I open my eyes. I am on my throne. Magdeline is on her knees between two scorch marks. I rush towards her and hug her. She croaks out.

  “You’re back.”

  She is not talking to me. I crane my neck and see my sister on a twinned throne. She is grasping her head. She has only a single horn. The one I am missing on my own head.

  8 47 Vampire Voiceless Soul Tender Priestess, Voiceless Adventurer, DiQueen, A Lady of the Plains

  “Go comfort your sister.”

  I rush to her. She is crying. I pull her into a hug. She doesn't return it.

  “It's alright. Shhhhh it's alright. You're here now.”

  Her first time not existing. Knowing you were nothing. That you might not be the same as what was before. Of course it was not the same as before. But she helped me come to terms with that.

  “Everyday is a new you.”

  “I attacked my mother. I was supposed to be more but I was only my thirst. I don't deserve to return.”

  I calm a bit at that, not an existential crisis but the guilt of attacking a loved one. It's worse but there is a remedy.

  “But return you have. Best go apologize.”

  She looks up and sees Magdeline. She rushes over and hugs her. Her many sobs of sorry are answered by a deep hug. Magdeline has more grey hairs. I joined the hug. My tears are flowing. I had much to apologize for as well.

  -----

  Qorth brought food into the dungeon for Mags. The moment she entered the food was moved to us. Red still was hugging Mags, still inconsolable.

  Mags hadn't moved from the spot. She had been using sustainer to keep vigil.

  “I'm sorry you waited three days here.”

  “Six days Violet. I kept watch for six days. My penance for incinerating my own daughter.”

  The voice is hollow. We squeeze her harder.

  “But a dungeon monster takes three days.”

  “You're the dungeon core boss, not some regular riff raff.”

  “Is that why she failed to come back?” Red croaks.

  “I don't know. Simply put you are two minds that fill in for one role. I think Violet didn't return because your titles were singular. You both have returned with new titles.”

  [DiQueen], two queens. We share sovereignty now. Our crown split between us. Even more absurd is the [A Lady of the Plains], implying multiple.

  “Has anything changed about the title?”

  I shake my head. “The wording is the same. Just the title itself.”

  She nods as she eats more. We sat for a while.

  “I'm surprised no one else came here.” Red murmurs.

  That's true… where is Cecelia? Qorth has already left as well.

  “When the core boss dies, the instances lock. People can leave but no one can enter until they return. Qorth came down here and demanded to know what happened. I told her to relay what occurred to your mom. That I would wait for your return or waste away here. That of course locked her out as well.”

  “I was gone for six days this time. It was three the last time.”

  “Nine days.” Red croaks.

  “What?”

  “I ate you, then three days later I died. Then six more days.”

  “Oh…I can't feel the mistress or those bloody knights anymore.”

  Magdeline pauses eating and looks at me.

  “What do you mean you can't feel them anymore?”

  “I have…had a seed in Delores and a couple Bronfkin knights to spy on. Their commander was jailed when he showed up to the capital with an empty carriage.”

  “Your magic must have unwound while you were dead.”

  -----

  “Our apologies mistress.”

  We bow in unison.

  “How are you both here? I thought one remained otherwise the weight of the dungeon would crush you.”

  “We have gained the ability to leave an entrance while outside it. It roots the dungeon in place.”

  Red speaks up, “We understand if house Xavious wishes to end our employment.”

  “Nonsense, I have no intention of firing either of you. Not when we can blow Jasmine's mind by having you both show up for tea.”

  I giggle at that. We finished preparing her for breakfast. I ask the daily question.

  “What color flower would you like?” I reach up to my own ready to pluck it.

  “Could I have a new seed?”

  I stop. Then sputter.

  “I don't think that would be proper.”

  Red produces a seed from her flower, I'm still annoyed at her previous joke…nevermind…

  Red you can't be serious.

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  -Put your blood into it. It will be a new covenant between us three.

  She hands me the seed and turns to Delores.

  “Violet is going to add our blood to this seed. Should we die again, it will make you our [Supplicant]. If you slot the title, each level draws you closer to being a Tibyder. We will dissolve the seed ourselves when we become nobility of the Queendom. Swallowing it will tie you to us.”

