"In The Embrace Of Darkness, A Star Is Born, Destined To Shine Yet Bound By Fate"
The Moonlight Shining Upon The Earth On A Rainy Night As A Cool Breeze Sweeps Through The Streets Of The City…
Inside Of A Hidden Building Near The Main Household Of Yamikei Clan, The Head Of The Clan Amaya Begins The Delivery Of Aaliyah's First Born Selene…
Aaliyah Lays On The Hospital Bed, Her Face Contorted In Pain As Sweat Drips Down Her Face…
Clothed In A Hospital Gown, She Grips The Edges Of The Bed As Her Hair Floats Up And The Lights In The Room Flicker On And Off…
Aaliyah(Grunting): G- God… This Hurts So Bad!!!
Amaya With Intense Focus Moved With Practiced Precision. Her Hand's Worked Deftly And Her Expression One Of Both Focus And Concern.
Amaya(Urgent): Aaliyah, Focus. Keep Pushing It's Almost Out!
The Rain Outside Begins Pounding Against The Windows As Thunder Strikes The Ground…
Aaliyah's Eyes Glow An Ominous Red Color As Her Screams Sound Across The Entire Room…
Amaya(Urgent): Sachiko! Keep Her Chaos Energy Levels Under Control!
Sachiko(Nodding): I'm Trying!
Desk's And Medical Supplies Begin Dropping To The Ground Due To The Intense Chaos Energy Leaking Out Of Aaliyah's Body!
Amaya(urgent): One More Push Aaliyah!!!
A Low, Rumbling Vibration Spread Through The Room As Aaliyah's Chaos Energy Began To Spiral Out Of Control, Creating A Whirlwind Of Power That Threatened To Tear The Building Apart…
Sachiko, Beads Of Sweat Forming On Her Brow As Her Hand's Hold Steady Attempting To Suppress The Wild Energy.
Sachiko(Strained): "This Energy… It's Stronger Than I Had Anticipated!"
Aaliyah's Screams Intensified, The Force Of Her Power Cracking The Window's. Amaya's Focus Never Wavered As She Continued Her Efforts, Both Hands Moving With An Urgency That Spoke Both Of Her Fear And Her Determination.
The Baby's Head Began To Surface, And After One Big Push…
Aaliyah(Screaming): AAAAAAHHH!!!
With A Final, Desperate Push, The Room Seemed To Explode With Energy. The Lights Flickered Before Shattering And Plunging The Room Into Darkness As Aaliyah's Eyes Glow Through The Dark…
Aaliyah(Sighing): "Huff" "Huff"
Suddenly, A Piercing Cry Echoed Through The Room— A Cry Of Pain, But New Life. The Energy In The Air Dissipated Almost Instantly, As If Drawn Into The Tiny Being Now Held In Amaya's Hands.
Amaya(Softly, With A Mix Of Awe And Dread): "She's… Here."
**Moments Later**
Amaya(Serious): I'll Be Taking Selene To Begin The Ritual.
Aaliyah(Eyes Widened): W- Wait Mother!
Aaliyah Quickly Grabs Amaya's Leg As Amaya Turns To Face Aaliyah.
Aaliyah(Pleading): Please, At least Let Me Have Some Time Alone With Her. I'm Begging You.
Sachiko Looks Down At Aaliyah, Empathy Shown In Her Expression.
Sachiko(Agreeing): Let Her Have This Lady Amaya. You Owe Her That At Least.
Amaya Looks Down At Selene For A Moment Before Letting Out A Sigh And Responding.
Amaya(Sighing): Fine. Five Minutes Is All You Have.
Aaliyah(Bowing): Th- Thank You!
Amaya Hands Selene Over To Aaliyah As Aaliyah Looks Down To See Her Daughter For The First Time.
Amaya(Softly): Sachiko. Let's Give Her A Little Time Alone, In The Meantime I'll Begin Preparations For The Ritual.
