Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Dark-Hunter characters. The only one who belongs to me is Imora and the other minor characters.
1917 Tulsa, Oklahoma
Elizabeth tried to hold back her giggle as Millie continued to call for her in the garden. Hiding behind a statue gave her the perfect view of the distressed maid.
"Mistress!" she cried in anguish. "Mistress, where are you?" Elizabeth could already hear what Millie was thinking. What would the Master think is he found out that his wife, heavy with child, was somewhere out in the garden late at night, clad only in a fleece nightgown?
She tried to stifle her laugh, once again, as the maid walked away, searching. As Millie's voice finally faded away Elizabeth came out of her hiding place, only then did she let herself laugh. She didn't laugh too loud so that she'd be found, but she was laughing hard enough to bring tears to her eyes.
Then, suddenly, she became dizzy and very light headed. Her hands, instinctively, went to her stomach and as she steadied, she continued to caress her stomach lovingly. My baby... she thought. Then, she felt a kick and it wasn't just one, another kick came thereafter. She gasped in surprise, the relentless kicking continued as Elizabeth walked over to a bench. Then the front of her nightgown became very wet as she sat down. She gasped at the absurdity, how could a well-dignified lady let herself go like that?
Feeling a little woozy, she laid down on the bench. Elizabeth laid there for a while, for what felt like hours; maybe it was just mere minutes. Suddenly, Elizabeth began feeling sharp pains shoot through her body. She was in such pain that she couldn't even cry out. The pains continued as she undulated on the bench.
Then, Elizabeth felt the need the push, to get whatever was causing such pain out of her body. This time she did cry out, as she pushed the pain rolled over her in waves. It didn't have an end or a beginning; it was just one continuous stream of pain. After pushing for several minutes, Millie finally came into sight. Seeing her Mistress, Millie gasped in horror and shock. But, quickly recovering Millie ran over to her and she began helping Elizabeth, soothing her with words and comforting her as best as she could.
Finally, Millie could see something, "Mistress I can see its head!" she said, trying to sooth Elizabeth's growing pain. "Keep going you're doing a great job!" But, as the baby finally made its way out the maid was in shock. She gently picked up the baby and delicately laid it in her arms. Looking at the baby Millie could tell that it was a girl and around the neck was the cord. She stared in sorrow at the baby; she would never utter a single breath, cry, or set her eyes upon her mother's loving face.
As Elizabeth gasped, trying to catch her breath, and she stared at Millie with hope in her eyes. There was also a question there, had her baby survived? How could Millie tell her? A sing tear slipped down her face and Elizabeth's face twisted into an unrecognizable expression.
"What Millie? What's wrong with my baby?" her eyes were frantic. "Is she alright?"
Unable to tell her or lie to her Millie said. "She's beau'iful." As Elizabeth grabbed for her the maid recoiled slightly, she didn't want her Mistress to know.
"Millie what's the meaning of this?" she demanded. "Give me my-" Then she was back on the bench again, lying down and convulsing in pain.
Crying out in pain Elizabeth began to push again and this time it took much longer. When Millie saw the baby, this time, she remained silent, hoping for the inevitable. This baby was also a girl but the cord wasn't just wrapped around her neck it was wrapped around stomach also. When she was finished Elizabeth sobbed in pain; she didn't even bother to look at Millie, as as if she already knew.
Millie looked at the second born in her hands. The cord was wrapped to tightly that the baby's skin was blue and it gave off a marbled appearance. As the maid continued to stare at the babies, she took the, now dried, cords and unwrapped them from around their bodies. Turing to the second born again Mille noticed that her skin faded to a peachy color, but she still did not stir. After awhile Millie knew the truth, the twin girls would never take their first breaths, then Elizabeth stirred.
"Millie, how are they?" she whispered. Her maid just looked at her and sadly, she shook her head.
Elizabeth didn't react for a few moments, she just stared at the maid numbly, and then she finally came to her senses. She let out a sob and it was as if a dam broke inside of her, she sobbed uncontrollably. Elizabeth wept for herself and her husband; but mostly she wept for her children. For none had ever uttered a single breath in the real world. As she finally stopped crying, she came back to her senses. Her throat was sore and her eyes were raw from all of her tears.
As Elizabeth looked down, she saw that Millie has a shovel; she must have gone back and gotten it. Looking at the maid, Elizabeth saw that she had already dug two holes, just large enough to fit both of the stillborns. She stared at Millie in horror.
"Millie!" she gasped. "By the blood of Christ, what are you doing?" Millie just stared at her Mistress solemnly.
"I'm doing wha' I must so that Master doesna' find out what has transpired." Elizabeth still stared at her.
"You can't! I won't allow it!"
"Mistress, the babes are dead! If they 'aven't uttered a single breath then tha' means they willna live!" Elizabeth sputtered and tried to speak but Millie didn't allow her. "Donna tell me Mistress! You've never 'ave bore a babe in your life 'afore so donna tell me what I'm or no' right 'bout!" Then she gentled her voice. "Mistress jus' face it your babes dinna survive."
"Millie! How dare you talk to me that way!" The maid bowed her head, in shame. "If you speak to me in such a way ever again I'll make sure you'll regret it for centuries to come!" Mille cringed as Elizabeth exerted her authority over her. She had not done so before, so the maid was very afraid.
"I-I'm sorry Mistress." She apologized, and then she motioned toward the babies. "But, it must be done."
First taking the first born Millie gently placed her into the grave and then proceeded to bury her. Then when she picked up the second and set her into the ground. Getting up Millie grabbed the shovel and prepared to fill the rest of the grave.
As she readied her first shovel full of dirt a single note rang out in the darkness. A piercing wail stirred even the most dangerous predators in the area and filled them with unease. The source of the noise was coming from the hole that Millie was prepared to fill. But, all Elizabeth and the maid did was stare at the ground in amazement. It was the second born twin and she wanted to be heard.
Elizabeth was the first to recover. "Millie get her out!" She just stood there, still staring at the baby in shock. "Millie? NOW!" The maid dropped the shovel and plucked her out of the hole. Handing her to her mother, the baby stopped crying as she finally entered her mother's arms.
Elizabeth let out a sob as she looked her baby, she's so beautiful, Elizabeth thought. The tuft of blonde hair on her head gleamed in the moonlight. Then as the baby opened both of her eyes, Millie and Elizabeth gasped. The baby's eyes were silver and they swirled as the moonlight made them give off a luminous appearance.
Numbly gaping at the baby Millie crossed herself and Elizabeth -completely oblivious of Millie- gazed at her baby lovingly. "Beautiful eyes," she cooed, "for such a beautiful baby." She stopped as she thought for a moment. Then her eyes brightened. "I know! I'll name you…Mary. For God has finally answered my prayers."
Hearing her name for the first time Mary laughed and wiggled her hands in glee. Then she raised her hands and put them on her mother's face. I slight tremor went through Elizabeth's head and she gasped at what she saw.
Mary showed her a baby that looked exactly like her except he was a boy. Only one word whispered through her head, Appos…
What does this mean? Elizabeth thought but she didn't have time to think it over as Mary showed her another image.
This time she saw a beautiful woman with blonde hair that almost looked white. She was gazing off in the distance with a deep and profound sorrow in her…silver eyes…Elizabeth gasped again as her mind whirled with so many emotions and question. What's happening to me? She thought as she passed out.
I'd like to thank all of you for reading my story. When I first put up this story I never realized that I'd receive as many reviews and responses as I did. So, once again I'd like to say, Thank you all. ^_^
Also, if you have any question please just leave me a review and if you have any suggestions for what should happen next. I would love to hear your thought.