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Love Rose x
The next time I opened my eyes, we were already back home. As soon as I woke up, I got a huge earful from Zac, who made it very clear exactly what he thought about me going after Demelza by myself. But thankfully a lot of shouting, crying and tears later we both calmed down and rejoiced in the fact that we were now free.
Demelza was finally dead.
Zac had confirmed this, alongside Demarcus when they burned her dead body and then scattered her ashes into the ocean.
The biggest threat towards us and our unborn child had now been eradicated. There was nothing to fear anymore, we were now safe.
Life moved on, slowly but surely and everything fell back into its rightful place.
Demarcus had managed to heal himself enough to get back to the pack and from thereon Taliya took over, using her healing skills to revive my uncle back to his normal physical health. His emotional and mental wellbeing however, struggled at first at the death of his sister but even those scars eventually healed. Demelza had haunted him long enough and now it was time he moved on and started to live again.
Many of our warriors were lost in the fight against the hunters and rogues, but their sacrifice was not in vain. We brought back all their bodies and gave them the best burial possible. It was clear, that while they might have left this world, they would never to be forgotten.
Zac too had been injured as well, but most of them were superficial. In fact if you asked him, he would say that the wound that nearly killed him was actually when he found me lying unconscious in the pouring rain, next to Demelza's lifeless body. He said he had never ever been so scared in his whole life before.
As for me, I was fine. Healthy, unharmed and for the first time in a long time, I was at peace. My family were safe, my pack was safe and my baby was safe.
Everything was going so smoothly. No rogues or hunters or evil birth mothers, only happiness, safety and a sense of security.
Three months passed at the click of a finger and I was now the size of an inflated beach ball, waddling about ridiculously but so bored out of my mind. Zac was determined to keep me away from doing anything tiring, or hard or what he deemed unsafe, so that meant most of my days passed with me lazing around in the library or just chilling with Carla and Gemma.
Realising that the only way to keep me from causing 'trouble' was to keep me occupied, Zac had finally apologized to Gemma for their unfortunate first meeting and practically begged her to move into the pack house for the last few months of my pregnancy and lets just say Gemma didn't need too much persuading.
Thankfully Gemma and Carla got on like a house on fire and the last few months were the happiest days of my life.
My parents, as always were only a phone call away and for the last few weeks my mum had been staying with me, but then realizing my dad was getting grumpy without her, she reluctantly decided it was best to go back home.
Dad was the same as always and to my utter shock, Zac and him have actually been able to tolerate each other... for a little while. And when I say 'little' I mean they can last around half an hour in the same room together, any longer than that was- well that was pushing it.
Now Zac and I- that was a completely different matter. In fact leave us together in a room and lets just say we can last a lot lot longer than just half an hour.
So that's how our life continued and since I only had another month to go before I was due, we decided not to find out the gender of our baby, though we both had our own suspicions.
Zac was adamant that it was going to be a girl. I could see it in his eyes, every day when he would kiss my stomach and speak gently or read stories out loud, he was desperate for a daughter who he could spoil and treat like a princess.
On the other hand, I was pretty damn sure that I was carrying a boy, especially if the kicks were anything to go by. Goddamn, those were so freaking painful and would often leave me cursing and jumping out of bed in the middle of the night.
But even those I could tolerate, after all in a months time my life would be complete.
Or so I thought.
★★
It wasn't unusual for me to be so awake so late at night, because that's usually when the peanut inside me decides it's time to be hyperactive with the kicking.
But today, the kicking was the least of my worries.
It had started again.
The visions.
But this time, they had come back with a vengeance. Every time, I even tried to close my eyes, I bolt up, drenched in a cold sweat, my eyes wide and teary.
It had started off the same as the other visions- Zac's dead body, the pack dead and desolate around me, but then the more recent ones had started to differ.
At first I didn't notice it, but everytime the vision flashed in my mind, it was harder to ignore the figure hidden in the background of the chaos, standing tall and completely unbothered by the death and destruction around her.
A face I'd thought was now only a distant, faded nightmare.
Demelza.
It was impossible, I mean I was the one who had impaled a metre long metal rod through her chest. I had seen her glassy lifeless eyes as she bled out beside me. She was dead- so why was she still torturing me in these visions?
