Tempted By Darkness

Rarity

Athena could not really understand the feelings that were overwhelming her at the moment.

What was it? Shock? Confusion? Dread? Panic? She did not know.

She knew she felt numb.

And she was most definitely feeling sick. Whatever she had eaten was rising up her stomach.

It was so uncharacteristic of her, but she could not help herself. She would not make it to the en-suit bathroom. And she didn't have the energy to teleport.

She threw up, turning her head just in time to avoid vomiting on her father.

Hades immediately rose up. Holding onto her hair to keep it from her face as he soothingly caressed her back.

She kept on heaving until her stomach was once again empty. And when she was done she felt completely worn out.

"I've got you. Sleep. We'll talk when you feel better."

It felt good to be taken care of after centuries of being a grown up. It felt good to go back to being Papa's baby. It felt good not to be the oh so fearsome Athena The Dark.

For a little while. Just for a little while.

She let herself relax when Hades, ever so gently, took her in his arms and carried her tired body to her bed.
And the she was lulled back to sleep by her father's fingers brushing through her hair.

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Athena woke up to her stomach grumbling and to an empty room.

Hades was no where to be seen. Probably went to get her some food. Considering his overprotectiveness lately.

She slowly stood up and walked towards her full length mirror. She shed her clothes with her magic as she did so.

And then, for the first time after months she looked at her naked body.
The skin was flawlessly smooth once again. Being a God, she had not lost an ounce of weight.

Not a trace of what she had been just a few days ago in sight.

But then again she was scarred inside. And that scar, no one but herself could see.

She took a shaky breath as she slowly traced her body. But she could not bring herself to look past her hips. The memories were still too vivid. She would not give up, but she was not ready. Not just yet. Soon, but not now.
She knew it.

Instead she focused on her stomach.

How could she not have noticed?
It was a small change but still, one could see it. Especially a god.
Her lower belly was not as flat as it used to be.
It was very slightly rounded. If she looked from the front, the difference was almost imperceptible but if she turned to the side, she could clearly see the little bump.

"My God."

She felt like crying all over again.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as her palm instinctively rested on...

.. On this life that was growing inside her.

And in that moment she knew. She knew that no matter what, whatever thing was written in that letter, she could not possibly bring herself to get rid of it-

No. It was not an it.

It was her baby. HER baby. Not Christopher's, not Alec's.

It was hers.

Athena did not even remember how many centuries she had lived. But she clearly remembered how many times her body had rejected her own embryos.

She had had a total of seventeen miscarriages. Robert, her trusted healer, had explained that the embryos had not been strong enough to bear the power in her body. In other words, her magic had killed her own babies.