Chapter 49 - Emilia

I don't know how long it's been since Erika took me from the garden only that it can't have been more than a month. My baby hasn't grown very much so I can't have been here for too long. It's so difficult to tell though as she keeps moving us and every time that happens she knocks me out for the whole journey so I don't know where I am either.

She's barely spoken to me since abducting me from Hadlau and I still have no idea why or where it is we're going. All I get in the brief moments that I actually see her are glares filled with hate and sometimes a few harsh words, mainly revolving around how unfair everything is. That's the closest that she's come to admitting why she's taken me, jealousy and resentment, but it also feels like there is something more to this.

We'd only recently got to this new place and once again I'm locked in a room with no way out, it's been that way at every place we've stayed. The room I end up in always either high up or has no windows so that I can't try and escape, not without serious risk to my baby. It seems this might be the final stop though as Erika seems happier about being here than any of the other places we've been.

"He'll be here soon." I can hear her whisper to herself as she drops off some food for me. She's back out the door before I can even open my mouth to begin asking who she's talking about, not that I think she'd actually answer me.

I'm left alone once again as I start eating. At least she's been giving me a small plate of food for dinner even if it's not as frequent as when I was at home it's still more than I ate for the first 18 years of my life. My only concern is the effect this might have on my baby, I'd survived a lack of food before and can again but that's not what I want for my child.

After finishing my food I drift off to sleep not having anything else to do in this room. There's little else in the room other than a bed, a small table with just a pitcher of water on it, a window looking out over a forest and a chamber pot that Erika comes and empties every so often. Boredom has become a normal part of my life.

It's still dark out when I'm woken up by someone coming into the room and for the first time in possibly weeks it's not Erika. Instead standing in front of me is a tall, dark-haired elf who stands near the door watching me curiously as though I'm some sort of puzzle rather than a person. There's just something about him that scares me despite him not saying or doing anything. I scramble off the bed to stand against the wall as far away from him as possible.

"So you're the famous Queen Emilia. The newly found mate of the Gods chosen heirs." He eventually says practically spitting out the words 'Gods chosen' his loathing for both my mates and the Gods clear.

"Who are you?" I ask hating how my voice shakes showing my fear of this man. I have an idea of who he is but at the same time I don't want it to be true.

"Rhistel. I'm sure that you've heard of me." He smirks clearly enjoying the fear he inspires in me as I place my hands on my stomach as though they'd protect my baby from him. "I simply came here to meet you. And to bring you someone to keep you company, both of you are very important."

He leaves the room only to return shortly after carrying a sleeping elderly woman in his arms and setting her down on the bed. Before turning to leave he strokes her hair gently watching her fondly, it's odd seeing him care so much as until that moment his eyes were only filled with hate and anger. I'm left alone with the old woman who appears to be human and no idea what Rhistel wants from me, or my mates.

The latest war reports have been stating that he's lost control of all Nerkise but that the army still can't find him. Perhaps that's why he's had Erika take me prisoner, as a way to try and turn the tide of the war although it must be too late for that. He's already lost and my mates will find me.

Lilas has probably contacted Kor and Bel telling them what's happened although I don't know how long it'll take, or if, they find out that Rhistel is behind it all. Hopefully though they figure it all out quickly and are right behind us. I want to go home, to my mates and child, preferably before this baby is born.

"W-where am I?" A soft weak voice calls from the bed. The old woman is awake now looking around the room in confusion clearly not aware that she's been moved from where she was before.

"I don't know." I answer pouring her a cup of water and bringing it over to the bed. I have to help her sit up so that she can drink it but it seems to help her as I settle her back onto the bed. "My name is Emilia."

"Julianna. Why has he brought me here?"

"I don't know why. He only said that you are important." I answer not sure what relationship she has with Rhistel for him to bring her with him but at the same time to keep her prisoner with me.

"He still won't let me go." She sighs sounding very tired as her eyes drift to the window, "All these years trapped by him. I just want to be with Edmun, my Soulmate." This only makes me more confused why would he take someone away from their Soulmate when he hates the very existence of the Stones.

"Don't worry, my Soulmates must know that I'm gone by now. They'll save us." I tell her taking hold of one of her hands trying to provide some comfort. It must help though as her eyes brighten slightly a small amount of hope building in them.

"That's good. Rhistel is nothing short of mad and should be put down. Then I'll finally be able to die and be with my husband." She must see the confusion on my face as she laughs softly, "Don't worry child, it's what I want. Edmun and I always knew that we were missing a third Soulmate but gave up on meeting them as the years went by. But not long after my dear Edmun died Rhistel found me and since then I've been bound by his immortality. I've outlived all my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, I don't even know if any of the family Edmun and I created together still survives. He keeps me prisoner so that I can't join my Edmun in death."

