"That was only because he began singing!" The attacker screeched.



A cheerful fire crackled in the hearth and the dark strains of piano music pounded from the corner.

Her dad sat at the piano bench, his lank brown hair falling into his eyes, his skinny shoulders hunched over the keys. Slouched a few feet away, with his shoes on the coffee table and his hands behind his head, was Puck. Puck smirked.

"It wasn't hurting anyone." He retorts. "The song was non-magical."

she looked at Puck, then her dad. she could feel the tears coming already.

"Lies," it spat.


Grimalkin leaped up beside Lise. "Remember, human, he has been in Faery for a very long time. Also, until just recently, he was a musical instrument, which was probably fairly traumatic. It is to be expected that his mind is a little fractured. Give him time, and he should come out of it eventually."

she nodded, wiping the tears that fell from her eyes.

"Besides, I don't even have enough magic to harm a person." He huffs. "If you get offended by a simple melody, maybe you shouldn't wander near someone whose traditions consist of singing."

Puck leered at her, smug and looking not the least bit sorry.


"He's lying!" It spat again

she didn't know why Puck was acting like this, but it hurt.

"No, I'm not." He replies icily, his tail flicking back and forth. "If I was trying to kill you, why would I bring attention to myself and let myself get wounded?"

Puck was silent, watching her with a sullen expression. The clanging of the piano filled the room, frantic and chaotic. In the corner, Ash was motionless; he couldve been made of stone.

Rising from the couch, Puck swept a cruel gaze at them all and broke into a sneer.




"Well, you were singing! That's what sirens do right before they kill someone!"