Claiming Eliza

~*5*~

A week passes before I notice something strange has happened to me.

Cassius has left early to deal with business and I'm currently washing my mouth out, trying to rid the scent of vomit.

I just got up when I had the urge to puke up everything in my stomach. A knock sounds on the bathroom door.

"Luna, are you feeling well?" I recognize Gracia's voice.

Patting my mouth dry, I swing the bathroom door open. "Just a little under the weather, nothing to worry about."

She smiles knowingly, and looks away. "Ok, Luna." My eyebrows furrow.

"Do you know something, Gracia?" She lays a dress out for me to change into.

"Well," She sighs, looking at me as my mom did when she was about to share big news. "When was your last Bleeding?"

The question surprises me and I try to remember the date. "A little before I met Cassius." I see where this conversation is headed and my stomach tightens.

"If you are not impregnated during the Heat, your Bleeding arrives the next morning, Dear."

I plop myself on the bed. It is possible, we did have sex more times than I can count on both hands. It's hard to picture me as a mother.

"It's probably just a little late, Gracia." I state, not really believing myself.

She shrugs. "You will know soon anyway, your scent will change, and I would see the Healer to find out."

"Please, don't tell Cassius until I find out more." I say. "If he asks where I am, tell him I'm with Nadette."

"Of course, Luna."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The Healer takes me in right away.

She is an older woman with a full head of grey hair braided down her back. Her dark eyes sparkle when she sees me.

"Well hello, Eliza." She greets. "What brings you here today?" Her house is dark, candles flickering in the shelves.

I smell something cooking in the kitchen and I regret skipping breakfast. "I missed my Bleeding."

"Oh, I see." She mumbles, "You want to know if you are expecting." Motioning to take a seat on one of the sofas, she sits down across from me.

I nod my head my eyes scanning the weird specimen jars sitting around the room.

"Are you nauseous in the mornings? You did miss your Bleeding. Did you have sex?"

"Yes."

She huffs at me. "The answer is right in your face, Eliza. Your scent will change soon enough."

The Healer stands up. "Lay down, child." I do as she says, and she hobbles over to me.

Getting down on her knees, she pulls her sleeves up to her elbows. She places her hands on my abdomen and closes her eyes.

She mutters under her breath, a language I've never heard before. Her eyes pop open and I suppress a scream.

The Healers eyes are completely white. I've never seen a Healer do this before.

After a minute, she removed her hands and closes her eyes. When she reopens them they're back to their normal brown.

She gets up. "Well?" I ask, a little unnerved by her display.