"Enough!" Edgar's mother came running inside and continued, "Just go away for now since you can't even keep yourself calm!" He looked down, still hiding his emotions. Shea sat down on the bed, she had enough of it. She didn't wish to be part of the mess anymore but there was no other way. Edgar's mother took Edgar out, Shea could hear their quarrel.
"Mom, you know what she said! Do you think it's proper for her to say that?"
"Edgar, do you think it is proper to say that you want to kill your son? I don't remember giving birth and growing up a Devil…" she refuted back.
"Devil? Mom… don't you understand me?"
"I understand everything but do remember that when your father and I faced troubles, we didn't cower and give you up but faced it. Your father protected you and it is the same thing you should do!"
Edgar's mother seemed calm all the time, describing the sad past vividly which made Shea envy. How good it would be if her husband was that understanding?
"Just like Chris is your son, the life growing inside her and the child you killed are also your children too!"
"But mom…"
"Did you ever tell her who Chris is? Whose son is he? You didn't… you never maintained a proper relationship… She accepted Chris as her son without even knowing anything about him… Did you ever think how lonely she would feel in this unknown tribe? You didn't… Then, What do you expect her to do?"
There was no more noise and conversations after that. Everything was silent, it was lonely, suffocating yet the silence was golden for Shea. It was luxurious.
Edgar's mother's words kept ringing in Shea's mind. 'Who is Chris? Whose son is he?' It wasn't only his fault, it was Shea's too. She never asked him anything, they both respected their privacy but it was too much to represent everything as privacy. It wasn't only him who touched her bottom line, she touched his bottom line too. Shea knew how important Chris is to him, how much he loves him but being a mother, Shea didn't want all his focus to go to her son. He wasn't the only child, the life he killed and the child growing inside her is too his children. She wanted to stop but her thoughts kept dragging everything. She remembered how Chris was hurt too… She looked towards the window, the date had already changed. It was morning. She wanted to hug Chris but how could she…
"Mom…" the jolly and young voice rang. Shea didn't hesitate to take it as an illusion but his tight hug made her realize it was him, her son, Chris.
She quickly got up and hugged him back.
"Chris…"
She felt tear droplets on her arm, it was wet.
"What happened?"
"I was worried about you, mom. You scared me. I thought you didn't want me anymore."
"How can it be possible? Mom loves you, mom loves you a lot. How can I abandon you?"
"But mom… everyone said, you would abandon me…"
"Who said so? Don't pay attention to their nuisances!"
"Mom, so I am your only son, right?" He blinked his eyes innocently but it gave Shea chills down her spine and she pushed him unknowingly.
The roar of his cry filled the room. Edgar and his mother both came running. Chris was still crying. Edgar quickly picked him up and consoled him. Shea was still in her place, her eyes too. Chris is her son but she couldn't answer that question since he isn't her only son.
Chris repeated, "Mom, I am your only son, right?" I looked at him. Edgar's hateful glances changed into understanding one. But even so, what can he understand? He doesn't understand her sorrows, her pains… Edgar's mother looked worriedly at her. Shea didn't want to keep the tension anymore.
"No, baby… you are soon going to be a Brother!" Edgar and Chris both were pale. They clearly showed their disinterest in her child. It wasn't Shea's concern anymore since she was crystal clear that she wanted to protect her child. However, she was hurt by their reaction but she decided not to show her emotions. She swallowed her saliva and asked everyone to leave. Edgar kept silent and went away with Chris, in his arms. It was feeling distant like she was no more in the family. It was so easy to destroy a peaceful life.
She fell onto the bed and her mother-in-law, understanding her, gave her some alone time. Shea looked around the room, which she all ignored previously. It wasn't her room. It belonged to one of the West Chambers of her mother-in-law's palace.
"Luna, your room is prepared" a maid said, disrupting her thoughts. Shea nodded.
She stood up, feeling light. She didn't remember wearing such light clothes. She looked up and down and then, in the mirror. This is when her thoughts bring the distant memory of yesterday. She had forgotten to wash the muddy clothes! She was so excited about the news of Chris coming back that she forgot everything! She was in a tight spot. Shea couldn't return but she can't let them see the clothes too. She sat down, hands on her head, she was devastated.
"Luna… What happened to you?"
"Nothing… you can leave now…"
With her leaving, Shea could hear steps coming toward her. Who would have come here at this time? She didn't have the answer to it.
"Mistress…" It was one of the guards who guard the ancestral hall. Shea gulped. She didn't know if he had already figured her out. He handed her a fresh set of clothes, it was ragged but shining. Her eyes were enlarged when she found out it was exactly the same dress as yesterday.
"You can't let others find out about it… It would be dangerous if someone else got it…" He spoke gently. Shea was surprised that he didn't turn her out nor did he interrogate her. He only gave a gentle and sympathetic smile.
"It's fine to break the rules sometimes… it's not your fault… Don't worry, we won't turn you out. You can do whatever you want with the dress."
Shea gulped and said, "But your Master is Edger…"
"I am not doing anything to betray him and I won't. You are also my Mistress. I can help you too!"