Mention this moniker to any artist and ask them to draw her.
There are two things she will always have in any depiction.
A length of twine, and a sharp smile.
—Daisy Whitaker, “Cruelty in Color”
Violet couldn’t get Derek’s death out of her head. It wasn’t stuck there by a guilty conscience. It wasn’t haunting her, like the stories she loved suggested it should. Truth be told, the more she thought about it, the less bad she felt. It may have been a step past self-defense, but he was no great loss to the world. The heart Violet had brought back would do more to protect Roseville than Derek ever had. No, regret didn’t paint his blood over the walls of her mind. It was something more like lust. Not sexual in nature, but similarly urgent and persistent. She wanted to feel that control again. Pulling Alex away from his mother had given her a little clarity, and she realized she could continue to feed her calling even without killing. Despite its name, the Reaper calling was about control more than killing.
It just so happened that Violet had never controlled anything so pervasively as she did Derek in the final moments of his life.
This wasn’t an issue on its own. She had never questioned her intent to kill Stephanie. She knew she would get that feeling again. And if the lancer’s life offered nearly as much clarity as Derek’s had, she’d have a decent gap between her real and presented attributes. The problem was simple. Stephanie hadn’t been the one to grab Violet’s shoulder and pull her into a quiet warehouse for a quiet chat. Violet didn’t know if she’d be able to kill a yellow lancer, even given such an opportunity. Not without preparing for it ahead of time. But it was Caitlyn in front of her. Alex’s mother—and the woman most responsible for Violet’s selection as a sacrifice.
Violet had earned her revenge by taking this woman’s son from her. Caitlyn had been miserable all week. Even her position on the council couldn’t stop Alex from volunteering as a Lancer. Violet had convinced herself the lancers who’d abandoned her deserved death. But a simpler revenge would be easiest for the council and, possibly, her parents.
“Please,” Caitlyn begged. “Please, we only have a few hours left. You have to convince Alex to stay.” Violet wore a soft, sympathetic smile. She enjoyed the pleading more than she liked to admit. Such enjoyment was hardly a trait any of the leads in her favorite books had. But she did. It wasn’t the panic itself. Or the fear. She actually felt a little bad about those, even if the woman deserved it. It was just sort of unpleasant to see. But at the same time, she felt that way because of Violet. That was what Violet enjoyed. Such profound emotion. Such broken fear. And Violet had created it with a few words. That felt… incredible.
“I’m so sorry, Miss Jiron,” Violet replied, resting one hand on the older woman’s shoulder. “I tried to tell him I didn’t need him to follow me. He just… he’s so determined. I can’t tell him what to do any more than you can. I wish I could; I don’t want him getting hurt, either. And I certainly don’t want him hurting you by leaving.” Caitlyn gripped her own shirt as she looked down in frustration. Violet couldn’t get Derek’s face out of her mind. Killing him had been so freeing. Images of his death flashed through her head with every word she spoke.
“I don’t understand. I just… Violet. He loves you. I don’t think I really understood that before. But he does, doesn’t he?” She paused for just long enough that Violet knew it wasn’t rhetorical.
“He does, yeah. More than anyone,” Violet agreed quietly.
“So, why would he lie?” Caitlyn asked. Violet tilted her head.
“What do you mean?” she asked. Caitlyn took a deep breath, stepping backward and sitting on a dirty crate. Violet watched her curiously, but elected to remain on her feet. She rocked back and forth while she waited for an answer, as if nervous.
“Why would he tell me that he didn’t want to go? That he was terrified, and that he was only following you because you all but begged him to?” Caitlyn pushed. Violet took a deep breath through her nose.
Alex, you useless prick, she thought. She bit her lip and clasped her hands behind her back, leaning forward as she continued to rock. “Honestly?” she asked. “Caitlyn, you have never liked me, have you?” The older woman paused, a bit thrown off by the question. She sighed.
“Sure. I thought Alex could do better. I didn’t want him to be weighed down trying to support a family alone. And I didn’t like how you treated him. You never seemed to care about him as much as you cared about his degree. Like he was just a prop to make up for what you didn’t have on your own. I suppose I was wrong about that, since you are still with him, even after surpassing him. But it’s true, I have never approved of the relationship,” she answered sincerely.
