Fractures of Eternity

Clashing with Oswald was the last thing I wanted to do, but it seemed this warlock had finally decided to cool off enough to listen to me. Glaring at me from where he stood, it was apparent he wasn’t done with me yet.

“So… how did Edna die?” He questioned.

“Well, from how P—Cain says, on the day everything happened, the familiar known as Ruzgard made a pact with Edna from before Vera died. The two witches on the night of the red moon plotted this entire thing as her familiar was to lead Rem to where Edna was after she had recovered from giving birth to the book.” I recalled, shifting my gaze towards the side.

“Once in blood falls Edna was grimoreless when she allowed herself to be killed by the half-breed, thinking that would end the cycle of hatred between us.” I sighed, feeling stings in my chest.

“Allowed?” Oswald echoed that word.

Violence always brings about destruction. I…

“Yes, unknown to Rem, the killing blow was the last thing needed to seal the book’s past life away, essentially completing the reincarnation she set out to do for...” I trailed off.

Me.

Even though she had sealed my memories away, within me reigned chaos that couldn’t be quenched, tormenting me in my dreams—until I slept with my link, but that was something no one else needed to know.

“Seal the book’s past life?” Loki this time mumbled.

It prompted me finally to gaze towards the vampire I was trying not to look at. The instant I did, I felt a hole in my chest, not because he stared at me the way Oswald did, but because he didn’t—something I couldn’t understand.

Is it because we’re so similar that our souls call for one another? Ah… it doesn’t matter.

“Yes, the girl has no memories of what happened before she was born again. So, you’re hunting someone who doesn’t know what they did wrong. Well, the half-breed is at least. You two have been living the life of royalty.” I answered the vampire, who winced upon hearing that.

My name inaudibly formed on his lips as he shook his head while I tore my eyes away from him and towards the real threat in the room.

“What a coincidence! So, that monster, who can end us in the blink of an eye, is living life like a normal girl out there! That’s just lovely!” Oswald snarled, gaze giving off a soft hue.

Hah… Normal? My life has been anything but that! The day that half-breed came into my life, she shattered my innocence! Because I’ll survive... even if...

“Yes, she is. Her life’s full of wonderful things and peaceful.” I chided the warlock who was about to snap again, only for Loki to get in between us.

This vampire knew everything I was saying was a lie to spite the warlock.

“Oz! That’s enough! I can decide what’s good for myself!” The vampire stood his ground while his brother growled.

“Fuck no! This girl will tell me everything! I don’t give a fuck that she’s your fucking bitch now! She and her sisters will come clean and then get the fuck out of our lives!” Oswald snapped.

It almost appeared like Loki was about to snap when I grabbed onto his arm, triggering his eyes to land on me. The last thing that was needed was for these two brothers to go against each other.

“How can you say that so easily after forming a relationship with Emma? Would you throw her away or doom her to exile just like that?” I questioned, hoping that any lingering feelings between the two would allow Oswald to see reason.

Sadly, when placed in highly emotional situations, mortals were short-fused, much like me. In an instant, all of Oswald’s frustration turned towards me as I could see the pain in his eyes when his brother didn’t tell him about me.

Hah… So… This is where it stems from.

“Relationship? Please… That girl’s nothing but an outlet!” He didn’t think twice about his words, leaving me with rippling pangs rushing through my entire being.

Loki had said the night before that he was nothing like his brother when it came to his romantic decisions, which were rooted in the experiences they had before I was ever in the picture. This warlock had his virtue tarnished by a woman before he could even comprehend what her intentions were, yet that didn’t apply to everyone.

Huh?Is all you see, Emma, a tool for satisfaction?

“Outlet?” I mumbled, letting go of my vampire, who grabbed onto his brother’s shoulder.

Hah… You’re no better…

“Okay, this is enough. Let’s all just—” Loki began when I stomped towards the two before slapping Oswald as hard as I could.

The blow made him take a few steps back from me as the familiars in the bed stared at us. My hand radiated pain more than I thought it would, yet the stings in my chest were worse.

Emma… doesn’t deserve to be someone’s tool! No one does!

The witch had been so kind to me and had gone out of her way to treat me like a normal girl while we worked together.

Even though I’m her goddess, she treats me like a normal person! You don’t deserve someone as kind as her!

Before we even came to this city, Papa had handed me some documents about the girls that were going with me, giving me insight into their past and their devotion towards us.

After everything she’s been through… She deserves better than you! When… did you crawl into my heart, too? Hah… this… I don’t like this, Papa!

“What the fuck?!” Oswald hissed, clutching onto his cheek as Loki didn’t let him take a step towards me.

“No! Oz!” My vampire growled, stopping his brother in his tracks.

I held onto my hand, which pained me more than it should’ve as I gave it my all when I hit him, leaving the mark in my back to burn because of it, yet there wasn’t an ounce of me that regretted it.

“What a pity. If that’s how you see Emma, then I can’t allow a pig like you to see her.” I huffed, glowering at him from where I stood.

I thought you were better! If you weren’t my link… I’d… No… I’d never hurt Loki.

I knew he had experienced pain, but so had we. We had been through our fair share of agony.

And Emma… I can’t believe I tried to overlook it so many times, but as your goddess, I must step this boy straight.

“Why the fuck would you care about her? Your coven is just full of heartless beings!” Oswald snapped while his brother held onto him.

Do you think we’re an evil force alone? Pathetic!

