Fleeting Hope

Chapter 8

Raven's POV:

"My father had nothing to do with kidnapping my daughter. You did." Damian pointed out, angry.

"No, but he is the reason that the two of you got together. It was all a plan since before the both of you were born," Talia crossed her arms. "Emma was practically planned as well. You are just puppets to your father's will. As was I."

"Stop talking nonsense," Damian shakes his head, refusing to hear it.

"Emma stays for her safety. And Raven should stay too," Talia turned to me. "A mother should always stay with her child."

"How do we even know what you are saying is true?" I step forward, wanting some real answers this time.

"I thought you would ask," Talia sat back and opened the top drawer of the desk. "Read this and I will let you two talk things out. I hope to see you for breakfast. Our first family breakfast that is," Talia stood up and handed Damian the file.

She left the room and Damian went to sit at his desk, opening the file. "What does it say?" I ask as I come over and read over his shoulder.

"I don't know yet," he looks at me. "How about you take care of Emma and I will read through the file. I know you want to check her over for any wounds."

"I do," I nod and kiss Damian's forehead. "Come find me when you are done. I will be in the other room. I will be giving Emma a bath."

"Alright," he nods and turns back to his work.

********************************

Damian's POV:

I heard the sound of the bath running in the other room and I could hear my wife's lovely voice as she sang to our daughter. But I tuned it out to read more of the file. Though I don't believe my mother, I would be a fool to not at least do my homework on something that might threaten my family.

So I sat down and read the file.

In short, it showed proof of someone from my family working with my father's enemy, conspiring to take down our kingdom. Another page showed my father's signature and Trigon's signature for a wedding between their children. It was dated months after Raven was born.

That means father knew all along about our future marriage to each other. And of course, he told me this, but I never knew it was to this extent. This shows that my father and Trigon had many messages back and forth, and all messages were intercepted by my mother.

The next part of the file was talking about Emma's place in all this. As I am descended from Demon's blood and Raven has magic, so Emma is a vessel of magic. I assumed, but seeing it on paper makes it more real.

My wife and daughter are in more danger than I thought.

I brushed my hand through my hair and sighed. A second later I stood up, deciding that I needed to see my family instead of worrying about things out of my control. Tomorrow I will speak to my mother and solve this problem, but for now, I will be with my family.

I walked into the bathroom and saw Raven lifting Emma out of the bathtub. She was humming a simple tune as she wrapped Emma in a soft towel.

"Beloved," I knelt beside her.

"Damian," she turned to me with a smile, and for the first time in weeks, I saw the light in her eyes return. "Emma seems fine."

"That's good," I smiled and kissed my wife's forehead. "I am just glad to have her back. And you."

"I wasn't gone," she turned to me with a funny look.

"You weren't all there," I cupped her face. "But you are now. And that is all that matters."

"So, are we sneaking out?" She asked as she turned her attention back to Emma and changed her.

"No," I sigh. "We need to stay and talk to my mother. I need some answers."

"What did the file say?" Raven asked as she cradled Emma in her arms.

"That your father and mine planned our marriage since you were born. And that Emma is a big part of the next step of their plans. And that she is in danger because of this. I need to know if this is true or just a trick, so we should stay. At least one more day," I say.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay just to learn more about your mother?" Raven asked, trying not to anger me.

"I can't risk you or Emma. If the file is right, then that means my family is a danger to both of you. I can't have you get hurt. Either of you," I said before placing my hand gently on Emma's soft head of hair. "And if that means I have to be in the same room as the woman who gave birth to me, then so be it."

"Then we stay," Raven nods and stands. "But I am sleeping where Emma sleeps."

"Agreed," I nod. "I will move the cradle into our bedroom."

"Move it to my side of the bed," Raven orders, leaving no room for debate. And I didn't want to argue with her, so I just nodded and stood up, going to the nursery to get the cradle. Once I had it, I brought it over to Raven's side and gently set it down.

"It's ready," I tell her.

"Thanks," Raven came out of the bathroom and gently placed Emma in her cradle. "She is just so peaceful. She hasn't fussed this whole time and smiles as if nothing happened." Raven starts ranting.

"Darling," I grab her arm. "Get ready for bed and I will watch over her."

"No," she shakes her head.

"I promise to not let anything happen to Emma. I will protect her," I swear on my life.

Raven hesitates for a few more seconds before sighing and walking to the bathroom. I can hear the shower running, and I knew because of three days in a carriage, she was going to take a long shower to get clean. I sat beside the cradle on the floor and rocked it as I watched Emma's eyes start to slowly close.

"I promise to never let you go again," I whisper to my daughter, promising her. Emma's hand finds my finger and her strong grip grabs onto me, bringing tears to my eyes.