A while passed before my vampire stood up and went to go get food for us. The moment he closed the door, I waited for a couple of minutes before standing up and heading out as well. Food was the least of my concerns. I wanted to find my father and Lilith.

Of course, Eli was with me. He did not stop me when I tried to wander around the ship. Going out to the deck, there I saw my Lilith alone. With only a few steps towards her, her eyes shifted towards me. I guess the metal floor was loud even though I had soft sandals the other Lilith gave me.

“Oh, hey baby girl. How are you feeling?” she simpered.

I tried to gesture the universal okay sign. But it caused her to scowl, rolling her eyes.

“Right, no voice.” She sighed, tapping the chair next to her.

I sat there only for her to pull me into her arms.

“If I get my hands on that bastard. I’ll rearrange his face.” She growled.

Dad usually called Lilith a failed vessel, but she was far from it. She failed to absorb Aster into her being, but she could do something else. After all, if it were not for her, Yama would have been on us. And she taught me many useful things too.

The most important lesson was to not end up like her. Unloved… But she was loved. By me. In her arms, I found a strange peace. One that Eli was not comfortable with. He slid onto my lap, avoiding her touch.

“Does anything hurt?” she asked, moving my hair from my face.

I gazed at her, pulling out a small notebook I found in the room. Luckily, there was a pen there too.

No, I wrote.

How are you feeling? I followed with.

“Aren’t you a sweet sugar?” she shrugged, only to chuckle when I scowled at her.

“I’m fine, baby girl. Better now that I know you’re safe.” She snuggled.

A soft chuckling movement came from me, yet no noise left me. Well, other than the breathing. In response, she held me tighter.

“Do you even know how scared I was when I noticed you froze the world?” she huffed, holding me tightly.

Instinctively, I pulled away slightly, tilting my head.

“You don’t even know you did that? Wow, your dad was in a full panic once we got rewind.” She chuckled, remembering it fondly.

Anything that caused anyone distress was like a firework for her. But when it was my father, the one involved, she loved to see him squirm. Their relationship was complex.

“He wanted to come to you at all costs. But he wasn’t sure why you did it. Then the warning came, and he was like a headless chicken.” She snickered, only to tense up, sensing someone behind us.

“Elf… why are you speaking about me?” Dad huffed; arms crossed.

He was coming from the same way I had been. His blue orbs were narrowed, filled with annoyance. I stood up to meet with his gaze.

“Oh please, you know you were a mess, Cain. You always are when your daughter is involved.” Lilith waved her hands.

Back when everything happened, I…

“Oi! Shut up! You weren’t any-” I interrupted him by running into his arms.

Eli floated next to me, allowing me to smother myself on his chest. I… wanted to run into his arms ever since I saw him. No… ever since Jin’s attack, I wished for his embrace. The only man who would never betray me.

Well, before I met… Either way, his embrace was so warm that I did not want to let go.

“Hey, did you miss me that much?” Dad chuckled, surprised by my action.

In response, I scowled at him before slapping his chest.

Stupid… Why am I surrounded by them?! Or is this the default men go to?

“Ouch! Don’t hit me. I’m sorry, love.” He laughed, hugging me tighter.

“I missed you too. So very much.” He added, triggering a warmth in my heart to flourish.

Letting go of him, I could not help but want to hum. A feeling I had not had in the longest time. Yet I could not. Instead, I grabbed onto Eli, who quickly snuggled into my hands. Something that Lilith noted.

“It seems that boy’s smitten with you. Good job on working the opposition.” She scuffed; a bit annoyed how I loved someone else other than them.

I guess it showed in my eyes and the way I held Eli. But it surely was more about the flower on my chest. What it symbolized threatened my relationship with her. It was mostly jealousy. A soft sigh left my lips, gently shaking my head.

That boy is a god.

I wished I could correct them, but instead, I let it go. My relationship with Loki was between him and me. I did not need anyone’s consent for it. Not Rem’s, Lilith’s, or anyone's. As long as it was fine with him, then I did not care.

Hold your head high…

That witch was annoying. Shifting around, I wrote something on the paper before showing it to Dad.

Where is Orenz?

