Thief Of Truth's Heart

Chapter 24

No.

No. No. No.

This can't be happening to them.

"Brother, calm down. It is fine. She will be alright, and so would be the twins."

Apollo turned to face his twin sister, who was trying to comfort him one last time before going to help his wife inside the bedchambers they had prepared for exactly this moment.

However, Apollo's idea about how she would end up here had been far from the flowery idea of them relaxing on their bed before his Lana's water broke.

This is a nightmare come true.

"Artemis, I think Atlanta is ready. You need to come inside now.", Eileithyia told Artemis softly after closing the doors behind her, stark contrast to the cries of pain that resounded in the presently closed chamber.

"She's is pain, Arty!! I want to go inside too!! I don't like to see her in pain!!", Apollo panicked and pleaded to his sister, his brain turning to mush in his panic.

Artemis put a strong hand on her little brother's shoulder. "You know the rules. The father stays outside.We are going to help her, don't worry. But you can't go in just like that-"

"I can't? Watch me.", Apollo snarled before pushing past Eileithyia forcefully and barging into the chambers behind her.

Ignoring Artemis' protests, Apollo went directly to the bedside of his wife and clasped her right hand tightly in his own, before sitting down on a nearby chair and holding her hand desperately to his lips, feeling utterly helpless when his Lana cried out in childbearing pain again.

"Lana, my love, I am here. I am right here.", Apollo told his best friend, his heart hurting on seeing her in pain.

"Phoebus.", Atlanta whimpered when her latest contraction faded away for a bit.

"It'll be alright, I swear. It's going to be over very soon, I promise. You'll be fine, sunshine.", Apollo reassured her, and to some extent, himself as well.

Atlanta turned her head to the side to look at her best friend with tears in her eyes. "Phoebus, it hurts so much. It hurts so bad. Ph-Phoebus, I ca-can't do this. I can't. Take the p-pain away. Pl-Please."

Apollo's grip on her hand tightened even further, as he tried not to panic. "I would take away your pain in a heartbeat if I could, Lana. I am so sorry, my love. This is all my fault, I should have never got into that trouble."

Atlanta cried out in pain as another contraction hit her like an entire herd of Pegasi. After a few minutes when the contraction died down for a bit again, she began crying anew. "This pain in unbearable. Not only do I have to face the actual pain of childbirth, but also the pain from my domain. I have torn apart all the mortal children. This is the way that my domains punish me. Phoebus, please. Please stay. I can't do this without you."

Apollo felt an indescribable amount of anger and hatred towards his father right then. Zeus was the reason why his wife was writhing in pain right then, while he was unable to do anything other than heal her and stay by her side.

Once this is over, I will get my revenge. I swear that I'll make him pay for putting my Lana through so much pain!!!

Apollo interlaced their fingers together and held on to it tightly. "I am not going anywhere. We are going to be alright. After this ends, we will have our children in our arms, my love. Don't you want to hold them? We are so close to seeing them, Lana. I know that you won't give up now. I know that you're much more stronger than I can ever hope to be."