Chapter 29
Hey guys how are ya'll doing? I hope that good. Anyways this chapter takes place right after the last one. It starts the next morning I'm just letting ya'll know so ya'll won't get confused. I am also going to fast forward be star I don't want ya'll to hate me by writing every detail. I am sorry if I made you guys sad but it's part of the story. Anyways thank you for your reviews, and thank you for following or putting this story as your favorite :) I'll leave you guys to the chapter. Enjoy!
KARLA'S POV
This was so unfair. Life was unfair. My brother was trying to change. My brother wanted a different life. He had a son that he loves. He deserved to live, and now he was gone.
I was never going to see him again. I opened my eyes slowly. I looked around and noticed that I wasn't in my room, but in a room that looked like an emergency room of a hospital.
Why was I in a hospital?
I moved my arm, and hissed because of the pain. I looked down, and saw that I had an I.V. Catheter.
"How are you feeling?" Jace asked.
I sighed. "I've been better." I said.
He nodded. He was wearing white. White dress pants a white plain shirt. His marks were red instead of black. "What do you remember?" He asked.
"There was this pressure on my chest, and a sharp pain on my stomach...are they okay? Are the babies okay?" I asked.
Jace nodded. "I had to give you some medicine to stop the labor." He said.
I nodded.
Jace sighed. "I know this is hard." He said.
I looked down at my hands. My voyance mark was red instead of black also.
"But you need to try to calm down. The babies are not ready yet. They still have two months, and...your life could be...in...danger." He said. He was hurt. His voice showed it.
I took a deep breath, and let it out. "He was shot at least seven times on his back. If the cops don't find him I will. I don't care how long it takes me. But I will." I said.
Jace sighed. "Lie down." He said taking his stele out from his boot.
I lie down on the bed.
Jace came to stand beside me and started doing a mark on my neck.
I felt the burn that the stele caused, but after that I just felt cold in that part.
When he was done he put his stele back in his boot.
"What did you do?" I asked.
"I marked you. You need to calm your anger, and that's what the rune is for. Your brother wouldn't like that. He wouldn't like to hear you speak like that." Jace said.
My eyes started to burn, and I started to take deep breaths to calm myself. "You're right." I said.
He nodded.
"Is everyone here yet?" I asked.
He shook his head. "They are on their way." He said.
I nodded and sighed. "Help me get dressed?" I said.
Jace smiled. It was a very sad smile. It didn't belong in that face. Behind that smile I saw pain and mourn. He was mourning with me. He helped me put on a white dress.
In the Codex it said that shadowhunters that mourned would mark themselves in red, and would dress in white.
That's why I didn't ask any questions because I already knew that. I put on white flats and put up my hair in a ponytail. "Jace?" I asked.
"Yes?" He asked as we started to walk slowly down the hallway.
"Can we go to the garden?" I asked.
He smiled. "Sure." He said.
I nodded. "I think I need to distract myself, and the flowers might help." I told him.
He nodded.
We passed a mirror and I stopped walking.
I looked at my reflection, and saw that my new mark was glowing. The mark looked like a cross that had an "L" on each end going different ways.
"It's going to take a while to go away." He said.
I nodded.
"We had brought these trees to plant. Jared, Novalee, Imogen, and Matt planted them yesterday, but you didn't get to see them." He said.
I nodded again as we started walking again.
"They are so beautiful. There are some that have purple flowers. Others have lilac, white, pink, red, and hot pink." He said.
I smiled.
He knew that I loved flowers, and that I wanted to fill the front of the house with flowers. I wanted to have a big garden and for a bridge to go in between with water at the bottom.
I had shown him a picture, and he had liked it also.
"Ready?" He asked as we made it to the front door.
I smiled and nodded.
He opened the door and we walked out.
The day was cloudy. It was going to rain soon, or it has already started during the night, but that wasn't what caught my eye. There we're two lines of trees that formed a street towards the house. Well the street was already there, but they planted the trees beside it. Cars could come in between them.
"Oh Jace." I said. My hand going to my chest. "They are so beautiful. How did you know that I loved Crape Myrtle trees?" I asked.
Jace smiled. "We'll I saw them at your mother's house and I thought that you would like to have some here but in different colors." He said.
