The Underneath: Saga of Aupolis

After the Before

She was young- the mother. Beside the bed, Yetta sat gazing from the young mother's dark hair plastered to her head, and down to the bloodied sheets at her feet. The labor had been long. The young woman had screamed. Oh, how she screamed. But, the midwives talked in calm, convincing, confident voices. Ordered a breath here. A push there. Held the laboring woman's hands securely or placed a cool towel on her forehead. In the end, the baby came squalling out and deemed healthy. Despite the trauma to her body, the young mother found whatever energy was left of her body to demand to hold her child.

"Isn't she beautiful, Mother?"

Yetta and the young woman were nearly the same age, but the title was expected when addressing a member of her station. So, taking a deep breath, Yetta managed, "Of course." Her lip twitched slightly. How many newborns had she seen and could never find those red, wrinkled little faces beautiful or adorable or whatever other word the women used to describe them...

What she did find beautiful was the wild, raw Siphoning of the Properties this child was Harvesting. Yetta could feel the crude Pull the child was unknowingly producing. Could feel it pushing at her like an invisible wave rushing through and around her. Could feel it waking up the similar aspects of herself. Her fingers twitched. It seemed as if the very cells of her body flared in response, yearning to Harness and Fabricate.

Yes, it was beautiful. This child would be powerful.

Shutting her eyes, Yetta took a deep breath. Without much more than a fleeting thought, the gathering energy within herself began to seep from the crown of her head to the soles of her feet. A feeling of icy coldness drained through her and dissolved to the floor below. With a shuddering breath, she steadied herself, allowing the temptation to become no more than a presence at the back of her mind.

When her eyes snapped open, they landed on two of the midwives, who were fussing over the comfort of the mother as they arranged and rearranged pillows and blankets. At some point, the wives had changed the linens. Entirely focused elsewhere, Yetta had not noticed. Of course, the midwives were good at that; they always made sure to give the attending Mother space. It almost seemed natural the way they somehow always avoided the side of the room where the Mother sat. No glances. Hardly any communication other than polite acknowledgments. And always unaware of the significant moments when a Chosen was born.

Yetta cocked her head. Not for the first time did she marvel at the lack of Awareness for the Properties these people had. Of course, it was not their fault. They were born without any Knowledge. Yetta herself barely ranked among the Chosen, but she did Rank. She might only be a Mother, but she was above all the others in the room.

Her eyes flickered to the swaddle of blankets pressed to the young woman's bosom. Above all but one.

One was all this poor young woman would have. Yetta felt a brief tug of pity. The birth nearly claimed the mother's life, but she was strong. Stronger than the woman herself knew. Strong enough to survive bringing a Chosen into the world. Not many of the women did. It was usually for the best.

A slight knock at the door was quickly followed by the entrance of a man in stiff gray robes. His white hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck. Tired eyes surveyed the room around him. He bowed cordially to Yetta before bringing his attention back to the young woman.

The room went silent. The moment the women saw who walked through the door, the unnecessary clicking and clucking and squabble amidst the old hens came to an end. The midwives all curtsied low before scurrying to line up against the wall with their heads bowed. The young mother's eyes went wide, but she did not forget her place in front of her superior, and jerkily lowered her head towards the old man. Her stricken gaze then whipped over to Yetta, who sighed. Throughout the whole ordeal, the young woman truly seemed to have forgotten this moment would come. As it always came for those Beneath the Eyes of the Gods.