۞ 21 Years Ago ۞ Part II

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, HE TELEPORTED TO A SAFE SPOT IN THE woods near the property, and she took her time inhaling deeply the scent of nature, of freedom. Letting her bottled tears roll down after a long time. "Thank you, Devil. You saved me. I prayed for you to come, and you heard my prayers."

The being bent down and held her wrists gently, and she smelled the scent of healing magic. Probably the strongest and most potent healing magic she had ever felt. "My name is Zion, Winona. I allow all the kids I saved to call me by my name, and as you are part of them now, you can do the same, child."

The Devil has a name and it's Zion? Isn't that quite normal for a Devil? "You don't have horns, a tail, and your skin isn't pale," she mumbled as he healed her eyes as she was able to take a good look at him. Instead, his skin was golden leaning towards a shade of copper.

When he smiled to her, it was gentle, and she was able to see that he didn't have sharp teeth, but rather elongated canines. "I hear that a lot. You humans all have quite the weird imagination."

"Are you going to take me to your realm?"

"I intended to, but there's a catch," he spoke after healing her wounds. "No life is created in the Underworld, Winona. Thus, no kids are born there."

A shiver ran down her spine, "What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly what I just said, kid. If you come with me, you will lose the life that is growing inside you. It's new, about a month and half, but it's there. I can tell. I can feel the pull of another life coming from you!"

Her eyes widened and she gasped, covering her belly with both of her hands, "I… I'm pregnant?"

"Yes," his voice was still kind but firm. "One life. A female. A strong girl, I can tell. In cases like yours, it's horrifyingly normal for these causalities to happen. Most of the woman I've saved that had a life growing on them, decided to come with me, instead of having the baby of the one who abused them. So, it's on you. It's your choice to make, and there will be no judgement with us."

Winona's dark green eyes were still on her belly, shock overflowing from her, "I'll lose my baby if I come with you?"

"Yes," Zion said, noticing the change in the human's emotions after he gave her the news. I don't think she's coming back with me.

"A little girl?" When she spoke again, her voice was full of emotions. "I always wanted to have a baby girl. Having a baby has always been my dream," she whispered, and when she looked up to him again, there were tears on his eyes. "I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I can't go with you, Zion."

A nod, "I understand. Shall I proceed to kill him?"

Winona blinked, analyzing all the possibilities, "No. I… If he dies, they will blame me. If I'm condemned, I won't be able to take care of my baby."

What a turn of events. Doesn't she understand that he's dangerous? "Winona, that pink cockroach will harm you if he stays alive, won't he? Not just you, but the baby. You don't have another place to do, do you?"

She gulped, "No. I only have here."

"What will you do then, child?"

He calls me a child even though I'm an adult, how old could he be? Are devils' immortals? "Can you help me?"

He blinked, "Help you? I can't interfere on human affairs without a reason, child. As much as I want to. There must be something for us both to gain from it. Usually, I draw blood from the perpetrators, sometimes I send them to my mother. But you don't want me to kill the pink cockroach, so, I'm with my hands tied."

I didn't know it would be so complicated. "Are you able to cast a protection spell that will protect me and my baby from all harm that Garrett might cause to us?"

Zion nodded unbothered, "I can, indeed. I've never done it on these circumstances, though. But again, we'll need to strike a deal."

A deal with the Devil. I've been praying for such an opportunity. If I can't help myself, I will do it for my baby. "21 years. Protect us for 21 years. When my daughter turns 21, you can come back here and take her as your… bride. Then you can kill Garrett if he's alive at the time."

He caressed his chin thoughtfully. Taking a bride for myself? I'd never thought of that before. "Why?"

"I want my daughter to be saved. To be away from this toxic society that took everything I had from me. She'll grow up here, then when she's of the agreed age, you can claim her as your bride. I'm sure the safest place for her to be, will be by your side."

Dangerous, but the safest indeed. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Can you take her?" Please, say you can. Please, Devil. I can't let my daughter stay here under these people's clutches.

"I can."

Winona let out a deep sigh of relief, "You don't have another bride, do you? Wouldn't it be embarrassing?" I don't want her to go through the same path as my mother.

"No. I have no one like that!"

That relieved a heavy weight from the Marchioness' shoulders, "A strong spell that will protect us from Garrett for 21 years. The moment she turns 21, you come to take her as your bride, and to kill my husband. You can only come when she turns 21!"

Sounds intriguing. I've never had an actual family, and neither have I ever thought of making anyone my Queen. I don't even know how this kid will turn out to be, but I can feel the power within her. Let's see where this will take me. "Those terms sound fine with me. But will you manage to deal with the pink cockroach when you go back?"

I'll threaten him with you. "I'll do my best. He won't dare to harm me if he knows I'm pregnant. As my child, the baby will have Royal blood and that's all he cares about." She got up and he stood on his feet with her, making Winona realize how tall he really was. "Can you put the spell on us now?"

He nodded and put the black waves of his hair that were falling over his eyes behind, "As you wish!" Then he closed his glowing red eyes, and spread his power around them both, covering her with it until she could see nothing but the alluring darkness. "Klamdb yeodos mank thaidoan prowndbat kratiosa wavydonks koristansh le prowbdbamt twisdtajka."

The soon-to-be mother felt the pungent scent of magic pressing over her, compressing her lungs, entering through all her pores, and it was calming. It was warm, and relaxing. A shield emanating from every centimeter of her being.

"How are you feeling?" He asked and his deep voice showed concern for her. It was a first for him too.

When she opened her eyes, the darkness was gone, but she felt like she could see way more than she ever could. She felt as if something had shifted within her very soul. "It feels… good. What language was that?"

"An ancient one. As ancient as my very soul. Only my own kind understand it," he came closer, looking at her from head to toe, searching for something. "Are you sure you are fine? I've never put a spell on any human like this, so, I don't really know if something will happen. Do you feel weird? I felt like the bit of power I used on you was consumed by your body."

Is that why I feel more powerful? "I feel weird but in a good way. I can see better, smell better, my skin is more sensible… that might be it. Do you normally have enhanced senses, Zion?"

"I do. More enhanced than anyone could ever have. I'm not human after all. But this affects you are mentioning always happen to those I save and bring with me. Though there are also some… Minor physical adaptations. It helps them survive in the Underworld," though it never happened with a human over the surface like this. Interesting.

"Do you think my baby will also feel all this?"

Zion nodded, "Probably. After all you are nurturing her soul with yours. If you feel like this, she'll feel it too, maybe even twice more than you do. I don't know. No baby was ever born like this, having a bit of my power within its soul. But fret not, this will all serve as protection. That's the power of the spell I put on you. It won't go away after 21 years, it's impossible to undo, so, you have nothing to fear. It was made to protect you from the pink cockroach, and it will do its job."

I don't even know how to thank him. "I owe you my life, Zion. You've done more for me now than anyone ever did. I'll never forget this, and I'll make sure my little girl doesn't either."

"You don't owe me anything, child. Don't bear such a burden. And for all that matters, your daughter will be my bride the moment she turns 21. Consider that as repaying me, if it makes you feel better!"

"Can I… can I hug you?"

Oh? How do I do this though? "Uh… okay?"