Basil’s ears perked up as her eyes fell upon her eldest daughter. Vie stood quietly watering the garden, pretending to mind her own business.
“Oh Vie! Heyyyy. Didn’t see you there.” Basil laughed nervously. “Sorry I got dragged away back there. How is your garden com-” She stopped, dumbstruck as she looked upon the massive plants that Vie was tending.
“Whoa,” She gasped.
It took a moment for Basil to realize what she was looking at. There were sunflower-like plants the size of train-wheel spokes jutting out from the soil in a blanket of shades of red and violet.
“I suppose we can start this evening over? Good evening, Mother. How were your observations?” Vie said with a smile. She placed the watering can down and curtsied to Basil.
“They’re… beautiful!” As Basil was about to touch one, Vie gently took her hand.
“These are a new phenotype of spite flowers, I started channeling negative energy and using it as a fertilizer… here, try one.” Vie plucked a petal from one of the plants.
It sizzled audibly as it touched Basil’s tongue, but melted into a sweet citrus. “Oh wow that’s... HOT.”
“Yes, they are quite spicy. But you learn to savor them.” Vie paused, admiring her work. “They took a lot of time to cultivate, but I think the effects are worth it. A form of evolution only capable with an outside hand guiding it.”
Vie looked back at Basil, unblinking. “...This place has that effect on people, right? Intentionally or not.”
Basil felt uneasy listening to Vie’s tone of voice.
“Taking away someone’s natural destiny, in exchange for your own personal self righteousness? Why, that’s downright common around these parts,” Vie said with a quiet growl.
“...You said you made them by channeling ‘negative’ energy?” Basil asked, trying to move the conversation along.
She ignored Vie’s implications and knelt down to run her hand through a flower bush.
“Did you have a good time crossing the barrier again today?” Vie answered, Her gaze stonelike.
Basil stopped and straightened her posture. “Alright Vie, I get it,” Basil sighed. “You are after all, a Princess of the Fey, not the Queen of subtlety.” She’d anticipated an argument, but had hoped it could at least wait until after dinner.
Vie sneered at Basil. “I’m not a princess of anything. You know how much it disgusts me when you say things like that.” Vie glanced around to make sure they were alone. “The walls have ears.”
After a cursory check, Vie sighed, tucking her hands into her apron. “Besides. The only thing I have in common with real princesses is that I’m trapped in a tower.”
“You’re not trapped anywhere, you’re safe here,” Basil said softly. She placed her hand on her daughter’s shoulder.
“Vie, I’m tired. Can we not talk about work today? Mom just needs a couple days without having to think about such heavy stuff all the time,” Basil groaned.
“The others may not seem to mind. But I’ve seen a few thousand more sunrises than any of them. I know I begged you for sanctuary, but I never agreed to rot behind these walls, Basil,” Vie pressed, bitterly brushing Basil’s hand away.
“Oh boy. This argument again,” Basil muttered.
“I answered your questions, didn't I? You’re the one who’s supposed to be teaching me good manners.” Vie’s voice raised to a whine.
Basil attempted to look away, but Vie approached until their eyes were locked. After several uncomfortable seconds, Basil broke the silence.
“Ugh. cut it out,” Basil muttered.
Basil sighed audibly and crossed her arms. “Vie, I know it’s been hard to be so patient. Even for you. Especially for you ever since you started pestering me on a daily-”
Vie cut in. “2364 days and counting.”
Basil frowned. “Hey. Come on. Let me finish. I just need a second to figure out what I'm trying to say.”
Vie frowned and mimicked Basil’s posturing. Though her impression wasn’t nearly as dead-on as Asmo’s, it was made more disquieting by Vie’s Fey nature. “Pester, pester, pester,” She sassed back, mocking Basil by puppeting the words with her hand. The shadowplay of her hands cast a haunting visage of Basil.
“Basil, I may look like this,” Vie said, gesturing at herself. “And I may honor you as my legal guardian. But, I'm older than your great grandsire. I’m far more ancient than everyone else behind these walls put together…” She paused momentarily to consider the train of thought before barrelling on. “Okay, save maybe Nyx… so don’t you try and talk down to me! And don’t you ever think you can lie to me. Mother.” Her tone was condescending and brittle.
“Look, you...” Basil paused and took a deep breath. “Before you start mouthing off at me…”
Basil grabbed onto a handful of her hair in frustration. “Okay, look. I’ve been thinking about what you said. And… Well, I think you may be right about extending the boundaries… maybe.”
“Wait… for real?” Vie asked cautiously.
Basil nodded silently and with a grimace.
“Wow, admitting someone else is right? Who are you and what did you do with the real Basil?” Vie said, wrapping her arms around Basil. “What brought about this sudden bout of character growth?” She asked gleefully.
“Let’s just say it’s been a long 20-odd years,” Basil muttered.
Basil hugged Vie back as she continued. “We can start slow, the woods are still teeming with folks that are less than thrilled about us being here. But I think we’re making progress.” She jostled Vie’s hair again as she pulled away from the hug
“Speaking of which, have any of them made contact with you recently?” Vie asked, cautiously. She fixed her hair as she frowned at Basil’s infantile showings of affection. “The wind has been uneasy as of late.”
Basil shook her head. She made an effort to avoid eye contact.
“So, about these spiteflowers… What’re the magnesium levels in the soil looking like?” Basil laughed airly as she looked away from Vie.
Vie resumed her unbreaking stare as Basil scrambled to change the subject. “You know I can tell when you lie to me Basil.”
“Okay fine, but… Not for a lack of trying,” Basil coughed.
“BASIL!” Vie shouted.
Basil pouted as she crossed her arms, mirroring Vie’s haughty sas.
