pernicious
causing insidious harm or ruin; ruinous; injurious; hurtful: pernicious teachings;a pernicious lie.
deadly; fatal: a pernicious disease.
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The man finished his preparations. A door of chalk was drawn on the wall, with a small cake in and cup of milk in front of it. A circle of salt and iron filings was around the pastry, and he had a small iron spike hidden in his sleeve. He went over everything he needed to do, and then began by knocking on the door.
His heart beat rapidly as nothing happened. He worried that his preparations had been for naught. Then it happened. The wall creaked and the outline of the door shifted as it opened as if on hinges. And a small creature exited. It was barely a foot tall, with dusky skin and large eyes. The wings on its back were fine and translucent, like an insect’s.
The fairy fluttered over to the cake and milk and sniffed it. It looked up at the man and grinned, wide enough to show teeth like needles. And it spoke in a voice like pine needles on snow.
“Ah, a fine offering. It has been so long since your kind has sought out mine. We were beginning to worry you had forgotten. May I have the name of you who would call me here?”
“You may not have my name, for it is mine alone.” The man said. The fairy twitched slightly. “But if you must call me something, call me P.” It was far from his name, which made it perfect. “And what may I call you, good sir? I would, of course, not presume to ask your name. But I must call you something.”
“Hm, a clever one, are you? Well then, if a single letter will do, call me O.”
The man frowned. An interesting choice of letter. One that came right before the one he had chosen. He could think of several reasons why that was. None of them pleasant for him.
O took a piece of cake and nibbled on it. “So, P, to what do I owe the pleasure of this calling? I assume you want something?”
“I do. There is a man. A man that must be harmed, and badly. But I cannot be connected to this inflicted harm.”
“Ah, I see. Yes, I can certainly do this. How badly do you wish this man harmed?”
“I wish to see him ruined. Brought crashing from his lofty home. Hurt him physically, of course, but do not limit it to something so mundane.”
The fairy chewed thoroughly. It took a long sip of the milk. Only then did it reply. “I can do this. I can reduce him from the greatest of lord to one who has only rats for companions. But not for free. I hope you do not think some cake and milk will do as my payment.”
“Of course not. A favor for a favor. A task for a task.”
The fairy grinned and its large eyes grew wider. It seemed as though nearly half its small face was taken up by those dark portals. P did not stop there though.
“With some rules in place, for the both of us.” He said. The fairy’s eyes twitched. “No laws of either man or fay may be broken by either of us. Nor will any lives be taken, traded, or used. Again, by either of us. And, should you wish me to inflict harm on another, as you have done, it may only be to one individual, as I ask that you only bring harm and ruin upon the one man. And, obviously, the only name to be used in any way is that of the intended target.”
“Hmph.” The fairy huffed. “Clever indeed, P. Clever indeed. Hm, but I can still work with this. Yes. You have a deal. Give me one day, write your hated enemy’s name and leave his image before this door. This task will take some time, but within the month, he shall be brought low.”
“Good. And I’m sure you will have my task ready for me once you’re finished?”
“But of course. Oh, and make sure to leave another offering. And no circle of iron to bar my way.”
P nodded. O took the rest of the cake and milk and went to the chalk door. He tipped an imaginary hat to P and left. The door swung shut and once more became the wall. The man breathed out a long breath, relieved that the first task was done. Now he just needed to prepare the materials and wait. Wait for everything to be done.
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Be careful when making a deal with the fay. They're tricky.
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