Free Evil Spark by Al K. Line Page B

away."
    "Huh? Just because you said, cross my heart and—"
    "No!"
    "No!"
    "No," came Dancers whimper from the backseat.
    We all screamed at the same time, shocking Kate into silence. "Kate, of all the stupid things I have done in my life, and there are a lot, that was the stupidest. I know you are new to the Hidden world, but you should have been told this. Taavi should have ensured you know the rules, the Law. You do not, ever, never ever, make that promise to a true Hidden, like I just did."
    "Why? What's so bad about saying cross my—"
    "Stop, right now," I warned.
    "He's right, Kate, don't ever say it. Spark here has done something very foolish, and even though he made the promise to me, I can't take it back for him, or let him off. It's the fae that are in charge of this sort of thing, nosy sods that they are." Intus looked around nervously, just in case she returned, then squinted to me. "You blew it, Spark. I would say it serves you right, but we're friends. You gonna be okay?"
    "I guess." I was shellshocked. How could I have said something so dangerous? It was the stress, I knew it. Too much had happened too quickly and I wasn't myself.
    "Look, you lot, will someone please explain what is happening? Was that really a faery? Wow!"
    "Yes, and pray you don't meet many more. They come when there is trouble, or to punish you." I thought about how best to explain what had happened. "Okay, you do not say what I said to a Hidden, a true Hidden. Purely magical creatures like Intus. It's a solemn promise and it's backed up by the fae. It's the Law. If I break my promise, call Intus, you-know-what, and I mean ever, then she'll be back."
    "And what, tell you off?" laughed Kate, amused now she was over her sickness.
    "No, Kate. She will click her fingers and I will be gone. Dead."
    "Haha, shut up."
    Dancer had recovered by now and was leaning between the seats, breath of death clouding my mind further. We looked at her, waiting for the penny to drop. "You're all serious?"
    "You don't mess with fae, Kate," said Intus. Boy, she was going to have to steal a huge number of socks to get her mischievous nature back. She'd been serious for way too long.
    All I could do was nod.
    "You are, you're serious."
    "Deadly. Be warned, Kate. I ballsed up big time. Never say it. Ever. Now I have to remember never to say that to Intus again or it's curtains." I sliced a finger across my throat. Visions of a sexy as hell faery, with magic earlobes you just want to lick, swishing a sword in front of me crowded my mind. If she clicked her fingers I would be gone. Dead. Vanished for breaking a promise to a true Hidden.
    "Never make a promise to a Hidden, ever. That way you can't break it. Okay?"
    Kate knew I was serious. "Okay," she agreed. "Wow."
    "Intus, which way?" I started up the car. Intus jumped down Kate's top, and I watched with envy as I saw her blouse wiggling about. The mischievous imp popped her head back up and winked.
    I smiled. At least she was back to being herself.
    I looked at my feet, just to make sure my socks were both back on, checked my mirrors, then pulled out to go meet the gnomes.

 
     
     
     
    Gnome Home
    I fought a threatening tide of magic sickness as I drove to the gnomes' home base, feeling disgusted with myself and letting dark magic repeatedly rise, called unconsciously as I fumed over the disappearance of the two people in the world I thought most of as family. I hope Kate will be family too, but in a different way.
    The whole thing felt personal, but I knew that was just me thinking about myself, which made me angry too, and drew more magic, so I got sicker still.
    My tattoos were crawling about and distracting me as I drove, hands clutched tight to the steering wheel, itching and burrowing and leaping, primed for action that was all in my mind. I had nothing to direct my hurt and anger at. Or my guilt.
    I'd holed up in bed when I should have been helping. But Kate was right, I would have done more damage than