“As a member of the old order, it’s your responsibility to answer the call!” Vie hissed.
“That worked when there were hundreds of us. I have a day job,” Basil retorted. Her eyes were still glancing over her shoulder.
“We’ve all taken the oath! You have to follow the call!” Vie continued, flabbergasted.
She felt the air simmer between them, Vie’s temperament showing through her typical icy demeanor.
“…Pim was the one that had you take the oath. And she wasn’t exactly a shining paragon of Iyr, if you know what I mean,” Basil muttered, refusing eye contact.
Vie’s face puffed up and small physical sparks of static electricity began to dart through the air.
“Heeeeyyyy…It’s fine. If it was actually a big deal, they would just come out and say it. Instead of coming at me with riddles,” Basil said, trying to lighten the air.
Vie sneered at her, calling her bluff. “...I saw Nyx's painting. What brought that on?” Vie prodded.
“Oh that...” Basil caught Vie’s death glare and sighed. “They tore apart a Joy Bunny that crossed the threshold.”
“Sorry… WHAT!?! Joy Bunnies can cross the boundary?” Vie asked dumbfounded.
Basil nodded, concerned. “They left me that message… In blood.”
“BASIL, ARE YOU INSANE?!?! So you’re ignoring an attempt at contact?!? And joy bunnies can cross the threshold? What is going on here? How long have things been falling apart?!?!” Vie was stunned by the cascade of confusing and erratic news she was receiving after years of stagnation.
“It’s all fine. Everything is fine. Don’t worry. Are you worried? I’m not worried. look, everything is just peachy keen,” Basil stammered.
She took a deep breath and continued. “Look. It’s best if you don’t worry about any of this, Vie.”
“You still won’t give me a straight answer on how that thing works. It’s supposed to protect us, but what’s stopping them from luring us out then? And why can’t we cross it without you?” Vie demanded.
Basil felt her eyes staring at the floor. She tried to stomach the situation, but the day had been long enough.
“I’m old enough to know, Mother!” Vie bellowed. Her arms at her hips and her feet deeply planted.
“Vie, I don’t have to be the one to tell you exactly how dangerous it is out there. The answer is simple: I don’t want to see you get killed,” Basil replied, brushing Vie off. “I’m done with this conversation.”
Vie opened her mouth to speak before pausing, dejected.
“I’ll tell you more about it when I’m ready to actually expand. But I don’t want my children to worry about the integrity of the barrier,” Basil continued.
“Why can’t you trust me, Mother?” Vie asked, barely over a whisper.
“Vie, I do trust you. I trust you more than anyone.” She felt herself grinding her teeth as she tried to get the words out. “But I know, deep down in my heart… That if I tell you how all of this works, how it really works… you’re going to do something stupid like run off and try to save everyone on the other side all by yourself. And I can’t risk you getting hurt or killed if you cross the boundary and get stuck out there.” She felt her voice crack as she fought back tears. “I… I can’t. I can’t do this anymore.”
Basil weighed the situation and struggled to catch her breath. Frustrated, cornered, and emotionally exhausted. Basil managed to fight back tears. “Vie. Sometimes you need to just learn to take no for an answer. This is one of those times.” She took a deep breath and tried to fake a smile. “We’ll cross it together someday. I need you to be patient for just a little longer okay?”
“Okay...” Vie understood that she’d pressed the argument as far as Basil would allow. Her face was flush with both disappointment and embarrassment at her outburst. A calculated gamble as always. It was ground gained, however small. But it wasn’t easy on her conscience.
She knew that she would have to cut her losses today. And Basil, in turn, could see the agony and impatience on her face.
Basil wrapped her arm around Vie. “It’s almost dinner time and it’s Asmo’s turn to cook today. And as much as it probably fills all of our macros, it’s still an Asmo dinner. So, you mind giving me a hand making sure everyone gets fed tonight?”
Vie sighed, and cracked a smile.“Yes’m. I guess that sounds like fun.”
“(But not as fun as crossing the barrier.)” She continued, softly.
Basil elbowed Vie as the two play shoved into the foyer. As they left, a branch of the spite flower brushed against the barrier leaving a shimmering tear that slowly healed shut.
A figure stood below the ledge. She was wrapped in a dark cloak. Her pale skin and wiry frame held within it an almost imperceivable strength. The woman’s eyes reflected back moonlight, her pupils a bright blood red, with shimmering specks of violet hue scattered within them. Her hair was black as night, but still seemed to shimmer scarlet in the summer night. As she let out a mournful sigh, her fangs were visible in the moonlight. She unfurled a sling from under her arm and pulled out an egg. It was large, weighing over half a stone, and speckled with blue flecks that shone in the moonlight.
She had watched that branch, calculated each day of its growth. She’d seen the way that animals could pass out, but never return. And with her years of experience in the woods, knew well the risks associated with splicing, when the barrier closed on an unwelcome body.
There was the short shuffle of chainmail and leather as she arched her arm back. She paused, and held it to her chest. She hesitated, watching the branch ebb shortly. She clutched the egg lovingly. She felt its warmth for a final time and kissed it goodbye, before readying her throwing arm again.
She seized the moment for another branch to graze the edge of the shimmering wall, cutting it just wide enough to give her the precious seconds of time that she needed. She felt it pass through the palm of her hand for a moment before it slipped through the gap in the barrier left by the spiteflowers.
It landed softly in the bush and shook. The Vampire stared up at the clearing, unsure of her future. She waited to ensure that her throw had landed true, and held her breath as long as she could muster. She felt her heartbeat in her ears as she silently retreated back into the woods, becoming just another shadow cast in the waxing moon.
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