Chapter 13 - Willow
Willow
The weight of everything we’d just learned was so heavy that the Demon Lord had walked by three restaurants without even looking at them. I didn’t know how to lighten the mood or if I should even try, so I just ignored my rumbling stomach and kept walking beside him.
Until one rumble was so loud that the Demon Lord stopped to stare at me. “We never got any food, did we?”
“No, but I’m fine.” I rested my hand on his arm and his gaze softened. “Do you want to keep exploring or call it a day?”
“I want to make sure you’re well fed.” He turned to talk to Dain. “Where’s a good place to eat? Somewhere quiet so Willow can write, if she wants to.”
“Oh, I definitely want to. Right, Inkheart?” I laughed as the pen practically danced on its notebook. “Thanks for thinking of that.”
“Okay then.” Dain’s face scrunched up. “Maybe Bunny Brews? Since you like bunnies, there are loads of them there.”
“Wait, it’s a bunny cafe?” I grabbed the Demon Lord’s arm. “We have to go there!”
“Okay? I don’t really get it, but whatever makes you happy.”
Inkheart fluttered across the page, flying closer to me so I could take a look.
Gotta love a man who spoils his Queen.
“What?” I nudged the pen away, laughing awkwardly. “It’s not like that at all.”
He’d just bought me a magical pen, all the paper I could ever want, and sworn to protect his people no matter what.
It reminded me of why I’d had a crush on the hero when I was a kid.
There was just something about a guy willing to do anything to save the people he cared about.
Not that the hero and him were anything alike, of course, or that I was crushing on the Demon Lord now too.
The back of my neck warmed as I walked beside the Demon Lord. “That was nice, you know. How you reassured that woman.”
He made a noncommittal noise and kept walking, but something was different than before.
He was easier to keep up with now and he glanced at the shops and the people around him like they were important.
Nobody had to stumble out of his way this time either.
That encounter seemed to have opened his eyes a bit, and I couldn’t help but be grateful for it.
“It’s nice that you have a purpose now,” I said, keeping pace with him easily. “Plus, we know why you’re such a big grump now. Your people trust you to keep them safe and that’s an important role. You can’t be bothered with silly things like humans and soft beds, right?”
His steps faltered. “You really think they trust me?”
Dain and I shared a confused look. “Well, yeah?”
The Demon Lord scratched the base of his horns, a slight red tint staining his cheeks. “I need to run some errands on my own, okay?” He shoved a pouch that clinked like it was full of coins into my hands before turning to Dain. “Make sure nobody touches her while I’m gone.”
Dain saluted him, standing so tall and proud that you’d think he was just given a mission to save the world even though the Demon Lord was already fleeing at top speed. Inkheart scribbled, flying in front of me.
Did you hear that? He doesn’t want anyone to touch you. He wants to be the only demon doing that!
I rolled my eyes at the pen. “I don’t think he wants to touch me either. Otherwise there wouldn’t be half a street between us already.” I cupped my hand to my mouth to call out. “Don’t take too long! I’ll miss you!”
He spun around, mouth dropped open like I’d said something scandalous. I grinned as his shadows rose up, hiding his awkwardness behind a mask of darkness. He was kind of adorable for a Demon Lord.
“My lady?” Dain prompted, holding the door to the cafe open. “Are you still going inside?”
“Oh, right, yes.”
I moved through the doorway and into the warm, cozy cafe.
The gentle buzz of people chatting softly mingled with the scent of coffee and sweets in the air.
There was a gate around the entrance to ensure the little demon bunnies didn’t escape when the door was open and they were lined up inside of it, noses pushing through the mesh.
The bunnies ranged from black like Cinder to golden or stark white.
Their flames were different colors too, lighting up the room like holiday lanterns.
“Welcome to Bunny Brews,” a young demon with a menu in her hands said. Her long bunny ears stood tall, twitching as she eyed me up. “Are you a human?”
An older woman swatted her with a towel. “Coco, you can’t just ask somebody if they’re a human like that. Try to have better manners.” She smiled warmly at me. “Excuse my daughter, she’s never seen a human before. Why don’t I show you to our best seat in the house?”
