Iron of the Innocent: The Dark Judge (Vol 1)

Chapter 12: "Like an animal..."

248 I.C.
Sacren
Solorn Kingdom
Solorn Province
The Ruin Estate

Twenty-six years in the past...

Arathan woke from a deep sleep with a start. The air was cold, and he shivered as he was not under the warm blankets of his bed. He noticed the warmth of his wife was not against his back. Rolling over, he blinked in the darkness, clearing his vision. The dim light of one of the moons outside showed its light through the shudders. It was very late in the depths of the night.

Arathan sat up, his big arms supporting him. He looked around the room, but it was just as empty as his bed. Slipping his legs over the edge he sat up completely and rubbed his face. Sesha had not been sleeping well at all over the course of the weeks following her miscarriage. Her loving husband was concerned, and worried about her. This had not been the first night he woke up with her missing from his side.

He sat listening to the quiet, hearing the sounds of the night outside, the breeze as it pushed against the house from time-to-time, and from somewhere in another part of the house he heard a creaking noise as the house settled on its foundation. There was nothing out of the ordinary.

Arathan got up, his warm feet touching the cold wood, and he took a few quick steps in response as he moved across the room. His feet protested at their frigid, late night stroll. The man's baggy pajama bottoms did not do well to keep him warm as it was his only garment. He grabbed his button down pajama shirt and slipped it on as his skin reacted to the cold. Little bumps spread out over his bare torso and arms. But he did not button the shirt. Moving through the shadowy door, he walked down the hallway slowly, listening.

He knew his house like he knew his own reflection. There was no guess or uncertainty as he passed through the darkness. Turning a corner, he came to the top of the steps leading downstairs. That is when he heard her. Somewhere downstairs he heard her voice whispering. She would say something, then pause, then say something else as if having a conversation. He nodded to himself knowing that sometimes he talked out loud.

Stepping slowly down the stairs he came to the landing and turned. He was about to take another step when he heard Sesha's whispering turn angry, speaking quickly. Then she sobbed. Arathan rubbed his face a look of worry touching his eyes. Then the angry voice whispered again. Taking another step, he called out to her. "Sesha?"

Immediately the whispering ceased. The lower part of the stairs creaked with his weight. He would have to repair that step as constructing quiet stairs continued to be a challenge for him to conquer. Coming to the bottom of the steps he called again. "Sesha, love? You okay?"

He looked across the living area toward the kitchen. In the wide open threshold that led that direction he could see her silhouette. The dim light of the moon illuminated the night beyond her where the large windows opened out toward the forest. She appeared to be facing him, but she did not respond. "Love?" he said again as he took a step toward her.

There was a snapping sound as if her joints popped when she moved her arms from behind her. A stifled sob escaped her lips as she bent down, landing heavily on her knees. She leaned forward and a gut wrenching gurgle filled the room as she vomited, the liquid splattered heavily on to the floor. The first heave was only the beginning. She heaved again even more violently.

Arathan took a step back, jumping in surprise. "Sesha?" He said louder, deep worry filling his voice. His large legs carried him across the room rapidly. "Baby..." he said moving behind her, his big hands swept her moist hair up away from her mouth as she heaved again landing on her hands. The amount coming out of her was causing a tendril of fear to curl around his spine. "I'm here, my love, I'm here." He whispered with slight panic, holding on to her.