Camila Noceda was having a rough time. Her life had never been what she would call easy, but this was rougher than usual. After struggling through all the hardships she had to deal with growing up, like being poor, rebellious, and bisexual in a time where only one of those issues would have made it hard to succeed, much less all three, she had finally made it to the other side, or so she thought. She had gotten a scholarship to study nursing in the United States. She had met the most amazing guy she had ever seen, and they had even gotten married the year after she graduated. Camila's life had looked so perfect, but then it all fell apart, and that is how she found herself half drunk in a random bar in her mid twenties with a broken heart and throbbing head.
It had only been a couple weeks since her husband Michael "Micky" Noceda had been killed right in front of her, and had his body taken to god knows where. The police didn't have any leads, and the case had already gone colder than the ice in her whiskey. Micky had been helping her to cut back and stop, but he was gone now so why not drink until she couldn't feel the pain anymore. He was gone, and without him so was her heart. The only things she had left of her Micky were some pictures of better times, a small home that just felt so empty now, and a single small vial of blood from their last anniversary. She had thought it was an odd gift at first, but now Camila was just happy she could still have this small piece of him. They had wanted to do and see so much. They had wanted to start a family, and grow old together, but all those dreams were gone now. Blown away like morning mist. After draining her glass Camila rested her head on the bar, and debated ordering her sixth glass, but she all of a sudden felt someone sit down next to her.
"So what's got you looking so depressed, gorgeous?" asked a lithe woman with a chalky white complexion, radiant orange hair with streaks of white, and golden eyes that spoke of a mischievous personality. Calling over the bartender she said, "Bring us the strongest stuff you got, and leave the bottle. I get the feeling we might need it."
After pouring a couple glasses the woman looked to Camila again, "Name's Edalyn "Eda" Clawthorne, and I make it my business to never let a pretty lady like you drink alone. If you're going to get blitzed, at least do it with a friend." Camila turned her head and looked at Eda, and for some reason she smiled.
That had been the first night they went home together. They only talked the first few times they met up. Apparently neither of them was really ready for much else. They spent the rest of the week just going out and drinking their nights away, and neither woman really knew why they kept coming back, but they did. Eda was mourning the fact that she had lost her chance to be with Raine, her ex, who had just gotten married, and soon Camila was opening up about what had happened to Micky. To both of their surprises they felt like they could trust each other, and be completely honest so when Camila got the call that Micky's case was officially being declared a cold case a month later Eda was there to hold and comfort her.
Once Camila stopped crying Eda offered to help her. "I'm sorry Cam, I know you're devastated about all this, but I promise I'll always be here for you. If there's anything I can do to help you, you only need to ask."
Camila held her friend close, "Eda. Thank you. Micky and I just had so much we wanted to do together… We were going to start a family together and be better than our parents were, but that's impossible now. He's gone, and I just feel so alone without him… I-I just wish… no it's stupid."
Eda pulled back and looked Camila in the eyes, "I don't care if it's stupid or ridiculous. Tell me Cammy. You never know, maybe I can make your dream come true."
"Eda… do you know a way… is it possible to use magic to still…" Camila stammered with pleading eyes, but Eda knew what she was asking.
Eda pulled Camila into another embrace before she whispered, "Yes. Yes it's possible, but we would only get one chance, and you would have to sacrifice your pendent to do it." Eda let out a long sigh, "Are you sure this is what you want? There's a chance this won't work, and if it doesn't you really will have nothing left of him."
Camila hugged Eda tighter as she made her decision. "Yes, Eda. If there's a way for his light to keep shining on, I have to take this chance. Please Eda, will you help me?" Eda let out a groan of defeat, and when she left in the morning she took Camila's pendent with her.
Camila didn't hear anything from Eda for the next week, and she was starting to feel abandoned again, but then she heard a knock on her door. Camila answered it, and to her horror she found a dirty battered but smiling Eda leaning exhausted against the door frame. "Sorry it took so long. Some of the ingredients proved harder to get than I expected, but I did it." Eda held out a small bottle of purple liquid. "Unfortunately I managed to step on some toes again so you might not see me for a while, but… I couldn't leave without making sure you got this." Eda gave Camila a kiss on her cheek, "Cammy I wish I could do more, but… it's too dangerous to be around me right now." Before Camila could respond Eda held up a hand, "Just stay safe, ok? Drink the potion tonight, and I'll try to come back as soon as I can." With a final small kiss Eda ran off into the darkened woods, and was gone.
