Mother of Midnight

Chapter 205 – Distraction the Second

"How are you here now? Why not sooner? Why not too late?" Kivvy demanded, her ears twitching with barely contained energy.

"Good questions," Vivienne admitted, tilting her head. "But we should escape while we still have the cloak of night."

"Fair 'nuff," Kivvy said with a sharp nod, already moving to gather her things. Then she paused, glancing back. "Can you help my sisters too?"

Vivienne's gaze swept over the gathered goblins. A dozen of them, at least—armed, wary, and watching her with a mixture of fear and distrust. They were a liability. Dead weight. She didn’t care about them, and she certainly didn’t have any desire to shepherd them out of the city.

But those weapons of theirs were crude, sure, yet still dangerous. Maybe they'd be useful. And more than that, it would make Kivvy happy.

Vivienne sighed, rolling her shoulders. "Fine. But if they slow us down, I'm not waiting."

That clearly didn’t sit well with the diminutive women, but no one argued. Weapons were checked, packs were slung over shoulders, and they all slipped out of the cellar one by one.

The night was still and heavy, pressing down on them with an eerie hush. No voices, no distant music, no flickering lanterns marking late-night revelers. The city of Aegis, so grand and vast, felt like an empty husk. Even the laboratory had been mostly deserted after hours.

It was uncanny.

Kivvy moved up beside her, her footsteps light but quick. “So, who’s the golden boy?” she asked, nodding toward Caelum.

Vivienne didn’t break stride. “This is Caelum. He’s a goody two-shoes that tried to help me escape and seems to be sticking with me.”

Kivvy quirked a brow. “Goody two-shoes?”

“Overly virtuous,” Vivienne clarified with a small smirk.

Kivvy grinned. “I like that.”

“I broke into a church to rescue you! That’s a crime!” Caelum hissed in protest.

Vivienne didn’t even glance at him. “Caelum, quiet,” she chided, voice light but firm. “We’re trying to be stealthy.”

Kivvy snickered. “She’s got you there, golden boy.”

The group moved in silence, their footsteps barely a whisper against the cold stone streets. The goblins, despite their numbers, were nimble, slipping through the shadows with practiced ease. Vivienne kept her pace measured, her senses stretched outward, feeling the weight of the city’s unnatural stillness.

They needed to leave the alleyways before they could truly make their escape. The streets would be riskier, but the labyrinthine backroads only slowed them down. With a quick glance at Kivvy, Vivienne gestured toward the nearest crossing.

One by one, they stepped into the open.

The moment her foot touched the pavement, a figure emerged from the opposite direction—a middle-aged man, wrapped in a thick, dark coat, the flickering glow of an aether lamp casting his face in uneven shadows. He paused mid-step, eyes widening as they landed on her. Then, without hesitation, he dipped into a bow.

"Your holiness," he said, voice reverent yet trembling. "I apologize for getting in your way."

Vivienne met his gaze with a neutral expression, smoothing her features into something unreadable. She gave a slight nod. "It is forgiven."

The man hesitated, his gaze flickering toward the group behind her. His brow furrowed. "Why do you have so many goblins with you?"

Kivvy tensed beside her, and Vivienne could practically feel the weight of a dozen small hands gripping their weapons tighter.

She arched a brow. "Is it your business?"

The sharpness of her tone sent a shiver through the man. He stammered, stepping back. "O-of course not. Sorry, your holiness."

His head bowed again, but his fingers twitched at his sides. Hesitation. Doubt. Suspicion.

Vivienne held his gaze for a second longer than necessary, just enough to press the weight of her authority into him. Then, with deliberate slowness, she stepped forward, forcing him to shift out of her way.

"Move along," she said, not looking back.

The man swallowed hard and nodded, scurrying away without another word.

Only when he disappeared around the corner did Kivvy release a breath. "What was that about?" she muttered.

Vivienne didn’t answer immediately. She watched the darkness where the man had gone, her fingers twitching at her sides. Something about this city set her teeth on edge. The unnatural emptiness. The way people spoke to her. The way the night itself seemed to listen.

“Let’s keep moving,” she finally said, turning back toward the others.

No one argued.

The wall loomed ahead, a stark contrast against the night sky, its towering presence a reminder of how close they were to safety. It was a section of the wall on the opposite side from where Vivienne had dropped off Renzia and Liora, but it was a small mercy in the grand scheme of things. The area was quieter, and the fewer people they had to pass, the better. Still, her mind raced with the responsibility of keeping everyone safe.

