Belle’s Quest (Fairytale Bureau #3)

Chapter 18

18

As we headed on foot for the stones, among which I could see a glimpse of that paper bastard, I lacked a full plan, but that didn’t stop me. First things first.

“Hannah, you’ll need to do something about Gerome.” His dark-clad figure stood a few paces from my target.

“I ain’t killing him,” she stated flatly.

“No shit. I meant do something to distract so he doesn’t interfere.” Hopefully, handling Methuselah would snap him back to normal.

“Distract how?” Hannah asked.

“I don’t know. Challenge him to a dance-off? A duel? Given how uptight he is, you might want to try a smooch.”

Hannah recoiled. “Kiss him? ”

“I know he’s like a brother, but we’re looking for shock value. Anything to keep him from helping the golem.”

“And what will you be doing?” she queried.

“Trying to get close enough to Methuselah so I can grab his rock.” Which I doubted would be easy.

“We don’t know where the stone is,” Godmother reminded softly, plodding along behind us.

“If it glows green, then I have a sneaking suspicion.”

“You saw it?” Agatha exclaimed, verifying my theory.

“It’s inside the puppet. I saw a green light when I stabbed him in the chest.”

“How will you get it out?” Hannah asked as we got close enough to the stones to see clearly the two people standing within its ring and a third on the ground.

Please don’t let me be too late.

My lips quirked. “It’s almost sundown, and this time I’m eager to welcome the beast.” Especially its shredding claws.

Hannah slapped me on the back. “Good luck.”

“What am I to do?” Agatha asked.

“Hold on to this, and if you spot a chance to give it to the rock, take it.” I handed her my quickly scribbled story .

Agatha clutched it tight and nodded. “Luck be with you, dear child.”

I’d need more than luck to make this work.

Despite not hiding our approach, neither Methuselah nor Gerome turned around to watch our arrival. As if we didn’t matter. Kind of insulting but, then again, let them think we didn’t pose a threat. I’d take any advantage I could get.

I stepped within the stone ring, and my heart stopped at the sight of Killian staked to the ground and the golem looming over him.

Despite my racing heart and sweaty palms, my voice sounded steady and strong when I shouted, “That’s enough. Leave him alone.”

“Do not interfere,” Methuselah stated without turning its head.

“I will so interfere,” I huffed. “That’s my husband.”

Mine. And I’d not yet gotten a proper wedding night, just a tantalizing precursor.

Killian struggled to turn his head, and when he did, his brilliant gaze met mine. I could see the fear in his eyes, fear for me, not himself, my foolish brave prince.

As the sun began to set, Methuselah uttered a sharp command. “Keep her away. The transference is about to begin. ”

Time enough to disrupt whatever convoluted ritual Methuselah would perform.

Gerome planted himself in my path, not that I let that stop me from racing in his direction while Hannah came at him from the side. Please don’t let him hurt her . I’d feel bad. He’d feel bad. But we had no choice. To free him from Methuselah’s mind control, we had to take out the one causing the problem.

Since Gerome remained fixated on me, he didn’t do a thing to stop Hannah when she dove and took him out at the knees. She knocked him down, and I leaped past their tussling bodies, only to have my rush abruptly halted with one word from the golem.

“Stop.”

Poised on one leg, my hands still reaching, frozen in place.

“I’ll deal with you once I’m done,” the alien promised.

It stood by Killian’s head, and I expected chanting, at the very least some handwaving. None of that happened. The paper puppet neither moved nor spoke, yet a spark emerged from Killian’s body, a glowing speck—his soul! My prince’s eyes went blank.

I was too late.

No! I screamed in silence since Methuselah had stolen my voice. Stolen my ability to move. Stolen everything from me, including the man I’d fallen for .

The alien placed its hands on its paper chest, and it burned, the hardened surface turning black and flaking away until a gaping hole appeared. Within that cavity floated a sphere glowing a bright green. It emerged, floating midair just as the sun set and my curse activated.

The beast burst free from my body, and this time, I embraced it. Even better, not only did it rip my humanity away in that moment but it shredded the compulsion keeping me frozen.

“Get away from him,” I growled once the transformation finished.

Methuselah didn’t turn his head but did utter a command. “I told you to not let her interfere.”

I couldn’t help a low chuckle. “Gerome is busy.”

