۞ 21 Years Ago ۞ Part III

IT HAD BEEN YEARS SINCE SHE LAST FELT THIS HAPPY, and she hugged his waist with all the care in the world, overjoyed and thankful for the being that despite being called a Devil, was far from acting like one. "You can hug me back, it won't hurt me, don't worry!"

Zion blinked and looked down, "I don't really know what to do?! Do I wrap my arms around you like you are doing?"

Oh my, was he never hugged in his life? How sad. "Like this," she held his arms gently and put around her back. "It's how we show what we are feeling, how grateful we are, and it's also a way to show you care for the person. Hugs are also a symbol of compassion and love. You also hug someone if they are sad, because not always we are able to speak with our words, so, this physical contact tells more than words. Sometimes we just need to know that we are not alone and that someone cares for us. That we are loved. Hugs have this meaning. You can also pass your hands softly on the person's hair."

Zion did that right away, but he felt awkward with all she said, since despite knowing a bit of what love meant to humans, he had no real idea of what it was. "Thank you for the lesson. And when should we stop hugging?"

Adorable. So darn cute. "Do you feel weird?"

"Yes. But if you feel better this way, I can keep hugging you until you are tired. Does it really help?"

He's clueless, ain't he? I'll leave it to my baby girl to teach him all about these. "It helps a lot. Last time I was hugged was when my mom died. She was the one who loved hugging the most. I miss that."

Zion felt sorry for her, "Poor kid, you are so young, but you've went through so much shit. Your family's ignorance, your mother passing away, and the pink cockroach to top it all," he tightened the hug just a bit, to show her what she needed, that she wasn't alone, but not tight enough to hurt her.

He smells good, like rain in a winter night and hot cocoa. "Every person goes through bad stuff, Zion. All humans have their own baggage, the difference is that some can pass through the storm, and others give up before it goes away," then she finally released him, and he took his arms away at the same time.

"You are strong, Winona," many of the girls I saved hadn't gone through the amount of shit she has and are still broken until this day.

"I must be. For my mom. For myself," she brought her hands to her lower belly, "and now for my baby."

"She'll be strong, and will make you proud, I have no doubt. I am sorry that you had gone through all of that, and I'm also sorry I didn't come earlier."

Well, if he had come earlier, I probably would have gotten pregnant. Everything happens for a reason. "You save me, nonetheless. You came to my rescue when no one else did and you gave me hope. I just hope my daughter will be able to give you the same feeling."

He didn't understand her words, but nodded either way, "I'll come when she turns 21. If you want to come with us to my realm at that time, I'll take you with us."

Once again, her heart was filled with hope and her eyes shone brighter with a prospect of a life away from all this misery, "I will. I will."

Good. "Let the Gods' allow us to meet soon and in a better pace, Winona."

"21 years, Zion. I'll be counting the days."

It's a short period of time for me, but for a mortal like her, it'll feel like an eternity. "Be careful, child."

"I will!"

Just like that, he disappeared with a smile on his face, and she was left alone in the woods. After a while she walked away and got back to the castle. Winona had her hands on her lower belly all the time and had a decisive look on her face.

When she reached the manor, Garrett was waiting there, walking in circles, and she swore she could smell his anxiety. His fear. It was good to see him as the scared one now.

"Where," he gasped. "Where is the Devil? Why are you back alone? Where is he?"

"He wanted to take me with him and come back to kill you," her husband flinched. "However, he told me that if he took me with him, I wouldn't be able to have the baby."

"Baby?" Garrett froze.

"The Devil was able to feel a life growing inside of me. A girl, almost two months old. So, I chose to stay and have our child, and he put a protection spell on me and her that will make it impossible for you to ever hurt us again!"

His eyes looked feral and angry, "He did what?"

"It was that or he would come back here and murder you, Garrett. Would you like the second choice better?" He flinched again. "Yes, I guess not!"

"He wouldn't do that without gaining anything!"

"We made a deal!" She spoke after a while.

Her husband took a step forward "You made a deal with the devil? Have you gone mad?"

"Do you like your life, Garrett?"

The Marquis caressed his neck with his shaking hands, baring his teeth, "What kind of deal?"

Here we go. "As I'm waiting for a girl, for him to put the protection spell on us, he asked for her. I agreed. So, when she turns 21, he will come to collect her."

"You sold my Royal baby to the fucking devil?"

"Should I have let him kill you instead?"

Garrett groaned, "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! You wrench. Disgraceful slut. I can't fucking believe you sold my Royal-blooded baby to the fucking Devil. You are done for, Winona!" But when he came for her neck, before he could even touch her, an invisible force threw him ten feet away.

Wow, amazing! "I told you, Garrett. He put a spell on me, and on my daughter, that will make it impossible for you to ever harm us. Or touch us."

I'll destroy her. If I can't destroy her now, I'll do it slowly. I'll destroy her reputation with this, and I'll make everyone loathe her. And when I'm able to go through this fucking spell, I'll beat her to pulp, rape her wounded body one last time, and then I'll break her neck. She thinks she can have her way with me. She's fucking wrong! "I swear to God, I'm going to fucking kill you after this witch of a baby is born, Winona. I'll find a way to break the spell and I'll fucking kill you myself!" He yelled as he rose on his feet again.

"The spell is unbreakable, Garrett. If even the Devil can't undo it, you think you can?" She scoffed bitterly.

"You are useless now. Useless. Fucking useless. The second you have this baby, you ain't my wife anymore. You can stay as my wife in name, but I'll never have you again!"

Thank Zion for that. "Oh, that makes me so sad and miserable, Garrett!" She mocked him. Feeling confident now that he'll never be able to harm her with the spell. "I'm glad. You can have as many mistresses as you want, I don't give a shit, you son of a bitch!"

"That's what we are going to see!" He growled with a psycho wicked grin and disappeared inside the castle.

She waited ten minutes after he was gone, to allow herself to breathe again. Winona laid down on the unease grass of her wing of the castle, and looked up at the night sky, feeling genuinely happy for once.

Caressing her temporarily flat belly with her hands, she let the tears of hope roll down, "We'll get out of this mess, baby. Mommy will do her best to give you all she has to offer, and when the time comes, Zion will save us. Then you will be able to save him from a life without love. My little… Annika," she smiled through the tears. "Yes. That's going to be your name. A with Z. The first and the last letter of the alphabet. Annika and Zion. My little Annika, you will be loved, mommy promises you. You will be loved. We don't need Garrett, if we have each other, it'll be enough!"

I didn't have my dad present either. My mom did all she could to raised me with overflowing love. Mommy will do the same for you, sweetheart. Mommy will give you all she has. I'll give you my life if you ask me to.

"You ain't here yet, but mommy already loves you!"