Blood for the Plague

''Lucia, you know how much I loved you. I won't give up on you and that child you are carrying. As long as I am alive, you don't have to worry about anything else,'' Levi carefully said to his wife to be as they lie beneath the bright moon and the shining stars witnessing their endless love.

The two of them had been together for years now and Lucia was able to conceive a child last March. It was already October fourth and her belly is starting to grew even bigger than it was before.

Lucia decided to hug her beloved as she got the assurance that she wanted because she knows that Levi's family doesn't accept her for their only son as they know that her family was labeled as the poorest of the poor. Her father is a lumber and her mother is a maid in the household of Lord Lewis.

Having this kind of family background, surely is very shameful to those families who have it better than people like her. She is very anxious when it comes to their relationship because she knows that Levi's family have the power to separate them anytime they want. It doesn't even matter if she's carrying Levi's bloodline.

''It's getting cold Levi. We must return inside now,'' Lucia instructed her husband and Levi gently agreed to what she said and helped her stand while holding both of her hands. Before they could enter their residence, Levi heard some unusual sound right behind them so he turned around but to greet a complete empty area and a windy atmosphere.

As they were inside the house, he made sure that the doors and windows are locked. He feels threatened every night because his family might have ordered a spy to look out for the both of them which is very alarming.

He couldn't afford losing Lucia at this rate as he was really bewitched by this woman and the fact that she's carrying his bloodline he really is willing to protect her at all cost.

They have one maid in their residency and both of them completely trust this old woman as this woman was the one  who took care of Levi when he was a child. Madam Vevica assisted Lucia to go upstairs to go rest because Levi still have a lot of things to do on his workroom.

He is currently planning on moving outside Argania to assure the safety of his beloved and to completely disperse the threat he always worry about. As long as they here in the Kingdom of Argania, his family's people will always be everywhere tailing them.

Lucia and Levi ran-away from their families because both sides is against their relationship just because of their differences in status.

As Levi was reviewing some papers in his workroom, a sudden shattering of glasses was heard from the upstairs that completely awaken his soul. He immediately run upstairs and opened Lucia's room. He was in shock when he saw Madam Viveca lying lifeless on the floor while Lucia is silently crying on her bed while staring on the old woman's body.

''What happened Lucia? Who did this!'' He tried his best not to exclaim his words because he doesn't want to scare his wife to be. ''I d-don't know Levi, someone broke in and killed Madam. T-they left a note on my vanity table,'' Lucia said while her lips are quivering. As she say this, Levi looked at the vanity table and saw a piece of an old paper in there. He immediately grab it and read it furiously.

''Your father and I have the power to control you no matter where you run. Don't make us kill Lucia before you come back to our residence Levi. This is a warning''

Levi threw the paper outside the broken window and looked at Madam Vevica with sorrow on his eyes. This woman had been loyal to him ever since he was a child. She was even there whenever his parents are fighting physically and  comforting him on his bedroom. But who knew this day would come? His parents is not afraid to do things like this just to make him comeback to them.

After thinking about what happened, he sat beside Lucia and comforted her. It is bad for their baby if Lucia kept crying sorrowfully like this. As he kissed Lucia's forehead, he had made up his mind to move out this night to avoid any danger.

But before packing their things up, he carried Madam Viveca's corpse towards their small backyard and decided to bury her there. He felt really sorry about doing this without informing Madam's family but he had no other choice. They are running out of time and he need to protect their lives.

After burying Madam Viveca's body, he packed his things inside his workroom then checked on Lucia upstairs. Seeing that Lucia is already done arranging her needs, Levi hold her hands as they carefully leave the place that has been their home once.

It was full of laughter back then but this night has been nothing but dreadful. They lost someone close to them and it is really devastating but they had nothing to do but to escape the place as they walk deep unto the forest.

After a few hours, Lucia felt tired and worn out so she decided to ask her husband about their whereabouts. ''Levi, are we still deep into the woods? My feet are killing me. I am also feeling dizzy,'' Lucia whispered. Both of them doesn't know how long have they been walking in the woods.

Levi carefully looked around and he felt delightful as he saw a firelit cottage not so far. Maybe they could ask some help from the people who lives here. Deep inside, he felt skeptical because the people inside of the cottage might bring them danger but he still tried because Lucia can't keep walking besides she is currently pregnant.

As they carefully walked towards the cottage, the door surprisingly opened and there is an old woman looking at them. Levi doesn't sense any danger at all so he trusted it and continue on walking towards her.

''My, my. Will you look at that? A couple deep in the forest of Argania? How rare,'' The old woman graspily said.

''We need help, my wife is pregnant and she is currently tired. May we request to spend the night in here?'' Levi politely said. The old woman didn't respond. Instead, she opened the door widely giving them a signal that they are welcome inside her cottage. Levi bowed before the old woman and entered the warm cottage then carefully layed Lucia's body on the couch.

''You shouldn't be roaming around the woods at this time. You know, it is dangerous to encounter a witch who is interested on the flesh of a pregnant woman,'' The old woman said calmly. Her intention wasn't to scare them but to warn them because it is the truth. The Kingdom of Argania might look promising to the visitors from the farlands, but there are some things they doesn't know about. Especially, this land being cursed.

''We have no choice but to ran away from our home. Someone's threatening us,'' Levi firmly said.

''Your wife is bound to give birth later, are you aware of that?''

''You must be joking Madam. My wife is only 7 months pregnant. She can't be giving birth this early,'' Levi laughingly said as if it was a joke.