For a moment, Dad winced, not expecting that question to come from me. He avoided my glance a bit.

“He’s currently holding off the rift as best he can. Though that soon will be too much for him. His soul is about to shatter.” Dad answered, holding his hand to his chest.

A sharp ache came from my heart. I never got to know Orenz, but if it…

Will you be okay?

I quickly scribbled.

“I’ll be fine. It’ll be the same as when Lilith failed to bond with Aster.” He assured, easing me.

A soft sigh left my lips. Though, if Orenz was holding the crack, it meant the gods were not all pouring into our world yet. It seemed Dad was trying everything to give us any bit of time we could have.

Lilith stood up, glancing at Dad a bit weirdly, before shifting her sight back to me.

“Does that snake transmit everything to the vampire boy?” Lilith asked, going to poke Eli.

Instinctively, he hissed at her, triggering her to pull away quicker than I thought she would.

“Stop calling me boy,” Loki growled next to us, startling me.

I had not expected him to find me so quickly. Yet again, everything Eli knew, he did too.

“Ah, and here he comes. Your mother would be mortified if she knew you were here with us.” Lilith snickered, enjoying the thought of fucking with Rem.

Something I would not allow. Not with Loki, which was an issue without my voice. Without being able to speak up, they continued.

“I’m where my beloved is.” Loki huffed, handing me a plastic bag.

It contained a plastic container, one I suspected was filled with food, and a bottle of water. There was slight irritation in his eyes, but it was not towards me.

“Eat,” he commanded, crossing his arms.

I sighed, sitting down before opening what he had brought me. There was a nicely packed salad in there. It also had some finely chopped meat. Something light to eat after what happened.

“Such a fool. You are too young to understand what love-” she was quickly interrupted by Loki, who was in no mood to hear her.

She was the last person he wanted to hear that from.

“I understand perfectly fine that you’re a broken being. I don’t need to know anything else.” He shut down.

Or at least he thought he had. He did not know he had walked right where she wanted him. Lilith could bait anyone into an argument. Even a mute, much like I was.

“Stingy now? Are you angry that I killed-” she started, triggering me to stand up.

Dad grabbed onto her shoulder, tightly squeezing it.

“Enough, we aren’t here to make enemies.” Dad snapped at her.

“Hmph,” she rolled her eyes, gazing at me.

I did not know what expression I had, but it was not one she took too kindly to. In fact, I had never seen her so apologetic before then.

“Oh, baby girl, don’t glare at me. You know, I can’t help myself,” she chuckled.

I could not help but sigh, shaking my head. If I had my voice, I could have stopped her. Though, that was when I noticed my vampire had not taken kindly to her words. He was gazing at her the same way Rem had.

“Oh please, you’re pathetic.” Loki huffed, shifting all eyes to fall on him.

I had never seen him that angry before. Part of me shivered, realizing Eli was not on me. He was around Loki, glaring at Lilith. If she was not the one holding that barrier, there was no doubt in my mind. Loki would have tried to kill her.

I had only seen him use force against one other living being, Oliver. The other was before I met him, and a vampire that had invaded his room to hurt him.

“Watch what you say, boy.” Lilith scowled.

I had to stop this, yet my legs refused to move.

Will he look at me like that too? If I had done a mistake… would that have been my fate? Wait… when this is all over. When they try to kill themselves… What will I do then?

A sharp sensation crossed my chest. Thea’s words ringed in my ears too.

Can’t we all just get along?!

No… we can’t. We hated each other. And we hurt each other in ways that could not be healed. I…

My love for him or his love for me would not change this. It would not change the fact we were enemies. Ones forced together by circumstances.

Holding my head high… It seems impossible to do, witch.

Not when our lives clashed like this. Why would I have thought otherwise? He and I… Our love did not matter. I could not live in his world, and he could not live in mine. His anger made him ignorant of my feelings.

“You’re a small insignificant woman, filled with fear of being alone. So, stop pretending you’re some great thing that blesses everyone around you.” Loki hissed, taking a step towards her.

“Keke… Nothing, but a leech in this world.” Eli spoke for the first time since everything had happened.

