Villain Ch 1876. Vessels
The air cracked again as the scream folded back into silence, and then—laughter.
Not a child's laugh. Too thin. Too sharp. Like broken glass brushing down the spine. The faceless figure twitched, joints jerking out of sync with the body, head lolling like it was strung by invisible wires. It tilted side to side, too fast, too eager, whispering words that didn't exist.
And then it split.
The fog twisted and peeled, birthing shapes that fell out of her shadow. One by one, eight of them stood. Eight faceless daughters. Each one jerking like a puppet, giggling in that same wet-bone whisper. They matched the number of Allen's group perfectly.
Vivian's grin spread like fire. "Oh, I like this game."
Shea flexed her wings, feathers catching what little light bled through the fog. "Clone magic. Cute. I'll cut them in half."
Jane's tone was ice. "Not clones. Vessels."