She glanced over her shoulder at the group of goblins—Kivvy, the leader, and the others who had followed them out. The small band had gathered close, their movements subtle, each goblin casting wary glances over their shoulders as if they could feel the tension of the city pressing in from all sides. Even in the dead of night, Vivienne could sense the ever-watchful eyes that tracked their every movement.

It was only when they were close enough to the wall that Vivienne shifted, her body twisting and contorting as her form morphed back into the drider shape she had used to climb it earlier. The sharp, clicking sound of her transformation echoed in the otherwise silent air, sending a ripple of unease through the group.

The goblins flinched collectively. The sight of her eight spider legs, black and glistening in the moonlight, sent horrified gasps through them, but they didn’t move. They knew the danger of staying in the streets any longer. Even Kivvy, usually unfazed by anything, took a half step back, eyes flicking nervously toward the dark outline of the city around them.

Vivienne stood tall, her black eyes narrowing as she scanned the group, every one of them caught in her gaze, trembling but resolute. She straightened, her voice cool, calm, and authoritative.

“As many of you as possible, climb on and hold on tight. I will take you over the wall.”

Her words were met with a few tentative glances among the goblins. There was hesitation in the air, an unspoken fear of what they were about to do, but they all knew the stakes were too high to argue. Kivvy, as always, stepped forward first, glancing up at Vivienne and then at the wall.

"All right, but... don’t drop us, yeah?” Kivvy muttered, forcing a nervous smile. It didn't quite reach her eyes. She already had one hand on Vivienne’s lower abdomen, ready to climb.

Vivienne’s lips curled into a small smirk, the only response she gave. She could feel the weight of the goblins settling on her, their limbs quick to grasp onto whatever they could—her thorax, her back, her abdomen, even her shoulders, as they scrambled to get on. Seven managed to find purchase on her.

The load was more than she anticipated, but Vivienne didn’t let it show. She turned her gaze to the wall, her feet sticking to the stone as she began to climb. The wall was worn and smooth, but the added weight didn’t slow her down; her muscles tensed and pulsed as she ascended, pulling herself up with each click of her legs.

She had expected maybe one or two of the goblins to slip off, but they all somehow held on, their tiny hands gripping her tightly as she made her way down. Their presence was a slight burden, but one she bore with ease, her legs powerful enough to carry the extra weight without issue.

Once she was at the bottom, she released the first load of goblins, watching them scurry into the shadows of the alleyway. A quick glance around showed no sign of guards. The city was eerily quiet, the streets completely devoid of the usual bustle she had grown accustomed to. She had no time to dwell on it.

She quickly ascended the wall again, her body moving with fluidity and grace, feeling the extra weight of the goblins disappear as she made her climb. The second load was much easier, the added weight of only five goblins, plus Kivvy, barely slowing her down. Kivvy’s excited voice caught her attention as the goblins settled in place, all ready to be carried over the wall.

"I’ll wait for you in that direction, about a bell into the forest,” Vivienne said, her voice low but firm as she gave Caelum a nod.

He returned a small nod, and without further hesitation, Vivienne began her ascent. She moved faster now, the extra burden lighter with each step. Her body flowed up the stone face of the wall like a well-oiled machine. The sounds of the night city faded behind her as she neared the top, no guards in sight. She couldn’t hear anything, not even the familiar sounds of clinking armor.

Reaching the top, she climbed over the wall without pause. As her feet landed on the other side, her head snapped to the left when she heard the first shouts. Her sharp eyes caught the movement of Sovereignty guards rushing toward her, weapons drawn.

There was no time to waste.

Without hesitation, Vivienne launched herself at them, her claws extending like deadly extensions. She cut through the air with precision, her legs propelling her with frightening speed. The first guard barely had time to react before her claws sank into his face, the force of her strike gouging a jagged hole into his head. His body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

The second guard was knocked back by the sheer force of Vivienne’s attack, stumbling onto his back. He attempted to scramble to his feet, but Vivienne was already moving on, her legs driving her toward the next guard.

Just as she was about to bring her foreleg down to impale him, the last guard—a grizzled man with a thin, desperate look in his eyes—pulled something from his belt. Vivienne’s eyes narrowed as she saw him clutch a glowing aether crystal in his hand.

