ACT 9

The glass door and walls of the shower were moistened completely, obscuring the view at the other side, where a demon was seated on the tiled floor. The glass' state wasn't due to the shower though. In fact, ice cold water rained down on the lone occupant of the stall.

Each frigid drop of water caused hisses to echo in the bathroom though. The way the demon was overheating caused the water's reaction once it touched her skin and the one that was solely responsible for the moistened glass. Even with the high heat, the very source of it remained unfazed. Not a single drop of sweat materialized over her skin. Maybe because the shower was washing them off before it could be noticed? No one really knew.

Staring forward with a blank gaze, Vi looked absolutely out of herself. Right leg straight, left leg bent and leaning on the wall, her entire form was slackened. Even so, she still continued to radiate an immense amount of heat that was enough to turn the shower stall into a boiler of some sort.

Her mind replayed the memory of her nearly choking Jayce to death over and over again like an annoyingly broken record. As cliché as it may have sounded, it honestly made Vi rethink her decision in staying. It wasn't only that, but the fact that her tongue still tingled from the lingering sweetness of Caitlyn's blood was driving her mad with guilt.
If Jayce hadn't interrupted, would she have drank Caitlyn dry?

Sure, she was merely consuming the blood that leaked out of the bite she gave, but would she have controlled herself if it had escalated further? Let Caitlyn bleed out until she could bleed no more? It was the first attempt she made in letting herself lose control with Caitlyn and despite the sensations it brought upon her system, she found herself regretting her actions.

And what about Jayce?

Would she have stopped herself from killing one of the few people she deemed a close friend of hers if Caitlyn had not intervened?

Vi's legs retracted until they were bent against her chest, while her fingers hid in her hair before it clutched countless strands into tight fists. Her teeth clenched, while she bowed her head and hid her face in her knees.

"I could have killed her..." Vi whispered quietly, while her voice echoed with fear for her own actions. "I could have killed him... Could have killed them..."

Once again, Vi found herself stuck. A part of herself desperately wanted to stay with Caitlyn and fulfill her role in the Sheriff's life alongside the said woman, but another part of herself has manifested yet again and was trying its hardest to convince her to leave and lock herself up in solitude. This particular part of her was deeply worried for what she might commit if her instincts as a demon were to suddenly take over and cause her to do something she would vastly regret.
Like murder Caitlyn or slaughter Jayce.

The thought massively disturbed the perspective Caitlyn had given her.

Outside the glass stall, Caitlyn stood and contemplated if she should seek her partner out. Her eyes wandered from the fogged glass down to the steel door handle, which was visibly smoking after absorbing the heat originating from the demon on the other side.

"Vi?"

As much as her instincts were telling her to turn around and let Vi literally cool down for now, her recently mended heart refused to do such. It told her to grab the towel from the side and use it to grasp the hot metal handle for her to gain entry inside the steaming stall.

Vi briefly stiffened before changing her position on once she saw the door through her peripherals be pulled open. Internally panicking, she forced herself to lower the heat she was exuding, but it wasn't easy. In fact, it was taking a vast amount of effort just for her to lower it to a humanly survivable temperature.

Caitlyn kneeled and joined her on the tiled floor, honestly thankful that the cold water coming out of the shower was hitting her. Even with the cool drops falling over her, Caitlyn can still feel drops of perspiration forming around her body.

Unafraid of being burned, Caitlyn reached forward and cupped Vi's face into her hands. The skin against her palms were warmer than its usual and already unnatural hot state, but it surprisingly didn't hurt her.

"Cait, don't…-" Vi tried pulling back before she lost her grasp on her unstable body heat, but Caitlyn had no desire in allowing her on doing so. The British woman kept her in her delicate hold, inching forward and taking her lips to silence her murmured protests.

Vi's fingers twitched. Caitlyn gasped when she was suddenly pushed back. A clawed hand swiftly caught her head, while she was laid onto the warm tiles of the ground and her partner hovered over her with anticipation. She breathed audibly not only because of the kiss, but mainly due to the heat in the enclosed space they're in.

