Revolutionary: The Primitus Trilogy

By Grace Dean

Grace Dean is a 20-year-old college student from Avon Lake, Ohio, whose love of writing began in the seventh grade when she first drafted Revolutionary. She is pursuing her bachelor's degree in Exercise Physiology at Ohio Northern University while playing basketball. As a new novelist Grace has spent years tweaking and perfecting her char-acters

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: Aug 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685150440

Grace Dean

Grace Dean is a 20-year-old college student from Avon Lake, Ohio, whose love of writing began in the seventh grade when she first drafted Revolutionary. She is pursuing her bachelor's degree in Exercise Physiology at Ohio Northern University while playing basketball. As a new novelist Grace has spent years tweaking and perfecting her char-acters and plot. She spent most of her childhood being influenced and inspired by books and she is excited to be that for someone else.

Book preview

Kyle Caffrey

T

he letter I received left no name, no way to contact the sender, and only a few words. I sat on my bunk bobbing with my father’s ship as it drifted through the waves. The salt of the ocean filled my nose, as it did most of the time. I held the letter carefully, as though it was an old decaying map. I knew who had sent it to me, and I wished they hadn’t. There were four words scrawled across the yellow-tinted page.

We need to talk.

I echoed the words that I had been staring at for the past three days. I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to decide if I should agree to meet the woman I wanted to avoid all of my life. I glanced down and slid my left pant leg up with my toes. There was the ever-present PC that was etched into the tanned skin of my ankle.

Kyle, we’ll be docking in Gentillesse for the next ten days. Can you believe they want to stick around in Vazzuzi for that long?

My best friend, Lily Rivera, came storming down the creaking wooden stairs. She flopped into the wooden chair and propped her bare feet up on my desk. I spotted the same PC on her ankle as well.

We have to pick up supplies, and you know that we can only get my dad’s favorite rum in Stonefall, I reminded her as I pushed her feet off my desk. She rolled her eyes and ran her fingers through her colorful hair. It was deep blue like the ocean at the roots, then turned brown halfway down, and had blonde tips. Lily took the whole appearance is everything to heart.

Yeah, but ten days. That’s such a long time, she complained and put her feet back up on my desk. I shook my head and put the letter into my satchel. As much as I didn’t want to get involved, I had to go to this meeting.

Lily, get your feet off my desk, I snapped as I slipped my boots on and grabbed my blue doublet. I was going on land for the first time in a week or two. She groaned and folded her legs beneath her, still sitting in the hard desk chair.

Where are you going? she asked, starting to get the idea that I was leaving. I chuckled and slung my weathered satchel over my shoulder.

I have a meeting with The Enchantress of Evil, I said and started up the stairs. The ship wobbled under me, but it didn’t affect me much. Growing up on a pirate ship meant I had pretty good sea legs.

Land ho!

A shout sounded overhead as the port at Stonefall came into view. All over the ship, pirates were moving around and working on getting the Swindler ready to dock.

Kyle, what are you doing below deck? We need you by hawsers to throw the lines, my father screamed from his place at the helm. I sighed and jogged over to the giant mechanical wheels that allowed us to dock. Sweat dripped off me as the Swindler finally came to a stop, and the gangplank was thrown out.

Well done, young Caffrey.

A few of the men my father employed clapped me on the back as they headed off the ship towards the small port city. I huffed and tried my best to ignore them. I disliked most of the men aboard our ship; they were all unruly and disgusting. Even as pirates, we had standards to uphold.

And where do you think you are going? A slimy voice laced with alcohol stopped me in my tracks. I took a breath and turned to find Vanessa Rivera, Lily’s mom, walking toward me. Lily often called her a snake, and it was an accurate description. She was tall and skinny, and her sweat was more whiskey than water.

Heading into town with the guys, I said, trying to sound nonchalant. Lily was a much better liar than I was, and it was times like this that I wished that wasn’t true. Vanessa narrowed her eyes at me, but it wasn’t threatening. She looked like she would fall over if I lightly poked her.

Is my daughter going as well?

She slurred her words and got close enough so I could smell her horrible breath. I took a small step back and held my breath a little.

