Mother of Midnight

Chapter 64 – Ratcatchers

The beasts closed in, their luminescent forms pulsating with aetheric energy. Their distorted, humanoid shapes moved unnaturally, limbs jerking and twisting as though the energy coursing through them barely held them together.

Vivienne ducked low, slipping between their swiping claws and darting toward the nearest wall. Her claws raked across the stone as she launched herself upward, twisting mid-air to avoid another glowing mass lunging for her. From the elevated vantage, she struck out, slicing through one of the beasts’ necks with an arc of her claws. Its head dissolved into aether, and its body collapsed in on itself, leaving only a faint shimmer in the air.

But they were endless. For every beast she destroyed, another two took its place, surging from the glowing breach that shimmered ominously at the far side of the room.

“Persistent little things, aren’t they?” Vivienne spat, landing lightly on the balls of her feet. Her dress was streaked with faint smears of aether, the glowing substance evaporating like mist.

Renzia remained at the center of the room, a storm of precision and efficiency. With each fluid strike, one of her colossal sewing needles slammed into a beast’s chest, pinning it against the floor. In a smooth, practiced motion, she wrenched the weapon free, leaving behind a splatter of aetheric mist as the creature dissolved into vapor. Her movements were almost mechanical in their perfection, each strike calculated, the next already in motion before the last had even fully settled. Her figure blurred with speed and purpose, her tall form a ghost among the chaos.

Vivienne observed, her eyes narrowing. Renzia was doing her job, yes, but the sheer volume of creatures was overwhelming. She could already feel the strain creeping up her limbs as the tide of beasts kept coming, one after another, no end in sight.

With a sigh, Vivienne’s form shifted, melting into her base form, her tattered dress falling to the ground. It wasn’t the most powerful of her shapes, not by far, but these creatures were hardly the strongest. They were numerous, not formidable—yet in such numbers, they posed a problem. The tight space was not in her favor either, and her larger, more imposing forms would only hinder her ability to maneuver.

This form, smaller and more fluid, gave her the mobility she needed. She could shift and adapt with ease, her body reshaping itself into an ever-changing mass that could evade the beasts' relentless attacks. Her claws retracted into her amorphous form, replaced with multiple tendrils that stretched and slithered like serpents, ready to lash out at the nearest threat.

Tharon, who had been circling with his weapon held ahead of him, saw the shift in Vivienne’s form and lunged at her with his cleaver. The blade swung through her mass with little resistance, passing harmlessly through the liquid-like substance she had become.

Vivienne’s tendrils whipped out like striking vipers, lashing at him with speed and force. She sprung them into his midsection with enough force to send him back. He stumbled, the air knocked from his lungs as she sent him crashing to the floor, his cleaver clattering from his hand. For a moment, he struggled to regain his footing, but Vivienne was already gone, retreating into the shadows of the room, her form dissolving as she moved to another corner of the battlefield.

In her absence, the aether beasts continued to surge forward, relentless and eager to finish what their masters had started. Vivienne’s tendrils erupted from the darkness, grabbing hold of several of the nearest creatures. With a powerful tug, she pulled them toward her. Dozens of hungry mouths, spread across her shifting mass, opened wide to consume the beasts whole. The creatures struggled against her, but their efforts were futile as she devoured them in one swift motion.

Vivienne’s form pulsed with renewed strength as the last of the beasts vanished into her, their aether swirling in her many mouths, fueling her. She could feel the power of each creature—some warm with the dusk aether, others searing with the intensity of dawn aether—intermingling, adding to her growing energy. It was a delicious, addictive sensation, but it wasn’t enough. She needed more, something bigger, something that would tip the balance in her favor.

Her tendrils lashed out once more, pulling in another wave of the humanoid aetherbeasts. Each creature, though vaguely human in shape, was no match for the voracious hunger that drove her. They fought and clawed, but as they were dragged into her many maws, their resistance crumbled into nothing. Every bite sent a rush of energy surging through her, fueling her mass as it grew larger and more substantial. The echoes of her low, rumbling satisfaction reverberated through the room, a haunting reminder of her insatiable nature.