Instead of sweet words towards me, venom spewed towards those who I considered my family. The only ones who accepted me for what I was.

We… can’t work. It was foolish of me to think for a minute we would. Not in this life, and I doubted we would work on any other. This link was a mistake. We are…

I did not need their permission to be with him, but I could not have them trying to kill each other. Not when they were both important to me. I had decided to not hurt his family, but this was the first time he was faced with the woman who killed his father.

The only world where we would both be happy was if we were both alone. Isolated from those who cared about us. I was right. Having no voice to speak out was worse than being a slave with one. At moments like this, only that would have quelled the situation.

Edna, it seems you lose this one.

Before I knew it, I closed the container, shoving Loki into Eli with all my strength. He had not expected me to do that. Falling right on the snake, he shifted his gaze along with everyone else. Thankfully, I still had hands and legs to act on. But that alone was not enough.

Without a voice, I could not speak to him or say what I truly wanted. And that infuriated me. After having one, it was hard to hold on to these feelings. Frustration…

“Vivi…” Loki mumbled, surprised at my aggression.

You big fucking idiot! You did exactly what she wanted to show me! I felt like yelling, but nothing came out.

Instead, tears flowed out of my eyes. Even when I broke out in a sob nothing, but inaudible noises came out of me. In an instant, I was in his arms.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t…” Loki trailed off, holding me tightly.

I did not know what to do anymore. All I could do was cry. I knew both sides… and I wanted all of them to live. Lilith was a maniac, but she was my psychopath. One who protected me from everyone who tried to harm me when I was a child. The elf who healed me whenever I fell.

The only one who was there for me when I got my first menstrual cycle. Although rough, she helped me through it. All while, my poor father seemed clueless about what to do about it. She was the only one I could depend on for some things. But most importantly, she was always there for me when I needed her.

Though of course, she also taught me things she should not have. The times Dad yelled at her for taking me to the wrong places were too many to count. But at least she tried! She tried with me.

“Oh, great job, lover boy.” Lilith shrugged, causing me to throw my notebook at her.

It hit her shoulder as Dad hit her head.

“Shut up. This was both your faults.” He huffed, walking towards me.

Loki was too preoccupied with me to notice his approach. For such an aggressive vampire, he was an apologetic one too. Though, I could blame no one for feeling how they felt. Dad, on the other hand, was not standing for it.

Grabbing onto Loki’s head, my vampire stiffened up before glancing at the angered warlock. He wore an angered smile on his lips. Much like my fake polite one. He was where I had gotten that from. The only person he ever genuinely smiled at was me.

“Make her cry again, and I’ll have your balls. Understood?” Dad scowled at Loki, who held me closer.

At this moment, nothing else mattered. Not even the impending doom my father posed.

“Yes, sir.” He sighed, wiping my tears away.

Eli was nudging my cheek; however, my emotions were all over the place. Having no voice had made me weaker. And that annoyed me. Yet… it was beyond my reach.

“Do I want to ask what happened?” a voice erupted behind us.

It triggered me to shut my eyes in an attempt to control myself. That voice belonged to no one other than Rem, who had been walking by with her husband and Luna.

“Daddy, why’s the princess crying?” the baby luma asked.

It triggered me to smother myself on Loki, who hugged me tighter.

“I don’t know, sweety. How about we go over here for a bit.” Alijah cooed to his baby girl.

His voice was so gentle towards her that I could not help but feel pitiful.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

Pathetic. I’m ludicrous to cry over this. Yet a voice can carry emotions much further than an expression.

However, I knew that losing my voice was nothing compared to losing those I loved. And both our families were like oil and water. It was bound to happen. I… was right. This love was nothing but poison to me and him.

Dad sighed, shaking his head. “Go, take Vi to your room to rest. I’ll try to knock some sense into the elf here. But no promises.”

With that Loki, grabbed my hand to lead me inside. However, my eyes were quickly shifted towards where Rem was. She seemed indifferent about why I was crying about. Yet if it involved her son, she would not allow it to stand.

Her eyes narrowed upon meeting with my gaze, triggering me to glance away. At that moment, Loki stopped in his tracks. It caused me to shift back to her. She had Loki’s shirt in her hands.