No, you know she won’t go on shore unless she has to, I answered, wanting this interaction to be over as soon as possible. Vanessa grinned, and it was slightly disturbing. I would rather deal with my father’s disappointment and hatred than with Lily’s mother’s creepy mental games.

Shame, I’d love to see my daughter finally get what she deserves. She’d make a rather lovely Mermaid, don’t you think? she cackled, taking another sip of whatever kind of alcohol she had in that glass. I never knew how to handle Vanessa. What was I supposed to say? Yes, Lily would make a wonderful Mermaid?

I have to go, um…tell my dad I’ll be back before we disembark again.

I didn’t wait for her response before I turned and crossed the gangplank. She was creepy and had a twisted mind that neither Lily nor I liked to get a glimpse of. I weaved in and out of pirates and townspeople.

Stonefall was one of the only ports in the Kingdom of Gentillesse, and it was home to some interesting folks. Most of the residents were Villains who relied on pirates like my dad to bring business and trade to their port.

I tried to draw little attention to myself, but being the son of the famous Captain James Caffrey meant everyone knew who I was. I kept my head down and held my breath as I passed through the smelly town. It was as if no one in this town bathed. I heard bits and pieces of indistinct chatter, and as I always did, I subconsciously searched for a particular name to pop up. It rarely ever did. I had a half-brother who lived in the Kingdom of Mantella, and I felt the need to keep tabs on him when I could. We had only met once, but I couldn’t help but feel responsible for my younger brother ever since my dad let it spill that he existed.

Kyle Caffrey, headed somewhere?

A royal guard from the Gentillesse palace stopped me as I tried to head out of the town towards the forest that separated it from the castle. I gulped and forced myself to lift my gaze so it rested on the well-armored guard.

Yeah, actually, I was just gonna take a stroll through the woods.

I knew it was a terrible lie, but maybe this particular guard wouldn’t question it. I wasn’t so lucky. The guard shoved his longsword at me with a look almost as pointed as his weapon.

I don’t think so, he sneered, making me want to scream. I hadn’t been on land for more than five minutes, and I was already getting stopped by Heroes. I held my hands up in defense, but he kept advancing. He placed the tip of his sword dangerously close to my neck. There was only so much bullshit I would take from Heroes. They were arrogant and thought of nothing but their riches and how to torture us innocent Villains.

Look, I don’t know what you plan on doing, but it would be in your best interest to get that sword out of my face, I said, trying my best not to let my hatred and fury seep into my voice. The guard laughed, causing his helmet to slip back a little bit. He didn’t have the right-sized helmet, which meant he was newer to the royal guard. I couldn’t help but let a slight smirk across my lips. He didn’t move the sword; instead, he thought it would be a good idea to push it forward, nicking the skin on my neck. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. The guard had no idea what was coming.

My hand moved to the hilts of my twin katanas that rested loosely at my waist. I moved faster than he could comprehend. They didn’t call me the Son of the Pirate King for nothing. I had been handling these blades before I could talk. I knocked his sword from his hands and brought mine to his neck as he reeled back. I opened my eyes to stare into his terrified face.

You didn’t bring backup.

I smiled, sheathing my swords, and jogged off into the forest. The whole situation infuriated and invigorated me. Heroes treated us like dirt solely because they won the Split War all those years ago. Our ancestors had taken a beating, and we were still paying for it.

I made my way through the dense forest, trying to find the entrance to the ever-elusive Tunnels. I had only heard about them through word of mouth, and I wasn’t entirely sure they existed. The Tunnels could take you anywhere in Vazzuzi, and some even said they stretched as far as the Magia Islands. Legend has it that The Tunnels were protected by magic and that only those with Villain blood could enter. I didn’t know if any of that was true, but I did know that if they existed, they were the only safe way for Villains to travel.

During our last visit to Amaginaria, one of the Magia Islands, I had gotten a glance at a map that showed an entrance to the Tunnels in Gentillesse. I pulled out my swords once again and hacked through the thick underbrush as I searched. The temperature had dropped dramatically, and I was glad I had grabbed my coat. I could hear the animals of the forest crawling around and rustling in the trees and bushes. My heartbeat sped up as each sound made me think the Heroes were following me. I was about to call it an old fairy’s tale when my sword struck something hard, and the sound of metal on metal echoed through the now silent forest.

