Mother of Midnight

Chapter 178 – Waiting

Vivienne sank into the lounger with a satisfied sigh, stretching out her arms just in time for Liora to come barreling into her. The little girl flung herself at Vivienne with all the enthusiasm of a child reunited with her favorite person, her arms latching tight around Vivienne’s neck. Vivienne caught her easily, sweeping her up into her lap and spinning her once before pulling her close. Liora squealed with laughter as Vivienne peppered her face with rapid, smacking kisses—on her cheeks, her forehead, even the tip of her nose—until the girl was squirming and giggling uncontrollably.

Rava, by contrast, settled onto a nearby bench with none of that warmth, her arms crossed over her chest and her brow furrowed deep in frustration. She let out a slow breath through her nose, pointedly looking away from Vivienne’s display of affection.

From the hearth, Kivvy’s ears twitched at the commotion, and she propped herself up on her elbows. “So,” she drawled, her tail flicking idly behind her, “are we going now? Back into the cold?”

She didn’t sound particularly hopeful, but the question still hung there with the weight of expectation.

Rava answered before Vivienne could, her voice clipped. “No. We’re staying for the next battle.”

Vivienne only grinned, still cradling Liora in her arms as the girl nestled against her chest. “I made a deal,” she said lightly, as if she were discussing something as trivial as the weather. “Three hundred gold, guaranteed non-aggression from our hosts, and a chance to put a wrench in Praxus’ plans. Seemed like a fair trade.”

Kivvy let out an exasperated noise, throwing her hands up. “A fair—? Vivienne, do you even hear yourself?” She pointed an accusatory finger at her. “That’s not a deal. That’s you signing us up to die for someone else’s war.”

Vivienne gave a dramatic gasp. “Sweetheart, you wound me. Do you really think so little of my capabilities?” Her tail flicked idly, her many black eyes gleaming with something between amusement and challenge.

“That’s not the point!” Kivvy snapped. She whirled back toward Rava, hands on her hips. “And you’re just letting this happen?”

Rava dragged a hand down her face, clearly still fuming but resigned. “I tried,” she muttered. “She already agreed to it before I could stop her.”

Kivvy groaned, pacing in short, irritated strides. “Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.” Then she stopped, suddenly narrowing her eyes at Vivienne. “Wait. Three hundred gold? You actually made him pay you to fight for him?”

Vivienne’s grin widened, baring a row of far too many teeth. “Of course I did.”

Kivvy let out a strangled laugh, rubbing her temples. “You’re an absolute menace.”

“That’s what Rava said,” Vivienne said with a smirk, shifting Liora to a more comfortable spot in her lap. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m fairly certain my goddess wanted me to take this fight.”

“That makes me feel worse, actually,” Kivvy shot back, crossing her arms. “That means some cosmic horror thinks you being on a battlefield is entertaining.”

Vivienne merely chuckled. “Also, it’s not just his war,” she continued. “If I understand the situation correctly, technically everyone who isn’t from Aegis is at war with them.”

“I doubt the sirens are, actually,” Rava interjected, rubbing at her temple like she was nursing the beginning of a headache. “They live in cities under the ocean for the most part. We’ve tried entreating them for help, but they don’t see it as their problem.”

Kivvy huffed. “Doesn’t make me feel any better.” She cast a wary glance toward Vivienne. “Do we all have to fight?”

Vivienne shook her head. “Just me, though Rava will be joining me.”

Rava muttered something under her breath but didn’t argue.

“The rest of you will be staying here where it’s safe,” Vivienne finished.

Kivvy frowned, still not looking particularly thrilled, but she didn’t voice any more objections.

Liora, who had been quiet until now, suddenly tilted her head up to look at Vivienne, her bright, curious eyes full of something uncertain. “Are you going to fight?”

Vivienne softened instantly, brushing a hand through the girl’s curls. “Yes, sweetheart,” she murmured. “Mommy needs to help protect this city.”

Liora’s small hands fisted in the fabric of Vivienne’s clothes. “…Will you win?”

Vivienne’s grin softened, though it retained a certain sharpness. “Of course. I am very strong.”

Renzia’s body straightened, her movements precise and deliberate as she stepped forward. “I wi-sh to fight a-alongside the miss-tress,” she stated, her voice unwavering, cold and steady like stone.

