Chapter 46
“Ahhhgghhhhhh, get this bastard out of me!” Tears streamed down Lady Briseis face as another contraction took hold of her.
Achilles was frozen watching Lady Briseis’ body contort in pain.
“You did this to me!” Her black eyes bore into him. “Fucking do something!”
Achilles stumbled back out of the room, “HELGA! HELGA! QUICK, COME QUICK!”
Helga fell out of the library and rushed over to Achilles, her face paled as she noticed his distress.
“What’s wrong? Is it Seraphina?”
Achilles shook his head, “No, it’s Lady Briseis, the baby is coming.”
Achilles ushered Helga back into the main foyer where Lady Briseis was on her hands and knees, panting. Her whole body quivered as she let out shaky breath.
“Lady Briseis, it’s Helga. It looks like your little boy is on his way, are you okay to be moved to my office? It will be more comfortable for you there.”
Lady Briseis gave a slight nod and Achilles moved forward to pick her up.
He followed Helga to her office and placed Lady Briseis down on the bed there.
The area had already been prepared for when Seraphina delivers the twins.
“Why don’t you go and get Seraphina?” Helga glanced at Achilles as she busied herself preparing towels and water.
Achilles shook his head, “I don’t think now is the best time.”
Helga raised her eyebrows at him, “Achilles, I understand she is going through a lot but, believe me when I say, she would not want to miss the birth of your son.”
Achilles mulled it over for a moment before nodding and leaving the room.
Lady Briseis screamed as another contraction took hold of her, “GET THIS THING OUT OF ME!”
Helga rushed to Lady Briseis side, “Well done Lady Briseis, you are doing marvellous.”
Lady Briseis glared at her, “Spare me the pampering and just get this fucking thing out!”
Helga paled, she gulped and nodded at Lady Briseis.
“Okay, now that the contraction has passed, I am going to examine you.”
Lady Briseis groaned and flopped her legs open.
Helga carried out her examination in a swift manor, “Okay, I can see baby’s head. You’re progressing at a remarkably fast rate, it won’t be long before your baby is in your arms.”
Lady Briseis scoffed at her.
Achilles re-entered the room with Seraphina at his side. There were mixed emotions playing across her face as she watched Lady Briseis breath through another contraction.
She looked at Achilles and nodded towards Lady Briseis though, he only moved to go and stand in the far corner of the room.
Seraphina scowled at him and moved to stand by Lady Briseis side, she picked her hand up and gave it a gentle squeeze.
For once, Lady Briseis actually looked grateful, she tried to force a smile at Seraphina but, the pain got the better of her.
As the contraction passed, Seraphina smoothed Lady Briseis long blonde hair behind her, away from her clammy face. “Oh, Lady Briseis, you are doing so well, you are so strong.”
“It’s time to start pushing.” Bethel manoeuvred herself in between Lady Briseis’ legs.
Lady Briseis took a deep breath and began pushing. Her screams echoed through the entire manor.
Isobella and Elouise appeared in the doorway.
“Here, lets see if we can ease some of your pain.” Isobella smiled as she stepped forward.
“NO!” Lady Briseis roared, “Don’t come near me, I don’t need your help.”
Isobella held her hands up in surrender and stepped backwards.
Helga frowned at Lady Briseis for a moment.
“Baby’s head is almost out, we need another push.”
Lady Briseis cries filled the room again.
“His head is out, we need another big push from you Lady Briseis.”
Lady Briseis growled low in her chest before pushing down again.
After a short while, Helga’s face paled.
“Lady Briseis, the baby’s shoulders seem to be stuck, we need you on all fours, now.”
Lady Briseis struggled to move, Seraphina tried to help though, in her condition, there wasn’t much she could do.
Achilles had retreated to the far corner of the office and didn’t even glance over.
Isobella and Eloise rushed to Lady Briseis’ side and helped her onto her hands and knees, she growled at them.
“Don’t touch me!”
Isobella and Eloise shared a confused look.
“Lady Briseis, you need to push as hard as you can, we need the baby out now,” Helga coached her from behind.
“You can do this,” Seraphina had crouched down and held Lady Briseis face between her hands. “You are strong, you can do this Lady Briseis.”