Please be the entrance, I whispered to myself as I got on my knees and felt for anything that wasn’t the forest floor. It was beginning to get dark, and I knew this journey would take me more than one day to complete. I found a small handle that had to be the entrance to the Tunnels. I took a deep breath and pulled it up. I found myself staring into a pitch-black hole. Doubt pulled at the back of my mind. I didn’t really want to go to this meeting in the first place. I questioned if I was willing to plunge into the unknown for this.

If you don’t, then who will?

I sighed, closed my eyes, sent up a quick prayer to Narj—the god of Amaginaria—and took the plunge. I slipped through the hole like I was covered in oils. The ride down was dark, and my heart raced through it all. The ground came up beneath me faster than I expected it to, and I landed with a thud, twisting my ankle in the process. I cursed and slammed my fist into the dirt wall. Pain flooded my foot as I tried to walk it off.

Are you alright, mate?

I heard the words, but they didn’t register right away. I squeezed my eyes shut and ground my teeth until the pain became less sharp and more of a dull ache. I took a few deep breaths and lightly rested my foot on the ground while keeping most of my weight on the other leg.

I will be. Damn, that was intense.

I shook my head and looked up to face the other Villain who had found the hidden entrance. He chuckled and held his hand out to help me out of the small space at the bottom of the hole into the dim light of the actual Tunnels. I hopped over because my ankle was still radiating pain.

I’m heading to Mantella. Do you know which way? I asked, not wanting to delay this mission anymore. The man raised an eyebrow. He had a right to be confused; most Villains avoided Mantella. The anti-villain laws were the strictest there. The prince and princess were often out hunting down Villains to arrest or, if they felt like it, to kill.

I don’t know if you have a death wish or you’re just plain stupid, but Mantella is down the green-tinted dirt.

He turned his back on me and walked down a different tunnel with red-tinted dirt. I wasn’t sure what to do with that response, so I hobbled down the tunnel with the green dirt. It was quiet and dark down here, leaving me with only my thoughts. I sort of expected more people to be roaming around trying to avoid the Heroes.

It was tough for most Villains in Vazzuzi. The rulers of the six kingdoms did little to help our situation. They made laws banning us from being employed and made it legal to straight-up murder us on the streets if they saw fit. I hated when we docked in Vazzuzi, because, as awful as it was traveling around with my father and Lily’s mother, it was nothing compared to the fear of being slaughtered on the street for no reason.

The walk through the tunnel was long, but after about an hour, the tunnel suddenly stopped. I looked up and saw a hole just like the one I fell through.

How in the name of Pokol am I supposed to climb up there with a sprained ankle? I wondered aloud, starting to get frustrated and cursing the name of the Lord of the Dead. It was challenging for Villains to travel outside the Tunnels, so it didn’t make sense why they’d make it equally hard to travel inside them. I thought for a moment or two. There had to be a way up that didn’t involve excruciating pain.

I dug through my satchel to find my dual knives. They were thicker than my swords and could probably hold my weight better. Plus, I didn’t care if they were damaged along the way. I sunk the blades into either side of the hole and hoisted myself up. The dirt was tightly compacted and held my weight reasonably well.

I reached the top of the much shorter exit hole and pushed up the metal entrance. The sight around me was vaguely familiar. The dark woods of Mantella were every Hero’s nightmare and a haven for some Villains. I wasn’t sure exactly where I was, and due to the moon not shining through the thick trees, I had no idea what time it was either.

I pulled myself from the hole and concealed the entrance once more. I needed to find somewhere to wrap my ankle so the swelling went down. I hobbled through the woods, knowing if I went in one direction, I’d eventually find the edge of the forest. I listened to the owls and the nighttime critters crawling around. It was pretty peaceful.

The edge of the woods led me to a small city known as Rijkdom. It was home to a band of highly anti-Villain knights who made it their mission to find the incredibly elusive Villains.

I looked up at the moon and reasoned it was well after midnight. I’d have about a two-hour walk before I even reached the base of the mountain where the Enchantress of Evil’s fortress stood. My eyes fluttered shut for a few minutes as I contemplated resting for the night. I decided against it, knowing I’d have to get this done so that I could return to the Swindler before it left port again. I wouldn’t put it past my father to leave without me.