Vivienne met her with a gaze full of understanding, her expression softening. “I know you do, Renzia,” she said gently. “But I have an even more important job for you.”

Renzia remained still, her posture unchanging. “Any-th-ing for the miss-tress,” she replied, her voice as solid as her will.

Vivienne took a moment before responding, her tone becoming more serious. “Can you please keep Liora safe in my absence? I need you to watch over her while I’m away.”

Without hesitation, Renzia nodded, her movements slow and deliberate. “It will-will be done.”

Vivienne’s smile deepened, a rare hint of warmth in her eyes. “Thank you, Renzia. You’ll make sure nothing happens to her, won’t you?”

“Of cou-rse, miss-tress.” Renzia replied as she bowed.

Eventually, someone arrived to show them to their guest rooms—five of them, though Vivienne quickly corrected that to three. Only two among them needed sleep, after all. It would be a waste of space otherwise.

Night settled over the city, a hush blanketing the halls. In their shared room, Vivienne sat on the bed beside Liora, idly playing with the girl’s hair as they talked in soft murmurs. But despite the calm, she felt restless, her body thrumming with anticipation. The hours stretched on, and yet the hunger in her bones did not fade.

She was eager for the hunt.

It wouldn’t be like before—wouldn’t be like the times she’d stalked aetherbeasts, where the battle was one of raw strength and instinct. Those hunts had been savage, brutal, animalistic, a contest of fang and claw, predator against predator.

But people? She hunted them differently.

She enjoyed the slow build, the games she played at the edges of their senses. The creeping certainty that something lurked just beyond their sight. The way their breath quickened, their heartbeats hammered against their ribs when they finally laid eyes on her. Oh, how delicious that fear was, thick and heady. That merchant had been such wonderful prey, even if she hadn’t needed to kill him. The terror she had instilled in him had served its purpose—it had put Lysandro in his place at the same time. Two birds, one elegant strike.

But this was not a lone merchant. Nor was it a small band of hapless men stumbling through the dark. This was an army.

She could not pick them off one by one like skittish prey. And even she was not so foolish as to think she could simply slip into their camp unnoticed, not when there would be scouts, wards, traps. No, an ambush of that scale would be suicidal. And death… death would be inconvenient. More so now than ever.

The more roots she planted in this world, the more ties she wove, the more the idea of simply ceasing became something to be avoided. Not out of fear, of course—no, she did not fear death. But she had things to do. People who relied on her.

They were planning to defend the walls, not march onto the field and meet the forces of Aegis head-on. That was a relief—at least tactically. She wasn’t sure she’d fare as well in open combat against an entire army, even with Rava at her side. But within the walls? With defenses, cover, and a position of strength? That was a battle she could sink her teeth into.

It was also the first real war she’d ever fought in.

She had been eleven when World War Three had begun—just a child, powerless to do anything but watch the world unravel. And now, here she was, not only a combatant but eager for it. How strange. How exhilarating.

Still, she had to be smart about this. What could she do from the walls?

She had no ranged attacks of her own, not that she knew of, unless she counted her songbeasts. The crystalline ones would be well-suited to mass combat, tearing through common soldiers with ease, but their numbers would be limited. She could only summon so many at once, and they would likely be prime targets for enemy archers and mages.

Then there were the shadow creatures—untried in battle, but perhaps they could serve her well here. Weaker, yes, but far easier to produce. She could flood the battlefield with them, let them harass and harry the enemy, chip away at their forces without depleting her own reserves too quickly.

But she would need to eat.

Aether didn’t come from nowhere, and she couldn’t afford to drain herself dry in the first few hours of fighting. No, she would need to pace herself, hunt for sustenance even in the midst of battle. The thought sent a pleasant shiver down her spine.

And then there was the question of a champion.

Would one of Aegis’ favored dogs be here? She longed to find Darius again, to rip him apart, to feel his bones crunch between her teeth. It infuriated her that he had slipped away, that she hadn’t been able to devour him the way he deserved. Cowards made for the most satisfying meals.

Or perhaps it would be the other one—the strange one. The one she met in the undercity. The one who had eluded her, stolen her rightful prey, denied her her kill.

“Mommy, I’m hungry,” Liora complained, her small hands gripping at Vivienne’s sleeves.

Vivienne’s expression softened, and she stroked Liora’s hair, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Well, that won’t do at all. Shall I ask around and see if anyone would volunteer?”

