“Persie…” I started to protest, but she leapt up before I could finish and ran to the pixies. Genie followed her, leaving me no choice but to trail behind them, already knowing that I would relent. I had bent the rules for Persie, Genie, and the pixies so many times that it would’ve been nearly impossible to break the habit now. Nevertheless, I would attempt to put up a fight. At least, that was my intention, until I saw the pixies barrel toward the glass, shrieking with glee at seeing their creator again. No… she was more than that. She was their friend, and so was Genie. Boudicca pressed herself flat against the orb’s glass, swiping her arms up and down as though making snow angels, her legs jigging with happiness. Spartacus whooped and waggled his striped bum in excitement, while Cynane puckered her lips and smooched the glass, her arms wide as though she were trying to hug Persie through the barrier.
“Please, Nathan,” Genie urged on her friend’s behalf, which, biased though I was, I was still able to identify as emotional blackmail. “Look at them.”
I struggled to not feel moved as Persie pressed her palm to the glass and Boudicca placed her tiny hand atop Persie’s from the other side, her big black eyes swimming with bittersweet happiness. “It’s against regulations,” I said, my resolve slowly fizzling away. How could I say I was an advocate of the monsters and their freedom if I could turn my back on such obvious, and deeply mutual, adoration?
Genie’s face hardened. “What about all the other times?”
“I know, I know.” I took off my spectacles and wiped them on the bottom of my T-shirt, a nervous tic that never failed to calm me. “But I can’t keep going against the rules. You should get Victoria’s permission first.”
Persie turned. “I can’t do that. Victoria was very clear that the pixies weren’t to leave the Repository, and she’ll smell a rat if I suddenly ask to take them out. She’ll know that the rules have been bent. She’s not stupid.” In truth, I doubted Victoria would have said yes, even if Persie had asked. After decreeing that the pixies could stay as long as they remained in the Repository, Victoria had ensured that they were tagged with small, yellow plastic rings around one ankle, as an additional assurance. They weren’t trackers, per se, but they set off an alarm if the pixies came close to the Institute’s boundaries. I had tested them myself, and also instructed Persie on how to remove and put them back on safely, so Victoria would never know they had been outside the perimeter.
“You’re putting me in a very awkward situation,” I protested. To add insult to injury, all three of the pixies clasped their hands together, pleading with me. Boudicca chattered softly, and though I couldn’t understand her words, I heard the sadness in her tone.
“They deserve a bit of freedom, Nathan. Victoria might not see it, but I know you do. All those missing Institute folks would still be in Fergus’s realm if it wasn’t for these pixies,” she reminded me gently. “Don’t let Victoria’s rules cause you to forget that. They are owed, and I’m just trying to do what’s right for them.”
I put my glasses back on. “What are you asking for, exactly?”
“One whole day of freedom,” she replied without hesitation. “I swear I’ll take good care of them, and I’ll make sure no one finds out. I haven’t let you down yet, have I? I’ve had them for half a day, and I’ve taken them to all sorts of places around the Institute, and nobody has ever caught on. Please, Nathan. They understand the risks, too. They’ll do their disappearing act if anyone comes near.” The pixie trio nodded effusively, Boudicca displaying the action by vanishing in a puff of greenish smoke, then puffing back again. “Do it for them. They saved you, they saved Genie—the least you can do is give them one measly day out of the Repository.”
Please don’t let this be a grave mistake. I glanced from Persie to the pixies and back again. All of them wore the same imploring expression: wide eyes, hopeful smiles. The pixies even put on a glowing light display for me, their luminescent spots pulsing in soft pink flashes. I’d already known that I wouldn’t be able to refuse, but when I saw Genie’s gray eyes filled with an intangible faith, it cemented the fact.
Grimacing, I approached the orb and placed my hand on the glass. “Do you have your puzzle boxes, just in case?”
Persie shrieked happily. “Yes, and I promise I’ll keep them on me at all times!”
“Very well, but please, don’t make me regret this.” I whispered the spell that opened the orb. A glimmering iris twisted open and the pixies soared out, making a beeline for Persie. They smothered her with love, fluttering around her head and twittering animatedly. Boudicca swept toward her face and landed a sweet kiss on the tip of her nose, while Spartacus and Cynane cooed affectionately.
They really do love her… I envied her, in many ways, for she had an ability that I couldn’t even begin to comprehend. I knew she had a love-hate relationship with her ability, but it resulted in some incredible moments. Truthfully, I was honored to be a spectator, finding nuances in her relationship with her creations that I would never have thought possible.
“You won’t regret this, I promise.” Persie assured me, as she encouraged the pixies to hide away in her martial-arts outfit, Spartacus and Cynane finding comfortable spots inside her lapels, while Boudicca perched boldly on her shoulder, hidden only by Persie’s hair. “I’ll send you so many updates that you’ll turn your phone off, okay? And I’ll bring them back at the same time tomorrow.”
I sighed. “Okay. Call me if you have any problems.” I passed a hand over the orb, conjuring a ‘glamour’ spell across the glass that showed a scene of three sleeping pixies at the bottom of their enclosure, in case anyone else happened to come by and wonder where they were. I’d done this so often it was second nature to me now.
“Thank you so much!” She was giddy, already turning to leave with her stowaways. I waited for Genie to follow her, but she didn’t budge.
“You’re… uh… not going too?” I asked Genie. Persie liked to make quips about me having certain affections for Genie, but she’d never outright left us alone together before. And it had an undeniable aroma of ulterior motive about it, though perhaps I was imagining that.
“Not unless you’re sick of me already?” Genie replied, cool as a proverbial cucumber.
Did I miss some telepathic discussion? I looked to Persie, but she’d already gone. Persie definitely knew I was very… fond of Genie, but did Persie know something I didn’t? Something along the lines of Genie returning my affections? I didn’t dare put words in absent mouths, or read more into this situation, in case I was grossly misinterpreting. But why would Persie have left us both here like this, if not to… set some kind of stage? Was I expected to do something? Say something? My nerves rattled, my tongue tying itself up good and proper. Still, I couldn’t deny that the prospect of time alone with Genie was nice, even if I couldn’t put on the anticipated play Persie might’ve been hoping for.
I swallowed my anxiety. “I doubt that’s even possible. If you kept me any more on my toes, I would have to seriously consider a career with Riverdance.”