Page 73 of Barbi and the Villain

When he’s done, he joins me, though a distance away.

“I’m still waiting, you know,” I mention as I hand him a small bowl of meat and roast potatoes.

He gives me a deadly look and mutters something under his breath.

“I’m not going to stop. I will continue to ask and annoy you. So you’d better tell me,” I warn.

He doesn’t answer, taking a small bite of his meat.

“Dark One?”

No reply.

“Nykander?”

Nope, he continues to ignore me.

“Nyk?”

“Do not call me that,” he growls.

Finally! A reaction.

“Then you’d better answer me. I’m waiting.” I lean back and give him an innocent smile.

He shakes his head at me. After a moment, though, he speaks.

“I am looking for an artifact. The same one that Damien is searching for.”

“What artifact?” I ask, curious.

I slide closer to him.

He scowls at me.

I flutter my lashes at him.

“The realm I am from, Tartareia, was sealed off thousands of years ago by a goddess. It is impossible to go in or out of it now. The artifact in question would allow me to enter the realm.”

I blink, surprised by his answer.

“So you want to go home?”

“In a manner of speaking,” he notes, his expression shrouded in mystery.

“What type of artifact is it?”

“You ask a lot of questions,” he grumbles.

“Of course. Wouldn’t you if you were in my shoes?”

He narrows his eyes at me. With a sigh, he continues.

“There are two realms that have always been in opposition, Aperion and Tartareia. To some, the former was the home of the gods while the latter was the home of the demons. To others, it was the reverse. We are all products of the Source, but the universe thrives on balance—where there is darkness, there will be light.”

“Okay… I get it, you’re the Dark One.”

“You asked me to explain. I am,” he fires back at me. Clearing his throat, he goes on. “These artifacts are items infused with the essence of The Primordials—the first gods. There are fourteen of them, housed securely in Aperion.”

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