Page 38 of To Love A Monster
“She is resting now; please go about your business.” I watched as everyone disbursed and went about their business, my mother motioning for me to follow her. I peeked into the Blacksmith stronghold, where I saw Soryn learning how to curve a blade from my father. Soryn, despite his past, was proving to be a good man and a valuable member of the clan. My first thoughts of him had been wrong, and I regretted them greatly.
“How is she?” My mother poured a hearty bowl of lamb stew, my stomach churning as I sat on the bed and rested my head in my hands. “Talk to me, Daegon. You and I have never kept secrets.”
“I am so scared, mother. She has already endured so much; her small body is giving out. The light in her eyes is fading.” The tears ran down my cheeks as she embraced me, her warm hug always able to ease my troubles. I knew it was not right to worry, but a horrible feeling had consumed me for weeks. An awful feeling that my Aylin would perish.
“Have we not been through enough, mother? Have I angered some ancient being and now I am being punished?” My mother wiped my tears away as she always did, a feeling of guilt washing over me. “I should get back to her, she needs my strength.” I took the bowl and hurried back to my Aylin, the sight of her sitting up easing my mind, even if for a moment.
“Try to eat this my sweet.” I carefully handed her the bowl and began rubbing her lower back, Ornya giving us privacy as she stepped out for more rags and wrappings. “Are you feeling better?”
“I am better. The pain is less now.” I ran my thumb over her soft cheek, her body relaxing as she set the bowl aside. I moved her to my lap and massaged her shoulders, her body tensing in pain as I wished I could take it away. I was so proud of my mate as I watched her breathe through the pain, a pain that I never wanted to see her in again. I used to brag that my mate would one day give me many sons, but after seeing her in unbearable pain, I now thought two were enough.
“Daegon!” She winced as she grabbed my hand, her legs tensing as I tried to massage them free of pain, but it was no avail. She squeezed my hand tight as more pain ravaged her petite body, tears filling the corners of my eyes as I desperately wanted to take it from her. Aylin was not as frail as other human maidens, with her full breasts and hips, but her body was still struggling to carry my children.
“It hurts! It hurts so bad!” She screamed out as I fearfully watched the blood flow down her legs. I screamed for Ornya as I felt Aylin’s body go limp in my arms. Her face was pale and covered in sweat, my heart racing as Ornya rushed in, her hands full of wool wrappings.
“The babies are coming, and her body is not ready! She is tearing.”
“What does that mean?” My teeth were gritted as my mother rushed in and helped Aylin get on all fours, her gaze catching mine as I saw the dread in her eyes. Aylin was dying, just as my nightmares had warned. Halla had tried to assure me they were nothing but silly fears trying to take control, but now the nightmare was coming true.
“Aylin, you must push. You must try.” My mother’s voice was calm as she rubbed Aylin’s back, the painful cries of my mate filling our home. I knelt beside the bed and grabbed her hand, my eyes closed tight as she screamed out again.
“Daegon! I need your help!” I rushed over to Ornya, my lips parting as she held my son in her hands. “Take your dagger and cut this, I need to get the other baby out! Aylin’s spirit is fading.” She whispered as I grabbed my dagger from the wall and cut the cord that connected my son to Aylin. He was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen, with pale bluish skin and his mother’s blue eyes. He had my brow and tusks and was a beautiful mixture of my mate and me.
Several agonizing moments later, the cries of my daughter filled the air. A small cry left my lips as Ornya carefully handed her to me. Her small body fit perfectly in my hand as I cradled my son in my other arm. She had Aylin’s lovely pale complexion, but like her brother, she had inherited my tusks and black hair.
“Daegon?” The whimper in my mother’s voice made my heart sink, her arms carefully taking my newborns as my attention turned to Aylin. Ornya tried desperately to stitch her wounds, but the blood-stained furs told a different tale. Aylin was dying and fast. There was nothing I could do, nothing I could say, no spell to be said would save my dying love.
“My love?” I took her hand in mind as I rested beside her, her once bright eyes fading as she smiled weakly at me. “You cannot leave me, Aylin. You cannot leave me here. What will I do without? How will I live?” Tears streamed down my cheeks as I kissed her hand, my body rocking back and forth as this seemed like a horrible nightmare.
“Take—care of our children. I—lov—” Her words faded as her body went limp, the color fading from her eyes as a part of my soul died with her.
“Aylin! Please come back! AYLIN!” I took her in my arms and held her tight against me, my hand cradling her head as I felt my entire heart shatter. My mate was gone. The nightmare had come true and taken my mate from me. “Please—I beg of you—please come back.”
My head sprung up as I felt the air turn ice cold around me, a dark presence filling the air as I heard a slight commotion outside. I kissed her lips before gently laying her down on the bed and covering her body with my cloak, the tears on my cheeks turning to ice as I stepped out into the cold world.
My mother had taken my children into her hut, and out of the cold, the air around me bone chilling as I noticed a strange fog had overtaken my village. Everyone’s gaze was facing away from me, their gaze locked on a tall figure standing among the mist.
“Reveal yourself!” I growled as I motioned for everyone to move behind me, my gaze catching Soryn’s as I saw pure fright overtake his expression. My heart began to race as the figure came into view. From the many stories that had been told to me, I knew immediately that the creature standing before me was the Necromancer. Their face was hidden by his tattered cloak, the fabric seeming to turn to ash at frayed ends.
“Have you come to take Aylin?”
“No, Daegon, son of Rogon. I have come to give her back to you.” His voice was raspy yet elegant, but his words confused me greatly. Halla had spoken of the Necromancer many times, but I knew I had nothing to give him in return for Aylin’s life.
“I have nothing to offer in return for her life.” A tear froze as it made its way down my cheek, everyone gasping as the Necromancer removed his hood, revealing his large black horns that curled by the side of his head like one of the many mountain goats that roamed. Halla was right. He was the most beautiful and frightening creature to lay eyes upon.
“I will give her my life essence; you owe me nothing, young Chief.” I raised my hands as the whispers began, silence falling as the Necromancer slowly removed his cloak. His skin was pale and almost gray but held the remnants of his former life in the shape of glowing ruins etched into his skin. His entire body was scarred with ruins, ruins I have seen in drawings from the ancient world of druids.
Around his neck was a long sharp glass and stone vial that held a glowing green light. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. I had seen magic, both light and dark, but this magic was old and long since forgotten. “Why? Why do this? I can give you nothing in return.”
“Your mate came to me with a pure heart. She wanted no gold, no riches, or power. She wanted the soul of your mother returned. For her purity, I am allowing her to drink of my life essence and live once again.”
“I know not what to say or give to thank you for this.” As others followed, I fell to my knees, the Necromancer looking out at us. His icy ash-stained fingers touched my shoulder as he beckoned us to rise, Soryn rushing away as the Necromancer gazed in his direction. Soryn was right to fear this creature, but his pride and hate cursed him.
“Your allegiance to me is unwarranted, young Chief. I am doing this for my peace of mind. I cannot witness another soul as pure as Aylin’s simply fade into the stars. Bring her to me.” The crowd around me parted as I rushed back into my home and scooped Aylin up in my arms, ensuring she was tightly wrapped in the fur blanket and my cloak.
I slowly walked through the crowd, the soft whimpers and cries for Aylin filling the cold air as several touched her exposed cheek, offering a blessing. The Necromancer gently took Aylin into his arms, his glowing eyes seeming soft as he gazed down upon her.
“How did you know? How did know that Aylin would die this day?”