The tide of aetherbeasts slowed. Their numbers, once seemingly endless, dwindled until only a single straggler remained. It hesitated at the threshold, as though aware of its impending doom. Before it could make another step, Vivienne, now a massive, shifting entity that filled over half the room, extended a tendril to snatch it. The beast flailed uselessly as she hoisted it into the air and tossed it effortlessly into one of her waiting maws. It disappeared with a sickening gulp, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.

Vivienne paused, the haze of her feeding frenzy clearing as she retracted her tendrils and began to pull her mass back into a more manageable form. Her shifting, amorphous body shrank, the countless mouths and tendrils disappearing as she reformed into her more human-like shape. She surveyed the room, her black eyes gleaming in the dim light.

The dilapidated chamber, once teeming with chaos, was now eerily still. Only Renzia remained, standing in the center of the room with her colossal sewing needles in hand, their metallic sheen dulled by the ichor of the beasts she had dispatched. Her cloth-wrapped frame was as composed as ever, though her head tilted slightly as though awaiting further instructions.

Vivienne’s gaze swept the space, but there was no sign of the hooded lekine or Tharon. They had slipped away in the chaos, leaving only the faint, lingering trace of their aether in the air. Vivienne let out a low growl of frustration and shifted into her prime form with an annoyed expression, though the faintest smile tugged at her lips.

Most importantly, she had their scent now. Aether had its own unique flavor, and theirs was distinct—one she wouldn’t forget anytime soon.

“Renzia, my dear,” Vivienne said, her voice smooth and dripping with intent. “We’re taking a small break... to hunt.”

Renzia tilted her head slightly at Vivienne’s words, the motion slow and deliberate. Her stitched face gave nothing away, but the faint creak of her wooden frame betrayed her readiness. With practiced precision, she wiped the ichor from one of her colossal sewing needles, the dark fluid pooling on the ruined floor. She slid it back into her hollow neck with a metallic clang, leaving the other still in her hand, poised for whatever came next.

Vivienne stretched, her body rippling as the last remnants of her monstrous form folded away, giving her a more humanoid appearance. The black eyes glinted with sharp focus, and her lips curved into a smile that promised retribution. “They think they’ve escaped,” she murmured, her tone laced with amusement. “But the thing about running... it always leaves a trail.”

She stepped forward, the pads of her bare feet silent against the cold stone. The air was thick with residual energy, faint but unmistakable. Vivienne crouched low near a shattered column, her claws brushing against the surface where a faint scorch mark stood out against the aged stone. She drew her hand to her face, tasting the remnants of aether that clung to the air like invisible smoke.

“Rushing,” she whispered, more to herself than Renzia. “Careless. Desperate.”

Behind her, Renzia shifted, her movements unnervingly fluid for a frame that seemed so rigid. Her shadow stretched long and jagged against the uneven walls, her silhouette blending seamlessly with the gloom.

“Come,” Vivienne said as she straightened, gesturing forward. “They can run, but they can’t hide.”

The two made their way deeper into the ruins. The corridors twisted and narrowed, the once-proud architecture reduced to a jagged maze of decay. Shadows danced unnaturally along the walls, their movements almost alive, as though the ruin itself sought to obscure the path.

Vivienne moved with purpose, her steps soundless against the crumbling stone. The air thickened as they descended further, the remnants of aether leaving a trail that only she could follow. It was faint but distinct, a tantalizing thread of energy laced with desperation.

“They’re trying to mislead us,” she muttered, crouching near a patch of disturbed dust. The faint scuffs of hurried footsteps betrayed their path. “Clumsy.”

Behind her, Renzia glided silently, her wooden frame moving with an unsettling grace. The faint scrape of her remaining needle against the stone walls punctuated the otherwise oppressive quiet.

The pair reached a fork in the path, one tunnel descending into a faint glow of aetheric light, the other veering into complete darkness. Vivienne paused, tilting her head as though listening. She crouched low, her clawed hand brushing against the ground.

“They split up,” she murmured, her tone almost amused. “The hooded one went left. Tharon took the right.”