I bared my teeth against the pain and kept walking. I had to reach her fortress. I still didn’t know what she wanted, but I knew it had something to do with the six of us Villains who were considered members of the Prime Concilium. If I didn’t bear the mark myself, I would have thought the whole thing was simply legend.

I walked through the dark town, noticing that not a single lamp was lit, and each door was locked with more than one lock. The people of Rijkdom were terrified of the knights, and it showed.

When I reached the mountain’s base, the sun was beginning to peek over the side. I was exhausted. The Enchantress of Evil lived as far away from society as possible and for a good reason. Most Heroes would kill her on sight, and the ones that wouldn’t would chain her up and torture her for information. She was the most powerful being in all the lands; she was the Primitus.

Alright, Kyle, you got this.

I had to psych myself up to start the climb up the mountain. There was a small path, but it wasn’t direct or easy to follow. I was sweating profusely once again and had to take frequent breaks to rest my throbbing ankle. I hoped the Enchantress would help ease the pain with a bit of magic when I reached her fortress.

The day passed on, and I climbed further into the clouds. The Enchantress of Evil’s castle didn’t become visible until well into the next day. It was a dark and looming structure that clung to the side of the mountain. It looked as though it could fall off at any second. There were vines of thorns spun around pillars and balconies, and the windows were all tinted black or cracked. This place was not in good shape.

You have got to be kidding me, I groaned as I reached a large drawbridge that was broken in the middle. There was no way to cross it, and that was the only way to the entrance of the fortress. I took a break and tried to figure out a way across. It seemed impossible. I didn’t possess magic like a lot of Villains, and as much as I would love to believe I could, there was no way I was jumping the large crevice.

There is another way.

A voice called out from the other side. I squinted to see a man standing on the other half of the bridge, looking at me with a bored expression. He had grey wisping hair and heavy bags under his eyes. I stood up and walked to the edge of the bridge as well.

Step out.

The man gestured for me to take a step and plummet to my death. I laughed. There was no way in hell I’d ever do that. This only made him roll his eyes and take a step out onto the nothingness. He didn’t fall. I stared at him as he crossed the air like it was still a part of the bridge. When he reached my side, he smiled at my complete astonishment.

How the hell did you do that? I questioned, still staring at his feet which weren’t on the solid surface of the bridge. He waved his hand for me to step out as well. I shook my head; there was no way.

It’s magic. The Enchantress keeps an illusion on her castle to make it seem deserted and disastrous, but it is not. Trust me, the man told me, expecting me to trust a man who hadn’t even told me his name. I raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t say anything else. All he did was start walking the other way. I had to trust him. There was no way I could trust him. The only person in this world I could trust was Lily, and even she was a liar.

Is there another way? I called after him praying to the gods that there was. The old man shook his head and continued walking. I cursed and tentatively stuck my best foot out. All I had to do was trust. I closed my eyes and eased myself into the air. I was almost positive that I would fall to my death, but I didn’t. I was standing on an invisible bridge; that was awesome. I slowly walked behind the man who didn’t turn to see that I had followed him.

I will show you to her.

He knew exactly who I was there to see. We stepped to the other side of the bridge, and my heart stopped pounding in my ears. I had been sure I was going to die. He led me through the castle, which was much more pleasant to look at on the inside. It seemed to grow from the plant life around it. It smelled of pine and sawdust. He stopped at our destination—a small room with only two couches and a table between them. I couldn’t wait to sit down on that comfortable couch. I walked in and plopped down, feeling the strain leave my body. A woman was standing by the window looking out at the valley below her. This was the Enchantress of Evil. I had been expecting someone much older and not nearly as innocent looking. She had dark straight hair about down to her shoulders and a look about her that just screamed energy. Her face was a little wrinkled, and you could tell she had lived a hard life.

I’m glad you decided to join me.

She spoke with a slight Zestian accent as she stretched out her hand awkwardly. I looked at it for a second, trying to figure out what she was doing. She retracted it almost immediately, and I remembered that in Vazzuzi, they greeted each other with a handshake. Growing up mainly on a ship and around the Magia Islands, I wasn’t very accustomed to Vazzuzian culture.

