[FRAG] Grieve in Blood



Mild Sexual Content Explicit Violence

Two Fragments struggle to get by, stay alive, and stay together.


For October 2018, I wrote a oneshot every day. Here they all are, consolidated in order. There is a sequel in the form of Keep a Secret.

Warnings will be listed in the author's notes prior to the chapter.

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Author's Notes

[Oct 8] Important news.

Magnotris, Come InBackHomeAway


Magnotris walked the hallway, head held high. His steps were resolute, his posture dignified. There was no weakness in his footfalls, no terror in his set jaw. 


He paused in front of a reception window, functionally identical to a bank teller's. Arco Iris glanced up dully from a book, eyes flicking from Magnotris' face to the counter. He sighed as he reached forward, punching a few numbers into a keyboard set into the wall. They beeped affirmative.


"Good luck," Arco Iris offered as a massive pair of metal doors to the right groaned and slid open, scraping against the flooring.


Magnotris glanced towards them. "I don't need it."


"Of course you don't," he snorted, glancing back to his book. "That's gonna bite you in the ass one of these days."


"I'm not in the mood," Magnotris responded, tone low, brushing Arco Iris off as he strode through the opened entrance. 


The inner sanctums of the Coalition of Reality were his territory. They were well-worn, walked halls, spiralling staircases, shifting rooms. They were familiar, where he'd once spent most of his time, a place of learning and politics and discussion. Unique in both their beauty and logic, many a Fragment stared longingly after their halls, kept locked out by cultural pressure and magic wards alike. Functionally, the Sanctum was a separate reality from even the reality warpers themselves; a plane of existence so secretive and coveted that not even the rumors could match its actuality.


Yet, as time had worn on, Magnotris had found himself disillusioned with their splendor. The waterfalls crawling towards the sky no longer awed him. Libraries with water lilies growing out of the floor were no longer charming. The faint mist that filled rooms became an annoyance, the constant hum of faint voices was an irritant, what had once been a home warped into a jail.


He shook the thoughts from his head, stepping out onto the road. On either side of the stout walls was a drop into an ocean far below, which glittered cyan in the blinding light. Calling it a road was a misnomer; it was more of a bridge. Yet, he'd never heard anyone refer to it that way.


The doors cried shut behind him, and a soft whirr signalled the reinstitution of several wards. Best to keep the Sanctum safe. But Arco Iris was not normally the guard. Something must have happened.


Magnotris quickened pace, the warm brick underfoot almost enticing in its familiarity. At the end of the bridge lay a large island, overgrown in its bush and flora. Trees grew out of its side, warped and massive, branches stretching into the sky, seeking warmth. Benches that were once entirely metal had become melded with ivy and weeds, clinging. Even the gravel path had scattered and lost exact shape. It was much, much wilder than Magnotris remembered.


Still, an old friend was crouched at an edge, deftly sketching one of the plants with a pad of paper and charcoal. Noticing the other, he stood, a bright smile on their freckled cheeks. "Magnotris!"


"Orsanmichele," he nodded. "What are you drawing?"


Ors tilted the pad for Magnotris to admire. It was a flower he'd never seen before, petals curling like a half-moon's. "This one started growing recently. Where have you been, though? I haven't seen you in the Sanctum in - forever!"


"I've been busy." Magnotris' fingers curled in his pants pocket.


"You always are," Ors bemoaned, tucking the pad under an arm. "I'm surprised they let you in, though. Things have been somewhat on lockdown... Oscillation got out again."


Magnotris cocked an eyebrow. "Again?"


"Snuck out in the middle of the night. Nobody knows how they managed it - they were just here one day and gone the morning after!" Ors sighed, tilting his head. "I was going to go out and - well, but, of course I'm not allowed. But it's not like I'm the one constantly trying to make a grand escape! I always come back!"


Magnotris glanced past the wooded island, at a further one, marked by a tall and looming cathedral. "That definitely sounds annoying."


"Oh, it is. I don't mean to sound jealous of you but - I suppose I rather am, aren't I?" another histrionic sigh. 


Magnotris stared at Orsanmichele, expression unreadable.


Ors offered a weak smile. "Sorry, I'm ranting again. What brings you back to the Sanctum?"


"A summons," he intoned. 


"Oh!" Ors' eyebrows shot up, "good or bad?"


"I don't know yet."


Ors stepped away from the path, gesturing. "Ah, well, my apologies for keeping you for so long! Really, I'm sorry about that, Magnotris."


He nodded, stepping back onto the gravel. "It's fine. We should catch up some time."


"Oh, definitely!" Ors waved as the other stalked off. "I'll text you sometime!"


Magnotris gave him a nod, and continued on his way.


The next few islands were uneventful. The bridges between these ones were forked and divided, each leading to a different land. Magnotris knew the way, ingrained deep in both muscle memory and subconscious. He didn't think as he turned down another path and the bricks gave way to worn, darkened wood. They creaked with every step, begging for maintenance that would never arrive. Ahead stood a deep, darker, small forest, although the cottage that sat at its mouth was homely and welcoming. Streetlamps lined the path through the forest, providing small, warm light to what otherwise was a void of darkness.


