Chapter 4

The two weeks were coming to a close as I used my free hour to go see the Tribal doctor. Momma, Papa and Shane never knew what went on, and they wouldn't have to if the test came back negative. Hopefully, though, it wouldn't. There were only three days left until the wedding. Not nearly enough time to do it again and see results.

I walked into the small hut, which smelled strongly of herbs.

"Hello..?" A voice called from behind a scarlet curtain.

"Madam Lissy?" I asked in a low tone. An older woman came out from the curtained room.

"Ahh, Liliana, what brings you here?" She asked. "You don't look ill."

"I've, come for a test. I was hoping you could fit me in." I answered slowly.

"Come in, come in, I've got plenty of time. Now, what kind of test do you need, dear?" I looked sheepishly at her.

"A, um, a," I stumbled. "A pregnancy test," She looked hard at me for a few moments then led me behind the curtain.

After the test, she went to figure the results. A few minutes later, she came back.

"Liliana?" She asked.

"Yes? What did the results come up as?" I eagerly asked.

"They came out Positive." She answered. A smile was now plainly on my face. Now all I had to do was tell Momma and Papa, then they'd have to break the betrothing off!

"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" I said joyously. I still had enough time left to go see Brendan and tell him the news before I was to return home, so I immediately was on my way to his home.

"Brendan, Brendan!" I called.

"Wha-? Lil?" I ran up and gave him a big hug. "What's going on?"

"It worked!" I whispered in his ear. "It worked, it worked!" He put his arms warmly around my waist, giving me a tender kiss on the forehead.

"That's wonderful! Liliana, now we can be together!" He congratulated.

"And we'll be parents together, too." I added. We kept in an embrace together for a few moments more, before a terrifying thing happened.

"Liliana!" Came a sharp yell from behind me. I spun around.

"Shane!" I gasped.

"You whore! I heard it all. You filthy slut," He spat in disgust. "When I get my hands on you, you'll never want to leave home again. And when that kid comes, you better be prepared to guard it with your life. Because, rest assured, any child you bare that is not mine shall not live." I looked in terror at him as he drew in closer. I saw a rage in his eyes like I'd never seen before.

"No! I won't ever have to see you again. There'll be no way you could ever do that!" I cried. "As long as the law still stands that 'a betrothed woman who is carrying another man's child shall be then on betrothed to him' I will never have to see you again!"

"That is where you're wrong. You'll still be mine; you'll just have him as well. When it all comes down to it, our parents decide who you marry. You just enjoy a few extra days with your boyfriend." He said in fiery anger. I buried my face in Brendan's shoulder.

"No. No!" I cried loudly. "That's not going to happen. You're lying!"

"I'm afraid you're badly mistaken." He hissed. "I should know the laws; my family's ancestors wrote them! And think. Would your father's pride actually give in for you? He himself was a Flareon Warrior! What chance does an outsider have over me? Especially one with barely a home to go to!" At that, Brendan seemed to have been filled with a raging fury toward Shane.

"You leave my home out of this." Brendan ordered. "This is only between us as far as our love for Liliana goes. Nothing else about our personal lives should be brought in." Shane only sneered.

"Hit a soft spot, did I?" He taunted. "It's not just about our love for Lilinana. Not when it comes to our parents decision, at least. They'll be considering the best place for her to go to, and I highly doubt it's with you."

"Stop it!" I cried. "Stop it now! I can't take this fighting. This was supposed to be a good thing. I was supposed to be happy, we weren't supposed to argue." I fell to my knees and looked up at the two of them. "Is this the life I'm destined to live? Causing pain to one because I can't escape the other? Am I bound to live a life of unhappiness?" I saw the expressions on both of their faces soften a little. "Instead of fighting, let's just tell Momma and Papa. Then we wait and see what happens. Okay?" Tears were rushing into my eyes. They looked at each other, and shook hands.