I’m heading into the woods to meet with Destine, Eva, and Thanos. I can’t believe I’m about to do what I’m about to do. Disbelief is the newest emotion to run the show at the moment. Next is fear. I hope Carter can forgive me for what I’m about to do, but I know this will ensure that Ari is safe from Enchantress’s hands. I know that I can’t ignore what my parents went through with Calder. I refuse to have that fate for my child, my soulmate, and myself.
My dad is right. I'm stronger than I have ever been, my skin is thick, and I know I can survive. My world has been shattered over and over again, and yet I survive. My strength always seems to surprise me. I’m amazed at myself, and how well I have fixed the broken pieces of my life. For all the bad there has been good. I found my soulmate, my family is whole again, and I’m about to have the most precious gift of all, a child. Nothing and no one will take my child, my family, my friends, or my soulmate away from me. I’ll burn the world to the ground before I let anyone take something I love away from me again.
I find Eva, Destine, and Thanos waiting for me in the spot we agreed to meet which is right in front of a Knight's Wood tree. We enter into a tree that I realize is hollowed out and goes underground. The Knight’s Wood Tree, one of the rarest, and most valuable trees in the magical world. I would have never known the tree led to an underground sanctuary, but then again, I’m with the Three, and the world is much different being around them. They are gods. I now know where the humans got the influence from the Greek, roman, and Norse gods.
“What is the place?” I ask as I follow the Three to an open room.
“It’s a Knights Wood Tree,” Thanos answers.
“Yeah, I got that part. Why is there a hidden underground bunker type thing?”
“All Knight’s Wood trees have this underground bunker as you call it. Only the Three and those we allow to see this hidden part of the tree know it exists,” Eva answers.
Thank the heavens for Eva. She is the most helpful, and the kindest out of the Three. Eva leads me to a hospital looking bed. Eva sends the men away so it’s just her and I. I change into a white cotton dress that stops at my knees. It’s simple and comfortable. I get situated onto the bed. Eva walks over to the side of the bed. She hands me a clear pill and glass of water. I take the items from her and take a deep breath.
“It’s okay Emmy. This is for the better. Ariane will be safe.” Eva’s voice is soothing.
“I know,” I say as I pop the pill in my mouth and wash it down with water.
Eva smiles at me as she takes the glass from me.
“Now we wait. The pill will start working within the hour. By tomorrow your little girl will be here.”
I nod my head.
“Now rest Emmy. You are going to need it. I won’t be far.” Eva gives me her perfect white smile.
I close my eyes. The pill I took will advance my pregnancy so that I can give birth sooner rather than later. It’s not ideal, but it’s the best way to protect Ari from the Enchantress. The Enchantress has already tried to hurt my child. There will not be a second time. I hate that Cater and the others can’t know, but it’s better this way. The less people that know the less chance of this being compromised.
Shooting pain jolts me from deep sleep. I look down and my belly is huge. I’m fully nine months pregnant, and I can only assume the pain is because I’m in labor. Eva rushes to my side. I cry out from the pain. In this moment I wish Carter was with me. I wish it didn’t have to be like this. I hate that I have to do this on my own. I thought I could do this on my own. I thought I could handle it, but I was so damn wrong.
“It’s okay Emmy.” Eva tries to soothe me, but I’m panicking.
Everything is blur around me. I can’t seem to handle the pain, no that’s not it. I feel like something is wrong. I need Carter. I see Eva with Destine and Thanos. They are around my bed. Eva is shouting orders. Thanos grabs my hand, I take it and squeeze hard. I naturally part my legs and push. I’m in so much pain. The worst pain I’ve ever been in. I can’t think, I can’t breathe, I can’t focus. I scream out in pain. My voice sounds so far away like I’m in a tunnel. The voices around me seem muffled. I know I’m having a panic attack.
