Chapter 104 Dark Reality of her life
ANGELICA'S POV
I didn't know how things turned out and how I arrived back in the Blood Martial pack, in the same circle where I had started the ritual.
One moment, the demon king was thanking me and assuring me he would stop all his torturous activities on Earth, involving the witches of my coven; the next, I was standing before the twin alphas, who had worried looks all over their faces.
“Angel! Thank goodness you are fine. You have no idea how sacred we were." Dylan was the first one to hug me, almost lifting me off the ground.
This brought me to another reality. I touched the side of my head that should've been bruised terribly because of what I went through, but my head didn't even have a scratch, let alone a deep crack.
My clothes weren't dirty at all.
I looked at Alchemist for the answers that were beyond my understanding.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt somewhere? What exactly happened? How the hell did that string burn?” Ericson asked, and I smiled at them before gently pushing them away.
“Can we come out?” I asked, and when Alchemist nodded, I didn't waste a second in rushing to him.
“Thank you. Thank you for helping me out in times of need. If you hadn't sent and summoned those souls of the demon king's son and his wife, I wouldn't have been alive,” I said to Alchemist.
He looked at me with arched brows. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, Dylan and Ericson interrupted him.
“His son and wife? What really happened?” They asked me.
I sighed and narrated the entire story to them of what happened, what I saw, what I heard, and what I did.
I could see the fear of losing me and surprise on their faces before they hugged me again, and I smiled into their arms.
“I didn't send those souls. In fact, I have no idea what you are talking about. How come you have no wounds if you had gotten hurt?” Alchemist asked.
I paused.
“What are you saying? Don't pretend just because you don't want any credit for what you did. You clearly—”
I did it. I called those souls. Cecilia's words stopped me from speaking, and I froze in my place.
“You found out? It was you who summoned those souls, something that even a thousand-year-old witch can't do easily. Not only that, you never went to that place yourself. Your powers kept your body safe in the realm and let your soul enter the palace. That's why you don't have a wound, or any recollection of it on your body,” Alchemist explained.
It was a bit too much for me to take. How, and… if that were possible, could I really call any soul? But everything comes with a price.
How did Cecilia pull it off?
“Let's not talk about what's done. Let's go now and celebrate. All our hardships are gone. Now it's time to live happily ever after." Ericson picked me up bridal style and ran towards the packhouse.
I smiled at him, laughing and eating with them because the hardships really were over, but the thought of Cecilia's hesitancy wasn't leaving my head.
When I saw the alphas getting busy with the pack members, I snuck out in the name of wanting some fresh air and walked back to the same clearing where that circle had been made to help me teleport to the hell realm.
“Tell me the truth, Cecilia. I am done with lies. I know you are hiding something from me, something that can change everything, because if it hadn't been important and severe, you wouldn't hide it,” I said to Cecilia.
There was no sound from inside my head for some time, and I sighed, thinking she didn't want to talk to me or was too tired and replenished herself because of what she did.
However, after a few minutes. I felt the hair on my neck stand. I turned around and looked at the person before me with wide eyes.
A woman in a white satin dress was floating before me, her body radiating such energy that she almost looked like a second moon on earth.
“W-who?” I asked, unable to form a complete sentence.
“Cecilia,” the woman said.
I narrowed my eyes.
“That's bullshit. Cecilia is the name of my powers. How is it possible for her to come out of my head and greet me like this, like a woman?” I asked.
The woman smiled.
“I am indeed Cecilia; your powers. You wanted to know the truth. I had intended to tell you slowly, but it's going to hurt you nonetheless, so here it is." The woman took a deep breath, the leaves rustling around her.
“I am leaving,” she said.
“Leaving?” I asked, unsure where this was leading.
She nodded slowly.
“To save your life, I used a thousand years' worth of mana, everything I had. I am now incapable of working. I need to leave to come back,” she said.
I sighed in relief.
“Oh, so it's that kind of thing. You had me there for a second. I thought you were leaving me forever," I chuckled before shaking my head.
The woman didn't smile.
“I would return. But not to you. You wouldn't be there by the time I arrive,” she said, her words confusing me.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Cecilia looked down at her feet before she raised her hand in the air.
A translucent sheet appeared on the screen. On that screen, I saw a glimpse of a little girl running behind two men, playing chase.
“That's your family's future,” Cecilia said.
I felt heat rush to my face in excitement. Was I pregnant with a girl? That was so good.
I watched the little girl, barely two years old, play happily with her father, and a chuckle left my mouth. I must be cooking or sleeping somewhere for sure.
“But you are not there. You see, Angelica, you would die giving birth,” Cecilia said.
“Hmm?” The smile on my face froze. I looked at the woman, wondering if I heard it right.
Did she say I would die?
“Don't tell this to anyone. If the alphas found out, they would think you are dying because of the baby, but if my calculations are right, your due date will arrive on your 22nd birthday. You have lived enough. It's for you to leave,” Cecilia revealed.
The ground felt slipping from under my feet.
Was I going to die on my 22nd birthday? It was only seven months from now.
“Your blood is too powerful, too strong a combination to be left alive on Earth. It was your pure luck and lack of powers awakening that kept you alive. You already resurrected a dying wolf when you saved Ericson, and then you summoned an angel from the heavens. Your body can't take the toll." Cecilia walked closer to me before she extended her hand and patted my hair gently.
“That's why I am leaving. If I don't, you won't survive delivering your child, and I am sure you want to give the alphas something before leaving.
I would be back when? I don't know, but I will. Till then, take care of your child. She is going to be a special one, but her life is going to be full of hardships, too,” Cecilia said.
“I… I am dying?” I asked, trying hard to understand.
“You are. That's the dark reality of your life. Every power comes with its price, and you'll have to pay with your life,” Cecilia said.
I stood there, letting the information sink in, placing my hand on my abdomen.
I would die giving birth. Did that mean I might not even be able to see the face of my child? The thought alone made my heart ache terribly.
“Angel, what are you doing there?” Dylan’s and Ericson’s voices echoed from behind me.
“Take care. Remember, I always loved you,” Cecilia said before she disappeared into thin air.
As soon as she left, I felt a strange hollowness in my head and heart, and I fell to my knees, tears rolling down my cheeks.
“Hey, baby. Is everything alright? What's wrong? Are you hurting anywhere?” Ericson scooped me in his arms, and I cried harder.
“No. It's just…I am so happy that everything is fine,” I said, unable to express my sorrow for the loss of my powers and the weight of the truth that I would have to keep with myself for the next seven months.