I walked to the tree that was planted in front of the house.
It had purple flowers.
I smelled them. They smelled wonderful. "Thank you for this." I told him.
"You're welcome." He said giving me a kiss on the lips.
I smiled against his lips.
Two cars stopped in front of us.
"Where's Kimberly?" I whispered to Jace.
"With Novalee and Isabella." He whispered back.
I nodded.
The doors opened and some people got out. Then the doors closed.
Aunt Flora.
"Hi niece. How are you?" She said coming to give me a hug.
"Physically good. Emotionally horrible." I said.
She let go off me and nodded.
"Jace this is my aunt Flora; her husband, Patricio; and her sons Manuelito, Bryan, and Brandon. Everyone this is my husband Jace." I said.
"Nice to meet you." Jace said shaking their hands.
They were speechless.
"The same." My aunt said after a while. "Where's Kimberly?" She asked looking at me.
They were all dressed in black. In the mundane world black is used to mourn, and in our world black was used for battle.
"She's with Novalee." I said.
"Can I see her?" She asked.
"Not now. I dint want her to know what's going on yet. I want to be the one to tell her." I told her.
She nodded.
"Well come in." I sais turning around.
Jace took my hand in his, and we starred to walk inside. Jace opened the door and I went in.
Kimberly and Novalee were sitting on one couch.
I went to sit next to Kimberly and Jace sat next to me.
Novalee gave Isabella to Jace.
I took Kimberly's left hand in my right as my aunt Flora, Patricio, Manuelito, Bryan, and Brandon sat on the couch in front of us.
"You have a beautiful house." Aunt Flora said looking around.
"Thank you." Jace said.
"Kimberly." She said.
Kimberly didn't even move. "How are you?" Kimberly asked.
"Good. How about you? How are they treating you?" She asked.
I turned to look at my aunt.
What was she trying to say?
"Very good. The best I have been treated." Kimberly said.
"Mom." I said as my mother came into the living room.
Jace scoot over so my mother could seat between us.
"How are you feeling?" I asked her at the same time that my aunt was going to start talking. I turned to look at her.
My mother sighed. "I've been better." She said.
I nodded. "How did you sleep?" I asked.
"After Jace sent me some sleeping pills I fell asleep, and your uncle called me a while ago. So that was what woke me up." She said.
"What did he say?" Jace asked.
"He is almost here." She said.
I nodded.
"The phone has been ringing nonstop." Chris said coming into the living room.
"Why?" Novalee asked.
"People are asking if we are fine and how are we feeling. Tito's friends have been going to the house." Kevin said.
"Alba I just want you to know that Jace and I have taken care of everything." Novalee said.
My mother started to cry.
I let go of Kimberly's hand and hugged my mother.
"Why me? Why? Why do I have to look for funeral homes if it seems that I'd was just yesterday that I was looking for baby clothes for him?" My mother was saying.
Seeing my mother like this was hard. I started to cry with her, because I now understood her pain. I was going to give birth soon and I had become a mother since the first day that I found Isabella. I couldn't live without her. Seeing my mother suffer, and not being able to do something was even harder. I felt so hopeless.
"Well let's go to the kitchen. You need to get some food into your systems." Novalee said.
I nodded.
Matt came to help me stand up since I still felt a little weak.
We walked together to the kitchen.
Kimberly had taken my hand in hers. Clearly she wanted to stay away from them also.
When we walked into the kitchen I saw the ones that could give me support without being a hypocrite.
"Clary!" I said.
Clary turned around and cane to give me a hug. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I truly am. I know it's really hard, but he is in a better place now." Clary said.
I nodded.
Clary let me go and went to hug my mother.
Isabelle came to hug me. "Oh Karla I'm so sorry." Isabelle said.
"Thank you for coming." I told her.
She nodded.
I let her go and cleaned my tears with the back of my hand.
Today was Thursday the twelve of July of two thousand and twelve. The funeral was next Friday. The viewing was on Friday and Saturday morning. The burial was on Saturday at mid-day.
A month and twenty days later.
In nine days it's going to be two months. Two months without him. The reminder hurt everyday more, but I prayed to God every night to help me heal. I would pray every day with Kimberly. I showed her how to pray because I thought it would be good for her.
