Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Eighty-Three

*Warning: This chapter contains graphic scenes of childbirth and bloodshed.*

"Oh... my... god." I could barely get out.

"Do you have a Healer?" Isabella asked me.

I was finding it hard to breathe. I was in labor? I was in labor... Yes. I knew it was true. I have been having contractions for two days now.

"Rachel." She said firmly and my eyes came up to meet hers. I knew she could see the fear in my face. "Do you have a Healer?"

"Um. Yes. Mrs. Jones. In Feldcroft. But by the time an owl reaches her..."

"I'll go. I suggest you find somewhere comfortable and remember to breathe. They are coming." She put a comforting hand on my shoulder and then walked out the door, securing it behind her.

I stood there in shock for another minute. Then I started to move slowly toward the stairs. I didn't want to leave a mess anywhere in my home. I didn't know what to do... if I had talked to anyone about the pains I had been having they probably would have told me I was in labor... but then we wouldn't have had the wedding.

I opened my bedroom door and walked over to the window, throwing it open. I needed air. I was feeling a panic coming on.

"Onyx!" I called loudly. I could hear her hoot and then she appeared at the window in a glorious show of black feathers.

"Sebastian! Hurry!" I said to her between huffed breaths while clutching my stomach as it tightened like a band all the way around, shooting pains through my back and legs too. She flapped away instantly, hooting loudly into the sunset.

"Oh, god... what... do I do?" I said through clenched teeth.

I turned slightly and went to the washroom. I figured it was the one place cleaning up a mess might be easiest.

I leaned on the sink, trying to breathe. Another pain crossed over my stomach; this one put me to my knees.

"Aaaah!" I yelled out, clenching my eyes shut tightly while it throbbed throughout my body.

I had never felt anything like this... tears were building in my eyes. I wiped them away furiously. I needed to be strong. This was only the beginning.

I leaned my forehead against the cool sink and breathed deeply. The pain had passed and I was feeling tired again.

I tried the breathing exercises that Seb had taught me for my anxiety, breathing in deeply, holding it, then releasing. I did this several times. And just when I started to feel normal again the pain rocketed through my stomach. I screamed loudly. I noticed there was blood on the floor now. Something was wrong...

I couldn't stop the tears this time. They flowed down my face, my panic taking over all my senses.

"No. Not my babies.... Please..." I whined loudly. "Sebastian! Where are you?" I cried. I was on all fours now trying to breathe, the floor covered in my blood and tears.

"Rachel, we're here." Isabella entered the washroom followed by Mrs. Jones who set down a large bag and came right over to me.

"Rachel, dear, come this way." She put her warm hand on my shoulder and helped scoot me against the wall. She placed a few towels behind my back and had me sit on a strange pillow that she pulled out of her bag. It lifted my hips up.

"Ok, let's get your nightgown up and I'll check on the babies, ok? Breathe. Breathe deeply." She instructed me and I pulled off my robe throwing it in the corner and sliding my nightgown up and over my bump.

I looked at my swollen belly and I just realized. "They're not moving." I sobbed out. "Um. They haven't moved since yesterday. I hadn't realized..." She gave me a concerned look but continued her work.