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She was accompanied by two other warriors the first time that Caitlyn ever laid eyes on her. She had her arm on one of the men’s shoulders and the other on the bar, talking animatedly to her friends. She caught Caitlyn’s eye easily, with her sideswept red hair and neat undercut, grey sleeveless tunic and leather trousers with a small dagger at her waist. Caitlyn sipped her ale. She could certainly appreciate a well-built woman with arms that looked like she could fold her in half like a pretzel. 

Then, she caught sight of the bright green insignia on her companions’ shoulders and her interest cooled. That woman was a Sun Eater, a solar-powered mercenary group headquartered on a small island off the coast of Piltover. She had never liked them, and not just because she hated the sun. They tended to be loud and arrogant – a public nuisance unless a superior was around to keep them on a tight leash. 

The woman seemed to sense the eyes on her and she looked around, alert. Caitlyn pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders and sunk deeper into the shadows that crowded around her little booth, dropping her gaze to her mug of watered-down ale. 

She should be focusing on her upcoming adventure through the Mirage. Rim was the last town sitting right on the edge of the Mirage –  the huge desert that filled the north as far as the eye could see. It was a magical desert that appeared every fall, and in it was the oasis known as the Miracle. Legend has it that the first person to ever find the Miracle was Viktor, a powerful mage and the hero of Zaun. Using the Miracle’s wish-granting powers, he created the desert. Now, adventurers braved the desert annually to reach the fabled oasis that was rumored to fulfil their hearts’ desire. 

Rim was the gateway into Miracle, and any adventurer who wished to brave the desert would stop here for the night. Caitlyn had caught glimpses of faces she had only ever seen on posters and portraits, and the amount of steel in this little tavern could arm the local militia and then some. It would take seven days to reach the oasis in the middle desert, aptly named Miracle, the goal of every adventurer in Rim. Seven days through blistering heat and bloodthirsty creatures, and with some luck, you could have anything you wanted in the world. 

Caitlyn sighed. Her courage was wavering, but she had come too far to turn back. If she waited even one more day, she would not be able to reach Miracle before time ran out and the Mirage disappeared, and she couldn’t afford to wait another year. 

Seven days. Caitlyn chugged her ale and retreated back up stairs. She just missed a pair of curious eyes following her departure. 

Caitlyn growled as the massive wolves jumped at her, jaws snapping at her legs. Her crossbow was empty, its bolt buried deep inside one of the corpses littered around her. Each one was as tall as her shoulder and longer than she was tall, with light khaki colored fur.

The wolves had caught her completely by surprise, emerging from the sand like ghosts from the wind. She cursed her own carelessness. Her plan to save her limited ammo was in shambles, and if she continued on like this, she wouldn’t last seven days in the Mirage. Caitlyn ducked under a humongous furry paw and punched clumsily upwards, hitting the wolf’s snout hard. The wolf reeled, stunned. The others closed in before she could seize the upper hand and she backed away hastily. She could take a beating. Her clothes, however, could not.

“Watch out!”

An orange blur barrelled in out of nowhere and smashed into a sneaky wolf behind her. Caitlyn didn’t have time to thank her mysterious savior. She swiftly drew back a bolt and let it fly at another one of the prowling wolves. It staggered and black ichor dripped from the wound at its shoulders.

“Yeah, that’s it! Git!” The stranger behind her yelled. 

It seemed that the extra help was enough to scare off the rest of the wolves. They turned tail and loped off. 

“That’s the last of them,” the stranger panted. 

The woman was dressed in a mid-riff-baring leather top and matching leather pants, covered in sweat and bathed in the fiery glow of the setting sun. The golden rays seem to burst out of her glistening body, flowing down her bare muscled arms guided by lines of grey ink and transforming her into a gorgeous bronze statue sculpted by the sun’s favor. 

“You,” Caitlyn breathed, transfixed. “Sun Eater.”

She stared as the other woman basked freely in the warm sun. It was ridiculous how glorious she looked covered in sweat and sand, flexing her abs like she was posing at the Progress Parade back in Piltover. 

Sun Eater, Caitlyn reminded herself and cleared her throat. It was so hard to watch but even harder to look away. “Thank you for the assistance,” she croaked. “I had it under control.”

“Sure you did,” the red-haired woman said flippantly, brushing her hair aside. “The name’s Vi.”

“Charmed,” Caitlyn said as she holstered her weapons. Strangely enough, Vi appeared alone. “Where are your friends?”

“My friends?” Vi cocked her head. 

Busted. 

“You were watching me in the tavern,” Vi said with a grin.

Caitlyn shrugged and frowned. “You were making a lot of noise.”

“They decided to turn back to Rim,” Vi indicated with a jerk of her thumb.

“And you’re going on alone?” Caitlyn said skeptically. Vi was carrying a small pack on her back. It didn’t look adequate, especially for a human. 

Vi shrugged. “So are you.”

“It’s different.” Caitlyn pulled out a dagger and retrieved her bolts from the corpses. “This place is treacherous.”

“It’s just seven days, right?” Vi said and adjusted her gleaming golden knuckledusters. “Well, if we’re all done, I’m off.”

Caitlyn took a moment to survey the dead wolves around her. It was only her first day and she was already having trouble with the beasts. Granted, she was at a massive disadvantage because of the sun and the heat reflecting off the sand, but she had expected the first few hours to be much easier. She had clearly underestimated the desert. 

“Wait, wait. Hang on,” Caitlyn hastened after the other woman. “We should team up.”

“Dumb idea, cupcake,” Vi said as she kept walking. “I hardly know you.”

“Strength in numbers, right?” 

Vi glared at her, but all Caitlyn could think was that Vi was even prettier up close –  even if those stormy grey eyes were currently squinted at her in suspicion. 

Vi sighed. “Okay, since you can’t take a hint, I’m gonna spell it out. I’m human. You’re a vampire. I don't want to wake up dead, so I’m not doing this. This is not happening.”

Caitlyn scowled, though she doubted that Vi could see her expression through the wraps covering her face. “That’s not how we work. Vampires can go without feeding for weeks if they’re sated.”

“And are you ‘sated’?” Vi did the air quotes with two obnoxious fingers. 

“Very. Besides, it's against Piltovian law to feed on a human.”

“I hate to break it to you, but you ain’t in Piltover anymore.” Vi shouldered her pack and turned away.

“I have water and shelter,” Caitlyn called out. “I can share.”

Vi stopped in her tracks. “How much water?”

Bingo. She also figured that Vi’s pack was way too small to contain much water, much less a tent. Without a tent she would have a hard time with the famous sandstorm that combed over the desert every night. 

“Enough for a human. I don’t really need it.” Caitlyn took a bottle from her pack and tossed it over. “I have more.”

Vi came back. “Fine.”

“Fine?”

“Yeah.”

Caitlyn held out her hand and Vi grasped it in her considerably larger ones. She could feel the hard calluses under her thumb and against the palm of her hand.

“If you even think about biting me, I’ll make sure the sun cooks you alive,” Vi growled.

“I…am technically dead,” Caitlyn informed her with a raised brow. “The name’s Caitlyn.”

“Fine. Whatever. Let’s start walking, vamp.”

Vi watched as Caitlyn fished a wooden box the size of her fist out of her pack. 

“Hurry,” Vi said. The sun had set close to an hour ago and the sky was growing darker by the minute. Around them, the winds started to grow.

Caitlyn placed the box on the sand and pushed a hidden button. A small tent appeared out of nowhere as if by magic. It was just about the waist height and four feet across, clearly meant for a single person. 

“After you,” Caitlyn said. 

Vi shuffled in. She had to admit that it was a very nice tent. Simple, but sturdy, with a low profile that allowed the winds to blow over it. She touched the wall of the tent. This would have cost a pretty penny, but then again, the Pilties could probably afford it. 

The vampire removed her hat and entered after her. Vi drew her knees up to her chin to make space for her. “What gave me away?” the vampire asked as she peeled off her gloves in the shade of the tent.

“The accent. And the whole sunlight thing.”

Caitlyn tugged her pack in after her, and after much rummaging, fished out a small hex lamp. 

“Can't vampires see in the dark?” Vi squinted at her in the semi-darkness.

“I can. This is for you,” Caitlyn said shortly and thrust the lamp at her. Her reflexes kicked in and she caught the lamp before it hit her in the face. It occurred to her that she had never seen a vampire up close. Most of her teenage escapades in Piltover were in broad daylight, when there were very few vampires roaming about.

Vi found her black leather jacket and pulled it on. The night was getting chilly, but it didn't seem to bother the vampire at all. Vi made a mental note. Caitlyn set her gloves aside and unwound the scarf from her face while Vi pulled some hard biscuits from her pack. 

“Do you –” Vi nearly dropped her proffered biscuits. 

Oh.  

There was no denying it. The vampire was hot. Caitlyn looked like she had just walked right out of some beauty pageant. Not just hot, like the girls she saw occasionally at the expensive tavern on Sun Eater island, but exactly Vi’s type of hot. Otherworldly, with high cheekbones and a nose that cut a sharp profile in the dim light of the tent. Shadows danced over the planes of her face, illuminating a sharp chin and the most arresting sapphire blue eyes she had ever seen  –

“It’s rude to stare.” The vampire raised a brow.

Vi flushed and fumbled the lamp, engulfing them in darkness. “Whoops. Biscuit?”

“I’m not hungry.”

Right. Vampires don’t eat. Vi wolfed down the biscuits and lay down in the darkness, hands tucked under her head. Outside, the wind howled against the walls of the tent, baying for her demise; everything would be covered by sand come morning. Vi thanked her lucky stars. She definitely could not have survived the night out there by herself, and instead ran into the world’s least threatening adventurer. Today had shown her that everything in the Mirage could kill her, adventurers included. Really, if Caitlyn wanted to, she could probably eviscerate Vi right now with her supernatural strength. Fortunately for her, this particular vampire seemed more preoccupied with getting comfortable. There was more rustling, and then a soft sigh. She felt Caitlyn’s thigh, and then her hip against hers. This tent was going to be far cozier than she had anticipated. 

