Page 56 of Echos and Empires
The storm was coming. He could feel it, gathering on the horizon like a towering wall of black clouds. And when it broke, it would either wash away the rot that had taken hold of this island, or it would destroy everything in its path, leaving only ruins in its wake.
But for now, for this one stolen instant, he let himself just be. A soldier, a father-to-be, a man in love with his wife. The rest could wait, held at bay by the warmth of Emma in his arms and the steady beat of her heart against his.
No matter what tomorrow brought, they would face it together. And maybe, just maybe, that would be enough to make the world what it needed to be for their children.
TWENTY
The doctor’soffice had become a shrine to her fears. It had only been a week since the last appointment, but Doctor Rob—the one Alex trusted—stopped by the house to ask Emma to come in for just an ultrasound. Just an ultrasound, as if they thought she might remember how much more they were doing to her, well trying to do.
Emma sat amidst the quiet sterility, the walls absorbing every desperate thought, amplifying the tension. Doubts twisted inside her, tangling with the fresh memory of just how much danger they were in. It followed her.
The fear.
No matter what she did, it seemed to whisper in her ear, reminding her that at any step of the pregnancy, Victor could try to kill her babies. In a blink, he could determine something genetically off about them, and then a war they couldn’t win would start. She loved her men, but they couldn’t hold off an entire army on their own, it’s why they needed to gather others open to the rebellion. If they were going to win, they had to win through numbers.
Liam squeezed her hand, a touch meant to anchor her, but even he couldn’t reach the depths of her isolation.
She had felt alone before, but never like this. Never surrounded by people she loved and who loved her. It was as if the pregnancy separated them in ways she’d never thought possible.
A stifling silence hung in the air, each heartbeat echoing the growing sense of doom. She wondered if she was strong enough to face the challenges ahead, if she could possibly bring a child into this world when each new attempt to gather allies seemed more futile than the last. Every meeting with new recruits replayed in her mind—so much desperation in their eyes, not enough strength in their numbers.
Liam sat close, his fingers entwined with hers, a silent reminder that she wasn’t physically alone. But Emma couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped inside a bubble, her thoughts spiraling in directions that she feared even voicing.
Emma’s heart ached with the effort to hold on to the optimism that had once defined her. Now, it was like an impossible burden, her determination crushed under the weight of doubt. She wanted to feel happy, to embrace the life inside her, but the gloom clung too tightly.
Every moment in the sterile room seemed to bring the walls closer, closing in on her as if the air itself was conspiring against her fragile sense of hope. She looked around, seeing nothing but stark white walls that offered no comfort, no relief from the churning storm within her.
Liam’s hand squeezed hers again, no doubt trying to bring her back. But the despair was consuming, leaving her wondering if even his love could bridge the gap that fear had opened between them. His loyalty, his laughter, everything she cherished seemed to slip away as she sunk deeper into her own desolation.
It terrified her how easily the darkness crept in, eroding the light they had fought so hard to keep alive.
Despite Liam’s constant reassurances, despite knowing she wasn’t truly alone, the quiet of the office mirrored the growing distance between what she wanted to feel and the reality of their perilous existence. She could pretend, smile through the uncertainty, but inside, Emma wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold on.
A different doctor, one she hadn’t seen around, entered the room with a congenial smile. “How are we feeling today, Emma?” he asked, his tone light. “My name is Doctor Dan Huey, two first names, like you have two kiddos in there.”
Emma’s lips curved into a faint smile, though it wavered like a shadow. “I’m doing okay,” she replied, the words carefully measured. She wasn’t certain what he would do to her.
“I know you were just in, but with twins coming, it makes the most sense to monitor your uterus as often as we can. As much as we know about infertility, there’s so much more we don’t know. I want to make sure these two join us as late in the game as possible.”
A flash of hope danced through her. Doctor Dan Huey didn’t seem to be on Victor’s side since he hadn’t mentioned the other room. Could there be doctors they could trust? People who could work on the extreme inside and protect her from the backroom?
The doctor nodded, but his eyes lingered, seeing through her fragile act. “You seem a little...distant,” he ventured, his tone probing yet gentle. “It’s normal to have concerns, especially with everything going on.”
Emma deflected again, her voice steady but her heart a chaotic storm. “It’s just a lot to take in. But we’re managing.”
She glanced at Liam, searching for something to ground her. He gave a reassuring nod, his silent support a comfort she couldn’t fully embrace in her current state. It made herfeel guilty for not being more present, for letting her fears overshadow the happiness she should be feeling.
“I hope you’re finding time to rest,” the doctor said, a hint of worry creeping into his voice. He was trying to reach her, to coax out the concerns she was keeping locked away. But Emma wasn’t ready to let anyone in, not when she herself couldn’t face the enormity of her own emotions.
“We are,” she said, her smile as thin as the veneer she struggled to maintain. “There’s just so much happening. But we’re keeping it together.” The lie twisted inside her, a reminder of how far she’d drifted from the optimism that once defined her.
“Alright then, we’ll keep this quick.” The familiar cart rolled closer to her.
“I can’t believe I’m about to see them.” Liam whispered, and she glanced at him, noticing the way he seemed to glow.
“They’re pretty incredible.” She squeezed his hand, a little of her darkness floating away.
“Okay then, little squeeze,” the gloop of gel plopped down on to her slightly growing stomach. “Here we go, I take it you haven’t seen them yet?” The doctor’s question was aimed at Liam.