Liora gave a shy nod, her black eyes glimmering with hope.

“Okay, mijita. I’ll find someone. Can you be a good girl and stay here with Renzia?”

Another nod. Vivienne squeezed her daughter in a tight hug, kissing her cheek for good measure before rising to her feet. Liora might have had a stronger stomach than most children, but she still preferred to be fed from those who offered willingly. It was sweet, really. A small kindness in a world that had been nothing but cruel to her.

Vivienne stepped into the hallway, its candlelit sconces casting long shadows across the walls. The clan hall was quiet at this hour, most of its residents either resting or busy with preparations for the coming battle. It took her some time to find a lone maid still tending to her duties, dusting off the many opulent artifacts that lined the halls, scrubbing the richly adorned floors.

A smile curled across Vivienne’s lips. It had been a while since she had stalked someone purely for fun.

Slowly, she melted into the darkness, slipping between the shifting candlelight like oil across water. She became the shadows, slithering along the edges of the corridor, mirroring the maid’s every step without so much as a whisper of sound.

The woman, unaware of her observer, went about her work, humming softly to herself as she carefully polished an old silver chalice. She dipped her rag into a bucket of water, wrung it out, and moved to another artifact, oblivious to the presence that coiled unseen around her.

Vivienne tilted her head, watching her for a few moments longer. Then, deciding she’d had her fun, she spoke.

“Hello, darling.”

The maid shrieked, the chalice slipping from her fingers with a dull thud onto the rug-covered floor. She spun around frantically, eyes wide, breath hitching in her throat as she searched for the source of the voice.

Vivienne stepped from the darkness with a playful smirk, her black eyes gleaming in the dim light. “Oh, sweetheart, don’t be so startled.”

The maid gasped, pressing a hand over her heart as she took a shaky step back. “Y-you’re the one that came in with Lady Serkoth,” she stammered, inching away, her ears flattening against her head.

“I am,” Vivienne purred, taking slow, measured steps forward. “And I also have a daughter to feed.”

She flashed a grin, sharp and wicked, letting the woman stew in whatever horrific possibilities her mind could conjure. The scent of fear was almost palpable.

The maid’s back hit the wall with a soft thud, her wide, trembling eyes locked onto Vivienne’s. “Are you g-going to kill m-me?” she choked out, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vivienne’s smirk widened. She raised one clawed hand, flexing her fingers, making sure the candlelight caught the razor-sharp edges. The woman flinched violently, her breath hitching, bracing as if expecting a fatal strike.

Then, with a flourish, Vivienne plunged her hand into her own cleavage and pulled free a small pouch.

The maid blinked.

“No, sweetheart,” Vivienne said, giggling at the way the poor girl sagged against the wall in relief. “My daughter, unfortunately, doesn’t eat meat—just dreams.” She held the pouch up and gave it a little shake, the unmistakable clink of coin ringing through the corridor. “And I have a gold piece for anyone willing to sacrifice a day of being a bit exhausted for it.”

The maid swallowed hard, her gaze flickering between the coin pouch and Vivienne’s still-clawed hand.

"Well?" Vivienne purred, tilting her head. "Shall we make a deal, darling?"

The maid hesitated, her breath still shaky as she stared at Vivienne. Her hands clenched at her apron, clearly torn between self-preservation and the temptation of gold.

“H-how much… exhaustion are we talking about?” she asked cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vivienne hummed, rocking slightly on the balls of her feet. “Mmm… nothing permanent. You’ll be sluggish tomorrow, like you worked a little too hard today. Maybe a few stray dreams will slip your mind. But you’ll be alive. And richer.” She jingled the coin pouch again, grinning as the maid flinched at the sound.

A long silence stretched between them before the maid inhaled deeply and nodded, her ears twitching. “F-fine. Just… just take what you need and be done with it.”

Vivienne beamed. “Wonderful! I love a woman who’s willing to make a deal. Follow me.”

The next morning, Vivienne left the room with Liora and Renzia in tow, stepping lightly to avoid waking the exhausted maid still sprawled across the bed. She lingered in the doorway for a moment, casting a satisfied glance at the woman’s peaceful, albeit weary, expression. It was good to be well-fed.