“No problem at all.”
We followed her through a few rows of mismatched wooden tables, all a bit worn down as if people had spent years using them. Tables like these, covered in dents and grooves, had untold histories that Grandpa and I used to love making up stories about.
We’d explain small indentations away by saying that students must have spent hours studying there, absentmindedly dragging their pens against the wood.
For extra smooth spots in the middle of a table, we’d craft a beautiful story about two lovers who couldn’t help but hold hands all day.
Everything was a story when we were together, but now that he was gone, I felt a bit silly bringing it up to anyone else.
I missed the days of getting lost in dreams like that.
“Here we are,” the woman said, motioning to a large table by the window with a plush chair. “I hope it’s to your liking.”
“It’ll be great, thank you.” I sank into the comfortable chair, already feeling like this might be my new spot as a few bunnies wound around my feet. “Do you mind if I write while I’m here?”
“No, not as long as you order a drink and some food if you’re peckish.” Her smile was warm and bright as she leaned closer. “You’re the Demon Lord’s consort, right?”
“Yup, that’s me.” I grinned, picturing how much he’d hate being reminded of that little ruse. “I’ve never been to a demon run cafe before. What kind of drinks do you have?”
She passed me a menu. “We’ve got everything from black coffee to flavored, iced coffee, and even some teas if you’re looking for something different.”
“I’ll have a caramel mocha and a hazelnut croissant, please.” I glanced over at the soldier who was positioned against the wall five feet away. “Dain? What will you have?”
He stood up straighter. “Nothing for me. I’m on duty.”
“We’re in a cafe. A bunny cafe!” I rolled my eyes. “I think I’m perfectly safe for a while.”
The woman cocked her hip out, staring him down. “If you want to stay, you’ve gotta order something.” She turned to wink at me, whispering. “That works every time on the strong stoic types.”
My shoulders shook with silent laughter. This woman sure knew what she was doing, understanding the situation in mere moments. She probably saw all types of people working here.
“You better listen to her,” I said with as much authority as I could. “Otherwise the Demon Lord might be disappointed.”
Dain practically leapt forward. “I’ll take a double shot of espresso, please.”
The owner and I shared a secret smile before Inkheart scribbled its own order.
I’d love some tasty ink if you’ve got any. Something dark and spicy?
“Hmmm...I doubt they’ll have any of that.” I rummaged through my bag for the half-empty bottle of ink I had. “And the Demon Lord has the new ink we bought at the stationery store too. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, it’s no problem.” The woman smiled, writing Inkheart’s order down too. “We serve all sorts here, even magical pens.”
The pen leapt into the air, swirling its feathers in excitement as a few bunnies hopped, following the pen back and forth.
It was all so magical and kind of ridiculous, which made it even better.
Warmth radiated from every aspect of the cafe, breathing new life into my concept of a demon village once again.
“I might love this place already.” I picked up a demon bunny, petting it on my lap. I should have brought Cinder, but the bunny had been nowhere to be found when I woke up. “I’ll have to stop by again with my own demon bunny.”
“You are always welcome, my dear. Now get to writing.” The woman made a shooing motion. “I’ll bring your orders out soon.”
Her kind encouragement really set the right tone, making me pull out my new paper and lay it on the table proudly.
I glanced at the pen flying through the air, wondering how I was supposed to actually write with it.
Maybe I should have bought a normal pen as well?
While I debated it, Inkheart scribbled a note to me.
Finally ready to put me to use? Just say the word!
“How does that work? Do you write for me?”
I’d never do that. The words are up to you, so use me like any other pen when you’re writing. But feel free to put me back on my notepad if you want to chat or need any encouragement.
“Thank you.” I swept my fingertips over Inkheart’s feather like I was petting Cinder before taking the pen in my hand to write. “Guess it’s time to get started. Wish me luck.”
Inkheart bounced happily in my hand. I dipped the pen into the ink pot and held it inches above the clean white paper. The blank page was always the most terrifying part for me, but with Inkheart by my side, I knew we could do this.