I took a little time jump! It's a mini one to progress the story along! Please enjoy!
Chapter Thirty-One
"Ow, ow, ow!" I gasped as I was suddenly awoken from a very deep sleep. I placed my hands over my abdomen where the sharp pain was hitting me the hardest.
"Are you alright Bella?" Edward asked as he jumped awake. His hands wrapped around my hips as he started taking deep inhales to check if I was okay. I wasn't sure how he knew I wasn't okay by smelling me, but I really wasn't in the mood to ask at this moment.
"Oh, ow!" I gasped again as another painful cramp rippled through my abdomen, causing me to double over. "Oh, shit, ow, what the hell."
"What is the matter?" Esme said as she moved beside me. I wanted to feel guilty for waking everybody up, but right now it didn't matter. Something inside of my stomach was trying to rip its way out of my uterus!
"Oh, I see," Esme said as she placed her hands on my lower belly. "It is that time. You are bleeding."
"Congratulations Bella!" Alice smiled widely as she moved off Jasper's chest.
I looked down to see a pool of blood on Edward's stomach seeping out from my skirt. More blood gushed out as Esme gave my stomach a slight squeeze. I gasped and blushed in embarrassment.
"God that is so embarrassing!" I teared up as I covered my hands with my face. My face was hot with embarrassment. I felt Edward's hands rubbing my back.
"Do not be embarrassed Bella," Edward said gently. "You are a woman now! You should be proud, we need to celebrate—,"
"OW!" I cried as another cramp ripped through me. "What the hell! My cramps were never this painful! God damn it!"
Alice and Jasper let out a childish giggle at my curse words. They didn't know what they meant, but after I explained it to them a few nights ago, they thought me cursing was funny, since it was something, you weren't supposed to do. They were sitting up now, looking around Carlisle, who was also sitting up.
"Alice go grab me the qhizai flower I picked yesterday. I had a feeling you would have your first bleed now." Esme said as she helped me off Edward to sit on the floor of the hut. Sitting on my bottom made a sharp pain shoot up through my back that made me gasp. Esme rubbed my back gently as Carlisle handed Edward a cloth to wipe himself off. The embarrassment quickly left my body as sharp pains from both my front and my rear attacked me.
Alice and Jasper returned with a wooden bowl filled with qhizai flowers.
"Here, open up," Esme said as she picked the biggest one. "This will make you feel better."
Normally I hated the taste of the qhizai flower and would go to great lengths to avoid it, but I would eat anything to make this pain stop.
Esme fed me four qhizai flowers before the pain finally subsided. I sighed in relief, but my hand still stayed on my sore stomach.
"Carlisle, go ahead and take Bella to the hut to rest." Esme said before looking at Edward. "It is time for you to hunt. You may choose four other hunters to accompany you."
"Can I please go!" Jasper jumped up. "Please! I have never gotten to hunt anything as big as the scaqnaks!"
"No, men only," Carlisle said to Jasper as he lifted me into his arms. He didn't seem to mind that I was just free bleeding all over the place. I had to duck my head in embarrassment.
"Esme, could I have something to you know, stop the bleeding?" I asked quietly before we left.
Esme's brows furrowed. "Stop the bleeding? My darling you cannot stop the bleeding."
"I didn't mean to stop the bleeding like that, but to stop it from going everywhere." I asked.
"Oh," She nodded. "The qhizai flowers will slow it down. There is cloth in the hut that will help it as well. But do not worry, as the day progresses, it will slow down significantly."
I sighed. I probably should've asked way before now what sort of things they had to prevent bleeding everywhere. It didn't occur to me that they wouldn't have pads or tampons.
Carlisle easily carried me down to the hut that separated the newly bleeding women from the men. It sucked that I would have to sit for the rest of the night by myself while Edward hunted the scaqnaks, but Esme assured me it wouldn't be long since this wasn't Edward's first time hunting the beast.
The hut was very far from the village, though it didn't take long for Carlisle to get there since he was running as fast as he could while holding me. It was a large hut, the largest I had seen here.
It was somewhat hidden in the thick patch of trees. Even in the darkness I could see the bioluminescent flora covering the hut from head to toe. I was surprised when Carlisle pushed aside the long hanging flowered vines to reveal a door. It was the first door I had seen since I'd been here.
"Esme will come and get you when Edward's hunt is successful." Carlisle said as he opened the door to reveal a dark room. I gulped as I stared into it.
"Do not fear," He said. "Once you walk in, it will be light."
I bit my lip as I slowly walked passed him into the room. As he said, the flora inside of the hut lit up in a soft glow. It wasn't too bright, but it was bright enough for me to see.
There were several leafy beds on the ground as well as large bowls of water and fruit. There wasn't much in the room. Hopefully I wouldn't have to be in here long or I'd die of boredom.
"Will I be alone?" I asked as I turned back to Carlisle.
"In here, yes. Do not fear, however, I have men patrolling the area. You will be safe." He said.
I nodded and waved to him. He smiled at me before shutting the door. I heard the door lock once it was completely shut. I knew it was a safety procedure, but it was still kind of creepy.
I sighed heavily and sat down on the leafy bed. I really hoped Edward hunted the scaqnaks quickly so I wasn't stuck in here for that long. Edward was a very good hunter; I knew I wouldn't be here for too long. At least I hoped I wasn't here for that long. I didn't know how large that beast was, I just knew it was large enough to feed the entire village and still have leftovers.
As I sat on the bed, the strangest thing occurred to me. It was completely silent. I couldn't hear anything. This was the first time I had ever been in complete silence. There was always some sort of noise, whether it was from the jungle or the village. Being in complete silence was creepy.