“I know,” Violet responded. “So does Alex. Every little comment you made. Every little needle you dug at me. We both noticed, and we both remembered. You’ve spent our entire relationship trying to drive us apart.” She couldn’t stop picturing the cord around Derek’s neck. How powerful it felt. She began to pace, hands still behind her back. As she passed another crate, she eyed the rope coiled on top of it. She wondered how much strength Caitlyn had. Violet was a degree above her, but had strength as a weak attribute. But it wasn’t Caitlyn’s strong attribute either.
“Alright. So he knows I don’t like you. But that wouldn’t be enough for him to lie about me. Why would he want me to have more reason to dislike you, in that case?” Caitlyn asked. Violet sighed.
“Because he wants you to love him, and he doesn’t think you will if you know the truth. That he is leaving because that’s what he wants to do. Because you already hate me, and you’ll believe him if he blames me for the choices he makes. He lied to you because he is afraid of telling you the truth,” Violet responded. Her false smile had started to fade. She felt herself gaining a little clarity as she spoke with Caitlyn. Not much, but a little. Caitlyn shook her head.
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“I don’t hate you. I just don’t like how you treat my kid!” she insisted. “And I understand, now. That he genuinely does care about you. I understand, and I’ve accepted that. I won’t get in your way anymore. I promise. Just… please. Please ask him to stay behind. Tell him that you’ll come back for him when you’re a lancer. Tell him he doesn’t have to do this to love you, and he’ll be safe. You know he’s not built for that. He’ll never survive school, much less life as a lancer. Just… if you care about him, you have to talk him out of going.”
Violet could taste Derek’s blood in her mouth. She could feel it across her face. She could see the life fading from his eyes. “But, Caitlyn, it’s too late. We need to send three new lancers. If I convince Alex to stay, who will go in his place?” she asked. Caitlyn grimaced.
“I’m on the council. I’ll find someone,” she insisted.
“You would do that?” Violet asked, feigned shock peppered into her voice. “You would ruin someone else’s life, just to save Alex?”
Caitlyn didn’t even hesitate. “I would end my own life for Alex. Anything to keep my son safe.” Violet turned around, hands still behind her back. She watched the door to the warehouse, still as silent as it had been since they’d arrived. She reached one hand to the left side of her head, letting her sidetail down. It was hurting her head, and, for some reason, she didn’t feel the need to maintain the innocent image it lent her. The violet hair she was named for rested loosely against her shoulders as she stood in silence.
“Is that what you told yourself?” she asked. “When you tried to have me killed?” The room was silent for a heavy moment. Violet clasped her hands together behind her back and looked over her shoulder. Caitlyn looked like she’d been slapped. Violet turned and started strolling toward the older woman.
“Is that what— no. No, Violet, sweetheart. That’s not what happened!” she protested.
“Do you really think I’m an idiot, just because I’m always smiling? Do you think I survived this long because I was stupid? Did you think those lancers just… changed their minds? That I didn’t figure out what you had done? Or did you just think I wouldn’t know who put my name forward?” Violet asked. Adrenaline was rushing through her veins. She was back in the mist. In the casino. Derek’s life was in her hands again, and she was pulling with all her strength.
“Violet. I’m so sorry. I should have told you what they were planning. You’re right. But you’re also wrong. I didn’t want you dead. That would have hurt Alex so much. I tried to stop them. I argued for hours. I did everything I could to keep you out of the mist. I swear to God, Violet. I never wanted you hurt!” she replied. Violet glared at her. Then smiled.
“Cross your heart and hope to die?” she asked. She was close now. She leaned forward at the sitting woman, getting near enough to taste her nervous breath. Caitlyn flinched and pulled away.
“I swear!” Caitlyn responded in a whisper. “Is that why? Is that why you are taking him from me? To punish me? Fine. Punish me. If you don’t believe me, then punish me. But please. Not with Alex. If you care about him, at least stop him from becoming a lancer.” She was so focused on Violet’s eyes, she didn’t notice the red crystal forming in the younger girl’s hand. Violet’s toothy smile looked like it never had before as she pressed the crystal knife to Caitlyn’s throat.