A weight dropped down on her shoulder. “Ouch.” 

“Move over,” Caitlyn grouched. 

Vi scooted aside. “Sorry.”

“Little bit more?”

“Ooof.”

The tent was too narrow for both of them to lie on their backs. Instead, Vi turned on her side, facing Caitlyn. She couldn’t see in the total darkness, but she could feel Caitlyn’s knees against hers. 

“So,” Vi said conversationally. “What brought you to the Mirage?”

“Goodnight,” Caitlyn said softly and turned over. 

Caitlyn woke up with something soft under her arm. She cracked open an eye.

Vi was lying on her side, facing away. Her back was pressed snugly against Caitlyn, with the vampire’s arm around over her belly and her lips against the nape of her neck. Her other arm was trapped under the woman’s head.

The Sun Eater was incredibly soft and warm against her bare forearm, a nice change from the stiff, scratchy leather or cool satin she was forced to wear. The steady rhythm of Vi’s heart pulsed around her, filling the tent with a strong, slow beat. From this angle she could see the top of Vi’s sprawling back tattoo, where the gears and pipes met her shoulders and turned downwards. 

It felt nice. She moved imperceptibly closer and sensed a change in the rhythm. 

“Didn’t take you for a cuddler,” Vi drawled sleepily. 

“You’re lying on my arm,” Caitlyn complained. 

Vi lifted her head, allowing Caitlyn to extract herself. She sat up and touched the walls. Sand was piled high against the windward side of the tent, almost covering the entrance. Importantly, the tent had held, just as Jayce had assured her it would. Caitlyn felt a lump in her throat. How she wished Jayce was here with her right now. 

“It’s nearly dawn. We should get moving soon.” She donned her tunic and then her gloves, and then started putting her hair up.

“Good morning to you too,” Vi said, blinking sleep from her eyes with a lazy grin and stretched. 

Caitlyn busied herself with her clothes. No one had any right to look that adorable this early in the morning.

“Come on. We’re losing daylight.”

Vi watched as Caitlyn shook the sand off the tent and pressed something, transforming it back into a box. The vampire was covered from head to toe in the same blue-and-gold attire as yesterday. The only exposed area was her brilliant blue eyes. Her belt sat low on her hips, carrying a crossbow and a long rifle was slung across her back. Pouches containing bolts and bullets were strapped everywhere; strapped to her calf was a short hunting knife. This was one well-prepared vampire – which was just as well, seeing as this was no place for any sane undead. The sun in the barren land was oppressively hot, and the nights were filled with angry sandstorms. The creatures didn’t seem to differentiate between the living and the undead. In short, any undead coming here would have a very difficult time.

They started off north, trudging across the soft sand. There was only sand as far as they could see, but yesterday’s harrowing experience told her that the creatures lurked under the deceptively calm sand. By mid-morning they had run into sand slugs capable of spewing acid up to twenty feet. Shortly after, it was the rock turtles – giant mounds of rock that snapped at them and tried to crush them with their weight. 

“Run!” Caitlyn yelled. “Stop punching it!”

Caitlyn seized Vi by the arm and dragged her away. They weren’t going to win this fight against the turtles the size of a small house. The rolling mountains of rock were deceptively fast for their size, whirling along the sand floor in their shells. Vi sprinted quickly across the sand and Caitlyn followed close behind. Initially, she was afraid that the vampire wouldn’t be able to keep up, but Caitlyn’s long legs and vampiric stamina ate up the miles with ease.

“They’re trying to herd us south,” Vi shouted over the wind. “Box us in. Let’s jump over them.”

“What?” Caitlyn said. “It's too high!”

“Come on, I’ll boost you! Quick!”

Caitlyn stepped up into Vi’s hands and she heaved, throwing her like she weighed nothing. Caitlyn spun in the air and somehow managed not to injure anything during the landing. She scrambled quickly to her feet. Vi leapt after her, landing gracefully in the sand before speeding off.

“I could have taken them,” Vi said cockily when they finally left the turtles far behind.

“I’m sure,” Caitlyn said, only half-sarcastic. The Sun Eater was strong, and with enough punching, Vi could probably take one of those down. That would be a colossal waste of time, however, and they did not have time to waste. 

Afternoon found them swarmed by more wolves, but these had sturdy bone plates over their heads and spiky protrusions along their spines. 

Caitlyn watched as Vi dodged nimbly; her movements almost too quick to follow. Her muscles, covered in a layer of sweat, gleamed under the afternoon sun as she danced in and out of range of the snarling jaws. Vi flashed her a smile over her shoulder and Caitlyn had to roll her eyes. The Sun Eater certainly lived up to her company’s reputation. Caitlyn let loose another bolt, mentally berating herself. She was way too distracted by the Sun Eater. She should be focusing on the task at hand. 

“Do you think they’re following us?” Vi asked as she punched the lights out of a wolf that came too close.

“The appearance of the monsters are random as far as I know. I haven't read any records saying otherwise.” Caitlyn physically shoved one of the wolves aside.

“The sun will set soon,” Vi said, “and they’ll leave. There’s a pattern here.”

Sure enough, when the sun touched the horizon, the remaining wolves retreated back to the east. 

“Let’s go,” Caitlyn said. “We can get a few more miles in.”

When half the sun was beneath the horizon, they finally stopped and made camp. Vi crawled into the tent first, exhausted. They had gone at full speed nearly the entire day, and when they weren’t running, they were fighting. Unfortunately, the Sun Eater’s energy waned with the sun and she was finally tuckered out.

She flopped down on the floor and pulled her top over her head, leaving her in just her chest wraps.

“What are you doing?” Caitlyn asked sharply.

“Airing things out,” Vi said, eyeing her blood-splattered top. She removed her trousers next, hanging the two pieces on the overhead pole. Caitlyn wrinkled her nose. 

“Some of us are melee fighters,” Vi said. “Can’t always avoid the blood.”

Caitlyn sighed, and began her long undressing routine. She could feel Vi’s heartbeat, calm and steady next to her in spite of the exhausting day. Vi took out her jacket and folded it into a pillow under her head.

“That’s the Kiramman coat of arms,” Vi said idly, pointing at Caitlyn’s rifle. 

“Yes,” Caitlyn said as she checked and cleaned her weapons.  She glanced at her rifle and then at Vi. “Are you from Zaun?”

“Born and bred.”

“How did you end up with the Sun Eaters?” 

“There was a bit of a mix-up when I was a kid. They took me to the island, and I just…became one I suppose. Passing the trials was the only way to leave the island alive.”

“Mix-up?” Caitlyn said incredulously. “Didn’t someone look for you? Your parents? Family?”

“We’re not all missed, princess,” Vi retorted with more vitriol than she expected.

Caitlyn stayed silent. She had clearly touched on a sore point.

“You know what I think is really funny?” Vi didn’t sound like she was in much of a joking mood. Caitlyn was beginning to regret opening her mouth. “The Pilties have clean air, great sun, but they can’t walk in it because they’re a bunch of vampires. Meanwhile, in Zaun, we’ve got shitty air and smog that’s trying to kill us, and no sun and we’re human. Most of us anyway. Really makes you think, doesn’t it?”

Caitlyn didn’t reply.

“The whole thing is a shitshow,” Vi declared.

“Is that why you’re here?” Caitlyn asked meekly. She put her weapons aside and removed her gloves, revealing slender, delicate fingers. “To get rid of the Piltovians?”

“What? No! Are you crazy?!” Vi protested. “If I were I would have staked you in the heart,” she muttered under her breath after a beat. 

“That wouldn’t actually kill me,” Caitlyn responded nonchalantly. “You shouldn't believe all the rumors.”

“Do all vampires have super hearing?” Vi groused. “Anyway, I’m here because of my dad,” Vi exhaled. “Some crazy scientist turned him into a murderous man-wolf.”

“A werewolf?” She knew many werewolves and they were nice people most of the time. 

“No, werewolves have manners. He's turned into some kind of monster and this is the only way to turn him back. I need my dad back.”

Oh. Caitlyn scrunched up the cloth in her hands. “That’s horrible. I’m sorry about what I said earlier,” Caitlyn said earnestly. “I’m sure they were searching for you.”

Silence reigned for a heartbeat or two. “Hey, do vampires actually need to sleep?”

“Yes? Why else would I lie next to you?” Caitlyn said, confused. 

“Maybe you just like to cuddle.” 

Caitlyn rolled her eyes. “It was an accident.”

“I’m not against it,” Vi smirked, "anything to help you sleep at night, princess.”

Caitlyn huffed. “It won’t happen again.”

Vi woke up to a warm presence pressed against her back and an arm slung over her chest, right onto her left boob. Caitlyn’s legs were tangled with hers. She grinned. 

Vi scanned the horizon. “This way. I don't see any movement.”

 They started down the little sand dune. On a landscape as flat as the Mirage, that little dune was practically Mount Targon. The vampire followed behind her, her faithful blue and gold shadow. They had established a system. Vi went first, probing for traps. Caitlyn followed behind, armed and ready to bail her out. 

It was a quiet morning and noon was fast approaching. What was the purpose of the creatures in the Mirage? Vi wondered. Were they protecting the Miracle? Was this the desert’s way of testing them? Or was there some kind of larger plan in motion? She was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she didn't notice the strange little stick poking out the sand and stepped right on it. A small shift in the sand was all the warning she had before the creature emerged from its burrow. A row of sharp spines emerged from the sand, attached to a massive brown rodent.

“Porcupine!” Vi threw herself aside as a series of projectiles as wide as her hand fanned out towards her. “Duck!”

Vi looked back in time to see Caitlyn leap into the air over the shiny barbs, her long overcoat trailing behind her. Caitlyn landed gracefully and fired once, and the creature in front of them slumped over.

Vi crept closer. A clean shot; the bolt had gone straight into its eye. She pulled out her dagger and stuck it in, freeing the bolt.

