A L M I R A

Chapter 39
Almira Davenport

Gasps erupted from everybody. "Now?" Luke asked, his worried eyes not leaving Estelle for a mere second.

"Yes, now! Get me to the doctor!" She snapped, letting out another cry as another contraction came along.

Luke looked at us before we all rushed to the castle's best doctor. The doctor had Estelle laying on the bed, a blanket on top of her. She began to sweat as the pain grew worse.

"It's okay baby, I'm right here," Raiya comforted her, holding her hand. Luke was holding Estelle's other hand, rubbing the back of it.

"She's four centimeters dilated right now. They baby will be here soon," the doctor commented. "I'll be back in about thirty minutes to check on her. Notify me or one of the nurses if anything changes."

A couple hours later, we were all still waiting around, each of us flinching as Estelle screamed in pain. "The baby is coming, I can feel it. Get the doctor!"

Ambrielle ran out of the room before coming back with the doctor. The doctor checked Estelle, nodding. "She's ten centimeters dilated; she's ready."

We all moved aside, Raiya and Luke staying by her side. "Estelle, baby, I need you to push."

Estelle shook her head. "I can't, it hurts!"

"Estelle, I know it hurts. I did this twice. I promise you, you'll feel better after you get this baby out of you," Raiya calmed her, moving the hairs from Estelle's sweaty forehead.

"Mama," Estelle cried. She gave a push and the doctor smiled.

"A couple more, darling. You're doing great!" The doctor encouraged.

Estelle's chest was heaving up and down, her cries filling the room. She continued to push, shaking her hand. Luke's hand was visibly bleeding from where she had dug her nails into his hands. I don't think he noticed, though.

"One more push, Estelle!" The doctor ordered. Estelle gave out another cry before a small, new cry joined her. Estelle gasped and let out a breath of relief. The doctor held up the baby, smiling. "It's a girl!"

Estelle smiled. The doctor cut the umbilical cord before taking the baby aside to clean it. I smiled, watching as a new life joined us all. Calix was smiling along with everyone else in the room. Estelle held her hands out for the baby, as the doctor turned around.

She took her daughter into her arms and softly smiled, looking down at her, "Hi, Ellie."

Raiya looked down at her granddaughter, a proud smile plastered onto her face. The doctor checked Estelle before his face dropped. "I need everyone to leave the room."

Luke's eyes quickly darted to the doctor. "Why?"

"She's bleeding severely and I need to stop it. You all can come back in later, for now, leave," The doctor demanded, tending to Estelle. Nurses assisted him as we all left the room. Luke paced the hall nervously, biting his nails.

Raiya was quiet as she just stared at the ground, not bothering with anyone or thing.

I glanced at Calix who was turned to me. We both shared a frown before hugging each other. Calix drew small circles on my back, soothing me. What a few minutes felt like hours, the doctor walked back out with a sympathetic look on his face. "I have some news."

"How are they?" Luke eagerly asked, worry all over his face.

"The baby is fine and healthy. Estelle, on the other hand," The doctor hesitated, shuffling nervously.  "Estelle bled out and I couldn't save her in time. I'm sorry for your loss."

Raiya's lip quivered, her eyes filling up with tears. My heart shattered as I seen grief cover everybody's face. I walked away from Calix and wrapped my arms around Raiya and Luke, holding them tightly. "I'm so sorry," I whispered.

Raiya placed her hand on the small of my back while Luke stood there, frozen with shock. I pulled back and showed them that I was here for them. Raiya cleared her throat. "Cremate her."

Luke's head snapped up, coming back to realization. "What?"

Raiya turned to him. "Cremate Estelle. She can be buried today as well, it's already a painful day for us all. By cremating her, her power will flow back into the earth where it came from."

Luke growled. "My wife just died and you're standing here talking about her powers and the earth?"

Raiya glared at him. "You're not the only one grieving, kid. I lost my daughter, who I raised, and I taught her everything I know about living. You'd be wise not to upset a grieving mother, Lukas."

Luke bowed his head, tears running down his face. "Come get me when she's cremated. I need some time to myself," He said, walking off.

Ambrielle wrapped her arm around Raiya, softly smiling. "Let's go take a walk while they prepare Estelle. I lost my daughter recently too, I promise you you're not alone."

Alexander nodded at Calix and Cole before walking back towards the office. Cole followed shortly behind Alexander, leaving Calix and I standing in the hallway. I sucked in a deep breath, trying my hardest not to cry.

Calix's warm embrace made me lose all control over my tears. I buried my face in his chest and sobbed, grieving all the losses that had recently happen. Ashli, Ryker, Estelle, all of them gone in a short period of time. My heart was heavy with guilt. I felt like I was drowning in it.

"It's not your fault," Calix consoled, rubbing my back.

