Pixie (Pixie Hollow Academy Book 1) Read online

  Copyright © 2020 by Debbie Long

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of a brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Cover created by Manuela Serra (Facebook)

  Edited by Sarah Long

  Thank you everyone for your support.

  Happy reading

  ConteNT

  1 – Pixie

  2 – Welcome Home

  3 – Pixie Hollow Academy

  4 – Sister Troubles

  5 – Trial and Error

  6 – Oh pixie mates

  7 – Find and Seek

  8 – Truth over lies

  9 – Training and more Training

  10 – Who is Mobsy

  11 – Answers

  12 – Lost Pixe’s

  13 – Dark Lands

  14 – Dark Prison

  15 – The War Begins

  16 – Good over Evil

  Other books by Debbie Long

  Sacrifice book 1 (guardian series)

  Coming soon

  Betrayal book 2

  Hidden Fae Queen book 1 (Elemental Academy series)

  Coming soon

  Hidden World book 2

  Lost Fae Princess book 1 (Queens of the Fae series)

  Dark Fae Princess book 2 (Queens of the Fae series)

  Coming soon

  Lost Wolf Alpha book 3

  Queens of the Fae book 4

  Pixie

  The day I decided to live in the human world was the best decision I have ever made, until my father summoned me back to pixie hollow.

  The day I moved broke my father’s heart, but I couldn’t live with their rules and demanding behaviour and also the looks I often got from the other pixies.

  I left for many other reasons, too, like the constant teasing from my fellow pixies over my name; yep my ‘loving’ parents called me Pixie. I mean come on, they could have called me anything, but no, they called me bloody Pixie.

  Walking through the busy streets of New York has always been a dream of mine, ever since I saw the bright city on tv. My village has modernised over the years, gone are the tree houses, replaced by bricks and mortar. Electricity runs through my world, along with the internet and everything else the human world has.

  A lot of pixies didn’t accept the change, so like many others, they left to the other villages that still live in the stone age.

  Sighing, I head to the veil that no human can see, in fact it repels them to walk in the opposite direction.

  Many years ago, a human stumbled into our world and let’s just say, it caused a lot of drama and almost exposed us. He was captured and kept in the castle dungeon until he eventually died, drastic I know.

  Mobsy chirps in my ear, my pet pixie dragon. His little purple fluffy body sits on my shoulder. He ruffles his little wings, excited to be going home.

  When I found him, he was badly hurt and in the human world. How he got through the veil still baffles me. I heard his little chirps when walking through the park, his little body curled up and bleeding. His bright eyes met mine, and we bonded instantly. We have been inseparable ever since.

  I move off the path, heading into the bushes. I feel it before I see it, feel the urge to turn and walk away. I push past that, urging myself forward. The slight shimmer, the ripple comes into view, I smile despite myself, this will always be home.

  Mobsy chirps again, little wings flapping. He hesitates, turning and watching me to make sure I will follow him. I give him a slight nod; his eyes light up and he zips through the veil.

  I look back, watching people walk through the park, seeing the city lights and tall buildings. Hopefully I get to come back one day, but it’s been a good year being alone, now it’s time to face the music.

  Hitching my bag higher on my shoulder, I walk through. The feeling making me shiver, like cold ice being poured on you.

  I open my eyes when I feel the heat of the sun on my face. The sight before me makes me gasp. The once vibrant place of my home is covered in darkness, the greenery dull and dying, all apart from my father’s castle and the lands around it.

  I look around for Mobsy and panic when I don’t see him. A rustle in the trees alerts me that someone is approaching. Taking what looks like a pen out of my pocket, I give it a little flick. My sword gleams in the light, the blade humming under my touch.

  It’s been a while since I had my sword in my hands, the lightweight metal feeling a part of me.

  Shielding my eyes from the glare of the sun, I slowly approach the trees. My hand rests on the trunk, sensing a sadness there.

  “Pixie,” a voice says behind me.

  Startled, I spin around, sword raised. Then quickly lower it when I see the honey coloured hair of my oldest friend, Honey. Yeah, our parents suck.

  “Honey,” I exclaim, throwing my sword to the ground along with my bag and throw my arms around my friend.

  Both of us giggle, clinging to each other. I didn’t realise how much I missed her, or my home.

  Pulling apart, she assesses me with a grin. Tracing her hand over my blue hair, tugging on the lilac ends. Her eyes zero in on my face, squinting.

  “What is that metal thing in your face? Your father will kill you.” she chuckles.