“Thanks,” Caitlyn said. 

Looking around, she could see the two inches of what looked like sticks emerging from the sand. They were in the middle of the herd, with porcupines huddled in twos and threes around them. 

“Let's go slow,” Vi suggested. “I don't think they’re aggressive.”

Caitlyn nodded. 

As she picked her way slowly through the herd, Vi finally decided to confront a growing problem she was wrestling with.

She had a crush on Caitlyn Kiramman, a big fat inconvenient crush that wasn't going anywhere. Who could blame her, really, when the woman was doing somersaults and shooting things in the eye at twenty paces while looking cool as fuck. Vi hoped she looked half as good punching things and taking it in the face, though she really doubted it. She had always had a soft spot for a sharp woman who knew her way around a weapon too. She sneaked a peek at the other woman.

“Watch where you’re going,” Caitlyn chided, eyes down on the sand. 

It wasn't the first time she had ever gotten a crush on a travelling companion and it probably wouldn't be the last. The problem wasn’t really the crush per se, but the intensity of it really shocked Vi. She had only known this woman for all of three days, and suddenly she was volunteering to act as bait for hidden deathtraps. If her captain Marcus had asked her to do it she would have spat in his face. Instead, here she was merrily walking along and hoping that her reflexes were fast enough to dodge anything that came her way.

Vi shoved all her feelings down. They were only four days out from Miracle, and after that she would never have to see the vampire again. There was nothing to gain and everything to lose. 

Vi sneaked another look at Caitlyn who averted her eyes. Vi wasn't blind; she’d seen the looks that Caitlyn threw her way, so Vi knew she was at least appreciating the view. Vi still knew next to nothing about her, except that the Kirammans were a very, very rich and influential Piltovian family. Did she have a girlfriend? Boyfriend? Husband? Wife? Did she even swing Vi’s way?

“Where did you learn to shoot?” Vi asked, breaking her train of thought.

“My mother taught me,” Caitlyn said. “Shooting and hunting was her thing.”

“You’re quite good at it.”

Caitlyn smiled. “I am excellent at it.”

“Can I have a look?”

“Swap?” Vi nodded. 

Caitlyn unslung her rifle and handed it over. In exchange, Vi handed over one of her mechanical gloves. The rifle was old, with a ‘C.K.’ embossed on the stock.

“My mother’s rifle,” Caitlyn explained.

“It’s a nice weapon,” Vi said. “That glove is from the Sun Eaters. Standard issue.”

Caitlyn put her hand in and flexed her fingers. “How did you manage to convince whoever’s in charge to let you go on this journey?” Caitlyn asked. “I was under the impression that the Sun Eaters were not allowed to leave the service until their contract ends.”

“I didn't."

“You ran away?” 

Vi laughed at Caitlyn’s horrified tone. “Yup.”

“And your friends too?”

“It’s more like a temporary absence. We plan on going back.” 

Vi felt a pang of guilt. Mylo and Claggor had come along because they wouldn't let Vi go alone. On the first day, they had run into several very aggressive sand bears and Vi had forced them to run while she covered their retreat. She had fully expected to fight; instead, the bears ran off once she was alone, leaving her with a dilemma. She chose to continue, and five minutes later she ran into one very unfortunate vampire.

“Wont you be punished for that?”

“Maybe,” Vi shrugged. “We can handle anything they throw our way. Anyway, I’ve got twenty years left on my contract so I’m not in a rush.”

“What will you do next?”

“Punch more things,” Vi said. “Thats all I know. Maybe I’ll open a bar. That's what my dad did.”

“You are quite good at punching things,” Caitlyn agreed. “You could find work in Piltover.”

Vi laughed. “Are you offering to hire me? You’ll have to wait twenty years for that.”

Caitlyn smiled back at her. “I have time. I can wait. If we get out of this alive.”

At dusk, they saw the clouds brewing on the horizon and made camp. Vi entered first and quickly stripped off her clothes as usual. She was intimately aware that Caitlyn seemed to be looking everywhere except at her. 

“Hey Caitlyn,” Vi said with a smirk as Caitlyn returned eye contact reluctantly. “Can vampires blush?”

Caitlyn huffed and continued with her own routine. With the sun still up, there was still some light in the tent and Vi was able to watch the whole process. First came the weapons, checking and cleaning the crossbow. Then it was the hat and the gloves. Caitlyn unpinned her hair, letting it fall down her back. Last were the scarves and wraps around her face, leaving her in a laced-up tunic and skintight trousers.

“You’re staring,” Caitlyn murmured.

“I –” Think you’re cool. Would you like to go on a date? Vi cleared her throat. “Nothing.”

Vi rummaged through her pack until she found her jacket and her biscuits. “Serious question,” Vi pivoted. “Why are you going through the Miracle alone? Don't you have warrior friends? An adventuring party? If you’re a Kiramman you must have enough money to hire a few mercs.”

“I did have a friend. He fell ill on the way to Rim and I had to leave him behind.”

“That’s a hunting rifle and that’s a hunting knife,” Vi pointed out. “You’re a hunter, not a fighter or a warrior. Pretty ballsy coming here alone, if you ask me. That screams either stupidity or desperation, and I don’t think you’re stupid.”

Caitlyn glanced over. She was clearly keeping some secrets, but that was none of Vi’s business.

“I’m just saying if you want to turn back, it’s not too late,” Vi continued. “We haven’t crossed the halfway mark. Seriously, Caitlyn, you’re going to get yourself killed.”

“No, I won't go back.”

Caitlyn met her eyes. She unlaced her tunic and removed it, and then her leather trousers and hung them overhead exactly as Vi had done. When she was done she settled back on the floor in her plain bra and matching underwear. Vi held her gaze this whole time, unwilling to look away. 

“It’s true I’m not a fighter, but you are. You can show me. I want to learn.” Caitlyn grazed Vi’s palm with her fingers, trailing along the calluses on her knuckles.

“Can you teach me?” Her fingers stopped in Vi’s palm.

Vi squeezed her hand and looked away. “Let’s get some sleep.”

She tucked herself into the empty space next to Vi. “Move over,” Caitlyn said softly.

Vi obliged without a word of protest. 

The fourth day started like any other. They broke camp soon after dawn and were well on their way by mid-morning. It was going so well, at least until they ran straight onto the lair of an enormous three-tailed scorpion. One moment they were sauntering along, and the next, they were fighting for their lives.

“Watch out!” Caitlyn dodged under its slashing tail. She took aim with her crossbow and fired. The bolt bounced harmlessly off its shell. 

Not good. 

Caitlyn threw herself out of the way and faced the black, beady eyes of her attacker. It was fast, with shells thicker than her thigh and large, wicked pincers. Its three tails seemed to be able to move independently, keeping the both of them at bay. At the end of each tail was a large stinger that looked capable of piercing armor. It was by far the most challenging creature they faced. 

“We should run!” Vi yelled. 

They tried to leave, but a pincer grabbed her coat and tossed her backwards. On her right, Vi wasn't faring much better. She punched down on the scorpion’s head but the blow glanced harmlessly off its carapace. A snap of its pincers forced her to back away and duck as its tail came slashing down.

“Shoot it with your rifle!” Vi yelled. 

“I can’t get a good shot!” Caitlyn shouted back. Her rifle might do the trick if she could get a good shot, but the creature’s attacks were relentless.

“I’ll distract it!”

“Wait!” 

Vi charged in, smacking aside its pincers in a quick one-two combo. She dodged an attack from the back by its tail. 

“Over here!” Vi went left, and attacked its eyes, trying to force it to defend itself. It worked. The scorpion’s focus was centred entirely on Vi as it whirled around with incredible speed. Vi once again evaded its pincers.

She missed the tail that came piercing down from the sky.  

“Ugh!” The scorpion’s tail buried itself in Vi’s shoulder momentarily, before she twisted away and stumbled backwards. 

“Vi!” Caitlyn lunged over and blocked the second tail with her forearm as it came down for the kill. With her other arm, she fired blindly with her rifle straight at its exposed mandibles. The scorpion squealed and released them. Bullseye. Caitlyn fired again and again and again until the scorpion spasmed lay motionless

“Caitlyn,” came a groan at her feet. Caitlyn dropped to her knees. Vi sat upright, clutching at her shoulder. “Poison.”

“Let me see.” Caitlyn gently peeled her hands away

The wound was green and mottled. The poison had pooled around the crook of her neck. The skin around it had turned golden orange, almost as though resisting the invading poison. If not for her powers Vi would already be dead.

“You?” Vi forced the words out and gripped her forearm.

“The poison doesn’t affect me,” Caitlyn said urgently. “Vampire things. We need to get it out or it will start spreading.”

“How do you know?” Vi hunched over. “I can…fight through it.”

“My father is a doctor. For humans,” Caitlyn clarified. She rummaged through Vi’s pack and pulled out her bottle. “Drink.”

Vi tried to take a sip, but water splashed from her lips.  “You should go…ahead,” Vi gasped.

“I’m thinking.”

“Before…it gets dark.”

“Shush,” Caitlyn ran her hands along Vi’s shoulder blade. The puncture wound was surprisingly small, considering the size of the scorpion’s tail. “I – I could draw it out of you.”

“Suck it out…with your vampire things?” Vi leaned against Caitlyn. Caitlyn could feel her heartbeat going a mile a minute.

“I’ve seen it done – by professionals of course – but I’ve never –” Caitlyn had never actually bitten a human in her life. Growing up, it had always been about resisting her basal urges no matter how strong they were. No one had prepared her to do otherwise.

“Just do it,” Vi bared her neck. “It’s…either you or the poison.”

Gingerly, Caitlyn embraced her from behind, one trembling hand on her throat and the other across her torso on her thigh, allowing her to rest her weight against the vampire. 

“Are you…gonna suck me dry…or what?” Vi breathed.

“Funny. Don’t move. This might sting a little,” Caitlyn warned. She unsheathed her fangs and sank down over the wound.

