A soft sigh left my lips, turning towards the man who seeded me into this world. His eyes were full of conflict, yet I knew better than to let those sway me.
The fates…
“I’m sure, Papa. After all, what’s better at changing fate than a goddess herself? I can’t leave this to anyone else.” I assured him of my conviction, prompting a slight frown to form on his lips.
There was no doubt he probably wanted to keep me locked up and safe, but that would help no one. I wouldn’t sit by and wait for my death at the hands of a jealous maniac.
Mortals are so easily swayed by power that I would rather play myself with the pieces that endanger me.
“Lady Vivian, we’ll be at your service and even die for you if needed.” Zoe and Emma reassured me.
Of course you would.
So many had already died for me, leaving me unsure of how to feel about the concept of death.
Am I the only one afraid of death? Why are these mortals so willing to die for me? Heck, why would anyone die for me if asked? Because of what I am? I’m not sure that’s a worthy cause, especially when I won’t lift a finger to help you.
After all, a useful pawn would be nothing if it stopped existing—something Lilith taught me.
Yes… all of them are pieces to be used. It doesn’t matter if they croak, I shouldn’t see them as anything else, but… Can I?
“Hopefully, it won’t come down to that.” I smiled.
My words caused their eyes to sparkle, as to them, I was their beloved deity addressing them. I had always limited my interactions with the coven that served us, wishing to avoid their false affections for someone they didn’t know.
Argh… Lilith is right. I need to keep interactions to the bare minimum.
Thankfully, I had grown accustomed to that thought over the years I was under my father’s and her care. She made sure I would be ready for anything that needed to be done, leaving my hands stained red in more ways than I knew.
“Oh, Lady Vivian!” the girls swooned as I struggled to keep my smile up.
Ah… This is awkward.
One thing I learned from the things Lilith and Dad were was that I also had to be careful about how I loved others. This was because gods should never show affection towards mortals.
Why? Because it affects us differently.
“You gods have a twisted way of showing your love.” Lilith placed it bluntly, but those words stuck with me like superglue.
“Now, Vi, I don’t have to tell you twice, but avoid Rem and Alijah at all costs. The necklace should keep you hidden from her vision, but you never know when it comes to that hybrid.” Dad warned, holding tighter onto my hands. “Also, don’t engage Tania, no matter how you feel about her.”
Right…
Even if she made me out, I knew that if she attacked, it wouldn’t be fatal. The link between her stepsons and me kept me safe from her, but if it ever came undone, then that would be a free-for-all I wouldn’t want to witness. Her husband was harmless, too, because of the bond, but Tania was another matter.
I was the one who had to control myself around her. None of them would probably recognize me as I was no longer the small brat they had seen, yet I would never forget them.
If I ever see you, I’ll thank you for killing Nene.
“I know, Papa. I’ll be careful.” I smiled, triggering his blue gaze to narrow as he pursed his lips.
He knew I was willing to do everything that needed to be done to assure my survival, yet he was also aware that part of me wished I didn’t have to. Before Rem found us, my mother wished for me to live a normal childhood—a wish my father almost accomplished.
The keyword was almost, since Edna hoped I would never have to kill to survive, but that was how this world was. However, I couldn’t use my power whenever I pleased, as it could catch the eye of the living gods, dooming this realm in the blink of an eye.
Though the real reason my father didn’t want me using it was because my body wasn’t meant to hold the immense magical energy that it contained, this meant that if I used too much, I could essentially destroy myself, too.
Some may ask, why leave Rem alive when she poses a danger to me?
Well, thanks to the link connecting me to her sons, she was forced to defend me if the gods ever decide to descend to this world. She was also the reincarnation of a god, named Fenrir, while her husband was another, named Valdios.
They’re nothing more than assets to keep me alive, especially when all it takes to chain me down is a phrase.
This was one I didn’t remember or want to. Back when I was a book, all I could do was show them the future.
But now... I can do much more. My restraints have been removed, yet the future doesn’t interest me in seeing.
My original creators were Orenz, the god of destruction and chaos, and Aster, goddess of order and creation, making them the source of my power. Even though the other gods were also made from them, they had never made a being together, until I was accidentally made, locking my soul in the body of a book with no way to communicate with another.
It seemed that my parents had only intended for me to be a tool, without realizing they had created a being within the pages of a simple tome. An entire way happened because of me, which was something I had no intention of repeating.
My nightmares appeared to be connected to my past life, which I couldn’t recall at all. The only night terrors that stayed in my mind after I woke up were Nene’s death and those whom I had killed in this life.
Did I have to? Should I have done it? Life and death... Do I have the right to take it? Ah… I don’t really know.
“Vi, if anything goes wrong, don’t hesitate to turn that place into a graveyard,” Dad sighed, placing a silver bracelet on me.
If I ever ripped it off, he would rush to my side to save me.
A silly thing because by the time you get there, I probably will have leveled the place.
“I know, Papa, if anything, I’ll just destroy everyone there and take the boys captive,” I reassured him.
“Love, they can’t hurt you, but those boys won’t go willingly.” He sighed, patting my head.
Worry still flowed in his eyes when I bowed to bid farewell. We had to get moving if we were to make it on time for our debut as maids. Before I could take another step, suddenly he pulled me from behind, into his arms, holding me close to his chest.
His heart was beating so fast, leaving me wishing I didn’t have to draw away.
“Vi… Please be safe.” Dad hesitantly let me go as I spun around, pressing my hand into his chest.
Lilith, who stood by the stairs, watched everything unfold as she was never one for cuddles or farewells, but she was always there for me. The one taught me what I needed to survive in this world, where I was prey and the hunter.
Who knew it would be this hard to leave you?
My heart ached as this was the first time I would be without them since I was born.
It’ll probably be months before we see one another again.
“I’ll be fine. Who knows, possibly I will find a hobby or something that makes me happy there.” I smiled.
My words caused him to wince, shifting his gaze away.
“Okay, go before I regret sending you away,” Papa mumbled, opening a dark portal behind us.
With little hesitation, I turned away from him without looking back. I was ready for this moment since this was a mission I couldn’t fail at.
My life depends on keeping both boys alive.
I pulled up my hood, heading out, followed by Zoe and Emma closely behind. The vortex let us out by an alley near the castle where fates would once meet. Luckily, no one was there at the time we arrived, or else we would have silenced them.
I didn’t hesitate to walk out into the city, where it was always night, giving the town its name.
Finally, we are here in Night City, the capital of the vampires.
The reason there was no sunrise in this town was that a special, magical artifact was kept within the depths of the castle, making it that way. It created a magical barrier that blocked out the sun, leaving the city in a perpetual night.
Something that these blood sucking fiends enjoy.
They were stronger at night than during the day, not that they would turn into ashes under the sun, but their powers were halved. The city and castle themselves were constructed from stone, with a distinctly medieval vibe emanating from their design.
However, much like Silverant, the most advanced city in the world, technology was plentiful everywhere. Even so, vampires loved their old traditions, leaving the royal flair to be found anywhere we placed our eyes. There were no illegal hovercrafts or cars like in Celestelia, the land of the hybrids, but there was a giant dock for airships by the city’s edge.
On the walls of the castle, they had banners in the entrance, which had a black wing symbol that matched perfectly with its white background.
The family crest for the royals.
Going up the stairs towards the door of the palace, I spotted the number one person; I had to avoid.
Crap… Of course, they’re the first thing I run into. I need to…