Liora’s small hand curled around one of her claws, giving it a squeeze. “Make sure to say thank you when she wakes up, okay, sweetheart?” Vivienne murmured.

“Yes, Mommy,” Liora whispered back, nodding solemnly.

Renzia remained a silent, looming presence at Vivienne’s side as they made their way through the halls. The clanhold was much quieter this early, most of its inhabitants still asleep or beginning their morning routines. The air smelled faintly of incense and warm stone, the distant sounds of voices and movement slowly stirring to life beyond the walls.

When they reached Rava’s door, Vivienne gave a firm knock, and after a brief pause, it swung open. Rava stood there, hair still slightly mussed from sleep but otherwise dressed and alert. She blinked at them, then sighed, stepping aside.

“Oh. Viv, Renzia, and Liora,” she said, rubbing the back of her neck. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, Aunty Rava,” Liora greeted sweetly.

Renzia dipped her head in a precise, silent bow.

Rava exhaled through her nose and gestured them in. “Alright, come in. I assume you’re already scheming.”

Vivienne stepped inside with a smirk, letting her tail idly flick behind her. “So what’s the plan?”

Rava snorted, closing the door behind them. “You’re the reason we’re in this mess. You should be the one with the plan.”

Vivienne rolled her eyes but smiled. “Yes, yes, I plan on doing a lot of violence, but I’m not sure where or when I should do it.”

Rava crossed her arms, leaning against the table in the center of the room. “I presume we’ll be called in for a meeting soon. Aegis might ask for a parley with Drakthar leadership and demand a surrender.”

Vivienne’s grin sharpened. “Do they actually think that’ll work?”

“They do it almost every time,” Rava said dryly. “More for the spectacle than anything. They want to be able to say they offered peace, even if they never expected to get it.”

Vivienne hummed, tilting her head. “How diplomatic of them. Almost makes me want to show them what a refusal really looks like.”

Rava smirked, crossing her arms. “I don’t think they were prepared for you when they made their playbook.”

Vivienne’s grin sharpened. “Then I’ll be sure to educate them.”

Rava sighed and rubbed her temples. “You do understand that this isn’t just about you going wild in the battlefield, right? There’s strategy. If you waste all your energy cutting down foot soldiers, you might not be able to handle the real threats when they show up.”

Vivienne’s tail flicked. “Oh, I know that. I was thinking about it last night. My songbeasts will be useful, but I’ll have to be careful with how I deploy them. The crystalline ones are strong but costly, and the shadows won’t last long under focused fire.” She turned, pacing the room. “And if there is a champion among their ranks, I want them.”

Rava nodded. “If Aegis has a champion leading this attack, they’ll show themselves eventually. You’ll get your chance.”

Vivienne paused, looking over her shoulder. “And what will you be doing, sweetheart?”

Rava gave her a flat look. “Trying to keep you from making things worse.”

Vivienne laughed, her grin flashing sharp and mischievous. “Oh, Rava, please. You should know by now that I always make things interesting.”

Rava gave her a flat look, ears flicking. “That’s one word for it.” She exhaled through her nose and crossed her arms. “Just… play it smart. You aren’t indestructible.”

Vivienne spun on her heel, the motion smooth and effortless, and closed the distance between them in an instant. Before Rava could react, Vivienne slipped her arms around her waist, looking up at her with a playful glint in her black eyes. “What? Are you worried about little ol’ me?”

“Of course I am.” Rava grumbled, her tail flicking irritably behind her. “You’re constantly reckless.”

Vivienne pressed closer, tilting her head as her voice dropped to a sultry whisper. “Life is full of risks, Rava. That’s what makes it fun.” Her tail gave a slow, deliberate sway, brushing against Rava’s leg. “Besides, I have no intention of dying. It would be bothersome.”

Rava narrowed her eyes, letting out a short, unimpressed huff. “No one goes to the battlefield to die.”

“No, but plenty do.” Vivienne pulled back just enough to meet her gaze properly, her usual teasing edge tempered by something sharper. “And I have no plans to be one of them.”

She finally released Rava, stepping back with a thoughtful hum. “I’m not treating this like I do with aetherbeasts. I know brute force alone won’t work on this scale.” She absently tapped a claw against her chin. “I can work tirelessly, so I’ll use my songbeasts where I can, and where I can’t…” A wicked little smile curled her lips.

“I might just make their camp life miserable.”