Chapter 9 – Creation and Destruction

13:45 16th May 1895

Leona was anxious today was a very special day but also a day of worries. Today was the day when Helen was giving birth. Almost a year ago Helen had finally admitted that she and Luca were in love and a few months later they had found out that Helen was pregnant. Helen was overjoyed that she would be a mother (well she already was but this time it was official and the child was her own blood).

However not everyone had been happy Jared seemed to be withdrawn lately and seemed to be up to something. Leona was worried as she had no doubt that he would try to either hurt Helen or her child. She kept a constant eye out for Jared and when today Helen's water had broken she had made sure that Jared was nowhere near her or the room where they now were that they had set up to try and make the birth go as smooth as possible.

She was still worried though. They didn't have any medicine to ease Helen's pain or even someone with medical training. It was up to them to try and deliver the baby safely and Leona had a bad feeling about this.

It just her, Helen and Luca in the room as the others were waiting anxiously outside or keeping an eye out for Jared or any of his gang. She didn't know why Helen let them stay as they were constantly trying to hurt or steal from all of them. Helen had too good a heart really.

Helen's contractions had started at least an hour to go and she was lying on the bed waiting for the right time to push, to help the baby out. Luca was standing worriedly by her side holding her hand while Leona stood at the foot of the bed with some 'clean' blankets ready for when the baby came out.

Hours later Helen gave out a shout and started to push. Luca continued to encourage her although his hand was turning red from Helen's squeezing. Everyone was silent apart from Helen's panting and the occasional scream (something about knives, wire and Lucas) as well as Lucas' quiet encouragements.

Eventually with a wail the baby emerged into the world. It was a beautiful baby girl with skin that seems like porcelain, once she had been cleaned up. Leona cleaned her and wrapped her in a blanket before handing her to the exhausted Helen.

Helen was sweaty and very pale and weak. It worried both Leona and Lucas how fragile she was. Carefully Helen held her baby in her arms and stared with exhausted wonder at her.

"Artemis, her name is Artemis, my little huntress."

The faint voice of Helen pierced the worried silence. As if responding to her name Artemis opened her eyes for the first time. Helen and Artemis gazed at each other, her eyes were a deep black with vibrant red flecks. Helen smiled softly at her as Artemis stared at her.

Suddenly Helen went pale. Her eyes rolled back and her breathing turned laboured. Her will that had gotten her though the birth was running out. When she had seen those eyes she had felt extremely joyful but relaxed and allowed herself to relax.

Panicked Lucas took a now screaming Artemis from Helen's limp arms as Leona rushed forward desperately trying anything to get Helen to wake up. The quiet peace and tranquillity that had settled after the birth shattered into the wailing of Artemis and Leona and Luca's frantic shouting and begging for Helen to be alright. However it was all in vain.

"Take care of her Leona"

Helen gave one desperate whisper before falling silent, pale, sweaty and drained from the birth. She had given everything to bring Artemis into the world including her life.

Stepping away from Helen's body Leona looked on in disbelief as the mother figure that had always been there for her lay there dead. Detached she could hear it as the others waiting outside burst in and screamed at the sight. She was unresponsive as Artemis wailed for her mother, Lucas sobbed over Helen's body and the others shook Helen not willing to believe that she was gone.

One single thought echoed through her mind, 'take care of her'. Numbly she stepped forward and gently took the still screaming Artemis from the distraught Lucas and started to rock and sooth her. She would protect Artemis with her life. She would step up and take Helen's place and look after the group. As Artemis drifted off to sleep she tied her to her body with a spare blanket before gently taking Lucas and ushering the others out then going back and covering Helen with a sheet until they could give her a burial.

Looking at Helen's body she vowed to do all that she could do to protect Artemis and the others. She would honour Helen's last request. She felt intense sorrow at Helen's death. She didn't feel ready to lead the others. She was scared and wanted nothing more than to have Helen back.

"Good evening"

An inhuman voice sounded from the corner of the room. A fat man with grey skin, large coat and grey skin emerged from the shadows.

"Do you want her back. I am the Millennium Earl I can bring her back if you want to. All it needs is this machine here and someone close to her to call out. All I need is your voice to call out to her. She can come back. She doesn't need to die. All you have to do is call her."

Leona couldn't believe this. She could have Helen back. All she had to do was call out to her. It was all that she wanted. She opened her mouth to call when Angel voice screamed at her in her mind.

"Don't do it. It's a trick. Helen's soul will come back but it will be chained and forced to kill. She will become an Akuma. Don't do it Leona. He is deceiving you"

Leona took a look at the Earl and saw the evil glint in his eye. She wanted Helen back with every fibre of her being but not at that cost. She couldn't do that to Helen.

"No. She's dead and no matter what you say she can't some back. I don't want a part in this. Leave, none of us will go through with this."

The Earl looked angry and opened his mouth to say something before cocking his head as if listening to something.

"You are lucky girl. I have to be somewhere else. But you will regret that you turned this down. She will not be the first to go."

With that ominous promise the Earl disappeared with his machine. Worried about the others Leona turned to go and check on them and warn them about the Earl and his offer.

After checking on everyone Leona settled down on her bed. Artemis slept on but she knew that she would wake up soon for feeding. Luckily she found that she could nurse her herself so she didn't have to worry about Artemis starving.

She settled down and drifted off to sleep where cradled in Angel's embrace she broke down and cried for the mother figure and friend that she had lost.

Well that's another chapter finished. Sorry that it took so long but I had exams then writer's block and this chapter didn't come to me until now.

The other chapters should take less time to write and the story should speed up from now on.

Thank you for reading and persevering with me. Please leave a review.

Phoenix