took it off Nikifor yesterday." He chuckled. "Most pathetic muse I ever saw. I must say it's been interesting to observe how the muse king beats the character out of his subjects."

"You think the vamps will escape what he has planned?" Hippy flexed her hands. "He'll destroy everyone in his search for power. You know it. You tried to warn me."

Badora shrugged. "I have joined his cause. My people have everything we wanted. Territory and food. We're simple creatures with simple needs, really." He raised the axe and took a swipe.

Hippy sprang out of the way. The axe embedded in the turf. She ran in under his arm while he retrieved it and drove her fist into his ribs.

"What are you trying to do, tickle me?" Badora brought the axe in a wide arc toward her head.

Hippy ducked under it and leaped onto his back. She closed her hands around his throat and dug her knees into his ribs. "Does this tickle!?"

Badora jerked to try and throw her off. He flung himself backward, but she clung on. He clawed at her arms, but the gloves would allow him no purchase. His clothes turned to dust on his back everywhere the dress came into contact.

"Oh my, where'd your nice coat go!" Hippy yelled in his ear.

"Ow! Do you have to yell?" He flung himself again, then realised what she'd said. He uttered a whole string of nasty words and swung wildly with the axe.

Hippy let go of his neck, grabbed the axe and used her feet to launch herself off his back and s.n.a.t.c.h the axe away at the same time. She landed on her back.

The vamp twisted to come after her. His exposed back smoked. He regarded her for a moment, then pointed at the sky. "Overcast day," he said. "You can't kill me like that. Stupid b.l.o.o.d.y Fairy." He strode toward her.

Hippy rose to her feet. The axe felt good and solid in her right hand. The left dipped into the pouch that held the very last pinch of fairy dust. "You're so right," she said. "But you know what?"

"What?" He ignored the axe and reached out for her throat.

"Today's my wedding day." She flung the fairy dust in his mask.

Badora yelled and clutched his face. The mask crumbled.

Hippy swung the axe in a wide arc. It sliced into his shoulder like b.u.t.ter. Blood spurted in a fountain so big it sprayed the nearest trees, the gra.s.s, the path they'd fought their way onto.

The vamp king fell to his knees. He tried to say something, then slumped onto his face.

Hippy put her hands into the blood fountain. She painted two streaks of blood from the corner of her eyes to her mouth. She yanked the axe from his back.

Somewhere in the distance were voices and the sound of running footsteps. Only fairies ran like that, in a convoy, fast. Ishtar. Ishtar was coming.

From the other direction a lone figure strode across the gra.s.s. He was pretty fast too. Hippy blinked. Her head spun. Had she fought too hard? Had Badora bit her without her realising it? She put a hand to her head. Dizzier and dizzier. No, she recognised this feeling. But it couldn't be. It was just the merest scratch.

She looked at her heel and found it was bleeding.

Pierus stopped in front of her and looked down at Rustam Badora's body. His voice echoed. "You killed him."

"Not such a child now, am I?" She couldn't move. The sound of the fairies footsteps was like thunder.

Pierus's lips stretched into a thin, cold smile. "No matter. Obviously the roses got you. You won't last a day. With any luck the fairies will bury you alive."