The Night Before Its Birth

Life for me has been very… complicated. Choices weigh so much more in this society than in Razzoil. An exceptional amount of things are different in contrast to my homeland in Terikin. What's most unusual is the, well, customs. You see, I've been around many respected women in the life of a peasant sixteen-year-old girl. The people here are peculiar, more based on their actions than appearance. In fact, encounters with men, particular with strangers, is "uncritically blasphemous," according to Mother Angeline. Unfortunately, she really is my mother. I'm not sure why she was repulsed by men. "Father" wasn't in my mother's vocabulary; a word never touched the air from her lips when I was near her proximity. Questions of her hate towards men have always flourished, despite Mother Angeline ignoring my umpteen inquiries about her animosity and loathing towards men. Though, living with Lenix now, I now understand Mother Angeline's reasons for her loathing. Lenix has been acting… odd. As if he's hiding—

"Darling, why not join the guests downstairs?" Not even a knock, he just storms in; such audacity. I bite my lip, to try and buy time for a persuading excuse. Maybe I can tell him: Please, I know you fancy the other ladies in the room more than your own wife. Or, how about: Because the people aren't here for me, just to tease how you "got a peasant of the night." As if I'm your concubine. Men, like him, wouldn't understand my emotion that clouds my good judgement when breathing the same air with those cruel people. Tears always escape my eyes the moment someone looks at me—sneers at me. Just because our first son hasn't shown powers since his tenth birthday. Now, they call me a whore. It's his child! Having a girl would be so wonderful, but she wouldn't belong in this world…

Sensing Lenix's impatience, I managed to strain a smile, praying to the skies he can't tell it's forced. "Why, I was waiting for you!" I nonchalantly grab one of Lawrence's stuffed horses to stop my twitching fingers. The thick cotton makes my fingers hide their shaking, hopefully this is the right horse that I hid the pill in. Lying to my husband isn't something I favor, but it's so common in his land, it might as well be currency. Lenix hands envelop mine, shedding pristine skin on my flesh. Something tells me he'll spoil our children, just from his touch. Then again, he is the crown prince of Terikin after all; wealth is hereditary. After pulling the horse from my hands, I tense. Muscles become taut; throat becomes dry, therefore, if he asks me a question, I may seem reluctant. Then again, I'm always reluctant with Lenix; one of my many regrets for such a rushed marriage.

"Do you know when I received my powers?" It's not really a question, more like a statement. If it was a question, he wouldn't be staring into my soul. Taking the risk to swallow the bile, I start to answer—

But he stops me with his finger shutting my lips.

"No," he feigns a thinking expression; I'm being interrogated by my own husband. "Do you know my powers? Shall I name a few?" Sweet smiles don't hide his intention: He's pissed. He better not blame it on my ass.

Pulling me up from the ottoman, an ottoman which was my safeplace, he entwines his body with mine: arms around waist, my head on his shoulder, and don't forget—his lips burning my ear.

"Darling, I have immortality, hypnosis, telekinesis, and super strength. Now," he pulls away, then caresses my chin; I can't believe I used to enjoy it when he did this. Maybe I was too naive to see through his sweet words. He continues, "That may not be a lot, but having them in my possession allows me to protect." Inwardly, I snarl: As if I need your damn protection. I'm not a damsel in distress, you bastard. "You, and my," he holds my protruding belly. "Kin." His eyes, at a first glance, look as if they adore you, but the next second, you see the plans he's fabricating, inch by inch. Finally, I speak, "Darling, we have to wait for Lawrence's development. If we don't, we may mess up the progress—

"Woman, you don't understand a rat's ass about the progress." Words stop composing, holding my neck in his hold, black appears in the side of vision…

Cobblestone cuts my skin as soon as Lenix throws me to the ground. Damn his strength.

"Ha, you know what? Stay here. In fact," he smiles. Though, he doesn't hide his malice motive. "As soon as my boy draws its first breath it shall be mine" Oh hell no. He did not just say that! It takes two to tango! His gall makes me want to spill him all of my struggles, just to spite him. Unfortunately, the taste of rocks tells me otherwise. Wait, a boy. If I don't have knowledge of the gender, how could he? Maybe, there is a way for me to win this argument. Gradually letting the regret and ire leave my body, I speak. "Darling, how would you know it's a boy?" I expect him to be perplexed, to be caught guilty. Men should know that the mother knows the gender first (the baby is living in her, after all), not to show contempt for men, but it's expected. Then again, Lenix isn't a normal man. But a Magi; the second to Gods in the stature. "Layla, all of my heirs have to be males!" Chuckling, "After all, they receive the most superior kind of power: invisibility, teleportation, and the most important: pyrokinesis!" I'm not sure if I should take his word for it, he may be a Magi, but he's also a bastard. I hate when men belittle females like that, especially females who just entered this world. My curiosity gets the best of me in the end. "If somehow, in some way, it was a girl, what would you do?" His answer horrifies me more than his face, for his smile stretches ear-to-ear; eyes that look at me as a prey, and his skin turns pale. "She shall die, of course."

I'm frozen in fear, while Lenix is filled with glee. How repulsive. "I really must be going!" His lips brush my cheek, an attempt to make me love him, but it only makes me hate him more. Before he leaves the room, he announces, "It's my party, after all." It's just a boy you want, after all. Just then, I pull out the pill, and while running to get a glass of water I throw it into my throat. I remember Lazarus' words:

Lenix won't be able to hurt the baby, but I'm not sure about you…

By the time I swallow, I know I made the right decision.