Vi flinched.

She was mentally prepared – as well as she could be with the nerve-wracking pain clouding her mind – but being bitten like that activated every animal instinct in her body. 

The gloved hand around her throat tightened and Caitlyn began to drink.

The pain in her shoulder fell away and her exhaustion ebbed. The smell of Caitlyn engulfed her as the vampire’s lips caressed her neck, contrasting with the vice-like grip of her leather gloves on her throat. 

She was suddenly keenly aware of how intimately Caitlyn was pressed against her back as the feeling of relief gradually spread over her body. Caitlyn’s hips were just behind hers, her lithe thighs bracketing Vi’s more muscular ones. Her hands felt too hot on her skin as they gripped her, just hard enough to control her and keep her still. The absence of the pain left no distractions from the completely inappropriate need that flared in her belly. 

It was a bad day to have a sensitive neck.

She clenched her thighs and tried to rein in her rampant gutter thoughts. Fuck. Think of the sky. Think of the sand. Think about Marcus’ expression when he finds out Vi went AWOL and got herself killed. Do not think of the ocean-blue eyes of the vampire with her lips on her throat. Do not think about how much she wanted those lips all over her body and that hand between her thighs.

It cannot be possible for anyone to have this effect on her. It was impossible. Even if they had the personality of a lost kitten and looked like her wildest dreams. Vi refused to believe it. There must be something about the vampire’s bite, some strange chemicals addling her brain. She refused to believe that Caitlyn Kiramman could have such an effect –

Caitlyn’s tongue brushed along her neck and Vi almost made a sound. She quivered and Caitlyn’s hand stroked along her thigh, caressing and squeezing. Vi was sure the vampire meant to be soothing. Instead, it made everything worse.

Fire pooled in her belly as she let her head fall back against Caitlyn’s shoulder with a moan half-disguised as a groan.

“Sorry,” Caitlyn pulled away hastily. “I didn't mean to hurt you. There’s just a little more –” 

Vi wasn’t listening anymore as the pain slammed full force back into her. Vi gasped at the mix of pain and need. 

“Keep going,” she hissed. She reached back and yanked the surprised vampire forward. “Don’t stop.”

Caitlyn took the hint and bit down.

Vi’s blood tasted incredible, like sweet wine mixed with the bitter taste of poison. Vi twitched slightly in her arms, fists clenched. 

According to Caitlyn’s textbooks, the taste blood of a human varied by how they felt, but that’s all they said. The Piltovian textbooks could not legally go into more detail than that. So Caitlyn had zero clue about exactly how Vi felt; it could be anything. From the way she reacted, it could be shock or relief, perhaps. It certainly wasn’t pain because Vi hadn't made a sound, but she didn't seem fully relaxed either.

The taste changed gradually into something akin to warm honey, rich and thick as Vi trembled ever so slightly in her arms. It continued to morph, distilling into liquid ambrosia so rich and delicious that Caitlyn had to close her eyes to remind herself that she was currently performing an important life-saving medical procedure. She had to take the poison out, nothing more and nothing less.

Vi shivered and Caitlyn rubbed her thigh soothingly. There was no telling how the poison might be affecting the Sun Eater. Idly, she ran her tongue along the soft, pliant skin of the woman in front of her, cleaning up the errant drops of blood infused with the distinct taste of sweat. Vi groaned suddenly, her head falling back, shocking Caitlyn out of her reverie. She whipped her fangs away immediately. 

“Sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. There’s just a little more –” 

Vi gazed up at her, eyes darkened with such burning intensity that the words died in her throat.

“Keep going,” the other woman insisted and pulled her forward.

Caitlyn plunged back in, pushing that look out of her mind. Vi tasted delicious, like – like liquid sunlight, Caitlyn thought. She tasted like warmth and bliss and luxury and glory – Caitlyn couldn't stop herself from lapping up any stray drops that clung to the Sun Eater. Her lips stroked and kissed and fondled the bare skin. It was unlike anything she had ever tasted. It was so unique, so incredible, so…Vi. The taste of her soared closer and closer to some unknown peak. 

She became aware that she was clinging to Vi, holding her tight as though for dear life. In her arms, Vi was growing increasingly tense, like a drawn bow aching for its release. Caitlyn could feel her back flex as her hips bucked, and feel her thighs tremble under her rigid touch. 

How far could this go? Caitlyn wondered. How far would she go? They were climbing and twisting as her thoughts spiralled and spiralled, working up and up to some grand climax. Where was Vi –

Abruptly, the bitter taste of the poison disappeared. 

Caitlyn immediately snapped her head away and retracted her fangs, leaving a smattering of blood on her neck and shoulder. Vi crumpled backwards against her, chest heaving and eyes closed.

“Are you alright? Does it hurt?” Caitlyn said, worried. 

“I’m okay,” Vi murmured. “I’m okay. I just…I need to catch my breath.”

Caitlyn hesitated, and then gently cleaned the bloodied area with her tongue. Vi made an indecipherable sound.

“I’ll wrap up the wound and set up camp,” Caitlyn said softly. “Rest up.”

Vi’s only response was a thumbs up. 

Chapter Text

Vi dreamt that she was falling. 

She flailed upwards, reaching for someone up above her, but she couldn’t quite –

Vi jerked awake. It was sunny and she was lying on sand. The next thing she noted was a huge furry ass blocking her view of the bright blue sky and it was about to sit on her what the f– 

Vi yelled. What came out was a choked gurgle; her throat was too parched to make a sound.

Thud.

The monster flew aside as a lanky figure collided with it. A stream of very colorful and extremely creative curses in the poshest accent imaginable filled the air. The figure grappled with the monster before she broke free and fired her rifle. The creature squealed and ran. 

Vi felt the faint vibration of footsteps approaching and she shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep. 

“I can feel your heartbeat, you know,” Caitlyn said conversationally as she looked down at Vi. “I know you’re awake.”

Vi cracked open an eye. “What happened?”

“Ran into a monster. I had to drop you,” Caitlyn said apologetically and dug through Vi’s pack until she found Vi’s bottle. “Water?”

Vi accepted the bottle eagerly and swallowed a few mouthfuls of life-giving liquid. “What day is it?”

“Day five. You didn't wake up this morning so I had to carry you.” 

Vi ran her hand along the dressing on her shoulder. “I’m not a vampire, am I?”

Caitlyn rolled her eyes. “It’s a complicated process to turn a human into a vampire. Anyway, there are laws. I would be spending the rest of my life in prison, and I would rather not.”

“Wait. Vampires are dead,” Vi said with a frown. Her head was throbbing, making it hard to think. “How do you get more vampires if you don’t turn humans into vampires?”

“That’s a whole ‘birds and the bees’ talk that I absolutely do not want to have with you,” Caitlyn said firmly and crouched next to Vi. She was wearing one of Vi’s gauntlets and her face wraps were gone. The scarf that used to cover her neck had been repurposed to cover the lower part of her face, leaving her eyes and forehead protected only by the shadow of her hat. 

“Where are your wraps?” Vi asked and noticed her empty belt. “What happened to your crossbow?

“Some asshole ate it yesterday,” Caitlyn said. “Can you stand?”

Vi tried her best to sit up, but any motion was accompanied by an overwhelming wave of nausea. 

“I can carry you till sunset. There’s about two more hours.” Caitlyn heaved her up and slung her over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She was essentially smashing her face into Caitlyn’s back every time Caitlyn took a step.

Unbidden, the memories of her last experience with Caitlyn came flooding back into her mind. “About the blood drinking thing – what was it like? ” Vi asked, curious. “You said you’ve never had human blood,

“It was…um – it was good.”

From this angle, it really felt like she was having a conversation with Caitlyn’s ass. Vi closed her eyes. “I tasted good?”

“Yeah.”

“How good?”

“Um.”

“That good huh,” Vi said with a cheeky grin. 

“That’s not what I said.”

“It was implied.” 

“Keep talking about this and I am going to drop you and leave you here,” Caitlyn threatened.

“You wouldn’t,” Vi challenged, but kept her mouth shut anyway and drifted off to sleep. 

The next time she woke up she was lying spread-eagled on the sand facing the setting sun. Vi looked around. Caitlyn was lounging in the shade of the tent just behind her, dutifully watching over her with the brim of her hat lowered over her eyes. 

“Figured the sun would help you recover,” Caitlyn said. 

She pushed herself upright. The vampire was correct. She did feel much better. She dusted off the sand and crawled into the tent. Her gauntlets were sitting neatly by the side, gleaming in the last rays of the sun.

“Did you…clean my gauntlets?” Vi asked in disbelief.

“Well it felt right. I had to borrow them to avoid breaking my knuckles. Here,” Caitlyn handed her the biscuits and her bottle. “You should rest,” she said anxiously.

It was sweet of her. Vi couldn’t remember the last time someone was concerned about her health. With the Sun Eaters, it was all survival. Toughing it out. Pushing her body to its limits. That sort of thing. There was no time for fuss or tenderness.

“What did I miss?” Vi fiddled with the dressing on her wound and Caitlyn smacked her hand away.

“There were a few monsters this morning, but nothing I couldn't handle. Come here. Let me look at the wound.” 

Gently, Caitlyn unravelled the cloth while Vi tried not to squirm under her touch. The white cloth peeling away from her skin looked so familiar. “Does it hurt?” 

“No.” Vi connected the dots. Caitlyn had sacrificed her wraps for the dressing. 

Caitlyn ran her fingers over the wound site in amazement. “There’s a scar, but it’s otherwise healed. Is this a Sun Eater thing?”

Vi nodded and flexed her shoulder. “There’s a ritual transformation over the years that gives us some powers to boost our physical abilities. Things like running, fighting, healing –” Light fingers traced across her shoulder blade, following the line of ink that danced across her back as fascinated blue eyes trailed along the path mapped out by her hand.  “-- Are you listening?”

If vampires could blush, Caitlyn would've turned the color of a ripe tomato. Instead she simply withdrew her hand. “Of course.”

