• Chapter Seven-Dreams

    "Pig." Mana muttered as soon as I entered the room and she was able to run through what had happened in my mind.
    "More like dead pig. He seems to have the impression that you and I are prostitutes doing business here for a few days. I'm guessing it happens a lot here." Mana shuddered, throwing me a pair of jeans and tank top from my duffel bag.
    "Then let's give him no reason to assume such, shall we?" I pulled the tank top over my head, throwing the halter over the back of the chair; fully glad to be rid of the constricting leather garment.
    "Agreed. Though I don't think we'll have anymore problems with him. He looked like he was going to have a heart attack when I left." I shrugged. "Oh well. One less disgusting man in the world." Mana gave me a stern look before going back to the book she had taken out of her bag in my absense. I scoffed. Another bout of spiritual intervention for Mana. She was positive it was the way to redemption. If it was the answer, I'm pretty sure Mana would be in heaven right now.
    I, however, was destined for Hell. It was unmistakable the way the hellfire burned in my bones. I had killed, cheated, stole and sworn my fate numerous times before my marriage to Lasarn, and I hadn't changed; merely realized that one can't be a hunter when one is pregnant.
    Again, pushing the memories aside, I fell onto the empty bed and closed my eyes, letting sleep once again consume me.

    She was beautiful, all blonde hair and blue eyes. I couldn't remember how many times I had counted her fingers and toes while I held her in my arms. She didn't look like Lasarn, but then again, she didn't look like me either. I assumed that our different genetics had created us the perfect baby girl. The proof of his side was the slight point to her ears. The proof of mine was the hint of pure silver around the pupils of her deep sapphire eyes, which I saw as we stared at each other in happy silence.
    Elizabeth. The name seemed too earthly for such an angel, but it was what he had insisted we name a girl before he was killed. If I was going to do one thing right before...well, it was going to name her what he wanted. One last gift from her parents.
    I couldn't let the centaurs know she survived; they would have killed us both to finish off the royal bloodline. No, I would make sure she lived; away from the chaos our world had become. She would live as a human. It was the only way. A fellow witch, Moira, would take her to the small village I had chosen; as soon as I would let my daughter go.

    I woke some time later, my breath thundering through my lungs with each sob that wracked my body. Mana sat cross-legged at the end of the bed, staring intently a me.
    "You were talking in your sleep again," she muttered, twisting her hands in her lap. "I'm sorry; I don't mean to pry...who is Elizabeth?"
    "My daughter." I wiped my eyes as Mana's went wide in shock.
    "Oh, well, ok. I won't ask anything else then." She got off the bed and walked to the door.
    "Where are you going?" I asked, suddenly concerned without knowing why.
    "Thought I'd take a walk in the woods for a bit. It's been ages since I've seen anything but brick and concrete." I nodded.
    "Ok, just be careful." Mana rolled her eyes.
    "Come on Esa...what in it's right mind would ever come near something like me?" She forced a smile and was gone.