She stayed close to her sister and Meldon during the day, but at night she refused to share her room with them, and she did not go to her sisters at night. She would sleep alone and be sick. Though Meldon was there, Parthenia became much sicker than her sister.
"Bastard should be here." Meldon huffed as Parthenia tried to eat some grapes.
"Surely you don't mean to take my mate to be from battle to tend to this human?" Kasonna spoke coming into the room. "Surely you jest, halfling."
Meldon growled. "I am still above you Kasonna, watch it." He snapped.
Kasonna was an elegant woman depending on who you asked. Her hair was very long and very straight and a dark violet, which matched her eyes. She was an element demon; she could control wind and fire. Meldon glared at the woman; he hated her. She was just like his jerk brother, cold and uncaring. He knew his brother would not leave battle just to be at Parthenia's side. But Parthenia was becoming weaker, the baby was pulling too much on her, and to his regret, his power wasn't enough.
"Half-breed, half-power," Kasonna sneered looking at her red plum lips in a mirror. As much as it angered him, she was correct. Three days later Oni and Meldon held Kagome up, trying to get her back into bed. They laid her down, and she clung to the sheets. His power wasn't enough, and her body was failing her.
"She's getting worse," Oni said with concern.
"She only seems better in here," Meldon said looking around.
Kasonna stood in the doorway. "My mate lingers in here." She could feel it, Severin.
"Get out!" Parthenia yelled, her power cracked, and the witch stepped back. "Careful Maiden, he may be above me, but you are not." Kasonna smoothed out her purple long-bell sleeve top.
Meldon growled. "Send word to my father, wind witch."
She raised an eyebrow at him barking orders at her.
"Send it through the wind, now!"
She bared her fang but rolled her eyes and bowed. "As you wish, my Lord."
Parthenia reached for Meldon's sleeve. "You-you can't leave my sister."
"Severin and my father have more power than me; they can sustain both of you."
"Don't leave her." Pathina panted again.
"Rest sister, all will be well." Oni patted her sister's arm.
Parthenia wished she could believe that. She knew she was dying. In battle, the wind blew, and both males stopped.
"Parthenia is ill," Lord Yasa spoke hearing the wind's whispers. Only demon ears could pick up on the subtle whispers.
Severin said nothing.
"Your brother cannot aid her."
"Half power," Severin stated without care.
Yasa glared at his eldest son. "It's not that he is weak, but that the seed is strong."
Pride swelled through Severin for a moment.
"It is draining her." His father added.
"So the pup will be strong."
Severin slashed through another demon. They were in the middle of a fight. Lord Yasa watched as his son drew more blood from his enemies. He knew not to ask, so he tucked his sword away. "I will meet Meldon halfway, and we will trade."
"You will leave battle?" Severin looked at him,
"She needs power, or do you wish for this to fail yet again?"
Severin bared fangs; he didn't go through all the trouble for that outcome.
"Will you stop me?" His father asked.
Severin turned from his father. "No."
With that, Lord Yasa sped away, and in the middle of the night, he met with Meldon halfway.
"You have to help her," Meldon begged.
"I will my son." He grabbed Meldon's shoulder.
They nodded. Meldon headed North, and his father headed back West. By the next night, Lord Yasa was back. Parthenia moaned in her sleep, and he entered her roam via the balcony and knelt by her bed.
"Parthenia."
"Severin?" She opened her eyes; her green ones met his gold.
"It is I."
She smiled. "Lord Yasa."
"May I?" He asked softly.
She was lying on her side when his hand made contact with her slightly puffy tummy. His power hummed softly, and he purred. "Sleep now; I will contain sickness till morning."
She closed her eyes and as she did tears fell, just two. She fell asleep clutching her pillow. He sighed and looked over her. She was really sick. This baby was draining her. Here she was, so pure and sweet and clinging to something she would never have. His son's aura still lingered on the sheets. He now knew why she was still alive, Severin had taken her a second time. For what reason, he didn't know, but he was sure it wasn't to save her life. Guilty pleasure he was sure. It didn't matter, it sustained her, but it was fading.
By tomorrow his son's power would no longer linger.
Yasa laid his forehead down on the bed, part of him wished he could claim her. He loved her, but as a daughter and she would never be happy with that. Parthenia didn't want to be a burden to anyone, so she was always sacrificing herself for others.
