Chapter 15
The Hall/
"Sadi, something is wrong. The child is extremely distressed. Jaenelle won't be able to deliver the baby without help". Karla whispered to Daemon.
"Absolutely no, you won't cut her open without a soothing brew or an oblivious spell. I won't allow it" Daemon's voice was menacing now.
"Sadi, if we don't get the baby out, he'll suffocate. There is no other way. I am going to tell her". Karla took Jaenelle's hand and bowed in front of the Queen. "Lady, we will have to aid you in the delivery. I fear for the well being of the child. We must act now."
"Do what you must do. The baby is your priority, sister. I mean it, Karla. No craft can be used until the child is born". Witch answered in her midnight voice.
"Jaenelle," Daemon raised his voice and the chilling sound echoed throughout the entire room. "I won't allow this. This is butchery. Losing you is not an option for me."
Jaenelle took a deep breath and chose her words wisely. "Darling, you say you trust me. Yet, you continue to doubt me. You must believe me." She looked at Karla. "Do it now".
Karla took her healer's knife and started to slice her open. Between Jaenelle painful screams and the howling of the Kindred, it was a horrific sight.
The room became completely dark. Gabrielle lit up a witch light, allowing Karla to get the child out safely. Immediately, she looked at Daemon, his eyes were glaring. The feeling was indescribable. After all those years longing for a child, he was looking at his face. On that moment, his heart had been split into two pieces. The pull he felt before was towards his son. He understood now. The night of the conception, their souls have been bonded. One could not be without the other.
Daemon held his son in his arms, fascinated by him. Immediately, Karla and Gabrielle were applying the healing webs around Jaenelle's body. Witch extended her arms and Daemon gave her the child. Delighted, she held his little fingers. "Hello Lucian, I am your mother. I've been waiting for you". The child opened his sapphire eyes and touched Jaenelle.
The Kindred bowed their heads and took a defensive stand by Jaenelle's side. The room was trembling and Jaenelle's body was shaking uncontrollably. Gabrielle grabbed the child.
"Karla, what is going on?" He screamed.
"Sadi, I don't know. Her wound is healing but I can't reach her chalice. It is like someone or something is blocking me somehow. Gabrielle, do you understand any of this?" Gabrielle shook her head. Daemon tried to reach Jaenelle and he was stopped by the Kindred's shields. Of course, that was no match for his Black. Why would the Kindred risk a confrontation that they could not win?
"What is this? Are you trying to keep me from my wife?" Daemon was ready to attack when Ladvarian spoke to him through a physic line.
"We serve our Lady. No one can go near her. It is the Lady's wish. The he-kitten must be looked after until she is healed. The healing webs are fine but no other Craft. Trust the Kindred. We serve our Lady, only her. We will fight and die if we have to".
"And you expect me to stand aside and watch my wife convulsing? Is she even safe? I could be wasting valuable time listening to you". He closed his eyes and descended to the level of the Black. When he was ready to launch at the Kindred, he remembered Jaenelle's words to him. "Do not doubt. You have to trust me". He understood there was only a Queen powerful enough to help him now.
"Until we learn how to help Jaenelle, we must take care of the child. He must feed. I already contacted Kalush and Aaron. They are on their way here. Kalush recently had a baby girl; she will be able to nurse him. Finally, she will put those huge breasts to good service". Karla couldn't hold the laughter. "Sorry, I had to. We were all too tense. Kiss kiss".
Gabrielle giggled. "Oh Karla, I'm really sure Aaron finds them very useful. In fact, I am convinced that is his favorite thing about Kalush. He could have chosen any witch from the coven. We all had a crush on him."
Daemon could not hide his jealousy. Had Jaenelle being interested in Aaron? It was a silly thought but he could not help it. After all, he was lost in the Twisted Kingdom for 7 years. In the depths of a broken chalice, resided a mind shattered by the agony of Jaenelle's alleged death. His father and Lucivar said she was never interested in any male besides him but Aaron was very attractive. He had seen the reaction of women around him. After all, Aaron was never a filthy whore like him. Noticing Daemon's line of thought, Gabrielle answered the unspoken question.
"Well…all except Jaenelle of course. She was remarkably private but she did confess to me that she loved Sadi and she would wait for his return." Sadi smiled at her.
"Three hours passed since the birth of Lucian. Yet, Jaenelle remained in a magical deep sleep. Her body was suspended mid-air. A mystical aura surrounded her body. She was no longer shaking, which calmed Daemon's nerves a bit. Her long blonde hair and gown moved in slow motion. It seemed like a subtle current of air was passing.
