Untangling Aella

Chapter Five

"Suffering is a thing but reckoning is the only reason why we suffer at all"

- Incubus "Surface to air"

Aside from calling Chase repeatedly and getting no answer, my life has been going swimmingly. Not.

For some reason, Amazonian children love to be active all the time. No rest time for momma. I had just finished my last paper for the semester and first year of pre-law had been hard. But, I had gotten through somehow. Doc said that Amazonians are naturally gifted, which could explain how I passed the course with high distinctions.

Back at my apartment, I had my hair in a messy bun in track pants vacuuming up while I listened to Incubus. Since the kids weren't letting me rest and since they have a ferocious appetite, I had to work out to burn off the energy I had. House work was perfect for that. The music was interrupted on my phone and I pulled it out of my pants to look at the message .

Callie: Answer the door, Woman!

I chuckled and headed to the door to open it.

"Finally!" she exclaimed, as if she had been knocking for 2 hours instead of 2 minutes.

"Hi Cal" I said, closing the door and hugging her.

"How have you been A?" she said, looking into my eyes. Before I could reply she continued. "What do you think you are doing?! Cleaning? Lifting? When you are pregnant?"

"What?" I asked, confused. "Oh, don't worry. Doc told me that I need to keep active for the sake of the babies. Its a good thing."

"A, I know when you get into these moods and you have to clean everything. This place is so frikin shiny and clean that I can see my fabulous reflection everywhere but I know that it would've taken you hours! Think of your health!"

"I am perfectly fine. Don't worry; I wouldn't be working this strenuously if the Doc didn't order this."

"Then you need to see a different doctor. I read somewhere that women in their first trimester are at most risk and last time I checked, you are still there!"

I don't know if I could keep lying to my best friend any more. I needed to tell her ... but I couldn't. She wouldn't believe me even if I tried.

"I'll be fine, Cal," I said with a forced smile. "Just wait and see."

***

After my catch up with Callie, I tried to distract myself by reading but I had felt so restless. After going OCD on the house chores, I sprawled on the couch and decided to watch TV but after flicking through copious channels I switched it off. Even reading didn't help. I found myself rereading the same page and nothing going though. Sigh. I felt so tense.

Just as I was about to doze off, my door bell rung. I woke my slumberous body up and was grizzly mumbling to myself as I stumped over to the door.

"Who could it be at this time of the night?" I wondered aloud. Partly curious, partly annoyed. What else was new?

"Who is it?" I mumbled, looking through the peep hole.

"Just us!" a voice said on the other side. It was hard to make out who it was because this person was so tall but I decided what the heck and risked my life to these strangers anyway.

"Doc?" I asked.

"The one and only!" she gorgeous Doc replied as I opened the door. She hugged me.

She asked about my progress as she brought in a bag filled with healthy and delicious Greek food. Greek salad, olives, lamb dishes and a variety of small dishes And spanakopita which wasn't necessarily healthy but all the more delicious. Feta, spinach and pastry. Mmm. Then some Turkish baklava for dessert. So decadent.

As we sat and spoke. I asked her questions about pregnancy, many beginning with "Is this normal?..." She laughed and spoke, dispelling my fears.

Her phone rang and she answered with "This is Antianeirai"

This shocked me into a frozen state.

Her name wasn't and couldn't be Antianeirai.

Her name was Diana Andy. I saw it every time at the clinic and I knew it, because it seemed to suit her.

My name was Antianeirai.

She laughed and hung up, then noticed my shocked expression.

"Sweetie, what's wrong?"

"Your surname is Antianeirai" I asked, defrosted. "What happened to Andy?"

"Sw-sweetie..." she reached out trying to reason with me as she grappled with her slip up. "Now it isn't...it isn't.. uh"

"Are we related?" I asked. Calmly. Desperate for her answer.

"Yes" she said with a sigh. "We are."

"How?"

"Your mother...is my sister"

"What? So...you're my aunt?" I asked, almost hesitantly. Say it isn't so! I almost felt betrayed.

"Technically speaking ... yes" she also replied slowly and hesitantly.

"Technically?" I said, my voice rising. "There is no technically about it. Blood is blood and if my mother is your sister then you are most definitely my aunt!"

"Honey...we come from a different society. She don't acknowledge our mothers and blood relatives. Each and every warrior is our sister. Your mother raised you til adulthood and gave you a sufficient enough start in life to help you survive and the rest was up to you. Baby girl, you succeeded."

"I wasn't raised in your world! She would've told me about it by now, Half-Amazon or not! You were always there for me and I needed you more at times and if I had known that you were family then you would've been there for me."

"I know, Honey. Where ever I could, I was there."

"But it wasn't enough! I needed family. You are no longer a part of that world, why couldn't you have been there for me?" I asked, tears clogging up my throat.

"I don't know. But I'm here now aren't I?"

"Would you have been there for me if I wasn't Amazonian?"

"Always. No matter what, you are my niece and watched over you."

"I am angry, upset and I feel betrayed and I'm sure that it is partly the hormones but nevertheless knowing that you would always be here despite everything helps me forgive you a little."

"That's enough for me right now, honey."

She hugged me and I partly returned it; not quite giving in but opening up to her just a little.

Our moment was interrupted by the sound of the door bell. Making me wonder who it was this time.

"About time they arrived" said Doc.

"Who?" I questioned.

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

I guess its always good to leave you with a cliff hanger ... although not much. Or is it?

Im still trying to weave some magic and build up the mood of the story but I find it incredibly difficult because there is sooooooooo much more I want to add so as to not leave people confused. Its getting there and it is picking up. Aella, aside from being a mother, is going to go through a heck lot of strife (poor darling) but it will be worth it. Without rain we would never have rainbows.

Stay tuned! Mal x