Lying on the hospital bed, I strained with every fiber of my being, the pain almost unbearable. The old nurse beside me, a comforting presence in the chaos, held my hand, guiding me through the contractions. "Calming breath, inhale... and then push hard on your exhale. Give it a big one," she instructed, her voice a beacon in the storm of my anguish.
I gasped, each breath a battle, and between the waves of pain, I found myself asking, "Where is Everett? Have we heard anything from him?"
Was he safe? Did he even know about the birth? The ache for his presence mingled with the physical pain, amplifying it. The nurse's eyes met mine, filled with a sorrow she tried to mask. "We tried him again and he didn’t answer. I’m sorry." Her words, meant to comfort, only deepened the chasm of my fears.
The abrupt end of our last conversation haunted me. "He ended it so abrupt... and what was that noise? I'm worried," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, drowned out by the sounds of my own labor.
"I understand, but for now, you need to worry about your baby," she gently reminded me, her hand squeezing mine in reassurance.
Then, a series of loud crashes from outside jolted us. "What was that?" I cried out, fear creeping into my voice.
"I have no idea. Just concentrate on your baby," she urged, her composure flickering for a moment.
Taking her advice to heart, I inhaled deeply and gave one massive push. "That was great. I think you've got just one more. No doctor, but I've got you. I'm here to catch your baby. Focus on pushing. Big breath, inhale, and give it all you’ve got on exhale," she encouraged.
With a final, exhausting effort, I pushed with all my remaining strength. The nurse deftly caught my baby, a small, precious life born amidst turmoil. But before she could hand my baby to me, a sudden intrusion shattered the moment.
The door flew open with violent force, and a man clad in bone white armor stepped in. His cape, a shadow in the sterile, fluorescent-lit room, seemed to whisper threats with each ripple. His presence a stark contradiction of the knightly valor his attire suggested. As he approached, a primal fear for my child eclipsed my pain. I felt a surge of protective ferocity, my heart pounding in defiance against his advance. The nurse set the baby down quickly, turning to confront the intruder. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "You're not supposed to be here."
The man in white armor, his eyes gleaming with a predator's glee, surveyed the room like a conqueror inspecting his latest prize. A smirk played on his lips, as if the hospital, a place of healing, amused him with its vulnerability. There was an otherness to his appearance, an etherealness to it that was alluring but his handsomeness was overshadowed by the malevolence in his eyes, a predator disguised in the armor of a knight.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
The nurse charged at him, fiercely protective, but he tossed her aside like a rag doll. She collapsed into a bloody heap. Then, his attention turned to me. I stood, using every ounce of my maternal instinct to shield my newborn from him. His presence was my nightmare made real, a harbinger of doom clad in armor as white as snow.
"You’re feistier than I expected," he said, his voice full of a cold amusement. "Physically, you are fragile of course, but look at that spunk in you, that grit. You would make a fine concubine. Sadly, you are not so fortunate today."
He laughed then, but it was not a pleasant laugh it was devoid of joy, and it chilled me to the bone as it echoed through the room. Trapped in this horror, I could only listen as he continued his sinister monologue.
"I am shocked that I was pulled to you for my sacrifice. I expected more honestly, but the sacrifice must be made regardless. Your death will bring the rest of my forces, and with them, we will take this world."
Each word he spoke was a dagger to my heart. I clutched my baby closer, a desperate attempt to protect her from this monster.
"Your demise will usher in the portal for the rest of my forces. Holding your child closer won't change the outcome, but take heart, your fearlessness has done your people some justice."
His declaration hung in the air, a promise of doom. I shivered, knowing the end was near.
"I won't repay the spectacle you’ve given me by ending your child's life," he said. "More likely, I'll enslave it—a treasured slave, no doubt."
As he approached me, I finally noticed the old nurse slowly pulling herself towards him. Apparently, she wasn’t yet defeated. The intruder must have seen the hope in my eyes because he stopped and made to turn. Then, with a sudden ferocity that belied her age, the nurse lunged forward. Her teeth found a gap in the armor around his ankle and, in an act of desperate courage she bit him! His shock was palpable, as was his fury.
Enraged, he retaliated with a vicious kick, sending her crashing against the wall. The violence of his action filled the room with a tangible fury. In his wrath, he bent down to feed on her, his predatory nature fully unleashed. It was then, amidst his bloodthirst, that I saw my chance.
As he was distracted, feasting on the nurse, I lunged forward with a scalpel from the tray next to me. With a primal scream, I leaped onto his back, the scalpel my only ally. Each plunge into his neck released a fountain of black ichor, and with each one, a piece of my fear gave way to a fierce triumph. As his body finally stilled, I slumped against the wall, the scalpel falling from my limp hand. My gaze, through tears and blood, found the small, wailing form of my child. Alive. Safe. I did not know it in the moment but apparently, his type of undead are their most vulnerable when they feed.
And then a line of what looked like text appeared in front of my face. CONGRATULATIONS! Level 1 reached. For killing the leader of an invasion force you have been granted a rare class. You have been granted the class Dawnguard Champion.