The old lady just quietly smiled and minutes later, Lucia is having a hard time to breathe while holding on her belly. Levi was completely alarmed by that action of hers and Immediately sat beside her and asked her what's wrong. Lucia didn't give him an answer but she continued on breathing heavily as large beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

''It is already written by the stars. Are you not curious why the stars are unusually bright this night and the moon being huge than it usually was?'' the old woman said as she carefully peels the orange fruit on her hand skillfully. This night has been nothing but dreadful for both of the lovebirds. Levi doesn't want to believe the old woman because it is really impossible for his wife to give birth at this rate. If that happen, he is afraid that there are complications that is going to surprise them.

''What do you mean? This isn't normal! My wife is 2 months early to be giving birth. What is happening!'' Levi tried his best not to sound scared. The old woman only smirked on what he said.

''Tonight, two girls will be born under the bright moon and the dreadful night. They will be the cause of the chaos of human race as they grew. They will become the greatest desctruction in the Land of Argania.''

As the old woman say this, Lucia began to scream on the top of her lungs while breathing harshly as she looked up the skies. The cottage has an open window above its roof and Lucia's body was being struck by the Moon's bright light. Levi hold her hands tightly as he comforted her that everything's going to be alright.

Meanwhile, the old lady brought a basin with hot water on Lucia's feet. She carefully instructed Lucia on what to do as she was already in labor. Levi doesn't know what to do but to hold his wife's hand gently.

''You need to push young lady, I can already see your daughter's head,'' The old lady said and Lucia obediently followed. After a few sets of push, they expected to hear a loud cry from a newborn baby but they were greeted by the loud swaying of the trees outside the cottage. The old lady doesn't have any much expression and carefully bought the child towards Levi's arms.

He was in utter shock as he saw his child bearing a pure white skin and hair. Not crying and not making any movements but only the breathing that it makes on its small chest. His breath was completely taken away by the sight of his daughter and his curiousity arouses because his daughter's complexion is white like the snow on the winter. The newborn child slowly opened it's eyes peacefully revealing a light blue hue of colour as if its the sea from the tropic countries.

''There's another one,'' the old woman hurrily said and instructed Lucia again to do the same thing as she did earlier. This time, the newborn child let out a loud cry as it exits through her mother's womb. It's eyes are just like from the other one but the difference is the other one is red in color with a mole on it's left cheek. It's complexion are just the same from the other one making them both breathtakingly beautiful.

''I don't understand. How come their skins and eyes are like this?'' Levi asked in confusion.

''They are called Albinos. This case is very rare in this Kingdom. You might want to protect both of your child if you doesn't want anything bad to happen in the future,'' The woman warned them seriously thus making Levi scared a bit so he can't help but to ask the woman.

''What do you mean by that? Are you nuts?''

''As I said, Albinos are rare in Argania. Haven't you heard about the disaster many years ago young lad? There was a child that was born exactly like your twin daughters. The people from the northern side of the Kingdom captured that child draining its blood as they believed that it is the cure and salvation of humanity,'' the old woman said with a firm tone.

Fear is to be seen behind Levi's eyes but he can't do anything but to face the reality and hardships that are bound to come in their way. He needs to protect his family at all cost. As he carry both of his child towards his wife, Lucia calmly looked at him smiling gently. ''They are so beautiful,'' Lucia weakly said.

After that, Lucia closed her eyes as she was very tired. Levi gave Lucia time to rest for the night and let the woman clean her body before proceeding to the kitchen to prepare something. Levi carefully lay down both of his daughter on an empty couch just across his wife and lovingly looked at them.

No matter how different their appearances is than normal people here in this land, he doesn't bear any feeling of anger and disgust deep inside him. After minutes of adoring the beauty of his daughters, he decided to think of a name to bestow to his children. Thankfully, something came up to his mind immediately.

''You will be named Luna,'' He said as he carefully caresses it's cheeks. He decided to name this child like this for she took over the white appearance of the moon and is gentle like the starry night. Turning to the other child that have some deep black strands of hair on the other half of its head. He carefully picked it up and kisses its forehead.

''And you, will be named Yve,'' He said as this daughter of his resembles the dreadful night with its deep black hair and blood red eyes on its left eye giving the aura of a mysterious and dangerous beauty within its complexion.

Just by looking by the appearance of this children, Levi thought that the old lady is not really joking. They really have the bearing of destruction and tragedy around them even if they are so young. Levi is determined to protect his family no matter what will be the cost. He cannot afford to lose any one of them and he wanted to give them the life with freedom and joy.

After giving names to both of his child, Levi asked the old woman's name wanting to make an acquaintance to the kind woman even if they were total strangers. As he asked her, the lady responded gently that her name was Molly.

After some short discussion, Levi decided take a rest on the cottage's floor. He felt tired for the night, and tomorrow will be a new day running from his family's people that kept on chasing both of them.

He needs energy to think of things properly. As the night goes deeper, the night skies goes dimmer when bunch of dark and eerie clouds started to succumb the night skies in the Kingdom of Argania. 

Thunders are to be heard and huge sightings of lightning are to be seen in every part of the Kingdom of Argania bringing fear to children who refuses to sleep under the roof of their humble residences. 

The people thought that  it would be just a normal thunderstorm and didn't worry about it that much. But what they didn't expect is after this night,  the land of Argania will begin to encounter different tragedies and events no one has expected in many years. They thought that what happened 20 years ago will be the last of it, but they were wrong.