Loving the Wrong Mate

The winds blew roughly and heavy thunder threatened to destroy the earth. People scampered into their homes to shelter themselves from the coming rain.

Far away from the rest of the town, a woman, Nadia writhed in pain within a cave. She was heavy with child and due at any moment.

"It'll be over soon" her lover, Phil whispered in her ear while clutching her hands tightly.

The woman shook her head. "I want it gone. Now" she raised her voice in anger.

The door opened slightly and another woman, Vane put her head through the doors.

"How is she coping?" She directed the question to the man.

"When can you get this thing out of me" Nadia yelled before Phil could respond to Vane.

A scowl crossed Vane's face and she stepped into the room, shutting the door.

"You still have so much distaste for the child you harbor within you"

"I do not want it. I've never wanted it" Nadia yelled getting more upset.

"It's a she" Vane lost her temper.

"You high need to calm down," Phil said trying to ease some of the tension.

"Tell her to take it out," Nadia said. That was her only concern, getting the babe out of her stomach.

"You know it's impossible. The child will make an appearance when she chooses to" Vane said in a calm voice.

"Isn't there anything we can do for her?" Phil asked.

"No. She should have thought of the consequences before jumping into this"

Nadia scoffed. "Believe me, if I had known it would be anything like this, I won't have agreed to birth this cursed child"

"She's not cursed. She's a gift"

"What gift brings destruction"

"It's not destruction if she puts an end to evil. She's the child of the prophecy. The one who will bring an end to a reign of terror. The key to the sword" Vane said with so much passion.

"You're delusional Vane. He cannot be killed"

"The prophecy says otherwise"

"The prophecy may be false"

"Don't speak blasphemy" Phil and Vane yelled at her simultaneously.

"Why did you agree to this then?" Phil asked in a calm voice. If she hated the idea of the child so much, why did she agree to this?

"Because I couldn't bear to lose you. You had been chosen by the damned prophecy and you were going to father a child with another woman. I couldn't take it. But now....." Nadia trailed off. Nobody had a single idea how much she regretted her reckless decision back then.

"Nothing has changed" Phil tried to console her but she was having none of it.

"Everything has changed. You're all consumed with the damned prophecy. Obsessed with a sword we aren't even sure to find. It's like I don't know you anymore" she cried.

Phil cupped her face lovingly.

"It's only until the birth. Everything will go back to normal"

"Nothing will ever be normal around here" they all knew it.

"Do whatever you can. I want the child out of me" Nadia said calmly.

Vane rolled her eyes and exited the building.

It was raining outside. From a small drizzle to a heavy downpour. The residents of the cave moved about busily while anticipating the birth of the child, the key.

After another grueling hour of pain, the baby was ready to make its appearance. Phil was ushered out of the room and the women surrounded Nadia.

They changed in the old tongues, calling for the baby and praying for a safe entrance into the world.

Nadia's agony worsened. It felt like her bones were being crushed and her insides ripped out. She struggled to breathe and clutched the sheet tightly.

"Help me" Nadia wheezed but their chants only grew louder.

After what felt like forever, the baby finally slipped into the world. Nadia's body was shutting down from all the pain and activities.

She only had a glimpse of the baby's red curls before she passed out. And despite all the hate she claimed to have, she wished to have held the baby for once in her arms.

Vane carried the baby out of the room to clean her up. The sacred water had been set aside for her first bath and cleansing, the blood washed up and the baby wrapped up in traditional clothes.

"A blessing," Vane said in awe.

"I'm great full to witness the partial fulfillment of a prophecy and to meet the key" one of the women whispered and the others agreed.

"Where should we keep her? Do we take her back to her mother?"

"Mother?" Vane scoffed.

"Nadia is only a vessel. She's unworthy to be called her mother"

"But surely the baby will need her comfort"

"The baby is not like us. She doesn't need any comfort from anyone. She's a special gift from the goddess. Besides, Nadia has made it clear she wants nothing to do with the child. We'll be doing her a favor"

The woman was still not convinced. The mother and child would need each other at least for a few days or weeks.

"So what do you plan to do to her then?"

"She stays in the temple. We'll do a roster of who will watch her at intervals. No touching, just watching. I'll take the first watch"

The women agreed and left the temple.

Vane sits by the baby, watching her intently as if she may disappear. After her time was up, another woman took her place and it continued like that for the rest of the night and into the early hours of the morning.

The rain had since stopped and a few people wandered outside. Vane couldn't resist the urge to see the baby again even though her turn to watch the child wasn't due yet.

But being in the presence of the goddess gift was enough to make her over-excited. She pushed open the heavy doors of the temple and her smile vanished.

A woman lay on the ground with her neck cut open. Her eyes snapped to where she had kept the baby and fear gripped her.

The baby was gone.