SILVER-HEART
Chapter 179: Nightmare

Chapter 179: Nightmare

How did it come to this?

What went wrong?

Why must it always be my fault?

Why must I always endure the feeling of being the cause of everything, it was too painful and each time it felt like a part of me was about to be ripped apart until nothing was left. How long before this feeling ends? How long before I escape this hell?

It was happening again... the same sea of flames, eating up everything like a hungry monster made for destruction, taking everything in its heat, and burning it into nothing. And once again I was at the center of it.

Standing motionless and helpless, watching as the flames feast on everything, unable to move, there was no stopping these flames... it was made to do their work and that was only to eat everything up until there was nothing left. I could feel the rage, the pain, and the unquenchable taste for destruction. It was insatiable.

My eyes finally moved and drifted down to my blood-stained cloth and more importantly my flat tummy. Horror filled my eyes as I caressed what was supposed to be a bump and my breath shuddered.

No this can’t be happening, no!

She can’t be gone, no!

And then I heard it... the cries of a newborn baby. I raised my gaze and looked around until my eyes found Estel on the other side of the burning flames, naked and the blanket barely covered her, she was calling for me and yet I couldn’t get to her.

Aldon was there too holding a dagger as he stalked close to my daughter with a dark expression.

"No!" I panicked trying to move from my position but it was as if I was pinned to the ground by an invisible force. I can’t move, I suddenly can’t find my voice too. I have to get her, I can’t let him reach her, I can’t!

I called, I screamed, I cried but even I couldn’t hear my voice and it was terrifying. I just stood there, shouting with no voice as Aldon brought the dagger to her little neck and slit her throat right before my eyes.

I screamed.

☆☆☆

That dream occurred for months until it became so constant to the point I believed it wasn’t just a dream. Adina has helped me sleep with her powers, she would sing me to sleep and even though it was just for an hour I would get a shut eye. But it wasn’t deep enough to get me to William, instead, I was plagued with this constant nightmare.

A sea of fire, me covered in blood, baby Estel and Aldon holding a dagger to her throat.

"You’re getting paler than usual, and you’re too weak," Adina said in a worried tone. "Estel is draining your aura too much"

She was right... Each time my due date gets closer, I get weaker and weaker to the point I can barely stand and I feel my body getting heavier. If it wasn’t for Adina helping me sleep for one hour per day I think it would have been way worse than that.

I didn’t have the heart to look in the mirror for I knew I looked ghostly white, thinner, and black bags under my eyes.

"Because she will soon be here," I said rubbing my big bump, she is due in a month.

"About the plan?"

"Yes I have been trying to save as much aura as ever"

"But it’s not enough is it?"

I bit my bottom lip, this was the complete opposite of what I thought... I thought as Estel got stronger I would too but instead she was taking all my energy. I haven’t had any premonitions of her either ever since I had that fall from the tower.

"Ava... if we don’t find a way to get you out of this, the danger will be far worse," Adina said softly. I have told her to call me Ava instead of ’your highness’. And we have been closer ever since, making sure Aldon didn’t notice our interaction... she was meant to be taking care of me so our closeness wasn’t suspicious.

"Listen to me Ava I have found a loophole in the barrier"

"What? Y-You have?"

"But I’m not sure if it will work, but you still need your energy, you know it is not just about getting out of here"

I gulped at her words. I need enough energy to make a portal. I shuddered, how did it come to this? My fear was increasing each day and the nightmare kept coming, I knew it was no doubt a warning of the pending danger coming for Estel.

"I don’t think I can..." I shook.

"No no Ava, you have to be strong you hear me?" she said holding my arms to keep me steady. "I cannot do much in my state forgive me, because I truly wish I can do more"

"No Adina, you have done more than enough, if it wasn’t for you I don’t think I would be alive right now" I sobbed. "I’m just scared Adina I think I-" I froze as my eyes went wide.

"What is it, Ava? What’s wrong?"

I couldn’t speak because I suddenly felt a cold liquid run down my thigh like I was peeing.

With wide eyes, I looked at Adina who gazed upon me worried.

"M-My water just broke"

"What?! But she isn’t due unti-"

I groaned deeply, crunching down. "She’s coming!"

"No no, she can’t!"

I held Adina tightly, my teeth clenched hard as I tried to steady myself. "Listen to me" I began shuddering, and growling. "Seal the doors, lock the windows..." I groaned. "Aldon cannot know I’m due. Please"

She nodded quickly doing as I told her, as she did I forced myself off the chair and walked slowly to the bed.

If I can give birth to Estel before Aldon knows, then I can escape from here, But why was she coming earlier? Was she doing this intentionally?

"Ava... I’m not a midwife I don’t know..." Adina was shaking but I had trouble paying attention to her.

I let myself lay on the bed but I wasn’t comfortable, I can’t be because she was coming.

"It’s alright Adina," I said, groaning.

"The guards will hear"

"Quick get me a small towel" I instructed and she rushed to the cupboard and grabbed one.

"Fold it"

She did and handed it to me as I placed it close to my mouth biting down on it.

"You cannot be serious!"

I shot her a look only before the pain came again and my sounds were muffled as I drew my head backward and groaned deeply.

"Oh dear heaven," she said panicking and I grabbed her hand tightly speaking to her with my eyes and she nodded on the verge of tears.

She helped me get ready and I positioned myself properly with my legs spread. She set the covers so that it covered my knees raised up,

But I need something to hold.

"Ava," she said, holding my hand. "This is risky you cannot do this alone, Estel will be in danger, even though we’re magical creatures, childbirth is the most painful"

I nodded as tears filled my eyes, but there was no other way to do this.

Adina nodded with tears as if she knew what my silent thoughts were.

"I’m with you, Ava, okay? I’m here so listen to me, I know it’s hard but you have to be strong, push!"

And I did so screaming at the top of my lungs but thanks to the towel I bit down on it was muffled.

"Push, Ava, you can do it" she whispered to me.

But I felt too weak. I don’t have the energy to do this any longer so I dropped back down on the bed panting and sweating drastically, the amount of dizziness washing upon me was like a storm.

I could hear Adina calling my name and begging me to push but her voice was becoming distant. I mentally told myself to stay awake but I couldn’t, the dizziness got to me heavier than I thought, trying to drag me away and I knew if I give in Estel will be in danger.

"Please Ava, please, stay strong, stay awake please!"

I can’t

I can’t do this

This was too much for me!

"Think of William, if he were here, he would be beside you right now, right? He would hold your hand and tell you to keep going!"

William

And then I screamed again pushing as hard as I could until the towel was off my mouth and I shrieked, gripping the sheets tightly until I was certain they would bleed from squeezing too hard.

I don’t know how long I kept going like this but enough until I was certain my throat was sore from all my screams and right that moment I saw something, something that brought more tears to my eyes.

William stood close to the window holding onto baby Estel in his arms, it was such a wonderful sight and I silently wished for it but I knew it was just a fragment of my imagination.

☆Loud Baby Cries☆

All the pain was lost to me as I focused on that sound only.

"Ava"

My weak gaze found Adina holding onto my baby wrapped in a white blanket, she looked at me with joy.

"She’s here"

But right at that moment the doors barge open.