Impaler

Child

The baby's cries echoed in the room, and the women felt joy from seeing the moment. Angela still held Minah. "It's a...boy?" Minah asked.

"Yes, my Lady! You have a son!" Ioana said while cleaning the newborn. The newborn had short and straight black hair and a good weight. His eyes were still closed, but it made Ioana's heart soar. While cleaning the infant, she couldn't help but notice something off regarding his fingers and toes. Her eyes widened when she noticed the child had six fingers on each hand. His right foot had only three toes, while the left had four. Ioana stilled when looking at the sight, and as she slightly moved her hand, there was a bump on the infant's back.

The older woman turned the infant away from the others who tended to Minah. The infant was lifted slightly where something was seen; his spine was misplaced, making it look like a bump. That was when Ioana realized that the infant was a hunchback. "I want my son," said Minah, who was lying on her bed. Angelina stood beside her bedside, who looked curious to see the infant boy. 

Ioana felt that her soul left her body when she processed seeing the child. "My god...why?" she whispered. She slowly turned to see Minah, who looked impatient as she extended her arms and hands. "L-Lady Minah, it's that you rest and-"

"Have you gone senile, Ioana? I want to hold my son. I also want you to inform my husband of his son's birth."

Ioana knew she couldn't keep Minah away from her son and dreaded her reaction. She slowly turned with the infant in her arms and gave him to Minah. The older woman walked out of the room before seeing Minah's reaction and went on to complete her orders. 

The infant was covered in a white sheet, and Minah ordered her ladies-in-waiting to fetch a more suitable blanket for her son. Angelina stood beside her and marveled at the sight of mother and son; a few tears formed in the corner of her right eye. "Congratulations, Lady Minah. You were strong."

Minah said nothing as she looked at her son, who was silent and opened his eyes. While holding him, she felt the bump on his back. "What is this?" When the noblewoman undid the clothes, her eyes widened with horror. Then, she let out a cry, which made Angelina flinch. The young woman was about to ask what was wrong when she noticed the child's fingers and toes. Minah turned her infant son around. "NOOOOO!!"

Angelina covered her lips as her eyes widened in horror; the infant was a hunchback. She immediately regained her composure. "L-Lady Minah, please calm down! Y-Your son-!"

"I gave birth to a monster! A devil!" yelled Minah. Her hands trembled so much that she almost dropped her son, but not before Angelina carried him. 

While carrying the newborn, Angelina felt the bump on his back, and the shock disappeared when she held him in her arms. Despite the infant's deformities, she couldn't help but feel warmth toward the infant. He looked at her with his dark eyes. Angelina gently touched the child's nose and then one of his hands, which the infant tried wrapping his hand to. It warmed her heart. "Lady Minah, he's not a devil. He's just a baby who was born different."

Out of the corner of her eye, Angelina noticed Vlad  with Ioana and Alexandrei behind him. Everyone was silent, and the tension could be felt in the air. Vlad's eyes were on Angelina and the infant boy in her arms. Minah's lips trembled, but she looked ashamed and couldn't look at her husband. Vlad slowly walked toward Angelina and stopped when he stood a couple of inches from her. "Show him to me," he commanded.

Angelina showed the infant to Vlad, and his deformities were noticed. Vlad was emotionless when he saw the infant. He then looked at his wife, who had her head down, and slowly walked toward her. "Look at me, wife." Minah hesitated but eventually did what she was told. Without warning, he slapped her across the safe, and she yelped. "You gave birth to that monstrosity. I wonder if he is even my son."

The slap echoed throughout the room, and blood trickled down Minah's noise. "H-Husband, I-"

"I want that monstrosity to be rid of."

Angelina gasped in horror as she held onto the child. "V-Voivode! It's not the baby's fault that he was born like this! He is innocent!"

Vlad glared at Angelina, who slowly backed away with the infant. "This child does not concern you, and it is not yours. How will this thing take my place as Voivode? Do you think the savages of the Turks will fear him as he grows older? He is a mockery of me."

"P-Please, Voivode, he is your son! I-I know you will be blessed with other sons, but this child doesn't need to die! Everything happens for a reason, Voivode. This child may have a purpose!"

"You are trying my patience, woman."

The young woman noticed that no one, not even Minah, was going to speak up for her, but she didn't want the infant boy to die. She knelt on her knees while looking up at Voivode, who raised an eyebrow. "He may not be mine, but he can be my burden to bear. If you and Lady Minah don't want him, I can raise him! No one has to know that he's your child! You can send the word that the child died during labor! I could say that I found him and chose to raise him! Please! Please, let him live!"

No one said a word, not even Alexandrei, who looked stunned at the child. Minah was crying but didn't look at Angelina and her child. Ioana was shocked, but her eyes softened when she saw Angelina beg for the child's life. The older woman walked to her and stood by her. Ioana knew she could be punished for speaking up against Vlad but would take the risk. "I will also help her care for the child, Voivode. We will ensure not to speak of this to anyone. You have our word."

Vlad eyed the women and the infant child; his hands were behind his back and squeezed into fists. "This child is not to be seen in this castle. I will hire a woman in the nearby village to care for him and be under your watch, Ioana."

Angelina's eyes widened. "Wh-What about me? Am I going to take care of him?"

"Ioana holds more responsibility since she is in charge of you. I trust her word, and you are still under suspicion. Give her the child."

The young woman was hesitant, but Ioana motioned out her arms and eyed her with reassurance; Angelina gave her the infant. Ioana walked away. Vlad glared at her, then to his wife, and walked out with Alexandrei in toe. The women were left alone, and neither said a word.