Kalush had to feed the baby in the room. Anytime she tried to take the child out of the room, he cried.
When Daemon asked Saetan for Lucivar, he danced around the subject but mentioned that Lucivar was in the Keep. He will have to deal with whatever was going on later. Now, he needed to stay focus. Daemon used his phantom hands to caress the baby's face. It was a soothing caress and the baby went to sleep. Daemon could not ignore the bitter sweetness of the moment. The child had his black hair and skin tone but he inherited Jaenelle's sapphire eyes. All that love materialized on this child's physical body. Everything seemed perfect, except for the uncertainty of the unknown. He refused to leave Jaenelle's side but he needed to go to Arachnia. He could not be without Jaenelle. That much was certain. He kissed his son and looked at Jaenelle.
"I know you can hear me, even though you can respond. In my heart, I know you'll come back to me. You already know that I can't be without you. Fight for us; find a way to return to me, sweetheart. A life without you is no life at all. It does not matter how long it takes, I will wait for you." Tears poured down on Jaenelle's face. She could hear him.
Arachnia/
"Hello Prince, I've expected you. I do not believe we ever met. It is an honor to meet Witch's lover. I have heard a lot from you."
"The pleasure is mine, Lady. I seek your help. I need the wisdom of the Weaver of Dreams. Jaenelle has been trained by you." He meant to explain the reason for his visit but she stopped him immediately.
"Need to say no more, Prince. I know why you are here and what you seek. Yes, I am the best at it for now, but the apprentice will surpass her teacher. It has been an honor to teach Witch. No one will make better use of this knowledge. Lorn is never wrong."
"How can I help? The Kindred won't let me near her. She is in pain and I don't know what to do."
"Trust the Kindred. Never doubt them. They are the Queen's most loyal companions. Their souls are bounded to her just as yours is. They will protect her, even from your stubbornness. There are things that you won't understand or know but the Kindred will. Their soul could never be corrupted. They are the purest Blood. Their abilities will exceed yours at times. It is because of them that Jaenelle healed. Do not forget that. They never doubt, no matter what. Their hearts can't be broken in times of doubts." The little spider Queen studied him with approving eyes.
"Yes, Jaenelle chose well. You are her perfect mate. Come, there is something for you to see to comprehend what's happening to Witch."
The spider used craft to float them to their destination. Inside her cave, without her protection, Daemon would be at the mercy of the deathly creatures that inhabited the place. He was a stranger here. Unlike Jaenelle, who roamed the place since she was a child. He smiled at the thought. She had always been so fearless, even then.
"Look ahead, Prince. Do you recognize the web?"
" It is Dreams Made Flesh's . I have seen it before but there is something different". His golden eyes studied the web.
"Clever, aren't you? Your mirror had the power to reshape her web. Look closely".
Daemon looked at the magnificent web. Above it all was Witch. Her body was floating and spinning.
"Her skin looks Hayllien now but she looks the same outside the abyss. Why is that?" after a paused, he answered his own question. "The Dreamer"
"Your son is the new Dreamer. He was strong enough to reshape her web. Witch is part Hayllien now like he is. He made it possible. He heard you Daemon. Even before he was born, your son heard you. He wanted to help you". Daemon's body was trembling. Tears covered his face. He never thought this would be possible. Once again, he doubted. How can a man like him get everything his heart desires? A man that lived such a lonely life for 1700 years, is he worthy of her? He accepted the bitter agony of loving Witch while knowing she would die and leave him behind. That was the price for being her lover. He couldn't speak.
"Witch's body needs three days to assimilate the changes. Her physical body needs to stay clear of anyone's touch; pure and magical , just as her soul is. The Kindred will make sure that happens. They knew it could cost them their lives. You could kill them if you doubted them. Witch belongs to the Darkness and the Darkness had to embrace the new Dream. The web that has been re-shaped needed to be sealed by the Darkness. Think of it as being born again. She has been given her birthright jewels. She no longer holds Twilight's Dawn. She is a strong as she was. She has embraced who she was by birth right. Do you accept her decision? Once again, this changes things between you two"
"Her will is my life. I love Witch and I love Jaenelle. I'm hers to take. Cassandra resigned Saetan once, but Witch and I have become one. Our souls are bounded by the Darkness. This I know more than ever. Thanks for your wisdom. I must go. My family needs me. We shall wait together for the return of the Queen. Lucivar would not have missed Lucian's birth without a powerful reason. Saetan is hiding something from me. Now that I know Witch is safe, I need to find out what that is.