Zira held Arias in her arms with his head away from the scene before her. She stroked his back to keep him calm as he clung to Mister Giggles with one arm and the other around her neck.
“Don’t worry, Bugga. I’m here. It’s going to be OK,” she whispered to him.
Clary stood on the other side of the table with Zed hovering above her. Vines twisted around his body like snakes, holding him still. Zira could see his wolf on the surface as his golden eyes observed her. She shook her head, for she knew what he was going to try to do.
“Listen to your sister, boy,” Clary said with a voice devoid of warmth. She kept her eyes trained on Zira. “The moment you try to shift, those vines will snap you into pieces.”
The vines moved Zed closer to the ground as if they were getting weak. “Clary, wait.” A pair of shimmering eyes moved from out of the darkness and revealed Ezekiel. “You didn’t say anything about me killing anyone. That's not my MO.”
“Are you defying me, my love,” Clary asked. Her voice was soft and sweet, yet her face was emotionless, and her eyes remained on Zira.
Zira could see Ezekiel’s conflicted emotions all over his face. He didn’t like it any more than she did. Maybe I can use that if I get him alone, she thought to herself. Ezekiel shook his head. “No, of course not, love. I just…I just don’t want to hurt anyone if we don’t have to.”
Clary closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before placing a smile on her face and turning to Ezekiel. “Don’t worry, my love. We won’t hurt anyone unless we have to. Right, Zira?”
“I don’t know what you want from me,” Zira said in a calm voice for Arias’s sake. “I can’t open it.”
“Then try harder,” Clary gritted through her teeth.
When Zira didn’t move, Clary raised her hand and the vines tightened around Zed. His grunts made Arias whimper and hold her tighter.
“Okay,” Zira said, “just stop. I’m going.”
Zira walked up to the book, readjusting Arias in her arms, and pulled at the cover of the book. Still, the book wouldn’t open. She looked at Clary who was tapping her foot impatiently, then she looked at Zed struggling against the vines. His eyes were back to normal and even though he would deny it, Zira saw fear.
“Come on you stupid book,” she grunted while manhandling it. “Just open!”
The book did just that and a light shot out of it. The necklaces around Zira’s and Clary’s necks began to glow. Zira used this distraction and ran behind the bookcases. She needed to get Arias away from that scene to calm him. It worked until she placed him down on his feet.
“Bugga, I need you to do something for me. I need you to go hide and don’t come out until I or Daddy comes to get you, OK?”
Arias shook his head and reached out to grab Zira. She knew he was scared, and this was making it harder to protect him.
“Zira,” Clary’s voice rang throughout the library. “I think you left someone behind. I mean, I know you’re used to leaving loved ones behind, but I thought by now you would’ve learned from your mistake.”
Zira ignored her and focused on Arias. “I know it’s scary, Bugga, but I promise I’ll come back to get you. Now go and hide.”
Zira held back the tears threatening to come out as she ushered him toward the hidden door. It was still open from before and she ushered him inside. Before she could close it, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Sleep,” the voice said behind her.
She turned to see Malachi behind her, and they both looked confused for a second. Not to waste the moment, Zira grabbed his hand and twisted it. She punched him in the stomach and stood to plant her knee in his face. Malachi stumbled back, grabbing his nose.
“You fucking bit-”
She didn’t wait for him to finish as she lunged at him with her claws out. Surprisingly, he was able to dodge her attacks. She noticed he was actually quite skilled. Moving with her steps and blocking at the right time. She moved back to keep her distance, trying to figure out the best way to fight him. Physically, he was stronger, and he knew that.
“Now this is going to be fun,” Malachi smiled and took this chance to go on the offense.
He came in with a few quick jabs, each one barely missing Zira's face. She couldn’t keep dodging him forever and she was running out of room to move as they backed up against the bookshelf. She saw a jab aiming for her face, so she grabbed the closest thing she could to block it. Malachi hit the inside of a book. Zira closed it around his fist and used the momentary distraction to kick straight for his balls. It was a lucky shot.
Malachi bent over in pain as Zira tried to move away from him. However, he grabbed ahold of her arm and swung her back against the floor. Before she could recover, he was on her, pinning her to the ground. She tried kicking him but this time he put his weight on her legs.
