Page 40 of Myths and Manuscripts
“Missing is a strong word when we know exactly where she is.” Mable held onto the railing as she reached the end of the stairs, turning back towards me. “Does Willow blame you?”
“Well, no, she said it wasn’t my fault.”
Mable nodded. “Then that’s all I need. Stop worrying about things you can’t change and work on the things you can. Like giving her a change of clothes.”
“Right.” I joined her downstairs. This family was so strange. “I guess I’ll get going then. I’m supposed to tell you to hire some help though.”
The apothecary clicked her tongue against her teeth. “You tell my granddaughter that I’ve been running this shop for over forty years, so I’ll be fine on my own for a few days.”
She was just as stubborn as Willow. “Okay, then I’ll come back and help you again later. There’s not much I can do while Willow’s writing anyway.”
“I don’t need–”
I shook my head. “Doesn’t matter. Willow’s already got a lot on her plate and I’m not adding this to it. So, I’m going to help you.”
Mable scratched her head, frowning at me. “Well, I’m not sure how much help you’ll be, but if you insist.”
“I do.”
She sighed. “Oh, fine. Hurry up and get out of here then. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I nodded, feeling accomplished after all these errands. Not only had I gotten everything Willow needed, but I’d secured a spot as the apothecary’s apprentice too. She’d probably have to teach me from scratch, but I’d work hard to repay Willow for trying to find me an ending I deserved. And for helping me figure out who I really was. No amount of time I spent with her Gran could repay all of that, but it was a start.
Plus, I was looking forward to coming back. Today had been surprisingly nice.
Chapter 16
Willow
Cinder nibbled at a pile of fresh green hay I’d picked up from town, shuffling the strands around and creating a mess in the Demon Lord’s new library. Dain narrowed his eyes from where he silently stood guard across the room, but it was just hay, and I could clean it up if she didn’t finish it all. I scratched behind the demon bunny’s ears as she tilted her head into my palm.
Since I had so much work to get done, I’d decided to outline the last book in the castle instead of the cafe, but Cinder deserved to play with other bunnies soon. Once I knew what I was going to write, I’d bring her there for sure.
If only outlining was going better. Somehow, the more I learned about this world, the less I understood. That whole humans siphoning magic from demons thing was really throwing me for a loop and I couldn’t get myself to write a single word. Sure, I had piles and piles of random ideas, but nothing that made sense or that the fans would go crazy over and talk about for years to come.
At this rate, I wouldn’t even have a solid idea by the deadline, let alone an actual book. Gran would never feel comfortable retiring then. I could just see her patting my hand, telling me I needed to give my “real dream” more effort. I had to finish this book, make it amazing, then continue working as an apothecary.That was the only way she’d see where my heart really was.
My grandparents and my parents had all been apothecaries. It was in my blood, and I had to make her believe that somehow. Being an apothecary wasn’t an obligation: it was a legacy. One I was proud to continue.
I flipped another book from the Demon Lord’s series open, skimming through it for clues. No matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find anything that would explain the kind demon villagers I’d met or the Demon Lord himself. They were always described as monsters who would rather burn your town to the ground than talk to you. Every time a demon appeared in the books, they were doing something evil like attacking villagers or kidnapping people.
It really felt like the hero was doing a good thing. That his actions were right and just, fulfilling his divine mission wonderfully. He was the light that cast out the darkness. He was the chosen one.
I just couldn’t wrap my mind around how that worked with everything else I’d seen since entering the book, and I was getting more and more frustrated staring at a blank page trying to figure it out. I’d even finished the newest book at record speed, but that had just made me even more confused.
“Ugh.” I flopped back onto the couch, hand over my eyes. “If the hero is so amazing, then why is he fighting the Demon Lord? And why does the Demon Lord seem just as nice as the hero when he’s supposed to be the evilest creature in the whole series?”
Dain snorted. I tilted my head to peek over at him, but he was pretending like he didn’t notice me at all, just sitting in front of the open doorway with his spear in hand like he was ready to fight.
But that snort meant he had opinions. Opinions I could very much use right about now, even if it was just to bounce ideas offsomebody.
“Something you want to add?” I sat up, turning on the couch to face him. “Maybe an opinion on the hero? Or the Demon Lord?” My bodyguard just sat there, statue still. I tossed a pillow at him that he expertly dodged. “Come on, help me out here. The Demon Lord is the one who wants me to write this book, so you should at least brainstorm with me. Didn’t he tell you to give me whatever I needed?”
“He did, that’s true.” Dain set his spear to the side and pulled his chair closer to my couch. “Well, if you really want to know, then I think you’re looking at this all wrong. I’ve heard you mumbling for hours about this great hero of yours, but he’s obviously the villain. Why else would he slaughter innocent demons? He hunts us down to steal our magic, forcing us to hide in this one protected city. That doesn’t sound very hero-y to me, and yet, you humans wrote thousands of pages about him!”
He shook his head, obviously disgusted with my entire race. I picked another pillow up, twirling it in my hands as I considered that. If the demons weren’t the enemy like the books led me to believe, then why was the hero fighting them? What was the point of the war? And what role did the Demon Lord really play?
“Okay, so in your version, who’s the Demon Lord then?”