She was giving her life for his eldest son, and it was all his fault.
"Forgive me, daughter; it is my fault."
Parthenia wasn't throwing up anymore, but she still felt ill and weak. She tried. Every day she tried. Oni and Parthenia were now fifteen weeks along. Meldon was getting antsy. He had been gone for over a month when the letter came.
"Father will meet me in four weeks to trade off again. He wants you to send something."
Severin raised an eyebrow. "For what purpose?"
"For Parthenia, idiot."
"My mate-to-be would displease."
"I don't give a damn about your fucking witch. I know you don't give a damn about Parthenia or the baby, but I do, and dad does."
"Is Father's power not sustaining her?" He asked, his golden eyes showing no emotion like always.
"You know what, fuck you." Meldon ran a hand through his oily hair, pushing it back. Severin took that moment to land his sword into Meldon's shoulder.
Severin didn't send anything.
Lord Yasa landed one on Severin when he arrived four weeks later, angry with his eldest son.
Fifteen weeks turned into eighteen and Parthenia was now showing a little, more so than Oni. But her tummy was bruising. She could not feel the movement yet.
"Why did he not send anything?" Oni asked as she watched Parthenia rub her belly, sitting in the gardens watching the river run.
"Because he is a fucking bastard, that's why," Meldon grunted, one hand resting on his sword at his side.
"All this would be for nothing if the baby dies if she dies." Oni took a bite of sweet cake.
"We won't let her die Oni."
"What will you do, run her into battle?" She asked him seriously.
"If I must." He said.
"How is it going?" Oni asked now arm and arm with her mate-to-be.
"Severin is laying them out, and now that father is there, they should make progress." They walked closer and joined Parthenia.
"Are you okay?" Meldon asked Parthenia.
"I'm okay." His father had been gone two days already. "How was the battle?" She asked softly.
Oni and Meldon looked at each other. "It's battle and bloody," He answered, surely this is not what she wanted to talk about.
"Did he use the underground attack I told him about?"
Meldon's eyes shot up."What?"
"He came to me before he left and asked about the barrier that Y'all were dealing with."
That was news to any of them. "Yes, it worked."
Parthenia smiled slightly. "Good."
She then stuck her hands in the water. "I'm sorry I can't heal you." Meldon and Oni looked at his shoulder. Half-bloods healed a lot slower than full demons.
"K, it ain't nothing."
"Yet, I can smell the power and poison." Parthenia looked back at him. "Can I see it?"
"Uh, sure." He moved his clothing around to bare his shoulder.
"I'm sorry." She said again.
"Why are you sorry? You didn't do it."
She looked away. "But it was because of me, wasn't it?"
"It was because of my mates' mouth, I am sure," Oni spoke crossing her arms.
Parthenia laughed a little. "It was on my behalf, I am sure."
"Keh." He pulled his top back up. "Don't worry; I'm sure Dad got him back for it."
"Yeah, but his wounds heal so much faster than ours."
Her words were saddened and laced with so much more than what she was saying. They felt Kasonna, and they all looked back. "I just received word; our Lords will return in a months time."
Meldon turned. "Good, have you told the mothers?"
"No."
"Come on Oni, we should tell them."
She nodded and then she offered Parthenia her hand. "I think I'll stay outside," Parthenia said. They instantly worried. "I'm fine." She provided seeing their concern. They reluctantly walked away. Kasonna eyed her. "Do not get your hopes up. He is not returning for the likes of you."
Parthenia smiled and looked down. "I know."
"Stay away from my mate."
Parthenia looked up at her. "I don't think you will have to worry."
"As soon as you deliver that half-human spawn, I will be rid of you," Kasonna smirked. "Though I may be inclined to keep the baby if only to teach you a lesson, you stupid human girl."
"Brother won't want it."
It both pissed Kasonna off and pleased her. "Do not call him that. He is nothing to you, you are nothing, and that baby is nothing."
"Yes, My Lady," Parthenia said, suddenly feeling very ill.
If Kasonna did take her baby, that would be a wound that would never heal. Parthenia would jump into the deepest part of the sea if she did, that would be the only way to rid her heart of the wound and pain inflicted. She could take him not caring about her, but she could not accept having her child, half-demon as it would be, taken from her.
As a Maiden, she had seen it many times before, so the pain was all too real.