Fractures of Eternity

The prince who had me in his grip had no idea what he was setting forward by holding me in place. There were a few eyes on us, including my beloved prince's gaze that felt heavy on me from where he stood. He had finished his round of sparring with the female, making Lucas come back into the ring again after his break, and instead of paying attention to his opponent, he was locked on us, and what I would do next, surely would cause me to feel it later.

Hah… Will you dare take me away from here to screw me? Ah… I'm going crazy!

"Your Highness, if I may be bold, can I come close to you for a moment? I wish to say something to you that no one else should hear, and I mean no harm by what I'm about to say either." I smiled politely again.

Alistair cocked his head, gazing at me oddly. "Uh… Sure?"

A soft hum left my lips when I strolled over to him as he leaned into me while I raised myself on my tiptoes to reach him.

Vampires and their damn height.

Cupping my hands to his pointy ears, I whispered into them. "You aren't into women, are you?"

Gasps erupted around us as he stepped away from me, startled by what I had said.

Many probably thought I had offended him, but in his gaze, he only reflected fear, and his reaction caused me to realize something.

You really aren't the one who will kill, Loki. This boy isn't a murderer. So… you'll be someone's tool, but whose? Or perhaps you're set up… Argh… This isn't how I expected it to go, but…

Leonard was a kind man, and in his son's eyes, I didn't see the potential to take a life.

I shouldn't get involved with you more, but… you're his brother and that means… I should save you, too. Argh… the stuff with the coven warlock isn't good either. Are they the cause of your deaths or just chaos added into the fray?

Ignoring the previous gasps that came from the center of the coliseum, I stared at the young man who appeared to go on the defensive.

"You're wrong," he quickly guarded against me.

I shook my head, "This is an important matter that I brought to your attention, Your Highness. Don't you think we should go into one of the sigil rooms?" I announced, feeling like I finally saw the real him.

After weeks of watching him, his mask was finally breaking when his eyes twitched before nodding and tugging me along into one of the rooms nearby. I always thought I would hate his touch, but I didn't mind it either.

Once behind closed doors, he stared at me intently, "Vivian, I really am not—" he stopped biting his lip, almost as if he couldn't deny himself after being pushed around by others because of it.

The visible conflict that poured out of his azure gaze as they scrunched up told me all I needed to know.

Hah… I can only hope my idiotic prince won't burst in here like a madman.

Hopefully, Lucas could somehow stop him with a stupid stunt.

"Well, only you know the truth, and I won't force you to say it. Nor will I tell anyone about it. I honestly don't care who you decide to lie with at the end of the day, but I do hope they make you happy because you look miserable, Alistair." I said bluntly, dropping the honorifics.

It prompted the prince's eyes to widen before they glossed like something had once again hurt him.

Ah… Perhaps I was too upfront. Will you get angry?

"Is it that obvious?" He sighed, resting his back against the wall.

"No, it isn't obvious, I got a good keen eye for things," I confessed.

Only someone who has been studying you for weeks could tell, and I have a feeling no one around you has given a damn about you in a while. Before Loki… I felt much like you. No one really saw me for who… I...

"Then… how do you know I'm miserable? Out of everyone I know, you're the only stranger to come in and tell me that to my face." Alistair crossed his arms.

"Well, to be honest, the twins' minds are elsewhere, and maybe everyone else is afraid of getting on your bad side," I noted, watching his lips reflect a wary smile.

"Perhaps, but certainly you aren't… So, tell me. Am I obvious?" He pressed on, gazing towards the door.

It appeared I wasn't the only one waiting for the younger brother to burst through that door. At least the troublesome prince was aware that we were in public and was taking the longer route to avoid eyes pilling on us, or maybe Lucas was holding his ground after his first beating. Though I knew what awaited me when I returned to the room with him, I couldn't help but be filled with anticipation for it. Shaking off the feeling, I tried to focus on the task at hand—a boy who was more destroyed than anything else.

Perhaps fighting him wasn't about ending the man, who he will become, but building him up to what he could be.

Hah… Unlike me, you have the chance to change your fate. Maybe I can guide that.

"Well, it might not be the situation you have, but I know how it is to be labeled something you aren't. I once had someone define my life for me, and I ended up being exactly like they said I would be, but…" I trailed off, shaking my head.

I met your brother and he… makes me believe maybe I can be… different.

"I can only hope it won't be the same for you." I let go.

I shouldn't do this… But… I… want you to…

"Huh? What did they label you?" He asked, closing his eyes for a moment as I tried to steady myself.

"A monster," I answered, voice shaking as he walked towards me before capturing my chin in his grip.

He appeared lost by what I had said, yet he knew nothing of me.

How can anyone call a fragile girl like me that? Ah… if only you knew. If you did. Would you dare touch me like this?

"A pretty little thing like you, a monster? I think whoever said that is gravely mistaken." He mumbled.

I drew away from his grip, taking a few steps away from him.

You… don’t…

"Looks can be deceiving. How do you think I conquered that unruly brother of yours?" I clarified, forgetting myself for a moment.

In an instant, I turned back around, flustered by what I had said.

"W-Wait! I-I… d-don’t…” The overthinking had made me trip in front of Alistair, who narrowed his eyes while the softest smile I had seen on him appeared on his lips.

"You conquered him. I see. Yeah, I can see that. He's head over heels for you, pretty lady." He noted, grinning like he had figured me out.

Crap! I need to watch out for what I say! Argh!

However, something about this boy who stood before me made me feel at peace—like we could understand each other.

"I-It's in a different way than you think!" I huffed, unable to shake the heat emanating from my cheeks.

"Oh, don't worry, Vivian. I'm not against you being with him. Though… not everyone will be like that." Alistair sighed, dropping his gaze to the side.

Facing this broken boy, I couldn't bring myself to say I didn't love his brother. However, I couldn't say that nothing was going on with us, especially since I was the one who destroyed both their lives when Lilith killed Leonard.

These boys will be the end of me!