Whipper and Raggs had taken care of Old Seamus O’Casey in Ireland, since the death of their mother, and moved here to America to take care of the Maguires and for Whip to go to school. It was an ocean away but still as close as an aching heart. Whip had buried the loss of his mother under the tasks of taking care of his brother, watching over the Maguires, preparing for school, meeting new friends and pranking those that needed pranking; he really was a busy pixie. Now, that loss was opened back up like a fresh wound and Whip was keening loudly as he now rose and leaned against the wall, rocking rocking in a zombie-like trance.
He don’t know why he stood…yes, he stood because the demon reached towards him as he lay on the ground. Perhaps it meant to bring him more pain, more hellish pictures. Why him? Pixies never bothered with demons. Pixies never involved themselves with the grand scheme of things. What good did it do to torture him? Whip’s lip quivered and his sapphire-blue eyes blurred with tears; wiping away those blurring tears, the pixie dared a look at his tormentor.
What’s this? Anton didn’t look like a demon at all and he certainly didn’t look like he was enjoying any of this! Wait, didn’t he say that he wanted to take the pictures away, but he couldn’t? Whip picked up a cushion from the common room sofa and wiped his face on it, “You’re not a demon, are you, Anton?”, he asked, the last of a sniffle playing through the other boy’s name. Gingerly walking forward, Whip bent to look in Anton’s eyes, “Whatever are you?”, he asked in wonder, “That power of yours needs to be controlled, Mister!”, he shook his finger, lightly reproaching the other.
Releasing a huge sigh and crossing his arms, Whip allowed, “I’m not upset with you anymore, Anton. Now that I see you couldn’t help it”. Holding out his hand and waving his other hand over it, two bottles of cold Redhook Ale appeared, “Ahhh, local microbrews! I hope they’re tasty! Here you go, my friend, one fer you and one fer me! Let’s drink to friendship and forgotten misunderstandings…”, he winked, “…you have no idea how much I need this!”.