Fractures of Eternity

The way Loki held me alerted me that he had no idea I was the cause of all his hardships.

Ah… I need to find a way to save you without altering your life any further. You don’t deserve any of this.

“That picture was taken on their twenty-first birthday. It also turned out to be Remi’s wedding day,” He informed, gazing at the image of people he would never get to know.

A rush of emotions I wasn’t sure what to do with filled me, as I couldn’t help but feel disgusted with how things had turned out. Rem was Vera’s fraternal twin, and they formed a quad with Caden and Aiden, their twin brothers. The boys were dominant Lycan hybrids, while Loki’s mother was dominantly human, and Rem was stuck in between.

Stupid luma…

“Seems like they were having fun,” I noted, biting my lip.

Loki hummed, “I guess they are.”

What slipped out of my lips next was something I didn’t expect.

“Hey, do you hate eternal witches?” I asked before I even knew it was going to come out.

My heart dropped for a moment as my eyes widened upon realizing what I said.

Do I really want to know? Ah…It doesn’t matter either way.

Loki held me tighter to him. “No, I don’t, but the one who took my family away, I’m not too fond of.”

I nodded my head, knowing I probably fell there too.

Hah… These emotions can’t be anything more than a lovely dream. I’m so stupid to fancy a boy whom I can never dare to touch.

On the cabinet, there were other pictures of the entire family unit on one shelf.

They all appear happy.

There were even recent ones, as they always made time for the twins, and that pleased me.

“You’re adoptive mother, Rem is the savior of this world,” I commented, placing the picture back on the cabinet.

Loki nodded his head. “Yeah, Remi has a lot on her plate. Though Pa... Uh... Alijah’s with her, which makes me feel good about their future.”

I hummed again as he let go of me, allowing me to turn to face him. His eyes appeared nostalgic and somewhat regretful of the people he never got to meet. He knew about them thanks to the memories others shared with him, but none were personal.

“Miss them?” I asked, trying to keep up the facade I had going to hide what I was feeling deep down.

It hurt to know I was the root cause of his pain.

Gerta, is this how you felt? To know you would never be loved by the one you... No... Unlike you... I know I’ll never be loved. There isn’t an ounce of hope for me. I thought… I had grown accustomed to it, yet I can’t help but want it either way.

Argh… all of this is just pathetic of me. A goddess like me allowing this mortal to influence me like this… I…

“Hardly, they come here all the time. Pa’s annoying, too. He has no filters and embarrasses me like crazy, while Ma, well, she can be a handful. Uh, no, stubborn is the right word, but I know she loves me like crazy.” Loki rolled his eyes, probably picturing times when he clashed with them.

“I see, perhaps I should get some pointers from him then.” I giggled, triggering the vampire to stop in his tracks.

My laughter soon ended when he pinned me against the cabinet behind us. His eyes were filled with an emotion I didn’t know how to label, yet they were entirely focused on me.

“Oi, no. Don’t go near him.” He huffed, narrowing his gaze.

I found myself in another pit, as it appeared I kept falling into them, no matter what I did.

“Huh? Why?” I mumbled, feeling little in his grip.

His effect on me was too significant. I needed to get a hold of myself, yet I…

“Every female that ever meets Pa gets smitten by him,” Loki growled.

Eh? Smitten? What? How?

I had seen pictures of Alijah, and yeah, he was one of the most handsome males I had ever seen, but it was nothing that made my heart throb.

Not like you do, at least. You’re a first. To me, you’re way better than that old wolf in both looks and everything else.

However, that was a thought I couldn’t voice out.

“And why would you care if I fell for him?” I mumbled, trying to understand his angle.

Before I knew it, he grabbed my chin, pulling it towards his face as his blue, purplish gaze was scanning mine.

“You’re mine, Vivian,” the vampire announced, setting my heart to beat erratically once again.

Huh?! Yours? What? When did that happen?

“Hah? I-I’m not an o-object to own, L-Loki!” I stuttered, unable to hold my emotions in check.

He smirked, getting even closer to me. “Vivi, you’re mine. That fact isn’t out for debate.”

To halt his approach, I placed my hands on his chest when he leaned into me. Our lips barely brushed together when Oz suddenly opened the door, triggering us to separate. Loki’s eye twitched again as I covered my face, unable to believe the warmth that had exploded within me from that slight touch.

This time, though, the twin noticed what was happening as the sleaziest smile was on his lips.

“Oh? Did I interrupt something?” Oswald snickered, crossing his arms by the door.

Loki turned to him, almost as if steaming hot air was coming from his ears.

“I told you to fucking knock!” Loki growled, storming towards him.

Zephier jumped into the bed as Eli slid onto my leg, snapping me from the shock of what happened. Tapping his tail against my leg, I slowly reached to pick him up as Oz and Loki continued to bicker.

