11

"How?" Farrow asked. "Fairies aren't stupid, they'll notice us even if we disguise ourselves.

"I'm not an idiot, I know that. However, we turn invisible, and boom! Fairies can't sense us!"

Farrow hesitated. "Erick, that's a closely guarded secret..."

"Well, you can't just let potential enemies' secrets remain secret in case they attack you."

Matrix raised an eyebrow. "How many secrets do y know a both everyone else?"

Erick sighed. "Here."

He pulled out a bottle filled with a clear liquid. He pulled the cap off and a puff of what looked liked steam came out of it, hissed, then vanished.

Erick handed the bottle to Matrix. "Drink only a little bit. Pass it on once your done."

Matrix nervously drank it. His arm began to vanish, so he quickly handed it to Farrow. Farrow stared down at the swirling potion, and put it to his lips. As it went down his throat, his head began to vanish, so he handed it to Vladimir. Vladimir quickly sipped some down, then handed it back to Erick.

Erick took a swig and finished it off. He put the bottle back in his bag an he watched his body vanish.

"So, what now?" Matrix's voice came from Erick's right.

"We head past the fairies, right Erick?"

"Yes, Vladimir."

Erick started walking. He looked up at the fairies. One looked in their direction. "What is it West?" Came a familiar voice.

Erick's heart raced. Wix was here. "Nothing, I jut thought I saw footprints."

Wix flew down without a word to West and started examining the ground beneath Erick's feet. Erick silently mouthed a spell, then hovered in the air just as Wix moved his hand were Erick's feet had been.

"Nothing." He said.

Wix's wings hummed as he lifted into the air. He flew back up and held up a leaf. It was golden brown and dry. It blew out of Wix's hand and was caught by someone, who hid it in his bag.

Erick started to move, hoping the others would follow.

Erick watched his body turn visible again. He turned to the others, who were already visible. "That was a close one."

"Yes, but how do you know our secrets?"

Erick frowned. "Let's get going. He'll shod be just over those-"

"Erick, answer us, please."

Erick froze. He wanted to keep walking. He wanted to finish this war and live with his father, just like they used to. But, he knew that'd never happen.

He turned to look at them. "We have our ways." He said, hoping that was convincing enough.

The others said nothing. Erick, however, had figured it out. His mother was how. She was prophetic, and she had magic. The perfect way to spy on your enemies. He had seen all these secrets written down on a piece of paper, and he had the paper with him, hidden somewhere safe from anyone else.

Matrix sighed. "Erick, Farrow, Vladimir. We are getting close to the gates of hell, be prepared."

Farrow stared at Erick