There was movement of shadows inside the cottage as Magnotris approached, and the front door was flung open. Another Fragment came stuttering out, nearly tripping on their long skirt, which dragged on the ground. They were followed by a friend, who stayed close and protective, eyeing Magnotris with clear distrust. They were so alike to his normal posture that he paused dead in his tracks.


"Magnotris!" called the shorter blue one, scurrying over to his side. "Oh, I knew you'd be coming, goodness - I have a prognostication for you!"


Magnotris froze completely still, shoulders raised. He'd witnessed plenty of prophecies before, but had never been given one himself. He wasn't sure he wanted to hear, but Viscera was glaring over Believe's shoulder at him, and so he remained put.


Believe's third eye was locked onto him, unblinking, unfettering. The lower eyes curled slightly, still shut, when they smiled. "Oh, good, please listen! It's very important."


Magnotris braced himself.


Believe's horns glowed soft blue as he spoke:

"22706C6561736520756E6465727374616E64
20746861742074686520616374696F6E73
20796F752061726520636F6E666C6167726174696E6720
617265206265796F6E6420796F757220636F6E74

726F6C2C206265796F6E6420796F7572206D696E642C20
616E64207468696E6773206D617920636F6D652074686174

796F752068617665206E6F20776F72647320666F7222."


Magnotris blinked as the cipher echoed in his head and faded. He reached up to rub the back of his hair, eyes still set on Viscera and Believe.


The latter's smile slowly disappeared. "I'm sorry. I don't know what it means."


"That's fine," Magnotris lied, fingers curling into his hair. "I need to be going, now. I have a summons."


"Yes, I know, sorry for keeping you so long. But you never show up! I didn't have a chance before to tell you." Believe shifted over a few steps appropriately, and was only saved from bumping into the cottage wall by Viscera's hand stilling him.


Magnotris stared at the duo for a second longer before he curled his coat closer around his body and set himself back onto the trail. The woods smelled sweetly, faint pine sap tinging the air. Magnotris didn't let himself become distracted. The cathedral was far closer, only a hop away, a skip away. Then he could leave this hellhole and stay in the real world, away from the idiots who wasted their time rattling off philosophy and pretentious thinkpieces.


He didn't belong here. He couldn't be satisfied with ranting about the needs for change and sitting in a circle and pretending like the discussion amounted to anything. He belonged in the streets, hands caked in blood, finding solutions. In his lab, mixing medicine for sick patients. With his partner, facing the world and all of its sharp edges and serrated teeth and embracing it. Magnotris was a creature of the bone, of the blood, making new life where he walked, carving out stability and foundation.


Fuck the Sanctum. Fuck the Overseers. Fuck everyone who let the Coalition grow and twist itself into an ouroboros, feeding on its own negligence. Fuck everyone he came across who was complacent. Fuck everyone who didn't care. Fuck everyone who turned a blind eye or ignored their inaction. 


What was the point? Cataloguing Timelines for what? It fixed nothing. Magnotris had seen, when he was younger, every inch of suffering that the world offered. And the Coalition stopped none of it. It held everything together with duct tape and prayer, and pretended that because the status quo was upheld, that meant things were good, that meant things were better. 


What doesn't grow dies.


He glanced up, bitterly, at the cathedral. Its splendor rose above him, twisting towers, stained windows, open doors. A flock of birds nested on its spires, picking at their feathers and cawing to one another. The steps, polished marble, echoed no noise as Magnotris climbed them, wings held close to his body, tail bouncing with every motion. They were familiar, and he hated it.


The cathedral's main hall seemed empty, lit by hanging chandeliers of candles that were attached to a ceiling so high that Magnotris couldn't make it out in the darkness. Either side of the hall was lined with tapestries of vague battles and wars, with doorways - all closed - underneath. At the far end lay another set of larger doors, these open. Light flooded from this room, casting the contours of Magnotris' face in reds and oranges. He was silent as he strode in.


Four individuals sat on a raised, half-moon platform, situated at the far end of the room. Each was seated on a cushion, talking among themselves quietly. As soon as Magnotris entered, the chatter abruptly stopped, and they turned to face him in silence.


He stared back.


The Fragment sitting on the far right broke into a smile. "Oh, good, Magnotris, you showed up! I told you he'd come-"


Jubilee audibly sighed, cutting off Eclisse. "Yes, obviously. None of us were under the impression that he wouldn't."


Magnotris' eyes flicked to the other two. Overseers Valentine and Cupid, respectively, ignoring each other's presence like petty children after a fight. Valentine had the decency to smile, but Cupid's expression was as dour and annoyed as ever. Eclisse had busied himself in sliding off the platform, seemingly having forgotten that he was both a magic-user and had a pair of functioning wings on his back. Jubilee watched his coworker descend with contempt.


Eclisse's feet met the floor and he quickly strode to Magnotris' side, wearing a grin that was far too large to be comfortable. "We've got absolutely fantastic news for you, Magnotris!"


"Sounds delightful," he droned, voice devoid of any emotion. 