"Maybe not but I know they're coming and I'm still crying," I hiccupped, cleaning his jacket tightly.

"As you should, it's proof you have a good heart, love. You're a sweet girl who feels for everybody, you're not at fault for their deaths, nor knowing about them," Calix replied, pulling me in tighter. "You're golden heart in something not many people have much these days."

My head pounded from crying so hard. I wish I could say these were the only deaths I'd have to grieve for a long time, but they're not. I have two more, which I'm only sure will crush me even more.

"C'mon," Calix called, lifting my chin up to look at him. He wiped the tears from my cheeks and eyes before grabbing both of my hands. "We shoul-"

The doctor walked out, letting out a breath as he held baby Ellie in his arms. "I don't see the father anywhere, would you mind watching the baby while I attend to my other patients?"

I sniffled and nodded, holding my arms out for Ellie. I smiled down at the beautiful baby girl in my arms. "Hi, Ellie," I whispered, smiling. "You're far too young to understand right now, but I promise your mother loved you very much."

Calix put his hands on my shoulders, leaning over to look at Ellie. "She's beautiful."

"She looks just like Estelle," I lightly laughed, bouncing the baby slightly.

"That she does," Calix confirmed.

Ellie yawned and stretched her arms out before bringing them back down. I paused, lifting up her wrists, looking at them. "Calix," I paused, staring at the baby's wrist.

Calix hummed before looking, letting out a small breath of discomfort. "The sun mark."

I nodded, tucking Ellie's arms back into the blanket. Calix kissed my cheek before wrapping his arm around my waist. "We should leave Estelle to be cremated and take Ellie to Luke. Maybe she can bring some peace to him while she's, well, alive," Calix suggested, rubbing my side.

"Arlight," I agreed. Calix and I walked down the hallways before we stood outside of Luke and Estelle's room. Calix knocked considering I was holding a baby in my arms. Shuffling came from the other side of the room before Luke swung open the door, his eyes blood shot and his face swollen from crying so much.

"We thought you might want to hold her," I offered, showing Luke his breath-taking daughter.

Luke looked down at the copy of Estelle before slightly smiling, holding his arms out for her. I handed Ellie over to Luke gently, adjusting her in his arms. "Thanks," Luke muttered, staring down at the infant in his arms.

I hummed in response. Calix nudged at my side before I stepped back and let Luke bond with his daughter. He's gone through so much already, and to think he's going to lose his daughter, too. I pitied the poor man.

Calix led me down the stairs and outside to where Ambrielle and Raiya were sitting. They were in the flower garden, sitting where I first fell asleep at when I arrive to the castle. I left Calix and walked over to the two ladies, sitting down on the other side of Raiya. Raiya turned to me and a warm smile slid on her face. "How is he?"

"Going through tough times, I imagine. He's spending time with Ellie. She's a spitting image of Estelle," I slightly jested, Ellie's image flashing through my mind.

"It's hard losing your mate. The worst pain on the planet. Then there's the pain of losing your kids, and so much more pain. When you sit back and think about it, it really is a cruel world we live in," Raiya rambled, staring at a group of assorted flowers.

I stared at her in awe. She was a strong woman. The oldest lycan known to still be living, she's lost her mate, and she's just lost her two kids. She's been through some dark times, and she's still there.

Ambrielle nodded. "I pray I never know the feeling of losing my mate, but with the conditions of the world right now, I fear I really don't have a say in the matter," She added, holding a blue flower in her hand. She twirled it around, plucked its petals, and dropped it.

I took a deep breath. "I'm just getting started in life, huh."

Raiya glanced at me before agreeing. "Indeed. Don't think it gets any easier, it doesn't. But you're a strong girl, you'll pull through, I'm sure of it."

I smiled at her words of encouragement. Even going through her own storms and struggles, she still manages to give out good advice.

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A couple days have passed since we buried Estelle's ashes. Raiya decided to stay in the castle and help Luke raise Ellie until she was old enough to where he wouldn't need her. It was a kind gesture she had made, which Luke gratefully accepted.

Alexander slowly fell back into his normal patterns and routines, no longer living for the sole purpose of paperwork and restless nights. However, their deaths didn't pause the war. Calix had the battalions rallied up and we were all on our horses, listening to Calix.

"It's soon to be dawn. We have a short amount of time to get there before Alastor realizes were coming. Stay quiet, and silent. We move as one until I give the command to disperse, understood?" Calix ordered, his cold eyes scanning over the warriors he was leading into battle.

All of the warriors nodded their heads, letting out a sound of understandment.

Calix looked at me, Ambrielle, and Lauren, silently asking if we were ready. I smiled and gave him a small thumbs up. Calix took a deep breath before whipping his horse, leading all of us into the battle that lied ahead.

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