A demonic shriek erupted from Lady Briseis as she bared down a final time. The room fell silent for a moment before the gentle cries of a baby were heard.
Tears spilled from Seraphina’s eyes as she kissed Lady Briseis on the forehead.
Helga wrapped the baby boy up in a blanket and moved to pass him to Lady Briseis.
“Congratu-“
“No,” Lady Briseis stopped Helga, “I don’t want to hold him.”
She stared at the wall next to her.
Helga frowned, “Are you sure? It would be best that he feed right away.”
Lady Briseis shook her head again, “I said I don’t want to hold him, I don’t want to look at him, I don’t want to feed him.”
Achilles had finally left his corner to look upon his son. His head snapped at Lady Briseis and a scowl formed on his face, “What is wrong with you?” He spat at her.
“Your highness, Lady Briseis’ body has just gone through a monumental change, post-natal depression is very common. It takes some mothers a period of time to bond with their baby.” Helga spoke softly.
Achilles didn’t lose his scowl, “He still needs to feed.”
“Get a wet nurse.” Lady Briseis didn’t take her eyes off of the wall.
“I could feed him,” Seraphina offered. “Just until you can arrange for a wet nurse.”
“Can she do that?” Achilles turned to Helga.
Helga nodded. Seraphina took a step towards Helga. She hesitated before turning to face Lady Briseis.
“Lady Briseis, do you mind if I feed him?”
Lady Briseis rolled her eyes, “Do as you wish.”
Seraphina went to sit on the couch and untied her dress, Helga passed the baby to her and helped guide him to latch.
Seraphina chuckled as he began to suckle away, fresh tears pooled in her eyes.
“He’s amazing,” she whispered as the baby gripped onto her finger.
“What is his name?” She looked up at Lady Briseis.
Lady Briseis turned her attention away from the wall to glare at Seraphina.
“He is just a bastard, why should I even give him a name?”
Seraphina was speechless.
“Leonardo,” Achilles came to sit beside Seraphina, he traced a finger along the top of his son’s head, “His name is Leonardo.” A smile played around his lips.
Lady Briseis growled low in her chest. “Can I leave now?”
Helga frowned, “We should at least give you chance to heal before you go.”
“You may rest here, I will have a room prepared for you.” Seraphina looked Lady Briseis in the eye.
“No, I wish to return home.” Lady Briseis turned her attention back to the wall.
“Well, shouldn’t I at least finish feeding Leonardo?”
“You can keep it.” Lady Briseis lips curled into a snarl.
“I beg your pardon?” Seraphina frowned at her.
“I said, you. Can. Keep. It.” Her voice held no warmth.
Achilles growled beside Seraphina, “He isn’t an ‘it’ he is our son, your son!”
Lady Briseis scoffed, “I didn’t ask for a bastard child.”
She stood up from the bed and smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress, luckily, the many layers of underskirt had stopped the blood from seeping through to the outer layers.
She turned and exited the room without a single look at the baby.
Seraphina frowned, “I’m sure she’ll come around eventually. I imagine this isn’t the way she envisioned starting a family.”
Achilles shook his head at Seraphina’s naivety.
They both looked down at the baby boy still latched on Seraphina’s bosom. He had opened one eye and was looking up at Seraphina through a beautiful golden-brown eye. Little blonde curls framed his delicate, chubby face.
“He is beautiful.”
Seraphina looked up to see Isobella and Eloise stood over them. She smiled as she looked back down at the baby in her arms, “He truly is.”
“Seraphina, I know now may not be the best time but, I must discuss something quite urgent with you.” Isobella frowned.
Seraphina nodded slowly as a pit formed in her stomach.
“Lady Briseis is not a vampire.”
Seraphina frowned at her.
“She is a Dhampir,” Eloise spoke up.
Seraphina shook her head. “No, she’s a vampire, isn’t she Achilles?”
Achilles nodded, “Yes, she’s a vampire.”
Eloise shook her head, “We thought that too until we touched her. Lady Briseis is a Dhampir.”
“Why would she conceal such a thing?” Seraphina frowned.
Isobella’s eyes darkened, “When I touched her, I sensed the same dark magic that I can feel in you.”