You’re lucky my father decided to dock for so long; otherwise, your little letter would have gone out the window and into the depths of the ocean.

I folded my arms and returned my face to its resting glare. She nodded as if this was expected. She knew how most of us felt about this whole Prime Concilium thing. It was supposed to mean we would lead the Villains in the future, but in reality, it meant we were targets for the Heroes and laughed at by other Villains.

Romulus, would you get Mr. Caffrey some tea? she asked the man who showed me in to leave us alone. I didn’t know who he was until I saw the same PC mark on his ankle as well. He had been a member of the Prime Concilium during his generation.

What do you want from me?

I got straight to the point; I didn’t want this meeting to last long. She turned back to the window that looked over the valley below her mountain. Mantella was a beautiful kingdom, but the King and Queen sought to industrialize it and turn the extensive forests into bigger cities.

I’m not gonna beat around the bush too much. Kyle, you need to gather the Concilium and stop a revolt.

Her words smacked me in the face. She wanted me to get a bunch of Villain kids who hated each other together so we could stop a revolt. That was the most absurd thing I had ever heard.

Now, I know what you are thinking, but Kyle, this is serious. I am not getting any younger, and my power is weakening. This revolt will break the precarious balance I have created to prevent the Heroes from banishing us. If it succeeds, I will not be powerful enough to stop them from taking our entire people and sending us who knows where.

She was really serious about this. We all knew that the Heroes wished they could banish us so that they could make Vazuzzi into a perfect paradise with no crime, homelessness, or starvation. It was a constant threat that we faced. No one knew precisely what banishment would mean, but we all knew it meant no longer living in Vazzuzi and probably a bleak land with nothing for food, water, or shelter. It meant death in our eyes.

Who is revolting against you? I mean, we all know you hold all the power in the world, but why would someone try and stop you when you’ve done nothing but sit up here.

I didn’t mean to be offensive, but what I said was true. Everyone knew the Enchantress lived in a fortress in the sky and had all this power but refused to use it to make things better for us Villains. She sighed and sat on the couch opposite where I was sitting. She didn’t say anything at first, giving me a chance to look around. The room was filled with ancient weapons and memorabilia from each of the seven kingdoms. The whole room smelled old.

Your father is leading the charge. He has been taking meetings with other Villains from all over Vazzuzi. Romulus has informed me that they are gathering a small army to attack me, she said, returning us to the conversation. I knew my dad had been taking more meetings, but I didn’t realize it was with other Villains.

My dad is trying to start a revolt? That’s new.

I rolled my eyes, thinking about how horrible my dad was. He wanted to get rid of the one person we all knew was keeping us from being banished.

Did you talk to him and explain why that was a horrible idea? I asked, wondering if she put any work into actually defending herself from my father. She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow accusingly.

Of course I did, but your father is stubborn. He almost got me captured by the Veracity royal guards.

She was very pointed in her answer. I held up my hands in defense; it had been a valid question. The two of us stared at each other for a bit longer. I had pictured her in my head for as long as I had known she existed, and this didn’t live up to my expectations. She was just a regular person. She didn’t have crazy horns or long canines; she was normal.

Kyle, I know how you all feel about this whole thing, but it is time I transfer the magic. You all need to get together and stop this revolt so that my heir can continue protecting the Villains from banishment, she pleaded with me once again. I still wasn’t sure about this whole thing. For a moment, I thought that maybe if I talked to him, my father would back down, but then I remembered who my father was. He didn’t listen to me, no matter what I told him.

So if I get everyone together, what do we need to do exactly? I asked, making her brighten up slightly. She knew it was a long shot that we wouldn’t kill each other on sight, let alone get along well enough to stop a revolt.

Honestly, Kyle, you need to gather as many people as you can because once the Heroes get wind of this revolt, and they will, they will push to make it happen. King Thomas-John and Queen Evangeline aren’t stupid and will make sure the Mantellan army is there to kill me.

She didn’t give me much to go on. I sat back and scratched my chin. There was a lot to figure out, but the Prime Concilium could do it. The first place I’d go was Amaginaria. The people there weren’t considered Heroes or Villains, so they might be swayed to help us.