Adorable. “How much time did we lose?”

Caitlyn shook her head. “Not a significant amount. We’ll make it up tomorrow. We must be almost there.”

The wind outside began to howl, so they sealed the entrance and prepared for the night. As usual, Vi stripped down to her underwear and hung it up to air. Caitlyn did the same. 

“Where do you get that?” Vi looked over her shoulder to find Caitlyn staring at the tattoo on her back. 

“On the Sun Eater isle. Did it bit by bit. Every season I survived in the Sun Eaters I added a little more to the piece.” Vi lay down facing down so that Caitlyn could see the back piece in its entirety.

“That sounds like a truly awful place. This piece is beautiful though.”

“It’s not so bad now that I’ve completed the training,” Vi said. “Plenty of people don’t make it out, but I did. Now I get paid to see the world, more or less.”  A sudden thought occurred to her. “Can vampires get tattoos?”

“Yes, technically” Caitlyn said as she lay down opposite Vi, knee to knee. “but they’ll disappear every time we feed. My ex-girlfriend had one.”

Vi tried to keep her relief hidden as she waggled her eyebrows. That was one unasked question answered. “Scandalous.”

“Shush. It wasn’t serious. She wasn’t that into me anyway. She liked me. She loved my family name.”

“That’s a shame.” She averted her eyes from Caitlyn’s brilliant blue gaze. She couldn’t imagine doing that to anyone, let alone Caitlyn. Talk about dishonesty. It was true that she wasn’t overly fond of vampires, but Caitlyn had been nothing but nice to her. She’d even saved her life. 

Vi turned off her hex lamp, plunging them into darkness. She knew Caitlyn could still see perfectly well, but being in the dark made her feel more comfortable about opening up. It wasn’t that Vi was embarrassed about who she was; she was just never a feelings person, to the point that being emotionally honest bothered her much more than physical nakedness. Case in point.

“The Kirammans are a big deal huh.”

“My mother is on the ruling Council of Piltover.” 

So Caitlyn wasn’t just rich, but also very powerful. “So… what is a scion of the Kiramman House doing in this godforsaken desert?” Her curiosity was frankly killing her. 

“My mother is very sick,” came the answer in the darkness. “She has a rare form of sun disease and it’s killing her. She’s not getting any better. We’ve kept it quiet as long as we can, kept making excuses that she was busy, or away on business. But Piltover can’t function without her and she’s on her deathbed.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Piltover needs her, so here I am.” A pause. “I’d appreciate it if you could keep this a secret.”

“My lips are sealed.” Vi promised. She turned Caitlyn’s words over in her mind. “What about you? You talk about what Piltover needs but what about you?”

“I’d do anything to save my mother, even against my father’s wishes.”

“You…snuck away from home?” The more she knew about Caitlyn, the more she realized how similar they really were deep down. 

There was a humorless laugh. “I don’t blame him. There is a very real chance that he could lose both of us.”

Vi reached out for Caitlyn and found her hand in the darkness. “We’ll make it,” she said confidently. Her confidence was honestly her superpower. “You’ll get your wish and everything will be okay.”

“Says the person who almost died.” A hand cupped her cheek. “It was quite a scare. Don’t do that again.”

Vi took the hand from her cheek into her palms. “Won’t happen again. I promise.”

Vi woke up first, belly full of anticipation. Day six. By sunset they should be able to see the oasis. Either they would make it tomorrow, or not at all. Gently, she untangled herself from the sleeping vampire and began her morning routine. She ate a handful of biscuits and jerky, mulling over the best way to wake Caitlyn up. Vi studied the sleeping vampire. She looked quite peaceful and adorable in her sleep, although Vi would never admit it out loud. She must be exhausted, for she slept like the dead. If Caitlyn was her little sister, Vi would’ve shaken her awake, but Caitlyn seemed a little more…delicate. In the end, all her thinking was for naught. The vampire woke up while she was finishing up her breakfast, and quickly set about dressing up. 

The day started out easy, almost as though the powers that be were easing them into it. Working as a team, they easily fought off the handful of wolves that decided to accost them on their path. She should have known that their good luck couldn’t last forever. 

Vi saw it first – a black spire as tall as she was sticking out of the sand. It was undoubtedly attached to some huge bloodthirsty monster waiting for its lunch.

“What is it?” Caitlyn stopped next to her.

“I’m not sure. I don’t think we’ve seen this before.” Vi frowned. They gave the spire a wide berth, careful to step lightly on the sand. Vi kept her gauntlets on hand and Caitlyn’s rifle was loaded in her hands. They didn’t talk as they walked, tense and ready. 

Unfortunately, they had misjudged the size of the monster. Vi felt the sands shift underfoot as the ground rumbled. The spire began to rise.  

“Run!” Vi yelled as she sprinted north. She turned back to look at their attacker and her jaw fell open. It was a fucking dragon. 

The topaz-colored horned dragon swooped low over them, leathery wings blotting out the sun. Its talons, each one as long as her torso, reached out as its tail raked across the sand. 

“Duck!” Vi shoved Caitlyn aside as the tail rattled past and the dragon landed in front of them, blocking their path. They were not outrunning a dragon. It eyed them with its gleaming red eyes, scales shimmering in the sun. The dragon swiped lazily at them. It was toying with them, Vi realized. She evaded its next attack and punched its body as hard as she could. The dragon staggered. 

The dragon was just like any of the other creatures they had faced. It wasn't unbeatable, but it would take a lot more. The dragon whipped its head around to glare at her. Behind her, Caitlyn lined up shot and fired. 

Her aim was true and the bullet hit the dragon squarely in the eye. The dragon bellowed, and faster than her eye could blink, the dragon launched straight at them. Vi threw a punch and missed completely. Shit. The dragon pounced on Caitlyn and bowled her over before she could dodge. She jerked backwards and narrowly avoided decapitation, but it wasn’t enough. The claws caught her from the back, slashing through her coat and tearing through skin.

Caitlyn let out a blood-curling shriek as she crumpled, smoking.

“Caitlyn!” Vi screamed. She leapt over and caught the dragon’s killing blow and flung it aside. She pressed on and went for a one-two punch that would have knocked out a lesser creature. The dragon roared and snapped at her. Great, she had its attention. It was time for some actual magic. 

She had never done this outside of training, but there was no other option. She needed something powerful, or the dragon would eat them both. Vi concentrated hard and channeled the power of the midday sun into her fists. A red and orange glow coalesced around her fists, until they resembled balls of fire. Swinging hard, she struck the dragon square on the snout with a haymaker. The dragon reeled back and roared, its snout burnt.

“You want some more?” Vi yelled. 

She leapt into the sky and brought her other sunlit fist down, hammering it right on its skull. The dragon thumped onto the sand, burnt and half-blind. It whined, and then with two flaps of its great wings, took off into the sky.

Vi didn't bother to watch it go. “Caitlyn!” She looked around frantically. 

Miraculously, Caitlyn had managed to deploy the tent. Vi ran over and crawled worriedly into the tent. She gasped. Caitlyn was facedown on the floor. Her clothes had been ripped to shreds and the exposed flesh from the neck down was blackened and charred, and lined with long bloodless gashes where the dragon’s talons had cut her to the bone.

“Caitlyn!” She hovered over the prone form, careful not to touch her. “Cait?”

“Here,” the vampire said weakly.  “Still undead.”

“How…is there anything I can do?” What was the vampire equivalent of ointment and gauze? Gingerly, she removed the scraps of clothing still clinging to the skin.

“You can leave me here,” the vampire gasped. “When the desert disappears tomorrow, I’ll be in the middle of some grassy field. I’ll be fine. I can find my way home.”

“We are not doing that,” Vi said sharply. She scrambled around, looking for inspiration. There must be something she could do. She emptied out her entire pack – which now only held biscuits, a few pieces of jerky, bottles of water and her jacket.

Wait. Biscuits. “Caitlyn.”

“Yes?” the woman murmured.

“I heard a rumor. Vampires can regenerate if they drink blood, can't they? That’s why the tattoos don’t stick around.”

Caitlyn was silent for so long that Vi thought that she had fallen asleep. “Yes.”

“Drink my blood,” Vi said. The solution was so obvious to her.

“No.”

Vi sat down in the middle of the tent and gathered the vampire onto her lap, careful not to touch her skin any more than necessary. “Caitlyn.”

“A bloodthirsty vampire is a dangerous vampire,” Caitlyn murmured against Vi’s collarbone. “Rule one.”

“Listen, I’m not going to make it without you. We have to finish it together. Both of us. Don’t fight me on this.”

“I might hurt you.”

That got a chuckle out of Vi. “Princess, I don’t think you can. I probably have had enough sun to heal through a headshot. I can definitely survive one measly little vampire.”

Caitlyn was too weak to take offence at Vi’s words. She concentrated instead on the rise and fall of Vi’s chest against hers, accompanied by the pounding of Vi’s heartbeat in her brain telling her that she needed to feed. 

“Come on,” Vi cajoled, cradling Caitlyn’s head closer to her neck.

Caitlyn rested her lips against Vi. She hungered for blood. The pull was almost too great to resist, especially when she was in so much pain. She pressed butterfly kisses to exposed skin before her, trying to rationalize what she was going to do through the red haze in her mind. 

“Are you sure?” Caitlyn asked again.

Fingers carded soothingly through her hair, holding her close. “Do it.”

Caitlyn hesitated, and then she bared her fangs and bit down gently. Vi gasped, and all other sounds were drowned out by the sensation of the sweet, hot wine trickling onto her lips. The hunger in her belly surged, pooling hot and low. Vi tasted so good. Caitlyn moaned. Instant relief washed over her, lessening her pain. 

She took another long pull and felt her bones heal and her muscles stitch back together, sinew by sinew. She pressed herself insistently into Vi’s embrace, feeling the rub of Vi’s leather-clad chest against her bare breasts. As before, the taste of Vi’s blood began to change into something divine and addictive. She had braced herself for the deliciousness of Vi’s blood, but her memory of the taste didn’t do the real thing any justice; she was still caught off-guard by how absolutely luscious Vi’s blood was.

