Labor

Oni went into labor first. They all thought it would be Parthenia. Oni had no trouble with her pregnancy.

Parthenia woke up second to Meldon.

She bolted from her room and ran the best she could down the hall, a trail of maids running behind her begging her to stop running.

She passed by Severin without so much as a second glance. He didn't care for her haste either and growled in annoyance. She stayed fast by her sisters' side as she went through labor. Oni refused pain aid, as it was frowned upon, even though Meldon told her it was fine.

She didn't want him to lose his power gain.

She labored for fourteen hours before she was ready to push. Parthenia should not have watched, but she did. She didn't know how her sister could lay so still for so long.

"Push, Oni" Ki had come to deliver the baby, but it was all background noise in Parthenia's ears. All she could hear was her own heartbeat. Fear set in, and she backed away, almost to the door. Soon she would be in this pain. Oni's screams, her blood, her pain. God, how was she supposed to do this?

Her eyes turned to Meldon who was holding Oni's hand and saying sweet things to her. They truly did love each other.

She would have no one. She felt the beginning of tears forming and she shook with fear.

Oni pushed, and her cries filled the room and the halls. She didn't have to hand the baby away, didn't have to fear a demoness would take it, didn't have to worry Meldon would throw her away, kill her, fight her for her power.

She would. She had to fear all those things.

She watched as the baby was placed on Oni's chest, she watched as Meldon smiled the most breathtaking smile ever in his life. She watched as they both instantly fell in love with the beautiful dark-haired half-blood baby they made together.

Parthenia's heart shuttered wildly within her, and it was too much to take. She slid out of the room and landed right into the hands of Meldon's lovely mother.

"Parthenia?" His mother's voice was sweet and calm.

"I- I shouldn't have watched." Her hand went to her belly.

His mother could see the pain and fear on her face. "Do not be frightened."

How could she not be? That was so much easier said than done.

"You won't be alone." His mother stated.

"Won't I?" She whispered before bowing and quickly making it back to her room. She slid down the door and rubbed her belly once she made her way inside. Tears fell.

This was it. Parthenia knew it would be soon. She wished she had more time.

"I'll die if they take you," She whispered.

She wished she could run away and have this baby.

"I'm going to die either way," She had a feeling, she didn't know why, but she just did. Though her life was tied to her power death could still reach her.

Parthenia crawled to her bed and curled up and placed her hands back on her belly, feeling her son. For now, she had him, and he was all that mattered. Not Severin, not power, not her stone, and not even her own life.

Just this baby, because he was her heart.

Still, it made her sad, Severin didn't want her heart even though she would freely give it to him. 

But the night her labor started, she was alone and oh so afraid.

Severin's eyes snapped open, and he went to sit up. His father pushed him back down forcefully. "Unless you plan on seeing her through it, do not go near her." His fangs showed deadly at his son. "For whatever reason, these last few weeks she has tried to stay far away from you."

Severin wanted to go to her. The pull on him was strong.

Parthenia got on all fours, panting, feeling her bottom burn and stretch, and her belly hardened. She grunted, trying so hard to hold in her cry. She withered and tossed around the bed sheets. She stripped her clothes and sat on her knees; it was then that he entered and took note of her, not heeding his father's words. He could not ignore the pull to her.

Her eyes fell on him as she went up on her knees and held onto the bedpost, her water broke and covered the sheets.

The pain was just too real. She screamed. His eyes bled red, and he growled.

Meldon's human mother, Severin's mother, and Oni, all came to Parthenia, pushing past him.

"Water." She breathed. "Put me in water."

They didn't understand, but they did as she asked and moved her birth to the warm waters of the bathhouse. Severin watched as Meldon's mother got into the water and laid Parthenia back against her, where he should be, should have been. He watched Parthenia cry. Watched her scream, and watched her eyes as they turned dark. His veins were on fire. He watched her control her power. Watched her sweat in pain. Watched her refuse all aid. Watched her arch and push. 

His lips parted as she cried out over, and over, and over again.

The love in her eyes was now gone, nothing was left but pain.

She reached and cried out his name.

He could stand her blood no longer. He could stand her screams no longer. He could stand her pain no longer. His beast was howling to get out.

He had done this to her. He had to go before he lost all control. He left the room; he left her. She knew he would. The sneer on his face, when he looked at his new nephew, told her not to hold on to hope.

Her soul cried, her eyes never leaving the spot he once was as she brought their son into the world. People surrounded her, but at that moment she had never in her life felt more alone.