Okay, getting Lily on board won’t be hard. However, Madison Hood has been considered dead for a long time, and Connor LaCroy hasn’t spoken to me since I revealed to him that we were brothers almost eight years ago. Not to mention Lois Brim, who I’m pretty sure lives in a totally different reality.

I had to clarify just to make sure I got everyone. The Enchantress smiled softly and stood up to grab a large black stick with a bluish orb-like ball on the end. She turned back to me and said, You forgot Faye Sheshire.

That was the name I was avoiding. We all knew she would be the next Primitus, and we all knew never to cross paths with her. Every Villain kid knew to stay away from her, and she was the beast that haunted every Hero kid’s nightmares. I shivered just at hearing her name. I didn’t even know where to find her.

I didn’t forget her. I simply left her out because she gives me the creeps, I replied, standing up as well. The Enchantress shook her head as if she knew something that I didn’t. I was sure she had heard the stories about the things Faye Sheshire had done. She was a monster, and that was saying something coming from me.

She is the next Primitus. If I do not transfer the magic to her soon, then there is no chance of saving the Villains from banishment.

She twirled her black stick around and disappeared in a puff of smoke. That was dramatic. I waved my hand to clear the smoke and coughed a bit. I had to get moving if I was going to gather the Concilium in time. My first stop was back in Rijkdom, the last known location of the elusive Madison Hood and my half-brother Connor LaCroy. This adventure wasn’t going to be easy, especially if Faye Sheshire was involved.

I took a breath and tried to walk towards the door, but pain shot through my ankle, reminding me why I had been sitting during the conversation. I cursed myself for forgetting to ask the Enchantress to heal it. I looked around the room, and on the table that had previously been empty were a few bandages and a glass of rum. That would ease the pain a little. I began wrapping my ankle and thinking of how I could convince the others to join me. Stopping the revolt didn’t seem likely, considering we were just kids. Although all of us knew the struggles of being Villains, none of us knew the struggles of being the Prime Concilium gathered and ready to fight.

Connor LaCroy

C

old and alone. The world passed me by, not even noticing I was there. I sat alone, waiting. Fear seeped into me like snow seeps into your socks. I was crouched in the dark forest, watching my childhood friend’s tavern from afar.

Get back here, Hood.

I heard a scream from the knight who entered the half-burnt tavern a few minutes prior. The trees rustled, and the sound of her heavy boots on the forest floor pounded in my ears. Madison was running for her life. The knights of Rijkdom would kill her the moment they got the chance. She and I were the last two Villains willing to steal from them to help the town of Rijkdom survive.

I heard the clanging of metal and saw the knight running after her. I remained hidden. The only thing that would make this worse for Madison was if I got involved. The knights were incredibly hateful towards my kind, the kind with a Voltak deep inside them. My Voltak was a beast-like creature that shared my body. I was in control most of the time, and his thoughts only invaded my mind, but when we felt threatened or emotional, he gained control, and there was no telling the trail of blood that would follow.

My father was a brave man, and he did what was right.

I heard Madison scream as if the knight had just insulted her father. Archer Hood was a good man despite carrying the title of thief and Villain. He had taken care of me whenever my parents needed one less kid on their hands. Mr. Hood did his best to defend his family name and give back to the community that didn’t hand him over to the Mantellan royalty. I looked over to see that Madison had disarmed the knight and that he was already running back to the safety of the town. We were in the dark woods, one of the only safe places for Villains in Mantella. It wasn’t safe for Heroes that weren’t armed.

Ya miss me?

I startled Madison as I walked up behind her with my arms spread. She looked at me with wide eyes and dove into my arms. It had been so long since we had seen each other face to face. We tried to communicate while we were both in hiding, but even writing letters had become too dangerous.

Of course, I did, idiot.

She stepped back and smiled at me. It was amazing to see her again. Her brown hair had grown long but was still braided behind her back. She held the knight’s sword in her leather gloves, and a quiver of red feathered arrows was strung across her back. She hadn’t changed much.

How long do you think it’ll take them to send the whole cavalry after you? I asked, not sure what else to say. She smirked and lightly punched my arm.

Who cares? I’ll be long gone by the time they do.

