Page 22 of The Dark Elf's Surprise Baby

“I will,” I tell her. Varia takes her leave and I feel like everything makes so much more sense now. No wonder I’ve been so tired lately! And nauseated!

My hand keeps drifting down to my belly, unconsciously pressing a hand to it as I get myself back to work. The news has lifted my spirits for the first time since Demethys left.

I can’t get over it. A baby! A little mini Demethys inside of me. Growing and becoming a person. He or she is going to be so loved, so spoiled.

My fatigue is gone, wiped out by the overriding excitement for the baby. If I’m six or seven weeks along, I might be very big and round by the time Demethys gets back. He’ll be so surprised to walk in and see me with a big belly! I grin at the thought and it puts a pep in my step.

The rest of the day seems to float by, as does the day after it. I’m so elated. I want to shout it from the rooftops but I don’t want to tell anyone until Demethys is back. I might not be able to keep it a secret forever though, if he’s still gone when I’m suddenly sprouting a large belly.

It’s three days in and I feel itching to tell someone. I need to talk to someone and tell them what’s going on.

My first thought is to tell Bryrion. Maybe she would be able to give me the support I need until Demethys comes back. She’s always been so kind to me, she’s very much my best friend in the household.

I’m not sure I should tell anyone yet though, so I keep quiet for now. But I continue to work with so much more zest that everyone starts noticing anyway, and asks questions.

In the interest of not saying anything until I know when Demethys is coming back, I simply tell them that I’m in a good mood because I had a dream he was coming home soon.

But the week passes without word of news, nor even a letter from Master Demethys and my energy feels as though it's waning. The fatigue slowly starts to return. I feel it in my bones that something is wrong.

He has to be fine though. No news is good news, right? There would be word if he was seriously injured...or dead. They wouldn’t just leave us all hanging.

“Are you alright?” Bryrion asks one day, when she finds me sick to my stomach, tears in my eyes in the downstairs bathroom.

“No,” I shake my head. “Can you keep a secret?”

“Yes, of course,” she says, smoothing a hand over my back.

“I’m pregnant,” I tell her quietly. A look of surprise flashes in her eyes and she narrows them for a moment as if trying to ascertain if I’m joking or not before smiling at me.

“That’s wonderful,” she says, hugging me. “I’m so happy for you. Have you heard word from Master Demethys yet? Have you told him?”

“No,” I shake my head. “I want to wait until he gets back but I’m nervous that we haven’t heard from him and I don’t know what to do.”

“Be patient,” she insists. “He’ll be back. And then you two will share the exciting news together!

“You’re right,” I say, wiping my eyes. “As usual. I’m sure I’m stressing over nothing.”

I go to bed that night determined to look on the positive side of things. I can’t let my fear become so unmanageable that it causes stress to the baby.

I close my eyes, drifting off.

“Harper!” I hear a voice calling me from somewhere in the distance. “Harper!” It’s a man and he’s yelling for me. “Harper, please!” he begs. “Please help me!”

Eyes widening, I realize that voice belongs to Demethys.

“I’m coming!” I try to yell but no sound comes out. It’s like my lips are sealed shut.

“Harper!” he calls again. “Please, I need you. Please help me!”

I wake with a start, breathing hard as I wipe sweat from my brow. The dream felt so real, so vivid. It was like he was far away but right next to me at the same time. Where is Demethys? Why haven’t we heard any word from him for over two weeks now?

I sit up in bed and head to the bathroom to get a glass of water.

I can’t take this waiting around. Something inside of me knows that something isn’t right here.

11

HARPER