I keep pushing and screaming. It’s all I can do. My body is acting on its own accord. Then I hear a cry. I see my daughter in Eva’s hands. Suddenly I can focus. I realize I’m in tears, Thanos is still holding my hand. Eva and Destine are working on Ariane. I lean back in the bed not wanting to look at all the blood. I’m breathing heavily, but slowly.
Eva walks up to me, and places Ariane in my arms. I smile. She’s beautiful. She has dark hair like me, but green eyes like Carter. She’s so tiny. I’m happy even though I wish Carter was here with me. I hope he doesn’t hate me for this. I don’t think he will know that I only did it to protect our daughter.
“She’s healthy,” Eva says with a proud smile on her face.
“Good. Thank you for everything.”
“We take care of our own,” Destine says smiling.
I look over to Thanos who is also smiling. He is normally so serious, but right now he’s beaming, of course he is. His soulmate just entered into the world. I let Destine and Thanos hold Ari before Eva kicks them out so that she can help me clean up. Eva helps me shower. I’m sore and extremely tired, but so damn happy.
After the bed is cleaned, I get back into it. I feed Ariane while Eva gives me potions to heal so that I can move on and take out the Enchantress. I won’t get to spend much time with Ari, but I know that once the war is over, I will have endless amounts of time with her. First, I have to eliminate the threat to the world.
I spend the next day resting, and nursing Ariane. She’s so adorable, and I can’t wait for everyone to meet her. They will love her. I know I love her more than life itself which is why I have to get ready and meet with Destine and Thanos. We have a trick up our sleeves. The Enchantress will never see it coming, hell no one will.
I find Destine and Thanos outside of the tree. I feel so much better thanks to the potions and spells Eva used on me. I don’t even feel like I just gave birth. I guess that’s the idea. I’m suited up in a black leather tank with black skinny jeans that I have paired with black leather thigh high boots. I’ve got on fingerless black elbow length gloves that have buckles on them. My swords are on my back in X. I’m ready to fight.
“Are you ready to end this?” Destine asks “You have no idea.”
“Good. First step, transform into the monster,” Thanos instructs.
I do as I’m told.
“Good. Now transform the monster into a dragon. You have the ability to shift just like the Enchantress does. Dragon blood runs through veins, it’s part of the dark magic that runs through your blood. Instead of a fire dragon you need to transform into an ice dragon. Picture the dragon in your head. Focus everything on transforming into the ice dragon.”
I focus all I am into this transformation. It’s the first time I’ve ever done this, but I’m so confident. I feel my body morph into dragon form. My bones crunch and crack, my limbs stretch, and my whole body is cold, and yet it burns. When I open my eyes, I can see so much clearer than before. I turn my head, and blow ice at a poor unsuspecting tree that is not nothing but ice.
“Fuck, you did it, Emmy,” Thanos yells.
“I can’t believe this worked,” Destine comments.
Eva walks out holding Ari.
“You look beautiful Emmy,” Eva compliments me. “That’s right Ari, isn’t your mommy so magnificent looking.” Eva turns her attention from Ari to me. “A beautiful white ice dragon is what you are, Emmy.”
Destine casts a mirror image of myself in the ice on the tree I just froze. I’m giant ass white dragon. I look glossy because I’m white. My under belly and under my wings have a pale blue color to them. I’m pretty huge. My eyes are ice blue. I’m fierce looking. I’m ready for battle. I change back into my normal self. I take Ariane into my arms one last time.
“The Enchantress won’t know what hit her,” Destine comments.
“No, she won’t. She messed with the wrong witch,” I state.
I kiss Ari on the forehead, and hand her off to Eva. Eva will keep Ariane safe till the war is over. I hug Eva and shake hands with Destine and Thanos. I thank them for their help, and they tell me to go kick ass which I have all intentions of doing. The Enchantress is going down. I turn to head back towards camp. I’m going to end this once and for all. The Enchantress will wish she messed with a different witch. Tonight, the Enchantress dies, tonight this ends for good.