Fractures of Eternity

Transportation spells were rare in witchcraft, which were usable by a rare breed of human called shadow warlocks.

Papa is one of them, and there are two others in the coven with the same power.

They were both younger than Dad and weren’t part of the five families either.

Crap… this can be bad.

I didn’t know their face or reasons for doing this, and could’ve been hired by a third party for this, too. At the same time, only the five families had access to the Gate orbs.

“This doesn’t help at all.” I sighed, smothering my face in Loki’s chest, trying to think of a way out of this.

Are they stolen? Papa... what’s going on over there?

“Hey… Are you okay?” My vampire asked, holding me closely after he fixed himself.

I grumbled incoherently into his shirt before actually saying something that made sense.

“I’m frustrated,” I muttered, causing him to chuckle.

Argh! Is everything a joke to you?!

“It isn’t funny! They’re watching you and you’re destined to die, you know! Take this seriously! My life’s on the line!” I pouted, grabbing onto his shirt.

If anyone hurt you… I…

Yet that was something he didn’t need to know. It was better if he only thought I cared about my life, which also meant Oswald’s.

“They could’ve been watching you instead, Vivi.” He commented, causing me to scowl at him.

Puffing my cheeks, I tugged away from the playful vampire walking a few steps away from him.

“I doubt it’s me.” I gazed outside the alley to see no one in sight.

Everyone was still at the shopping plaza or the park, and it appeared I needed to watch out for more than just the older brother.

Mother surely didn’t make it easy.Why can’t my visions be more accurate?

“How can you be so sure?” Loki asked, joining me from behind.

“Only five of the oldest families within the coven know of me, and they’re all devoted to… Cain.” I answered without calling him Papa, as I usually did.

That term didn’t feel right when I talked to someone else, even then, when I didn’t know if my father had changed his mind about me.

Everyone’s an enemy until proven otherwise—His own words.

Hah… I’m unwanted by every end. If it isn’t Papa, I... can’t even rely on him without it scaring off the perpetrator.

“Hm… But, if they’re part of your coven, then why would they target me?” the vampire continued with his query.

I shook my head, shrugging.

That’s easy.

“Well, I can think of a few reasons. The first would be the fact that the half-breed who raised you killed their mistress. Many of them don’t want you or anyone from her line alive because of that.” I bit my lip before shaking my head.

There was another, more dire reason, though—one that would even make the prominent families our enemies.

“Another reason could be that they hate vampires for destroying our kin.” I sighed, turning to face the bewildered vampire.

Although he was lagging because of the new information, he was sharp enough to catch up with ease, which I knew.

“What?” he mumbled, trying to analyze everything I was throwing at him.

I wonder how much Rem told him about her past.

Do you know she killed Edna, my mortal mother? I mean, everyone knows that, but do you know how the witch allowed the luma to kill her unarmed?

I think only one other person, other than Cain, Lilith, and me, knew, and that was Rem’s husband.

Do you know how your adopted mother murdered a grimoreless witch?

“It’s a problem because Cain and Edna both thought it would be better if no one knew of our connection, too. Much like your mother, who only told close family members about it. I’m sure of that.” I continued.

Loki gazed to the side, nodding as if he was following along.

“I see,” he sighed.

Rem had told no one outside of their family the meaning of their marks, thanks to my mother’s warning.

“Whoever attacked that day knew a gate would open here in Night City, which alone should’ve been impossible. They also had a powerful shadow magic user. It could’ve been Cain since he can open those port… windows, as Eli called them.” I continued, gazing at my vampire. “But there are two other shadow magic users within the coven that I barely know of, and they aren’t in the family, per se.”

Loki followed along with a slight nod.

“They must be close, too. Unlike their leader, they can’t open portals from too far away. It would kill them if they tried. So…” I trailed off, grabbing Eli from my neck as he slid into my hand.

“So, they’re in the city?” Loki asked as I nodded, turning around to face the place that had become our battleground.

I can only hope they target me and leave her kids alone. I need them for future contingencies.

“If it’s one of the other two. Yes,” I answered honestly. “Though, if it’s Cain, then there’s no way to know. Though I doubt it’s him. Or so I want to say, at least.” I mumbled, feeling a pang in my chest.

Loki grabbed onto my shoulder before pulling me into his arms, making sure I was facing him.

“Hey, Remi says he’s a dick, but even she knows he wouldn’t harm his daughter, Vivi. I can give that warlock that much.” He assured me, without knowing a single thing about me or my relationship with that man.

Hah… This isn’t fair! Why do you keep trying to claim a heart you already won? Endure…

My love was poison for this vampire and anyone who came before him.

Yes… Expressing it would only lead you to an early grave, or worse, that much I know, but I can’t…

I reached for his face, tracing my fingertips on his warm cheeks.

“Am I his daughter? I wonder.” I simpered.

Hey… Is this smile full of loneliness? Pain? Sadness? How do I… seem to you?

Refusing to see my reflection in his blue eyes, I shifted my gaze away from him slightly.

“Vivi,” Loki sighed, cupping my cheek.

I rested against his touch for a moment before yanking myself away from the warmth this boy gave me. There was no way I could stay in it any longer without it corrupting my soul, yet I couldn’t haul away far enough for it not to reach me anymore.

“Let’s go. Standing around here would look weird after what we did, especially if anyone was home and heard all those noises.” I snickered.

The vampire’s cheeks went rosy as I took a step into the artificial sunlight used in this city. There I stopped, gazing up into the dark sky of the home I found myself in.

“Loki, I’m your enemy and ally. I hope you know that, but if anyone in your family gets in my way, who isn’t Oswald, they won’t survive.” I warned with a heavy heart, knowing full well what I was capable of.

Taking a quick peek at the prince, he stood there for a moment before grinning widely, almost as if he accepted an unspoken challenge—one between him and my heart.

“We’ll see about that, Vivi,” Loki declared, without an ounce of fear in his gaze.

The only thing that they reflected towards me was pure gentleness. I would allow no one to take this vampire away from me.

Not these rogues, Alistair, Rem, or the gods themselves. You’ll always be a part of me, even when you’re no longer with me.

The moment he realized I was the most hateful being in the world, I would always imprint this vampire in my heart as the man I would come to love for an eternity.