Free The Last Adventure of Constance Verity by A. Lee Martinez Page A

crawled along the ceiling. A mist rolled across the floor, and something small and furry crawled around in it, rattling and growling.
    The mirror rippled and spit out a glass marble that floated into his open hand. He tossed the marble at Connie. “There’s your godmother. Now we should all get out of here before Ether Security—”
    The cauldron jumped five feet in the air and hovered there.
    â€œHmmm. Even faster than I expected.”
    The cauldron spit out five pixies, all dressed in black suits. They spoke in unison.
    â€œYou have violated secured ether,” they chimed in melodiousunison. “An apprehension squad has been dispatched to this location. Your cooperation will be noted, as will any resistance.”
    â€œYou got me.” Scurm held up his hands. “But I’m small potatoes compared to that lady over there.”
    The pixies flittered around Connie and Tia.
    â€œConstance Verity, you shall be detained. Do not resist.”
    The diminutive agents sparkled as they wove a web of magic around Connie and Tia. It congealed into a hard prismatic shell.
    â€œSorry, Verity.” Scurm shrugged. “Our deal was I’d get the info, not keep you from being captured. A goblin has to watch his back. Better you pitted than me.”
    â€œYou betraying son of a bitch,” said Tia.
    â€œYou are in possession of illegal weaponry,” said the pixies. “Surrender it immediately.”
    The pixies screeched a claxon that was both terrifying and hypnotic as Connie slipped on her iron knuckledusters.
    â€œCover your face.”
    She punched the crystal shell, and it shattered into dust. Some got into Tia’s eyes, stinging and blurring her vision.
    The magic mirror spit out a two-headed ogre dressed in riot gear. He leveled a wand at Connie and unleashed a bolt of lightning. She reflected it with her iron fists and knocked him over.
    The outmatched pixies whirled around, shrieking, but made no move against them.
    â€œWhere did that little traitorous bastard go?” asked Tia.
    â€œDoesn’t matter. I always knew he’d bug out on us, but he kept his end of the deal. We have to get out of here.”
    They ran upstairs and out the front door, coming face-to-face with an entire tactical squad of ogre wizards, elvish sharpshooters, and some kind of turtle dragon.
    â€œThat was fast,” said Tia.
    â€œCover your ears.”
    The elves unleashed their arrows. The wizards threw shrieking fireballs and jets of scalding steam. The dragon didn’t do much.
    Connie banged her fists together, and with a soft clink , the world exploded.

9
    T ia uncovered her ears and opened her eyes. The ogres and elves lay sprawled on the ground. Cracks ran through the concrete, and all the nearby windows had been shattered by the shockwave.
    Only Connie and Tia remained on their feet, protected by their mortal nature. Connie checked on an unconscious security pixie. They were just doing their job. Her iron knuckledusters glowed a soft orange.
    â€œYou weren’t kidding about those things!” Tia shouted over the ringing in her ears.
    Connie pointed to her own ears and shook her head. Not being able to cover them herself had left her deafened.
    Storm clouds gathered overhead. They rumbled with angry thunder as a funnel spat out a twelve-foot blue giant crackling with electricity and six hounds, each the size of a small car. The wolves had ram horns, tusks, and scorpion tails. All the static in the air puffed out their thick fur coats. They werealmost cuddly if one could ignore their slavering jaws and baleful red eyes.
    â€œDamn it,” said Connie. “I didn’t think they’d pull out the big guns so quickly. Stick close to me.”
    â€œDon’t have to tell me twice.”
    â€œWhat?”
    Tia nodded to Connie.
    The giant put a horn to his lips and sounded a deep bellow. The hounds charged forward, and Connie moved to meet them. Tia trailed