Page 33 of Once a Villain
Aaron wet his lips as if they felt dry. “These humans are so far beneath you, they’re hardly worth your attention.”
Joan only half heard the last part—her eye had caught on something. On the writing desk beside her, there was a black signet ring with no shine. Nick had once worn one just like it on a chain around his neck—in the timeline when he’d been a monster slayer. If Joan hadn’t known better, she’d have thought itwashis ring; it had the same square, undecorated signet.
She reached for it and felt a jolt—like the snap of a static shock. In her peripheral vision, she saw Aaron twitch, and realized it hadn’t been a physical sensation but a jolt from the timeline itself, as if it was suddenly paying attention to her. She was surprised again when she lifted the ring and a roll of papercame with it, tied to it with string.
Something fell from the paper’s hollow with a softclunk. A piece of plastic the size and shape of a bread tag.
Nick tilted his head and slid the plastic from the table. He’d recognized it—like Joan had. In the monster world, tags like this were used to store and play holographic recordings.
Something nebulous and uneasy curled in the pit of Joan’s stomach, although she wasn’t sure why. She slid away the string and unrolled the paper, smoothing it onto the table.
She jerked back in horror, and Nick gasped out a shocked breath.
It was a poster showing Nick, beaten almost beyond recognition. His cheeks were swollen, nose broken. Blood ran from mouth to chin and stained the corners of his blackened eyes.
Nick Ward, it said.Executed for Treason.Authorized and carried out by...A distinctive stamp was pressed beside that line: a mermaid with a snakelike tail. The upper edge of the stamp read:Aaron Oliver, Head of Family.The lower:Fidelis ad Mortem.
Nausea washed over Joan as understanding hit her. In this timeline, Aaron’s counterpart had executed Nick’s. For a moment, she thought she might actually be sick.
She dragged her gaze from the terrible image of Nick’s battered face, reaching desperately forherNick’s hand, needing the visceral proof that he was whole and alive. He squeezed back, hard, as if he needed the physical contact as well.
Aaron’s gaze flicked to Joan as if by instinct. His eyes widened as he saw the poster too.
“You did well to capture and execute their leader,” Eleanorsaid to Aaron now, and Joan shuddered. “I hear you had his body dragged through the streets after the execution.”
“I had to remind them who rules this city,” Aaron managed. Behind his back, his hands were shaking even more now.
Eleanor gave him one of her cold smiles. “Indeed.”
The floor creaked at the other end of the room, and the door opened. Geoffrey’s furious and flustered voice hissed: “You can’t just barge in—”
Ruth’s curly head appeared. Joan hurriedly put a finger to her lips. Ruth froze.
Eleanor hadn’t heard the new arrivals. She was still speaking. “And I understand you capturedanothercell of the wolves this week.” Ruth’s eyes widened as she recognized Eleanor’s voice. “And you’ve requested the honor of executing them yourself,” Eleanor continued. “A wise choice—to make a show of force. To putyourhand on the ax.”
“I...” Aaron was still controlling his expression, but he couldn’t force out a reply. Joan could tell he was horrified by the thought of executing anyone.
Eleanor’s eyes sharpened—and Joan realized that Eleanor had been watching him this whole time. Perhaps this was one too many hesitations.
Joan’s heart thumped. She grabbed a notepad from the desk and scrawled:U can’t wait.
Nick snapped his fingers to draw Aaron’s attention.
Aaron’s eyes flew toward them and back. “Yes, Your Majesty,” he said quickly. “I look forward to it.”
Eleanor relaxed. “I recommend vigilance tomorrow. There’sa possibility that the wolves will seek to free the prisoners.”
“Have you had intelligence to that effect?”
Another flicker of irritation from Eleanor. “I told you,” she said. “Their actions aren’t always predictable to me.”
By some superhuman effort, Aaron managed to hold a pleasant expression as Eleanor said her farewells and vanished from the screen. Even after that, he didn’t move for a long, long moment. Finally, he raised his voice. “Geoffrey, allow them in.”
What the hell?Jamie mouthed as he and Ruth slipped into the room, Frankie trotting behind them. Geoffrey was already walking away, his steps getting softer and softer, until the outer door shut with a distant click.
“What are youwearing?” Ruth blurted to Joan.
Joan blinked down at her own oversize shirt, emblazoned with the Oliver mermaid.