Caitlyn relinquished her hold and moved along Vi’s neck until her nose nuzzled the bottom of her jaw. Eyes closed, Vi pliantly tipped her head aside, offering her full access. She couldn't resist and bit down again. The taste of Vi was like ambrosia on her tongue and she recognized the taste. They were spiraling up the same path they ventured down two days ago. Her hands found Vi’s hips and ran her thumbs over the pronounced hips bones and over the crevasses that marked each muscle. 

Vi whimpered under her and with much difficulty Caitlyn pulled away. “Vi?”

“Keep going,” Vi panted, eyes dark with unbridled emotion. 

Caitlyn leaned back in and took more. Her skin crackled and reformed, smooth and flawless. She was mostly healed apart from some superficial wounds, but her hunger had not abated. I must resist, Caitlyn thought, I have to let go. I’ve had enough. But it was too good to pass up. She clung even tighter to Vi, arching into her as she bit down again. Vi squirmed under her and moaned breathily. 

Oh.

There was no mistaking it. The sound and the look in her eyes – Caitlyn had seen it many, many times in her life but few wore it as well as the Sun Eater under her. She rolled her hips and the effect was instantaneous. Vi bucked and the taste of her blood sang like an angel’s choir for a split second. 

Oh.

Eyes wide, Caitlyn drew back. “Vi?”

Vi crashed her lips against Caitlyn’s in a frenzy, teeth scraping against her bloody lips. Caitlyn squeaked in surprise, and then she cupped her face and kissed her back, hard. It was not so much a kiss as a furious mess of teeth and lips and tongue – until Vi pulled back abruptly.

“I –” Vi said hoarsely. “Caitlyn, I am so turned on right now. I think I need a minute.”

Caitlyn swallowed. “I can help you with that.”

Vi blinked at her. “What?”

“I said, you’re hot and I really want you,” Caitlyn said, “on my fingers. Or my mouth.”

Vi captured her lips in another ravishing kiss. Caitlyn followed her lead, letting her dictate their intensity. Gods, she wished she had approached her the very first night in the tavern. “What do you want, Vi?”

“I need your fingers.” 

Without wasting another moment, she slipped a hand down over the clenching abs and over a thatch of coarse hair. Vi groaned and spread her legs as far as she could with Caitlyn sitting on her. Slowly and deliberately, she stroked a finger over Vi’s clit and Vi bucked into her touch. 

“Sensitive,” Caitlyn whispered. She circled the nub teasingly. 

“Don’t tease.” Vi cupped and squeezed her breast and groaned, rolling her nipple between her fingers, tugging and twisting. “These are the best tits I’ve ever seen.” 

“What do you need?”

Vi opened her eyes and met her gaze with complete seriousness. “Your teeth. Right here.” She tilted her head to the side. 

A white-hot pit lance of desire shot through her at Vi’s unexpected answer. Caitlyn sank her fangs into Vi’s neck and took an eager sip. The taste was so titillating that Caitlyn couldn’t help but moan against the warm skin. The only thing more addictive than the taste of her blood was the sight and sound of this strong, fearless Sun Eater reduced to a needy mess beneath her. 

“Harder. Please,” Vi canted her hips into Caitlyn’s hand. 

She switched to open-mouthed kisses to Vi’s throat as her hand shifted lower to Vi’s core. 

She was soaked. Caitlyn pushed a finger in as her fangs latched on to Vi’s shoulder. She could tell just by the way Vi tasted what was working and what wasn’t, which, perhaps, gave her an unfair advantage. 

“Cait,” Vi breathed and she pushed into Caitlyn' s bite, “just like that.”

Caitlyn pulled out and added another finger, feeling the stretch of Vi’s cunt around her fingers. She drove them into her, as much as Vi’s pants would allow. With each thrust, she pressed the heel of her hand against her clit, drawing a debauched moan from her lover. She had had other lovers before, but none of them could hold a candle to Vi. Vi’s hands shifted lower to her ass and squeezed. Caitlyn moaned and ground down on a convenient thigh.

“I’m close,” Vi panted. Caitlyn curled her fingers, searching for just the right spot. She was rewarded by a rush of fluid and a lewd moan. The taste of her blood on her tongue, the feeling of her pulsing walls around her fingers, the steady throb of her heart around her – it was so overwhelming, so intense. She could barely think, except to think that she never wanted to fuck any other woman again. Nobody could possibly compare.

“Right there, baby,” Vi uttered. Caitlyn’s heart flipped at the term of endearment. “Right there. Don’t stop. Yes yes –”

Caitlyn doubled her efforts, pumping her fingers as fast and as hard as she could. She wanted to see Vi come undone. 

Vi grew tighter and tenser, coiled up like a loaded spring. Caitlyn chose Vi’s favorite spot and bit down, and Vi came with Caitlyn’s name on her lips, walls clamping down on her fingers. The flavor of Vi’s blood was indescribable; it was like sex on her tongue, euphoric, blissful, rich. She worked Vi down gently, then withdrew her fingers and cleaned them with her bloodied tongue. She groaned at the taste of her cum mixed with the blood in her mouth. It was so gloriously exquisite.

“Can I eat you out?” Caitlyn breathed. She was sure there was a joke to be made somewhere about vampires and eating humans, but right now she was laser focused on Vi’s pleasure. Dimly, it registered faintly in her mind that it wasn’t even about the blood anymore. 

“Are you…are you okay?” Vi panted, concerned.

“I had a lot of blood. Can I take this off?” Caitlyn said, hands on Vi’s belt.

Vi fumbled and undid her pants, stripping them off hastily. Caitlyn pushed her back against the ground with a gentle hand. She ran her tongue along Vi’s abs, carefully outlining each one. She trailed lower and lower. She left an open-mouth kiss on a muscular thigh and felt fingers reached down into her hair, pulling her gently upward. Gods, she could spend all day here worshipping these magnificent thighs. She lapped against the hard nub, drawing a gasp from the Sun Eater. Nails scratched against her scalp as Vi started to bucked her hips against her tongue, jittering with every movement of her tongue. 

“Inside,” Vi croaked. 

Caitlyn licked across her core, gathering the tangy taste of Vi's juices. She slipped her tongue into Vi. The thighs around her clamped around her ears as a moan reverberated around the tent. Fortunately for everyone involved, Caitlyn had no need to breathe. She alternated between hard sucks around Vi’s clit and strokes of her tongue, letting the moans and gasps be her guiding light. She could feel in the way Vi rocked desperately against her mouth that it wouldn’t be long now. 

She was absolutely determined to make Vi come with just her mouth. 

“Gonna come,” Vi growled. Her grip tightened in Caitlyn’s hair as her body arched and flexed and she came with a long, strangled moan. Caitlyn kept up the pressure until Vi physically pushed her away. Caitlyn wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and assessed her handiwork with satisfaction. Vi lay on the floor looking thoroughly fucked out, her neck decorated with a patchwork of bites. She felt some perverse pleasure in seeing her marks all over Vi. 

Vi glanced at her, eyes half-closed. “How are you even real?” 

“You’re one to talk,” Caitlyn ran her fingers along the inside of her thigh. 

Vi sat up and kissed her languidly. “Are you okay? Fully healed?” Vi whispered. 

“I’m okay. I had a lot to drink,” Caitlyn turned so that Vi could see her unblemished back. 

Vi ran her palm along the unbroken skin. “Incredible.” She curved her palm around until her hand connected with the heft of Caitlyn’s breast. “Can I do something for you?”

Caitlyn smiled and gently pushed her back to the floor. “Rest. You’ve done enough.” 

Vi lay awake, listening to the howl of the wind outside. Beside her, Caitlyn was sound asleep. 

For now, sleep eluded her. After all, she’d just spent the last two days mostly sleeping. She focused on the woman by her side. Vi was curled against her, lying partially on her shoulder. Caitlyn was completely still, no breath, no heartbeat. Tenderly, she ran her fingers over her cheek, mapping out the contours of her cheek, her jawline, her lips, trying to commit them to memory.

It was Caitlyn’s eyes that hooked her and her warmth that reeled her in. The woman was an open book – one look and she could tell exactly how Caitlyn felt. Raw, vulnerable and open. Perhaps one day she'd see Caitlyn laugh, a proper one. She'd see her in the ballrooms of Piltover

Vi sighed. She really ought to sleep. Tomorrow, whether or not she reached the Miracle, she would be off and back to Sun Eater island. Back to reality, to continue serving out her contract until she was finally released. Or dead. Perhaps as a highly ranked Sun Eater she could eventually choose jobs that would bring her to Piltover. That would be years away. She couldn't imagine Caitlyn staying single for that long. Surely a woman like her was extremely desirable in Piltover.

“Can’t sleep?” Caitlyn murmured. 

“Not yet. In a bit. Thinking about the wish,” Vi lied.

“Mmhmm.”

“Do you ever think about what you’ll say when you make your wish?” Vi asked. “And how to say it?”

Caitlyn nodded.

“Rumor has it that no one has made it to the Miracle in a hundred years,” Vi said. “Kinda crazy to think that the next ones could be us. This is the stuff of legends.”

She felt fingers intertwine with her own as Caitlyn brought their clasped hands to her still, unbeating heart.

“Perhaps, but it’s not really the wish of legends, is it? We have no grand designs, only the health and safety of our families. Go to sleep, Vi.” Caitlyn planted a feather-light kiss on her cheek. “Sweet dreams.”

They were awake and ready to go before the winds ceased, fueled by a new sense of urgency.

“Take this,” Vi held out her jacket to Caitlyn. “It’ll block out the sun, especially if you turn the collar up.”

Caitlyn accepted the precious item gracefully. 

“It’s my favorite jacket so treat it well,” Vi warned jokingly. “I’ll want it back.”

