Vigor Mortis

Chapter 48: Things That Matter

Lyn and I exit the lower room to find my team getting along with the kids. Bently and Norah race each other while giving piggyback rides. Orville patiently allows two of the girls to braid his white hair, which hes been growing out recently. Penelope is doing her healing work, stoically treating one of the little ones while delightful chaos unfolds around her. One of said little ones immediately struts up to me and kicks me hard in the shin.

Ow! What the fuck? I snap.

Before Im even done talking, though, she buries her head in my belly, arms squeezing tightly around my waist.

Gone too long, she mumbles.

I snort out a sigh, annoyance leaving as I hug her back.

Well, I cant say I disagree, I answer. Its good to be back. You eat enough while I was gone?

She nods.

Orville got us lots of food before he left too, she answers.

Did he? I raise an eyebrow his way, but he just shrugs. Well damn, I owe him now. I pick the little one up and go rushing after Bently and Norah. With her on my shoulders, were almost as tall as them. Tendrils pulsing in and around my legs, its time to see if I can actually beat our two martial experts with this new power. My little sister whoops and cheers as I run after my team, although to my annoyance they both slow down and simply let me catch up.

Uh-ohhh, Norah coos, tickling her passengers feet. Looks like we have a new racer!

Shed picked up the youngest one of the kids, or at least who I assume to be the youngest since hes so small. Ive never really asked. He giggles and cheers, though, which puts a smile on my face.

So then, we have a new team! Bently announces. Vita aaaaand!

I glance up at the kid on my shoulders. What was her name, again?

Angelica? I hedge.

Angelien! she corrects angrily, drumming my head in protest. Im Angelien!

Yeah, that. Vita and Angelien, reporting, I say, saluting blandly.

Norah and Bently both give me a weird look.

What? I demand.

This is your family, right? Norah questions. Like, you lived here?

Yeah, I guess so, I answer hesitantly.

Vita never talks to anybody! Angelien complains. She never listens either!

I scowl, not really refuting it. Norah and Bently share a concerned glance, but to my relief we just return to the races. The two of them chat with the kids as we run, their overly-excited voices laced with a condescending tone that the kids lap up. I guess when youre actually a kid, it doesnt hurt to be treated like one.

I manage to win a few races, but that happens less and less as I tire until eventually I cant even come close to them. Norahs endurance far outstrips mine, and as far as I can tell Bently never gets tired. His soul feels weird. Like there must be more to his talent that I dont understand. Its not really my mystery to solve, though, and I wouldnt know how to go about trying anyway.

Vita, Penelope interrupts tiredly, approaching us with a sweat-drenched face. Your turn now.

Oh, all right, I answer, removing the current child from my shoulders. Jarod, I think? Maybe Jari? One of those two. Thanks again for doing this, Penelope.

Of course, she breathes. Its good practice for me anyway. Now come on, I need you to lie down.

I do as instructed, trying to shift so that lying on my belly wont be horribly uncomfortable.

Times like this I cant help but be really glad to have met you, I comment idly. But then there are other times youre just this conniving bitch and I want to rip your uh, throat out. Its hard to get a read on you.

Penelope sighs, and from the way her soul sings a clockwork beat I can feel shes measuring her response carefully.

Youre still mad about Litia, arent you? the biomancer eventually asks.

Yeah, I confirm. I know you were doing it to save me, but I still cant forgive you for it. Maybe thats dumb, but its how it is.

What exactly did you do to the two slimes that possessed you against your will, again? Penelope responds coldly. If anyone had a right to kill that creature, it was me. You know that. Besides, it was going to be found one way or another anyway. How would you even get back into Skyhope?

I nod a little, scowling. I feel a little better after talking with Lyn about it, but I cant help but be frustrated.

Well again, thanks for treating everyone.

Mhm, she murmurs. Speaking of treating, I need to treat you to another spa day today. Were introducing you to First Lord Erebus and you have to look your best.

I raise an eyebrow.