Caitlyn reached upward and clasped her hands over Vi's nape, while her eyes gazed up to those golden slits with absolute desire and not an ounce of fear. As seconds passed with Vi doing nothing but staring down at her with that predatory look, her breathing picked up even more. With her fiendish Deputy towering over her, the cool shower wasn't reaching her as much as it was earlier, which mainly explained why she was losing her breath even more than before.

Out of surprise, Caitlyn thrashed once against Vi, who abruptly leaned down and began licking at the skin of her right shoulder. She stretched her head to the left when that flexible tongue of her demonic lover started nearing her pulse and at the same spot where she had bitten her earlier. Once it did touch that specific area, Caitlyn groaned quietly at the dull burning that enveloped one side of her neck.

No, Vi hadn't sunken her teeth in her once again, but it seems like the physical contact of her tongue against the bite was sealing the small opening it was responsible for in the first place. When Vi pulled back and audited Caitlyn's face, the bite mark was shown to be not so visible anymore. Others would only know it existed if they were to touch the skin and feel it against their fingertips.

"I'm sorry." Vi whispered, expression blatantly showing how ashamed she was for her actions.

Caitlyn sighed. She honestly loved hearing Vi's voice and how delicate it sounded sometimes, but she never found herself liking apologies being said by her Deputy, even when she was still fully human. The once gauntlet-wielder's voice when apologizing never failed to become dangerously close to a defenseless puppy's whimpering.

"How many times do I need to repeat myself?" Caitlyn took her hands away from Vi, using them to push her up to a seated position. The demon before her adjusted and backed away enough for her to acquire her desired posture. "Don't ever be sorry about these things."

Vi averted her eyes from her, a saddened look on her face. "I don't know if I would've done it if Jayce hadn't come, but I could've killed you earlier... You do know that, right?"

"I do."

"Then, don't you think it's best if…-"

"Vi."

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

Vi's sigh echoed in the bathroom. She shook her head and got up from the floor, immediately pulling Caitlyn after her. Once they were both standing up and both under the shower rain, Vi took hold of the Sheriff's cheeks and started a kiss. As expected, Caitlyn returned the gesture with passion.

Truthfully, Caitlyn was slightly confused. Vi didn't bother pushing more about her 'I'm a demon, so I need to leave you' issue. She was ready to intercept it before it became an obstacle in their relationship once again.

Those turquoise eyes of hers never left Vi's face as the said woman picked her up and carried her out of the stall and the bathroom with ease. Vi though, she kept her own gaze focused on her path. Caitlyn relished the short span of time she was offered, doing nothing but admiring the changes on her lover's appearance.

If the Caitlyn that had yet to meet Vi a few years ago were to see her now, the woman would probably stare at her with unfiltered disbelief and absolute shock. She was known for being strict and well in control with her emotions, but when she suffered the feeling of loss, it's as if everything she once was became a lie.

Covering most of her face with one hand, she shook her head and tried hiding the smile that formed on her lips. Her attempt was unsuccessful though, since Vi's eyes flickered to her face before it returned to its original focus. The bed. Once she was laid on the mattress, tucked under the blanket and in the arms she wordlessly deemed her solace, Caitlyn released a soft sigh of content, her smile so little yet oh so visible. Their drenched hair and moistened skin didn't seem to bother them as they settled on the dry sheets.

"I honestly want to say sorry for, well, being sorry, but I don't really know how to." Vi murmured, sounding a bit sheepish.

"Lend me your lips, then."

Smiling, Vi pulled Caitlyn closer and kissed her yet again. It was simple and innocent. Truly, it was a soft apology that made their hearts flutter in their chests. When it ended, Vi settled on shifting her place on the bed until she was nuzzling her head against Caitlyn's breasts, not that the latter minded.

"I figured saying I should leave would just have us going back to the loop we were in a few hours ago."

Caitlyn hummed, agreeing with Vi's point.

"Can I ask though?" Vi glanced up to the woman she's cuddled up to. "Was there something funny I missed out on? Aside from Jayce looking like he was about to crap his pants earlier."

Chuckling, Caitlyn asked, "What do you mean?"