Renzia tilted her head, the creak of her neck joints sharp in the silence. She seemed to hesitate for a moment, the needle in her hand shifting slightly.

“Don’t worry,” Vivienne said, a grin spreading across her face. “We’ll catch them both. But let’s make the game fair, shall we? You take the brute. I’ll handle the sly one.”

Renzia’s head tilted once more in acknowledgment before she turned toward the right tunnel, her steps soundless as she vanished into the dark.

Vivienne straightened, her eyes gleaming. “Now then,” she whispered, stepping into the glowing corridor.

The light grew stronger as she moved, the air shimmering faintly with residual energy. The hooded figure had left more than just a trail—stray tendrils of aether clung to the walls, faint and flickering like dying embers. Vivienne’s claws flexed as she absorbed the scene, her predatory instincts sharp.

“You’re scared,” she said softly, her voice carrying through the tunnel. “I can taste it. You’re clever, but not clever enough.”

A faint scuffling echoed ahead, barely audible, and Vivienne’s smirk widened. She didn’t rush. Instead, she slowed her pace, her movements deliberate and unnerving. She let her presence seep into the air, a suffocating reminder of the predator closing in.

The corridor opened into a vast chamber, its center dominated by an ancient fountain long dried and crumbling. The hooded figure stood near the far wall, their breathing labored, one hand braced against the stone.

“Caught you,” Vivienne purred, stepping into the light.

The figure turned, their glowing eyes narrowing beneath the hood. “You don’t know what you’re doing,” they hissed, their voice sharp with desperation.

“Oh, but I do,” Vivienne replied, her form shifting slightly, tendrils rippling just beneath her skin. “I’m hunting.”

She stalked forward, her movements fluid, predatory, every step a deliberate reminder that she was in control. The hooded lekine braced themselves against the crumbling stone, their glowing eyes darting toward the other exits in the chamber.

"You're cornered," Vivienne said, her voice smooth, almost teasing. "But please, try to run. It’s much more fun when they struggle."

The lekine straightened, drawing their rapier. Its blade gleamed with an intense aetheric energy, casting long, dancing shadows across the walls. “If you think I’m just another mark,” they began, their voice steadying despite their labored breathing, “you’re sorely mistaken.”

Vivienne tilted her head, her black eyes narrowing in amusement. “Oh, good,” she purred. “I was worried this would be over too quickly.”

In a blink, she surged forward, her tendrils snapping out like whips toward her prey. The lekine ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding the lashing appendages. They countered with a precise thrust of their rapier, its glowing edge slicing through one of her tendrils. Vivienne hissed, recoiling slightly, but her grin only widened.

“You’ve got some fight in you. Good,” she said, her voice low and dangerous. “Let’s see how long you can last.”

The lekine darted toward the center of the room, their movements quick and calculated. They slashed at the air, sending arcs of aether energy hurtling toward her. Vivienne’s form rippled, the blasts passing through her shapeless mass with little effect.

“Really?” she drawled. “You’re going to make me work for this?”

The lekine’s only response was another flurry of strikes, each one aimed with deadly precision. Vivienne dodged and weaved, her claws lashing out in retaliation. One talon caught the lekine’s arm, wrenching the rapier from their grip and sending it skittering across the chamber floor.

The lekine stumbled, their breathing ragged as they pressed their back to the wall. Vivienne loomed before them, her form towering and shifting, her many eyes gleaming with hunger.

“This is the part where you beg,” she said softly, her voice dripping with malice.

The lekine glared up at her, their glowing eyes defiant even in the face of certain defeat. “You don’t understand what’s coming,” they spat.

Vivienne paused, her tendrils hesitating mid-strike. “Oh? Enlighten me,” she said, though her tone made it clear she wasn’t expecting a satisfying answer.

The lekine smirked, blood trickling from the corner of their mouth. “You’re not the only hunter down here.”

From the shadows, a low, guttural growl echoed through the chamber. Vivienne’s grin faltered, her attention snapping to the darkness beyond the crumbling fountain.

“Interesting,” she muttered, flexing her claws as she prepared for whatever came next. "Let's see if they taste as good as you do."