"Eclisse, back off the poor boy. Mags know you've harassed him enough." Valentine's voice was soft and sensual, wavering in vexing ways. 


Eclisse paused, and then scooted himself backwards a few steps. Magnotris kept the mask of impassivity on his face, simply letting his eyes wander from Overseer to Overseer as they spoke. 


Cupid cleared his throat. "Magnotris, it has come to our attention that your actions and behaviors required our thoughts and reflections."


Magnotris' wings bristled, although he tried to keep the surprise from his face. No.


"There has been a history of your accomplishments, and it took weeks of careful review before we could come to a decision regarding it."


No, no, no, no, this wasn't happening. There was still so much he needed to do, to fix. What had he failed to account for? How had they caught him? Was there a mole somewhere, had someone reported his work? Had the other Fragments believed Opal's testimony? 


Magnotris opened his mouth, but no noise escaped. He was enraptured by immobility of his own volition. Panic and adrenaline brimmed under his surface, but he didn't dare to speak or move. Anything could be taken as incriminating at this point. Maybe playing innocent was the best method. Yes, surely he could pin the blame on someone else. Make it so that he, an upstanding assistant to the Overseers, was wrongly framed by a jealous Fragment. 


Who to blame? He needed to-


"-Your skills, dedication, thoughtfulness, and care have not gone unnoticed. Rather, it was your humility that drew our eye to you in the first place, in that you never boasted for more than what was above your station. You did as requested, without complaint, but with ingenuity, creativity, and skill that outclassed your peers."


-Ah?


Cupid continued, ignoring Magnotris' widened eyes and slack jaw. "This is the first time in millenium we have considered such a thing, and of the Overseers themselves, it was nearly unanimous. It was Eclisse who nominated you, but it was your history that pushed for a ninety percent vote in your favor."


Magnotris stared, mind paused. All thoughts had fizzled out of existence. There was only the moment, this moment, unravelling before his eyes.


"Magnotris," Cupid spoke, now with a smile. It was the first time he'd ever see the Overseer with a positive expression. "Formally, we four have gathered to invite you to join the ranks of the Overseers."


His eyes flicked to each Overseer in turn. All were smiling, fondly, as if he were an old friend of theirs catching up with tea. They barely knew who he was. They had no idea of his crimes, of the illegal things he'd done. And yet, they were willing to extend to him a hand to join the most influential and powerful Fragments in the entire known scope of existence. He was just offered power, power and influence and intimidation beyond his deepest, darkest dreams.


There was much he could do, as an Overseer. There was so many more ways he could dip into various circles, various crimes, and even more ways to cover them up. He could become truly terrifying, a force to beat the universe back into shape, powerful, all-encompassing. It was handed to him on a sparkling, gilded plate. 


They were waiting. Presumably for his tearful and prideful agreement. But something in Magnotris' chest stirred, an old, deep fear.


He would be watched. Carefully, and restricted to the Sanctum for most of his days and years. Away from all the people he'd met, the friends he'd carved out, the places he'd called home. Escaping the Sanctum the first time was already a feat that most called impossible; it would be impossible to do it again, especially as an Overseer. His time would be filled with talk and petty ramblings of the Fragments under his care. 


It was power, but at the price of removal, of distance. There would forever be a gap between him and the rest of the world, dictated by a title that he had never reached for in the first place. Distance. Was distance so bad?


Morning Star flashed in his mind.


Perhaps they would let him bring Morning Star into the Sanctum. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Magnotris could feel it wilt and die. Morning Star would hate the Sanctum as much as he did. They would both be caged birds, trapped, but at least in the others' company. Would it be worth it? Could he convince Morning Star it was for his own good?


Creeping, stalking, the image of Morning Star's bloodied face crawled into his mind. The smell of blood as he knocked on the other's office door. The empty, half-dead expression as Morning Star's ruined bones and muscle leaked onto the floor. There had been nothing more terrifying and gut-curling than that image, and the ample nightmares it had happily provided. 


Morning Star would be safe in the Sanctum. It was the most well-guarded, defensible locations in the Coalition of Reality. Its residents were powerful beyond Morning Star's capabilities, able to bend a Timeline with a flick of their wrist. He would be a beetle among giants, but a protected one, cherished by the others as gently as possible. Everyone would respect the husband of an Overseer. Everyone would treat Morning Star with nothing but reverence and kindness.


He would be trapped, but safe. Safe from any other upstarts who had the warped idea to abuse Magnotris' poor, shy, withdrawn compatriot. Morning Star wasn't weak, but he was fragile. He was too kind. He was too sweet. He cared too much, and that let him get hurt. That opened the door for too many people to take advantage of him, to abuse him. In the Sanctum, he'd never have to worry about a thing.


Magnotris looked up. The Overseers' smiles had not left. They knew the weight of the decision they had placed on Magnotris, and were not perturbed by the time it took to consider. They sat, waiting, eyes on the other, silence echoing in the cathedral. None said a word as Magnotris glanced down, at his hands, which shook.


He lifted his head, and spoke his answer.