It was true that the two of us were better at evading Hero’s capture than many other Villain kids. She began walking back to her tavern when I stopped her. I needed to tell her something, and I wasn’t sure exactly how.

Connor, I’ve got to get moving if I want to beat the knights, she said, already sounding annoyed with me. Now I remembered why I had left the care of her father all those years ago. Madison had an attitude bigger than Mantella and Isola combined. She was blunt and, more often than not, rude.

I saw Kyle limping through here last night. He looked like he was headed for her mountain. Do you think that could be a problem? I asked, getting that same ball of nerves in my stomach every time I thought about Kyle. He was my half-brother. He dropped that bomb on me a month after my entire family had been brutally murdered. The two of us had only spoken that once, but I always wondered if we would ever truly be family.

Why do we care if he was going to see the Enchantress of Evil? These stupid letters don’t mean anything; they’re just annoying.

She turned towards her tavern, which meant the subject was dropped. I followed quietly behind her, noticing how neither one of us made a noise while walking through the woods. Kyle had sounded like an entire battalion of guards tramping through the brush. I saw that Madison’s tavern was not in great shape. Up close, you could see where the fire had licked its way through the front wall and roof. You could also see where it had been put out by Madison and me.

She’s seen better days, Madison whispered as we reached the half-burnt building. This tavern had been in her family since the Split War. It was one of the last Villain-owned businesses to be destroyed by the Heroes. Her uncles had left it when the knights declared all Hoods were fugitives of the kingdom. From what I read in the town paper, her father was the only one to stay and fight against the injustice, which made him an outlaw from his own family.

That knight is probably gathering the cavalry right now. Come with me, Connor; let’s leave Mantella and find a place that isn’t so anti-Villain, at least for a while.

Madison was already gathering small items into her backpack. I saw a knife and a few daggers make their way in, as well as packaged food that Heroes designed for camping. She restocked her arrows in her quiver and jimmied the jewels out of the handle of the sword she had stolen from the knight.

You know I can’t. Madison, I can’t go anywhere without people running in terror, I replied, knowing how the world saw me. I held a monster deep in my core, and most people didn’t care to see past that. She shook her head and put her hand on my shoulder. She opened her mouth to speak, but I stopped her. I heard leaves rustling outside the door. Someone was here. I glanced at the door as Madison made an annoyed face at me. She hated to be interrupted, but this was more important than whatever she was about to say. I stood by the door, waiting for it to be knocked down and the tavern to be stormed with knights. Both of us waited with bated breath. I heard footsteps on the porch and then nothing. My hearing was incredible because of my Voltak, but I heard nothing more of the person who had walked up to the door.

Hello, is anyone home?

A loud voice startled both of us. I raised an eyebrow at Madison, and she just shrugged. Neither of us was expecting someone polite to be looking for us. We waited, and the person knocked loudly on the door. There was a slight clang of metal against the wood, meaning the person was wearing a ring or two on the hand they were knocking with.

Open the door, Madison whispered. I took a breath and slowly turned the creaking handle of the door.

Standing there looking like an idiot was my half-brother Kyle Caffrey. He wore a big pirate coat and a dumb expression on his face. The two of us looked far more alike than I wanted. We had the same mahogany hair that flopped in our faces; however, his freckles were much more pronounced than mine because he saw the sun a lot more than I did.

Hello, Connor, he said awkwardly, shifting his weight between his feet. I stared at him, not liking the fact that he was there. Madison walked over and stuck her hand out to greet him.

Madison Hood. I’ve heard all about you, pirate, she snapped, making things even more awkward. Kyle looked at her hand for a second before it dawned on him that he should shake it. For someone whose claim to fame was intelligence, he was acting dumb.

The three of us need to go to Wondercity, Kyle replied, not giving us a moment to ask what he was doing here. Both of us took a step back. Wondercity was the home of all the Zestians who had been kicked out of the Mixed-Up Land of Zestia. It was a town in Mantella where the only Tunnel to Zestia resided.

Why? I asked as Kyle walked into the tavern like he owned the place. Madison crossed her arm, and I saw the dark look begin to creep across her face. She didn’t like having the pirate in her home.

Get out.

She raised