Page 135 of Barbi and the Villain

“What is it?” I ask as fear grips me like a tight vise.

He doesn’t answer, his attention focused in front of him.

As the smoke slowly dissipates, Damien steps forward, followed by Jocelyn and his posse. He’s wielding fire lassos as he cuts one terrified villager at a time, killing them without batting an eye.

Jocelyn smirks as she lays her eyes on me, and with a swing of her wrist, she sends a strong gust of wind toward us.

“Stay back, Barbs. I got this,” Nykander tells me in a strained voice. Leaving me behind shielded in his dark smoke, he lifts his hand, morphing his shadows into a sword that becomes an extension of his body.

Damien does the same with his flames, containing them within a small blade that destroys everything in its path.

They meet in the middle, their swords clashing just as their energies fight against each other. Nykander’s dark shadows meet Damien’s scarlet red flames. Their forces seem to relatively match. As one energy gains more ground, the other quickly recovers, driving it back.

My heart beats wildly in my chest. But my focus is shaken as another strong gust of air hits my shield, making it rattle.

Jocelyn appears in front of me.

“You stole my dog,” she grits out, sending another blow.

I’m pushed backward, and small cracks appear in the dark shield.

My eyes widen with fear. I can’t ask for help, since that would distract Nykander from his battle.

“You didn’t deserve him, you two-faced bitch,” I yell out.

But my insult only makes her more mad.

She grinds her jaw as she gathers her energy around, shimmery particles erupting from her palms before she throws it at me.

The blow is hard enough that I’m sent flying together with what’s left of my shell.

“Barbi!” Nykander shouts my name, glancing back at me. His features are filled with worry as he angles his body toward me, ready to intervene. But that moment of inattention is all it takes for Damien to plunge his blade through his heart—a blade coated with his sire’s blood.

“Nykander!” I call out, feeling the pain in my soul.

I startle awake. Sweat covers my entire body.

“Are you all right?” Nykander asks as he bursts into the cabin. “I heard you scream.”

“Oh. I am…fine,” I mutter.

It was a dream. It was nothing but a dream. I chant to myself in hopes I can get rid of this awful feeling in my chest. It was a dream. But it felt so damn real. Down to the taste of the chocolate that still coats my mouth.

“Are you still in pain?” He inquires as he lures the dogs away from me with some food. He drops the morsels into their bowls before he comes to my side, taking a seat on the bed.

“A little.” I sigh. “The tincture Mr. Foerie gave me is working, and I’m on the fourth day of my period, so it should end soon.”

He grunts.

“It’s not really fair that you can mirror all my injuries but you can’t feel my period pain,” I grumble.

“That is, indeed, quite unfair.” He chuckles. “But I have something to hopefully make that better. His smile turns devilish as he reaches into the pocket of his shirt and removes a handkerchief wrapped around some solid items.

Curious, I lean forward and take it from him, slowly unwrapping it to reveal five chocolate truffles.

Just like the ones in my dreams.

I whip my head up in surprise.

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