Violet wasn’t certain when she’d decided to do it. It wasn’t exactly a decision she’d actively made. But as the idea ran through the folds of her mind like water, anticipation grew with it. Anticipation and rage with every word Caitlyn spoke. She was truly growing to hate the woman more with every passing moment, and she wanted to feel that power again. Complete control over another person’s life. The anticipation just built, and built, and built. Until she realized she couldn’t look forward to something she wasn’t planning to do.
“Alright,” Violet agreed. “I’ll punish you.” Caitlyn’s eyes widened as she felt the sharp crystal draw a single drop of blood. Violet realized she didn’t need to be stronger. She was likely faster. More dextrous. Her agility and dexterity were high, and she had a full degree on the other woman. There was no way for Caitlyn to respond without her throat getting cut. Not after letting Violet get so close.
“Sweetheart, w–what are you doing?” Caitlyn stammered. Violet grinned, reaching one hand behind the older woman. In her hand, a new tool materialized. She cuffed one of Caitlyn’s wrists, pulled it toward the other, and finished binding her. Handcuffs were, apparently, a tool of the trade. Which would be another reason she might need a key to them, she supposed. Whatever Caitlyn’s strength, she wouldn’t be able to break crystal made by a higher degree. Finally, Violet pulled away.
“That’s the thing, Caitlyn,” Violet explained as fear started gripping her victim. “You’re right. Alex won’t survive Chromatic Academy. He doesn’t have the spine to piss in the snow, much less fight hedron. He’s like a worm with too much muscle. I blame his parents, really. If I cared about him, I wouldn’t have pushed him into going. But honestly, I really don’t.” Caitlyn set her jaw.
“Fine,” she replied. “Don’t do it for him, then. Hurt me as much as you need to. Then, let him stay here with me. I’m the one who sent you out into the mist. Not him. I am the one who deserves to be hurt. Not him. And you came back. You came back, and you had your calling. Your life is better than it was before! I’m not asking to be spared whatever scars you want to leave. You want to hit me? Hit me! But your life is better than it was, and Alex had nothing to do with the risk involved!”
Violet walked back to the coiled rope. “That’s right. I found out I am a scout for the mist, and it’s all thanks to you. Perhaps I should be thanking you. Perhaps I do owe you a favor for trying to fucking murder me. Is that what you are saying?” she asked. Caitlyn shook her head.
“All I am saying, you spoiled child, is that everything worked out in your favor! You don’t need him! You are a scout now! A valuable and necessary member of society instead of a useless stone around my son's neck! Accept your step up in life and leave my innocent son out of it!”
“Right. Except… I’m not actually a scout, is the thing,” Violet replied. Caitlyn stared at her, leaning forward but not standing. It was difficult, with her hands cuffed behind her back.
“What?” she asked.
“I mean, I didn’t find clarity just by entering the mist,” she explained. She picked up one end of the rope. “It was something else entirely.”
“What does that have to do with Alex? What does it matter what your calling is? You still don’t need him!” she responded desperately.
“Actually, I do,” she answered. She held onto the end of the rope, then began slowly walking back toward Caitlyn. The rope followed, dragging behind her like a snake. “Let’s see if you can guess what my real calling is, and how dating Alex might help me foster it.” She stopped in front of the older woman and crouched down, that growing anticipation coming to a head. The boiling rage coloring over all reason and restraint like acid rain.
“Have you ever played hangman?”
As a celebration of our progress, please enjoy some violet art by
Here are the current goals and rewards, as well as how close we were to each at 10:50 AM CST on the day this chapter was published.
Click Description to learn more about each!
6k - 15k Bonus Chapter – 3,000 Followers
181 / 3,000
Description
Starting at 3,000 followers, I will write a bonus chapter between 6k - 15k in length every 2k followers. This may be a side character, this may be an AU, or anything else. Who decides? You do! When a milestone is reached, I will ask for suggestions and put up a poll of the most popular ones!
Webtoon Chapter – 6,000 Followers
181 / 6,000
Description
This is also a bonus chapter, but I will have it commissioned as a fully illustrated webtoon!
Spin-Off Novel – 15,000 Followers
181 / 15,000
Description
I will write a novel of at least 120k words focusing on Kiera, one of the prominent side characters. This spin off will remain on Royal Road as long as I am, no matter what.
Visual Novel – 20,000 Followers
181 / 20,000
Description
I will commission art for and develop a full length (and free to play) Cruel Violet visual novel. (This is something I know how to do, ftr.)