[ WP ] The villain , knowing they will be defeated by the hero at the end of the book , does everything in their power to make the reader stop reading .

The Witch of Thorns seethed on her throne, failing to contain her fury as orbs of foxfire cartwheeled around her. 
 
 “ What do you mean, ‘ **it** was taken ’? ” 
 
 “ It is as I stated, Mistress. Someone has taken the second binding charm, ” Dost repeated. Her rage was nothing new, so he remained stone-faced as she swore, obscenities flowing to spells as the unformed magic flew about the room. Any bystander would likely be cowed by the scene. 
 
 “ I want whoever has those charms found! ” the witch shrieked. “ They are the only things that can halt my plans; I will **NOT** allow them to stop me! Is that clear?! ” 
 
 Dost bowed, “ Yes, Mistress. ” As he stood again, the tension in the room ebbed away. The orbiting spheres winked out of existence, save one which dulled to an almost invisible white light. The Witch of Thorns sagged in her chair, exhaustion rushing in as she let a tired smile form. 
 
 She sighed, “ Dost, don ’ t worry about the charms. I ’ m sure the puzzles will delay them long enough for me to complete my work. If you could just bring me a cup of tea with honey? ” 
 
 “ Certainly, Mistress. ” 
 
 She waved her hand, “ Please none of that now, Dost. We have some time yet. ” 
 
 “ Very well, ma ’ am. ” 
 
 Dost bowed again, then lumbered off to the kitchen in search of a tea kettle. The witch sighed again, lifting herself from the chair. She regarded the tangled mess of bronze & gold that made up the Witch of Thorn ’ s throne. *It ’ s really a gaudy thing, isn ’ t it? * she thought, *but it does have its uses. * Silently, she stole behind the chair, squeezing into the hidden alcove. As she traversed the hidden passage towards her study, she cast a glance at the dull orb following her. *Charms aside, you truly will not stop me. I will be free of you soon. * 
 
 -- -___ -- -___ -- - 
 
 The young witch noticed the orb trailing her during her first year of studies at the academy. Disturbed, she had run through the halls, tripping on her school robe as she sprinted for her favorite teacher ’ s office. “ Professor! I need help! ” 
 
 “ It ’ ll be alright, dearie. One moment, ” reassured the elder witch. Cynthia Tallow taught herbology, favoring calm measurements to complex rituals. Many of her students didn ’ t appreciate the dependability of her lessons; half would light their hats on fire stuttering through levitation spells in other classes. However, she introduced any student who ’ d listen to the wonders of the natural world, revealing how the simple course hid the most powerful & reliable magic known. 
 
 She finished trimming the mandrake leaves, collecting them on a plate before assessing her pupil ’ s fears. “ Now what ’ s the problem? ” 
 
 The young witch paused taking swipes at the orb to explain her mystery stalker. Upon hearing the description, Cynthia raised an eyebrow. “ How strange: it seems you have a God Eye. ” 
 
 “ A what? ” 
 
 “ A God Eye, dearie. It ’ s a concentrated form of wild scrying magic, ” the witch elaborated. “ It ’ s fairly rare; I ’ ve never known a young girl like yourself to be the focus of one. ” 
 
 The pupil blanched, “ Wait, someone ’ s watching me with this? ” 
 
 “ No no, the magic is usually inert, and as far as anyone knows, no one can watch you through it. It mostly... records major happenings around it, and you. Its appearance merely means that life will become much more interesting soon. ” Cynthia scrutinized her shelves, finding the book see was after under a pot of wolf ’ s bane. “ Tell you what: why don ’ t you read up on what we do know about them? In the meantime, I ’ ll see what the Headmaster has to say about it. ” 
 
 The student sighed in relief. “ Thank you, Professor! ” She stole a quick hug, snatched up the tome, and hurried off to her dorm. Cynthia smiled. *Anything to encourage those inquisitive minds, * she thought as she tidied up her office, leaving a note before heading to her superior. 
 
