*Chitter*
*Chitter, Chitter*
Lilith sat on one of the guardrails of the sanctum, perched next to a gargoyle, chittering like a cat at the flocks of birds flying across the horizon.
With the sun peeking over the vale, bathing the valley in pink and tangerine glow, she’d found a prime spot to admire the waking hours of nature.
“AH!~” She gasped, staring at the large flock of Grouse-like birds taking flight from the lake. “Ooh look mama, a flock of swa-”
Lili’s face dropped as she looked over her shoulder to see that she was alone again.
“... Right.”
Lili looked aimlessly out into the horizon.
*Chi. Chi. Chi.*
Vie stood in the kitchen, cradling a Joy bunny in her arms. Hearing her sister, Vie peeked out the window from the kitchen. She could see and hear Lil chittering on the rafters. She knew that her sister would be disappointed, but her work today was more important than Lilith’s silly hobbies.
She held the animal tightly and walked it to the counter.
There were several tools already laid out ergonomically to make the process as quick and ideally painless as possible.
Basil did her best to keep calm as Vie fumbled with the animal. “I know you’re tired, but remember, nice and quick. Adrenaline will ruin the taste.”
Vie struggled with the animal, who was more curious than afraid. “…right.”
“Are you sure you want to do this? I can take care of it this morning. It’s been an emotional morning, and I don’t want you overdoing it.
Basil stood by, concerned at Vie’s body language and tone. “Vie, you’re not a killer. Nobody is making you do this.”
Vie shook her head and placed the rabbit on the cutting board. She gripped it down to the counter and reached for the pithing needle. “It’s not the first time I’ve done this.”
The joy bunny began to writhe at the sight of the sharp metal skewer. “And it won’t be the last.”
Basil sensed the animal’s panic and tried to coax Vie down. “Vie, you don’t have to be the one to do it. We can put that one back and pick another.”
“No!” Vie shouted back, her voice frantic. “It’ll scare the rest. It has to be this one and it has to be now.”
The animal began mirroring Vie’s energy, frantically kicking and squealing, as Vie held it down.
“Quickly, before the blood-“ Basil reached out to her daughter.
The squeaking abruptly stopped. Lilith instinctively pushed the limp animal away, spattering blood on her face and hands.
Her ears were ringing, and she felt as if the floor was melting. The smell of blood filled her sinuses and she felt everything inside of her trying to escape. She choked back the urge to vomit.
And then Vie began to scream.
The anguish in her voice rang out through the halls as the lights in the kitchen flickered violently. She felt the ground stir and rumble beneath her feet.
Basil wrapped her arms around Vie, and the ringing began to soften. “It… I promise it will get easier.”
The shaking stilled, and the lights began to ease and steady. Vie took deep breaths, trying to choke down air.
“No, it really doesn’t.” Vie buckled and stifled a sob, kept afoot by Basil.
Slowly, and lovingly, Basil eased her grip on Vie. Vie gripped the countertop and strengthened her footing.
“I have to be able to do this. I have to be strong enough.” Her voice quivering, She tried to pick up the skinning knife from the rack, but her hands shook and fell back to her sides.
“Vie. You don’t have to kill anything. You have nothing to prove to anyone.”
Vie stood her ground. She replaced her sorrow with anger, practiced as she was, in folding inwards nearly two decades of anguish. “A queen needs to know what death feels like. How can I expect people to put their life on the line, or take a life on my command if I can’t even stomach killing livestock?”
“That’s different,” Basil said, comforting Vie. “Plenty of monarchs have served as conscientious observers.”
“Yes,” Vie agreed bitterly. “Plenty of poor excuses for monarchs.”
Vie felt her fingernails dig into her palms as she clenched her fists tightly. “A real queen needs more than nice words and the ability to push a button to end arguments.”
“A real queen knows when to ask for help, and when to accept it when it’s offered to her,” Basil retorted. “So you think your father was a poor ruler?”
Vie felt her pupils dilate. She looked back at her bloody hands and the dead animal that lay before her. One that she had hand raised from the day it was born.
There were over two hundred in their flock and they were awaiting another large brood. It was just a number, she told herself. Lili and Nyx would have more than enough to eat tonight. It was a necessary evil.
Basil guided Vie to the wash station and handed her a pumice stone and soap. “Bloody hands don’t make for good rulers. You can’t run a kingdom by fear alone. You of all people should know that.”
“Yes, Mother,” Vie murmured as she scoured her hands.
Basil helped her in processing the animal. It was obvious that the meat was affected by the adrenaline, but it was still meat. As Vie put the stew on, the kitchen door slammed open.
“Mom, I’ve been waiting for two hours. you promised we would go bird watching this morning!” Lilith whined.
“Sorry, love,” Basil replied, running her hand through Lilith’s hair affectionately. “Preparing dinner took longer than expected, and I have to survey before summer really sets in.”
“Oh,” Lili replied curtly. “So because Vie sucks at cooking my whole morning is ruined?”
“Lili, you have the whole rest of your day! I’m sure there’s something you can do with your free time,” Vie argued bitterly.
“You always say that!” Lilith turned to Basil and stomped her feet. “Why does Vie always come first?!?”
“Lili, making sure you’re fed is the priority. We’ll spend time together once I’m back home alright? I should be home by 8.” She reached out to hug her daughter, but Lilith stepped back and hissed at her.
“Oh darling, I’ll make it up to you, Lillybelle,” Basil continued running her fingers through Lili’s hair affectionately. And the young Vamp gave in to the scritches purring, though still with disdain.
“Fine. Whatever,” Lilith replied flatly. “Just stop calling me that.”
Lili glared at Vie. “Thanks a lot,” She muttered with a glare. “And for the record, I’m not mad. I just have a stomach ache. So don’t think I care about this or anything!”
Lili stormed out of the room, to Basil and Vie’s frustration.
“You coddle that one too much,” Vie groaned at Basil.
“I coddle all my children equally,” Basil retorted with a sigh. “Well, I'll be home late. Do try to manage things for me while I'm gone.”
“I’m-” Basil bit her tongue as she walked out. I’m going to take special care today to make sure that I am not home to see that play out. She said to herself, visibly dreading the cleanup of her children’s private wars.
The day progressed slowly. Vie spent most of the day keeping an eye on the food. The ground was wet with morning dew when she awoke, and it was nice out.
She’d not been out to her garden plot today, but it was alright. Learning to cook was important. Everyone will eat tonight. Leading by example was paramount.
Lili trudged off and spent her day trying to distract herself. Once she’s gotten the chocosauce out of her system, she went off to the range and tried taking her anger out.
To her dismay, the crack of black powder and the sound of shattering clay had become mundane. And worse yet, she became annoyed at the realization that she’d given herself another chore to do, in the form of cleanup.
Cursing herself as she obsessively cleared and oiled every thread on the weapon. For despite her impulsiveness, she knew better than to let the powder sit and hydrate, she could still hear Pim’s voice screaming into her ear as a child.
It was the least she could do.
By the time the range was reset and the rifles properly cleaned, it was already nearing sundown.
As she scrubbed the range grit from her hands and face, she groaned.
The sun was already tilting towards orange, and she’d have to face the others eventually.
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