Rayla gave out a cry as she was awoken with a strange, painful sensation deep within her. "What did you…"
She realized with a jolt that she was no longer gagged.
And that Viren and Claudia were standing before her.
"We've waited twelve years," Viren said, almost apologetically. At least, it would have been apologetic if he was capable of such a thing. Instead, his tone came across sarcastic and insincere. "You must understand that we won't wait much longer…and really, you should be thanking us. Much longer and you won't survive a birth…judging by how far your pregnancy has progressed."
"What are you…" Rayla began, but her words were cut off by another painful sensation, causing her to whimper in pain and her body tensed.
This feeling…
Was it…
"We've induced the birth," Claudia said. "Don't worry, the child will survive. We'll make sure of that."
Rayla's eyes widened. She was in labor? Right now? With these two monsters the only beings around to help her?
"No," she said, trying to move away from Viren as he crouched before her, but her hands and legs were still bound. "No, please, just—"
Claudia walked to her side, placing a gag back in her mouth. "Don't make us put a spell on you to keep you still," she said, giving Rayla an encouraging smile. The sight made Rayla feel ill. "That'll just make it more difficult to push the baby out."
Rayla's chin quivered as she fought back the tears of mortification, fear and anger as Viren untied the binds at her feet.
She kicked him hard in the groin once her feet were unbound, causing him to grunt and fall backwards. Twisting slightly on her back, Rayla kicked Claudia in the face. Claudia cried out in surprise and pain, as Rayla struggled to her feet and began to run as best as she could towards the part of the room that hopefully led out the caves.
When another contraction hit, she nearly toppled over with a cry. But she kept going, unable to spit out the gag, and having difficulty breathing between that and the fact that her body was preparing to give birth.
She felt hands grab her from behind, pulling her back. Many hands. She screamed through the gag, as she realized it was Yehven, and many others, some of which were the Sunfire soldiers who must have fallen defending the Spire during an attack. They pulled her kicking and screaming back towards Viren and Claudia.
Callum slumped into a seated position, legs hanging over the edge of the main platform of the Storm Spire. This was a special spot—after all, it was where Rayla and he confirmed their love for each other.
He heaved a breath, before glancing down at the ingredients before him. He had everything he needed to make the tracking spell, and luckily, there were many items that were Rayla's personal belongings.
He swallowed. He wasn't sure he was ready—for what he might find.
No.
Rayla had to be alive.
This was Rayla, after all. She wouldn't be…she couldn't be…
He bit back a choked noise as he began assembling the items. Wiping his eyes, he looked up to see two figures flying towards him—a dragon, and a human-like figure.
No-an elf.
The two landed, and Callum watched as Zym and Ibis rushed towards him.
"I didn't think Queen Zubeia would like you to come here with just one guard," Callum said, grinning wryly as Zym whimpered and pressed his large head against Callum's chest.
"She doesn't know," Ibis said. "I didn't know either—until it was too late to send him back without returning to Lux Aurea myself."
Callum nodded, looking at Zym sternly. "The queen will have our heads for this," he told him.
Zym had the grace to look bashful.
"It's too late to send him back now, but he was adamant about coming along with me," Ibis said. "Do you have any clues as to where she could be?"
Callum shook his head. "I'm planning on using a tracking spell…but…"
"But you're unsure of what condition you'll find her in…" Ibis finished.
Callum sighed, before standing up shakily and shaking his head slightly. "I'm sure she's fine-I'm sure she can't be hurt badly. After all…she…she's Rayla. If anyone can survive anything, it's her."
Ibis placed a hand on Callum's arm, stopping him. "Callum," he said. "She waited for you—for months. She sent letters and hoped you would—"
"I didn't know," Callum took in a deep, shuddering breath. He hadn't meant to spit the words out so vehemently, but the unfairness-the cruelness-of the situation was too much to bear.
"I know," Callum said, looking down at his feet, "That I left and should have come back. I know that she was waiting for me—that I failed her. But I honestly didn't know." Callum looked up into Ibis' eyes. "I swear, I didn't know she was pregnant—I didn't get any of her letters. You know me, Ibis. Do you really think I would just…abandon them for any reason?"
Ibis gazed at Callum with an unreadable expression, before sighing as well. "Of course not," he said. "I know that you did not intentionally abandon her and the child. But that is not what it seemed like to her."
Callum stared out across the sky, trying to focus his eyes on the clouds lest he start crying in front of Ibis and Zym. "I know," he said said, his voice small. "I can only imagine that's how she felt. I just…the only thing I can do now is to find her and—"
Zym growled.
Ibis and Callum stared at him, both confused for a moment, before Callum looked up to see two figures walking out from the shadows of the caves towards them. "What…who are they?" Callum asked.
"Part of why I came after you," Ibis siad, gripping his staff tightly in a ready stance. "You left before we could explain the situation."
"What situation?" Callum asked, hand ready to draw a spell.
"The creature that we found, the undead creature? Well, it looks like it had some kind of disease that only infects the dead—well, that we're aware of."
"Which means…" Callum's eyes widened, as he felt he was going to be sick. He watched as the two formally Sunfire elves shuffled towards them, blank expressions on their faces. "Those two are…"
"Dead, yes," Ibis said, his face mirroring Callum's look of disgust and apprehension. "And it looks like nothing can kill them."
"Great," Callum said. "What if we toss them over the side of the cliff?"
He was in no mood to fight undead creatures when Rayla was somewhere, presumably where more of these monsters were, and may be in need of his help.
"Good idea," Ibis said, preparing his staff to strike, as Zym growled again, lightning forming around his mouth and wings.
Rayla gasped out as she opened her eyes. Her eyelids were heavy and crusted, and she found it difficult to keep them open. The first thing she knew was that she was in pain. A great amount of pain. Was she in labor?
No…
She tried to look down at herself, but found that the act of any movement was excruciating. She cried out, whimpering as she felt as if every fiber of her body was screaming angrily.
With great effort, she placed her hand on her stomach.
No…that wasn't right.
Something was wrong.
Her eyes opened again, and she tried to sit up. That, too, was impossible.
But there was definitely something wrong.
"You did well," a man's voice said.
Viren.
It was starting to come back-what had transpired over the last few hours. The blessed haziness was lifting as memories of why she was in pain-why she was dying, she realized-surfaced.
The birth.
She groaned, trying to move to look at Viren. She saw him walk towards her, carrying a bundle in his arms. She shook her head, trying to reach for the bundle.
"Do you want to see her?" Viren asked. "I suppose it's only fair I let you use your dying breath to see your child…"
He knelt down, uncovering the bundle slightly.
Tears filled Rayla's eyes, and she gasped out as she tried to speak.
The baby was tiny—much smaller than she could have imagined given how large she felt while pregnant. The baby's skin was pink and red, wrinkly, a tuft of brown hair on her head, with two nubs that would one day grow into horns.
"Please..." Rayla whimpered, trying to move closer to Viren and the child.
Viren stood up, and Rayla felt her heart break as the distance between her and her child increased. "You'll die soon—I had thought to be merciful and kill you with my own hands, but I think it would be best to let you ruminate on your misgivings. Think about the life that was taken from you—just as you took my life from me. And when you die, I'll make you into an undead slave just like the others."
He gave her a cruel smile, covering the baby with the blanket again. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of her. She has use for me yet, after all."
Rayla felt her vision blur, and she realized she was crying. "Please…" she whispered, as Viren turned and walked away with her child. "Please…" she reached for her—but Viren had left the cave, leaving Rayla completely alone.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Thanks for reading!
Sorry i forgot to post this chapter last week… will try to make sure to post the next chapter next week!