Today was September the second.
My birthday. The first of many without him.
Clary and the rest came for a visit yesterday. They wanted to be here for my birthday even though I didn't think it was special.
My mother, Chris, Kevin, Rigo, and Manuel had also come. They brought Alexis, one of Chris' friends.
Jace had ordered a cake, and he had gone to buy food at Mambo's.
"Love I have a surprise for you." Jace said after we were done eating.
Since my brother had passed away Tito came to visit me in my dreams. He also visited Chris and Kevin. After the burial I had gone to sleep with David at my mother's house.
In my dream Tito came into my old room. I was laying down with David. He watched us, and it was like I was seeing everything from his point of view.
I felt peace.
I felt happy.
I could feel a smile on my lips.
He went to lie down next to David and then it was like I was seeing everything from someone else's point of view. Tito was dressed completely in white. He was lying down next to David and he was smiling. He was looking at David, and the way that he saw him was what I missed the most.
His eyes were full of love, peace, and happiness. He touched David's head, and that had been when I woke up.
At least we got to see him in our dreams.
"What is it?" I asked.
Jace's smile got wider. "A surprise is a surprise." He said.
I groaned. I knew what that meant.
"Besides if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise anymore would it?" He asked.
I shook my head and smiled. "Fine let me see it." I said.
He shook his head.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because its outside." He said.
I got up and started to walk.
"Hike it right there young lady." He said.
I stopped where I was.
He came to stand behind me. He covered my eyes with a blind fold.
I knew it. "Jace you know that I can easily trip since I can't see my own feet." I told him.
Jace laughed. "Relax. You're going to like this surprise." He said.
I sighed. "Fine." I said.
He took my hands in his and guided me.
We starred to walk again.
"Slowly love." He said.
I could her steps following us. I guess everyone else wanted to see the surprise too. I was starting to get nervous.
What could be that big that was waiting outside? Had they brought more trees? Where were Novalee, Kimberly, and Matt anyways?
I had not seen them today.
These last days had been hard. Very hard. I still couldn't read Tito's letter or watch the video that had been recorded on the thirteen of May. Every time someone said his name, tears would start forming in my eyes and they would run down my cheeks.
My mother and Novalee were the same way.
I understood my mother, but Novalee only had a few months to meet him. I'm not saying that's bad or anything is wrong with that, but that's how much he pulled people.
How they learned to love him with just a few hours of meeting him. There had been a lot of people crying at his funeral, but I didn't like to think of that.
"Watch your step. We're almost there." Jace said.
There was a step and then I heard someone open the door.
"There are four steps here. Be careful." He said.
I nodded. I walked down the steps carefully.
We walked a little more. Then Jace turned me to the right.
"Ready?" Jace asked.
I nodded.
"On three! One. Two. Three!" Novalee said.
Someone took off the blind fold and I opened my eyes.
I gasped, and I felt a shaper pain on my abdomen at the same time. Water ran down my legs.
Oh no.
My old blue car was parked in front of me. It was the same one that I had sold to Angela.
"We fixed a lot of stuff, and bought all the parts new." Matt said.
I didn't move. I couldn't move.
"You didn't like the surprise?" Jace asked coming to stand in front of me.
There was another sharp pain.
I gasped. I started taking deep breaths.
Oh God this hurt more than I imagined.
Jace saw my expression and stayed in shock.
"Mom!" I said.
She came running to where I was. "What is it?" She asked.
I took deep breaths. "The babies...the babies are coming." I said in between breaths.
Her eyes widened.
Novalee ran to where I was and took my hand. "Deep breaths." She said.
I nodded.
"Matt!" She yelled.
"Got it." Matt said. He put one his arms out and I hold on to him. He picked me put and started to carry me inside.
"Ow!"I yelled.
"Sorry." Matt said.
"It's not your fault." I said as we made it to the living room.
I saw Jace and Jared ran pass us to the room they had prepared for the delivery. It was the same one where I had woken up in almost two months ago.
Matt went to lie me down on the bed.
"Matt, Jared." Novalee said.
They turned to look at her.
"Take care of the children. Alba you may stay for now." She said.
