Chapter 14

The Hall/

Witch and her companions arrived at the Hall. Daemon carried Jaenelle to the bed. Gabrielle and Karla were ready for their arrival.

"Aarrggghh", Jaenelle screamed as the contractions were now on top of each other. Daemon instinctively shielded the room. He was riding the killing edge and the tension level was rising. His wife was suffering and his Warlord's instincts were taking over. He needed to protect his Queen.

"Mother Night, Karla. Can you give her something? She is suffering". Daemon was pacing his steps from one side of the room to the other. He pulled his hair, hands inside his pocket and covered in sweat; a very unlikely sight for Daemon. Usually, the only time Sadi worked up a sweat was when he was making love to his wife. He never looked better than now. His seduction tendrils were hitting everyone in the room at full force. He could not leash them. He was out of control. Daemon was not aware of his surroundings or paying attention to the effect he had on the women attending his wife. Only Jaenelle dominated his senses. He felt a pull towards her, stronger than ever.

"In the name of the Darkness, Daemon, can you relax? We have work to do. Leash your sexual tendrils. Pulled them back, we can't concentrate like this. Jaenelle gave us specific instructions. Witch is the best healer. Trust Jaenelle to know what she is doing if you can't trust us. Why don't you take a walk? I don't know, do whatever is it that you do but we need to be able to work. We can't afford any distraction. Obviously, you are incapable of handling this situation. Mother Night, I can't handle you!"Karla emphasized the I. Karla waved her hands at him and rolled her eyes.

For a second, Glacia's Queen managed to amuse him. He gave her his devilish smile. "Oh Karla, you always had a big mouth. It never ceases to amaze me. Did you know that was the first thought I had when I met you? "

"Kiss kiss", Karla stuck her tongue out at him. "I can't imagine why anyone would think that. Sadi, at least I managed to make you smile." She looked at him with a wicked smile. Sadi could see her intentions.

"If you think that I will leave my wife's side on this moment, you have lost your mind witch. Do not try to call my father. I know what you are thinking. No one, not even the High Lord will get me out of this room. I suggest you learn how to deal with my presence. I can't promise that I will be able to leash my power; not while Jaenelle is screaming like she is. I know you Karla. I won't drink any of your innocent brews. You are a wicked witch. Your creative mind knows know boundaries". He narrowed his eyes at her.

"All right, you can stay. But I beg you, let us work. Sadi, I mean it, any fussing and you will be out of this room". Jaenelle trusted Karla. "Do not doubt", he remembered Jaenelle's words to him. Daemon had to trust.

He was sitting next to wife, holding her hand and caressing her face. The Kindred guarded the door. "Sweetheart, how are you feeling?" He asked, genuinely concerned.

"ARRRGGGHH", she screamed from the top of her lungs. "Karla, give me a soothing brew". Jaenelle yelped .Daemon's eyes were wide open. He looked terrified.

"Jaenelle, we already discussed this. Absolutely no craft or brews, I must ignored all your demands. You said you needed to be in full control of your body and mind".

"Yes, I did say that. Continue sister, you are doing a wonderful job. Soon, it won't be much longer now".

Daemon contacted Saetan on a physic line. "Father, Jaenelle is giving birth. Please tell Lucivar and Marian. I knew she was anxious for the baby's arrival. I will keep you informed since you can't leave the Keep".

"Old Son, this is a glorious day for the Blood. I wish I could be there with you to share it. Bring my grandson to the Keep as soon as you can. The Darkness has blessed all of us. You must stay at the Queen's side at all cost. Jaenelle is extremely vulnerable now." As soon as the connection broke, Daemon returned to the relentless screams of a laboring Queen.

The Keep/

Draca looked at Saetan. The High Lord was in deep thought. "High Lord, The Dreamer isss coming and the transition from the Darknesss into the physssical world must be ass peaceful asss possible. He will save Dreamss Made Flesshh. You are doing what you must. The mirror will underssstand".