"You were smiling. Still are, actually."

"I've just been thinking."

"About what?"

"What my past self would have thought of me if she saw me now and how I became when you died."

Vi thought about her words for a couple of seconds, fingertips tracing the lower curve of Caitlyn's left breast. "What do you think? About her opinion, I mean."

The smile on Caitlyn's face looked reminiscent. "The old Caitlyn would never believe how she would fall apart just because of one person. She'd think it's foolish. That love itself is foolish."

"Do you?"

"I did." Caitlyn then looked down, where her eyes met Vi's. "When I lost you, it was clear that love is indeed foolish."

Vi raised an eyebrow at her, while a mildly confused look crossed her facial features. She honestly looked charming with such expression.

"But I also realized that it's the greatest thing that a person could ever offer and receive." Caitlyn ran a hand through Vi's damp hair. "I'm rather fortunate I am able to share such emotion with you."

Surprisingly, Vi's cheeks became a shade darker due to the blood that rushed up to her face. Flustered with her words, Vi buried her face between Caitlyn's breasts, uttered words being muffled.

"No need to be poetic on me, Cupcake." Vi muttered. "You swept me off my feet the moment you said you had fuzzy cuffs at home."

Caitlyn lightly laughed at those words, while Vi just smiled against her skin when she heard her. For a couple of minutes, their time with one another passed comfortably in silence. The two felt like hours could pass and they wouldn't even notice it. When they're together, it's as if they're in their own little world.

"Cait?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you think it could be like that again?"

"Be like what?"

"Be like it was before."

A full minute passed and Caitlyn had yet to give a response, prompting Vi to look back up again to check on her. The Sheriff seemed to be thinking about the correct words to use and for once, Vi was patient.

"…I don't think I want it to be like it was once."

Vi smiled a bit, knowing what Caitlyn was referring to. "Neither do I, but you know what I mean."

It was an effort to either stall or maybe change the course of their conversation, but Caitlyn already half-expected Vi not to fall for it. "I do."

"Well?" Vi wore a concerned look as she further pushed the matter. "You think it's possible?

"I honestly can't give you a sure answer," Caitlyn replied, an apologetic gleam in her eyes. "but I've actually been pondering myself."

"What do you mean?"

"Vi, maybe the Institute could lend us their assistance. With all their knowledge about magic and the history of Runeterra, I'm quite confident that they could offer us a hand on this matter."

"You think Kolminye and her people could help?"

Caitlyn nodded.

"If they could," Arms around her waist became firmer and tighter with its grasp on her. "do you think we could go the Institute tomorrow? Ask the High Council about this?"

"Of course."

"Thanks, Cupcake."

Similar to a breath of fresh air, the two of them became entirely relaxed in each other's company. Their conversation about the matter can somehow be considered short, but only because both of them were anxious about it. Regardless, the point has been said and they already know their plans for the following day.

xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx

Traveling through the skies with Vi was an experience Caitlyn did not expect she would acquire. At first it was an exhilarating feeling, but the more their altitude climbed, the more did her heart rate. She's a veteran sniper, so going up to precariously high places wasn't new to her, but being suspended in the air with no safety harnesses but the pair of arms that held her close and securely caused her to rethink her life decisions. Vi would never let her go, that much she's sure, but of course that didn't stop her from fearing the possibility of her falling from her beloved's grasp and end up as a red splat on the earth.

She was dressed in a pair of black fitted pants and a simple white tank top, which was covered by the violet leather jacket she deemed her new favorite piece of clothing. The pants were honestly too tight around her backside, but based from the reactions earlier morning though, the Enforcer didn't seem to mind the fit of the clothing.

Landing at the open gardens of the Institute, Vi carefully placed Caitlyn down. The Sheriff had to take a moment to compose herself, especially since she had just flown from Piltover to the Institute of War in the most unexpected way of travel. While she did just that, Vi, who had grown used to traveling that way, chose to look around and survey their surroundings. The colors green and brown mostly painted the area, so when Vi saw a streak of red and white pass between two trees a fair distance away from them, her interest was captured.

