CHAPTER 41: A TEAR IN THE SKY, A TWIST IN THE HEART

Chapter 41 – A Tear in the Sky, A Twist in the Heart

A crimson gash splits the heavens like a wound in the very fabric of reality. Sparks of demonic energy fall like shooting stars, fizzing in the air, scorching rooftops, and sending terrified crows shrieking into the night.

She floats down with the grace of a falling petal and lands softly, as if gravity doesn’t dare touch her. Her long white hair rippling behind her like a banner of surrender and destruction alike.

She lands without a sound, the cobblestones beneath her bare feet cracking all the same.

The Demon Queen. Vexena.

She stands still, impassive, flanked by a towering man in an impossibly pristine suit and a curvaceous, leather-clad warrior with a floating scythe that hisses and twitches as if alive. Shadows cling to them like loyal pets... or hounds of war

Meanwhile, her youngest general, a small girl in a frilly dress, clutching her wand like a teacup, twirls playfully through the frozen crowd.

"Ohhh!" she squeals, dancing between petrified townsfolk. "So many different kinds! Look, look! Elves, dwarves, humans, bunnykin! I want one of each!"

The flamboyant man floats lazily in the air nearby, giggling as he twirls a large ornate fan. "You’re too greedy, little star."

A few feet ahead of the team, the broad-shouldered noble-like demon sniffs the air and strides forward toward the team. "There you are," he says, his baritone thick with lust and delight as he closes in on Pip. "So beautiful. So divine. I want to take you apart piece by piece... just to see if you purr."

Pip beeps nervously, frozen in place like everyone else.

Except... not quite everyone.

The Demon Queen approaches, her presence a slow-burning pressure in the lungs of all around her. She stops before Pip and tilts her head, unimpressed.

"This," she says coldly, "is the golden construct they whisper of? The savior that will lift my curse?"

Silence.

She turns, crimson eyes narrowing, until they settle on the one she sense was the oldest among the group.

With a click of her fingers, Maribelle unfreezes.

The air around her snaps like a whip.

Maribelle blinks, then immediately curses and raises her hand, summoning a blazing arch of lightning.

The Demon Queen sighs.

"You’re not in a talking mood."

She clicks her fingers again. Maribelle’s body goes slack mid-strike, collapsing into a soft cloth bundle... a ragdoll, her clothes and hair now stitched fabric, her fierce eyes now glossy buttons.

"No!" Vuvi screams internally.

"Yes!" the little demon girl squeals. Running up to the Maribelle-doll and scooping it up. "A new dolly!"

Tears streak down Vuvi’s frozen cheeks.

The Demon Queen turns to her, curious.

With another snap, Vuvi unfreezes and collapses to her knees, sobbing openly. "Give her back... please... that’s my mom... she’s all I have..."

Something flickers in Vexena’s eyes.

Compassion?

Remorse?

But the scythe-wielding woman steps in, her voice smooth and cold. "Maintain your composure, my Queen."

The moment passes. Vexena straightens, her face hard again.

"Then tell me, child. Did you build this construct? Do you believe this... golem... can defeat me?" Her voice trembling ever-so-slightly at the end, "Can he really... lift the curse?"

Vuvi stands quivering before her, eyes burning with pain and rage.

"I’m not telling you anything!"

And with a snarl, she whips out her Boombuster, takes aim, and fires a point-blank shot at the Demon Queen’s face.

The plaza falls into total silence as the echo of her shot rolls through the streets.

Smoke fills the air.

Then a faint giggle.

As it clears, Vexena steps forward, completely unharmed.

She narrows her eyes. "You’ve just forfeited your life."

She lifts a single hand—

But lightning flashes.

A burst of violet energy sparks between them.

Veena appears like a phantom between Vuvi and the queen, her hood falling from her head, horns glowing under moonlight.

"Enough!"

The world holds its breath.

The generals gasp.

Vexena freezes in place.

Her mouth opens slightly. "...V-Veena?"

Veena’s eyes tremble, but her voice remains steady. "Mother."

Vexena drops to her knees, tears bursting forth like a dam breaking. "Y-You’re alive... Oh, my child, my daughter, I’ve missed you so much!"

She crawls forward, clutching at Veena’s legs, sobbing into the folds of her cloak. "I’ve done everything you asked! I didn’t send my armies, I didn’t hunt you... I waited! Ten years, Veena! I’ve waited in silence!"

The generals surround her protectively.

"Mother, get up," Veena says, her voice cracking. "I told you I needed time."

Vexena sniffles and looks up. "Time is... agony without you."

Veena glares at her, then scoffs and averts her gaze.

"There’s someone I want you to meet."

She turns to the little girl in the frilly dress. "Virelle."

The small demon-kin runs forward. "Sister!"

Veena blinks. "Sister?"

"Your sister," Vexena whispers. "Your blood. I kept her a secret until she could meet you."

Virelle looks up at Veena with the biggest crimson eyes in the world.

Veena doesn’t move.

Then her voice came out firm, gentle, pained: "Mother. I have a new family now. If you hurt Vuvi, Penelo, or Pip... I’ll disappear again. Forever."

Vexena’s face twists in pain, another sob rising. The generals try to comfort her.

"Please," she whimpers, "please don’t leave me again... I don’t care about the curse or the throne. I just want my daughters."

"Go home! You’re being pathetic." Veena says, tears now streaming down her face. "Wait for me. I’ll come to you when I’m ready."

The scythe woman, cold, beautiful, ever-guarded, steps forward.

"Enough. The queen’s emotions are unstable. We’ll end it here."

With a wave of her scythe, a portal of crimson fire opens.

The generals hurry the crying queen and Virelle, her bewildered daughter, through it.

Then it closes behind them with a snap.

The silence that comes after is unbearable.

Pip beeps softly. Still frozen.

Veena drops to her knees, trembling.

Vuvi just stared at the spot where her mother had stood. "She’s... she’s a doll now... some demon brat’s toy..."

"She’ll be okay," Veena says weakly. "I think."

But then...

A tear opens beside them.

The scythe general steps through, calm and expressionless.

Veena and Vuvi jump up, ready to fight.

She raises her hand.

"I’m not here to hurt you. I’m under orders not to touch you or the construct."

She walks slowly to Pip, towering over him.

"But I will say this..." She turns, sharp red eyes meeting Pip’s glowing gold. "I’ll be watching you, Prince of Pleasure."

She bends low, lips near his faceplate.

"My name is Eris. They call me The Ripper. On the battlefield... and in bed."

She licks her lips.

Veena lunges.

Vuvi screams.

Eris flicks her hand and sends both flying hundreds of meters into the air.

She chuckles.

"Oops."

Pip chirps a worried beep.

Then, with a smirk, she snaps her fingers and everyone in the plaza instantly unfreezes.

People gasp, students faint, cultists scream.

Eris steps into her portal and vanishes, leaving Pip with a grin and a promising wink.

Above them, Veena and Vuvi come crashing down... only to stop just inches from the ground.

And then... they drop into the mud with a pride-crushing splat.