"I'm very sorry." I whisper crying quietly listening to her story. I've heard of stories like this but never met anyone whose lived through a situation like this, it's rare for it happen. It's more common for Soulmates to not be together like Erika and her Soulmate rather than meeting late in life like Julianna and Rhistel.

"We had a good life with many children. When I die my only regret will be not dying sooner. Now let's not be sad child, it's not good for your baby. Tell me of your mates." She asks making me smile as I start telling her all about my family.

As we're talking she admits that for many years Rhistel has kept her locked up alone with only him for company. Perhaps that's why she's so happy to hear about my life as she asks many questions wanting to know more, her love for children is clear as she smiles brighter as I tell her about Nazeph even as I tear up from missing him so much.

Our conversation is interrupted around midday when Erika walks in with our lunch. She seems less angry today perhaps because of Rhistel's arrival for whatever plan they've developed, in fact she wears a smug, superior look as she places the tray down. For the first time she doesn't leave immediately after delivering the food.

"This'll be over soon." She smirks staring at me, or more accurately at my stomach. Something about the look scares me almost as much as Rhistel did so I wrap my arms around myself trying to hide from her stare. "Then you and the baby will be mine."

"W-what?" I gasp out an idea of what she's planning coming to my mind. She intends to wait for the baby to born and take him or her from me. Gods only know what she'll do to me once I'm no longer useful.

"Lord Rhistel promised me that once he's back in power he'll free the rest of us from the God's curse and rather than give you back to your mates like he's promised you'll be mine. At least until you give birth to my baby." Her stare turns predatory as she gazes at me, "I'll finally have what I've always wanted. Something that you got without even trying."

With a last superior look she leaves the room laughing to herself delighted by the sheer terror that she's filled me with. At least I know why Rhistel wanted me and how he got Erika to help him. For all I know though she might have been a spy for him for years, and I gave her a place as a lady-in-waiting trusting her with access to my home and life.

"Everything will be fine my child." Julianna reassures me patting my hand comfortingly, "From what you've told me your mates will set the world on fire to find you. They'll find us soon and then you and your baby will be safe. I know that soon you'll be reunited with your son as well."

"Thank you." I whisper gratefully. Having someone else here is a big relief especially someone as kind as Julianna who wants free from here just as much as I do perhaps even more.

For the next few days the only visits we get are from Erika when drops off our meals, which since Rhistel arrived have improved in quality massively compared to the meagre meals I got before. We put it down to Julianna being here as she told me that even though he's kept her prisoner for centuries it's only been in the best conditions. He wouldn't scrimp on her food so both of our meals are being made to a higher standard.

With nothing else to do in this room except talk we've continued swapping stories. Julianna loves hearing about my life in Hadlau, never having left the small town that she'd lived in with Edmun before she met Rhistel, so such a large city was fascinating to her. In return she'd tell me about her family although she always spoke of them with a sad voice filled with longing. None of her children had died before Rhistel took her so speaking of them now knowing that they're long dead and she never got to see them or say goodbye is incredibly painful for her.

"And the look on Lilas's face when Nazeph said 'ma' first is still one of the funniest things I've ever seen. His face was the picture of betrayed devastation as though Nazeph had done it on purpose to hurt him although he recovered quickly from the shock when Naz wanted reached out to him with a smile." I tell her as we laugh. It'd been perhaps the best day of my life when I heard him call for me for the first time. "It was a few days later when he finally said 'da' and Lilas was overjoyed lifting Naz up and spinning him around making him laugh."

"Ohh." She laughs trying to calm down and catch her breath, "It seems you might have a little troublemaker on your hands there."

"He's been a very easy baby so far but I think that once he's talking properly and starts learning to fly then he'll be causing all sorts of trouble. Even though they've never met, and aren't biologically related, Nazeph might take more after Bel than Kor." I admit smiling at the memories of my baby.

"My sons caused plenty of trouble once they started walking. I dread to think what they could have gotten up to if they could fly."

I go to start telling her about the few times that Nazeph started flapping his wings and the delighted giggles he let out when a loud roar interrupts me. The sound has me running to the window and looking out over the forest searching for the source. I've only heard that roar a few times but I know it by heart and now it brings an incredible feeling of relief.

"What is it?" Julianna asks from where she's sitting up on the bed. I don't reply for a few minutes still searching for who I know is out there. Then I spot him in the distance, nothing more than a black spot over the trees.

"It's Kor." I breathe out staring out towards where my mates are steadily getting closer, "They've found us. We're safe now."