I am trying to update sooner and I know that I haven't in a while, but hopefully it won't take me 2 months to add a new chapter to this fic or any others I have. Hope everyone is still interested in my stories.

Chapter 2-A Miracle in the Midst of Madness

It was almost time. She could feel it. The labor hadn't started yet but she knew that it soon would, that this precious little miracle would have to be born into the darkened room in which her mother lived. She hated that, the fact that her little girl would have to open her eyes to a dirt-filled room, that no sun would creep through and shine on the infant's face.

As she began to feel the beginning of labor, panic began. The success of her plan rested solely on the hope that her ladybug would be able to shimmer, to get away. She had heard Cole talking of it. So long ago, it seemed, before everything had gone wrong, and they had plans for children. She had learned that shimmering was something that could be tapped into immediately. He had explained it was like orbing and Pheobe learned after his death, when Wyatt was born how fast the ability developed when the little boy, too small to even lift his head had begun to orb. Something she pleaded for God to give her little girl.

She tried to keep quiet as long as possible, afraid of what would happen when her husband learned that this was the day Cole's child would be born. He had promised not to harm the baby, but what good did a promise mean from the man responsible for making her nephews orphans, for killing her little sister before she even got the chance to begin on a family. Why he hadn't killed her along with the others, she didn't understand at first, but it didn't take long for her to realize why. He was always talking out loud to no one visible, but she knew the words were meant for Cole. Every time he hit her, a smug grin would cover his face and he would brag out loud, knowing that the almighty Belthazar could hear but do nothing to stop the pain that was being inflicted upon the woman he loved. She hoped that he wasn't watching, that his spot in limbo had him too busy to notice what was happening to her. When Eric's hand, balled up into a fist, made contact with her fragile body, she prayed that Cole's eyes had not seen, hurt by the thought that the pain inflicted on her caused the same effect on him.

Sitting on the bed, she was able to monitor her contractions which after her water had broken were rapidly becoming closer. She tried to calm down in an effort to slow the process, but she found that it was an impossible feat. This little girl was ready to be born. There was no denying it. She knew that it was any moment now and instead of being in white, clean, hospital room surrounded by skilled professionals, she was alone in a room lit only by a few lanterns on the cave-like walls. Maybe if she could just stay quiet until the girl was born and safely to her grandfather's, things would be alright. She could plan her escape and maybe, she would be able to raise her little ladybug, watch her grow along with her cousins.

Women had been having babies for centuries, way before hospitals, before advancements in technology, so she believed that she was perfectly capable of having this child. After all, she had delivered Wyatt at home and he was a healthy, beautiful child.

Breathing deeply through another contraction, she began to push, and fear gave way to hope as she reached down and felt the head of the small baby girl. Determined now, she pushed with more force as the next contraction began and soon she felt as the child became separate from her body. Pulling out what she needed from under her pillow, things she had been able to stash for this moment, she cut the cord which had been the lifeline that connected her to the small infant. Clearing the baby's nose and mouth, she pulled the girl to her, cleaning her off with a towel as she rocked, needing to prolong the moment, despite the pain she was beginning to feel. The infant began to cry, a sign that she was okay. Pheobe had waited for this, to hear her daughter's first cries, to look at her small face and count her fingers and toes.

There she was, her perfect blue-eyed angel and Pheobe couldn't help but become oblivious to her surrounding as she looked down into the face of the only minutes old infant.

The cry however was immediately heard outside of the room, something she had forgotten about as she took her first glance at the newborn girl, and Eric along with his demonic guards were surrounding her within seconds.

"Stupid witch, you could have killed you and the child. What were you thinking to have this baby alone?" he screamed at her as he came closer to the bed, ordering one of the females to remove the infant from her arms.

"Please," she whispered into the infant's ear as the demon reached out for the girl.

Desperately holding on to the small baby, she continued to plead for her safety, both to God and to Eric as she tried to buy time, as much as she could, hoping that the girl would finally shimmer away to safety.

"Please, don't hurt her," Pheobe cried, finally noticing just how much blood she was losing. "I'll do anything."

He let his fist make contact with her jaw in an effort to quiet the frantic witch, but she couldn't be silenced.

"No, please," she begged as the child was being pulled from her arms, her body becoming weak from the loss of blood. "Just let her stay with me."

Soon, she was asleep, exhausted and weak, her last memories seeming to fade away. She had tried to keep fighting, but her body wouldn't let her, too worn out, tired. It was hours later that she began to come to. Opening her eyes, she at first believed that it had all been a dream, but as she became more aware, she realized that her child was gone. The sheets hadn't been changed, still stained with the crimson blood which continued to freely fall, making it impossible for her to rise up from the position she was in. With no other options, she began to scream.

"Where is she?" Pheobe demanded as Eric appeared in front of her.

"Who?" he asked giving her a confused look though he knew that she could see through him.

"Where is she?" she screamed again, trying to pull herself out of the bed. "If you won't tell me, I'll go find her myself," she said as she shakily placed her feet on the ground.

"That would be impossible," he informed her.

"And why is that?" she asked as her heart jumped in her throat, afraid to hear his next words.

He said nothing, only smiled

"What did you do to her?" Pheobe screamed beginning to feel dizzy though she was sure she knew the answer.

"She's in a better place," he told her, making a point to sound concerned.

If at least one person likes this story, I am happy to continue it. I will hopefully have a new chapter up by next week. Please review.