Ella
I go rigid at the idea of this dark god giving my daughter anything.
“No,” I gasp, attempting to push myself away from him – but I struggle to move
“Fear not, moon daughter,” he says, the corner of his lip tilting up. “I do not give curses to those who are my chosen ones – only gifts.”
And with that shadows begin to swirl in his hand. My eyes go wide as they build and build into an orb of smoke and shade.
“No!” I protest again, my voice a little breathless this time.
“Careful, girl,” he growls, taking a step closer, bending over me now. “If you anger me, I will not be so eager to bestow my gift. You would not to incur my ire for your life, instead of a blessing for hers, would you?”
I cringe away from him, not knowing what to do – not knowing which will be worse-
The God of Darkness stretches out his hand over me and the shadows begin to spill down from his fingers, surrounding me.
“A blessing,” he murmurs, “for the first granddaughter of the moon from her benefactor. Long may she live, dwelling in darkness as well as light.”
The shadows, when they touch me, are soft – gentler than I imagined they’d be, like velvet or mist. When I breathe, they flow into me through my nose and my mouth. I gasp, worried – but the smoke, it tastes faintly of…of mint, and cool mornings, and it soothes my aching throat…
I look up at the God in wonder, tilting my head at him.
“See?” he says softly. “Not all that dwells in darkness is wicked.”
And then he smiles at me – a wayward, vicious thing – and gives another short bow before
Before he disappears.
world – my room
Cora says, abruptly in front of me now, shining a
trying to clear my thoughts. “Are you – “he spins his head
I’m fine,”
eyes,” Cora says, dropping her flashlight and taking my face in her hands, studying me with horror on her features. “Ella, they went all black you were frozen
breath, the scent of mint still clinging to the back of my mouth. As I exhale I run my hands
– just
hesitate for a moment, torn between wanting to explain and the feeling of the next contraction
snaps immediately back into doctor mode, moving down on the bed to position herself between my knees, nodding. “All right, Ella,” she says, pulling me
the contraction takes hold I turn my face to him and press my eyes shut, passing all of my emotions down our
right,” he says, his voice low as he sits up and puts his
ready to welcome my
an hour later, our
inconsolable as Cora places her in my arms, the tears dripping down my face as I peer at my baby, reaching out a finger to stroke her teeny tiny fingers, her perfect little nose. She shouts her unhappiness and shakes her little head, which only makes me laugh as I try to wipe my tears
tucked close behind me, peering at our
between gasping breaths. “Oh god, she’s
sit next to me and stroke a hand over her little head. We’re
her voice almost reverent. “And I love
aunt,” Sinclair murmurs, his voice a little
finger, “I’d be the best.” She leans forward, kissing me on the cheek. “I’ll give
me and turns to the door, taking the team of
to shout my thanks out after them, all I can do is stare
her face and he wraps his arms around
just like you, Ella,”
protest, honestly a little shocked. “Dominic,
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