Fractures of Eternity

Before that sweet moment could turn into something more, a cranky warlock had had enough.

“Okay, let’s get back on track. Unless you two want a room?” Oswald asked, raising his eyebrows at us.

“No!” I growled, feeling like I wanted to choke Loki, while my cheeks burned in different shades of red.

“Oi, don’t be like that, I know you love me too.” My vampire teased with a sly smirk on his lips.

It felt like something snapped in me.

“Can’t you be serious for once in your life?!” I snapped at him.

Unfortunately, he was immune to any hostility I threw at him. Luckily, Oswald caught his twin’s attention when he came closer to us by clapping his hands.

“Okay, enough of that. I need more information about this rift and why it scares you.” He huffed, getting us back on track.

Loki held me by my waist while I sighed.

Nothing’s going as I want it to.

“The rift means the living gods might descend to our realm if they see it fit,” I answered, feeling safe in my vampire’s arms.

But for how long will this link between us keep me hidden?

“Vivi, that can’t happen.” Loki voiced, holding me closer.

I had gone over this light back before Oliver interrupted us.

Come to think of it… didn’t I pick up his crystal before I ran out of here?

With a soft sigh, I took it out, revealing a broken black crystal that I had no way of identifying, either what it was or its source. Before learning of her demise, I had hoped to give it to Emma so that she could’ve passed it to my father.

But now… it appears that isn’t in our reach anymore. Crap… Edna created Lilith and my dad, but who’s responsible for Oliver? Ah… No… Can’t it be her right? No… Papa would’ve told me about that a long time ago. No… It has to be… something I don’t want to believe, because if it is… then we are royally screwed!

The only way to create a homunculus was through the power of a divine, which meant either my father was an incompetent fool, or there was a rogue god after Rem and my beloved vampire.

That means… I’ll have to stop a god from killing Loki. Is… that really possible?

The only thing I had in my favor was that divines hated making appearances. This meant they would use humans to do their dirty work.

Was that warlock a pawn in their plans? Was this night supposed to be different for Thea and Luna? Hah… If it were, then this might have placed your name in a particular tomb, my love. Crap… Not that I would’ve done anything different. They are your baby sisters.

However, there were bigger problems, like when I broke that curse; surely, the divine must’ve sensed something.

But who in the living gods would have something against Rem? Or better yet, Fenrir, other than Yama, and why now?

Sadly, these were questions without answers, and it made no sense to let these mortals know about their impending demise. Shivers ran down my spine as my thoughts became worse.

I don’t have any proof, but what if it really is divine? Will I be able to face them? No… It would begin my unending nightmare, which leads to the question… Is there any way to prevent this, or do I have to accept what’s coming?

If… only I could have my mother’s grimoire, but it isn’t like I can ask Rem for it.

“It’ll happen, of that I’m sure,” I mumbled, prompting my vampire to force me to gaze towards him.

“What?” He breathed, ensuring my sight couldn’t hide away from him.

This is a burden you won’t bear with. No, it’s mine, because if you knew, you would try to find a way to save me, and that… would ruin us. Gods… How much I love you.

“Don’t you see? My entire existence brings chaos, which leads to destruction, and it can’t be controlled.” I began grabbing onto my brooch.

I can only buy time for us, but the moment that god comes for Loki, all of our worlds will be set asunder. Is there any way to stop this? How… can I…

“No matter what I do, it seems my nature defines me,” I added, voice shaky.

It was pathetic to be this scared of the future, yet it was imminent, because there was no happy ending in store for any of us.

All of our options are world-ending, and I don’t see a way out. I don’t want this world to end. This realm, although ugly, had beautiful moments, like you.

“Vivian, I’m sure that isn’t true. You’re born from both Order and Chaos, not just one. Even Alijah found a way to make his power not only be destruction.” Loki assured me, trailing his finger down my cheek.

No… Valdios… is different. He was reincarnated while I… I’m still…

I had to pull away from this warmth, which would be the death of me, yet it was impossible to do so anymore. The moment the Amor Aeternum was done, it linked our fates together forever.

This affection will be the end of both of us. I… was never supposed to be here, yet I don’t want to die, and I want to live with you!

“My power’s mostly chaotic. To create something... It would be impossible for me.” I gazed away.

Rem… I’m sorry. Your entire family is now in death’s grip because of me. You’re right… I… I… am a monster.

“No, I don’t believe that,” Loki argued, as I tugged away from him.

Why are you so accepting of me? Are we meant to be? Is any of this real? No... this is a mistake. All of this is just a moment of passion gone wrong. Surely… you will see that, right?

“That doesn’t matter! Our future isn’t bright now that the bond of Amor Aeternum binds us for eternity, Loki. Or should I say, Elias?” I snapped, prompting him to wince in discomfort.

