Monthly Poem or Short Story

The Real Villain

Princess Kaida leaned against the tree, the bark pressing into her blouse. On the tree trunk was her tiny  dragon. It wasn’t really hers, but Kaida had made it clear when her parents dumped her in the tower,  that she was in charge of any beast that lurked in the forest. 

 The dragon had adopted the hue of the bark, but its eyes shone like fire. “He’s picking flowers again,” it hissed. “Why is he still here?” 

 Kaida glanced at the prince who had found his way to the tower. It was only a matter of time until he  left the forest, abandoning his quest to rescue her. That’s how it always went. When a prince succeeded in finding her tower, Kaida would make his life a nightmare and he would flee. This prince had lasted a  week.  

 The prince looked up and waved. His crown slipped a little off his head. “Hello.”  “You’re picking dead roses.” Kaida glared at him. 

 “Are you worried I’ll get poked by the thorns?” The prince’s voice was innocent. This sent a bolt of  anger crashing through Kaida.  

 She pulled her dagger from her belt and marched to him. “Leave this tower or you will meet the  hydra.” 

 “You mean the five-headed dragon?” The prince removed his crown. It was embedded with six gems:  five little ones and a big one. “Look. I’ve already delt with it.” 

 “Yeah ri—” Kadia’s words froze in her mouth. Swimming in each of the gems was a hydra head. “You  killed it?” 

 The prince stood. “No. I just removed it from this book. I don’t want to scare you, but your world is  just a book I’m writing. You were supposed to the villain but now that I’ve met you, I think you belong  somewhere else. In a different book.” 

 “What are you talking about?” Kaida stumbled back. 

 The prince—or whoever he was—kept talking. “People always say the book’s antagonist is the villain, but I beg to differ. The antagonist is just a figment of the author’s imagination. Does that make me the villain?” 

 The prince held up the crown and light beamed out of the biggest gem. It spotlighted Kadia and she  was sucked towards it.  

The prince smirked. “You know, I didn’t want to do this to you. I just can’t help it. I guess I’m just a fan  of plot twists.” 

 Kaida blinked, and she was in an empty room that looked like it was made of a gem. She was in the  crown’s gemstone.