To Soon

For the first time in twenty-two weeks, Parthenia woke up feeling, human. She knew it was because he was getting closer. While he would not seek her out, just being closer would help her. She sat up and winced. She had a small belly now, and she was all baby, mostly due to her not being able to hold much down. She ran a hand over her smooth bump. She could feel movement now, strongly.

But she was very weak, Meldon's power wasn't enough. The baby kicked, and she sucked in air. "Oh, please calm down." Every kick hurt. Tears started to roll down her face. "I'm sorry." She told the baby. "He won't want us."

She opened her robes to see the purple line of her veins and bruising on her skin.

The closer they got, the stronger the baby moved, and the more it hurt her.

They were two days away when Severin suddenly stopped walking, it was as if something punched in in the chest. He was covered in blood and dirt, and he hated every second of it.

"What is it?" His father asked.

"I can't feel her." He stated with a slight growl and scowl on his dirty but perfect face.

"She is powerless by now, I am sure. I should have returned."

"Are you saying the pup will be stronger than I?"

"No, but to maintain its life, I am sure it drew from both your brother and her."

"She is stronger than the half-breed."

"Yes, but it is within her womb, and he could not spend every second with her, he does have a pregnant female of his own."

"Pathetic." Severin sneered, and that kept moving. Why was everyone around him useless.

It was like slow motion for her. She was so tired; she could not sense anyone or anything. It was late when she woke in pain and sat up. 

"Meldon." She whispered, but she needed to be louder. She held her breath as her tummy hardened. "Meldon!" She cried a little louder. 

She could not send out a warning with her power. It was gone.

Then she screamed.

Meldon and Oni flew into her room. "Something- something is wrong." She panted holding her belly.

Oni rushed to her side and touched her. "She's contracting." She said worriedly.

"Water," Parthenia said. "Warm... water."

They nodded, stripped her, and sat her in water.

"Go Meldon, gather the mothers and the ladies in waiting," Oni told him,

"It's too soon Oni." Parthenia panicked. She lay against the bank of the bath with her head resting against her arms, her lower body under the water, panting and grunting in pain.

"She is dying, Meldon, hurry." Oin's heart was racing.

He bolted from the room.

Miles away Severin stopped again. "Something is wrong."

"Let us hurry then." His father stated, growing more and more concerned. They bolted and cut an hour's trip down to minutes. When they arrived, the castle was abuzz with people.

Kasonna met them at the front. 

What is going on?" Lord Yasa asked.

Kasonna, with no care in the world, spoke. "The human known as Parthenia is dying."

"What?" Lord Yasa gritted against fangs.

"Her labor has started, they will both die."

Severin pushed past her, and she scoffed. 

"Where are you going?"

"Begone, witch," Lord Yasa dismissed her following slowly behind his son.

Severin walked with heavy footsteps down the hall. He found his brother rubbing Oni's belly, trying to calm her. His eyes landed on her bump, and he wondered for a moment what Parthenia looked like carrying his child.

"Where is she?" He stopped in front of them.

"She is laboring," Meldon spoke softly. "They won't- they won't make it." He gritted out.

"That is not what I asked you, half-breed." He was tired and covered in blood.

"She is in the warm waters; we were trying to stop it," Oni spoke this time.

Severin decided to kill two birds with one stone. He needed the blood off of him, and this may be his only chance to satisfy his curiosity about what the woman looked like swollen with his child. He moved. Everyone in the bathhouse turned to look at him but Parthenia. She was just too weak. Too weak to look up, and too weak to care.

"Leave us." He said darkly.

"But she is labor, my Lord." Meldon's mother stated, kneeling beside Parthenia.

"Leave us." He said again louder.

"Come, my son has spoken." His mother said pulling Maldon's mother up. One by one they all left, and he now stood looking at her.

"Parthenia." He spoke her name calmly, she hated how she missed his voice. She was panting, one arm under the water touching her belly. He walked closer and knelt. He looked down but could see nothing through the water, so he reached down and ran his hand down her belly, feeling its roundness. He felt the movement against his hand. The little one inside her was strong.

"Do you," She took a breath "Feel it?"

"You are contracting."

"Yes." She breathed,

"It is too soon." He stated.

She half smiled "It is too late." She said. "I think- I think he knew the others were not his father."

Her words bothered him for some reason.

"I tried to sustain him myself, I -" A look of pain graced her face, and he pulled back, "We must stop it." He told her as if his words alone would stop it.

She shook her head, "I- I can't."

He pulled back and stood. She could hear him undress and her fear spiked. She could feel the water move as he got in. He walked to her back and reached out again, around her body, and rubbed his hand over her womb. Her hand went to his. "There is another woman; you should seek her to be the one for my replacement," She held her breath as another contraction hit her. She was flushed. "You are too warm." He told her, then he hooked her legs under his arm picked her up, and carried her to the more cooling water. He then laid her on a flat rock, the water slightly pooling over it. He ignored her words.

Her bruising was already clearing from his closeness. He rubbed his hand over her womb and growled, his demonic power flowed over her. The baby moved against his hand, following it. It was pleasing to him, feeling it move, this small thing. The baby recognized his power, as it should. 

He moved his nose closer, and it bumped against her growing womb. "Enough, I am here." He told her, and his aura burst out. They were silent for a moment, and slowly her breathing calmed, the baby pacified, her womb calmed. The infant was now feeding solely on his power.

"Even from in the womb, he obeys you?" She said, her voice tired.

"Hn, he knows his place." He licked her belly, and she held her breath.