Thats your fianc, right? The guy that basically owns me, now?

More or less, yes, she answers. Weve caused a lot of trouble for the house, so Ill need to reassure him that youre worth it. Which means you need to make a good impression.

Well, as you well know, I have a long history of making great impressions on nobles, I answer blandly.

Hah. Yes, well, that is why I will be helping you prepare this time.

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I nod again, settling into the long treatment. It isnt particularly comfortable getting biomancy shoved into my body, but at this point Im used to it. Penelope was doing it the entire trip to Litia and back, after all. Theres not much else I want to say to her thats safe to say in public, so I dont. I wile away the time practicing cancel commands, wishing someone in my head could correct my mistakes for me.

Eventually, Penelope finishes. I get up off my increasingly sore chest to stretch, rejoining my team and ignoring the protests of the kids wanting them all to stay. Im happy to let my team stick around if they want, and Orville apparently made the journey here a number of times alone without getting mugged so they should be fine without me. Yet with my mom hugged, the treatments done, and the food given, I have nothing else I need to do here. The others seem to want to follow me, and thats fine too. The five of us head out, and as soon as were alone, Norah turns my way.

Vita, what the actual fuck?

Youre gonna have to be more specific, I tell her blandly.

I cant believe the people here look that sick, Bently whispers.

I cant believe you dont know your goddamn familys names! Norah exclaims.

Lyn and Rowan are my family, I counter. The kids are I dunno, theyre family now. But for the past year they were just bits of bread not going to my mouth, okay? Lyn and Rowan were my friends and kind of my family but the kids werent. They were Lyn and Rowans, not mine.

Norah gives me a searching look, her face pensive.

Even if you didnt love them, you dont think its weird that you dont know their names?

Its not like I ever had to get their attention. They knew better than to steal from me so we left each other alone.

But you care about them, Bently insists. If you care about someone, you should at least know their name.

Im new to the luxury of caring about them, okay? I grumble. Sorry. I just I guess Im just not that empathetic.

If you werent empathetic, you wouldnt be helping them at all, Orville points out.

I shrug, not arguing the point. I still dont know what Penta really meant by that. She never pushed it a second time.

Well, as shitty as a sister as I may be, thanks for coming everybody. They seemed happy.

Yeah, no problem, Vita. It was fun. Norah gives me a reassuring smile, though whether its reassuring me or herself, I dont know. Kinda reminded me of home.

You mean the one you have now or the one where everybody died? I ask.

Orville, Bently, and Norah all wince at the same time. I look around in confusion. Did I miss something?

The one where everybody died, Vita, Norah manages to get out.

Oh, okay. I pause. Theres probably something else I should say, right? Um, you can show me your current home sometime if you want. Yknow, since youve seen mine.

Sure, its a date, Norah answers.

I wrinkle my nose.

I didnt mean it like that.

Everyone else bursts into laughter. Even Penelope!

H-hey! Whats so funny?

N-nothing, never mind, Norah chokes out between laughs. I-its just an expression, Vita! I wasnt asking you out. Like, you know, regardless of your actual age you look way too young.

I dont want to date anyone anyway, so thats fine by me, I grumble.

Really? Nobody? Norah presses. Is there nobody you find attractive?

I didnt say I dont find people attractive, I said I dont want to date anyone. Its annoying. Heck, the last guy I thought was hot almost cut my head off.

I have to admit, Templar Dasils face was quite professionally done, Penelope agrees.

Into men, huh? Norah grins impishly. How do Bently and Orville stack up?

Hey! Orville protests.

Bentlys hotter than Orville, I answer immediately. Theyre both pretty middle-of-the-road, though.

Hey!

More laughter erupts, mostly from Penelope and Norah. I smile a little, not totally getting it but glad people seem so amused. As weird as they are, theyre my team and since theyre mine, they matter.

Well, as fun as this is, Penelope starts, her chuckles fading away, Vita and I need to go take care of a few things.