  “They are called piercings, the humans do it to decorate their bodies. The lady that did it, commented on my hair saying she loved the colours and how did I get it so bright,” I laugh humorously. “I told her that it was natural, she just laughed.”

  “I’ve always been jealous of your locks.”

  A rustle in the tree draws our attention, we both look up to see Mobsy staring at us.

  “There you are, come down and meet my friend.”

  He cocks his head to the side, curiosity in his gaze. He flies down to my shoulder, Honey gasps and awes.

  “What is he?” she asks, walking forward to stroke him.

  “I have no idea, some sort of dragon. I know he’s from here, but I have never seen this kind of creature before.”

  “I thought the dragons died out?”

  “Same, he might be the only one of his kind.”

  “Well he seems attached to you, shame he’s not bigger, you could fly with me.”

  I flinch, one of the other reasons I left. I was born without wings. They thought maybe they might appear as I grew older, but they never did. I hated the way people looked at me, the pity in their eyes making me uncomfortable. My father told me to ignore them, but how could I when I am the one who will one day rule. The flightless pixie, the queen I will one day become. How can people look up to that?

  “Yeah, it’s a shame.” I look around, my attention back to the lifeless forest. “What happened here? It looks like the forest is dying.”

  “Yeah about that, it seems to be coming from the human world. They have tested the veils, closing them and when they do the land thrives again. That’s why your father called you back, he plans on closing all the veils.”

  “WHAT? He can’t do that. How will I get back?”

  “You won’t Pixie.”

  No, no, no, how can this be happening? I can never go back. My home for the last year, my life there, gone. Maybe I can talk to him, make him see reason.

  “I can’t let that happen, if we close it then we will have no choice to revert back to the old ways.”

  “We will lose all that?”

  “Yep, where do you think the source comes from?” I grab my bag an
d sword, turning back into a pen. “Lead the way.”

  “It will take a few hours to get back, since we have to walk.” Honey looks apologetic.

  “It’s alright, let’s get walking.”

  “So, are you going to finally attend Pixie Hollow Academy? I start this fall; my parents think I’m ready.”

  “I don’t know, I mean, I didn’t plan on staying.”

  Her face falls, I feel bad, but I never planned on staying. She knew from when we were young that when I reached my eighteenth year, I would leave this place. I never truly felt like I belonged, I always felt different.

  Looking at the land before me, I see my father’s castle sitting atop the highest peak. It’s going to be a pain walking up that hill, but I am strong. What I lack in wings, I have more strength than any other pixie.

  “You can fly ahead if you like, you will get there quicker and use less energy,” I say to Honey.

  “No, I want to catch up with you. I’ve missed you Pix, I always wished I could go with you.”

  “I know Honeybee, I wished you could too. Your mother almost cracked though.” I laugh, remembering the memory of the moment she almost said yes, then for her father to say no.

  Honey’s wings flap lifting her into the air, a sure sign her legs are tiring. That was the main reason her parents said no, she always had weak legs and couldn’t walk for long. You can’t exactly fly in the human world; it would expose us.

  “Honey, just fly ahead, you can’t hover like that for long and you can’t walk this distance,” I urge her.

  Mobsy chirps in my ear, then takes off landing a few feet away.

  “Mobsy, what are you doing?” I look at him curiously.

  He just ruffles his wings, cocking his head. He is so cute. Then his little body starts to expand, purple magic rippling around him until he is engulfed with it.

  Me and Honey jump back startled, eyes wide as we stare at the now big dragon in front of us. Purple gleaming scales shimmer down his back, his still fluffy wings stretch out and shake.

  “Mobsy,” I say again. He lowers his head, so we are eye level. I flinch as he opens his mouth to grin at me, it wouldn’t be so terrifying if her didn’t suddenly have very sharp teeth.

  “Pixie, do you have to call me that pathetic name,” he gravels.

  I yelp as does Honey, I jump back and he just chuckles, well it sounds like one anyway.

  “I will not harm you. I was sent to protect you.”

  I turn to Honey, her wings flapping nervously. “You can hear him, right? I’m not imagining this?”

  She nods furiously. “Do you think he will eat us?”

  Mobsy huffs, “I do not eat meat, same as you. That is an insult to my kind.”

  “Your kind, there are more of you?”

  “In my world yes, there was once a time when we travelled here. Your kind drove us out, intimidated by us. All we wanted was peace and a place to live where the world thrived. Our world is dying, a dark plague killing our lands, my people. Now it has reached here, it is up to us to stop it.”

  “But my father thinks it’s coming from the human world?” I look to Honey for confirmation, she nods.