 -- - 
 
 The young witch yawned, squirming in the chair as she looked at the Headmaster & Professor Tallow. “ Do you know why I called you this evening? ” the Headmaster asked. 
 
 “ Is it about my God Eye? ” 
 
 “ Yes, dearie, ” Professor Tallow replied. “ We ’ ve discussed it, and until we figure out why it ’ s following you, we ’ d like you to take some private lessons with me. Would you like that? ” 
 
 The young witch nodded her head enthusiastically, though she paused, tilting it to one side. “ Is it because of your God Eyes? ” 
 
 “ What? ” Both teachers exclaimed. 
 
 “ Yeah, over your shoulders. Why are yours red? Mine ’ s a dark purple and I- ” 
 
 “ Tallow, ” the Headmaster interrupted. “ Take the girl and run as far as you can. That ’ s an order! ” 
 
 “ Yes, sir! ” 
 
 “ Wait, I don ’ t understand! Why do we ha- ” the girl stopped, racked by sudden pain. She briefly noticed Professor Tallow rushing to her side as the world went white, her screaming for help. 
 
 -- - 
 
 When she came to, she was lying in a smoking field. The empty night sky pulsed a steady green, throbbing through different shades; carefully, she raised herself into a sitting position. Turning her head, she saw the glowing form of a person, standing with arms crossed on a boulder nearby. 
 
 **Why have you done this? ** 
 
 “ What do you mean? Where am I? Who are you? ” 
 
 **I am Ashre, god of this earth. I ask again: why have you done this? ** 
 
 “ Done what? I don ’ t know what you mean! ” 
 
 **You have destroyed this institution, claiming all within as your own with power far beyond your reach. Why did you do this? ** 
 
 “ What? ” the girl was horrified. “ No, I would never- ” 
 
 The deity pointed. **The mark of your deed lays twisted across your skin. Why deny your actions? ** 
 
 “ What? ” Looking down, the girl let out slight gasp. Down both of her arms were etched the twisting designs of thorny vines. Each coil pulsed with swollen magic. “ No... nonononononononono, ” the young witch cried, clawing at the tattoos. Her unexposed skin tore at the scratching, but the vines remained undamaged. 
 
 The deity looked on at the sobbing girl. After she had cried herself out, in a gentler voice it asked, **Child, what is your name? ** 
 
 The girl tried to answer, but something held her back. Her eyes widened. “ I... I don ’ t know. ” 
 
 The deity kneeled beside her. **Then you are as much a victim here as your fellows. ** It glared above her head. **No doubt it was the foul thing now dogging you. ** 
 
 “ What? ” The girl followed the deity ’ s gaze. “ The God Eye? ” 
 
 **Yes. It is a wretched thing. They are alien to our world. Those they follow accomplish impossible feats. But in cases where they can not... ** it trailed off. 
 
 The witch pondered this. It wasn ’ t her, it was this thing, this God Eye! “ How do I get rid of it?! ” 
 
 **You can not. ** The witch was about to renew sobbing when the deity continued. **The things must decide to leave you themselves. Fighting them will only rob you of yourself. You would be a mere puppet to their machinations. ** 
 
 “ Will you help me? ” 
 
 **Not directly. ** She sagged in disappointment, though at least the being felt kinder now. **They will sense any interference and act accordingly. However... Your new power should now afford you a familiar. One from my own realm would be within your options. ** Casting out an arm, magic flowed into the rubble. Slowly, the witch & deity watched as the rocky debris compressed into an approximate human form. Runes glowed softly across its skin. **What shall this one be called? ** 
 
 The witch regarded the newly constructed golem. It flexed its hands, beginning to take in its surroundings. “ How about... Dost? ” The golem looked up, focusing on the witch. 
 
 The deity nodded. **Very well. You too will need a name. ** Ashre ’ s form began to fade with his last words of advice. **Until you find yourself again... You shall be the Witch of Thorns. **
