ALASKA
(Some Years After Their Visit To Agatha)
MICHEAL HATI’S POV
Thunder striked ferociously. It was with an intensity, and harsher than he had ever experienced.
It was as if the gods were angry, or as if something was happening up there in the sky. Nothing was happening up there, but down here, just inside the hut he was standing outside from something was indeed happening.
His wife was giving birth. She had been in labour for more than four days. After their last visit with Agatha, and the rigorous rituals they had performed for more than a week to cleanse Lucy’s womb, and purge it of dirt’s, she had successfully conceived. It had not even been stressful. Agatha gave them lots of herbs, sexual potent drugs and other drugs to increase their sexual urges, heighten pleasures, and everything the kind old witch had gave them did work in their favor.
After laying with his wife, three consecutive times, he had gotten her pregnant. He could still remember the words of the traditional nurse, who had come to check on her the day of the announcement.
‘Your wife has successfully conceived, and from all indications she’s already three months gone.’ He hadn’t believed his ears.His wife had been pregnant for three months, and no symptoms or signs had shown. Hell, they were still having sex, no bump was yet to show and then the nurse had told him the news.
He had been more than shocked, and even more happy. This was the longest she had gone without any miscarriage, since the birth of Ruby, and their baby was still in there. Why had the gods kept silent? Why hadn’t it been revealed to him by the gods? Why…. “Ahhhh…” A loud piercing scream tore again from Lucy’s mouth from inside the hut.
His wandering thoughts deserted him, as he clenched his hands tightly, eyes closed as he prayed. Prayed that this suffering, this painful screams his wife was going through would end once and for all.
“Let her birth in peace… Let her birth in peace…” He kept on saying silently. Thunder striked again, and then the mouth of the skies opened and an heavy downpour of rain began, just the same time he heard the shrieking sound of a baby. Had she given birth? He asked himself, eyes wide open as the rain continued to fall on him, but he had no care in the world. He began to stagger, drenched towards the hut asking himself almost comically, “Is that my child?”
One of the nurses in the room, rushed out and as soon as he saw her, their eyes met, and a wide grin tore across her face, Michael fell down on his knees and began to chant. She didn’t need to say anything, because her expression said it all.
His child was now in this world. He screamed, stood up from the ground where he had fallen, then fell down again, and with hands buried in his hair he began to thank the gods for what just happened.
Indeed they were to be praised.
…….
LUCY HATI’S POV
She watched as her husband carried their new born daughter in his large arms. She looked so small in his hands, the sight had Lucy almost crying.
She had just finished giving birth to their daughter, after four or five rather painstakingly days of labour. She saw hell.Hell in trying to bring their little bundle of joy to this world. She saw her life flash through her eyes, and she wondered if she was ever going to make it.
But the gods had other plans for her, and as she screamed, as she cried and pushed, her baby came out. It was indeed a miracle, because the nurses in charge of her labor, had wanted giving up.
She had fought, and she had conquered.
“She has your eyes.” Her husband Micheal explained and she smiled. Eyes so bluish green, in stark contrast to her sister’s Ruby which were greenish in color, their daughter whom they had named Daciana, was a beauty to behold. Even as she was little, Lucy knew their daughter was going to cause stares when she grew up.
With chubby cheeks, strong arms and limbs, and a shiny blonde hair, Daciana was a beaut. A rival to her sister in looks if not more.
Speaking of Ruby, Lucy watched as their first daughter rushed into the room, with a cup of water, “Here’s your water mummy. Aunty Helene said I should give you.” Helene!... Lord knows she didn’t want to take the water given to her by Helene, but her daughter shocked her more by saying, “Take it mom. It’s safe.”
Helene was the sister of her husband, and she didn’t know why Helene had this deep hatred for her. In all her husband’s family members, Helene was the one who detested her the most, and what made everything worse was the fact that Helene was his only sibling, as their parents had given birth to just two children.
Surprisingly, or suspiciously rather Helene did not transfer the supposed hate she had for Lucy down to her daughter or daughters now rather. She loved Ruby dearly, and if it was all a show Lucy didn’t know, but she prayed that Helene would love her new born daughter that way too.
Heeding her daughter’s say, she gulped down the cold water and from the taste alone Lucy knew it was from the rain that had fell earlier. Dropping the cup by the side, she watched as Micheal, and Ruby sat on the couch near the fireplace and both watched over Daciana.
The sight melted her heart, and she smiled.
All pains from before, and even the ones she was feeling now forgotten, she stared at the enchanting sight in front of her. This was all she ever wanted. Right here in this room, in the confines of their home, this peace that was indescribable.
“Mama, Dada, sister is so beautiful…” “Yeah, she is.” Lucy heard Micheal say, and she hummed tiredly in agreement.
“Mama…” Ruby called out to her specifically, looking up at her. “Yes my love.” Lucy answered, and waited for Ruby to say whatever it is she wanted to see.
She was quiet for a long time, and her and Micheal both looked at each other in confusion. Seems she was having one of her visions.
It was no secret that their daughter was a powerful witch… It had been revealed by Agatha, and even another seer had said that the spirit of one of the family’s strongest wizard that ever lived, was in their daughter Ruby. They didn’t know if that was a blessing, or not, but so far all Ruby’s visions were positive ones, so they had no reasons to be scared.
Always and always Lucy personally kept her in her prayers, praying to the gods that Ruby would be a helper in the future and not the opposite. She was going to use her gifts, and powers to do good and not the other way round.
“Mama…” Ruby called out again. “Yes darling.” Lucy answered patiently, smiling softly and waiting for her to say whatever it is she wanted to say that was taking so much time. “I see something about sister but I can’t say.” She began.
On impulse Lucy looked at her husband, matching his stare too because he was also looking at her in confusion. “What do you mean Ruby?...” She asked calmly, clearing her throat and trying her best to soothe her nerves internally. “I can’t say mama. I don’t know but there’s something about sister.” Now Lucy was more confused than ever. This was the first time Ruby was saying something like this. She started to ask something, but the little girl interrupted cutting her off abruptly, “I want to go play Mama. Dada stay with baby, I’ll be back soon.”
That said, Ruby their daughter skidded outside playfully with a smile, leaving Lucy and her husband with a questioning look on both of their faces. What did this meaningless vision, stark and core mean? What did it mean? Lucy wondered. Just when she thought everything was well, now another revelation. Worse of all she had no idea, no they had no idea if it was something good or bad. “Don’t stress over it too much honey.” Michael said to her, cradling their little girl and walking to meet her. “Let the future speak for itself.” He added and giving him a smile she nodded.
She was not going to fret, or think too much about it. Like her husband had said the future would speak for itself. All that was left now was for her to pray that it would speak well in their favor…