I turned to Demarcus the moment the first vision occured and unfortunately neither him, nor Zac had any idea about it. Zac wondered if it was some kind of PTSD, but somewhere deep inside I already knew what the vision meant.
Even if we had managed to kill Demelza, it didn't mean I had managed to change what was inevitably still prophesied to happen.
I turned in bed, my eyes locking on Zac's sleeping figure. He looked so peaceful, his eyes closed, his eyelashes resting on his high cheekbones, lips purses exhaling slow, deep breaths.
My fingers reached out tentatively and gently traced his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin.
The end was coming and I wasn't sure if we were ever going to be prepared for it.
★★
I was still awake when Zac's eyelashes finally fluttered open and his still sleepy grey eyes met mine. Instantly his lips curled into a lazy, heart tugging smile and despite my restless night, I couldn't help but smile back.
"Morning Eve," he greets, his long fingers reaching out to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear.
"Did you sleep well?" he asks, his eyes narrowing in concerns when he picks up on my tired eyes and the grey bags underneath them.
I hesitate for a second, wondering whether it's even worth telling Zac about the latest vision I had. I know that everytime I bring it up, it only worries him, but I needed to get this heavy feeling off my chest and it felt like he was the only person who could understand me fully.
"I had another one." I say, knowing from the tightening of his lips, Zac already knew that I was talking about the visions.
"What happened?" He asks, concern lacing his words. His arms reach over and wrap around me, gently rubbing my back, filling me with much needed comfort.
My mouth feels dry as I speak up, "It wasn't like one of the usual visions," I begin, "it was very short and weird." I don't really know what other word could be used to accurately describe the nightmare of a vision I had.
"Basically it started off pitch black and then there was this small wooden table," I close my eyes, trying to think deeply as not to miss any details, "and one second there was nothing on the table and then the next second there was this wine glass and it was filled with wine."
I gulp, exhaling a deep breath as I continue my description, feeling a chill go up my spine.
"And then suddenly the glass tips and falls off, spilling red wine on the floor."
Silence.
Zac watches me carefully from under his lashes, listening carefully and then realising I wasn't saying anything more he speaks.
"That's it?" He questions with a raised eyebrow.
I nod my head, sharing the same confused expression on his face.
"I know," I say not bothering to hide my incredulous tone, "like I said, it was so weird."
We stay quiet for a while, both of us trying to figure out what the vision could be suggesting, but then after a few more moments of silence we both give up.
"Honestly, I have no fucking clue." Zac admits and I burst out laughing at the way his eyes widen and brows raise.
He makes another face to amuse me and I hide my face in his chest as I laugh and he tightens his arms around me, pulling me close to him.
"Maybe-" he starts and I can already tell he's teasing me, "it's not even a vision. Maybe it's your alcoholic conscience secretly craving for a glass of wine."
I roll my eyes and swat my hand playfully against his chest.
"Shut up!" I say with a wide corny smile.
"Ouch, no need to get abusive," he teases back with a smirk, "I still love you even if you're a desperate alcoholic."
At his words we both burst out laughing and I know deep inside what he's trying to do. He knows how much these recent visions have been stressing me out and I know him teasing me is his attempt to distract me, so despite the fear building inside me, I just bury my face in his chest and muffle my giggles.
It feels good to be so free and lighthearted, because unknown to me, this would be the last time I would ever laugh like this again.
★★
I should have sensed it, the way my mind had been pounding for the last half hour should have been a warning, a red flag waving brightly. But I had tried to push it aside, claiming it as an undesirable symptom of pregnancy, but now the pain was getting to a point where it was making me feel so dizzy that all I wanted to do was lean over and vomit.
"Babe, you really look like you need to go and lie down." I turn my head to look at Gemma, but even that slight action felt like someone was stabbing me in the eye with a sharp object.
Fuck this- I'm never getting pregnant again if this is what being pregnant comes with, I think as my lips form a grim smile.
"Yeah, I think that's actually a good idea." I agree as I push myself up from the chair, suddenly swaying to catch myself when I felt lightheaded.
Ok, this was weird now. I had never felt like this before.
"Woah-" Gemma appears by my side, her hands wrapped around my forearms, helping to steady me, "what's going on with you?" I can sense her concern as she crouched down to look me in the eyes.
"I-I don't know," I reply, raising a hand to clutch my head, hoping somehow that would dull the pounding, "it feels like someones trying to force through my mind-link."