“Stop avoiding me. We have to talk.” She scoffed.

Alijah had left with Luna. However, I did not see where they had gone. He probably was not too far away from her, though.

“I honestly don’t want to.” Loki sighed, wanting me to rest.

“Hm… I don’t care if she’s there when we speak.” Rem sighed.

The tone she used caused Loki to snap, “She has a name, Ma.”

Rem crossed her arms. “I don’t see the difference. I at least referred her to a living being. Much more than she deserves.”

The expression on Loki’s face turned sour again.

Yes… I…

“Okay, I… Shit!” Rem cursed, noticing she had gone back to her old ways.

Loki scowled at her without saying a word.

“This is hard on me! You have to understand because of her, Vera’s dead! I can’t forgive that!” she argued.

Ah… I’m fucking this up too.

Loki’s grip on my hand tightened. His expression, however, was one of heartbreak.

“Mom… I love you. But if you keep going… If you force me to choose. I’m going to hate you.” he warned voice cold as ice.

Shock rushed through me as I knew this… was not acceptable.

“Loki…” Rem was left with no words to say.

The hurt in her eyes was not one I could enjoy. Not when it hurt my vampire, too. That was when I yanked my hand away from Loki. It tore his sight from her and onto me.

Talk to her.

I mouthed, feeling like a burden on him. It was never my intention to take him away from his family. I did not want to give up on him, but at the same time, I did not want him to be isolated from those he loved.

My love was poison to him and everyone around him. How could I forget?

“No…” He shook his head, reaching for me again.

I stepped back into the wall, shaking my head.

She’s right.

I tried to mouth. However, my body felt icy.

I’m the reason your mother is dead. I know this, yet I buried it down.

I clasped my hands on my pajama. This could not happen because of me. I could not take the boy away from the hybrid, even if it was what I wanted the most.

“Vivi, I’m sure it isn’t as simple as that. You aren’t what she thinks you are. I know that!” he assured eyes glossing.

I smiled at him.

It’s okay, my love. I’m a monster. The one responsible for everyone’s death. If I did not exist. Every one of them would be alive.

His life would have been different. Or perhaps it would have ended the same way. If I did not exist, Elias would have never died. He would have still been in the god realm without a worry. So would have Rem and Alijah.

Everyone…

Talk to her. And listen to her.

I mouthed, triggering Rem’s eyes to widen.

“You…” she mumbled.

I have to make this right. His family can’t turn their back on him, and neither can he. I’ve done enough to this family.

Gazing over at her phone, I pointed at it. This was no time for tears or these useless feelings to overwhelm me. Hesitating a little, she handed it to me. There, I typed something for her alone.

I won’t apologize for the things that made me who I am today. And I won’t go dying off like you wish me to. Or allow you to seal me up as you want. I’ll fight you on every turn. I can’t remember anything of what I did to you.

But you’re right. I’m not a human or a living thing. Think of me as you wish. My existence killed your sister. Even if I can’t remember it, I know it to be true. She sacrificed herself to bind me to them.

I tried to make this stupid vampire understand, but he refuses to see me as what I am. Unlike you do. You see me for what I am, yet refuse to see who I am. And that is the only thing he can see, it seems. So… make Loki understand. I trapped him in this bond.

I don’t know how it happened either. It was a moment of weakness for me. So, for this alone, I will apologize. I am sorry for ruining your son’s life. Be it Elias or not. A god or not… He deserved a better life than to be hunted by a mad god in love with what I am. And so did you.

My love poisons everyone around me. And destroys everything in the end. So, if you can make him stop loving me. Please make him understand. Make him hate me as you do. Otherwise, I can’t let him go.

I handed back the phone to her, before gazing at a confused Loki. Eli was still by him, too. I pointed towards his phone, smiling. He handed it to me without thinking twice.

Stop being a child and speak to your mother, stupid. You can’t ever hate her. No matter what, she is the one who raised you. And love you probably as much as I do. But not more… No one can love you as much as I do.

