Page 26 of Barbi and the Villain

“I am not lying. I promise,” I hurry to say. “I truly am not from here. I was at home getting ready for bed and the next thing I know, I ended up in a field in Akkaya,” I explain.

She stops in her tracks, pivoting to look at me.

“I believe you are not from here,” she says, her words measured. “I can tell by your speech.”

“My…speech?” I frown.

“There is a glamor around you.”

She waves her hand, and shimmery particles surround me.

I blink repeatedly.

Suddenly, she closes her fist and the mist disappears.

“Ibnfiorngorngrginrig…” She opens her mouth to speak, but her words sound like gibberish.

“What?”

A smile curves her lips.

With a snap of a finger, the mist returns around me, dissipating until it can no longer be seen by the naked eye.

“We do not speak the same language,” she notes. “Whoever sent you here must have also bespelled you to be able to speak and understand our language.”

“You mean… Someone sent me here?”

She nods, pursing her lips.

“I do not recognize this magic signature, so I cannot say who could have done it. But if someone did this, it can be undone.”

That sounds reassuring.

“We will need Damien’s help, of course,” she continues.

“Of course.”

Without another word, she turns, continuing down the hallway.

“Thank you so much for helping.” I feel compelled to add when the silence becomes overwhelming. “I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m a big fan.”

She clicks her tongue, but she doesn’t reply.

Awkward!

“I even got my PomPom because of you,” I offer because I hate awkward silences.

PomPom, hearing her name, lets out a small sound of approval.

That seems to get her attention. Turning her head, she raises a brow as she glances at my dog.

“You have good taste.”

That’s all she says. Then she continues walking.

I swallow hard. Anxiety pierces through me as my illusions about this legendary meeting are slowly getting shattered.

In my dreams before Akkaya, we might have been BFFs. But now that I’ve interacted with her, I truly don’t know how to feel.

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