Page 3 of A Haven of Brimstone and Darkness

The knowingis back and it's centered on the tiny, little thing resting against Ariadne's bosom. She is the key.

"Oh, my darling," Ariadne coos as she gently strokes the babe's soft cheek. "Oh, my sweet girl."

Through a choked voice, I speak. "She looks like you."

Ariadne's eyes lift to meet mine. On any other new mother, her expression would be prideful, but at my words, her forehead pinches, twin lines forming between her brows. "You're right," she answers, and we both know it's not a good thing.

"I shall leave you to take care of your young, my lord and lady." Turning at the interruption of the midwife, I realize that the woman has finished her duties and is standing by the door.

"Thank you," Ariadne murmurs, dipping her head in the woman's direction. She's still quite pale and obviously shaky, but now that the babe is free from her body, her natural healing has taken over. No doubt she wants the woman gone so that her familiars may come to greet the child.

Taking that as my cue, I head over to the midwife and withdraw a heavy pouch from the confines of my robes. I hand her the entire thing. "I cannot thank you enough for your help, ma'am," I whisper as I hold her hands in mine and set the heavy sack of denza within her palm.

Her eyes widen at the feel of it, moving from the pouch to my face. "My lord? Sir? I cannot take?—"

I shake my head, cutting her off. "You shall take it all. You are our savior. All I ask in return is that you do not speak of this to anyone else."

Her head tips. "If you are the father, my lord, then you have nothing to worry for? The child would be whole Div?—"

"Please," I beseech her. "Speak of what you have done for us to no one. Should anyone ask where the money came from, you may say that you worked for us and that we were heavy with drink when we paid you." I squeeze her hands in mine. "It is for your safety as well."

Straightening, the midwife finally answers me with a nod. "Yes, my lord. Th-thank you for your generosity."

I release her and reach for the door handle. "Thank you foryours," I say as I usher her into the hallway.

When we're alone once more, I flip the lock and turn back to face Ariadne. She seems to pull the babe closer, though I don't know how it's possible considering that the infant is already plastered to her chest and seeking out one of her breasts beneath her thin shift with a natural instinct. My chest constricts at the sight.

"What is it?" Ariadne demands. "Your eyes ... you've seen something."

Her palm cups the back of the child's head. "You're right," I tell her. "I have seen something." Many pathways, all of which lead to doom, death, and decay. All but one. One that may actually lead to the liberation of us all. Despite the midwife's cleaning, the scent of blood is still heavy in the air as I make my way back to the bedside and go to my knees.

More tears fill Ariadne's eyes. "No." She begins to shake her head back and forth. "No. Not her." With both hands, she wraps herself around her newborn daughter, protecting her ... from me.

I dip my head. "I'm so sorry." Sorrier than she can ever know. "We must find her father and then ... we will go to the Underworld."

Her gasp is an echo in the room. "The Assassin's Guild? Why?"

"You know I cannot tell you the why." I lift my eyes back to hers and find her face full of pain and anger.

"I just had her," she snaps. "You want me to give her up now? Henric is safe where he is. He cannot care for her that way that I?—"

"If you keep her, she will enter the Academies," I warn her. "She will be seen as a threat."

"I will keep her a secret from Tryphone." Ariadne's strong voice is accompanied by a note of firmness.

Raising myself back to my feet, I stand before her deeply aware that for her survival and the survival of her babe, I am to become a great villain. A monster. Instead of giving her a hint of my plan, though, I reach out and cup her cheek.

"Alright," I lie. "I don't wish to scare you. We will discuss it later. For now, you should rest with your babe."

She relaxes almost instantly, heaving a great breath of relief as she sinks back against the pillows. A violent stab of guilt nearly unmans me. I force a small smile to my face as I reach behind her and remove the crate, allowing her to fully recline. "I shall go and see about travel arrangements."

My body moves as if it's a puppet on a string. I feel nothing as I leave the room, and using the last of my denza left over from paying off the midwife, I obtain from the Innkeeper a sleeping tonic and food. When I return to the room, the babe is nursing steadily at Ariadne's breast. Halting in the doorway, I take in the resemblance between the two. Fine tuffs of silver hair matching Ariadne's crest the infant’s head. Her skin is the same pale creamy shade. Those eyes ... those gray eyes.

Ariadne lifts her head and offers me a smile, spurring me into action as I head towards her. "You need sustenance," I tell her. "You're weak and as competent as our healing is, I will not feel comfortable until you're full of more color." I set the plate of food on the crate I took from behind her earlier and hand over the mug of hot liquid. She takes a careful sip with one hand while the other holds the babe to her chest as easily as breathing.

Bastard, I tell myself. Taking advantage of her needs this way is cruel. Yet, I cannot help the bubble of hope and relief when she downs over half of the mug in one go. I take it from her when she fumbles to set it down.

"You'll come with me?" Ariadne mumbles, her tone already slurred as she reaches out and finds my hand with one of hers and twines our fingers together. I freeze. "With Henric in hiding,I don't know that I can do this without you. You're my oldest friend, Caedmon."

---