[56.7] The Gift of a Name
[WARNING: This chapter involves a disturbing death with mild gore. Reader discretion is advised.]
After the King's birthday ball, rumors began to spread like wildfire about Celane and Syrus. Some said that Celane grew crazy with obsession after seeing Syrus flirting with another lady and stabbed him. While other stories say that a woman tried to steal Syrus and Celane ended up stabbing the woman.
While neither was true, Celane became an even larger scandal than she was before. Terrified to see anyone else, she locked herself inside her home with only Syrus and Caldwell to keep her company.
Caldwell stood off to the side peeling fruit for them while Syrus placed his head on his wife's stomach, "Ah! I felt it kick!"
Celane giggled, "She's very active."
Syrus sat up and pouted, "How do you know it's a she? It could be a he."
Celane paused for a moment and averted her eyes, "It's a girl. There's no other possibility."
Sensing the gloomy atmosphere, Caldwell spoke, "Do you have any names picked out?"
Celane answered, "I want to name her Estelle because she's going to shine brighter than the stars."
"And if it's a boy?"
She waved her hand to dismiss him, "I told you. There's no point in deciding on a name for a boy. It's going to be a girl."
Syrus scoffed, "You may carry it, but there's no way you can know."
Her eyes were dull as she smiled, "...I know."
He continued to press, "Shouldn't we at least have a name picked out just in case?"
She let out a sigh, "Fine. I give you permission to come up with a name."
His eyes sparkled, "Really?!"
"Really."
"Then… How about Syrus?" He puffed out his chest, "Named after his father."
She laughed, "The same exact name?"
He snuggled up to her, "Or, instead of Syrus with a S, we name him Cyrus with a C? His name comes from his father, but his mother's first letter is also in it. That way, both of our names are used."
She laughed, "That's so silly… But sure, Cyrus it is."
"Yes!" He spoke in a sing-songy voice, "And if it is a girl, we will just have to name the next child Cyrus because surely we will have a boy eventually. How does that sound?"
"Oh. Um." She shifted uncomfortably and averted her eyes, "...Let's talk about it after I have the first one."
Caldwell narrowed his eyes suspiciously. He observed humans for a long enough time to recognize that she was hiding something. However, his brother was so gullible he didn't find anything strange.
As the days passed by, Syrus improved the garden to give his wife a better view. As the days to her birth drew closer, her face grew paler and her eyes turned dull. When Caldwell asked for a doctor or medicine, he was denied outright. He could only sneak out of the mansion and purchase medicine from the market with his meager wages.
"Here, Lady Celane. This tea should help your health."
"Syrus, Syrus." She muttered in a daze, "Where'd he go?"
"...He's in the garden, my lady."
She suddenly threw the cup, shattering it on the wall, "Why does he refuse to be by my side?! Does he think I'm a monster?! Does he think-"
She halted midsentence, realizing she was losing control. She let out a sigh, "I'm sorry… I'm not myself these days."
Caldwell bent over and picked up the shattered pieces, "It's okay, my lady. Pregnancy is hard. You'll be healthy soon."
She ignored this and bent down, "Let me help you."
"No need. I don't want you to cut yourself."
"I don't want to be a bother-"
*SLAM*
The door was thrown open and a group of servants from the main house appeared. Without warning, they grabbed Celane and started dragging her out of the house. She screamed and thrashed in their grip, but she was so weak it made no difference.
"L-Let me go!"
Syrus ran over to them as they pulled her down the stone path towards the gate, "What is going on here?!"
"Sir. Stand back. Don't make this more difficult."
Syrus ignored them. "You're hurting her! Let her go!"
"The Duke ordered her to be placed in a room for observation."
Celane cried out, "Syrus!"
"Celane!"
The servant held up a hand to hold him back, "Once the baby is born, we will call for you."
His wife was dragged away and there was nothing he could do. He looked at Caldwell in a panic, "Caldwell…"
He understood without Syrus even explaining. He excused himself and transformed into a mouse, attaching himself to the unsuspecting Celane. She was dragged to a wing of the palace he had never seen before and shoved into a room. The servants didn't care if they bruised Celane or not. They locked the door and she could only bang on it and cry out desperately.
Caldwell considered transforming back to comfort her but ultimately decided against it.
She was deathly afraid of demons, so if he suddenly transformed, wouldn't she panic?
As he thought about it, Celane crashed to her knees as a terrifying liquid spread from her. She let out an ear-piercing scream, clawing at her chest to rip off her own skin.
Startled by this sudden scene, Caldwell transformed back and ran over to her. His yellow eyes were still present as he held her, "Lady Celane!"
Her eyes shrank back in fear, "D-Demon!"
He flinched back. In the reflection of her eyes, he could see his mistake in appearance. In his panic, he had completely forgotten to be in his twin form. He quickly transformed and held out his hands to her, "Don't panic! It's-
She clawed at him as she screamed, a burning sensation came over his cheek. He held it in disbelief and turned slowly to face her.
She was terrified…
So terrified…
Of… Him?
His voice was low, "Lady Celane… It's me. Caldwell."
"G-Get away from me, you demon!" Seeing him not move, she crawled to the door and pounded on it desperately, "SOMEONE HELP ME! A DEMON IS GOING TO KILL ME!"
The scars on his cheeks slowly healed, but the scar on his heart deepened.
He let out a sigh and stood up silently. He went over to her side to help her up, "Lady Celane. It's really me. You're just seeing things-"
"DON'T TOUCH ME!"
His hands pulled back.
She suddenly lurched forward, holding her stomach as she screamed in agony. Caldwell's eyes constricted when blood started to pour from her.
"L-Lady Celane! Let me fetch a doctor-"
She crashed to the floor, her breathing growing haggard. Caldwell panicked and tried the door, but it wasn't possible to open it or break it down. Upon going to the windows, he discovered the same thing.
He took a step back, his breath stuck in his throat.
This wasn't a normal room.
It was a prison.
A prison covered in magical runes to prevent any escape or noise.
They knew she was going to die.
…And they wanted it to happen.
A baby's cry rang out in the now silent room. Caldwell spun around, shocked to find a baby on the ground. He quickly wrapped the child up and cut off the umbilical cord before it could get injured.
Celane whispered in a weak voice, "Don't… Touch… My… Daughter… You… Beast…"
Caldwell flinched, his heart shattering.
He whispered, "It's a boy, Lady Celane."
No response ever came.
Caldwell sat clutching the baby in his arms until the servants finally came. They weren't at all surprised to find Celane's body cold, but were shocked to see Caldwell in the room. Albert stood behind the servants and demaned, "Give the girl to us."
Caldwell muttered, "The baby isn't a girl…"
"Huh?" Albert glared at the servant who took the child and checked.
The servant's face paled, "It's… It's actually a boy."
"I-It's a boy!?" Albert turned his attention to the woman in a cloak sitting above him, "What should we do, my goddess?"
Her voice was as gentle as an angel's, "Let him have the baby. I have no interest in sons."
Albert cleared his throat and spoke, "Let him take the child back."
Caldwell received the child back and started the slow walk back to the hidden house. He found that he was numb completely, yet could still walk based on habit alone. Once he entered the gate, Syrus was already waiting anxiously.
"Celane? How is she?"
Caldwell slowly shook his head.
Syrus collapsed to his knees, his wails echoed off the walls.
Caldwell closed his eyes, trying to shut out the cries. But all he could remember was a small boy sobbing over the corpses of his family.
He failed again.