They nodded.
Novalee came to help me change into a hospital gown.
"I need you to walk around the room so you can finish dilating. That will mean that you are going to start getting contractions one after the other before the baby comes." Jace said.
I nodded. "I want an ice cold coke though." I told him.
He smiled. "I guess that is going to stay with you after the pregnancy is over." Jace said.
I smiled.
"Jace tell Clary to create a portal. We need a silent brother for the birth. A Iron Sister also, but that's going to be after the babies are born." Novalee whispered.
Jace nodded. "I think that she is in the kitchen. I'll tell her right now." He said.
A silent brother? Iron sister?
I have never met one, but I have heard that they don't talk and that they have their eyes shut.
"Don't worry everything is going to be fine." Novalee said.
I nodded.
I would walk around the room with Novalee holding my hand. I would sit down when I got tired.
The contractions were coming every thirty minutes for now.
"How are you feeling?" My mother asked.
"I'm kind of happy, but it hurts." I told her.
"I told you." She said turning the page of a magazine.
Maybe it was just me but my mother seemed too calm just looking at the magazine.
We'll I am the one that is going to give birth...
"It hurts more than you told me. What time is it anyways?" I asked.
She looked at her phone. "Eleven thirty." She said.
Eleven thirty? Already? And I had not given birth yet?
"At what time did my water break?" I asked.
"Around seven thirty." Novalee said.
Seven thirty? It has been four hours.
"Is that normal?" I asked.
My mother nodded as she turned to another page. "Since it's your first it can take up to fifteen to twenty hours." My mother said.
"What?!" I asked.
"It's true." Novalee said.
Crap! This is not good.
"Alright let me check you." Jocelyn said coming into the room.
My mother came to help me lie down while Novalee helped Jocelyn.
Jocelyn opened my legs and she put one of her fingers inside of me as another contraction came. "She has dilated to seven." She told Novalee.
"Which means?" I asked.
"Which means the contractions are going to be coming a little more frequent." Jocelyn said.
More frequent?
"How much?" I asked.
"Like every fifteen or ten minutes." She said.
I nodded.
"Alba why don't you go rest or help with the children? I'll let you know when everything is over. It might not be good for you to watch everything." Jocelyn said.
My mother nodded.
"Keep walking it's helping." Jocelyn said.
I nodded.
Once again I started walking with Novalee.
Jace came in a few minutes later. "How are you feeling love?" He asked.
"Almost there. Which means that the contractions are nothing compared to what I am going to feel. So I'm kind of scared." I said.
He smiled. "Don't be. It should be over soon. Karla this is brother Jeremiah of the Silent City." Jace said.
I turned to see who he meant, and froze how I was.
A man walked towards me. He was wearing a heavy cloak. It would swirl as he moved. He didn't make any noise as he walked. It was almost as he was a ghost. He stopped in front of me.
"This is my wife Karla." Jace said.
Brother Jeremiah was wearing a hood, and darkness was only visible from underneath it.
My heart beat started to accelerate.
Do not be afraid. Brother Jeremiah's voice echoed inside my head.
I gasped.
I am here to help you, and to make sure that everything is fine with the labor. I am here to keep you and your children safe. Brother Jeremiah voice echoed inside my head.
I nodded.
I need to be left alone with her. I will look for you when the labor is done. Her husband may stay if he wishes. Brother Jeremiah said.
I nodded.
"I'll stay." Jace said.
Everyone else got out.
I didn't know if I was more scared of the labor or of the brother Jeremiah.
"Are you like some sort of doctor?" I asked.
Yes. We usually heal the shadowhunter's wounds when an iratze cannot heal, but we are also present to a birth of a shadowhunter. Jeremiah said.
I nodded. "Why? I mean if you don't mind me asking." I said.
Not at all. Births are normally presided by silent brothers. We are able to use our Marks and knowledge of medicine to keep the mother and the child safe and healthy. Brother Jeremiah said.
I nodded. "Why is an Iron Sister also needed?" I asked.
