A Wish Upon the Stars (Tales From Verania 4)

“Morgan of Shadows,” I said. “I’ve heard of him.”

Ruv grimaced. “Of course you have. Everyone has. He’s a legend.” He looked down at the obelisk. “Well. He was a legend.”

“I suppose.”

Ruv traced a finger along the words carved into the black stone. “I knew him. Maybe not as well as others could claim to. But I stood before him. I looked him in the eye. And he had no idea who I was. Or what I was capable of.” He sighed and smiled ruefully at me. “Funny how that works. One of the most powerful people in all the world, and I was able to fool him. I was… scared. That day. Nervous, though I couldn’t show it. I had a part to play.”

I swallowed thickly, my hands in fists at my sides.

Ruv sighed as he shook his head. “It doesn’t matter now. Morgan is gone. Myrin saw to that, much like he’ll see to the rest of the world. I just… I understand people are scared. They often are of things they don’t understand. I don’t see why they can’t just give him a chance.”

I stared at him. “The man who took over their country and forced people from their homes and into prisons because of the color of their skin and the faith they belonged to and the class they were born into, and you want them to give him a chance?”

Ruv frowned. “You sound… liberal.”

My eyes widened. “Oh no. No, no, no. I mean. Muahahaha. Evil things. I’m so happy with all that has happened. Dropkick defenseless animals! Or whatever villains like us do. Electrocute the gay out of people? I don’t know. I’m new to this whole bad guy thing. I’m not very good at it yet.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being gay.”

I was very sweaty. It didn’t help that Ruv was absolutely correct. “Right! Right. I didn’t mean it like that. In fact, we should electrocute the straight out of people.”

“Interesting,” Ruv said, rubbing his beard thoughtfully. “I don’t know that Myrin has ever thought about that before. Perhaps I should bring that to his attention. You might just be good at the whole villain thing after all.”

I was the worst person alive. “Or! Maybe instead of e

lectrocuting anyone, we could just leave people alone and let them do whatever they wanted and be happy and let things go back to the way they were?”

Ruv waved a hand at me. “That doesn’t sound very villainous.” His eyes narrowed as he looked at me again. “In fact, it sounds treasonous. Where did you say you came from again?”

But before Ruv discovered that I couldn’t lie for shit, another Dark burst through the clearing, panting as he bent over, hands on his knees. “Sir,” he managed to get out. “Your presence is required. There’s been a breach.”

I felt instantly cold.

Ruv looked only mildly interested. “What kind of breach?”

“We’re unclear on that, sir. A sewer grate outside the City is missing, and there are footprints around it.”

“The Resistance is getting brave,” Ruv said, sounding amused. “Fascinating. Sam returns, and now this. He inspires them.”

The Dark’s eyes bulged. “S-S-Sam? Are you sure? Maybe he hasn’t even made it to the Resistance yet.”

“Are you scared of him?”

“Oh yes,” the Dark said. “Extremely. Most of us are.”

Ruv frowned. “And why is that?”

The Dark hesitated. Then, “It is said he can make your nipples explode with just a single thought.”

Ha! Flora Bora Slam, motherfucker!

“Bah,” Ruv scoffed. “I highly doubt he can do any such thing.”

I told myself that Ruv would be the first. And I would relish it.

He glanced back at me, staring for longer than should have been necessary. “You’ll do well here, I think. Just don’t let me catch you out here again. Do you understand me?”

I nodded.