For a moment, I stared at what I wrote before deleting the last two bits. That was unneeded. I had to let go. After that, I left him behind, pushing Eli's back towards him when he tried to come with me, too. I needed time to collect my thoughts. Though before I could get too far away, Loki…

“You better be in the room when I’m done here. You hear me?” his voice almost broke me.

I kept walking away without stopping. This was the worst. I did not think I would crumble as fast as I did. And it was made worse with each increasing amount of distance I placed between us. Without them, by my side, I felt utterly alone. It was like every step made my body colder than ever before.

I’m pathetic. Weak… This boy has made me vulnerable! Lilith was right. Love is nothing but a pain. One that doesn’t deserve to exist. Yet without it, life had no meaning. A life alone had no meaning.

However, I was determined to hold my tears in. If Rem convinced him to stay away from me. That was something I had to live with. Though I could not help but wish he would have fucked me earlier. Fucked me so silly that this would not have ever happened.

After all, I would have never left the room if he had bitten me.

Shit! I’m so shameless, too. Pathetic Vivian. You’re a goddess. Act like one.

In my mindless wandering of the ship, I found myself lost. It was bigger than I had expected, and I had not taken precautions to remember where I was going. Luckily, it was not long before I found someone leaving a room. It was the same woman with the swollen belly from before.

Lola was with her, too. Instinctively, I gazed away, trying to walk past her, but much to my surprise, the human grabbed onto my hand.

“You can’t go back there. The engine is on, and it can burn you if you get too close.” She warned, holding on to me.

I tilted my head, confused by what she meant. I knew very little about these steam monsters that the ocean and blaze elves crafted. Though what surprised me the most was how she held my hand with no fear.

What’s this human’s name? No… I shouldn’t even care about it.

Seeing my confusion, she sighed, signaling Lola to return to what she was doing. “It throws out steam, so… Ah, it doesn’t matter. You’re lost, aren’t you?”

I nodded, refusing to gaze at them. However, from the open door, I could see they were calibrating something. What it was, I did not know. These ships were too complicated for me to understand. But there was also an ocean and blaze elf in the room.

They were too busy paying attention to the screen to notice me, though.

Ah… Will I ruin their lives too? Isn’t there a way to stop fucking with everyone I meet? Or is this some fucked up destiny of mine?

It was a matter of time, but I did not want to be near anyone I could hurt without meaning to. I should have been locked in the dungeons. Well, if this ship had any. Yet… I also wanted to soar. Lola sat back next to the elves before the human closed the door behind her.

With a soft smile, she grabbed onto my hand, leading me around the ship.

“Although the ship is small compared to those used in main airlines, it’s still bigger than most people expect.” The human girl chattered.

With her swollen belly, it made me wonder if she was holding more than one baby. Though it seemed this woman was a chatterbox. One that did not need me to respond to her.

“Caden told me what happened. Yet, when I look at you. You aren’t this scary thing we all imagined you’d be. I think you look a lot like my daughter.”

You're wrong…

“I think Rem’s realizing this. I mean, you’re the same age as her oldest sons.”

Stop trying… I’m fine on my own. As long as I have dad and Lilith.

Perhaps I hoped if I said it enough. It would be true. However, the human chatter was annoying to me. She meant no harm by it, but I did not want to hear it. Not after what had happened with Rem. In fact, if I could fast forward in time, this would be a time I choose to do so.

Why can’t they just leave me alone? Send me on my way and be done with it.

I was not as helpless as I seemed.

“Flora, dear, I’ll take it from here.” A male voice, one that had become familiar, erupted from in front of us.

I had been staring at the wall the whole time to nice him, though it triggered me to retreat my hand away from the woman called Flora. A name that fit her from how gently she held me.

“Oh, Caden, this little one got lost.” She smiled at her beloved.

Little one?! Excuse me?!

Caden chuckled, noticing the irritation on my face. Though Flora was blissfully unaware. It seemed she was the lovely, airheaded type of girl. Though, I could not help but feel my cheeks get hotter by his crackling.

Not being able to say anything was too much at times.

“She reminds me of you when you first got to the ship.” Flora continued, enjoying the reminiscence of past times.