Everything had become terrifying, leaving me wanting to go back to the time I didn’t care about anyone other than myself.

“Bond of eternal love, what the heck is that? And who the fuck is Elias?” Oswald intercepted, dragging both our gazes toward him before I shifted mine toward Eli, who was shivering a bit as his scales were shimmering.

There’s no point in keeping this a secret.

“Loki and Eli are two halves of one divine being known as Elias, the god of emotions. He died at the hands of a crazed god, who seems hungry for his soul.” I sighed, grabbing the snake from where he was.

At least your first death had nothing to do with me, or so I hope.

“Why is he—” Thea stopped covering her mouth.

“White? Because the bond changed him. If I remember correctly, it also gave Loki two extra wings, well, unless I was delusional at that point.” I clarified, prompting my vampire to release a nervous chuckle, making my gaze land on him.

“Uh… No, you weren’t hallucinating, sweets.” He breathed, sprouting his wings to reveal two medium-sized ones below his main ones.

“What?” Oswald mumbled, slowly slumping onto the floor.

My eyes twitched as I noticed gold in the tips of his feathers.

Wait… Is this a god’s proper form?

I hadn’t thought of it before, but my body would also go white, while my hair was gold.

Is this what we are?

“This is a bit too much.” The warlock sighed.

He wasn’t wrong, as everything had spiraled out of control since Jin appeared, and every change was on our shoulders.

“Oh, I haven’t gotten to the fun part yet. Kill me, and the world ends. Let me live, and the world ends. Letting Loki perish, too, will end the world now. There isn’t any winning this from what I see.” I announced, fiddling with Eli’s scales in my hands.

There was only one way out: capture the god after this vampire, but that would be impossible.

I can’t do this alone, but can I trust them? Will it help? No… these mortals will die if they try to change this fate. This is something….

“Wait, why would the world end if you die?” Thea asked, unaware of what had a hold on us.

“Well, my power comes from my soul, much like Rem and Alijah’s. Yama, the deranged god of death, will find my soul if it leaves this vessel, and he’ll…” I trailed off, not wanting to finish.

I only knew his name from Elias’s memory of finding me, but he appeared to be the one behind it all.

‘This boy escaped death once, but I’ll claim his soul now.’ Your dreadful words still haunt me to this day.

Upon hearing that name, Loki flared up, dragging me back into his embrace.

“That can’t happen. I won’t allow you to fall into his hands again.” My beloved huffed, holding me close to his chest.

So… That really is the name of my adversary.

All I could do was sigh and smother myself in his warmth.

There isn’t a single thing that you can do if Yama comes for me.

“What you want won’t matter, Loki. I know he’ll find me one day. That’s a given now.” I declared, prompting him to cup my cheeks as his eyes glossed.

“I can’t let that happen. You know that, and it has nothing to do with the fact that we are bound. I won’t allow you to be in that much pain again.” My vampire assured me, prompting me to bite my lip.

“You mean, we can’t let that happen. You aren’t alone in this, Loki.” Oswald said, tapping his foot on the ground as Zephier cuddled his cheek, while his gaze was stuck on the casket beside us.

Sadly, there was no time to mourn.

“That’s right. Vivian isn’t the monster Mom thinks she is. Maybe we can convince her to help us.” Thea suggested.

“Hah… No, she would lock me up before you could persuade her of anything. Rem’s stubborn.” I sighed.

Your mother despises me because of her sister’s fate, and there’s no way that will change with Rem thinking the coven was behind everything. A dream within the nightmare we are in.

To push that Luma into an alliance would require careful planning, which wasn’t out of my grasp since Loki and I were stuck together for an eternity.

The one thing that this stupid bond could be helpful for.

“Okay, but maybe we can get her locked on this Yama person instead of you. So, who is he?” Thea asked.

Haha… part of me wonders if Rem actually shows you how much she hates me or hides it well.

She didn’t remember the hostility her mother had shown her all those years ago. That day wasn’t locked in her mind like it was to me. A blessing, I guess.

“I don’t have all my memories from my past life, but I know he wants to destroy all the realms and reform them into what he envisions. At least, that’s what my mortal mother told my father.” I sighed, biting my lip.

My vampire grabbed onto my hand, pulling it up to meet his forehead.

“You’re right. From my faint memories, I can tell he wants to destroy everything and shape it to what he wishes.” He breathed, prompting me to wince.

I can’t help but wonder if there will be a memory that finally drives you away from me?

“Huh? I’m a bit lost. How do you know?” Thea asked her brother.

“Well, every time she says my old name, I remember fragments from my past life,” Loki answered.

Every time? Hah… If only I could remember too. Perhaps I could figure out a way out of this.

Yet again, what held my memories back was something else entirely, and she made them accessible to me.

Why? I… don’t quite know.