The Villain
It was dark and Violet was having a nap.
Apparently, I was wearing her out. Meanwhile, I was just trying to pay her back for her stubbornness from the other night.
You know, where she refused to tap out—even though I’d been shot seven times—and kept me up all night.
Now I was rested, fully healed, and ready to go.
It wasn’t my fault she couldn’t keep up.
That was a lie.
I would love to believe I was the reason she was so tired, but she was giving me a run for my money. Her exhaustion came from her lack of sleep the last two nights. Although…I was the reason she didn’t sleep, so I take that back.
I decided on chicken pasta. I cut up some tomato and pepper to add to the store-bought sauce. Not as good as homemade, but I didn’t have everything I needed to make it from scratch, and I didn’t know how long Violet would sleep for.
I stuck the chicken in the oven and let the sauce simmer on the stove, then I headed to the living room to relax.
I ended up reading one of the books on the coffee table.
It was well-loved, with tons of sticky tabs poking out and a few passages highlighted.
My favourite were the little notes she scribbled in the margins.
Okay, wait…am I…into this?
Note to self: start running.
Note to self: beat up Amber for unlocking this side of me when I have no one to try it with.
The last one was in capital letters at the end of the book.
An evil grin grew on my face the more I read. Note to self: thank Amber for making V read these books. I was going to have so much fun with this information.
She was right. I was insatiable.
We finished dinner a few minutes ago. She scarfed it down so fast I would have thought she didn’t taste it, if it weren’t for all the moaning and groaning she did. I kept having to adjust myself, especially after I let my imagination run wild coming up with our post-dinner activities.
Once she was done, I tried to help her clear the counter. She was having none of it. Apparently, whoever cooked was exempt from cleaning. I wanted to help because that meant we could get to the fun part sooner, but I didn’t want to spoil the surprise so I plopped back down on the couch and watched.
Fifteen minutes later, she was packing the leftovers into containers to store in the fridge and I was tired of waiting. I stalked back over and wrapped myself around her the second the last container was put away.
She chuckled, closing the door with her foot since I had her arms trapped under mine.
“You’re so needy.”
I mumbled my agreement into her neck, “Is that a complaint I’m hearing?”
She shook her head. “Just an observation.”
“How are you feeling? Still tired? Did you eat enough? Are you sore?”
She spun around, leaning as far back as she could while trapped in my arms. A smile on her face.
“A little tired. More than enough. Yes, very. Why, did you have something in mind?”
“I did but it can wait.” I picked her up, her legs went right around my waist while I carried her to the stairs.
“I wasn’t done cleaning yet.”
I chuckled, holding her tighter. “You’re not putting up much of a fight to be put down.”
She rested her head on my shoulder. I could feel her smiling into my neck before she started peppering me with kisses.
“I don’t have the energy.”
“That’s unacceptable. We’ll have to rectify this immediately.”
Up the stairs, I walked us to the end of the hall and set her gently on the bed before strolling to the bathroom.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting a bath going for you.”
The tub was tucked into the front corner next to the door.
There was more than enough space for both of us.
I’d be joining her, but only after I finished cleaning the kitchen.
I turned on the knob for the hot water first, waiting a minute before I plugged the tub.
I wouldn’t be able to feel if it was hot enough, but I figured a minute or so was enough to get it close.
I found mango scented bubble bath and…
“Are these weed bath bombs?”
I picked up a case of three and walked back into the bedroom.
“Yup! It’s good for your muscles and it makes your skin silky smooth.”
“Should I throw one in?”
She nodded. “Make sure you put the bubbles in first though. Otherwise it won’t activate.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.” I mock bowed.
She scoffed. “You mean Majesty. I know you did not just call me a princess when I’m clearly a queen.”
I met her eye, still bowing, with a grin on my face.
“Of course, Majesty.”
“You’re ridiculous.” She shook her head with a laugh.
“You love it.”
I stood with a wink and turned to finish setting up the bath. Bubbles first, weed bath bomb second. Once the tub was about three-quarters full, I picked her up and carried her over.
“I can’t feel the temperature, you’ll have to tell me if it’s okay.”
She dipped her finger in and laughed before turning the hot water tap all the way off and the cold to full power.
“It’s like you’re trying to boil my skin off.”
I cringed. “Sorry. Maybe I should have let you do the temperature.”
“You really can’t feel that?”
I shook my head. “I only feel cold unless I’m close to you. That’s why I follow you around so much.”
She grinned. “Well, could you drop a medium sized icicle into the tub please? It’s the temperature of boiling water, and I don’t feel like being Violet soup.”
I laughed. “You got it.”
I summoned an icicle shaped like a medium sized salad bowl and dropped it in the middle of the tub as Violet turned off the water.
“I knew it,” she squealed.
My eyebrow rose. “Care to share?”
She was doing an adorable little happy dance, wiggling her whole body while she grinned like a maniac.
“Take a look, Blondie.”
I stood and turned toward the mirror to find myself with blond hair and…my shadows. They were still hovering, coiling.
“I…” I didn’t know what to say. I spent the better part of a year trying to master using both sides at the same time. And now—
They vanished, hair still blond.
“Shit! How did I do that? Where— Why?”
She came up behind me, meeting my eye in the mirror. “You’re thinking too much.” She put her hand on my back. “Close your eyes.”
I did.
“Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.”
I followed her instructions, her voice so soothing I felt like I was being hypnotized.
“Think about your shadows, summon them back. Have them check the property for any sign of intruders. That’s it, focus on them. Ask them to come back. Just like that, you’re doing so good.”
“Stop talking to me like that.” I groaned.
I was supposed to be focusing on my powers. Instead I was thinking about fucking her again. I liked being in control but—chalk it up to a shit childhood—I had a praise kink.
She chuckled. “No, ’cause it’s working.”
My eyes snapped open to find my blond hair still in place with my shadows coiling—a few missing, out to get the report I’d sent them for. It was so weird to see both sides of myself on full display.
“Frost the mirror,” she whispered.
So I did.