"I know Daemon will understand. I am not sure that Lucivar will; at least not now. My younger son is suffering and I could not stop it. How could I misread the web?" Saetan was consumed with guilt.

"High Lord, sometimesss a web is not clear, not even for sssomeone ass gifted ass you are. There wasss no way to sstop thisss. You could not know what would happen, only death wasss certain. Do not blame yourssself. You love your sssons." Draca tried to offer some comfort to her friend.

"Draca, how can I explain to Lucivar that Daemon won't be here? That he can't leave his wife alone while Lucivar has to witness his wife's return to the Darkness? Daemon will regret not being here for his brother. His heart and loyalty belongs to Jaenelle but he aches for his brother also. Witch needs him and he won't leave her. Even if Lucivar understand, he won't forgive himself. This wound will never heal." Saetan was defeated, his body felt heavy. Draca hugged him in a gesture of solidarity.

"A life for a life, High Lord. Everything hasss a price. Lucivar's voyage iss only beginning. In time, he will understand. He must fight hisss own demons. The triangle must stay strong. Your ssonss never needed you more than now. Be ssstrong, lead them with your wisdom. Come, Lucivar hasss arrived". Draca used craft to dry the tears from Saetan's face.

In a gesture that took all the strength and courage that he had left, Saetan stood up and followed Draca. He had to face his son.

The healer was attending Daemonar's wounds. He will spend several days immobilized while the healing webs finish their job. There was no permanent damage was done during the attack; at least, not physical. However, the emotional scars would never heal.

Lucivar refused any help. Even though his wounds were extremely severe, he knew he would survive those. His wish to live was gone but Daemonar needed him. A life as an orphan child would not be the legacy to his son.

He deposited Marian's corpse on top of the Altar. Saetan embraced his son. "Marian has made the transition to demon-dead. She has requested a few moments alone with you. I am here son; I will be by your side through this." Saetan's voice broke half way through the sentence. He kissed Lucivar's forehead.

There was Marian's demon-dead body. She approached Lucivar, hesitantly. She knew this would be heartbreaking for both.

"My love, I must go back to the Darkness but I leave you Daemonar. He is a part of me. There are so many things that I want to say and so little time. Do not blame yourself. There was nothing you could have done. I was honored to be your wife. You loved and cherished me above all others. My Eyrien love, you gave yourself to me. Your father is suffering. He blames himself. Do not let him do that. He also needs you. It is breaking his heart to see you here and for him to have to do this." She caressed his face and put her burned hands over his heart.

Lucivar wished his body had been consumed by the flames as well. He kissed her hand and gave her a passionate kiss. The last kiss he would give to the only woman he ever loved. Ha made it count.

"Please don't leave me, you could stay with us. You don't have to go. I am not ready to let you go. Daemonar needs you. Don't leave us". Lucivar pleaded between sobs. He was grasping for air.

"I don't want Daemonar to see me like this. I want him to remember me how I used to be. I could not bear for you to see me like this. Don't ask me that. That is not fair."

"I don't care about the burns. I love you Marian. My love goes deeper than the flesh. Don't you know this?"

"I know and that is why I can't do this to you or Daemonar. I must return to the Darkness. My time has come."

"Marian", he reached for her but his broken body gave up. Saetan helped him to sit down. The Darkness was taking over the chamber. All the candles burned out simultaneously. She looked up and realized there was no time left. "Lucivar, you must promise me that you will live. I want you to be happy and to love again".

"Don't ask me that. I won't. I can't." he yelled. She smiled at him. "You will for me. You will live your life to the fullest. In time, you'll find your peace. Do not suffer the ones that passed, we go back to the Darkness we came from. You shall stay here. Do this for me." She turned and looked at the High Lord. "Saetan, make sure he remembers my words".

"Of course Marian, go in peace." Saetan unleashed his power and sent his son's wife back to the Darkness.

"Goodbye", Lucivar whispered and held on to 'his father with the little strength he had left. "I don't think I can't leave without her father".

"One day, until then hold on to your son. He will give you the strength to survive".