Free Time Slipping by Elle Casey

trance, telling me to go away, to keep away from the witch. Sam arrived disoriented. She said it was probably a magnet spell. Something that would draw certain fae in and repel everything else, including birds and bugs. And pixies, I guess.”
    He nodded. “That explains the silence.”
    “But what I don’t get is how Tony came to me warning me away, and then after I slapped him, he didn’t remember anything, including where he was or why he was here.”
    “You slapped him? Sweet. Wish I could have seen that.”
    “When did you get so violent?”
    “I told you, Jayne. I’m a spy pixie. I’ve seen things.”
    “Whatever. We can’t leave them in there.”
    “Obviously. So what’s the plan?”
    “I have no idea. But Sam said that either you’re dangerous to the witch or she’s anti-pixie or whatever, because there’s got to be a reason you were repelled while we were all attracted.”
    “Of course she fears the pixie. Who wouldn’t? No one in their right mind, that’s who.”
    “Okay, so, fearless scary pixieman, what are you going to do? What do you think this witch doesn’t want you to do?”
    He shrugged. “Pixelate her raggedy ass.”
    “Maybe you could mess up her spell. Maybe your butt dust is the de-spellinator or whatever.”
    He lifted a brow. “You really want me to unleash the beast out here? With no antidote handy?”
    I thought about it for a few seconds. “Well … I did put a Green bubble around everyone. Maybe I can take you out of it and make sure none of your dust gets into the bubble?”
    He nodded, his eyes narrowed. “That could work. Has anyone ever told you that you’re kind of an evil genius?”
    I grinned. “No. But I like it.”
    “Okay then, Dr. Evil, let’s do this.” He flew over to the window, his hands pressed up against the glass. “Open the door and let me at ‘em.”
    “Wait,” I said, my hand on the button that would open the van up. “Let’s make a more detailed plan.”
    He slowly turned. “Jayne, have you been spelled?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “Then what’s this nonsense about detailed plans? Where’s my fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants elemental roomie? The take no prisoners chick from Brooklyn?”
    “I’m not from Brooklyn.”
    “I know, but saying you’re from West Palm Beach doesn’t have the same ring, does it?”
    “I guess not.” I was still waiting to see where he was going with this.
    “So let’s just go. Talk to The Green, tell it to protect our friends from the dust of death and let me go to work.” He was rubbing his hands together like some kind of maniac.
    “Now who’s channeling Dr. Evil? Just relax, would you? We have to get this right. If we fuck it up, I’m going to piss off the dragon and then she’ll probably let all the orcs free, and one of them will decide to try and impregnate me to make that king of the underworld baby or whatever.” The memory of the Torrie demon sharing that little bit of loveliness with me will never totally go away, I was convinced of that.
    “All right, but hurry up. You have no idea what she’s doing in there right now.”
    I nodded. “Okay, so what’s the plan?”
    “You’re asking me? You’re the plan maker! I’m the attack pixie!” He turned to the glass again. “Just open this up and let me fly, Jayne. Set me free.”
    I knew a cabin-fevered pixie when I saw one. “Okay, fine. I’m removing you from the bubble, though, so be careful. And wait until I say go before you start spraying any of that buttdust.”
    He sighed heavily. “It’s body dust, Jayne. Body dust. Not buttdust. You do not want to see the dust that comes from my butt.”
    I started giggling just imagining it.
    “Are you ready?” he asked.
    I closed my eyes. “Just one second.” I tapped into The Green, locating its pulsing light all around me. I was still inside the bubble I had created earlier, but its presence was gossamer, barely there. Okay, Green bubble of awesomeness … I need you to take the