I sighed and fell back against the bed, closing my eyes. I should've brought something with me to occupy my time. It never occurred to me that I would be here by myself without company. Edward and I were the only two mating, so we didn't have any littermates to keep us entertained. I should've asked Esme if it was alright if Rosalie and Anthony could hang out with me in here so the time went by faster.
"Are you already bored my child?" A voice said, making me gasp and jump up in surprise. I looked around, nearly one hundred percent sure I had heard that familiar voice.
The soft glowing flora dimmed for a moment before the flora across from me lit up so brightly, I had to cover my eyes. After blinking a few times my eyes finally adjusted to the brightness and I was able to see the silhouette of a figure several inches taller than me. After a few moments, the silhouette solidified, and more defining features appeared that made it clear to me that this was Auk'ell'ieks'Ognil.
I jumped to my feet, "You're here!"
I ran over to her with my arms extended to hug her, but I ran straight into the side of the hut. I could hear her laughing hysterically as I rubbed my forehead.
"Ow, that's not funny." I said. "Am I hallucinating?"
"No, I am here in astral form. Not physical," she said as she sat down upon the ground. "Today is a very big day for you."
I sat down in front of her. "I'm so glad you're here. I've really needed you."
"I know, my child," She nodded. "I have been watching. I am very proud of you."
"For what?"
"You healed Edward. You unlocked the inner healer within you. It was truly spectacular."
"I feel like it was a stupid decision," I sighed. "The entire family was freaked out by it. Now they all think I'm a weirdo. Have you seen the way they stare at me?"
"I have, but they do not think you are a weirdo. They are afraid for themselves and the changes to come. Things have been the same for generations. You are bringing big changes, many members of your family will be fearful, but many others will be grateful."
"I know the women will be able to have more children," I said. "But I don't know how to do that… I just know it's going to happen. Do you have the answer."
"Everyone drinks from the Hunphai river."
It took me a moment to realize what river she was talking about. After I realized I nodded; I knew this. I drank from that river. At first, I wouldn't because it was where everyone bathed and played, but after further inspection and some scientific research, I realized that the river had a natural filtration system that kept it pure. I should've known there was some sort of filtration system since the water from the river came from the ocean. Something had to have been filtering the salt out of the water.
"Yeah, that goddess river, of course." I said. "I didn't know it was called the Hunphai river."
"It is called that in the old language," She smiled gently. "All of the women give birth in the Hunphai river."
I nodded slowly. "Okay… I don't understand—," I paused as a lightbulb went off in my head. "Blood in the water… Oh my god, so, you're saying after I give birth in the river, that's when the changes will occur?"
Her smile widened, "Clever is my child. You will change the people when they drink your blood."
I blinked several times. "But… but wouldn't my blood get filtered out?"
"Not your blood," She said. "Tonight after you join yourself with Edward, you will have internal changes." She pressed her hand against my heart. "Your blood will change the land entirely. You will create wondrous things."
"Creation…" I said in a breathless voice. "C-Carlisle asked me what my purpose was… if it was creation or destruction… I'm here for creation."
"Yes my child. My purpose was destruction. Your purpose is creation."
I felt the tears well in my eyes. "W-will I have to sacrifice myself… like you?"
She shook her head slowly. "No. I had to sacrifice myself because it is what the old gods asked of me. They tasked me with the responsibility of destroying the people and that is what I did."
"But you couldn't have destroyed them. They're still here, they're still strong."
"Because after my sacrifice, the gods placed themselves inside of me. I hold them in my crown," She said as she tapped the jewel that rested on the center of her forehead. I had thought it was her crown, not actually apart of her body. "I hold all of them. They are with me everywhere, but I am the one who now holds their power. They released themselves into the universe, as I did. As you will one day do until you choose your successor."
"Wait, so when I die I'll be in that place like you?"
She nodded. "You will be. You will be able to smile down at your creations. You will be able to guide them."
"What will happen to Edward?"
"He will live in the beyond and wait for you to join him."
"But I want to be with Edward." I frowned. "I don't want to be trapped like you were."
"These details are not something for you to worry about now," She said. "Today is a day of happiness. You and Edward will soon be mated."
I smiled. "Yeah, we will."
"You are ready?"
I nodded. "I am ready. I love Edward. I can't imagine my life without him."
"Good. I knew that you and he would complete one another." She nodded before sighing. "It is time for me to go."
"No please don't," I begged as I reached out to grab her. Unfortunately, my hand went right through her. "Please stay a little bit longer."
"I cannot." She said as she started to disappear. "Goodbye, my child."
I sighed heavily, knowing there was no way to make her stay. "Goodbye mother."
When she disappeared, I felt the familiar ache in my chest. I wished she didn't have to go. I wished she would stay for awhile and answer my questions.
I got to my feet and walked to the leafy bed. There was nothing much to do aside from sleep and pray that Edward's hunt would go by very fast. I laid back and closed my eyes. I really wasn't all that tired but when I laid back, I suddenly felt tired. I yawned and stretched, rolling a few times until I got nice and comfortable.
I didn't realize I had fallen asleep, or for how long I had been asleep, but when the door opened and Esme was standing in the doorway, I jumped awake.
"I'm awake!" I gasped as I looked all around.
Esme giggled, "I see that you are. Come now, my darling, Edward has had a successful hunt."
The goddess made a surprise visit! She's going to pop up every now and again to visit Bella, but otherwise, she's enjoying her life in the beyond with her mate and child. I went through and tried to fix every mistake I found, so hopefully it's okay. I hope you guys enjoyed it! Have a wonderful day and don't forget to leave me a little review!