Indeed, Hannah had lured him from the alien’s side. Gerome had his spear in hand but appeared to be hesitating to strike the dancing Hannah who taunted him.

“Guess it’s just you and me.” I grinned. Probably with a lot of teeth.

Not that Methuselah cared or showed any reaction. He grabbed hold of the bright rock and bent with it.

My horrified eyes saw a small slice appear on Killian’s chest, fabric and skin parting despite there being no knife. Blood welled, and I knew if the rock got within that flesh it was all over. I roared and charged, slamming into the puppet before it could insert the stone.

It didn’t grunt or react in pain. Not even when I shredded its paper body with my claws. I tore off its arms, slivered its torso, ribboned its head until it collapsed inward.

I knelt, huffing over the inert carcass. Had I done it? Agatha didn’t think I could kill it so easily. She was most likely right, but by taking away its golem I’d slowed it down at least, which meant time to locate the stone.

A glance to my left showed it glowing in the grass. I scrabbled for it, only to freeze as a chunky sheep bounded over and lapped it up with a fat tongue. The glow disappeared in its mouth, but more disturbing, it spoke. “You can’t win.”

More sheep approached, each speaking with his voice.

“I am mightier than you.”

“I am stronger.”

“Wilier.”

“You’re delicious as a chop,” I growled as I swiped for the one that had gobbled the rock.

It spat it out as I went to grab it by the scruff and impaled itself on my claws. It hit the ground, legs twitching, and to my horror, the fuzzy body turned back into a human.

A dead person. Shit.

While I stared in shock, another sheep picked up the stone.

“Give me that,” I huffed, only to see the sheep huddling close and shuffling, a shell game of moving animals, making me lose track of which one had it.

“Argh,” I railed.

Cackling erupted from all the remaining sheep. “Will you kill them all?”

“If that’s what it takes to stop you.” I’d deal with the guilt later.

“Kill them. It doesn’t matter. I’ll use your body, if I must, to complete the transference.”

“You wouldn’t like my body. I’ve got this troublesome mole that needs removing, and my joints on rainy days… I wouldn’t wish those on anyone,” I babbled.

“I won’t be requiring it for long,” spoke the one facing me. “Once the stone is embedded into the empty container, I shall enjoy using his hands to kill you.”

Good to know it needed embedding for full takeover and not just a simple touch. Now to make sure it didn’t happen, but for that, I needed to locate the sheep that had the rock.

I might have never figured it out but for the fact I noticed one of the furry critters heading for Killian. I lunged and tackled the beast, making it squeal loud enough to hurt my ears. This time, I didn’t kill it. I did, however, lift it up in the air by its hind legs and give it a vigorous shake, and then I kept shaking it until something bright and green flew out of its mouth.

“You are annoying me!” screeched the angry alien, and I had to admit being impressed it could force a sheep to speak. Oddly, it hadn’t done anything worse. No dragons or flocks of birds. Could it be Methuselah had been using too much magic? It might explain why it couldn’t subdue me. I couldn’t waste this advantage.

I dropped the ewe and went after the green glow. I’d bent to grab it when the ground rippled, sending it tumbling. Then it was floating…

Toward Killian!

No. And no.

I raced to block it, managing to dive and slap it away from my husband. It sailed away between the stones, and the sheep all screamed in frustration.

Finally, the alien showed some emotion.

I loved it.

Gerome appeared behind a sheep, glaring at me balefully. Guess I knew which body the alien currently controlled. The sheep suddenly contorted, losing its wool, until an old man, partially hunched, stood there naked .

“You are annoying me,” the man declared before pointing a gnarled finger. “About time you took care of that Knight. Get rid of the woman and then find my rock.”

“Fuck you,” Gerome grunted.

Yesss!!! The grumpy Knight was back in action. A bemused-looking Hannah, her cheeks flushed and eyes bright, joined him.

“Shall we dance?” she asked Methuselah in his borrowed body.

“No,” a flat reply before the man collapsed.

Before I could ask where Methuselah struck next, Hannah clutched her head. “Oh no you don’t,” she growled.

The alien spirit was trying to possess her. Gerome glanced at me. “Get the rock. I’ve got her.”

To my surprise, the big Knight wrapped his arms around her, but not to crush. He lifted her for a kiss.