The growl deepened, vibrating through the ancient stone chamber as a monstrous shape slithered forward from the shadows. Its body was an amalgamation of jagged obsidian plates and raw, pulsating aether, glowing fissures splitting its form like molten veins. Behind it, similar smaller beasts prowled into view, their crystal-like eyes fixed on Vivienne.

She didn’t flinch. Instead, she smiled—a sharp, dangerous thing that matched the gleam of her claws.

“I was worried you’d be boring,” she murmured, rolling her shoulders. Aether flickered over her skin, her humanoid form now in its full, predatory glory. Her dark eyes gleamed, and her stance radiated effortless power, like a hunter at the peak of her hunt.

The largest beast charged, its massive legs cracking the stone floor beneath it. It lunged with a roar, jaws gaping wide to swallow her whole.

Vivienne sidestepped with uncanny speed, claws raking across its flank in one fluid motion. The beast howled, its momentum carrying it past her as she spun on her heel and leapt. Her claws pierced its glowing core, and with a brutal twist, she tore it free. Aether spilled from the creature like blood, and it collapsed, dissolving into shimmering mist.

The pack surged, their feral snarls echoing as they moved to surround her. Vivienne crouched low, her muscles taut, ready to spring.

One leapt from the side, claws outstretched. She caught it mid-air, her hand locking around its throat. With a flick of her wrist, she hurled it into another approaching beast, both shattering into fragments on impact.

Another lunged from behind, but Vivienne pivoted smoothly, her movements precise and controlled. Her claws lashed out, severing its limbs before she drove her hand through its chest, crushing the core within.

The air grew thick with the metallic tang of aether. The pack hesitated, their numbers dwindling as Vivienne stalked forward.

“Come on,” she taunted, her voice low and mocking. “You were all so eager a moment ago.”

One beast, slightly larger than the others, snarled and pounced. Vivienne met its charge head-on, her claws clashing against its crystalline teeth. For a brief moment, they were locked in a deadly grapple, her strength matched against its raw ferocity. Then she twisted, using the beast’s own momentum to slam it into the ground. She drove her claws into its core, tearing it apart with a satisfying crunch.

A soft sound caught her attention. She turned her head sharply to see the hooded lekine slipping toward the far exit, their movement careful but quick.

“Oh no, you don’t,” Vivienne growled.

In one fluid motion, she launched herself forward, claws sparking against the stone as she closed the distance in seconds. The lekine spun, their hand darting toward something hidden beneath their cloak, but Vivienne’s claw was already at their throat, pinning them against the wall.

“Trying to deny me a meal?” she asked, her tone almost playful, though her grip was anything but.

The lekine’s glowing eyes met hers, defiance flickering within them despite their helpless position. “You have no idea what you’re meddling with,” they hissed, their voice trembling as much with frustration as fear.

Vivienne tilted her head, her lips curling into a sly smirk. “Oh, you keep saying that, and quite frankly, darling, I don’t think I care.” She shifted her weight, her tail whipping around behind her like a serpent poised to strike. With a quick, decisive movement, it lashed out at the final crystalline beast as it lunged for her, shattering the creature into glittering shards that scattered across the chamber floor. She didn’t even glance back at her handiwork, her full attention locked on her prey.

Her claws clicked lightly as she crouched, leaning closer to the lekine. “Let me explain how this is going to work,” she began, her tone sweet yet dripping with menace. “Option one: you tell me everything I want to know, right now, no games. Or,” her tail curled around the lekine’s legs like a steel vice, squeezing just enough to make them flinch, “option two: you don’t. And I promise you’ll wish you had.”

The lekine shuddered as the room seemed to grow colder. Their glowing eyes widened slightly, betraying the fear they were desperately trying to suppress. Vivienne’s grin widened, revealing rows of sharp teeth. Her tongue, unnaturally long and serpentine, slithered out to taste the air lazily, her black eyes narrowing in delight.

“Oh, I see it now,” she purred, her voice low and resonant. “I can taste it on you. Feel it in your aether.” Her claws flexed around their throat, sharp tips catching the dim light. “Fear.” She leaned closer, her breath brushing against the lekine’s face. “So, what will it be?”

