What Lies Beneath The Surface

This takes place five months after the story 'More Than Meets The Eye', so please go read that before reading this. It will help with understanding some parts. This will be a multi-chapter story. Enjoy!

Calista nuzzled Jirall blearily that morning as she awoke, her eyesight fuzzy and her memory even fuzzier. Why was Jirall her beside her again? Why were his arms wrapped about her so tenderly…? Then it hit her, the memories, her secret, his loving pledge.

Which, this had occurred five months ago, but it still surprised the Countess-to-be how this once indifferent man was now so loving and protective. Although, in a way, she should have expected it, given how Jirall had always been surprising and astounding…. Even as a child he was unique, which, speaking of children…

She looked down quietly at her abdomen, her gentle hand coming to rest on it to greet the unborn child inside. Things had become joyful between the two, though still they had to wait and wait for the day of their wedding, which still had not come. During that time their affections only grew and they soon created life; life that they both loved and cherished, but knew Count Arganan would not be pleased by it being conceived outside of marriage, so they had kept quiet for the time being.

Not just Count Arganan, however, but Jirall's horrible and deceitful father; Duke Rambaldt.

That man would go to great lengths to protect his noble name, anything. He despised and feared any possible thing that could ruin his good name and often eradicated any source of it… Even including an unborn baby conceived outside of marriage, if need be…

Hence forth why Jirall and Calista had kept quiet about the pregnancy, not just out of fear of Count Arganan's anger and disappointment, but Duke Rambaldt's murderous tendencies and the possible danger they may offer an unborn baby…

Calista rubbed her stomach gently which had started to develop a slight, yet unnoticeable swell to it. She smiled lovingly; her blue eyes alight with delight. At the same time Jirall had begun to awaken but he didn't move or say a thing, simply cracking a golden eye and watching his pregnant betrothed with a loving gaze.

"Sweet child of mine… I do wonder whether you will be a girl or a boy… It doesn't matter though; your daddy and I will love you all the same…" She murmured softly to her belly, sending the unborn baby her message of love while trying not to disturb her presumably sleeping love.

That's when she closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the pillows as she rested her hands on the sides of her stomach. Jirall grinned at this, taking the opportunity to reach out and rest his hand on the tiny swell, rubbing gently.

Calista gasped at this, jerking her head up then giggling happily, smiling at Jirall. "Good morning, sweetheart…" Jirall grinned wide at her, gently kissing the tip of her nose. "Morning, my beloved..." He then kissed her stomach. "…And good morning, sweet child…"

She blushed at this, stroking Jirall's naturally curly brown hair as he nuzzled her growing belly, making sure his baby felt loved by its father. After whispering his sweet nothings to the growing baby he sat up, smiling at Calista as he wrapped gentle arms about her, nuzzling into her hair. "How do you feel this morning, sweetheart…?"

There was a pause before Calista answered, a soft sigh escaping her. "I feel uneasy, Jirall… Like something bad is coming… What if by keeping the baby a secret we will have made things worse? Yes, pretending to never have known or suspected pregnancy might work with my Uncle but…? Your father he could-"

Jirall abruptly cut her off, squeezing her gently. "No, Calista… He will not dare lay a hand upon you or the baby inside you. Even once you have given birth he will not touch him or her. Until the day you go into labour we must not tell anyone. We can offer sure protection of a newborn, especially with your Uncle's help, but the baby is indeed vulnerable inside you. Do you know how weak and unprotected from poison you are? Someone could sneak into the kitchen and poison your food and the servants would never know! You'd eat it and you might be savable but that baby eats what you eat and it would surely die from the poison before you! No, Calista, for our precious child's sake we must not tell a soul…"

Calista sighed at that, nodding weakly as she lowered her head to her stomach. Jirall let out a soft sigh, pressing a series of gentle warm kisses to her forehead. "I am sorry, sweetheart… I just want to keep you and the baby safe… It'd kill me if something happened to either of you… I love you both…" He tilted Calista's head up, kissing her on the lips, eliciting a small happy smile from her. He then dipped his head and kissed her stomach.

"Okay, Jirall, my love… I understand. It would kill me, too, if something happened to you or the baby. I am but four months pregnant, I should take the baby's safety seriously, as I couldn't deliver her alive at this stage… You're a good father, Jirall…"

"And you, my love, a beautiful mother…"

He nuzzled her gently, pulling her into his warmth and holding her with love. They adored these moments when they could just lay with one another, nothing in the world to disturb them. It was just them, listening to their heartbeats and voices, watching their precious child grow inside Calista.

Sadly, the peace never lasted long and something occurred to Jirall. Today was Count Arganan's birthday and they needed to get ready bright and early to help plan a birthday surprise for Calista's Uncle. Hopefully it would be a good surprise and not an annoyance to him…

"Calista, your Uncle's…"

"I know, let's get ready…"

They reluctantly pulled apart and got out of the bed, Jirall springing up like a hyper kid, not bothering to stretch while Calista got up slowly, taking a long stretch and rubbing her abdomen. In sync they made the bed up, giving each other grins and gentle kisses on the cheeks and noses.

They then hurriedly pulled off their night clothes and into their day clothes, Jirall making sure to caress Calista's bare pregnant swell as she choose a pretty blue and black dress to pull on, having plenty to frills to safely hide and protect her tiny pregnant bump. Jirall pulled on a black shirt and blue jacket to match Calista. They brushed their hair and, just as they were about to leave…

"My love…" Jirall's gentle voice stopped her and she turned around, about to ask what…

When he gently placed a blue rose into her hair, a loving smile gracing his lips which he pressed to hers. "It matches your beautiful eyes, sweetheart…" Calista blushed, reaching up and stroking the petals. "It's beautiful, my dear…"

With that they left their room hand in hand, that loving look still there in their bright eyes. Happiness abounds in their hearts…

… Walking straight into their nightmares.

What did you think? I hope you all liked it and please leave a review! It'll encourage me to write and update sooner! Thank you for reading and I hope you read the chapters to come!

-zgirl16