  “What good is being a [Supplicant] if you're dead.”

  Red answers, “Death is a temporary thing for us. So much so that I fear we might stop caring. This pact is a consequence for us dying. If we die then we can't have our fun anymore.”

  I smile and push my blood into the seed. I look at Delores and she has her mouth open as before. I place the seed on her tongue and close her mouth gently. She swallows and we both hug her as her body trembles from the pain of a seed taking root in her heart.

  “I would like an ultra violet one again.”

  The flower sprouts on its own. I look annoyed at Red. She shrugs.

  “The least I could do is give her more control.”

  -----

  “This has to be an illusion…Hischurl?”

  I stand behind the mistress as Violet pours the cup. I had lost the game of rock paper scissors. Violet got to do the ceremony.

  “Your tea, my mistress.”

  Hischurl bends down to his Lady and whispers, “I can sense separate emotions from the two.”

  I feel Hecnae enter the dungeon.

  Mistress, may I be excused to attend to other matters?

  Of course Red, I've had my fun with Jasmine.

  I smile, I enter my dungeon in front of them. To better amuse the mistress.

  -Jasmine is convinced you don't exist now.

  I just laugh as I collect Qorth.

  -----

  “Cecelia Maxwell, I hav't seen tha’ rack since the day you fled.”

  Mom demanded to come along. To evaluate Qorth mana control. To stay near me.

  “Dame Hecnae, I would prefer you not be so crude.”

  “Aye an’ I prefer if you stayed at the citadel but we don’ git what we wan’ do we.”

  “I'm sure we all want to get back to work after my absence soooo.”

  “Oh sure, try to gloss over your absence.”

  “Lady Sara was convalescencing.”

  “Is that wha’ ye call it when som’ nit wit slays the dungeon core boss. The knights have a right mind to confiscate the keys.”

  I grip the bridge of my nose along with mom.

  “I prefer they don't, I have needs that the adventurers fulfill.”

  “That blood tithe? Sure sure whateva’, just don't go closing down for another six days. They will seize the keys for the duration of the tournament though.”

  “How long does it last?”

  “About three days.”

  Should be fine then. We managed to get some more of the facilities built. I blanch at the bathrooms we installed.

  -You do realize that adventurers have been going to the bathroom inside us this whole time right?

  Why would you think ‘us’ and not the dungeon?

  -Revenge for all the sex innuendos you throw out randomly.

  I already apologized for that, I hadn't realized you had been hurting so. Also that was a sex innuendo too.

  -You’re gross.

  Mom nudges me. I look up and attempt a smile. She gives me a finger flick to the forehead for my pitiful attempt. Slow enough not to hurt herself. I murmured some words.

  “... I hope you don't blame Magdeline for what happened.”

  They had been avoiding each other. She sighs.

  “Its not the choice I would have made…but it seems it was the right one.”

  She would have died, and I would have kept consuming till killed. Would I have returned if I died outside the dungeon…would Violet have? She speaks up again.

  “Could you at least discuss what you are going to do before you do something?”

  I nod and hug her.

  -----

  One last apology to make. I direct a thought to Barbain.

  I'm sorry for using your ascension as a way to force Red to do something.

  Could we talk later, I'm a little tied up at the moment.

  I feel the equivalent of a door shutting to keep me from intruding. I expand my mana aura through the drop of blood she has and pop out my fairy illusion.

  “Don't shut me out please, I just…”

  I find Barbain trussed up in a web above Beatrice in mid coitus. I immediately end the spell. I feel my cheeks warm. Tied up indeed. I hear Beatrice laughing in my mind.

  -----

  I swear there is such a thing as boundaries, Violet.

  Sorry I didn't mean to see it. I thought you were avoiding me because of what I did.

  -Or what I did…

  Well I didn't particularly like being a tool to manipulate yourself over. Watching one of you eating the other was harrowing. The absence of one and then both of you was the worst. It's not even the first time you decide to talk to me then do something incredibly stupid.

  -Sorry.

  I feel a mental sigh from Barbain.

  So are you ready to actually progress my skill or is there some further shit you need to get through.

