1 You Left Us to Become Us

Vilumenta,

I have this passion project. I have this dream of creating this world for others to enjoy. I have this goal that will tear me limb from limb as those I create for take more than what they have been offered. I have this passion for being ripped apart. I have this damnation of never being fully full. I have this nightmare.

-Illora Vein, Unknown Heir of the Empire

~~~~

"It's been years since I first read that letter. Six, I think. I hadn't seen Illora since the night before. I was told that she was seen leaving The Cavity; evening gown and all. Six years. That infuriating woman has been gone for six years. Bitch.

I miss her. Even as I read the note for what seemed like the millionth time, I miss her. And yet I want nothing more than to rip her dainty jugular out of place. She should have told me. How could she not tell me? Me! I was there for her! I was her shoulder! I gave her a place to stay when that damned Empress would overwork her... I was there. But, no! She chose this! She left me! She left all of u-"

"Vilumenta!" her Virulent eyes snapped open. Thick black tears streamed from her bright purple orbs. The woman made no move to wipe them. She couldn't move. Had she really said all of that? Out loud? Gods, be damned. "Vilumenta... are you-"

"I'm fine... I just. I'm so- ugh I dunno! I'm..." Vilumenta growled helplessly into her gloved hands. "How could she do this to us?! We were her friends!" She roughly slammed her head into her partner's chest. "She knew the laws! She knew the risks!" Her hands bunched up the fabric of their shirt as she cried angrily. "I- Ferox... what am I supposed to do?"

They gently put their hands against her cheeks and wiped away her inky tears. "Theres nothing we can do, Minty. I'm sorry..." Ferox ran their fingers through her pinstrait hair as they held her against themself. "I... Hmm. How should I put this?" They contemplated their response carefully while humming softly into Vilumenta's hair. "Okay. So. We did the same thing. We chose to become what we are because we had no other choice. It was this or die, and we both know that neither if us is going down without a fight. I'm too determined to let someone get in my way and you're literally too stubborn to die. But, Illora wasn't inevitably going to die like we were. Not physically, anyways." They paused, giving Vilumenta a chance to process.

"What do you mean? I mean... I get that she was being worked to the bone and that she didn't even want to be in that family, but she could have come to us! I would have snuck her out of the Cavity!" Vilumenta looked into Ferox's ruby hues with ferocity. " I would've done anything for her!"

"Maybe that's what she was afraid of. She probably didn't wanna get us involved. And think about it, muffin, she knew where she was going. Illora had a goal. She wanted to be like us. She wanted to make The Deal and she wanted to make sure that no one was there to stop her. She wanted to harness the kind of power that we do." Vilumenta began to cry again, reaching her arms around Ferox's neck, tangling her hands through their unruly crimson locks. "This wasn't our fault, Minty. She chose this. You can't keep blaming yourself for her choices, my love." They rubbed comforting circles into her back, careful to avoid the recent wound. How she got it only makes the situation so much worse.

Vilumenta nodded her head into the crook of their neck. "Sleepy?" She nodded with a crude sniffle. "Want me to carry you to bed, muffin?" Another nod. "Alright, let's get you to bed. I'll clean your wound while you rest, okay?"

"I love you." They smiled and lifted Vilumenta's small frame into their strong arms with absolute ease.

"I love you too. My Sparke Muffin. Precious spider baby." That earned them a hiss and a light hair tug.

"At least I'm not a goat." She mumbled sleepily, exhausted from the emotion.

"Ibex. I am an Ibex. You, my dear are a tiny dancing spider. A sparkle muffin!" They affectionately nuzzled one of her small double horns with their nose.

"Peacock. Spider. You uncultured... slime..." Vilumenta's sentence faded into a whisper as a gentle snore fell from the back of her throat.

"Oh, I'm a slime now?" They spoke quietly to their sleeping lover, "Poor thing. I wish your emotions could be stronger. You get so exhausted... you really got the shitty end of The Deal, huh muffin." They began walking towards their shared wing, "At least you have me. And I have you. I'll make sure you get what you deserve, love." Ferox gently changed Vilumenta's slipping position, trying to keep their hands away from the sizable hole in her back. "And I'll make sure she never does this to you again."