#anyway if anyone doesn't have an ao3 account but wants to read my fic uh here's your encouragement to get one

[wakeofvultures]

In honor of the end of spooky season, an excerpt from Chapter 24 of Cracks in the Crypt, because nothing is spookier than immortal children:

Word Count: 637

Summary: A conversation pertaining to immortal children, the Volturi, and purpose between Felix and Myrtis.

Within a year, it was clear that the immortal child could not learn. 

It’s tenure as a newborn and indulgence of its unending bloodlust had ended.

Within two, it had spoiled enough meals to dash Felix’s hopes of teaching it restraint.

Prolonged exposure made her feel sad for the thing. 

They were careful not to speak of its fate in Latin. They told the guard to avoid any dialects of Gallic as well. 

When Caius’ leniency had finally reached its limit, it was just Myrtis and Felix. Felix did not want an audience, so he had told Caius and Aro that he would be taking care of it. Myrtis had come along of her own accord.

It would have been easier to toss the thing into the flames and walk away. It was what Myrtis would have done— what she had wanted to do from the beginning.

Instead, Felix twisted its head off first.

A kindness. It wouldn’t feel pain. 

And there would be no crying.

Myrtis watched the whole thing. 

It burned quicker with its small size. 

Myrtis’ sight faded, but Felix was still watching the flames. 

He had not moved.

Myrtis took up a seat nearby.

Felix stood rooted to the spot until the fire burned out on its own. 

Myrtis shook her head.

As a breeze rustled through and sifted through the ashes, Felix finally turned to her, or at least she assumed that he did. She heard the shifting of cloth and then his voice:

“Why?”

“Because they can’t control themselves,” she answered patiently. 

People often asked her these questions after a particularly harsh ruling or execution. 

“No, why does anyone make them?”

“Oh.”

Myrtis thought about it.

“I suppose that the answer is the same, although I doubt it’s the one you’re looking for.”

Felix was silent.

“A more satisfying answer, although I can only offer conjecture, is that they’re looking for purpose.”

“Purpose?”

“They see their life stretched out before them and realize that that is how you have to live. Wandering with no goal and purpose may be bearable for a few years, but a few hundred? A thousand? An immortal child will always be reliant on its creator. It gives someone a purpose to have something reliant on them.”

Felix mulled her words over.

At last he stated,“We have a purpose.”

“We do,” she said. “But others are not so fortunate. Centuries as a nomad with centuries more on the horizon, leaves people wanting. It’s a selfish act, to create an immortal child.”

“And we aren’t?” Felix asked. “Selfish?”

Myrtis shrugged.

“We’re saving hundreds, perhaps thousands of humans of being rid of them.”

Not that, this meant much to them, so Myrtis added:

“We are ensuring our kind survives at the same time the humans do.”

Felix shifted, and Myrtis knew that he was almost there. 

“It is easier to let them die,” she said.

“I’m not letting them die. I’m killing them.”

Now, they were just having a conversation that they’d had before.

“It will be you or it will be me, or it will be someone else. It doesn’t matter. Don’t make it hard for yourself.”

“You make everything seem easy.”

He paused.

“We are fortunate, aren’t we?” Felix asked.

“Yes, we are.”

Felix’s hair brushed against his cloak.

“I don’t think it will ever not be hard, but it’s necessary.”

Myrtis nodded, without knowing if Felix could see the gesture.

She stood from where she was leaning her back against a tree trunk.

“Let’s go home,” she suggested, holding out a hand to grab hold of her friend’s arm.

She would hate to run straight into a tree.

Felix did not move. 

“Felix?” 

There was the crackle of fire, the sound of cloth dragging over blades of grass, and finally, a steady set of footfalls.

(The rest of chapter 24)