"Despicable, lowly, grotesque-" Magnifico left an angry slash in one of his many green ledgers before slamming it closed and sending it back to its kin. It floated up through the spiraling steps until it found its designated slot, "-horrid examples of humanity." His hands struck the top of his desk, his chair flying back as he stood, "I shall have them pay dearly for their behavior! The embarrassment this has wrought! One of my own staff!"
Asha stood, backlit by the cascade of stardust. Her hands twisted behind her. The incident a day old, she was free from most signs of the altercation, save for a few scratches that marred her face. Sol had worried over them the previous evening, but she had kept her answers short. Not one to dodge hints, the star had locked himself in the trunk for the rest of the evening-and for the morning for that matter. He normally wished her well before she left, and she had felt a tad neglected without it. She had gotten used to their daily routine; it was odd not to hear his muffled voice emanating from the trunk. On second thought, he had been more withdrawn recently. Sullen even. Was something going on? Was something wrong?
Her eyebrows furrowed; he could have been reading the room. Or at the very least listening to baser survival instincts...because boy, had she been angry! It had come on all of a sudden, like an ember catching on brush. It surprised even her in its aftermath. No wonder he didn't want to speak with her, in retrospect she wouldn't have wanted to carry on a conversation after all that. But then again that boy pulled her in a million different directions. Of course she'd eventually snap! A girl could only take so much! Sure, it had been a long time coming - and wasted on something rather small - but now the air was clear and they could start again.
But then why do I feel so horrible?
"You do agree, don't you?"
Her attention snapped back to the monarch who was now pacing in front of her. His face contorted to something fierce. She swallowed; the king had been another who'd been worn down by recent events. Asha had started to notice how his shoulders hunched, and how white had begun to creep into his hair. He fixed her with an icy stare, even his blue eyes were fading to a dull gray, "Señorita?!"
"Yes, of course!" she jumped to reply.
"Grand," he rasped, "After all, the only good criminal is a dead one."
The words raked along her spine. The memory of the raucous laughter rang through her ears. Her skin crawled remembering the desperate hands. She tensed her shoulders to keep from shuddering. She, more than anyone, wanted those disgusting creatures to be brought to heel. But something about the king's tone unsettled her in the same way. She could see his frenzied eyes rolling as he dashed out the quick decree. Under the frantic movements of a quill, the hangman's noose tightened. Finished, he stamped the parchment with a seal and whistled for the nearest guard. In a matter of seconds, the warrant was whisked away and off to implementation.
"I trust you are well?" The question was brisk and devoid of additional emotion.
Asha swallowed, "I-I suppose I am."
"Good, good, then we don't have much time to waste," the king snapped his fingers and the excess furniture started to shuffle away from the center, "With all these wishes, your training has been neglected. Ungrateful as our people may be-"
"Ungrateful?" she spoke before she'd had time to censor herself.
Magnifico turned as if she had called him the most horrid name, "Yes..." the word came out in a hiss, "Not many understand the importance of our work. It's not their fault per-se, but their incessant needs can become.... exhaustive."
A stone laid in her gut, "But surely...people who are starving want food?"
"Naturally," he sniffed, clapping his hands to light the sconces around them, "And the sailors want to work, and the tradesmen want wares, and the ruffians want...flesh," his mouth was tight.
YOU ARE READING
Of Stardust and Wishes (A Wish Rewrite)
Fanfiction"Salvē!" The golden specter repeated. She was in shock. That had to be it. All that tossing around in the water must have shaken her insides around enough to make her see things. She blinked a few times, but he was still there, looking even more con...
