" Mia! "
Lin woke up with a start.
His entire body was sweating. He was sure he had heard a loud, strange cry. He woke up from sleep because of it.
But it wasn't Mia's. It felt like it was a baby's cry. A cute little baby boy. Floating in the water with like his and faces like his Mia.
Was it a vision of his child?
Lin felt that strange emptiness inside his pit again. He clenched his chest with his hands.
He darted off from his room. Straight outside.
His legs stopped right at the border. The border where they had separated themselves from the beast outside.
He fell on the ground on his knees. He wanted to head straight to the ocean . Dive straight till he the depths. To the mer-kingdom. To his life . To his world. Hi Mia. Even if it was without Water Breather. He was willing to take the risk.
But he couldn't risk her safety. He couldn't risk the creature lurking anywhere near his wife and .
Was his baby still unborn? Then why was he having this strange sensation? Whose presence it that made the unrest in heart so extreme.
Lin stood up slowly, dejected once more, as his heavy legs dragged him back to his lonely .
"Weeeeeeee! "
The cry of the boy rang in ripples around the mer-kingdom.
" My baby. My b... "
Mia extended her hand to hold his little hands but just then her eyes shut and her entire body limp.
The bubble burst and Mia's limp body fell right in the waters mixing with her environment. Jade Ruby swam forward to grab her as the Queen took Mia's boy in her arms.
She cut the cord with a flip of her hand. Then with another swish of her hand turned the insides Mia into their proper positions.
" Take care from here, "
The queen instructed as the midwives rushed to take care of the unconscious Mia.
The queen headed out with her boy in her arms.
" Let me know when she is rested and comes around. The baby is hungry. He needs to be fed. "
Jade and Ruby nodded as they watched the Queen leave with their niece's son.
" Yes, your majesty. "
They watched each other and then went back to tending Mia again.
Mia found herself inside a heavy mist this time. She walked but it felt like she was floating. She looking for someone. Something.
" Lin, is that you? Lin? "
She called her lover. Her darling. She wanted to tell him everything about herself. She wanted tell him their boy had arrived. She wanted to tell him he was a father. Tell him how sweet it when she heard his first wail.
" Lin? "
She walked further. She stumbled upon something.
"This is..." She picked up something shiny.
" Is this a pendant? "
She turned it over and over again, trying to guess where she had seen it from before.
Suddenly it became a light and drifted off from her grip. Mia turned around. There was someone behind her whose face she could not see.
" Lin? Is that you? "
The figure seemed very familiar to Mia. It called Mia towards itself with both hands. Mia walked it. One step at a time.
"Lin... "
She kept calling her husband's name when suddenly she fell inside what seemed like a watery .
She closed and opened her eyes in a blink. The entire landscape had changed. She this place very well.
Though she had only been there once.
It was the land where the Tree of Knowledge was.
Mia was standing there, but the Tree was nowhere.
Mia looked around.
" Where am I? Isn't this where there was the Tree of Knowledge... "
She was wondering when she felt the presence behind her again. It was the same person.
Mia turned around. Very cautious.
One look at its face, sent her reeling back.
" Nooooooo.
Stay away from me.
Get away. Get away. Get away please. "
Mia sent blow after blow with both her hands. She could feel the beating of her own heart and pace had suddenly become audible.
Her hand went involuntary to her baby bump. Then she realized she had already given birth. It a relief. At Least her boy had safety, even if that was not her case.
" Mia, don't worry. I am not here to hurt you. I am your uncle Jin. "
Mia turned her face towards him. His voice was different. His tone was different. Much more than the last time she had heard it. The last time when... When he had almost... Almost to... Mia felt disgusted even to think about it.
That thing back there was not something with any feeling. It was a monster that was driven on . This in front of her was different. Even though it had the same face, body and voice, it nothing like that creature.
" Mia, you don't need to come near. We can talk like this. I believe you remember being in the
Land of Dreams before? "
Mia nodded. She distinctly remembered her conversation with Nana there, though it felt like it all in her head.
" This place is an extension to it. We have very little time. So it's better if I do all the talking. You already given birth to a beautiful baby boy Mia. I would have wanted to congratulate you on such an occasion as your uncle but I am sorry to remind you that you are running out time. You remember what the Tree of Knowledge had asked you right? "
Mia nodded.
" Mia, you need to head straight back there. The beast that is after you is becoming stronger by day. It's becoming unbearable for me to watch its dance of fury and yet watch helplessly doing anything.
Mia, I beg you. You are the only one who can bring all this to an end. Head for the Tree of
Knowledge. Please. I beg you with folded hands. "
The huge man went on his knees. Mia reached her hands to comfort him.
Just then, Mia felt a sharp pain in her stomach that jolted open both her eyelids.