  “That is a lie, an excuse not to look further. He knows what it is and is afraid to delve further. If he ignores this, then every world will perish and darkness will coat the lands, all will be lost.”

  “Who is it? Who is doing these things?” And why, I say to myself.

  “The Dark One, the destroyer of worlds.”

  “That’s just folklore, a story to scare the seedlings into behaving,” Honey says, still keeping her distance.

  “Of course, your kind would turn it into a story,” he growls. “All the stories are real, but how he is alive after all this time.” He shakes his head.

  “But he closed the veils in the south and the lands restored,” Honey says.

  “A trick, I located him to his lands and his followers found me. They chased me, used magic that wasn’t theirs, they almost killed me. I fled as the walkway closed, followed Pixie’s essence to the human lands. Pixie saved me that day.”

  “I did wonder how you came to be in that state. We need to talk to my father, if he closes the veils the human world will die.”

  “Get on my back, both of you. It will be faster that way,” he grumbles.

  I squeal excitedly, Honey just shakes her head. “Oh, come on, he won’t hurt us.” I grab her hand, dragging her with me. She relents and hovers onto his back, while I climb up with ease.

  “Hold on to my scales,” he rumbles.

  We both grab on as he kicks off the ground hard making me gasp. He hovers before moving forward, the air slicing around us and the wind in my ears. It’s the most exhilarating feeling. A pang of sadness clenches in my chest. The feeling of flying making me hurt.

  As if sensing my sudden sadness, Mobsy’s head turns to me, “We can fly whenever your heart desires.”

  I give him a watery smile. The tears I didn’t know I had going cold against my cheeks.

  “What do I call you? Since as Mobsy isn’t your actual name.”

  “As much as I hate it, it is what you called me, so you can call me that.”

  It’s odd that I can hear him over the whistling wind. He turns left, then levels out facing what was my home for eighteen years.

  Being away from my father and stepmother has been blissful, no rules or demanding I act in a certain way. I almost felt as if they were embarrassed by me, that I was a disappointment.

  We start to descend, the ground coming into view. With a little jolt we land safely, Honey immediately flutters off, scampering away before I have a chance to get down myself. I chuckle, even Mobsy rumbles beneath me.

  When my feet hit the floor, Mobsy returns back to his small self, perching on my shoulder once more.

  Standing at the top of the stairs is my father, the guards alerting him of my return. He stands regal, his long white hair flowing in the breeze, the silver ornate crown on his head. His soft features making him look younger than he is, his silver eyes watchful. His light blue robes billow around him as he walks to greet me.

  His outstretched arms welcome me home, I step into them and embrace him. The tears filling my eyes surprise me. I didn’t think I would miss him so much. We have never really seen eye to eye, but I have missed him none the less.

  “Welcome home daughter, me and your mother have missed you.” He pulls back, wiping my tear stained cheeks. “Come, your mother awaits.”

  “Stepmother,” I mutter.

  He ignores my comment, glancing briefly at Mobsy, a little surprised look in his eyes, he turns and walks back up the stairs. I look to my left at Honey, she gives me a grin and we follow after my father.

  The guards bow as I pass, I roll my eyes and hurry on.

  Passing the golden doors I have been through many times makes me shudder, they make me feel trapped. They close with a thud, making me jump and panic. Mobsy chirps, nuzzling me reassuringly and Honey grabs my hand.

  My father looks back, once more gazing at the little dragon on my shoulder. A little rumble vibrates through Mobsy’s body, I reach up stroking him. Guess we can comfort each other, though I don’t know what brought on the growl.

  As we walk down the hall, lined with armed guards, I realise two of them are flanking us. I frown at them, wondering why they are needed.

  The white double doors open to the throne room, where my stepmother is sat in her golden chair next to my fathers. She makes no move to greet me, just sits and stares with her steel grey eyes. No smile, not even a flicker.

  My father sits, not even sparing a glance at his wife, odd.

  “My daughter has returned to us, ready to take the next step and join the academy where she will learn and thrive,” my father announces.

  I glare at him, and my stepmother tuts. My eyes shoot to hers, seeing a sneer on her pretty face.

  “Daughter,” she says through clenched teeth, seeming pained to even utter that word. “Yo
u have returned to us. Your timing couldn’t have been more perfect.” She looks at my father who refuses to look her way. “Just before your father closes the veil. We wouldn’t want you trapped there, now would we,” she sneers.

  What is going on? I wonder, looking at my father.

  The door to the study opens and in strides my younger sister. Her silver hair pulled in a bun, and my tiara sat on her head. We have never gotten along; she always wanted my title and now it looks like she may have it.