She relaxed in his grip, and the whispering started in my head.

Let me in.

Oh hell no.

You can’t win. I am stronger than you. Stronger than all of you.

“Says the alien with no body. No army. Nothing.” I spoke aloud and was rewarded with a piercing shriek that made me wince .

Then nothing. I whirled around, looking to see who he’d taken over. The old man huddled on the ground, sobbing. Killian remained still. Hannah was kissing Gerome, and well, let’s just say they might want to get a room given where his hands were roaming.

Where had Methuselah gone?

The sheep huddled in a group, close enough it seemed as if they were overlapping.

Hold on. They were. The sheep were merging, fusing together, their muzzles open wide as they baa -ed in terror.

“What the hell?” I blinked, and yet that didn’t change the fact a mega-monster-sheep took form. Its body a giant wooly barrel. The heads had combined to form a huge noggin that grew teeth and horns. Its stubby yet thick legs ended in hooves.

It stamped a foot and lowered its crown of tines before charging.

At me.

Guess I’d pissed it off.

Gerome uttered a cry and ran at it with his spear, launching it. The pointed end entered the flank of the monster, and it roared, its voice a raspy rumble. “Your puny stick can’t kill me.”

Its mouth opened wide, and I saw a glow forming in its throat.

Was it going to spew fire like a dragon?

As it blew, I dove to the side, hitting the ground hard.

Sssss .

The sizzling sound had me glancing to the spot where I’d been standing, slimed and smoldering.

“It’s spitting acid!” I yelled.

Which might be worse than fire, judging by how it burned the ground.

The monster trotted for me, readying another blast, when Agatha suddenly appeared, holding the green stone aloft. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

The mega-sheep-monster paused.

“It’s past time we put a stop to your terrorizing,” Agatha huffed. She pulled the canister of salt water from a pocket in her skirt. She grumbled a bit as she struggled to unscrew the cap. She plopped the rock inside.

The mega-sheep chuckled. “Oooh. I’m terrified. Water can’t harm me,” it mocked.

“This is magical water,” Agatha declared. “And this is a special chalice made to hold aliens with nefarious intent.”

“There is no such th?—”

She screwed the lid shut before it finished its sentence, and suddenly, the mega sheep monster collapsed. And by collapsed, I mean the bodies of the humans used to make it tumbled apart to land in a bloody pile that turned my stomach.

Agatha beamed. “We did it.”

The bottle shook.

“It’s fighting,” I murmured.

“I don’t think it’s going to hold,” Hannah hollered.

“It will if we use magic. Agatha, where’s the story?” I replied.

“Here. I read it to the bottle a few times to get it ready.” She handed me the slip of paper, and I started to read what started out as a story but turned into a bad limerick.

There once was an asshole from space,

who came to rock our Earthly base.

It inhabited a book,

the stories overtook,

and turned our world into a fairytale place.

The people of Earth suffered,

we had no magic of our own to buffer.

Until along came an unlikely group,

who set out on a quest to recoup

and vanquish the alien invader .

The heroes found themselves in England,

a prince, his wife, and their liegemen.

For the final battle they braced,

in a very old and magical place,

where our heroes took their last stand.

Luckily, they had a special chalice,

the type that could hold malice.

They filled it with holy water

in hopes it would hold the squatter

and end a curse most callous.

The alien’s influence was shattered.

No one could hear its chatter.

Sealed in its tomb,

it was very doomed,

with no way to bloom,

And the world lived happily ever after.

Hannah snorted. “You wrote a fucking poem?”

“Actually, it’s a bad limerick,” I grumbled.

“I don’t think it worked.” Agatha struggled to hold on to the agitated thermos .

“Let me try again.” I recited the poem, to no effect, but Hannah neared me. “Maybe it needs all of us again, like with the storm we called.”

“There is power in belief and numbers,” Agatha agreed as they crowded close and we recited my terrible limerick as the full moon rose and bathed us in its light.

We chanted it over and over until Agatha whispered, “Something’s happening.”

The bottle stopped trembling.

And so we said it again, with gusto, singing it, shouting it, putting our everything into those verses until…

Poof .

We suddenly had an enclosed chalice of swirling gold and silver, intricately carved, sealed shut, and, best of all, still and silent.

We’d done it.

We’d imprisoned Methuselah.