"Mia... Mia are you alright? "
Jade and Ruby were on her either side. Mia looked around. Panicked. She searched with both hands.
" My baby. My baby. Where is my boy? "
******
Mer-queen with the boy
" The Queen took him? Why? "
Mia tried getting up. Worried. Even though she herself was extremely fatigued. It felt like her body had just been run over by some rogue bull . Her insides still throbbed. She held her as she stood up to head towards the Queen's palace.
" Mia, wait. You haven't recovered well. Besides the Queen did ask to send words when you are . She will send your boy for feeding. "
Jade pleaded with her niece.
Mia wasn't listening. She knew the other side of the Queen. Flashes of the baby mer-boy and
Anjana were disturbing her peace of mind.
" What if she harmed her baby? What if she was planning something evil with him as well. "
Mia's mind was all over the place. It was more messed up than the dreams she just had.
Mia darted off towards the palace. Her aunts close behind her heels.
She found the guards at the gate relaxed as soon as they saw her approaching. They all smiled congratulated her. Which was a very unreal sight in the gloomy mer-world.
They seemed happy for her.
Mia found the tightness in her chest loosen just a bit.
" This way Mia. The Queen has been waiting. "
One of the officials ushered Mia with grandeur. Her doubts and fear started disappearing little at time.
" Mia. How are you my girl? "
The Queen herself came forward as she gave Mia a tight hug.
" You seem to have recovered well. Sit here. Let me check your core one more time. "
She made Mia sit on her seat and then closed her own eyes as she placed her hands over
Mia's head.
Everybody watched.
The Queen smiled.
" As good as new. Mia is completely fine. "
The Queen announced. Her announcement was met with a lot of cheers.
" Thank you, your Majesty. May I now see my boy. "
Mia asked as politely as she could, trying her best to hide her anxiety.
" Of course you can Mia. Your boy has been hungry for a while. I fed him with the Everlasting
Nectar from our Trenches. It pacified his hunger for sometimes. "
She went over a suspended, golden basket. She carefully picked it up like it was some delicate rare flower. Then she handed it over to Mia who was sitting.
This was the first time she was actually watching her child.
" My baby.... "
She gasped as she watched his little features. His lips, brows, face all looked like her but his were exactly like his father. Their colors were ever changing as his mother watched with .
" My baby... "
Mia gasped again as she nuzzled him with her head. The baby giggled. Mia kissed him on his .
Mia came back with her child to her chambers.
She was all alone with him now.
She laid back as she prepared to feed him.
He peacefully suckled at her nipple.
She patted on his head and back.
" , baby. How much I want to do this forever. With your father by our side. Aaahhhh.
If only he knew. If only he knew he would come here dashing. "
She placed her hand over her head, with the other she was still supporting her baby.
" I wish I was able to leave you with your father before I left. But I don't think that would be at the moment. With all the turmoil above and the unrest.
I will have to leave you and him with , maybe a message. "
She looked at her baby
He had dozed off while suckling. She carefully took him in her arms, then placed her hands on chest.
" I am entrusting you with a message baby. You will let your father know why and where I left. I him at least this much. I know it will cause him a lot of pain. I would have stopped it if I . But I will need to do this for you and him to have a future. To restrain the rogue beast. "
Mia channeled her last message for Lin inside her baby's heart and sealed it with a kiss.
It was to get delivered to Lin's heart when these two would come in close proximity and feel other's presence.
Mia placed her baby beside her as she sat watching him sleep.
She wanted to take in as much of him as possible. Enough for her to remember him for eternity.
She was relieved that what she doubted about the Queen was not true. It seemed everybody her boy and that they were overjoyed at his presence.
Maybe they were seeing hope in him.
A hope for a future with no more blood.
" My little fox, " She nuzzled his nose, " You truly are a miracle. You will have to grow up and after all the worlds.
You would. Won't you? I am so lucky and blessed to have been able to be your mother, my little . But an enormous responsibility lies on all our shoulders.
I hope you would not blame me for abandoning you.
I am glad that at least I have a way.
To save you.
Lin's Nana was not so lucky.
Aaahhhhhhhh!
I can't even imagine what she had to go through. She is one strong woman to still be standing ground. "
Mia sighed repeatedly.
She could feel the weight of leaving her newborn , alone , behind was crushing her from the .
She wanted to at least see Lin once. Watch him watch their baby. Teach him how to hold the head properly in his hands.
But it seemed too much to ask for. A luxury she could not afford.
She remembered the dream she had. Which didn't look exactly like a dream. It was very real.
It seemed like her uncle needed her help. The original wolf prince Jin. He needed her help to free of the curse that plagued him. Plagues the world and is making a beast out of him.
There was no more room for weakness.
Now Mia was determined.