Our lips touched for a second!

They were left burning because of it.

“I did you, nitwit. It isn’t my fault you didn’t answer.” Oz rolled his eyes, grabbing onto the chair by the desk and sitting on it.

Emma and Zoe pretended to clean the other room, but they were trying to eavesdrop on the twins’ argument. Anything that involved me was a high priority on their list.

“That means I’m busy! Wait for me to open it, damn it!” Loki huffed, shaking his head.

“Ha? So, should I wait forever for you to open it? With what you were doing, it would’ve taken an eternity.” Oz countered, tapping the table.

Loki clicked his tongue. “I don’t care. Fucking just wait next time.”

A sigh left his lips before his eyes locked on me, prompting me to avoid his gaze entirely. My heart was too much, as that simple brush of our lips was too much to handle, too. Not even Eli could help me out of this ditch.

“Anyway, let’s head into town. Leo texted me that the book I want is finally in stock.” Oz smirked at his brother.

“And you couldn’t go by yourself?” Loki huffed, rolling his eyes.

Oz shrugged. “Nope, I wanted my loving brother with me. Remember, you die, I die. You love to remind me of that. Plus, Leo will meet us there after his movie’s done.”

“Right.” My vampire breathed, grabbing some clothes to wear from the cabinet next to me.

His approach caused me to hug Eli tightly as I couldn’t get a grip on the emotions spilling out of me.

“Fuck me,” Loki cursed under his breath, shutting the drawer closed.

The tone in his voice caused me to shift my gaze onto him, as I hadn’t seen him that bothered since I got there. A second later, he was inside the bathroom, prompting me to sit down on the bed. Eli snickered from my arms while Zephier gazed at me from where she was.

It almost appeared like she wanted me to pick her up, too.

“Did I save ya, Vivi?” Oz asked once Loki was inside the bathroom, snapping me out of my trance.

I turned to him, smiling like I usually did.

“Yes, thank you.” I bowed, which caused him to chuckle before gazing back at the girls, who quickly got back to ‘work’.

“No problem, now save me from your minions,” He grumbled, glaring at the girls who shivered under his gaze.

I couldn’t help but break out laughing because of it. “If only I could.”

A soft frown formed on his lips, shaking his head. “Oi, I’m starting to think you enjoy this.”

Unlike his words, he appeared to be doing better, though. The dark circles under his eyes had faded, and he seemed to have more energy than before Emma and Zoe came into his life. Although it was apparent that it annoyed him to no end, it was an improvement in how he was handling himself compared to his previous behavior.

Hah… I still can’t believe you were taken advantage of. How I wish I could… erase that memory from you.

Once Loki was done dressing, we left the room before stopping at the café for breakfast with Emma and Zoe. Since Leo would be joining us later, Oz brought Zoe along, which in turn meant Emma came too. From there, we headed towards a bookshop in the shopping district of Night City.

We had been there before, but it never ceased to amaze me how many stores were in this place. Even though the sky was so dark, they kept them open twenty-four seven for the early birds and night owls that live within the city. However, the twins were usually out during the day only.

Without a second thought, Oz went into the shop as Emma and Zoe gazed at the clothing stores next to it. Loki stood next to me, waiting patiently for his twin to come back out. My eyes did drift to my coven sisters, who appeared to be having fun window shopping.

“Do you want to try a dress, sweetie?” Loki smirked.

I shook my head before returning my gaze to the bookstore.

“No, that sort of thing isn’t for me,” I assured him.

He grabbed onto my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine, prompting my gaze to land on him.

“What do you mean it isn’t your thing? Let’s go in. I bet you’ll look beautiful in a dress.” Loki urged me.

“I…” I trailed off as he took a step toward the store.

“Come—” Before he could finish that thought, a blaring alarm screeched through the district.

A moment later, the lights went out, turning Night City into a blackout. Loki yanked me into him when an energy boom blew out most of the stores’ glass windows. The blast triggered Oz, along with others who were in the book shop, to be propelled out before slamming onto the floor outside unconscious.

Zephier was also knocked out in his arms, as the first thing I noticed was the blood that was coming from Oswald’s head. He had probably been close to the exit, and the book he was looking for was in a bag around his arm. The glass was probably the cause of his injuries, though.

“Oz!” Loki went for his brother.

Throbs rushed through my entire being, reminding me of the day Nene threw those orbs to buy us time.

“Wait!” I grabbed onto his shirt, preventing him from going any closer, when a blue light shone from inside the store, triggering it to collapse before us suddenly.

In an instant, our peace was destroyed as once again a gate was opening before us. This would be the start of a challenge I never thought I would ever be in.