Do What We Must

Venom clung to the family that she had left. One by one she watched them leave her, from Archon, to Pestilence, to Toxicity and Hattori. The thought of voluntarily offering up her own child was so antithetical to the health of her soul. How could she ask such a sacrifice from her children when she had raised them telling them they only had to reach out and grasp their heart;s desire? They were royalty and they deserved the world, but what was it that was forever holding her back? Personal responsibility to the Empire.

Her thoughts were too clouded to come to a similar conclusion to the one that Iki came to, deciding which of her children to sacrifice wasn’t something Venom had ever foreseen doing. It wasn’t a decision that was easily made or accepted, especially when her family was in such a state of disrepair.

She didn’t know if Ikigai had already convinced herself of this path when she began to speak again, but she had a much better grasp on the issue at hand than her mother. Venom’s greatest desire at that moment was to disregard everything, the very notion of giving up her child. But Ikigai spoke with conviction and a clear mind. She did not carry the bias and the hurt that Venom did. I offer myself. The Empress’ features lifted at the notion, worry and denial rising in her features as she bit her lip to contain her protest.

Ikigai continued on the why of her conclusion, realizing that she would have to convince her mother in this. She was right, the others were aspiring warriors and Iki was not. Part of Venom felt like the girl was still her tiny young daughter, that she needed to be protected and warded away from the world. And those traits were being broken in front of Venom’s eyes. Iki was not a vulnerable puppy, she was sharp and intelligent, she was capable, she was a young woman prepared to take on her life’s responsibility.

She felt tears well in her eyes, something she never wanted to show her daughter was this weakness inside. As her mother, Venom couldn’t allow this to happen, but as her Empress she knew this was a valid course of action. "You are right,” She admitted to her daughter softly, and as she looked at the young woman Venom struggled internally. There was a small smile on her features, even through the tears that welled in her eyes. She lifted her white gloved paw to Ikigai’s cheek and beheld everything she was. She held her cheek and gazed into beautiful silver eyes, feeling her heart break again when she relinquished her hold on the young wolf. "But you know I could never let you go easily.” She finished as she leaned forward to kiss the girl’s forehead.

"Venom"