Chapter 31 - Willow #2
“Let’s show them who we really are.” I gave him a determined smile before turning to the fans milling about, eying our table before passing by.
“Hello everyone. I’m Willow and this is Thorne, the Demon Lord you’ve all heard about.
I wrote this book for him and the other story spirits who’ve come to life with the help of a wonderful magical library named Misty, so I’d appreciate if you took the time to listen. ”
A few people stopped by our booth, but they mostly seemed to think Thorne was a cosplayer I’d hired and that story about the library was some kind of gimmick.
At least they were looking at the story I guess.
I talked with more and more people over the next hour and even got a few to drop their voting stones in the jar on my table.
They glowed with a soft blue light that eased my spirit.
Even though the other jars were filling up far faster than mine, a few people at least thought my idea was good.
We were probably still going to lose, but at least I’d go down swinging this time.
Thorne did his best to be the grumpy and adorable demon I knew everyone would fall for eventually if they gave him a chance.
He glared at some, thanked a few others, and even laughed once.
His gaze kept wandering back to me between people and he’d give me a smile that he seemed to reserve just for me.
That smile sent butterflies racing through my stomach every time, like it was a private little moment just for us even though we were surrounded by people.
Eventually, a sea of people dressed like Leo started overtaking the area, which probably meant the cosplay contest had ended.
I welcomed as many as I could to our booth and a few dropped their voting stones in, but most laughed and pointed at the image of Leo with ears and a tail.
When Dain led a very depressed looking hero over by us, I could pretty much guess what had happened.
“So you lost, huh?” I patted him on the shoulder. “Sorry. I probably should have warned you about looking different than people thought you would.”
“But I’m the hero!” His eyes were misty like this was hitting him harder than I’d expected.
“Just because I look different doesn’t change that.
I’m still me and nobody, not even that guy, can be a better hero than me.
” He gestured vaguely at one of the shiniest heroes of the bunch. “I just don’t get it.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but Thorne shook his head, leaning close to whisper, “I think this is about more than the competition. His party shot him down too while you were gone. I found him back in my castle pretending like it didn’t matter. And eating all the pie.”
Yikes, well that sounded doubly awful. I’d actually thought about having his party turn on him, but hadn’t had the heart to put it in the book. They just didn’t feel very heroic whenever I thought about it, but apparently, they never really were to begin with.
I pulled Leo into a hug. “I’m sorry. People don’t always handle change well, but you’re still my hero if that means anything. You’re still the one who saves the day in my book. Well, you and Thorne together, but you get what I mean.”
“Thank you.” He held onto me for a bit and then pulled back, glancing at the mostly empty jar of voting stones. “Now what are we going to do about that?”
A few minutes ago, I’d have said nothing.
I already had everything I could ever want, so actually winning didn’t matter like it did before, but that didn’t feel true anymore.
Winning would mean people accepted Thorne and Leo’s ending, accepted the ending we’d chosen together.
No other ending would do, not when it might change who they’d become throughout this journey of ours.
I pulled them all together into a huddle. “Okay, so here’s the plan. If they don’t believe any of you are real, then we’ll just have to make them. Thorne, use your shadow magic. Leo, use Dawnbreaker. Dain—” I paused, tilting my head. “Ummm, be yourself?”
“I can do that.” He nodded, his fist over his chest just like the first time we met.
“Great, let’s get to it then!” I turned back to the crowd, raising my voice.
“Many of you haven’t believed our story, and honestly, why should you?
We’re surrounded by amazing cosplayers and fantasy stories.
But the people here aren’t just cosplaying.
” I nudged Leo and Thorne forward. “They’re the real deal, brought to life by a magical library.
They’ve lived the story we all love so much, and they’ve chosen how they want it to end.
I might have written it down, but this is the story they’ve chosen, and I urge you to do the same. ”
An awkward hush fell over the room until one man in a hero’s outfit spoke up. “Isn’t that the guy who made a big scene at the cosplay contest?”
Leo sighed. “Yup, that’s me, the overeager and always tripping over his own feet hero.
But if you ever actually believed in me, then believe in me again now.
” He drew Dawnblade from its sheath and the bright light of the sun shimmered from its blade.
“This is my story, and I promise you’ll enjoy it just as much as I did. ”
“Unless you’ve forgotten what it means to be a hero.
” The sword vibrated as its voice filled the room louder than I’d ever heard it.
“A true hero is more than flashy looks and a nice smile. A true hero is willing to change their mind when presented with new facts. A true hero is honorable and kind.” Dawnbreaker’s light grew almost blinding.
“I chose Leo and now I expect you all to choose him too.”
Stunned silence filled the room broken only by the sound of a stone clinking into our jar. Relief shot through me. We’d convinced one person at least and more would follow, I was sure of it.
Ava, the author I’d been so impressed by, stepped closer. “And what about him? Did the sword choose the big shadow daddy too?”
I smothered a laugh as a blush swept across Thorne’s face. “Uh, no, I think that was more because every hero needs a good villain. Or at least, they need somebody to look like the villain.”
“Be grateful I’m not,” Thorne said ominously. “What do you think a villain would do in my position?”
The silence said it all.
“I’ve really struggled with who I am since the books didn’t let me speak.
” Thorne frowned but took a step forward.
“But I know I don’t want to fight Leo. There’s no point, we’re both just trying to protect our people.
The guy you should really hate is the one who made us think we had to kill each other in the first place. ”
Murmurs swept through the crowd. He’d pulled their curiosity wanting to know who was pulling their strings. Another clink pulled my attention as a stone fell into our jar.
Ava’s stone.
“I’m all for surprise endings,” she said with a smile. “Just make sure your story doesn’t let me down, okay?”
“I will!” Hope surged in my chest. One of my favorite authors had actually chosen my story. Even if we didn’t get a single vote more, that felt monumental, like I wasn’t just a fan anymore. I was a real author, one worthy of her reading my story.
As people started finally talking to Thorne and Leo, the votes started rolling in. It was hard to say they were just cosplayers when their magic was literally on display.
Thorne’s shadows drifted across the room like playful smoke, pulling people’s attention every time they wandered off.
And Dawnbreaker was giving out speeches like they were candy.
It was probably good I hadn’t brought Inkheart, otherwise they’d have been bickering like children by now.
I smiled, picturing them leaning over the pages of my book together, tag-teaming the editing like they were pros.
I really did love this little group we’d formed together. No matter how this all ended, I was proud of us.