Vi may have turned into some sort of bloodthirsty demon, who apparently has somewhat commendable control over her thirst for blood, but that didn't mean she changed completely. She's still as curious as she was when she was human.

"Just a second, alright, Cupcake?"

Caitlyn, who was still in the process of putting her train of thought back on track, nodded and waved Vi off. The Deputy wasted no time in checking out whatever it was that she saw. As she drew nearer towards the direction where the two streaks of color dashed off to, voices reached her sense of hearing.

"They are all true, are they not?" The stress was evident just by hearing whoever it was, the natural confidence the voice carried contradicting its tone. Surely though, it was a woman.

"They're rumors." Came another female's voice. This one in particular leaned on the sultry side, but the way the person seemingly gritted out her response to the question made it obvious she was exasperated.

"Was everything a mere act?"

"I told you, they're rumors. What can you not understand?"

"Was it entertaining?" The one who owned the confident voice now sounded like she was so close in being sarcastic with her words. "Were you amused with how much you have played me? How much I've imprudently allowed you to toy with me?"

"Are you deaf? What can't you understand with what I said?"

"Tell me the truth, then!"

Vi finally caught sight of whoever the arguing pair is, surprise invading her whole self once she identified the two women. Hidden by trees and dozens of plants in the gardens is the Sinister Blade, who seems to be in a heated discussion with the Frost Archer.

To avoid interrupting, Vi chose to use the shadows of the trees and the cover of the bushes to her advantage. As much as she wanted to give them privacy, her curious self refused to let her back away now. She wanted to know what the big deal was about, and why these two particular champions were conversing with one another in the first place.

"Well?" Ashe followed up, her eyes practically piercing through the redhead like her arrows would in the Rift.

Katarina took her gaze away, avoiding eye contact and responding from the demands of the archer. Of course her reactions caused nothing but irritation from the other.

"One good reason." Ashe then said, raising one finger at the assassin. "One good reason why I shouldn't cut you out of my life like I should have done a month ago."

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

A gasp.

And no, it wasn't Ashe, nor Katarina.

Vi's instincts reacted and her hands shot to her left, where Caitlyn had apparently approached and situated herself at. The gasp wasn't because she saw two unusual pair of women interacting with one another, but mainly because one of them took the other by surprise and kissed her on the lips.

Eyes wide and hand still clasped over Caitlyn's lips, the Deputy and her partner was left to stare in shock. They could only blink at the scene before them, unable to look away from the shocking sight. When Katarina pulled back, she left Ashe staring at her with wide eyes and an empty vocabulary.

"You said one good reason, didn't you?"

Vi allowed herself to be tugged away from the unexpected conversation, Caitlyn being the one responsible for distancing themselves from the other pair. The conversation between only began when they were inside the building and were walking down a hallway. There wasn't anyone present, so it somehow gave them privacy.

"Wow..." Vi uttered, mostly to herself.

Caitlyn lightly shook her head. "We have enough problems as it is, Vi. It's best if we forget about what we witnessed."

"I guess we could try to forget, but really? Katarina and Ashe?" The demon's voice was a mixture of amusement and shock. "This'll be like the Queen's very own skeleton in the closet."

"Precisely. It's not our skeleton to hide nor reveal. Let us not speak about it, yes?"

"Yeah, yeah..." For a moment, Caitlyn thought Vi would actually let the matter drop, but of course, "...but do you think they'll continue whatever thing they have going on?"

"Vi."

"No, no, think about it." Vi pushed, trying to explain her point. "If whatever this is going on between them, it's complicated and will surely be like some dysfunctional relationship."

"Your point?"

"Well, nothing really, but..." Scratching the back of her head, Vi shrugged. "...it kinda reassures me, y'know? If their relationship works, then chances with ours..."

Trailing off on purpose, Vi surveyed the reaction of the Sheriff, who seems to be pondering about what she said. It's true though. Vi became more confident in their relationship and its succession throughout their life. Speaking of life, that's also an issue that's been gnawing at Vi from the back of her mind. Now that she's a demon, she isn't really sure if she's still aging or not. She wanted to live a long life, not an eternal one. The latter would only be optional for her if ever the same can be said to Caitlyn.

