{𝕰𝖛𝖎𝖑 𝕋.ℝ}

Chapter 39

Anchor

"Pregnant?" Azazel stuttered and William nodded, his smile faltering at her reaction. "But.. that's not possible..how.." her voice broke and she felt her eyes sting. "Check again! Check properly this time!" Her desperation was apparent but William only looked at her solemnly. "I checked properly Miss Bellum. You are pregnant." He said once again and Azazel, for the second time in two days, felt like the whole world was against her and it was crumbling down on her.

She didnt know how to feel. She was sure she felt happy, yes, there was a life inside of her and the thought alone made her happy. But the other part of her that was scared screamed at her in agony. How was she going to protect the child? It being born and coming into the world itself would be a challenge considering her life.

But the mere thought of getting rid of it made her feel disgusted at herself. Her hands subconsciously went to her stomach and she looked down.

"Don't tell anyone.." she thought for a moment and looked at William before continuing. "While you leave, could please ask Adélard to come here?" She asked and William nodded before packing his stuff and leaving.

Only a few minutes later Adélard walked into the room and closed the door behind him. Azazel gestured for him to sit on the bed and he sat at the other end, facing her, who was leaning on the headboard.

"What is it? It's nothing serious right?" He asked, worry lacing his features. Azazel looked at him and her lips quivered, eyes glossing over.

"I am pregnant."

He did not say anything for almost a minute. His mouth hung open and his eyes were so wide that they may fall out of the sockets. He stared at her in disbelief and sputtered nonsense when he finally spoke. He shook his head and composed himself before talking again.

"You are what?" Azazel sighed and felt a tear escape her eyes against her wish. "Pregnant." She said again. "Oh dear" his face melted into a solemn expression and he scooted closer to her and pulled her into a hug. Azazel let her head rest on his shoulder and took deep breaths to avoid crying, but the tears flowed anyways.

"It's okay. It's okay love" he soothed her and kissed the top of her head before pulling away and wiping her tears. "I am scared Ad." She choked out and the expression on his face almost matched her own distress. "Don't be. I am here. Always." He said and Azazel looked down at her stomach.

"I am scared I won't be able protect it. It's going to be a challenge to even deliver safely. I am so scared. But I don't want to kill a life even before it has seen anything or known anything." She sobbed and he couldn't do anything as the girl he considered his sister broke down like this.

"You will be fine Azazel. You both will be. I'll make sure of it. Once all of this is over, you can leave and never come back. You both can have your own life in a  little village where everything that mattered was the next supper and gossips." He assured and Azazel looked at him with hopeful eyes. "But I am supposed to --" he cut her off. "Stop with your bullshit about how you are supposed to save people and not live your own life. If that was what you were made for, they shouldn't have given you feelings, emotions, a heart, the ability to get pregnant like this. None of it. You shouldn't have been human Azazel. So listen to me and be happy. We have a little Azazel growing in there." He said and smiled at her.

Her sunshine. Always making her happy.

She smiled and caressed her stomach even though there was no bump yet.

"Or a little Riddle." She said and Adélard chuckled at that. "The earth can't handle one Bellum." He said and Azazel smiled wider. "I can handle both." She said and he laughed. "That you can."