Something that did not concern me, yet… Every way was blocked by either a Lycan or a human. And I could not go through them. Any push could send the female into labor. And I did not wish to hurt her or him.

Rem was right, though. He should have taken his family far away from us. Especially his pregnant wife. But at the same time, there was nowhere safe for anyone. And I guess he knew that, too.

“Oi, back then I was looking for excuses to speak with you.” Caden huffed at his wife, who chuckled.

Softly she turned to me. Her expression was one of joy.

She rolled her eyes. “Right, this man you see here is the clumsiest I’ve seen.”

Ah… do these people keep… No…

They had to stop being so kind to me. It was getting confusing. Rem was simple to understand. The rest of them, not so much.

Close it up… Don’t let them see how hurt you really are. Lilith’s words rushed through me.

One of her many lessons.

The enemies wait to smell blood, then they pounce! But this also goes for us. We wait until they’re at their weakest. And then we… I don’t want to.

I had to get out of here. Having had so many mixed reactions had left me without knowing what to do. Before I knew it, I pushed past the Lycan, wanting to get away from everything. However, before I knew it, once again I was in someone else’s clutches.

The wolf had grabbed my arm.

“Where are you going? You’re lost, aren’t you? If you walk around aimlessly, you’ll get hurt.” He declared,

It caused me to frown without gazing at him.

Wouldn’t that be a blessing for you? Don’t you want me to get hurt? Stupid mutt.

A soft sigh left his lips. “Listen, I heard what Rem said to you. I don’t think…”

It triggered me to glance at him, to see an expression I did not expect. Was that sympathy for me?

What’s wrong with these people?! Why do you out of all people have that look? I killed your sister, Caden. You must hate me too, no? Pathetic… This is just ridiculous! These people are…

With a sharp tug, I pulled away from him.

Control yourself, Vivian. You can’t lose it, or he’ll find me!

At that moment, the ship suddenly trembled, causing me to lose my balance. Before I knew it, I headed headfirst into the metal wall on the other side. With one swift movement, Caden grabbed onto me, yanking me into him.

Instead of my head, his back slammed against the wall.

“Ow!” he complained.

Why did you…

I gazed up at him, confused why he had helped me. On his lips was a soft smile. Though before he could say anything, an announcement blared through the radios throughout the ship.

Something interrupted the stabilizing field. What the fuck is that? Uh… Guys… look outside.

Pushing myself away from Caden, I did not see if he was injured or not. Not that it mattered, Lycans were not brittle like humans. Luckily, there was a window nearby. There we witnessed the moment Orenz's soul was gone from this world.

The sky turned deep red even though night had filled it. The celestial stars were still visible, though their glow had deep red colors. And the moon above us was pitch black, instead of its normal yellow color.

Without a doubt, the gods had arrived at the mortal world. Before we knew it, the blinding light shone in the distance. Seconds later, someone’s hand was on my face, shielding me from the light.

This warmth…

“Stupid lamb! Don’t stare at the light like that. You’ll go blind!” Ali huffed, pulling me away from the window.

When did he…? Right… that speed is unfair.

Thea was right behind us, too. It seemed she was showing him around. Unlike me, he was found innocent in their eyes after the god made it clear it was not his fault. That alone warmed my heart. Through the way he touched me…

The way they all touched me; it was without fear. I… Pulling away from the vampire, I turned to face him. In his eyes, there was a soft smile. I was still his precious friend. One that had saved him. I thought it would have gone away.

Especially after the heat of the moment died off. But it seemed, even after taking a bit to think, I had not changed in his eyes. Caden, on the other hand, went to check on his wife, who had been down the hall.

Why he protected me instead of running towards her surprised me. Though she seemed fine. Lola was down the hall too, running towards them. Instinctively, I gazed away from them and back towards the scenery. The light was gone.

It was eerie, silent… Though the sky was still blood red. Much to my surprise, someone yelled my name from the other hall. It was Zoe, coming around the corner. I saw her glancing everywhere, trying to find me.

The moment her eyes fell on me, she ran towards me, grasping onto my hand.

“It’s your dad. He suddenly collapsed when he was with Rem and Loki. It all happened when the sky…” She huffed for air.

