Page 35 of Apprentice to the Villain

Because she loved him. So much so, it made her brainless enough to ask questions she still wasn’t sure she wanted the answers to.

It was fruitless anyhow. The creature frowned, looking at her with a sympathetic mien. “I am sorry, Evangelina Sage. I cannot interfere in human affairs.” The creature scoffed, brushing its large hand through its cloud crown, which immediately formed again in place. “As much as they may need the intervention, it’s forbidden.”

The Villain’s eyes were on her when her face fell. He looked at the creature and said angrily, “That’s unicorn shit.”

The creature shrugged. “On this, we agree, but I cannot risk the already waning magic, even if I wished to. This cave is no enchantment, but a piece of the world and sky that I’ve stolen and hoarded as my own. The rest of the creators have moved on to paint another realm, but I remain here.”

The boss frowned. “The waning magic. You feel it here?”

The creature was forlorn. “The shift has already begun. You, Trystan Maverine, with all your great power, should feel it, too. Your magic is slipping, isn’t it? Beginning to fade? Becoming defiant? There is something happening to Rennedawn. As predicted long ago, the humans have become greedy, wielding the magic like it is a thing to manipulate instead of a partner.”

The creature then pointed to a rift in the sky of its lair; it appeared as if a large piece of it was missing, with a dark void beyond.

“Oh no. What happened?” Evie asked, a sick sensation in hergut as she looked at it.

“Greed. Humans desire to take; they rarely seek to give. The magic of this world knows this and is beginning to hide to protect itself. The book was written to save it when that time comes.”

She shifted her gaze to her boss’s hands, knowing his magic lurked beneath their surface. But his magic was no longer hiding—not from her. What could that mean?

The Villain read her thoughts and grimaced as he tucked his hands into his pockets, turning his attention back to the creature. “You could’ve left with the rest of the gods, so why did you stay?”

Clouds shook above their heads, almost sentient as they rolled toward the creature, surrounding it. “I cannot abandon my piece of world, my piece of sky. My cave of stars when the night turns dark. I cannot leave it to hands that will hurt or destroy it. Precious things must be protected.”

Evie knew that better than most. “I understand.”

The creature looked right at her. Its eyes were a swirl of lilac color, round and large, making it look almost innocent. “I know you do, Evangelina Sage.” It pulled a vial from the air, then tossed the glittery substance to the ground in front of them. “A token, for the kindness man so often lacks. A rare gift. Harvested from the stars themselves.”

Evie picked it up and saw a glistening powder within. Her heart soared at the sight.

“Stardust, to help guide your way to what you seek. For the daughter of wishing stars.”

Her eyes widened. “The daughter of…”

The creature gave no explanation, just summoned a cloud from above, then blew a gust of wind the way one might blow a kiss. The force of it caused Evie’s stomach to flip until her heeled boots touched down on the surprisingly firm cloud’s surface. “Iwish you luck, Evie Sage. This cave is a wonder of stars at night. I hope you will return to see them.”

She gripped the vial tight in her damp palm, using her other arm to hold on to her boss, who spoke to the creature with stark confusion.

“Why does the nursery rhyme paint you as a carnivorous monster when you are merely protecting this cave? Why do you allow the legends to spin you in such a light?”

The cloud began to soar upward, so high they were face-to-face with the creature. Then it started to fade back into the sky, its skin melding into the blue. “You know as well as I, Trystan Maverine, that humans demonize what they cannot understand. It isn’t our job to educate them, just to live the way we’re meant to with the knowledge that being called a monster does not make you one.”

The Villain nodded, sniffing back emotion she knew he didn’t want either of them to see. “For what it’s worth…I do not think you a monster.”

The creature was nearly faded back into the hidden sky, the cloud shooting them upward faster and faster, but Evie still heard the echo of the words left behind. “From you, Trystan Maverine, that means a great deal.”

…

“It’s been too long. They’re not coming out!”

“You are so negative all the time! Isn’t it exhausting? Aren’t you tired?”

“I’m preparing for the worst! They have clearly fallen to their deaths!”

“Clare, shut up! They arenotdead!”

As the cloud launched Evie and her boss out of the opening, she wondered if they were about to be. But then they were flailingin open air. She let out a very unladylike curse as she hit the ground. “We’re okay!” she rasped, pushing up, feeling Tatianna’s hands on her cheeks as the healer examined her face.

“What happened?” Tatianna said, eyes moving over to The Villain, who was already on his feet, brushing the grass from his person.