Well, perhaps towards outsiders, but within our coven, we took care of each other. We had our rules to uphold, too, which meant our punishments were harsher for treason because our entire lives depended on it. Much like the traitor, Edna was sent to deliver the message to Rem on the fated day, who had sold out another girl to the hunters, all because she wanted to get closer to my mother.

“Witches and warlocks in our coven are siblings bound by oath, not blood. We look out for each other no matter what, since the world is against us!” I chided him, unsure of what my expression was, yet it caused him to take a step back.

Pity I can’t hold back anymore. This is why I never wanted to care again. It’s easier not to understand!

“Gerta told me about your past, Oswald. So, I think it’s only fair I share what I know of Emma’s, since you’re so vile as to use her for your pleasure!” I snapped, trying to control the rage that was behind it.

Luckily, I had my brooch, or else I would’ve been lighting up the entire room.

“Why the fuck does—” Oswald began, only to be stopped by me interrupting him.

“You think you know pain because your teacher abused you?! Emma was raped by her father for years! No one knew… until—” I stopped for a moment, attempting to understand what I was going to say.

In her records, everything had been so descriptive that it made me shiver.

You say I saved you when all I did was erase the man who hurt you. You’re wrong… I didn’t save you. I forgot about you completely for years until Papa handed me those files! Even so… I won’t allow this boy, who is supposed to be my link, to do as he pleases with you!

I was there the day my father found her, as he used it as a chance to teach me what men could do to women. At the age of nine, I claimed my first life, which was none other than her father, shedding light on me that I was never meant to see.

“What?” Oswald rasped, lips curling downward.

If anyone… would understand you is her, yet you… You….

Back when I read her file, I didn’t care that she was the girl we had found on that snowy morning, almost at the brink of death. All I remembered was seeing a bloodied girl, holding a deformed piece of flesh near her bosom.

Hah… Why couldn’t you remain faceless to me? It’s so much easier not to care.

“Cain found Emma covered in blood after giving birth to a heavily deformed stillborn baby. That’s the girl you’re using to satisfy yourself with. Do you think your pain’s greater than hers?!” I snapped, “At least you had someone who cared for your well-being and wasn’t left for dead!”

I hadn’t even noticed how my hands were trembling in anger for the sake of another girl. That day, she had been clinging to that piece of flesh like her life depended on it, even though a monster had been placed in there.

How did I save you when you went through all that pain by yourself?

Vivian, men can be horrible creatures. That goes for the gods and every mortal alive. Of course, women can be vipers in disguise, too. In this case, though, she’s a victim. Pap informed me.

Lilith walked over to the poor girl who was lying in the cold snow, freezing to death.

Poor thing. She mumbled, triggering her hands to give off a gentle white light.

While the elf tried to save the girl’s life, I held onto my father, watching the entire thing unfold. Luckily, Emma managed to keep most of her limbs, minus a toe on her left foot, which would remain there as a reminder of what her father did to her. She was picked for this trip because she was utterly loyal to Cain and me, who found her on our nightly walk.

She wasn’t originally from the old families, but she was adopted into one, thanks to my father’s influence, when he took in the poor girl for the first couple of days. When I asked him why he did, he told me he saw himself in her. He had also suffered similar abuse from his family and everyone who surrounded him, until his power awakened, and Edna found him when he was twelve.

“I didn’t…” Oswald winced, trailing off, appearing like a child who had no idea what he was going on about.

“No, you didn’t, and that’s why you should be ashamed forever thinking of using her or any like a tool!” I huffed, turning away from him.

No one deserves that! Not even my worst enemy!

“I… Argh…” He shook his head.

“The traitors have a shadow warlock, much like Cain is. I don’t know what they’re planning, but I’ll find out because I must keep you both safe. I hope you can trust in that at least and don’t make it impossible to do so.” I growled before taking a deep breath, attempting to keep all those emotions locked inside.

“I—” Oz began.

“If that’s an apology, it’s not meant for me, Oswald. I’m going to take a shower, if you’ll excuse me, we can speak later if you don’t report me.” I concluded, walking into the bathroom and locking the door behind me.

In that instant, I turned on the sigil for the bathroom, quickly falling onto my knees, unsure if I had done the right thing.

How… can I… look at Emma again? Argh… I’m…

I told a story that wasn’t mine to tell, but he enraged me in such a way that I couldn’t keep it to myself.

No one deserves to be a tool. No matter what their past is, especially a girl who’s here only to keep him safe. A simple girl who’s hunted because of what she is. How… why is that a thing? They aren’t scary!

After taking her father’s life, I never thought about her or him, until this point, which meant I was so self-centered in everything.

I mean, I’m a goddess! Why wouldn’t I be? But…

Their warmth was corrupting me in such a way that I couldn’t shut my heart anymore.

Is this a test? Did my father do all of this to test my will? To see if I really can do it. If I can survive? It hurts! Loki… Will you hate me if you know all my past? Will I hate myself? Surely… I’m not a benevolent goddess. I can’t be…

I was the sole reason that caused the gods to go crazy.

Oswald, vile? No… you’re just a hurt boy lashing out. I’m the only wicked piece in this mess, and I’m here corrupting your brother, too! Argh!

No one would ever really love me, yet I wanted to live to spite everything.

I chose to live, no matter what!

Slowly, I got up from the floor. I took off my clothes, going to shower in the hopes of washing away all my sorrows.

As if that ever works.