I could not care what else she had to say. My legs moved faster than I could think. From the direction she came, I knew…

Liar… You fucking… Liar!

Anger flowed through me, pushing past her, running towards the entrance. It was not long before I found myself out of the maze with a view I thought I would never see. Lilith had my father in her hands.

Rem, Alijah, Loki, and Eli were by the deck, too. And behind me, more people gathered, but I could not care less who they were. All that mattered was…

“Oi… don’t croak. Who’ll keep the elf on her leash?” Rem huffed, worry present in her voice.

Dad chuckled, “You’d be surprised.”

Each step towards them felt eternal. I… did not want the moment to come. The time of…

“Vi…” Dad mumbled, noticing me.

His voice was weak, skin pale. Well, paler than he already was. Any traces of pink were leaving him. The pain in his eyes and voice was otherworldly, though. Upon my slow approach, Alijah kneeled, placing his hand on my father’s shoulder.

“You kissed my wife once… for that alone I should kill you, but a daughter should never see a father in the sorry state you’re in.” The black Lycan softly spoke, turning his eyes back onto me.

He must have tucked Luna to bed before coming here. Though with that turbulence, surely, the little Luna was awake. Dad’s body gave off a soft red hue. They were was sharing his pain.

“Oh, mutt, you’re still holding on to that?” Dad chuckled, gazing at the Lycan.

A soft chuckle left Alijah’s lips. “I learned to hold a grudge from the best.”

They spoke of a past I did not know about.

“Well, I was just trying to find out why Edna couldn’t track her. Nothing else. So, you don’t need to-” He winced, feeling a wave of pain.

Standing in front of him, my facial expression was probably one of anger and sorrow. They were both mixed in one. However, in his eyes, I was all that mattered.

A soft smile rose on his lips. “I’ll be fine, Vi,” he assured.

Liar…

The gentleness of his eyes told me all I needed to know. He was trying to protect me from the world. Something I did not ask for. The moment Orenz’s soul was destroyed, his core…

“His soul crystal is shattering,” Lilith announced, tightening her grip on him.

Something he did not take kindly to.

“You…” Dad growled, flashing annoyance on his face.

But the moment he saw her expression, it changed. She was…

“Lying to us was a mistake! The truth, even if it hurts, is always better!” She argued, tearful.

It seemed I was not the only one in this boat. I never thought I would ever see her like this. His eyes quickly shifted from her towards me. The only danger in the room, that much he knew. Though that was not the reason, I was his priority.

No, it was the fact that he knew I loved him. And that I would do something crazy for him. The moment I clasped my hand on my chest. I had been wearing my brooch ever since Zoe gave it to me. It was to prevent any unnecessary surges of energy thanks to my emotions.

But I could change this. I could save him. Yet the moment I went for it, he…

“Vivian, no, don’t do anything! It’s what he wants you to do! It is why he destroyed Orenz.” He started, triggering me to flinch.

Nothing mattered at this moment. In my mind, only he did. If I lost him. What else would I have? Lilith? She was a loose cannon. He was the only one who I knew would be there for me. No matter what.

“Please, baby girl, I did this to buy us time. Remember what I taught you. Don’t let anyone but you win the war. No matter how many battles are lost.” He reminded me of the most important lesson he had ever taught me.

Shit! Why are you being a soldier even at this time! I never asked for any of this! To be brought into this world or to have this power! I never asked for anything! Why can’t I have the things I truly want.

You… Loki… Lilith… My friends… Why? Why am I losing them?!

Tears ran down my cheeks once again. This time it was not from frustration, but pure sorrow.

Enough… This is enough! I don’t want to care anymore! It hurts!

Before I knew it, I fell onto my knees, smothering my face in his chest. Even with all the pain that was coursing through him, he held me back. Alijah pulled away, unable to do much else for him. It seemed the pain he was going through was much more than Alijah could share.

The only thing anyone could do was to allow him to be with me.

“It seems I don’t have the time I wished to have. I won’t see the end of this, but I know you’ll outshine the world. Just like your mother wanted for you. No… like I wished for you.” He held me tightly and loving.