He smashed it onto the stone floor with all his strength. A bright, blinding flash of light surged through Vivienne, searing her eyes and forcing her to rear back, a low hiss escaping her lips. The goblins on her back shouted in alarm, gripping her tighter, but Vivienne quickly shook off the disorienting light.

With a swift, brutal strike, she plunged her leg through the guard’s chest, her clawed foot puncturing his body with ease. The force of the blow sent him crumpling to the ground in a heap, lifeless.

Vivienne wasted no time. She pulled her leg free and dashed down the wall, her sharp eyes scanning the area for any further threats. The shouts of alarm were already echoing through the streets, and she could hear the distant sound of more guards rushing toward her position. The quiet night had suddenly become a frenzy.

As she dropped over the side, she felt a sudden shift—one of the goblins had lost her grip and was tumbling off Vivienne's back. Without thinking, Vivienne’s arm transformed, stretching into a thick tentacle. She reached out just in time, catching the falling goblin by the wrist and pulling her back into place. The goblin squealed in fear, but Vivienne gave a quiet, reassuring hiss, keeping them both steady as she moved with urgency.

At the base of the wall, Vivienne let all the goblins off her..

"Renzia and Liora are in the eastern part of the forest," Vivienne said, her voice a deep, resonating hum as she pointed towards the thick underbrush. "Stay out of sight. I will create a distraction, so move as fast as you can."

Kivvy nodded, her eyes glinting in the dark, though there was a hesitant edge to her expression. "Okay," she muttered, glancing over her shoulder at the looming wall that separated them from the city. “Thanks, Viv.”

With that, she and the goblins bolted across the fields, their short legs pumping furiously. For all their size, they moved with impressive speed, dashing over the uneven terrain with a purpose. Natural sprinters, Vivienne mused.

She didn’t linger to watch. With swift, practiced movements, she scaled the wall once more, her claws finding purchase in the weathered stone. She ascended with ruthless efficiency, cresting the top just as the first voices reached her ears.

The guards had arrived.

They stood at the ready, weapons drawn, faces set in grim determination. They had responded faster than she’d hoped—but not fast enough.

Vivienne lunged without hesitation, her foreleg lancing forward like a spear. The first guard barely had time to gasp before the pointed limb punched through his chest, lifting him clear off the ground for a moment before she yanked it free, letting him crumple.

Another guard came at her from the side, sword flashing. She twisted, letting the blade scrape uselessly against her obsidian carapace, and raked her claws across his throat. He gurgled, stumbling backward, clutching at the wound before collapsing.

The third hesitated a fraction too long. That was all the opening she needed. She reared up, her powerful lower limbs slamming into his torso, sending him sprawling across the blood-slick stone. He gasped, scrambling to reach for something—anything—but Vivienne was already shifting her weight, seeking the next threat.

The night air filled with the clang of weapons and the wet, gurgling gasps of the dying. More guards poured onto the wall, their numbers growing with each passing moment, but it made no difference.

Vivienne cut them down as fast as they arrived. Her claws tore through armor like parchment, her forelegs impaled those too slow to retreat, and her maw snapped shut on throats, silencing screams before they could rise.

The air reeked of blood and sweat, and through it all, hunger gnawed at her. It clawed at her insides, insistent, aching. She had gone too long without feeding.

Between strikes, she lashed out tendrils, sharp and precise, sinking them into the still-warm corpses littering the stone. Flesh sloughed away in ribbons, drawn into her body, sustaining her. The taste of iron and marrow filled her mouth, and a shudder of satisfaction rippled through her. Not enough. But it would do.

She wouldn’t linger. Couldn’t.

She had her daughter to return to.

Another wave of guards stormed toward her, their movements desperate, frenzied—too many. She could kill them all, but it would take time she didn’t have.

Vivienne twisted, bracing herself, then lunged backward off the wall.

The air rushed past her in a blur.

Halfway through the fall, her form writhed and shifted, chitin giving way to fur, extra limbs vanishing into sleek muscle. By the time she hit the ground, she was no longer a drider.

She landed in a crouch, her greater wolf form absorbing the impact with effortless grace. Powerful legs coiled beneath her, and in the next instant, she was moving, sprinting across the open fields.

Behind her, alarm bells rang, voices shouting in panic and fury. Let them. She had already chosen her direction—opposite to where the goblins and Caelum had gone.

She bared her teeth in the dark.

Let them try to catch her.