The Ruler's Rift

Therapy

Rain poured just the same, even after tension faded. Amber made certain that Celeste had left before she turned back into the depths of the cavern. She sluggishly grabbed the lantern on her way and she walked straight past her mother and onto her hammock.

Vivian looked up from her book. She slightly rocked her hammock as she sat in it, close to the flecked wall of the cave. "Are you all right? What was all that noise?" She asked.

Amber sat down on the strip of fabric she called a bed. "Celeste..." She buried her face in her hand.

Vivian shut her book. "Oh, I..." her voice was nearly inaudible under the thunder. "I figured this day would come eventually...and judging by the racket, she's upset."

"Of course she is. When isn't someone upset when they're connected to Violet?" Amber huffed and rubbed her sore neck.

"Sorry you feel that way..."

Amber growled out her exhaustion, both mental and physical. She rolled her eyes before fixing them on her mother. "Oh, quit playing therapist with me. You created her, and you don't feel guilty at all?"

It became Vivian's turn to look at the roof of the cave. "Come on," she sighed. "If I blamed myself for all of her actions I wouldn't still be here. Your sister made her own decisions and we did all we could to help her."

"I know." Amber looked down at the gritty floor. Small stones were her audience. "I know that. I saved the universe so why do I feel like I failed?"

"Thought you didn't want me to play therapist?"

Amber shot her mother a look. "It doesn't matter. Celeste said she's being crowned later today," she revealed.

Perse eyes widened and Vivian raised her voice slightly. "Amber! Why are you here, then?"

"Because I don't care." Amber wrinkled her nose and looked away. "I'm done. I'm done worrying about the universe. I told you that twenty years ago and it hasn't changed, Mom."

Vivian stared for a moment, then her gaze flickered as if she were searching for something. "I never questioned that, Amber," she said.

"You-" Frustration crawled up the assassin's throat. "You just did."

"What was Celeste like?"

Amber's eyebrows did flips after that change of subject. "Exactly what you'd expect," she answered brashly. "She's the spitting image of Violet and she's got the hatred to match. She nearly scratched me and she was throwing threats like no one's business."

While Amber reported her niece's condition, Vivian idly thumbed the pages of her book. "Well, if she's so terrible then aren't you concerned?"

Amber blinked. "Mom," she groaned, "for the last time: I don't care about the universe."

"Don't be so stubborn and listen," Vivian snapped. She crossed her arms and peered into her daughter's soul. "I never said anything about the universe."