Ooh, you two off to do secret stuff without us? Norah taunts.

Yeah, pretty much, I answer bluntly.

Its nothing too fancy, Penelope insists. I just owe her for getting that damn slime out of my head.

Wait, I thought you said I owe you for ow!

Penelope kicks me in the shin, which hurts like heck. I hop on one foot as I rub on the spot to ease my pain.

I dont know why I bother trying to be subtle around you, she grumbles. Now theyre going to be curious and bother us incessantly.

No, no, its fine! Well leave you alone. Orville backpedals. Right, Norah?

Yeah, yeah, okay, Norah agrees.

The inner smugness radiating off of Penelope indicates thats the response shes been fishing for, but outwardly she remains prickly.

Please see that you do, she demands. Now then, shall we, Vita?

We head out, and at first I wonder why Penelope isnt having us change clothes. Soon I realize, however, that she plans to buy us new ones. My protests fall on deaf ears as people Ive never met before touch me all over, grabbing measurements and rushing to fulfill Penelopes orders. I jab a tailor in the soul when she gets too touchy, causing them to let out a yelp of surprise and jump backwards which in turn makes Penelope chastise their professionalism.

We dont get the clothes right then and there; apparently mine have to be made from scratch. So soon enough my ratty ass is back in the rich district, feeling increasingly uncomfortable, what with my blood-covered hunter getup. At least Penelope is similarly dressed, if not similarly bloody. I dont know how she kept so clean after tromping through the forest, but she did. Fuckin mages.

Goodness, Lady Vesuvius! the woman behind the counter gasps when we finally make it to the bathhouse. Your friend looks like she got into quite the mess again!

Yes, hanging around outside the walls will do that to a woman. Dreadful place. Id like a private room this time, if you would. There should be an outfit order in my name coming as well, so please have that ready for us when it arrives.

Of course, Lady Vesuvius, the receptionist answers, bowing her head.

Its so fucking weird that you can make people act like that, I comment.

Thats how you should be acting! she snaps. Besides, youre hardly one to talk about employing disturbing help.

Wh hey! Thats unfair!

Lifes not fair. Now come on.

Soon enough weve stripped, rinsed, and gotten into a lusciously warm tub. I let out a sigh of pleasure, my body and soul drooping as the relaxing waters flow over us. I reach tendrils up to comb through my hair, savoring the feeling of pulling my long, ratty nest into a more comfortable arrangement. Penelope raises an eyebrow at the sight, casting some kind of spell before speaking.

Well. The kynamancy protections seem solid here, so we should be safe to talk. Therefore, I must ask what exactly are you doing? Is that kineticism? Dont tell me youve actually become dual-talented.

Huh? Oh. No, my soul just has tentacles now.

...Ah. Could you elaborate, perchance?

Boop, I respond, poking her in the soul. The bottom part, of course, since its so adorably squishy. She doesnt move, but I feel her almost put a plague on me.

What. Was. That?

Tentacle, I repeat. Didnt I just say that? When the Mistwatcher looked at me my egg hatched and now Im an eyeball with tentacles. Its neat. Now Im kinda wondering if Im related to the big guy.

What, like a demigod? she asks sarcastically, rubbing her belly over where her soul rests. As amusing as that would be, I somehow doubt it. Still that is what rose the range on your abilities? You are very strange, Vita. Ive never heard of a talent anything like yours.

I puff up happily.

Yeah, well, I guess I am pretty cool, huh?

Penelope snorts.

Anyway, you say the Mistwatcher did look at you? I imagine youre sure because it caused your hatching. Obviously, from now on, that did not happen. You were mistaken. Any time you are ever asked that, henceforth, you will say nothing else. To do otherwise will likely result in your death.

I nod, slowly.

I okay. Geez, I cant believe Im double-illegal now. I guess it doesnt really get any worse though.

