Page 71 of Queen of Vengeance

I won’t let your sacrifice be in vain!

“It’s working! Here it comes!” Sally shouted.

My insides burned. I could almost hear the tearing of my muscles in my ears.

I dug my nails into the bed sheets, praying for relief.

Then, as suddenly as it started, it was over.

I slumped into the bed.

Everything was quiet, and then, suddenly, it wasn’t.

An angelic cry filled the room.

I didn’t have the strength to lift my head.

Sally walked around to me with a bundled blanket in her arms. She smiled at me, unable to contain herself. “Congratulations. It’s a boy.”

She lowered him into my arms and stood by as I admired the gentleness of his face.

He looks so innocent. What must it be like to be unblemished by the world?

I traced my finger gently over his small tuft of vanilla hair. “Part of me was worried he would come out with black hair… Like his father. I wanted him to look more like me, but now that I’m seeing him—I’m just glad he’s breathing.”

He stirred from his comfort and started crying again.

“Ohh, my son. Be still. Don’t cry. The world’s more beautiful now that you’re here.” I leaned forward, kissing the top of his head. “Jason.”

“Pardon?” Sally clasped her hands and moved closer with her big brown eyes angled at me.

“His name will be Jason, like the Jasondrian plant.” I smiled, running my fingers over his nose gently. “It’s a plant that only blooms once every fifty years. Apparently, the ancients believed it has a special connection to the goddess sisters, Lunaira and Solara. It’s said to have the ability to heal anything.”

“What made you think of that?” Sally sat down next to me with a slight tilt to her head.

“Because seeing his face just revived my soul.” Serenity overcame me. For the first time in a long time, I was at peace.

“Alright, Nadir. We are taking you back to the cell.” The short, stout guard, who had sneaked into the room at some point, reached for me. He hated me from the very beginning. So, he must have just been looking for the opportunity to drag me back. “Nurse, take the baby.”

“Are you kidding me? This mother has undergone extremely strenuous conditions. She has tearing and internal bleeding. I will need a day to stitch her back up and a week to monitor that she doesn’t die at our hands.” Sally stood up and scolded the guards.

I had never seen her so forthcoming before. It was impressive.

“You want this inmate scum to stay here for a week? You must be out of your mind!” His chubby cheeks turned red from fury.

“How many times have you given birth, Dewitt?” She wasn’t about to give in to him, and judging by his dumbfounded face, she was about to win the argument. “That’s what I thought. She’s my patient. She’s under my license. I will call you when she’s ready to go back. Until then, do not bother me or my patient again. The more you stress her out, the longer she must stay here.”

So his name was Dewitt?

Flustered and with nothing else to say, he turned around and charged out of the Infirmary with his other guards following behind him.

“Truly, you are an angel that walks among mortals. I am in awe of you.” I slowly sat myself up. “Was that true? What you said about all the tearing?”

“Not at all, but he doesn’t know that. You will feel an immense amount of soreness for a while. It’s better for you if you’re not recovering in a jail cell.” Her face twisted into a mixture of disgust and dread. She then scooped the baby up in her arms, much to my dismay. “Now, it’s time for you to rest. I’ll have baby Jason right over here when you wake up.”

As much as I wanted to sit here and look at him all night, I was beyond exhausted. I wasn’t even sure if I responded to her.

The darkness came over me quickly, and that night, I had the most beautiful dream.

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