Fractures of Eternity

Tugging away from my lips, Loki licked my injured hand, healing the cut I had made earlier with the brooch. Though he winced, he didn’t like the taste of others on me.

“Good, it’s not all yours.” He sighed, shaking his head before pressing his forehead against mine. “I’m sorry I didn’t find you faster. Remi didn’t make it easy for me.”

Everything was so much that I couldn’t stop myself from kissing him again as his tongue quickly found mine again. Unlike Jin, he felt so warm on mine, which prompted him to respond with the same passion, while we slowly descended onto the ground.

He set me on the floor, separating my lips before searching for any more injuries.

“Vivi, tell me what hur—” He began, but I stopped him by clashing with him again.

It’s not enough. I still remember…

Instead of pushing me away, he grabbed me by the back of my head to deepen the kiss. When he separated from me this time, my legs felt mushy, as the adrenaline was running out.

Pressing his forehead on mine, he breathed deeply. “Oh, by the gods… I still don’t feel like I’ve found you.” He exhaled, trailing his fingers down my cheek, as they trembled.

Is this fear for me? Even knowing what I am, you’re still scared for me? I…

Unable to help it, I kissed him again, which was quickly met by his tongue. However, our moment was cut short.

“Oh, how cute… Did you forget about me?” Jin huffed, struggling against the blood binds that Loki had trapped him in.

My vampire had saved him from meeting the floor, as he was unaware of who the warlock was, and, like his sister, he wasn’t a killer. Not only that, but I had also let my guard down, as being in Loki’s arms, I felt safe.

The moment we gazed at the warlock, he smirked. “Thrall, stab your lover in the heart.”

A throb came through me as a gasp erupted from my lips when my body gave off a green hue. There was another lower golden glow, hidden within the green that overpowered it, as the dagger had fallen right at our feet.

No!

Instinctively, I shoved myself away from Loki, tumbling next to the dagger as my gaze shifted towards it. Unaware of what was coursing through my body, he reached for me.

“Stay away from me!” I snarled at him, stopping him in place.

It hurts! It hurts! I don’t know if I can stop this!

Every part of my being was yearning to hurt him, and the more I resisted, the more pain I felt. It was making me tremble where I was.

“How adorable. You still want to fight it?” Jin snickered, enjoying my struggle.

Thea was dead tired of Eli, as the adrenaline-fueled strength we had drained us both, yet the curse urged me forward.

“What the fuck did you do to her?!” Loki scowled, closing the gap between the warlock and him.

My prince clutched Jin by his shirt, but instead of answering him, he laughed.

“Killing me now is too late!” He cackled, prompting my vampire’s expression to warp as his eyes began to shimmer.

I had to beat this curse before it shifted and grabbed hold of my soul, turning me into a thoughtless thrall. With it also came more memories, threatening to consume me in the moment.

“Loki, he cut her with that creepy thing! All those thralls are connected to it, too!” Thea found a burst of energy to get off Eli, who was glaring at the warlock.

The moment her feet touched the floor, she fell right where she stood, yet it didn’t stop the snake from slithering to me once, free of her. Unlike Loki, I couldn’t hurt him.

“Vivi,” He breathed, as by then I had picked up the dagger in my hands, leaving my entire body quivering more than before.

Was this thing always this heavy? Or is it only when it’s aimed at you?

“What?!” My prince huffed, shaking his head lightly.

Hah… How can a mortal control me?! This is… utterly absurd!

“I think the thing she’s holding is a cursed item, but I know nothing else about it, though!” Thea added, struggling to get up from where she had fallen.

“Ah… I… I…” I mumbled, trying to concentrate away from the anguish my body was going through.

The bond would prevent me from hurting him fatally, yet I didn’t want even to harm a hair on his body.

Everything about you is precious to me! I can’t, I won’t! No!

The pain rippling through me was so much that part of me wanted to use the dagger to end my life, triggering tears to run down my cheeks. Upon hearing me, Loki turned to me, yet the instant he noticed the agony I was in, he shifted towards the warlock with a threatening expression.

“I’ll fucking kill you if you don’t reverse it!” Loki snapped at Ji, who laughed at his face.

“There is no reversing it! Even if there’s a way, I’ll never tell it to you!” He crackled, as seeing the distress in my prince’s eyes was exactly what he wanted.

In his eyes, he was taking the vampire’s happiness away. Back when we were in free fall, I had forgotten about the curse at the moment, since I thought it would’ve ended the moment he stopped breathing. Yet, with the dagger in my eyes, I could feel there was something else behind this, someone strong enough to squander my will.

“No! Don’t kill him!” I screamed as my voice ripped him away from the warlock.

“Vivian. What do I do? How can I help?!” Loki questioned as he took a step towards me.

I shook my head, not wanting him near me, as Eli was quick to act, though. Being the god of emotions, he could feel everything that was radiating from me.

“Don’t go near her!” The snake warned, feeling the strength of the curse too.

He knew I was also close to my breaking point, as neither my will nor my mind would give in to this curse.

“What are you waiting for?! Kill him!” Jin yelled at me.

Again, pulses of energy rippled through me as I was shattering.

A mortal… breaking me. How pathetic can I be?!

A memory emerged from the pain, making it clear as day for the first time since they began. Someone was holding me close to their chest. It was…

“Vivian, is the reason you want a mortal body still the same?” Edna asked, tapping my cover with her fingertips.

“Yes! So, I can finally hug you!” I giggled, enjoying her warmth.

Eh… What’s this…

The feelings I had for her filled me in ways I never knew existed, which allowed me to realize the emotion I had for Loki was much more intense than what I ever felt for her. She was important, but not as essential as Loki had become for me.

“Hm… Even after all these years, is that really all you want?” She smiled at me before holding me at arm’s length, allowing me to see her at her full splendor.

Her beautiful green eyes were gazing at me with such affection that, in them, I was her child, even if she hadn’t birthed me. Her black hair waved behind her, and her pale skin had no flaws. I was a simple book, yet she loved me.

“Okay. Well, I want to make my choices. It’s painful to depend on you for everything, Edna. I don’t want you to be burdened by me! So, I want to help and be by your side!” I declared, humming happily.

Back then, all I needed and wanted was her, but it had changed.

Now… I… I only need…

“Oh, child… You’re wonderful, but you don’t know how ugly a body can be. It can be a cage more than freedom.” Edna sighed.

“Hm… I don’t know. What can be worse than being voiceless and a slave to what others want? I countered.

At this time, she hadn’t told me her story, which was as grim as they came, yet she never wished for me to know how ravaged and used she was before we found one another.

You… Only ever wanted what was best for me, didn’t you, Edna? Papa… said you wrote me a letter, but… It’s in your grimoire and far away from my grip.

For a moment, Edna gazed into the distance before bringing me close and closing her eyes. I really was a spitting image of her while my powers were dormant.

“A slave with a voice.” She answered, almost in a murmur.

“I think someone will at least listen,” I argued.

“Perhaps.” She giggled.

The agony rippling through me snapped me back as I clasped tightly onto the dagger in my hands.

Edna’s right and wrong. Being a slave with a voice can drain anyone, but at least I have a way to express my emotions now. Even if it’s futile, I refuse to be a slave for him or to anyone! This pain that courses through my body is nothing!

“Like I’d ever do anything you say, worm!” I screeched, standing up from where I was.

Around me, swirls of green light were surrounding my body, which were responding to my inner strength, and it wouldn’t bend to Jin.

No matter who my opponent is, I’ll fight with tooth and nail.Let it be a mortal or a god! I’ll destroy them in the end!