“No more luck this time,” he growled in her face. “You look just as you did when you thought you were invisible the other day. Nice acting, wouldn't you say? Now, sleep.”
His eyes shimmered and Zira realized he was just like Percy. Manipulating people’s emotions but it wasn’t affecting her. Confusion was written over both of their faces. “Why aren’t you sleep-”
A book hit the side of Malachi’s face. He turned and growled before more came flying at his face. Zira saw Arias down the way, picking up books and throwing them. She was half proud and angry about his presence, but at least it gave her a chance to push Malachi off of her. She picked up the heaviest book and swung it at his face. A solid connection wasn’t enough, so Zira continued until he lay flat on the floor.
“Guess my luck’s still going strong,” Zira said, dropping the book and picking up Arias. “Good job, Bugga. I’m so proud of you.”
Before she could move, a bolt of lightning hit the bookcase next to her. She shielded Arias and turned to see Clary.
“I don’t like playing games, Zira,” Clary said as sparks played around her fingers. “Let’s go before my lightning finds something else to strike.”
Clary helped Malachi off the floor. “Is everything done,” she asked him.
Malachi nodded. “Got a few pack members to help carry everyone down. Everything is ready to go on your word.”
“Great,” she said, planting a kiss on his cheek. “Let’s go.”
They all made their way back to the book. Zed was trapped in some kind of plant cell with Ezekiel standing close by. Zed’s angry eyes stared at her for a second before looking away. She knew he was going to be mad, but she always planned to come back for him. Malachi pulled a reluctant Arias out of Zira’s arms and threw him in the cell with Zed. With haste, Clary threw the book in front of Zira.
“Open it,” Clary demanded. “And just a heads up,” she said, pointing her electric finger toward the cell. “I’m not going to ask a second time.”
Zira picked up the book and opened it. The book glowed just a bit before pictures and words started to appear on the pages. Zira flipped through the pages until Clary stopped her on one particular page. She looked over Zira's shoulders at the words on the page and smiled. The page showed the fountain on one side and the crystals they were wearing on the other.
“Exactly what I was looking for,” Clary said. She reached as if to take the book away but instead stepped back. “We need to get to that fountain and do whatever it says on these pages. What else does it say?”
Zira looked down at the words, trying to make sense of them before shaking her head. “I don’t know. I don't read pixie-” Zira covered her mouth, but it was too late. Clary was already grinning and clapping her hands with delight.
“Pixie? That should be easy enough to find,” Clary said. “We can go to the Pixie Lands and get this page translated. Then we’ll be home free.”
Zira scoffed. “You can’t just go to the pixie lands just like that. You have to be invited.”
“Then you will get us invited,” Clary simply said.
Zira laughed. “Yeah, and what makes you think I can do that?”
“Percy told me about all your travels. I’m sure there’s someone you know that could help us out,” Clary smiled before turning to Malachi and Ezekiel. She pulled them into a hug and whispered, “We’re almost there.”
Clary turned to Zira with a smile. “Looks like we’re going on another journey. How exciting! Lucky for you all, I’ve prepared for this. You can thank me later. Mal, Eke, get them in the truck and make it comfy. It’s going to be a long ride."
Shit, Zira thought, trying to figure out a way to give Isaiah a clue as she looked down at the book. An idea came to mind. A moment later, Clary grabbed the book from Zira, and it immediately closed the moment it left her hands.
“Now you see why I need you,” Clary said, walking out the door with them following behind.
Zira prayed that someone would see them, but it seemed like the entire castle was asleep or something. They made it outside without incident and loaded them into the back of the truck. Clary had another group of three coming with them as well. Zira lost hope until she noticed a pair of disappointing eyes looking out the window. How could he be my last hope, she wondered as she kept her gaze on him. He didn’t say or do anything. He simply stared for a few more seconds and shook his head. He turned around and disappeared behind the curtains.
“Where to,” Ezekiel asked Clary.
Clary turned to Zira and with a smile asked, “Zira's going to tell us where her little pixie friend lives?”
This was the only way to keep them safe, she thought to herself. Now it's up to Isaiah to follow the clues.