It is traditional for a number of protective spells to be placed on the infant by an Iron Sister and a Silent Brother. Which means that I will be here with the Iron Sister since it has to be the Silent Brother that attended the birth. These spells are meant to strengthen the child, both physically and spiritually, in preparation for their first Marks later in life. It is also for protection of demonic influence and possession. Brother Jeremiah said.
I nodded.
I am going to need you to close your eyes so we can began with the Marks. Brother Jeremiah said.
I sighed and nodded.
NOVALEE'S POV
One of the silent brothers always assisted a shadowhunter's birth. We couldn't be there with them because brother Jeremiah was Marking Karla in preparation for the birth. We were allowed to be there after he was done marking her.
Today Karla was being put the same spells as the babies since she hasn't gotten them when she was born.
The Iron Sister and brother Jeremiah were going to wait until she fell asleep. After that Karla was going to have to get the "Angelic Power" Mark.
Isabella was going to get done the same spells also. Her parents we're shadowhunters, but didn't have time to take her to the Iron sisters and the Silent Brothers.
I just couldn't believe that my niece and nephew are going to be born already.
These pass two months have been painful and hard, but I know that our brother is also going to be here at the birth since shadowhunter's souls are allowed to visit.
The sergeant had called a week after the burial to let us know that the guy had been captured.
It was a good thing that I had been wearing the "Calm Anger" Mark since I was thirteen because if I hadn't I would have gone to look for him and kill him myself.
Karla has told me that Tito came to visit her in dreams. I was glad, but I couldn't tell her that he visited me also. She would want to know about the dream and that would mean telling her everything.
I sighed as I saw that Matt had started to pace.
"Can you stop please? You are making me more nervous." I told him.
"I can't help it." Matt said.
"Both of you relax. Everything is going to be fine. Brother Jeremiah is in there with her, and Sister Theresa should be here any moment with Clary." Jared said.
I nodded.
The door opened and I quickly got up.
Matt stopped pacing.
"Ya'll may come in now." Jace said.
We nodded and followed him in.
Matt got his camera ready.
I rolled my eyes. I went to look at Karla.
She was covered in sweat and I could tell that she was in pain. She had new Marks on her skin that we're glowing.
Jocelyn went to check Karla to see how much she had dilated.
"What time is it?" Karla asked as another contraction came.
I looked at my phone.
"It's one forty." I said.
She sighed.
It's time. Brother Jeremiah's voice echoed in our heads.
KARLA'S POV
I was tired and sleepy. It felt like this labor was taking a long time.
Novalee had said that it was one forty. That meant that I have been six hours in labor.
The contractions were coming every minute now and Jocelyn was checking how much I had dilated.
It's time. Brother Jeremiah's voice echoed in my head.
I wonder if it was just my head or everyone else's also.
Jocelyn opened my legs and covered them with a blanket so I couldn't see. "Karla I am going to need you to start pushing. Okay?" Jocelyn said.
I nodded. I took a deep breath and started to push.
God I want this over with.
I kept pushing until I couldn't no more. I stopped and felt more tired than before, and I was out of breath. I took deep breaths. I pushed again.
"I can see the head." Jocelyn said.
I was out of breath again. I took deep breaths. My body hurt, and it felt like I had exercised too much.
"It's almost out." Jocelyn said.
Almost done.
I pushed again and I used Jace's hand for more support.
Then I heard a baby cry.
I sighed and took deep breaths.
Jace cleaned the sweat from my face and neck.
"It's a boy!" Jocelyn said.
I smiled.
My little Edward.
"Jace would you like to cut the umbilical cord?" Jocelyn asked.
Jace got up and kissed my forehead. He went to cut the umbilical cord.
Jocelyn came to put the baby against my chest.
Edward was crying.
Novalee came to clean the blood off him, and covered him.
I gave him a small kiss on his forehead. "My little Edward." I said as tears started to run down my cheeks.
I must make sure that he is healthy. Iron Sister Theresa is already in the other room. I will take the baby so we can perform the spells. Brother Jeremiah's voice echoed in my head.
I nodded. "Take him." I said.
Brother Jeremiah came to pick up Edward.
I'll be back in a few minutes to check on you and to come get the other infant. Brother Jeremiah's voice echoed in my head.
I nodded. "Okay." I said.
Brother Jeremiah carried Edward and left the room.