They set off in a quick run towards the north, aware of the ticking of every precious second. When the sun set today the Mirage would disappear, and along with it all their hopes and dreams. They moved as fast as they could, barely stopping for a break all morning and afternoon.

It was only in the late afternoon that they finally spied a green oasis on the horizon. 

“That’s it,” Vi said. A thrill of exhilaration ran through her.  

“It really exists,” Caitlyn breathed. “Come on, let’s go!”

As one, they sped towards the Miracle as fast as their legs could carry them. As they neared the oasis, they could see tall palm trees in a loose semicircle around lush, green meadow. It was small, sitting amongst the vast sands, but yet also seemingly endless. Vi blinked. Her eyes must be playing tricks on her. 

Five hundred feet. Four hundred feet. Three hundred feet. In their haste, they had forgotten to keep a lookout for creatures lurking under the sand. 

Vi kicked what she thought was a stone, only for it to spring from the sand with her ankle in its grasp. A blocky face carved into stone stared at her, eye to eye while she dangled upside down. 

“Run!” Vi yelled. 

“Vi!” There was a loud crack and the hand holding onto her exploded. Vi dropped to the sand, rolling away to avoid the sand golem’s grasps.

“Run!” She rolled to her feet. 

The golem trudged ponderously after them and summoned spinning whips of sand around its hands, shooting them out as they sped forward. Just at the border a whip caught around Vi’s gauntlet, dragging her backwards along the sand. Caitlyn yanked Vi towards her, arresting her slide. Vi released the gauntlet and with a sharp tug, the vampire hauled them both over the threshold and onto the grass.

It was as though they were transported elsewhere altogether. The golem disappeared from sight and silence reigned, except for the occasional birdcall and the thudding of her heart. They were in a large grassy meadow bordered on one side by palm trees and on the other, by a tall hedge. In the middle of the hedge was an archway of overhanging leaves between two slender trees.

“Are you okay?” Caitlyn said. 

“A little winded,” Vi gasped.

“We made it,” Caitlyn said in wonder as she got up. She dropped her pack and her rifle and touched the grass. “It’s real. We actually made it,” she said in disbelief.

“We made it!” Vi swept Caitlyn up in her arms and lifted her. “We made it!”

Caitlyn grinned. “Come on. Let’s find out what we’re supposed to do.”

“Welcome.”

Caitlyn jumped. A slender man with a gaunt face appeared before them. His right arm was sheathed in a metallic-gray substance like liquid steel. He looked exactly like the statues littered around Piltover and Zaun. 

“Viktor,” Caitlyn said in awe. “Hero of Zaun.”

“He has ascended to…elsewhere. I am but his memory,” the ethereal form said. “A last bit of magic to guide the weary travellers in the oasis he created.”

“It is an honor to meet you,” Caitlyn said. 

“Are we the first ones to make it here in a hundred years?” Vi asked. 

Surprisingly, Viktor shook his head. “There have been others. Shepherds, farmers, inventors, warriors. An unassuming crowd.”

“Where are we?”

Viktor started walking towards the tunnel and they followed close behind. “We are somewhere else.”

“Somewhere else?”

“Another dimension of Viktor’s creation. When he first found the wishing well, he knew that there would be chaos and destruction in the world if everyone could access it. So he used it to create the Mirage and the Miracle.”

Beyond the leafy trees was a rectangular lawn stretching away from them. At the far end, a simple wooden staff hovering upright over a small pond in a pavilion. On both sides of the lawn were vast, still lakes stretching to the horizon. The sun had reached the horizon, but there was no reflection of light across the water.

“Wow,” Vi breathed.

“What is that?” 

Something about Caitlyn’s tone made her whip around warily. Partially hidden in the grass was a bone-white object. Vi nudged it with her foot and recoiled, almost stumbling into Caitlyn. It was a skull. Now that she knew it was there, she could see countless other skulls buried all over the lawn.

“There is one final rule,” Viktor said softly, face somber. “Only one person per cycle gets to make their wish. That person is the first one across the threshold, which means it's you, Caitlyn Kiramman.” He turned to Vi. “You must kill her if you wish to take it from her.”

In one smooth motion, Vi drew Caitlyn’s dagger from her belt before she could even react. Caitlyn backed away hurriedly, hands up. 

“You will need to kill her if you want your miracle,” Viktor continued. “But hurry. There is less than an hour left till sunset.”

Caitlyn’s eyes flashed to the dagger and then met her gaze steadily. A gentle breeze swept her hair aside as they stood motionless for a long moment.

“That’s not going to kill me,” Caitlyn finally said softly. She put her hand on her hat. “You’ll need the sunlight for that. Say the word and I’ll do it.” She lifted its brim. "I wouldn't have survived without you. It's only fair."

Vi met her eyes, incredulous. Surely Caitlyn didn’t mean it. She frowned at the vampire. Her logical mind wanted to think that there was no way Caitlyn would do it, but Vi knew, in her heart, Caitlyn was just crazy enough to go for it. That was the kind of vampire Caitlyn was. The sound of Caitlyn’s pain echoed through her mind and Vi grimaced. 

Who was she kidding? 

With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the dagger into the lake. “I need some time alone.”

“You should say your goodbyes,” Viktor urged. “The oasis will collapse once the wish is made and you will both be sent somewhere…convenient.”

Caitlyn stared at the retreating figure, fighting back tears. She wanted nothing more than to yell after Vi. She wanted to run to her and promise that she’d make her wish come true. But Vi had said that she wanted to be alone, and Caitlyn shouldn’t make promises that were out of her power to keep. 

“Let’s go. The sun is setting,” Viktor said softly.

They approached the pavilion. The pond in the middle was placid and clear, yet Caitlyn could not see the bottom. 

“Hold on to the staff with both hands and gaze into the water,” Viktor instructed. 

Caitlyn did as he asked and seized the sturdy stick in front of her. A warm glow seeped from the  staff into her palms, emanating a white light interspersed with multicolored patches. “How do I make my wish? Who do I talk to? The stick?”

“There is no need to speak. The Hexcore will see your wishes directly from the heart.” Oh no. Caitlyn’s heart skipped a beat. This was not the plan. Now she had no control whatsoever over the outcome. 

“Now – wait,” Viktor held up an arm and cocked his head. “Before we begin, Viktor wishes me to tell you two things.”

A deep sense of foreboding crept over her skin. “Go on,” Caitlyn whispered. 

“First, that wishing the dead back to life is not impossible, but unwise. Life never truly returns after it is gone.”

“And the second?” Caitlyn breathed. 

“Cassandra Kiramman passed away last night. I am sorry.”

Caitlyn lurched at the news, but kept her grip on the stick. “No, no, it can’t be!”

“The sun is setting, Lady Kiramman. The choice is yours. When you are ready, take a deep breath. Look into the water, and dream.”

One moment she was curled up on a grassy meadow, and the next, she was dropped without warning on some filthy, unforgiving cobblestones. Vi winced. She was in…Zaun?

Vi looked around. She was definitely in Zaun. In fact, she was in the Lanes, just two blocks from her childhood home. Only, it wasn’t exactly the Lanes as she knew it. For one, the air was clear. Vi sniffed and pinched herself. The air was clean. The streets – where were the potholes? Were these cobblestones?

Her eyes widened. Caitlyn had done it. 

Vi was up in a flash. She had to be sure. Heart thumping, she sprinted down the stretch as fast as her magic-empowered legs could take her until she saw a familiar door and hammered on it. 

“Who’s that!”

“Powder, it’s me! Open up!” There was no answer. “Powder!” 

Vi was seriously considering breaking down her own door when the latch on the other side lifted. A huge man stood at the doorway. 

“Good morning, Vi,” Vander said, smiling down at her. "What are you doing here?"

Chapter Text

Dear Caitlyn,

My condolences for your mother’s passing. I wish I could be there. My heart breaks for you.

Regards,

Vi

Dear Caitlyn,

It worked. My father is resting in bed as I write, healthy but tired. The air is clean. All thanks to you. People are guessing that it's a miracle from the Oasis. I haven't told anyone the truth. If you wish I would shout it from the rooftops

Warmest Regards,

Vi

Dearest Caitlyn,

Unfortunately, I am due back at the Sun Eater headquarters to explain my sudden absence. I leave tonight, and will write to you the moment I set foot on the isle. I am expecting to face punishment. Do not be alarmed.

Till next time,

Vi.

Caitlyn flipped the last page as though expecting to see more. The last letter was dated to six months ago and there hadn’t been any news since then. She groaned and pressed the heels of her palm to her eyes. She had read and re-read Vi’s letters a thousand times futilely hoping that she had missed something, and a thousand times was she forced to face the wave of disappointment that washed over her at finding nothing more. 

Months had passed so quickly. She had been so caught up with the funeral and grieving and getting the Kirammans’ affairs in order. She had inherited the title and majority of the family’s assets, as was the tradition in their family. They had talked about this inevitable scenario at length as a family – hours and hours of preparation and discussion and tears. She had known for weeks now how her mother’s sickness would end, but it didn’t make it hurt any less. Even now, an unforgiving weight settled on her shoulders. She hadn’t spoken of her experience to anyone except to Jayce and her father. Even then, she had given them only the barest of details of her experience in the Mirage. The fact that she had made it to the end, but yet not in time to save her mother, hung like a heavy cloud over her head. 

Caitlyn sagged back in her chair, fingers habitually toying with the sleeve of the black jacket that hung on the back of the chair. The emptiness in her heart seemed to amplify every time she recalled the memory of Vi.  She kicked herself for not searching for Vi when the first letter came in. She was grieving, and afraid, and now the chance was gone.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. “Sprout? Caitlyn?”

“Come in.”

Jayce entered, carrying a teapot and cups of fine porcelain on a tray. “No new mail today.”

Caitlyn deflated visibly. 

Jayce didn’t pry. He swept aside the letters on the table and placed the tray firmly in front of her. 

“You missed dinner last night.”  

