182 - Ripping Union
Days passed and still Valerick had refused to see her.
Zezi drew tally marks on the walls with her claws to keep track of time, and since Nicholas had told her that worrying would only do her baby more harm than good, she had decided to focus more on the fun activities that Gwen had bought for her on her visits.
The stories her bats had written to her, kept her entertained too.
The door pushed open and Zezi picked up her empty bowl of food to impress Gwen that she finished the soup, but the feeling that sizzled beneath her skin confirmed that wasn't Gwen.
The scent of rain that flooded her nostrils didn't help either.
Her smile dropped and she set the bowl back on the floor.
When she turned to look at him, tears glistened in her eyes even though she was trying to appear strong.
“Twelve days.” Those were the words that slipped passed her lips.
Valerick looked nothing like himself, but a version of him that seemed to be going through hell and more.
His loose black robes seemed to sweep the light out of the room, his eyes were as cold as ice, and he seemed tired of being in her presence already.
His gaze swept over her and he looked away, trying to pretend not to notice her tired eyes, her noticeable baby bump that shouldn't be there for how young her pregnancy was, and the fact that she looked leaner than he had ever seen her.
The pregnancy was taking a toll on her.
A soul seizer had never been born before, they had only ever been made.
This was the first time his kind would be born and despite everything Zezi had done, he was worried for her.
That made him angry, so angry that he couldn't think!
“Nicholas told me that the boy drains you.”
“Boy?” Zezi smiled, her hands rubbing her bump. “We are having a boy? That is wonderful. He will be just like you.”
Valerick frowned. He had always wanted a family of his own and he had dreamt of different ways he would go about it.
Zezi had ruined that dream for him.
“Nicholas said I will probably have him by the end of this month because this is different from normal pregnancy experience. He feeds on my soul but that is no problem. I can handle it.”
He was so far away and she was so scared that she would not make it, because she felt weaker and weaker every day. It felt like the end of the month was so far away. But that wasn't something she wanted to tell anyone.
She was so terrified, carrying their baby and he was so far away, by that wall, mad at her.
He deserved to be.
“And a girl. She is the peaceful one, so he said.”
“Twins?!” She declared in surprise before she laughed and leaned her head against the bed. “No wonder my stomach is so big.”
“I have come to give you a little ease. He said it will be easier if we remain in the same space for a while.” She heard him move around the room, closer to her and her body went rigid. “My mother's paintings, it should help. Anything that makes us feel connected should make it feel less like a burden.”
She turned back to look at the paintings he put on her bed.
She had asked him to show her those paintings and she wished the situation had been different.
It reminded her of the first time she had learnt his name, and regret sliced through her heart once again.
“My babies are not burdens.” She stood up, her hands on her stomach. He only chuckled in response like that was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard.
So ridiculous it didn't even deserve a proper laugh.
But a dry one.
Then he started to move towards the door but she reached out for him, holding his wrist.
The sparks were crazy but beyond that was the relief. It felt like a million burdens had been lifted off her shoulders and she wanted to hold him forever but the way he looked at their point of contact with disgust made her pull away.
“At least,” she was breathing heavily even though all she did was stand up and hold his hand. With how heavy she was though, it was a herculean task, “Listen to me, please.”
“You should count yourself lucky that I haven't erased you as my people clamour for.”
“Erase? I am your mate, don't you think I deserve to speak my own side of the story before you crucify me? Your sister—”
“Deserve?” He didn't raise his voice, but he didn't need to. “You deserve nothing.”
“Valerick—”
“Take my name out of your mouth.”
“Va–”
“I know about the poison! That is the problem. I forgave you and I gave us a new chance and you ruined it, yet again. Over and over again. You ruin us!”
Zezi’s heart dropped, and so did her gaze. Her breathing became rapid and all she could play in her mind was all the times she had thought to herself that he knew, and then dismissed it when he said nothing.
So, he did know.
All this while?!
All this time!
That made her feel even more terrible.
“It is not what it seems, I promise there is more. You just have to trust me.”
“You are asking for too much. You had many chances, if there were more, you would have told me.”
“There is—”
“After everything we have been through together, you still worked with the Rebellion against me. You are supposed to be my Queen.”
“I was trying to save my people. You are misunderstanding this, but I cannot tell you and you just need to trust me and do as I say.”
“Do as you say? I am not your fool. I am no one’s fool! I am King!” His eyes changed in a flash into complete blackness and those black webs spread beneath his skin, covering his neck and then up his face. “And you are no longer my Queen.”
Zezi's mouth felt heavy, that burden was returning to her shoulders once again.
“Fear not the clamor of my council. You are my prisoner, only mine to punish. Once the babies are born, I shall free you from the shackles of this union. You will leave Lavida for good.”
Zezi shook her head, tears pouring down her cheeks. “No. No, please. Please, don't do this to me. Punish me any other way but don't separate me from my children. Please—” But he didn't stop, he didn't even look at her and the bond between them twisted with pain and agony. “I Love you!” She screamed when his hand held the doorknob, before it was pulled open from the outside.
“I love you,” she repeated when he looked at her.
He had longed to hear those words.
“You don't.”
Then he left.
She moved to go after him, before the door would be closed, but a wave of dizziness hit her, along with the trickle of something warm down her legs.
Blood.
Her heart raced with panic as she slipped to the floor, and screamed.
“VALERICK! Our Babies!”
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