  I'd figured you wanted to rest…

  Pfft, I got stamina to spare.

  -It wasn't me this time.

  I just grip the bridge of my nose. I check the lakes…should be enough.

  -----

  “So is this supposed to be intentionally dark and moody?” Barbain criticized the decor.

  “Whats wrong with dark and moody when doing blasphemous things?”

  “I'm just not sure why you keep saying it is a blasphemous thing.”

  Violet chips in, “Isn't anything undead inherently blasphemous?”

  Barbain shrugs. I give up trying to convince her.

  “So, we still need to remake you…do you want two bodies or one.”

  “Well thats a fucking question. Won't I die every night when I go to sleep if my other self isn't there?”

  Guess she didn't call her a sister.

  “I got lung rings ready to install your mechanical heart.”

  She quirks an eyebrow at that.

  “It basically will pull your blood into your lungs and then distribute it via your bones. I was going to make it part of your body whether you decide to be one or two.”

  She thinks about that. Sits down cross legged and thinks on it. It's an hour before her head raises.

  “We wish to remain as one body. To be honest I feel the moment you started being two is when things got screwy.”

  That's an interesting take. I look at Violet and she shrugs and motions me onward. I approach Barbain in my true form and cup her face.

  “This last part is about trust, Barbain. I will drink you dry. That includes that final drop of blood you have of mine. It needs to be the last drop or you will cease to exist. Convert your body to blood and give your everything for this. Are you ready?”

  She stares into my eyes for a moment then nods. I bite down on her throat. I drink her blood. When she begins to run out, her abdomen begins to collapse towards her waist. Her legs begin to pull in. Soon I am holding her up. The arms dissolve and are pulled in. Soon it's just her head and chest. They too collapse until there is nothing.

  I look to the ceiling as Violet comes across from me. She places her hands in front of me and together we slow time as we reform Barbain. When her lungs appear I slip in the rings. It is long work for us but to any other observers it would appear near instant. When done, I place the bead of blood that is Barbain on my finger and finger flick her forehead.

  “Ahh fuck, really? Mithril forehead and that still hurts.”

  I hugged her, Violet joined me. Glad she had made it back.

  There is a strand of blood red and ultra violet hair dangling off her head now. A tear falls down her cheek.

  “You took the drop back.”

  I smile, “You had to grow up at some point, Barbain”

  She starts shaking me rapidly while Violet laughs. It broke the tension.

  “So what now?”

  “Well if you wish to go to the next tier you need a [Supplicant]. You won't be able to make them into a Vampire unless you become a Matriarch.”

  “How do you do that?”

  “Become a dungeon.” Violet answers.

  “Really doing the whole Sara life there aren't ya.”

  I shrug.

  “No more voice and no more summoning.”

  “You seem morose over that.”

  “It was nice hearing you try to be impressive while I know you were just fumbling about.”

  I stick my tongue out at her. The only response worthy of such mocking.

  “Beatrice can relay for you, if you need our attention.”

  “She is the type to get concessions for such.”

  She says it wistfully, Violet gags. She then takes a moment then nods.

  “There's nothing stopping you from giving me a new drop right?”

  “What? But you're your own person now, Barbain.”

  She rolls her eyes. I want to argue further but Violet makes a cup and fills half the glass with her blood. She hands it to me. I look at her annoyed and then fill the rest. I form a small round table and place it in front of Barbain. We speak together.

  “Drinking this forever ties you to me, I won't take this back. You are beyond that now. It is always your dec—”

  She grabs it and drinks it before we finish. We both look annoyed at her as our soul reconnects to hers. It's not a drop anymore but just a connection.

  “What? I already decided and you were just going to go on about it for a while.”

  -----

  Barbain returned to her dorm and the exit closed. I go sit next to the Roc that guards my stationary dungeon door. Looking up at the stars. Violet joins me.

  “It’s time for you to sleep, Sara.”

  “Suppose I put it off long enough. Will I be happy to feel sad about it or sad that I still care. Or was it all for naught and I won't care at all.”

  She taps me on my shoulder. I turn to look at her and she flicks me in the forehead.