Dont say that, Penelope groans. It can always get worse. Speaking of, Johannwhom to you is exclusively Lord Erebus, or First Lord Erebus if you wish to really lay it on thickneeds to agree to my decision to make you part of his house. Which means we must convince him that you are worth angering Templars for without revealing to him that youre an animancer.

Dont trust your future husband, huh?

He may be my fianc, but I have no intention of having him as my future husband, she answers immediately. Im not sure if hed turn you in or decide to use you, and Im also not sure which would be worse.

I mean, Im sure which would be worse.

Penelope snorts. I flick some water at her, which she ignores.

In any case, were going to claim that youre a natural metamancer, and that I need your assistance to continue my immortality research.

Wait, youre doing immortality research?

Of course I am. Never mind that immortality would utterly tear apart our entire system of government, its more or less what Im forced to research by every noble that has the ability to sway me. And, truth be told, cracking it would without question cause me to be declared a True Lady myself, so I admit that somewhat factors into my motivations.

Well huh, okay. So all that brain stuff she does is her trying to figure out how to live forever. I dont know how the two things are related, but presumably the biomancer does.

So, why am I pretending to be a metamancer?

Two reasons. One: its the best way to disguise your deathtouch. When you kill something with it, the cause of death appears to be mana backlash, of all things. Its the kind of death youd see from a mage that bit off more than they could chew and failed to cancel their spell in time. There are metamancy spells with similar effects, though none as effective as yours that I know of.

And the second reason? I ask, poking at my belly with my soul to watch the skin seem to move of its own accord.

Because you are a metamancer, for all intents and purposes. A rather genius one.

The woman leans close to me, a manic grin swallowing her face.

You have Theodoras soul, yes? And I have taken care of her body. We need only a safe place to put her, and that genius is all ours.

I nod, a smile of my own twitching at my lips without prompting.

Two Theodoras, actually, I correct softly. The Nawra would know everything she knew.

You saved that soul too? she asks, leaning back again. Well, all the better. It wont be hard to hide two Revenants when weve hidden the first. Funnily enough, Theodora taught me how. Ill prepare the basics and she can finish them herself. Are you bringing back Penta as well?

I think no, I answer, frowning. Shes my friend. I would feel bad controlling her.

Penelope rolls her eyes.

Isnt that an irony. Well, suit yourself. If things go as planned, well both be getting all the power and knowledge we can spare.

I cant help but laugh at that, using my tentacles to massage my sore legs.

And about how likely do you think it is that things will go to plan?

Penelope shrugs.

Mmm, well. Isnt that the question. They do say no plan survives contact with the enemy, so we may have to improvise at some point. But beyond that what do you think?

I raise an eyebrow, smirking at her.

Wait, do I even get a say in it?

Yes, she answers simply. Of course you do. I may have a sword hanging over your neck but Id prefer you cooperate in spite of that, not because of it. You have many things I want, and I believe I have many things you want. This need not be a relationship of debt or spite.

I frown, thinking on that.

There is one thing I want thats been bothering me, I say.

Oh? Do tell.

Well, Ive mentioned this offhand a few times before, but Ill come out and say it. Your soul sings your true emotions. Its kinda scary how good you are at hiding them, but I can tell when youre faking. Which is pretty annoying, since youre faking almost all the time. Werent you the one that got on my case about that back when we first met? Its gonna be hard to like you if you keep saying things that arent what you mean.

Shes genuinely taken aback for a moment, flashes of surprise and irritation jolting through her melody. Most prominently, though, her soul is afraid.

I think it is going to be even harder for you to like me if I do say what Im really feeling, Vita, she answers slowly.

Well, I counter, lets give it a shot anyway, cuz this aint working.

A long pause stretches between us, her emotions twisting around in a chaotic tune I can barely follow. Dozens of potential answers pass through her mind, all of which she rejects. Which kind of defeats the point, of course, but I can accept that its likely a hard habit to break.

During our biomancy sessions I have been secretly manipulating your body so that you develop into someone more conventionally attractive when youre older, she eventually admits.

I blink.

What!?