Page 33 of Myths and Manuscripts
“I’m sorry,” I repeated, bowing my head like I’d seen her do earlier. “I shouldn’t have spoken so casually to your daughter, but I promise I meant no harm. When I came to this village, I had no idea what to expect, but after spending the day talking to people, I can tell I’m missing something. Why did the humans take your daughter?”
Her fingers dug into her arm, pressing in so deep they left white marks in her skin. “You don’t know? They drain our magic to fuel their tools. Most of us can withstand it and regain our magic eventually, but the young are still developing. If their horns crumble, that’s it. Their magic is gone for good. That’s what your kind are doing to us every day.”
The Demon Lord sucked in a breath, but thankfully didn’t react otherwise. If that’s what was really going on during all those fight scenes in the books, then he was justifiably evil. Who drove him to be that way though? There had to be something bigger going on, a plot that I hadn’t wrapped my mind around yet. It just didn’t make sense with what I’d read in the previous books.
“I didn’t know.” I shook my head, moving until my back was up against the Demon Lord’s firm chest. He hadn’t budged or cried out in anger. He was still as stone, like always. “But why would they do that? Humans might not have innate magic, but they can mine magical ore that powers everything they’d need.”Magical ore a lot like all those purple stones I’d been seeing around town. I gasped, spinning back to the Demon Lord. “You said demons are innately magical, right? So if that seeps into the earth and humans mine it, then all the magic humans use here is really from the demons, right?”
His gaze hardened as he spotted the little girl peeking out from the curtains again. “And since humans are the greediest of all the species, they wouldn’t be satisfied with just our leftovers like that. No. They’d want our magic straight from the source.”
That changed everything. He wasn’t just waging a war to take over the world, he was waging a war to stop his people from being used like living spellstones that were drained and recharged over and over again until they broke. I suddenly felt the need to sit down as the series I’d loved so much shattered around me.
The hero was meant to stand for justice and all things good in the world, but if he was secretly working to steal everyone’s magic then I couldn’t ever read those books again. I couldn’t write an ending like that, not a chance. It was too horrific.
My stomach grumbled again, but I clenched my arms around my abdomen and tried to hide it. Going out to eat seemed so callous now, like I was on a fun date while they were fighting for their lives. What was the author thinking adding in a plot twist like that? Now I just wanted to end it all with the Demon Lord winning and throw the whole series on its head.
Who cared if fans hated it? After seeing that little girl, it felt like the right thing to do.
After a few minutes, the shopkeep walked over to me and handed me a bottle of water. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have dumped that all on you like it was your fault. If our lord sees something in you enough to make you his consort, then I know you’re not like them. I know you’ve got a good heart just from how you reacted to my story.”
I took a few gulps of water to steady my nerves. “Thank you. I really had no idea that was happening, and I bet most humans don’t either. We’ll figure out what’s really going on and put a stop to it.”
“Of course we will.” The Demon Lord’s hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white as he stared at the child behind the curtain. It was like he was burning the image of her into his memory so he’d never forget what he was fighting for. “I’ll do anything to protect our people.”
Chills raced down my spine.Therewas the villain I’d expected based on the books. He was like a morally gray avenger, waiting to wipe out the enemy by any means necessary. I smiled just a bit. At least he’d finally gotten in touch with his inner bad guy.
Knowing why he was the bad guy was a huge step forward. Now I could work on planning the rest of the book. I finished up the water and handed the empty bottle back to the shopkeep with a smile. “Thank you.”
She nodded and handed the Demon Lord a slip of paper. “We’ll have your mattress ready for you in a few days. Stop by again if you ever need a magical seamstress.”
He nodded and waited for me to join him by the door. “Let’s get you some food.”
I almost said no but Dain was still standing guard outside like he’d been doing all day. He’d slept outside the castle last night too and refused the nuts I’d tried giving him, so he must be hungry by now. We needed to stop for food so he could finally take a break. Then we could plan our next steps.
Chapter 13
Willow
The weight of everything we’d just learned was so heavy that the Demon Lord had walked by three restaurants without even looking at them. I didn’t know how to lighten the mood or if I should even try, so I just ignored my rumbling stomach and kept walking beside him.
Until one rumble was so loud that the Demon Lord stopped to stare at me. “We never got any food, did we?”
“No, but I’m fine.” I rested my hand on his arm and his gaze softened. “Do you want to keep exploring or call it a day?”
“I want to make sure you’re well fed.” He turned to talk to Dain. “Where’s a good place to eat? Somewhere quiet so Willow can write, if she wants to.”
“Oh, I definitely want to. Right, Inkheart?” I laughed as the pen practically danced on its notebook. “Thanks for thinking of that.”
“Okay then.” Dain’s face scrunched up. “Maybe Bunny Brews? Since you like bunnies, there are loads of them there.”
“Wait, it’s a bunny cafe?” I grabbed the Demon Lord’s arm. “We have to go there!”
“Okay? I don’t really get it, but whatever makes you happy.”
Inkheart fluttered across the page, flying closer to me so I could take a look.
Gotta love a man who spoils his Queen.
“What?” I nudged the pen away, laughing awkwardly. “It’s not like that at all.”