When Eda came back three years later it was to a very different Camila. As soon as Eda saw her she knew her friend had changed, and it wasn't just because she was now holding a toddler. When Camila saw Eda waving at her she only staired. When Eda tried to talk outside Camila just held up her hand and directed her to go inside. Once they were both sitting in Camila's living room she spoke, "Eda it's been a long time. I… I need to ask you something before anything else, and I need you to be completely honest with me. What exactly was in that potion? What is Luz?"
Eda just looked at Camila confused, "You're going to have to give me more than that Cam. I don't understand. I'll admit that I'm not the most familiar with how the Birthing potion works since I've never used it, but it's fairly simple in concept. It just takes the place of whatever part is missing using the provided essence as either egg or seed, or in the case of a poly potion it would use all of the essences provided. Luz should be as human as you and Micky… Why do you ask?"
Camila gave Eda a hard stare, "If that's true, did you add a bit of yourself, or is there a chance it could have happened accidentally?"
Eda looked at Camila shocked, "Camila I am a lot of things, but… no. I did not spike your potion. Why would you… How could you ever believe I would do something like that? Did the thought ever cross my mind of being with you? Ya, all the time, but forcing something like that on you… Oh Titan Cammy. What kind of monster do you take me for?"
Camila just looked into Eda's eyes for a moment before she started to tear up, "Oh thank God. I was so scared for so long, and… I missed you E. I knew you'd never do anything like that, but… I just don't understand any of this."
Eda just reached forward and took Camila's hand, "Whatever is going on, I'll try to help, but why do you think Luz isn't human?"
As if being awoken by the conversation little Luz started to stir, and Camila started to slowly rock her. "I think it's best if you see for yourself," said Camila gently as she handed Luz to Eda.
As soon as Eda touched Luz she could feel magic radiating off her like warmth, and as Eda looked down into Luz's eyes she saw a pair of beautiful golden orbs looking back at her that looked so much like her own. Camila quickly took Luz back as she saw a look of terror and shock rise on Eda's face. Once Luz was back in Camila's arms Eda sat back and thought hard.
After a few minutes of silence Eda spoke through a shaking voice, "I'm guessing he didn't have golden eyes then?"
Camila grabbed a photo from the stand, "No Eda. His eyes were light blue, and before you ask no I've never seen eyes like hers before, except yours. That's not the only thing either." Eda looked at Camila in blanched terror as she continued. "There is a tiny growth attached to her heart that no one can identify. It wasn't causing any issues so I was able to convince her pediatrician to leave it for now, but… do you know what it is?"
Eda let out a long sigh, "Best guess, it's a bile sack, but healing magic was never my forte, and without going to the Isles and having her checked out there I can't say for sure. I'm sorry Camila. I shouldn't have ever offered you that potion. I knew it had never been attempted to help a human get pregnant, but… you were so broken back then, and… I just wanted to help you heal somehow." Eda laughed sadly, "Titan knows I'm too broken to be with you the way you needed long term, but I… I'm so sorry Cammy."
Camila just softly took Eda's hand and gave it a squeeze, "It's ok Eda. Luz is the best thing to ever happen to me. She's my daughter, and I love her. Regardless of what she is, that's never going to change. From the first time I looked into her eyes I knew at least that much. So what can we do? Is there a magic paternity test we can do, or maybe some way to hide her more magical traits until she is ready to understand them?"
Eda gave Camila a hollow smirk, "Unfortunately no to the first one. Without a sample of Micky's essence the results would only come out muddy and unhelpful. As for the second… I think I can do something. I refuse to hold anything back this time. No false hope. No half promises. I'm going to be completely transparent this time. I can hide the features from sight, and block her from actively using her magic, if she has any, but… Cammy it will only be a temporary thing, and it won't change the fact that she is what she is. Best guess the first casting will hold for a few years, but… when she hits puberty all bets are off, and it will only hold as long as my magic is stronger than hers. I'm still cursed Cammy, and she's only going to get stronger over time. I'll do my best to stay strong, but I can't guarantee anything. If this is what you want though… I'll try, my love." With a nod from Camila, Eda drew a circle and cast her spell.
Author notes: Surprise. Yup I'm not dead, and good news I'm starting this new story to help me stay busy, but there's a catch. Sadly I've hit a lot of writers block when it comes to Exile and Godlings so for now they are on hiatus until I can move past it, and I have no idea when that will be. In the meantime though I intend to give you new chapters of this story. Sorry about having to do this, but I can't force it anymore, and I refuse to release less then my best, I hope you can understand. Hope to see y'all soon for new chapters.