"So now what?" I asked.
"The next baby should be here between ten or twenty minutes. It's not going to come out as easily as Edward." Jocelyn said.
I swallowed and nodded.
"It might be more painful." She said.
"More?" I asked.
She nodded.
I sighed. I never imagined that so much pain was possible.
Jace came to sit down next to me.
"How did you see him?" I asked.
Jace smiled. "He is perfect. He was born perfect, but brother Jeremiah just wanted to make sure. Besides it's part of the procedure." He said.
I nodded and smiled.
Jace got what he wanted. He wanted a boy and a girl, who was still inside of me.
We were a family of six now including Kimberly, but when Jakelin was found that was going to change.
I took a drink from my soda. All that pushing and deep breaths had made me tired, and thirsty. I put my drink back, and when I was turning to look at Clary I saw someone on the back.
No.
"Matt!" I said.
Matt laughed.
"Please don't tell me that you just recorded everything." I told him.
Matt laughed again. "Yes I did." He said.
"I'm going to kill you!" I said as a contraction came. I gasped.
These contractions were worse than those cramps that you get when your period is coming.
Jocelyn turned around. "Oh God!" She said.
"What?! What is it?!" I asked taking a deep breath as the contraction passed.
"I can see the head " She said running to the bed.
"What?!" I said.
"Push!" She said.
I started to push.
I didn't know that when I started getting contractions that would mean that the baby was coming out. Jocelyn didn't say that.
I thought that it was going to be like Edward's birth.
I stopped pushing. I was covered in sweat and my body hurt.
"Push. Come on she's almost here." Novalee said.
"I can't. I can't. I'm too tired and it hurts." I said as tears started to form in my eyes.
"Yes you can. You did it with Edward you can do it with this baby." Novalee said.
I took deep breaths and nodded.
Novalee was right.
Besides this pain was going to be over when my little Alice was born.
I took a deep breath and started to push again.
"Good. Take a deep breath and push again." Jocelyn said.
I stopped and took deep breaths to try to calm my breathing. Then I started to push again.
"Good. See? You are almost there. You can do it." Novalee said.
I nodded and turned to look at Jace.
He was pale, and he look as if he was sick. He also looked like his mind was somewhere else.
"Jace are you alright?" I asked between breaths.
He turned to look at me and swallowed. "I'm sorry. This is my fault." He said.
I lied my head back and tries to calm my breathing. I shook my head. "This is part of a woman's life. Your part is to watch and be with me until the end." I told him.
Jace smiled and nodded.
I took a deep breath before pushing again.
"She's almost here." Jocelyn said as I stopped pushing.
I lied my head back and took deep breaths.
This baby must be big since she's taking this long to get out.
I pushed again and this time I gave it my everything.
Then I heard a baby cry.
I lied my head back and sighed. I tried to calm my breathing.
It was over. The pain was finally over.
I was gasping for air, but all the pain has been definitely worth it because I had given birth to these two angels.
Jace went to cut the umbilical cord.
"It's a boy!" Jocelyn said.
My little Ali...what?!
"What?! I thought it was a girl." I said.
Jocelyn laughed. "It is. Matt just wanted to get your shocked expression on camera." Jocelyn said.
I sighed and rolled my eyes.
Jocelyn came to put Alice against my chest.
Clary came to clean her, and then covered her in a pink blanket.
The physical pain was over, but not the emotional pain. I was going to have to change for my family. I was going to have to learn to live with the pain of not seeing my brother. It was going to be time, but I couldn't be sad all the time.
He wouldn't like that. He would have liked for me to have enjoyed my life with my husband and family until my time came and we were reunited.
I was always going to remember him, but I was going to remember the best of him.
Was it going to be hard?
Yes it was going to be hard, but my children needed me. Now that I knew the pain that it felt to have a child, I also understood the pain that my mother felt of losing a son.
Okay guys I am going to leave it there. So what do you guys think of this chapter? What do you guys think of the birth? What about of Brother Jeremiah? I still have to describe Iron Sister Theresa but that will be in the next chapter. Anyways let me know your opinion about everything because I would like to know what you guys think. Anyways thank you for reviewing and for reading :) don't forget to review or PM me. Until next time!
