Fractures of Eternity

After my warning, we took the time to walk in the park—the same one where we had shared our first kiss. The fountain was still being rebuilt and was drained of water, as no colors were to be found either. The moment I got close to it, I felt the energy radiating from it, too. However, whoever did this opened a gate before the normal one did, which explained why there were four shadow demons in the city five days ago.

From what Loki gathered from his grandfather’s reports, witnesses said that one gate opened first, followed by another, which supported my theory.

Sadly, whoever did this is good at covering their tracks, too.

A soft sigh left me as I slumped on a bench that had been newly placed in the park, taking a moment to see if I could figure it out, but it appeared the only thing that was left to do was wait for their next move. One would think being a goddess who waited thousands of years would’ve made me patient, but I was far from it. Every minute that ticked by without being able to end this irritated me.

However, it all melted away the moment something cold touched the back of my neck, triggering a yelp to be released from my lips, prompting Loki to burst into a small cackle behind me. Instinctively, I glared at the playful boy who wore a smirk and handed me a cold bottle of water.

“Here, don’t want to get dehydrated after all the exercise you did earlier.” He teased, prompting my eyes to twitch before chuckling again.

Rolling my eyes at him, I growled before muttering to myself incoherently. However, I was thirsty so that I wouldn’t waste his gesture. I opened the bottle and grumbled under my breath a few curses at him before taking a sip of the refreshing liquid, which soothed me. He was lucky we weren’t alone, as my mask was long gone with him.

“Why do you intend to make me want to yell at you all the time?” I huffed, gazing back into the fountain in front of us, taking another gulp.

Seriously, I feel like you don’t take this seriously! There are actual people after you right now!

“Well, that isn’t my intention, but I like your voice in any pitch it comes. Well—” Loki paused, leaning into my ear. “I like it when you cry under me the most.”

In an instant, my heart was a storm, leaving me to close my eyes in a silly childish attempt to calm myself, yet there was no mask hiding me from him anymore, and he knew exactly which buttons to press to make me crack. Instinctively and unintentionally, I grabbed only his chin, turning to him. My knees held me up when I glared at the boy who loved every minute of any emotion he invoked in me.

“Do you have to flirt to live?!” I growled, causing the vampire to chuckle before his eyes suddenly turned to the side.

A second later, his smile was gone when he grasped onto my hand before drawing it away from him as he turned towards a new intruder—one I had paid no mind to, even though I had seen her from afar. In my burst of anger, I hadn’t noticed a royal vampire in the vicinity approaching us. Loki always did a mess out of me.

“Maybe,” He mumbled lowly, facing the woman who strolled to use.

She had beautiful black hair and blue eyes, which complemented her honey colored skin.

Hah… The King’s right hand… Alexandria.

“If that’s your help, I don’t want to see your enemies, Your Highness.” The female vampire said, fixing her hair up into a ponytail.

The prince let me go, allowing me to sit back down as the air felt heavy around us.

Crap… I screwed up. Out of everyone to see me yell at you, it was this one. Argh! A slight rough handling isn’t bad either, right? I mean... You asked for it!

“Well, I guess they’re deadlier than an angered, frail girl,” He chided towards Alexandria.

His tone prompted me to take a peek at him to see his expression, one of pure annoyance. Even though I had never interacted with her, he had, and it had left a sour taste in his mouth from what I could see. For the title she possessed, she was young and capable, from what I could gather.

Mid-twenties, I think… is how old you are from the reports I read.

“Well, maybe you should hire a maid who knows her place. That little show was a disgrace for anyone watching.” She scoffed, shifting her gaze onto me as I darted mine away from her.

Unlike Loki, who knew who I was, I couldn’t berate a stranger, especially close to the royal family. They could make my life a living torment to stay near him. I couldn’t help quiver when Loki grabbed my shoulder, allowing his heat to radiate through my dress and skin, which soothed me. Eli also took the chance to slip through and onto me.

Are you trying to calm me or yourself? I…

I wouldn’t know, but what came out of his mouth next would shock me.

“Well, like you know, she’s more than a maid. I owe her my life, and we’ve become close enough to call each other friends.” The prince scowled at the woman, who stood there glaring at me.

In her eyes, there was something other than the revulsion of our friendly relationship. It reminded me of prey being stared down by the predator, which caused shivers to run down my spine—a grim reminder that eternal witches were nothing more than a tasty treat since we lost our power.

“So, the witnesses on the scene and reports weren’t lying. This maid ran into the battle to protect you from the shadow demons that spawn in the market. You hadn’t let us see her before. I’m a little underwhelmed by how tiny she is.” The female vampire sighed, shrugging.

Though a smirk rose on her lips soon after as Eli coiled protectively around my neck.

Huh? There were people around us?!

In my moment of desperation to save this playful prince, I had been blinded, leaving me with direct tunnel vision towards him. There could’ve been people hiding in the collapsed buildings that surrounded us, yet that wouldn’t have changed anything. Even with prying eyes, I would’ve jumped in front of the beasts without hesitation to save him. If they saw how Loki’s power excelled after drinking my blood, that would cause complications.

But more importantly, this woman just called me tiny?! Do you even know who I am?! Me?! Tiny?!Argh! Insulting a goddess such as myself should incite you to roll around in pure agony.

“Yeah, she did. Do you have a point in being here?” Loki questioned, narrowing his eyes at her.

It was almost as if he saw how threatening her inquisitive gaze was towards me. If the vampires drained me of my blood, it would affect him, too, since I was his link, though there was something else in his eyes, too.

I...

“Hard to believe a simple human did.” Alexandria shrugged, glancing back at him.

I felt a wash of relief come over me once her eyes weren’t on me anymore. Vampires were always prunes about where they got their donors from. However, the Council of Races had placed laws to protect everyone from their advances, which meant it was illegal for them to take blood from anyone unwillingly.

Vi, if vampires get a taste of your blood, they won’t let you go. So, make sure to murder all those who do. Well, if you don’t, just tell me and I will. Dad’s words echoed through me.

I gazed up at Loki, who hadn’t bitten me since the events that led to it.

How are you resisting the craving that drove many insane?

The blood that coursed through my veins even drove his race to genocide mine, yet there he was, like he had a good quality wine rather than the most addictive drug.

Huh… Maybe you’re more than just a naughty prince.

Even though we were like animals in heat for the past days, Loki hadn’t even tried to bite me. According to Lilith, most sexual encounters with vampires always led to getting bitten by them, since it was in their nature, but he hadn’t, and even when he bit me for revenge, he only did it briefly.

This boy was my protector, and he was more than I could ever hope to understand.

Can it be the bond alone? Or something more?