[Write the Story] The Villain is Really the Hero

Prompt: The Villain is Really the Hero

Words: witchcraft, recommend, sand dollar, fisticuff, paprika, eyeball, nightlight, gibberish, infuriating, dreadful

Story

“Please, foul sorceress, do not smite me with thy black magic.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, it’s not witchcraft. It’s PAPRIKA! Get up and stop that thee/thou gibberish and speak plainly.”

The velvet and gold clad nobleman sputtered, turning white then red as he struggled to his feet. “Are you always so dreadful infuriating, Petunia?”

“If I had a sand dollar for every time…I’d have a beach. What brings you here?” She waved her hand around her kitchen. “What am I supposed to have done now? Or is this some inheritance quest?”

“Neither?” Noble boy sounded less certain. “You, see this was this fisticuff…um, fight…”

“Spit it out. And have the good grace to introduce yourself.”

The noble – Lord Kip – apologized and laid out his tale of woe and revenge. “If you can recommend a spell or anything, I would really be in your debt, but, you know, not dying would be great.”

“Hmmm…it might be fun to kill you, but hard on the floors. Having a lordling in my debt, that’s interesting.”

“You would also be averting a long, drawn out war by stopping it in its tracks.” He stopped talking again, uncertain and frightened by the gleam in her eyes.

“Take the Eyeball of Darkin and recite these words?” She handed him a talisman and a sheet of paper.

“What does it do?”

“I use it as a nightlight, but others think it’ll turn children into toads. Have fun with that.”

“You’re my hero.”

“Don’t let anyone hear you say that. I have a reputation.”

Word Count: 256

Written: 11/25/18

Tags: Flash, flash fiction, hero, Piccadilly, short story, villain, Write the Story