A pair of hands gently wound around her left arm until it was practically being embraced by the sniper, whose lips placed a kiss on her cloth-covered shoulder before keeping her arm against her chest and in her arms' clutches.

"Even if the High Council won't be able to revert you back to what you once were, it will change nothing." Caitlyn stated, immensely assuring Vi and making her heart skip a beat. "Demon or not, you will always be my one and only."

Just like the previous night, Vi's cheeks darkened thanks to the blush that took over her face. She pulled on her hoodie's collar and cleared her throat, trying her best not to be too obvious with how affected she is with Caitlyn's heartfelt proclamation. It honestly sounded fitting for a romance novel the British woman loves to read in her free time, but it still caught Vi off-guard. It wasn't everyday she heard Caitlyn confess her feelings with so much genuine emotion.

"This jacket." Vi pinched one of the leather sleeve for a moment, intending on changing the topic. She's the affectionate one between the two of them and the one that's more verbally expressive, but that didn't mean she'll instantly be used to Caitlyn actually telling her that she'll love her no matter what happens. "I've been meaning to ask since earlier, but I'm guessing you found it in my champion quarters?"

Caitlyn hummed and nodded. "Supposedly Heimerdinger and Orianna was asked to collect your belongings. We crossed paths on our way to the Institute and much to my fortune, they passed the task to me."

"Do you like it?" Vi's voice was hopeful, while her eyes had this shine that looked nothing like a menacing demon would show.

"I love it."

A wide and proud grin. "Glad you do."

"Sheriff?"

Heads facing forward and gazes darting towards the caller of the sniper's title, the duo found themselves looking at Demacia's Wings, whose eyes were now fixated on the golden-eyed demon. Eyes wide and her pet companion, Valor, screeching defensively, Quinn was at a loss for words. The Piltover Enforcer may have underwent a drastic change of appearance, but she was still recognizable.

"V-Vi?" Quinn stuttered in absolute shock, mouth slightly agape. "You're alive? As well?"

Caitlyn would have began explaining to the best of her abilities upon how Vi had risen from the dead, but she and her partner were somewhat stupefied with the last part of her words.

"As well?" The two of them unintentionally chorused, equally confused.

"Have you two spoken to High Councilor Kolminye about this?" Quinn then turned to Caitlyn, glancing at Vi as she followed with, "About her?"

"Hold on a moment, Quinn." Caitlyn started, releasing Vi's arm and taking a step towards the crossbow-wielder. "We've only arrived from Piltover at least a couple of minutes ago. To answer your question, no, we haven't. But we fully intend to consult her about Vi's current status."

"I suggest you make haste. This unexpected turnout will surely turn everything around."

"Wait," Vi interjected. "turn what around?"

Quinn looked between the pair, eyes lingering longer on Vi due to her fiendish features. "I'll explain on the way. Come on."

Somehow having no choice, the two Piltovians trailed after the Demacian, who began heading further down the hall. Just from Quinn's reactions and the statements she was telling them, it looks like there was something bigger happening within the Institute.

"Well? What's going to be turned around?" Vi prodded, feeling slightly impatient.

Quinn glanced at Valor, who flew above them and screeched once at Vi for the second time, before answering. "You're not the only one who rose from the dead."

Caitlyn's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I'm sure you two recall the consecutive deaths of four champions last month."

"Well, duh." Vi replied with a bit of sarcasm. "I'm one of them."

"The other three are Sona, Garen and Zed."

"What about them?" Even though Caitlyn was absorbed with Vi's death for the past month and was massively affected with it, the news about the other champions that died reached her.

"It was Sona's birthday last week and her Etwahl? We had it preserved in Demacia's War Museum. Exactly seven days ago, during an exhibit tour, the Etwahl transformed into some sort of demonic-looking instrument."

Just by hearing the word 'demonic', it made Vi think about what she turned into. "And?"

"Sona herself emerged from the instrument after its transformation." Quinn explained, her voice being enough to tell the two how she was still in disbelief about the story she's telling them. "Like Vi here, her appearances changed as well."

