Page 39 of Myths and Manuscripts
It was peaceful.
Calm.
Quiet.
Everything I enjoyed.
“I can see why Willow loves it here,” I said. “It’s soothing and warm, just like this tea. I don’t think you need to worry about her being a writer or an apothecary. Couldn’t she just do both?”
“Of course she can, if she ever lets herself dream big enough to do it. She needs to realize that taking a risk is worth it sometimes, especially when you have someone there to catchyou if you fall.” The older woman finished her tea and leaned forward with a sparkle in her eye. “If anyone can convince her of that, I bet it’s you.”
I sputtered, almost choking on my drink. “Me? Why would she listen to anything I had to say?”
Mable got up slowly and patted my shoulder. “You’ll figure that out soon enough. Now let me go get Willow’s things for you. Keep measuring out that powder and tie the pouches up when you’re done.”
“You’re leaving me alone?” I turned toward the counter and the front door behind it. “What if a customer comes in?”
She was already moving up the stairs to what I assumed was their living quarters, waving a hand at me like it was no big deal at all. I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. I was a Demon Lord. I could handle a customer or two, surely.
I went back to work on the hand warmers, being a lot more careful with how much of each ingredient I measured out, before adding the heat stone and tying them up with the red ribbons at the edge of the table. One after another, the completed hand warmers lined the table, glowing faintly as warmth emanated from them.
It felt good to be productive like this. If I’d had something to keep me occupied, maybe the castle wouldn’t have been so boring the past few years. The only time I’d had any fun there was with Willow. Her presence had brightened the entire castle, like a fog had cleared and the fires were blazing bright. Actually, that’s how the new castle library felt too. Maybe that room had more to do with Willow being there than anything else.
I should ask Misty about that...
The faint footfalls of the apothecary traveled through the floor as she presumably walked around getting a bag together for Willow. The writing board in my pocket started vibrating, so I hurried to view it, eager to see what the message might be.
I could really use those books. When do you think you’ll be back?
I grabbed the pencil to write that I’d be back soon, once I was done at the apothecary shop, and then stood up with a sigh. No matter how cozy it was here, I really should be getting back. Especially since time moved faster inside the book than out here. I moved to the bottom of the stairs to call out to the apothecary.
“Sorry, but Willow needs me to go back into the–” I clamped my mouth shut before I spilled any secrets.
“She needs you to do what?” Mable poked her head out of an upstairs room, watching me from the top of the stairs. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. I just need to head back…”
The apothecary kept standing there, staring at me like she knew I was keeping the real story to myself. She sighed and grabbed a bag, dragging it to the edge of the stairs. “Well, are you going to help me with this or just stand there?”
“Of course, I’ll help!” I leapt up the stairs, taking the plump bag from her. She’d packed up half of Willow’s things by the looks of it. “Thank you for this. She’ll appreciate it.”
“Because she won’t be coming home for a while?” Mable tilted her head when I nodded, pinning me with a stare. “Or is it because shecan’tcome home? Willow has never stayed the night anywhere until now. Not once. So you’d better tell me what’s really going on, or you won’t be leaving anytime soon. You’d be surprised how many herbs can incapacitate a grown man like yourself.”
“That’s a joke, right?” A cool chill settled over me. Logically, there was no reason for me to fear a frail old woman, but that threat sounded like something she’d absolutely make good on and maybe already had in the past. I swallowed hard. It was time to tell her the truth, not because of her threat, but because I respected her, and she loved Willow. “Right, well, the thing is,Willow accidentally got stuck in a book. My book series to be precise. The Misty Mountain Library was trying to inspire her to write the last book, but it was the first time the library had used this kind of magic and none of us are really sure how to get her out yet.” I held up my hand to stop her inevitable outrage. “We’re working on it. The librarians are studying everything they can get their hands on and I’m taking care of Willow inside the book. She’s even got a bodyguard and a bunny. She’s okay, I promise.”
A bodyguard and a bunny. What was I even saying? The need for a bodyguard would probably worry the apothecary even more. I gripped the soft handles of Willow’s bag tight, not sure what else to say without digging myself a deeper hole. Only one thing came to mind.
“I’m sorry.”
This entire situation was my fault. If I’d never asked her to enter the competition, or never joked about her going inside of my book, she’d be right here with her Gran making hand warmers instead of me. I squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting to see the anger that had to be welling up inside the apothecary. But instead of slapping me or screaming at me, her thin arms wrapped around me in a hug.
She patted my back softly. “Thank you for taking care of her.”
My eyes snapped open as I stood there like a limp noodle in her arms. “You’re not mad? I’m the reason she’s stuck in a book.”
“No, I bet Willow’s having the time of her life.” The apothecary chuckled as she pulled away, shaking her head. “She’s loved stories since before she could read and knowing she got to step inside one is just amazing. She’s lucky and she’ll have no excuse not to write that book now. She literally can’t run away.” Her laughs grew louder as she started walking down the stairs. “Honestly, it’s perfect. You bring these things to her and come back if she needs anything else, you hear?”
I gaped at her. “Really? You don’t care that she’s missing?”