Sachiko(Bowing): Y- Yes Ma'am!
Amaya Leaves The Room As Aaliyah Exchanges A Quick Glance Over To Sachiko And Shakes Her Head Signaling Sachiko To Come Over To Her…
Sachiko(Confused): Is There Something Wrong Aaliyah?
Aaliyah(Pleading): Sachiko, I'm Begging You. I Need You're Help.
Sachiko(Nervously Sweating): W- With What?!
Aaliyah(Urgent): I Cannot Allow My Mother To Perform This Ritual On Selene And For The Grand Elder To Seal Malum Inside Of Selene…
Aaliyah(Urgent): We Don't Have A Lot Of Time. But I Need You To Keep My Mother Occupied So I Can Do A Preyer To The All See'r So Selene Won't-
Sachiko(Nervous): Are You Crazy?! What If Lady Amaya And The Grand Elder Find Out?! They'll Kill You And Selene If-
Aaliyah(Begging): They Need Me To Birth A Suitable Vessel For Malum So They Won't Kill Me, And They Will Most Likely Just Have Selene Attend The Sorcerer Academy…
Aaliyah(Begging): That's Better Than Her Dying. Please Sachiko, You're The Only One I Can Rely On!
Sachiko Looked Into Aaliyah's Eyes And Saw Passion And Desperation…
Her Mind Raced With The Consequences, But She Clenched Her Fist's Feeling The Weight Of The Decision Pressing Down On Her. For a moment, the room was filled only with the soft sound of Selene's breathing, the innocence of a child who knew nothing of the dark destiny awaiting her.
Sachiko(Firmly): Alright… I'll Do It. I'll Distract Lady Amaya As Long As I Can.
Aaliyah's Eyes Filled With Tears Of Gratitude, A Spark Of Hope Igniting In The Dark Void Of Despair That Had Consumed Her.
Aaliyah(Softly): Thank You, Sachiko. I Owe You My Life.
Sachiko(Smiling): You're My Best Friend. I'll Do Anything In My Power To Help You.
Sachiko Turned To Leave, Her Heart Pounding As She Mentally Prepared Herself To Face Amaya. As She Reached The Door, She Paused, Looking Back Once More.
Sachiko(Whispering): Be Safe, Aaliyah. For Both Your Sakes.
Aaliyah Nodded, Her Resolve Hardening. As Soon As Sachiko Left, Aaliyah Positioned Selene Carefully In Her Arms…
She Closed Her Eyes, Focusing Her Energy And Began To Recite The Ancient Prayer To The All See'r, Her Voice Trembling Yet Filled With Determination.
Aaliyah(Chanting): Oh Queen Of Creation, Hear My Plea. Shield This Child From The Darkness Of This World That Seek's To Consume Her Pure Soul. Bless Her Soul With Your Light, I Beg You.
A Cool Breeze Then Begins To Blow Through The Open Window As The Moonlight Shines Upon Selene's Sleeping Face.
As The Ritual Completes, Aaliyah Gives Selene A Kiss On The Forehead. And Embraces Her Daughter For The First And Possibly Final Time.
Then 15 Minutes Later, Amaya And Sachiko Return To The Room.
Amaya(Stern): Time's Up Aaliyah, Hand Selene Over Now.
Aaliyah looked down at her daughter one last time, her heart breaking but filled with a fierce resolve.
Aaliyah(Softly): "I love you, Selene."
She gently kissed her daughter's forehead before reluctantly handing her over to Amaya. As Amaya took Selene and turned to leave, Aaliyah's eyes locked with Sachiko's, who gave her a subtle nod—her part in this dangerous gamble complete.
Amaya(Coldly): The ritual will begin now. Pray that the Grand Elder finds her suitable.
As the door closed behind them, Aaliyah collapsed onto the bed, tears streaming down her face. She had done all she could, but the fear of what was to come gnawed at her insides.
Aaliyah(Whispering to herself): "Please… let it be enough."
To Be Continued…