Naïvety

"Do you know who you are playing with?" he asked. The betrayal stung. Puck had had some vague hope that somehow Nervina had just been scouting around, staying close for information. This would have been a dangerous game, but worse still, he seemed genuinely in love."Next you will be blaming him for Atlantis. What is your problem?"

"You just do not get it, do you?" bit back Puck exasperated. "How many mortals has this demon tortured and killed - some he took over and consumed from the inside? Do you realize?"

"So a few died. They die anyway, and then they pop up again. What is the problem with them leaving early? Mark is a history shaper - and history always has its martyrs."

Puck felt the end of the conversation with this being said - there was going to be no way of getting through to Nervina. His insensitivity to the human condition and their suffering was commonplace amongst the Fey - they simply did not feel any of it. As for their own personal tributes to loss and suffering, such commemorating was done with a polished melancholy.

Puck preferred to think him as being innocent to the evil he was spouting; yet naive or not, his best friend was sleeping with the enemy, and there was nothing he could do or say to break that spell.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

The Nine Tails

Nervina looked sheepishly back at Puck - whose face was black as thunder - not literally of course but figuratively speaking. Puck reserved his tempers for only the most important of times and this he considered to be one of them.

He had nabbed Nervina outside a club that he and Forsythe would frequent on a Saturday night. In point of fact Forsythe owned this club amongst others - the Nine Tails - but had omitted to tell this to Nervina.

They stood outside near the entrance while drunken revellers pushed past them - one slinky youth stared amorously at Puck and then sauntered over to introduce himself daring to interrupt an already irate elf.

Puck pushed him aside and continued to shout abuse at Nervina - which no one could hear but themselves as the conversation was being managed with clairaudience.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Fluffy Rabbit

"I have a surprise for you Charles."

She went very quiet - the word 'surprise' generally meant a very good thing in her language - something worth opening your eyes for.

Puck produced a big pink bag tied at the top with a huge silver ribbon. She stuffed her hand into it and a cloud of iridescent butterflies flew out. Barely noticing them (for she had seen that trick a few too many times) she persisted until pulling out a floppy yet fluffy soft rabbit toy and the two were instantly friends.

Later that night when Charley had been safely transferred back into her little bed, the rabbit wriggled out of her grasp and stealthily checked out the room satisfying itself that the window latch was locked, he snuggled back into her arms falling fast asleep beside her.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Angels & Demons

"Are you saying that you are an Angel?"

"No, no ... no - no, not at all. Totally different - though a kinship we share. No, we are a parallel race to you mortals, save our life in your world is invisible to it, though you might see us from time to time in unusual circumstances. We are the Fey."

"A ghost?"

"No"

"A demon then?"

"No, but some of us can be troublemakers. Now getting back to wizards ... you see they can be very powerful because they work with the willing cooperation of those Fey who believe them to be worthy of their assistance in the first place."

He went on, "but you see magicians, on the other hand" he said, holding out his left hand, "never really seek to earn the affection of those they want something from - their tools are deceptive and are always seeking some sense of control. Illusion is key and reality of slim consequence, the magician has little care for anyone other than himself, and, is far more ill tempered too, you will find, than a true wizard. So what will it be? Which do you choose?"

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Wizard or Magician?

"Wizards work with us, magicians, on the other hand, try to control us - the question is: are you a wizard or a magician?"

"What exactly do you mean?"

"Well, you see, we like to be asked - not summoned, not told, not ordered around."

"Oh."

"For example: - There is a world of difference if you pray for an Angel's help or if you command that the Angel do as you bid. You would be surprised to learn how many dark and troubled mortals have sought to enslave and corrupt an Angelic being...”

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Be Man, be Agent, be God

Looking up Puck saw in the corner, a man dressed with calico robes, looking on at them with deep meaning. He spoke:

"Do as I have done
be Man, be Agent, be God.

"And never look back to the darkness behind you
- but see only forward.

"This light before you is inextinguishable,
it is my soul.

"Know Peace, and of this also:
the divine friendship of all
bonded in a perfect Grace
safe sealed with the oath of God ...
this, the eternal caul."

He vanished just as the healing was complete and the milk from the eyes had dissolved, whereupon the stranger most jubilantly pronounced to Puck,

"Brother, I am in service to you!"

To which Puck respectfully replied: "Go now Brother, and be in service from this day on, to all".

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Green Glass Bulb of Eyebright

Puck splashed his hands clean in a bowl; he was mixing tinctures when they came knocking at his door. Foresight had already beckoned - the Master had called upon his abilities for healing, bringing him into the sleeping city to be of service.

He quickly assessed the impatience and indifference from this man, who clumsily drew out a single coin to offer him, which Puck politely refused. He then questioned him briefly to elaborate his purpose awaiting its revelation.

Next, he asked the fellow's company to go wait outside, and guided the blind man to a wooden seat that creaked as he nervously idled from side to side.

In his left hand Puck held a pale green glass bulb of eyebright, and through his right the vitality effervesced supernaturally with a brilliance exceeding the sunlight in that room. Of course the stranger could not see the Fey man tend to him and the brilliance that he evoked.

Puck traced the cross ever gently over his tempered brow and this action soothed him.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series