Fractures of Eternity

Zoe shook in her shoes, trying to reach me as screeches filled the air around us. Loki was engaging whatever was coming out of the gate while I held onto the unconscious Zephier tighter. My entire body was running cold as I, for once, didn’t know what to do.

The thought of facing a wild shadow beast froze me, bringing me back to when I soiled myself in front of one when I first met the twins. The chances that they knew the binding incantation were higher than the living gods themselves, as the dead didn’t forgive or forget as easily.

Even though I knew I should go far away from there, I couldn’t move, knowing Loki was facing them.

Before I knew it, I held onto Zephier tighter before my knees hit the floor. In an instant, my breathing was uneven as I couldn’t find the right rhythm, turning my vision blurry.

Those are the ones who plague me in my nightmares! How can I even—I can’t leave Loki behind either! What do I do?!

Zoe ran to me, grabbing onto my shoulders.

“Vivian, breathe slower! You’re going to pass out!” Her voice was so distant, yet firm.

Even though this girl was younger and terrified, she managed to find the strength to comfort me. My eyes locked with hers as she nodded.

“Breathe in deep and let it go slowly.” She kept me grounded as I did as she asked, while Eli watched our surroundings for any beasts that might’ve escaped the vampire’s range. The people he saved were gathering around us, feeling safe with the crown prince’s familiar. Most of the townspeople knew the enormous snake wouldn’t harm them.

Why am I… so pathetic?

Pressing my forehead against Zoe’s bosom, I couldn’t help but reach my lips, which still radiated the warmth from the kiss I had experienced before.

This isn’t the time to lose myself! If a simple human girl has the strength to comfort me, then I… I have to...

Brushing my fingers over my lips, I closed my eyes as Zoe’s voice suddenly turned distant. My full attention fell onto one of the survivors who had news on my prince’s status.

“Shit, I don’t think the prince is going to get back up soon. There are two breaches in Night City.” One of the fearful pedestrians declared, gazing at a device in his hands.

Huh… But then that means… Without Eli, Loki…

“Damn it, he already seemed hurt! Those weren’t weak demons!” another one announced.

Eh? There’s more than one?! Loki! Legs, I need you to move!

There were five ranks given to shadow beasts: Lesser, Primal, Sage, Ancient, and Mythic. Mythic were almost as powerful as the living gods, while lesser demons were stronger than the average soldier.

“I’m an off-duty Cerberus officer, and from my understanding, that might’ve been an ancient at worst. I wish Rem were here.” A woman informed, voice shaking.

Hah?! You’re an officer? What are you doing here with the civilians!? You should be helping him!

Unable to help it, I glared at her as a new fire was raging within the dread that had been frozen in place.

No, focus, Vivian, if it’s Ancient at worst? Fuck! In his state… Loki... Why’s it so hard for me to stand up? I need to get up before they take him!

Live. Nene’s words continued to play in my mind.

“Fuck this! I’m going to run for it then!” another townsfolk erupted, only to be grabbed by the same woman.

“Where?! There are two breaches! Staying with the familiar is the safest place right now. Shit! If I only had my gear, I would’ve helped the prince.” She talked down to the man as I felt another snap within me.

Hah? You backed away because of a lack of gear?! What about Loki? He has no equipment other than his magic! Damn it! He doesn’t even have control over the soul cairn like Oswald! He needs help! Coward!

The moment that thought left me, I felt my heart drop as I was also hiding there. There was no difference between me and her. I was a goddess who had the power to fight back; yet, if they chained me, it would be over for everything we knew.

Hah… for being a goddess… I’m useless. I’m worse than trash! I can’t even save a boy I care about!

“Are you saying we’re fucked?” the man questioned the officer, who shook her head, gazing at the ground.

I…

“Huh? What—Argh.” Oswald winced and slowly regained consciousness.

“Oz, hey, don’t stand up or move too quickly.” Emma’s voice trembled as I shifted my gaze to Zephier, who was still out.

The sudden, unsuspecting pulse of energy from her homeworld must’ve been too much for her.

“If the prince dies. Yes, we’re fucked. He wasn’t doing too well against those things.” The officer continued to inform everyone.

I felt a throb in my heart.

Am I going to lose you, too? Just like Nene? Like Edna...

A ripple of electricity rushed through my body when that name popped into my head.

Eh? Why did—No! Focus!

Shaking my head, before I knew it, I was on my trembling feet.

I’m no longer a child! I won’t lose anyone else! No one I care about will be sacrificed for me again! Even if this world ends because of it!

Shoving down the fear that wanted to grip at my core, I shoved Zephier into Zoe, causing her to fall back.

“Vivian?” She yelped as I ran toward Eli before gripping onto his scales.

You won’t let me go, I know that so…

Time magic was something I could only use in a brief burst without causing damage, and usually, placing spells into words made it easier to concentrate on what I wanted to happen, even if I didn’t need them.

“Don’t move!” I whispered, prompting a soft white shimmer to come from my hand, freezing Eli where he was.

Without a second thought, I ran out of the snake’s range as my spell would only last for a few seconds before it wore off.

“Vivian! Wait!” I heard Emma and Zoe yell behind me as I didn’t look back.

This was the second time I had ever run so desperately, and the first was when Nene told me to run for my life. I was doing one of the stupidest things in the book, yet I couldn’t help myself. Even though I knew Loki would live because the prophecy was for him to die at his brother’s hands, I couldn’t stop running to him.

What if...

The what-if sent me into a sprint to him, knowing I would probably be a burden as I couldn’t use the full extent of my power without placing everyone there in danger. The only reason Lilith didn’t die multiple times at my hands was that she was immortal, thanks to my mother’s inventions.

If her core were in her body, she could regenerate any injury. Everyone else would surely be gone in an instant. However, I had a singular plan in my head that could save everyone around, and it would only work if we met the right conditions.

I undid the bow that held my dress together on my way there, as a vampire’s strength came from the blood they drank. From following Loki for two weeks, he would always stuff himself with everyday foods instead of blood.

We wouldn’t be in this mess if you just drank it like a typical vampire!

I thought it was not to make his brother Oz feel uncomfortable, but it was more about keeping his power in check than anything else. From watching him, I could tell he was scared of his magic, and probably the incident that caused him to come into Night City weighed heavily on his mind.

His idiotic solution was not to drink enough blood to make it go haywire. A thing that would backfire if he were attacked like this. Then again, he was surrounded by vampires who were immune to his magic, and encountering shadow demons wasn’t a daily thing.

The quality of blood also mattered in granting them strength. Even though I had drunk the rose tea the previous day, it was probably still in my system. Even then, the quality of my blood wouldn’t change much even if the taste was bitter.

All I wanted it to do was mask my scent in case I got cut by something to prevent the vampires from swarming me, but none of that mattered. The only thing that I cared about was getting to the vampire so I could help him with everything I had.

Well, without alerting the living gods of my existence, it’s game over for all of us if that happens.

The moment I got close enough, I saw Loki crash onto the ground as there were two shadow demons near him. One was a slender dragon without wings, and the other was feline with two tails. They didn’t seem to be interested in killing him, but hurting him was another matter.

Luckily, they didn’t notice me arrive as they were entirely focused on the vampire that was ruining their fun. I froze again, being confronted with one of the things I feared most.

Move, Vivian!

Yet my body trembled, watching Loki struggle to get up. Most of his silvery-white hair was tainted red. Blood dripped onto the ground from him from injuries all over his body. Nothing fatal, and no limbs were missing, but they hurt him, and that enraged me.

How dare they?!