The lekine struggled against her grip, their breaths coming in short, panicked bursts. They glanced toward the shattered remains of the crystalline beasts scattered across the room, as if seeking salvation from their obliterated allies. None would come.

“You… you don’t understand what you’re interfering with,” they rasped, their voice trembling. Despite the words, Vivienne could feel their aether shifting—erratic, wild, teetering on the edge of collapse.

Vivienne chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent a shiver through the chamber. “And you don’t seem to understand,” she murmured, her tail tightening around their legs with a slow, deliberate squeeze, “how little I care about your warnings.” Her claws pressed just enough to draw the smallest droplets of blood, crimson against their pale skin. “This is your last chance. Talk, or you’ll wish for a fate kinder than me.”

The lekine's head turned sharply to the side as if searching for an unseen ally or a fleeting escape route. Their voice cracked as they spoke. “Fine! Fine… I’ll talk.”

Vivienne eased her grip, though her claws remained poised and ready. “That’s better,” she said, her tone sweetened with mock approval. “Start at the beginning, darling. Who sent you? Why are you here?”

The lekine swallowed hard, their glowing eyes flickering with hesitation. “It’s… Rathik,” they admitted, their voice barely above a whisper. “We’re under his command.”

Vivienne’s expression shifted, her grin tightening into something sharper, more predatory. “Rathik.” she repeated, savoring the name as though it were a delicacy. “And what does that slimy creature want with this place? Speak clearly. I’ve little patience for stammering.”

The lekine’s gaze darted to the side again, but Vivienne’s claws flexed, a silent reminder of her proximity to their throat. They flinched, continuing hurriedly. “Laiken and Drevaris… their deaths put everyone on edge. Rathik’s gone into high alert. He sent us to guard the entrances to the Undercity.”

“Undercity?” Vivienne tilted her head, her black eyes narrowing. “What’s he doing down there?”

“I don’t know!” the lekine blurted, desperation lacing their words. “Only his inner circle knows the full plan. We’re just soldiers, told where to stand and who to kill.”

Vivienne hummed, tapping her claws idly against the lekine’s neck. “How very dull,” she mused. “But surely you’ve seen something—overheard a whisper or two?”

They hesitated, their aether trembling in her grasp. “I’ve… I’ve seen Rathik meet with clergy. Sovereignty of Aegis. They’ve been coming and going from the Undercity.”

Vivienne’s grin returned, wicked and gleaming. “The Sovereignty? Now that’s interesting. But why would they stoop to meeting with a creature like Rathik?”

The lekine shook their head weakly. “I don’t know. I swear, I don’t know anything more. I’m not privy to their discussions.”

Vivienne sighed theatrically, her tail flicking behind her. “What a pity. You’re almost as useless as those beasts of yours.” Her eyes gleamed suddenly, her grip tightening. “Speaking of which, how are you controlling them?”

The lekine flinched again, their glowing eyes wide. “I—I don’t know that either! They’re given to us already trained. Someone higher up handles that. We just… use them.”

Vivienne leaned closer, her voice a low, dangerous whisper. “Convenient,” she drawled. “But hardly satisfying.”

The lekine’s glowing eyes darted wildly, their voice trembling as they stammered, “S-so… can I leave?”

Vivienne chuckled softly, her laugh carrying an almost musical quality. It might have been soothing were it not for the predatory gleam in her black eyes. She tilted her head, her voice as sweet as honey. “Leave? Oh, darling, you’ve misunderstood entirely.” Her claws flexed, glinting faintly in the dim light. “You’ve been so helpful, so I’ll be nice... and make it quick.”

“Wha—” The word barely left their lips before Vivienne’s face twisted unnaturally. Her jaw split apart with a wet crack, revealing rows of jagged, glistening teeth within a maw that seemed to stretch impossibly wide.

The lekine’s scream pierced the air as she lunged, her teeth sinking into their shoulder with savage force. Flesh and aether alike tore beneath her jaws, their essence spilling forth in a torrent of raw energy that she devoured hungrily.

The screams didn’t last long.