Heirs of the Black Legacy

Chapter 12

The tension in the room thickened, pressing down like a weight that refused to lift. Regulus lay on the bed, his body trembling from the exhaustion of labor. His baby had already arrived, now resting safely in the care of a house-elf nearby. Yet, despite the relief of the birth, Regulus’s body still throbbed with lingering pain. Every breath came as a struggle, his muscles sore and his mind battling the haze of exhaustion.

He could hear the worried whispers around him, the panic rising for Sirius, but his vision blurred from the tears of relief and pain. A sob choked out of him as another wave of agony rolled through his body, though nothing compared to what he'd just endured.

“Sirius…” Regulus muttered, barely audible, as his eyes tried to focus on his twin across the room. His breath hitched, pain lacing every word. “He’s still... struggling?”

Orion was at his side in an instant, kneeling beside him and placing a firm but gentle hand on his son’s shoulder. “You did wonderfully, Regulus. The baby is here and safe. You need to rest now.” His voice was calm but held the edge of worry that lingered in the air. He glanced at Abraxas, who was still tending to Sirius, and then back to Regulus, his own panic barely contained.

“I’m scared, Dad,” Regulus whispered, tears slipping down his cheeks. "What if... what if something happens to Sirius?"

Orion’s heart twisted painfully at those words, but he forced himself to stay composed. “Nothing is going to happen to him. Abraxas is doing everything he can, and you know how good he is.”

Regulus nodded weakly, though his body still shook from exhaustion and residual pain. “It’s just... I feel so weak...”

Abraxas glanced over from Sirius, who was still pale and struggling. “Regulus, focus on breathing for now,” he instructed softly, his tone warm but laced with concern. “You’ve been through so much, but you’ve made it through the worst of it. Let your body recover.”

Meanwhile, Sirius’s condition was growing more concerning. His eyes had flickered open, but they were glassy, and the deep fatigue had already begun to reclaim him. His breathing was shallow, and his skin was too pale for comfort.

“Can I have some water...?” Sirius mumbled faintly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Abraxas was already prepared, nodding calmly despite the storm of emotions brewing inside him. “Of course,” he replied, moving quickly to retrieve a small piece of ice. “I’ll give you an ice cube so you don’t get sick, alright?”

Sirius nodded weakly, his trembling hand taking the ice cube as he brought it to his mouth. His hands were shaking so badly, it barely stayed in his grasp. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice quivering.

James, still gripping Sirius’s other hand tightly, leaned in closer, his own eyes red with unshed tears. “You’re doing so good, Sirius,” he murmured softly, trying to hold himself together even though the fear in his chest was nearly suffocating him. “Just stay with me, alright? You’re so strong.”

Sirius gave a faint nod but closed his eyes again, his body fighting against the pull of sleep. Abraxas shot a glance at Orion, then back to Sirius, who was fading fast.

The decision was made. Abraxas reached into his bag, pulling out the small vial of Vitae Elixir, the shimmering silver liquid inside a last-ditch attempt to keep Sirius from slipping further.

Orion’s heart skipped a beat as he watched Abraxas prepare the potion. His eyes met Abraxas's, and for the first time, he let his calm facade crack. "Abraxas," he whispered, his voice shaking slightly. "Be careful." Then, almost instinctively, in a moment of vulnerability, Orion added, “Please... I can’t lose him... husband.”

The word slipped out, quiet and soft, but it hung in the air between them like a lifeline. Abraxas's eyes softened, and for a brief moment, the two shared a look of unspoken understanding—one built on years of trust and love. Abraxas’s hand gently touched Orion’s for just a second, a fleeting moment of tenderness before they both returned to the task at hand.

“We won’t lose him, Orion,” Abraxas whispered back, his voice steady, though filled with emotion. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

With a swift, confident movement, Abraxas administered the drops of the potion into Sirius’s mouth, watching closely for any sign of change. The room held its breath once more.

Slowly, Sirius's eyes fluttered open again. His breathing remained shallow, but his grip tightened slightly around James’s hand. “I’m... I’m still here,” Sirius whispered, though his voice was weak.

James let out a shaky breath, his relief palpable. "You’re okay, Sirius. You’re okay."

Meanwhile, Regulus stirred from his bed, still feeling the sharp after-pains from the birth, but his concern for Sirius was growing too much to bear. “I need to see him,” Regulus whimpered, his voice hoarse and broken.

“You need to stay in bed, Regulus,” Orion said, though his voice was soft, understanding the bond between the twins. He moved to Regulus’s side again, placing a hand on his son’s forehead. “Your body is still recovering. Let us take care of Sirius for now.”

Regulus shook his head weakly, tears spilling down his cheeks. “No... no, I can’t just... lay here... I need to know he’s okay...”

Abraxas moved quickly back to Regulus’s side, his hands steady as he carefully adjusted Regulus's position, ensuring he was as comfortable as possible. “Sirius is a fighter,” Abraxas said softly, trying to soothe the younger Black. “He’s going to make it through this, and so will you. I need you to focus on breathing, just like before.”

James, meanwhile, continued to hold Sirius’s hand tightly, his own emotions barely under control. He glanced between Sirius and Regulus, the weight of both their conditions pressing down on him. “You’re both going to be alright,” James said, though it felt as if he was trying to convince himself more than anyone else.

Sirius mumbled something incoherent, his body too weak to respond fully, but Abraxas smiled softly. “Just rest, Sirius,” he whispered. “We’ve got you.”

Orion glanced at Abraxas once more, seeing the calm and control in his partner’s eyes. It was the only thing keeping him grounded in the chaos. Taking a deep breath, Orion stepped closer to Abraxas, allowing himself just the briefest moment of comfort before they plunged back into the storm.