His voice, though, broke me. I wept in his arms, unable to bear the thought of having a life without him. Even when I was with Nene, I always had him. He was my one and only father. Tears would not stop, nor would the pain.

With Nene, all I did was learn to live without her. Yet I did not want to discover how life without him would be.

“I already told you everything you needed to know, hybrid. So, I can only do this one last thing. And to answer your question from before. But I’ll do it with another one. What kind of father would I be? If I didn’t do what was necessary for my daughter’s safety?” He huffed, glancing at Rem.

I could not see her expression.

Unfair… This isn’t fair! Why do I have to keep losing!? Is this what my life would consist of now? Lose until there isn’t anything left?

I could only weep on him as he whispered sweet words to me. All while I could not even say how much I loved him. How sorry I was for thinking he could have betrayed me. I wanted to tell him about the world I had experienced.

But here I was, with only a few last moments with him. And without the voice to tell him anything. This world was… too ugly. Lilith softly caressed my hair, while I wept on my father’s chest.

“Hey… baby girl. Don’t cry.” He cooed, weakly trying to wipe away my tears.

“It’s okay, Vi. You’ll be alright.” He reassured.

His fingers were growing colder with every second. His warmth…

“You know, Lilith, although an unstable prick, will still be here with you. And she loves you as much as I do.” Dad chuckled, coughing soon after.

Each breath was becoming harder for him to take. I could not help but lift myself off his chest hoping to make it better for him. But that was never the issue. He was…

“Cain, you…” Lilith bit onto her lip, holding him.

“Aw, do my eyes deceive me? You can’t say you actually care about me with that nonexistent heart of yours.” Dad smirked, grabbing onto his chest.

The pain was getting too much for him to bear.

“What are you talking about? Of course, I don’t care. When you croak, I’ll finally have no one to hold me back.” Lilith huffed, trying to hide her true feelings.

In response, he grabbed onto her cheek. A soft smile had replaced that sharp smirk he wore.

“What a terrible… liar you are elf.” He mumbled before his eyes closed shut.

In that instant, my heart stopped.

Daddy?

It only hit me a few moments later when Lilith…

“Oi... Cain… Don’t do this to me!” she shook him, tears running down her eyes.

He… was gone.

“Fuck! Don’t leave me too!” Lilith sobbed, placing a soft kiss on his lips.

Ah… they had always been sharp around the edges, yet… They were always together.

She loved him, and now he was gone. And out of both our reach. Seconds later, his body turned to ashes. I could hear Zoe sobbing behind me before Loki, who had been holding back this whole time, engulfed me. He had wished to give me the space to say goodbye, but Alistair and Thea soon followed him.

“If I had known this where your stupid plan would have led you to! I would have kicked some sense into that stupid blond head of yours! Stupid… You’re so fucking stupid, Cain! You’re just like Edna!” Lilith roared into the red sky.

She was no longer the same heartless elf. For once, she was allowing everyone to see her for who she was. There were no shields, no barriers. She let the pain flow. Instead of hoarding it like she always did.

All while I for once felt empty. Tears still dripped out of me, but my heart felt nonexistent. He asked me to do nothing, but was this the right play? I had no way of knowing. On Lilith’s lap was his broken crystal.

One that was created by me. Picking it up, she held it close to her chest, trying to recompose herself. But the tears were not letting up. He had been with her since she was first brought back. And now, she was alone with me. We were all we had left in this world.

Yet at this time, she seemed so alone. I tugged myself away from the embrace of those who also loved me, to run into the arms of the one person left, who would love me no matter what. I was the only thing left in her world. The only one who loved her.

This… was not how I wanted anything to go. But I would stay true to his wish.

Compartmentalize, and store every hurt feeling I had…

This would be the last time I allowed myself to cry. From here on out, there would be no tears from me again. Not until all of this was over.

“You are such a good girl, Vivi. No wonder all those you meet fall for you.” Lilith cooed, holding me like I was the last thing keeping her in this world.

Zoe slowly came towards us before jumping into the hug. She was also part of our family. Our Coven, one that included the craziest elf ever to exist. But that was okay. She was my elf. And I would not allow Yama to win. At all cost…