Melody
Several months went by and it was the twins' birthday. They were turning eight. Derek wanted to throw them a royal party since it was their first birthday in Mallory. He wanted to introduce them to the people as the crown Prince.
Dorian and I arrived two months earlier for the preparations. The kids would often spend some time with us in the Dark Flame Pack before returning to Mallory.
This time we decided to stay with them till their birthday is due, and the date is two days away. Everyone was happy to be a part of the kids' big day.
I wasn't of much help as I sat on a throne-like chair. I watched everyone prepare for D-day.
"Are you okay?" Dorian asked for the hundredth time that day.
He's been asking the same question at a five-minute interval since the break of dawn. He placed his hand on my big belly and made an invisible circle as he spoke.
"I'm fine," I replied with a smile.
"Are you sure?" He looked into my eyes for any sign of discomfort.
"I'm fine, Dorian," I smiled.
"Good," he kissed my belly before returning to decorate our gift for the kids.
My due date was close, but I wouldn't miss my kid's birthday for no reason at all.
The big day came within a twinkle of an eye. That morning, I felt uneasy. However, the pain was bearable. So I got dressed and prepared for my kids' birthday.
Derek introduced the kids to the council and people as his sons and Crown Prince of Mallory.
Dorian presented them with his neatly carved thrones. He wanted them to sit on it during every palace gathering.
The kids received several expensive gifts from family and friends and soon it was time to dance with the celebrants.
I got up to dance and soon found myself dripping with a strange yet stinky liquid.
What is this? I wondered.
However, before I could process what was happening, Dorian lifted off the ground and hurried out of the Great Hall.
"Your water just broke," he whispered as he took me straight to the infirmary.
"She's in labour," he screamed as he placed me on the bed in the infirmary.
The doctors gathered and checked me out. They yelled out orders, but I could only hear them faintly as I seemed to have travelled to another world.
The crying of a child brought me back to my senses. I don't know how long I've been out but when I regained myself, a beautiful baby was placed before me.
"Isn't she beautiful?" Dorian whispered as he kissed my head.
"Is she our child?" I asked as I looked at the gorgeous baby before me.
"She's our child," he rocked her tenderly.
I watched the little princess with admiration as her father showered her with love. It felt good to see that my daughter was loved by her father.
Dorian refused to put the baby in her crib. He held her the whole day.
"What should we call her?" I asked as he sat beside me.
"Darya," he muttered with a smile.
"Huh?"
He smiled and kissed her forehead. "She's going to make a fine alpha for the Dark Flame Pack. So, I think Darya suits her best."
"Darya," I repeated with admiration. "it's nice," I agreed.
"Darya, it is then." Dorian rocked her as he sang her name to her.
Dorian smiled as everyone came to visit us in the infirmary. He handed the baby to my extremely happy mother.
"Where is Estrella?" I asked as I noticed that she wasn't among the people who had come to visit me.
"She...." Derek was about to answer when a nurse stepped in to take the baby to clean up.
Dorian reluctantly gave the baby to her.
"How do you feel?" Sofia, who was also pregnant, took a seat on my bed.
"A lot better," I smiled in assurance. "Every pain disappeared at the sight of Darya," I replied.
"You named her already," Derek smiled.
"Yeah, we...." Before I could complete what I was about to say, we heard a scream from outside.
Everyone rushed out to see what had happened. However, we were stunned beyond words to see the nurse who had come to take my baby on the floor. She was bleeding in her belly.
"What happened?" I jumped forward and grabbed her. "My baby," I looked for Darya but couldn't find her. "Where is my baby?"
Dorian and others ran off to go see who attacked the nurse.
"Where is my baby?" I repeated, screaming my lungs out.
"Your Sister," the nurse gasped for breath. "Miss.... Estrela.... took her away."
I opened my mouth to ask further but the nurse gasped for breath and eventually died before she could divulge further information about my baby.
Estrela has my baby. But why?
Ignoring my weak body, I ran out of the infirmary in search of Estrella.
It definitely can't be what I'm thinking.
She wouldn't take my child away from me.
Aaron and Giovanni also ran with me in search of Estrella. We searched everywhere but couldn't find her.
Out of intuition, I went to Estrella's room at our father's house just to search. After turning the room upside down, I found nothing. I moved to go out when I found a note under the books on the shelf.
With a heavy heart, I opened the note and my jaw dropped at the content.
I blinked repeatedly. I didn't want to believe what was written in it.
After reading the note for the umpteenth time, I felt tears run down my cheek as it dawned on me that my worse fear had just come to pass.
Estrella stole my child to punish me.
"Melody," Sofia arrived with Alice and a few others in tow.
They probably followed me but couldn't catch up as I ran too fast. It was probably adrenaline but I felt a gush of energy fill me up and every weakness I felt before vanished into thin air.
"Did you find her?" Sofia asked, still panting.
I tried to speak but couldn't find my voice. Can problems ever leave me alone?
I passed the note to Sofia and she read it out loud.
"You stole my joy and I took your happiness."