"If how we understand it is correct, then are you saying Sona is alive?" Caitlyn queried, her own disbelief ringing in her question. Yes, she just discovered that Vi herself, who's supposed to be dead, is alive, but that certainly did not mean she is used to the fact that people were rising from their graves.

"She is."

"What about Garen and Zed?" Vi may not be close to those two, but her curiosity wanted to be sated.

Quinn shook her head. "There is still no news about them, but most of the High Council think Sona being alive is her Etwahl's doing. Regardless though, High Councilor Kolminye thinks otherwise. With you, Vi, as another proof of the situation, it will surely provide the right push for the Institute to finally launch a much wider investigation on who the shooter is and if the one that murdered you four is the same person."

No further words were exchanged, especially since they eventually caught sight of the entrance of the High Council's room. Once the guards saw them, they were briefly taken by surprise at Vi's new satanic features. Despite that though, they recovered swiftly and immediately opened the doors for them, knowing their arrival involves the matter being discussed inside the room.

When the three of them did walk into the room, sequential gasps sounded throughout the people situated on their rightful places, while High Councilor Kolminye was left to stare at them in unfiltered shock.

"My apologies for the rude interruption," Quinn apologized with a bow. "but once I came across them...-"

Vessaria, who succeeded composing herself faster than the others, raised a hand at Quinn. "You are forgiven. Thank you for bringing them here, Demacia's Wings."

Taking that as her cue to leave, Quinn bowed again and murmured an 'excuse me'. Once she left and the doors of the High Council closed, questions suddenly began pouring out of the High Summoners around them. They all had their own inquiries, which honestly made it difficult to understand and acknowledge. Instead of attempting answering all of them, or at least any of them, Caitlyn and Vi directed their focus on the hovering redhead a few steps ahead of them.

The said person turned halfway and made eye contact with Vi, whose instincts abruptly came alive. A growl left her, while the floating woman merely smirked at her in return, unafraid of her bone-chilling snarl. The demon inside her was struggling against the chains she bound it with.

"Sona?" Caitlyn called the mute's name with a stunned look on her face.
Truly, the sight before them was shocking.

Instead of turquoise hair with blonde tips, Sona's hair was left to flow freely over her back and possessed a vermilion red color. Not only that, but the dark markings around her arms, the black dress she was donning and the menacing a looking instrument in front of her, all of them vastly contradicted with what she once was. Darkness and death instead of harmlessness and purity.

Slam!

Everyone's eyes, including Caitlyn's, Vi's and Sona's, shot towards Vessaria, who was now glancing between her fellow council members.

"I am officially initiating the League Protection protocol."

xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx

Author's Note: Alright, alright, I know some of you think this story is still not going to end, but it is actually. This story is about how Caitlyn lost Vi but miraculously got her back again.

My point is, there are problems that have and will be mentioned in this story, but it won't be resolved in this one. And yes, that means there's a possibility this will branch out into a spin-off story, one that involves Sona, Garen and Zed and their deaths (referring to "The Mind of the Virtuoso").

So far, these are the skins that will be involved in the possible spin-off story: (other than Demon Vi)

- Pentakill Sona
- Desert Trooper Garen
- Death Sworn Zed

This spin-off story is NOT a priority for me, but I do have my plans drafted for it.

Next chapter will be the last one, which means the journey of this story is coming to an end! I'm sure some of you think I'm rushing to finish this story and all, but like I said, the plot of this story is already done and is somehow classified under the Romance category.

If ever I release the spin-off story, I hope you readers will be there with me as I write it, yeah? ^u^ (Don't expect it to be released any time soon though xD)

Once I finish this, it'll finally give me the time to work on the Diana x Leona story I've been mentioning from my other author's notes! :D (and along with that is the next Frozen Lotus story! ^u^)

By the way, to those who message me in the FanFiction cellphone app, I just want to apologize for not replying sooner! I didn't know messages sent through that app can't be found when I open my profile via computer. I am also not sure if you received my replies to those messages of yours. Please, I really do reply to my readers. If ever I don't, try messaging me through the website, instead of the app. :3