“I wasn’t hungry.” She knew Jayce meant well and that she was lucky to have him around to help hold everything together. Her de facto brother had always had her back ever since they first met when she was just a kid and he was a promising young inventor. 

“I know vampires don’t eat much, but they still need food at times,” Jayce pointed out, “and you haven’t fed in weeks. Even the kitchen is worried.”

“I’m fine, Jayce.”

“Are you?” Jayce raised his brows. “You seem to be missing…something.”

Bit by bit she had divulged to Jayce a little more about her days in the desert with Vi. It was just too much to keep to herself, and he had always been her confidant when it came to her love life.  She had initially even toyed with the idea of sending Jayce to Zaun to get in touch with Vi’s family. But what would she even say? How could she introduce herself? Good morning sir, I’m a vampire and a one night stand of Vi’s. Is she home? Caitlyn snorted to herself. They’d run screaming away from her.

“The kitchen prepared a scrumptious blood pudding for dinner tonight. I’m told that it is the most delicious pudding in Piltover, bar none,” Jayce said. “Do me a favor and don’t let it go to waste.”

“I’ll try,” she promised half-heartedly. 

“Great!” Jayce said with fake cheer. He caught sight of the jacket on her chair. “You really ought to get that washed.”

Caitlyn grasped the sleeve tightly in the hand. “No.”

“It’s beginning to smell, sprout. Honestly. Look, I’ll make sure it gets washed and comes back in one piece. Won’t take my eyes off it for a second.”

Vi sat on her bed with her back against a cold, grimy stone wall. A threadbare blanket across her lap as she stared at the opposite wall of her room. It wasn't really a prison cell; it was more like a very bare, drafty, miserable little room in the dungeon. She still had plenty of privacy and two lanterns for light. It was far from the worst she had ever endured on this isle. In fact, the worst part of it may be the complete and utter boredom at nights, and her growing impatience at Silco’s restrictions. 

Silco had punished her with twelve months of labor around the isle and stripped away her travelling rights and restricted all other contact with the outside world. It was fair, she supposed, seeing as she had abandoned her job and then almost gotten Mylo and Claggor killed in the desert. 

She wondered how Vander and Powder were adjusting to their new life. They were doing splendidly before she snuck out at night to return to the isle. Now that Zaun was all cleaned up and Vander was back to normal, things were finally looking up for them. She wondered about Caitlyn and whether she thought about her at all. Vi had asked her contacts in Zaun about the Kirammans – discreetly, of course – and it seemed that she had greatly underestimated the wealth and influence of Caitlyn’s family.  Perhaps Lady Kiramman had moved on with her life. Six months was a long time for a rich, eligible bachelorette to wait for news from a nobody she had spent a single week with. 

There was an obnoxious ear-grating screech, followed by banging on her door. Sevika. Nobody else could quite replicate the awful noise of her metal arm banging on the door.

“Vi! I’m opening the door! Get decent!” Vi didn’t move from her spot. 

A loud clank resounded around the room as the door was unlocked and Sevika peered into the gloomy darkness, flanked by two lean men. “Get up. There’s been a change of plans.” 

“What?” Vi scrambled to her feet and pulled on her boots. “Silco’s letting me out?”

“Not just that,” Sevika said with a puzzled frown. 

“What’s going on?”

“Come on,” Sevika gestured impatiently, “Let’s go. Quit wasting time.”

Vi slipped out empty-handed, letting the door clang shut behind her. Her curiosity grew as she followed Sevika up a flight of stairs and into a supervisor’s office. The room was small and cosy, bare but luxurious compared to the rooms below. It had its own fireplace, for example. Vi’s eyes went instantly to the source of blessed warmth. A broad-shouldered brunette man in a white coat worth more than all the combined furnishings in the room was warming his hands in front of the fire. His hair was combed immaculately to the side and he had an extraordinarily large hammer slung casually over a shoulder. 

He turned when he saw them and relaxed visibly when he saw her. 

“Good morning! Vi, is that right? I’m Jayce.” Vi instantly clocked his posh Piltovian accent. From the way he was shivering and warming his hands near the fire, Vi guessed that he was human. A human Piltovian. Interesting. “Is that all you’re taking?” He asked doubtfully.

“Taking?” Vi echoed.

“This man has bought out your contract,” Sevika said carefully, keeping her eyes on the stranger. Sevika and her might have had their differences, but she was quite certain that Sevika would not let her walk right into life-threatening danger. The fact that Sevika was still relatively calm and communicative was encouraging.

“What?” Vi said incredulously. “Who are you?”

She was certain that she had never seen him before. He must be a wealthy lord, Vi guessed, but nothing in his attire or name explained exactly who he was or why he would spend so much money on a random mercenary.  Vi considered herself a good judge of character and Jayce didn’t seem dangerous or sexually depraved. That left her with more questions than answers. 

“I am a Piltovian inventor,” Jayce said, “No one important. However, I am representing a…client in Piltover.” He smiled as though that would reassure her. 

Vi exchanged a glance with Sevika. “What do they need me for?”

“My client would prefer to remain anonymous to protect their reputation, you understand.”

“That’s not an answer.” Vi squinted at him. “Is this some kind of sex thing?”

“No, no!” Jayce said, horrified. 

“Well?” Sevika prompted. “You said you’d explain when Vi’s here.” She crossed her burly arms and scowled at him. 

“I can’t say any more than that,” Jayce said carefully, “but I do have something for her.” 

He held up his palms in the universal sign of surrender and moved slowly to a rucksack sitting on the floor, as though afraid that Sevika would rip his pretty head off at the slightest provocation. Vi honestly wouldn’t put it past her. It was quite early in the morning and Sevika was not an early riser.

“My client would prefer to stay anonymous,” Jayce iterated, “but I am confident that this will explain everything.” He held out a familiar black jacket. “Now, shall we go?”

Vi gave Sevika a jaunty wave as she stepped onto the gangplank of a sturdy Piltovian vessel. The older woman simply glared at her. 

“Testy, isn’t she?” Jayce remarked as he climbed up behind her. 

“This is Sevika in a good mood,” Vi said. The crew stowed the gangplank behind them and pushed away from the dock, sails unfurling overhead.  “So what are you actually doing here? Who are you really?”

“I’m Jayce,” Jayce said. “I’m a friend of Caitlyn’s. Caitlyn Kiramman, just to be absolutely clear.”

Just hearing the vampire’s name was enough to jolt her heart. “How is she doing?” Vi asked softly. “I heard about the news about her mother.”

“She’s doing fine,” Jayce said, eyes on the waves, “but not well. She’s going through the motions to survive, but she hasn’t been really...present in months. Her mother just passed. She needs all the support she can get.”

“Her father?”

“Poor man has his own demons to fight,” Jayce said. 

Vi sighed and gripped the ship’s railings tightly. The fortress on Suneater isle had receded to a blob in the distance. “Caitlyn sent you to get me? How did you even find me?”

“Well, not exactly. I owe her one – it’s a long story – so I decided to uh…take some initiative. It took a long time to track you down,” Jayce ran his fingers through his hair, “wasn’t easy, and Caitlyn didn’t give me much to go on. But I figured it out,” Jayce tapped his temple and grinned. 

Vi rolled her eyes. 

“I think seeing you – even for a bit – could really lift her spirits,” Jayce said earnestly. 

“How do you even know that Caitlyn wants to see me?” 

“I just know,” Jayce said seriously. “I know I technically bought years of service according to your contract, but all I request is one week of your time, and you’re free to go. I’ll double your monthly contractual rate too.”

“I’ll stay as long as she wants me to,” Vi replied. “I don’t care about the money.”

Jayce appraised her for a moment and then nodded. “Now, excuse me. I’m going to lie down. I’m about to spend the next five days puking my guts out and I want to be well-rested before that.”

“Caitlyn!” came a singsong voice from outside her study. It was barely midday, which was unusually early for Jayce’s daily visit. 

“Jayce? You’re back!” Caitlyn set the paper she was reading aside. She had been in a foul mood ever since she sent the jacket off to be washed. She missed feeling the worn leather against her palm. On top of that, Jayce, the person she blamed solely for her current mood, had decided to disappear to “work on his new invention” for more than a week. Caitlyn’s gut was calling bullshit. Ordinarily, Jayce would never disappear on her like that when he was entrusted with a task as important as washing her favorite jacket. She had to get to the bottom of this.

There was a bit of a commotion outside the door. There was someone else with Jayce, who was currently having a very heated discussion with him. She could feel the wo heartbeats beyond the door. One was Jayce’s – she knew that for a fact. The other…Caitlyn frowned. It felt so familiar. She shoved her chair back and got to her feet. If they didn’t want to come to her, she would go to them. She strode over to the door and flung it open.

“Are you coming in or —”

Vi stood outside her door. Vi, the SunEater plagued her dreams at night. Vi. Her Vi. Vi. Vi. Vi. Caitlyn’s thoughts spun in a circle and completely derailed. All she could do was to stand there and gape at the wonderful sight of Vi. Finally, after so many months of longing, it felt like something clicked into place.

The warrior looked the same, but neatly dressed for once. Her hair was longer and combed to the side. She dressed in her black jacket and Piltovian-style tunic and trousers. Judging by her expression, she looked equally amazed to see Caitlyn.

“I – what –” Caitlyn flailed desperately for words. “I –”

“I’ll leave you two to it,” Jayce said breezily and sauntered off. Caitlyn was going to kill him.

Vi recovered first. “Good afternoon, Lady Kiramman,” she purred with a sharp grin. 

Caitlyn flung her arms around Vi and pulled her close. Vi’s scent instantly flooded all her senses and poured straight into the hole in her heart. She was here, in the flesh. She had come back to Caitlyn. Not a dream, or an apparition or a mirage, but something very real that she had inadvertently had found in the desert of dreams. Something she didn’t think was missing until Vi fell right into her lap.

“I missed you too,” Vi whispered. 

Her heart’s desire, Caitlyn thought. Miracle, indeed.