Raising Sun

Chapter 14 – Story, myths and legions

And like a dying lady, lean and pale,

Who totters forth, wrapp'd in a gauzy veil,

Out of her chamber, led by the insane

And feeble wanderings of her fading brain,

- Percy Shelly

I was beside myself, but my first reaction was to push Bella behind me, to protect her. She didn't bring the food to help her; it was a test. I saw the whole thing flashing through Kaure mind. The smell was supposed to get a pregnant woman sick, to route outs that were caring a Lysonbidon. Silly superstition, but by the violent reaction that Bella had, it must have some truth.

"Hell demon, Blood of Satin, come to steal the soul of a child. You will kill her, her blood will be your sin," she shouted. "Impregnate her with a spawn of diseases, it will bring death upon us. Hell demon." Her hands were waving as more came out; she stayed in her native tongue. I knew Gustavo didn't speak it; she didn't want to involve her husband in this. "Cursed you are, taking a young innocent girl blood."

I took a step towards her, trying to calm her down. "I am sorry," I whispered, "I never meant this to happen. But you know of this…please for my wife sake, please I need information."

She starred at me for a while. "You speak my tongue."

"I learned it when I was here last."

"When were you here last?"

Knowledge of our world was strictly forbidden, but every once in a while you run into a culture that legions has been corrupted by time.

"1938."

She crossed herself. I knew in the Catholic Religion that conversing with a demon was a sure way to the fires of hell. Not that I was practicing any more.

She looked at Bella for a moment. "Does she know?"

"Yes, she had known for over two years," adding that little piece of information. I was desperate, it usually forbidden to talk about what we really are around humans, but I never thought it was possible for me to father a child either.

I rested my hand against Bella check. "This is my wife Bella; she knows who I am and what I am. We don't have secrets. I loved her and she loves me. Please Kaure, I didn't mean this to happen. I would never hurt her. Please, I am going out of my mind. What did I do to her?" I pleaded with her.

She stared at me with doubt for a moment. She looked back from me to Bella. Than took a step forward, accepting what I was telling her.

"She has been having dreams, seemed to crave only eggs and tired all the time."

I nodded.

"She is carrying the child. She is no longer human. She will change into one of you. Did she have bruises, but not feel a thing."

"Does your culture talk of this?"

"Yes, this happened in my great grandmother times, but women still whispered about it. Women would disappear and than reappeared. Their bodies covered in bruises and they did not remember why. They carried these demon children, protective of them, even loving them if that was possible."

"How long," I asked.

"Sometimes a month, sometimes sorter," she said making a motion of a balloon expanding from her waste, fast.

"Than what."

"They child can't be brought into the world the normal way, so it rips itself out of the womb."

"Rips, itself out," I tried to swallow, but couldn't.

"What happened to these women," I was afraid to ask.

She walked towards Bella, putting her hand over Bella's, Bella's was resting on her belly, as if she could protect the thing from the stories.

"Morte," she whispered and left the room. She will die, demon. There is nothing that can be done about it. Better kill the women before it is brought into this world.

Death. I had sentence Bella to death.

Bella walked away.

"Where are you going," I whispered.

"To brush my teeth again," she said.

At a time like this, she wanted to brush her teeth.

"Don't worry about what she said. It's nothing but a legend, old lies for the sake of entertainment."

She smiled at me. "I didn't understand anything," she said sadly.

"I packed your toothbrush. I'll get it for you," I walked out not sure I could look at her. For the first time I felt real fear. For the first time, I couldn't protect her.

The realization hit me so hard it caused me to stumble. In all my time, the one thing I could be sure of, I could protect her. From myself and from others of my kind. But this, there was nothing I could do.

"Are we leaving," she asked.

"As soon as you're done."

I repacked her toothbrush, pacing around the room.

'I'll get the bags into the boat."

"Edward."

"Yes," I said.

"Could you…pack some of the food" you know in case I get hungry again."

"Of course. Don't worry about anything. We'll get to Carlisle in just a few hours, really. This will all be over soon."

She nodded, as if in agreement. And I promised myself if she wanted to leave me after this, I wouldn't stop her.

************************Author's Notes********************************

Sorry about this being such a short chapter, but I felt it should stand alone. And many thanks to those who keep reviewing and adding me to their favorites. Lots of love.