Choices

Chapter 118
"Pregnant!" Cephera and Seraphina said in unison. They both had the same amount of shock in their tone.
"That's what I said," Dia replied.
"Gotta be Krytoffs." Seraphina growled.
"No doubt," Dia frowned. "Probably why she hadn't come to me sooner."
Dia had been in the far back of the crowd when the truth of everything came to light. She'd followed Rorik up to the healing wing before the twins had joined them.
Outside the window, Cephera had been able to see the light join the sky as Demos met his end in the palace square. She wasn't sure if Krystoff was dead yet. As he wasn't Mechanovian, his essence wouldn't join the core.
Hopefully, these would be the last executions Mechanova would ever have to carry out.
"She's poisoned with dark magic, isn't she?" It wasn't much of a question. Cephera had seen it before in Angrboða. The pale skin, the sweating and lack of energy.
"She is," Dia held a look of pity. "Enough have died from all this madness." She sighed.
"Can you do anything for her?" Seraphina didn't sound very concerned, but it was more out of obligation for her to ask. She was being polite.
"I'm not sure," Dia replied. "I'll do my best." It was all anyone could do.
"The other women didn't show signs of poisoning." Seraphina noted.
"No, but it looks like she was taking some heavy herbs to avoid getting pregnant from Krystoff's tainted seed. It may have counteracted after she'd become pregnant. That and her possible extended sexual encounters with his sperm may have poisoned her over time as well." Dia shook her head. She was only guessing.
This was an extreme circumstance that had never been seen before.
"Angrboða got sick because her partner used dark magic to speed up the pregnancy," Cephera said. It took her quick thinking to avoid saying Loki's name.
"You all should leave. She isn't even close to term. If she dies the baby will die. She needs rest and constant medical attendance." Dia shoo'd them all out. Rorik had already gone when Seraphina had arrived to shoo him out.
The twins left, with Seraphina taking hold of Cephera's hand. "Lead me," she said.
"I thought your sight was returned." Cephera was confused. She hadn't heard about her sisters eyesight being healed, but she certainly seemed fine when she arrived.
"Not completely. Dia has me taking a remedy, but it has both short term and long term effects. Over time they've been restoring my sight little by little. At the end of each day I have more natural sight than I start with. When I take the remedy it restores full sight for about half my day before it beings to disappate. Soon though, she thinks I'll recover my permanent sight." Seraphina smiled.
"Good," Cephera returned the smile and took her sisters hand to lead her downstairs.
XxX
People were walking back inside from the courtyard talking amongst themselves.
"We should have known," some said.
"I didn't think he was capable of it," others said.
"It's done?" Cephera asked her father as he came into view. He gave a heavy, almost relief filled nod.
"I was thinking, it's time we celebrated," he said. "You have given birth and we have not properly been introduced. The people would enjoy it. They need something to fill their hearts with joy again."
"I like that idea," Seraphina replied. "I want to see my nephew."
"Two days time is enough for all those to adjust to what's happened." The King decided.
"That gives me time to oversee a few loose ends I have on Asgard." Cephera thought of Amora. She owed that woman a great deal.
"Then go now while you can. We have a few more decisions to make before this fiasco ends." The King looked to his heir and put a hand to her shoulder.
"New laws are being contemplated. I'll fill you in when you get back." Seraphina told her sister.
"I'll see you in two days,"
XxX
Heimdall's beautiful face gave a slight smile when Cephera appeared in his observatory.
It was hard to believe that only a day ago she'd been to Mechanova to watch Krystoff's fall.
She was due to go back tomorrow, but first she had business to attend to. As she was sure Heimdall knew very well what had transpired, she didn't care that he was still there when Amora walked in. She stayed close to the doorways crossing her arms to wait for Cephera to join her.
Cephera couldn't help but glance to the woman's neck and left arm, but they were currently covered by clothes and blonde hair.
"Hello," she greeted Amora, but she simply spread her hands out.
"My payment," she said with a crisp tone.
"Soon, but first I must know, how did you know that your plan would work?" It had been bothering Cephera.
"The same way you knew giving me that shape shifting spell would be useful." Amora replied.
"I didn't know it would be helpful, but I hoped it could be." Cephera answered.
"And I wasn't sure my plan would work, I just hoped it would." Amora smirked. "Truthfully, it was based on the fact that Krystoff was a ticking time bomb. His anger was his downfall." She shrugged. "To be completely honest I wasn't sure I wanted to help you. I would have enjoyed watching Loki rage and despair over your disappearance." Cephera knew her mouth had opened a fraction in shock.
