Vivian looked down at the baby, her face scrunching up in "mock" disgust. "It looks wrinkled and old." Her parents chuckled, and she wasn't quite sure what was so funny, but they were laughing. That had to be a good thing, right? They seemed happy, and at first, she loved it. After all, others happiness was a good thing. Except, she wasn't the cause of it this time. And they kinda stopped paying attention to her, focusing more on the weird baby (Killian, she had to remind herself. His name was Killian) than they were on her. And although she smiled brightly and nodded when asked if she was glad to have a baby brother, inside she was scowling. Inside, the three year old couldn't understand what was so special about the boy. After all, daddy had just found him in the woods a day ago, and he wasn't even really like them. Not a halfling. And although she'd dispel that notion as the boy grew and she started to figure out why they loved him so much, the jealousy never really went away, instead lurking just below the surface. It reared its head from time to time. Like when the other kids got noticed for things that she had started. Or when her parents had another child, and at age six she had a little sister. Again she couldn't fathom it, but this time it was worse. At least Killian had been adopted in a sense. Vivian couldn't wrap her head around why her parents would want another child. After all, they have me. I'll be the leader when they want to stop. They don't need anyone else. And the thought kept bouncing around her head, seeping into her actions around the young girl. The way the three would hatch plans, and it always happened that young Bryn would be the distraction, the bait of sorts. And she always went along with it. Outside, Vee (as her younger siblings called her) just smiled and nodded, appearing to be a happy, bubbly young girl, loved by the whole clan. Inside, however, was a different story. Inside, she cursed every soul searching look Killian gave her, mocked every eager nod that Bryn would do as she explained a plan, cherished every bit of praise that the others gave her.
She was 22 when Bryn left the camp. Part of her was sad to see her sister go, but a tiny part of her loved it. Loved that the attention seeking bitch was finally getting the boot. It was a part of her that she tried to suppress, tried hard to dispel. But it was just as much part of her personality as the facade of happiness. The facade that seemed to follow her everywhere. Things were getting serious, and both her parents were teaching her the things she needed to know for leading the clan. Over the years she had learned some of the many things that had been required as a daughter of the chieftains. It had been rough, learning all the secrets and tricks, but she did it. And she loved it. Knowing that she knew things others didn't was invigorating. It was a thrill, having knowledge and not only being unable to share it, but not wanting to anyway. She enjoyed it. Maybe even far too much. It reminded her of the childhood plots and plans. And while those had been fun, they had been child's play. Nothing compared to what she would have to later. So, while her parents were teaching her the tricks of her soon to be trade, Vivian was looking up other ways to do things. After all, there were always other options. When the trade parties went out, she'd go with and look for information she could use. Slowly but surely, she started to perfect a style unique to her, a mixture of her family's power and her own knowledge.
She should have known that Bryn wouldn't stay gone for long. And even though she had yet to physically return to the group, stories of her adventures slowly started to leak into the clan. People could hardly believe it at first, and that was how Vivian wished it had stayed. But no good thing can last, and so it seemed that her peace ended sooner than she would have liked. If one could call ten or so years "soon." The one good thing that came from an abundance of news was the fact that it was highly unlikely her sister would come back. After all, she was a "grand hero" now. The thought made Vivian smirk. Bryn would never be a hero.
It was five years later, close to Vee's 30th birthday, that the event happened. She had opted to sit out the trip to Evermeet, instead watching over the clan members who wanted to stay. It was a mistake she'd regret for as long as she lived. News of her parents death filled her with rage, but she managed to calm herself. She was the new clan leader, and she had to act like it. It was her actions that saved the clan, her abilities that let them escape harm. And it was her leadership that held them together and kept them safe for years to come. No one had to know that it was also her ears that had heard rumors of what had been happening to non-humans in these parts. Or that it was her own suspicions that kept her in camp that day. And as far as they did know, it was her guilt that caused the dark shadows that flickered behind her eyes, and the almost feral grin that sometimes appeared was just her powers manifesting even while latent. And Vivian was content to keep it that way, even as Bryn returned and became a celebrated hero. No one knew Bryn quite like her and Killian. So no one would think to bring her down with news of her parents. And no one would know that keeping it from her would make the reveal oh so sweet. Because when Killian told Bryn(and he would, she knew that much), the youngest child would blame herself. And then Vivian would be rid of her for good. Or at least for a very long time.
And that was quite alright with her.
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