"Force through your mind-link?" Gem repeats with a dubious tone and it's only when she repeats it out loud does it finally click in my head.
"Oh my god!" I shout, my eyes widening. The barrier spell! Someone must have trespassed across the barrier.
Instantly I'm up on my feet and budging past a very confused looking Gemma, running straight towards Zac's office.
Zac! I open up our mind-link and instantly I get a reply from him, his voice alert and anxious by my sudden intrusion.
What? What's wrong- is it the baby?! His voice is rushed and stressed.
No, but I think someone's crossed onto our territory, I can feel it.
I reach his office just as Zac throws open the door and in our hurry we both run into each other but thankfully Zac reaches out and catches me just before I end up flying to the floor.
"Hey! I've already alerted the border guards and I'm going to head out with Jayden and few others to double check."
I nodded frantically, already out of breath from the short distance I had run from the living room to his office, my bulging belly cramping painfully.
Zac's eyes roam across my body and locks in on my hand holding my stomach, his eyebrows scrunching as he notes my chest rising in exertion.
"Eve, how many times have I told you to stop running around, it's not good for the baby." I flinch from the irritated tone in his voice, but I know he's only looking out for us.
Suddenly his eyes turn blank and I realise someone is mind linking him.
His eyes return to their normal shade, "You're right- someone's crossed the barrier and is heading in the direction of the pack." His words made my heart beat out of rhythm and fear crawls up my body like a snake, constricting around me so hard I felt suffocated.
"Go back to your room," he orders and I can tell from the stern look in his dark eyes he wasn't joking around and for once I didn't hesitate to do as I was told. Something inside me was telling me to hide away and lock all the doors.
I watch as Zac turns around to head outside, but then on second thought he turns around and reaches over and pulls me to his chest, leaning down to capture my lips with his. It was a quick kiss, but his lips molded against mine like they were made for each other and his tongue caressed mine softly before he pulled away. He strokes my cheek with his thumb and places a quick kiss on my forehead.
"I love you."
Speechless I just smile back, my head bobbing up and down in reply.
He kneels down and places a large hand on my stomach, his splayed fingers caressing my skin through my dress and quickly kisses my pregnant belly, his forehead resting gently on the surface for a split second.
"And I love you too, baby."
And then he was gone.
★★
I watched him leave, but then sense flooded back to me like a bucket of cold water thrown over my head and I quickly turned around heading back to the living room where Gemma was still sitting, watching something on her phone.
"Gem, you need to go back to your room." I order and she raises an eyebrow at my words but I guess she noticed the desperate look in my eyes because she stares back at me for a second and then slowly nods her head and leaves to go back to her room without questioning me.
I go to mind-link Carla but then get distracted when I see Kate running up the stairs, a scared expression etched into her face.
"Kate!" I call out and she stumbles on the last step as she turns around to face me, her mouth and eyes going wide in relief.
"Oh thank god!" she yells as she jogs back down to my side, her hands quickly linking through mine.
"What's going on?" I ask, noticing that she was really out of breath.
"Zac told me that someone had trespassed so he asked if I would come and stay with you." she says as we both start up the stairs, my body is already tired by the time we get to the top.
"Why were you running?" I ask, still not understanding why she was in such a hurry.
We both head in the direction to my room, the only sound my heavy breathing as I tried to catch my breath from walking up the stairs.
Kate pauses, turning to me, her eyes fearful. "I don't know Eve, i just have this really bad feeling. Like the moment Zac told me, I just felt this chill come over my body and I was scared that something had happened to you, so I literally legged it." Kate explains sheepishly, her cheeks turning pink when I smile back at how sweet my mates sister was.
"Aww Kate, that's sweet." I say nudging my shoulder against hers, my hand reaching out for the door handle to my room.
If I hadn't been so distracted by Kates words, I might have sensed it. If I hadn't been so distracted I might have heard the noise from behind the door. If I hadn't been so distracted, I might have been able to act faster when Kate was thrown across the room, her head smashing so hard against the wall, her skull cracked and blood painted the room red.
And if I hadn't been so distracted, perhaps it wouldn't have ended the way it did.
"Hello sweetheart," my whole body freezes. "...mummy's home. Did you miss me?"
Damn, why won't she just die?!
A lot of you already guessed it and knew that Demelza was most likely not ready to be buried six feet in the ground just yet.