She glanced down at the book. At first she'd felt bad for creating one with spells that were mostly useless, but now she was glad she had.
"What made you change your mind?" Cephera looked back up.
"I could care less what happens to you..., but if you knew the things he would have done to your daughters, even I have standards and you just don't do that to your own children, or any children for that matter." A look of disgust crossed her face.
"Knowing you would enjoy seeing me fall to hurt Loki, why should I give you this." Cephera clutched the book harder to give the impression of its remaining value.
Amora pushed her hair back and pulled the tight fabric of her shirt down to reveal the burn she'd sustained fighting Krystoff. "Because you owe it to me." She narrowed her eyes.
Sighing, Cephera frown. "I know you hate Loki, but I wish you'd leave me out of it. I tried to help you. I cared what happened to you after your mental break." Cephera could tell by the woman's blank expression that she didn't care about that.
"My payment," she responded instead and once again held out her hands.
Relenting, Cephera handed over the tomb. Amora tugged it from her grasp as if expecting her to take it back at the last moment.
"I am not your friend, Cephera. This help was a one time deal. If you seek me out again, it will only mean trouble for you." She warned and walked away.
"I will keep a close eye to her," Heimdall said from behind Cephera when Amora was far enough away.
"Thank you," what else could she say. Cephera glanced around, unsure how much she should say. She was curious if Heimdall knew everything, right down to Suvia's Loki being the cause of everything that's happened to the royal family of Asgard. "How's Suvia?" She asked, opening up a seemingly polite conversation.
"She is well on her way to discovering all Asgards secrets." Heimdall replied with a tiny smile lighting up his eyes.
He knew.
She had no doubt now that he knew. "Good. She loves a good adventure." Cephera replied. "I must be going, I've left Pepper with Ikol and she never gets any work done with him. She simply can't seem to get enough of him." Cephera giggled and went back to stand near the ByFrost exit point.
Heimdall slotted the staff and Cephera was sucked back to Earth.
XxX
Cephera arrived again the next day at the Byfrost observatory with Ikol in her arms ready to go to Mechanova. She didn't expect to see both Odin and Frigga there.
"Cephera," Odin greeted giving her a simple head nod. "May I?" Odin gestured with his arms out toward Ikol.
Cephera handed over her child and the realization hit her that technically Odin is his grandfather. His interest surprised her. "It's been a while," Cephera said to Odin, trying to not let her partial anger show.
She was still upset with him for trying split her up from Loki and then sending her to Earth, away from all her friends while she was pregnant. Odin was always a strange sort. To her, it seemed, he valued how his people viewed him as a king more than as a family man. It was that reason that he sometimes came off as cold.
She didn't doubt he loved his family, it was just that he didn't show it in the same manner as Cephera was used to seeing others show it.
"It has," Odin was gazing at his grandson and there was a hidden tenderness there.
"His name is Ikol," Cephera was sure he knew that, but she was just making polite conversation.
"A fine name," Odin replied. "It's been a long time since I held a child. I came here to assure you that, just as I loved Loki though he was not m blood, I will love this grandchild." His declaration eased the crazy thoughts that had been jumping through Cephera's mind.
For a time she thought he meant to take Ikol from her. When did she begin to think Odin was that kind of monster? Loki's negativity must have rubbed off on her.
"I'm glad," Cephera smiled and her shoulders slumped in relief.
"I hear things have taken a good turn in Mechanova," Odin commented. "I'm glad that none of us have to worry about that family any longer. As dirty as such business is, sometimes it's the only way."
"I agree. A new chapter opens today for us Mechanovian's, and we plan to celebrate. Much is changing." Cephera replied.
"Yes," Odin nodded with a strange tone to his voice. She wanted to ask about Loki, but she bit it back. Frigga had been kind to fill her in on the months she'd been away from Asgard. It was hard to believe it was almost a year.
"I should go," Cephera reached out and took her son back. Odin was gentle with the baby and smiled.
"Frigga will be coming to Midgard next month to spend some time with you." Odin announced. "I think it's important for the baby to get to know at least one of us." Cephera's smile widened and excitement bubbled in her belly.
Frigga had been standing silent nearby. She stepped forward and gave Cephera a firm hug. "I look forward to it," she said.
"As do I," Cephera responded. Frigga kissed Ikol on his head and Cephera watched them step back so that she could continue her journey home.

Notes