|54: There Is No Place Like Home.

I feel numb.

I am surrounded by silence, and the pain of childbirth appears to have vanished.

I sigh with relief.

My poor body has been through hell, and it is finally over.

I raise my head and open my eyes to discover that I am alone in the darkness, with a brilliant beam of light shining down a few meters in front of me.

My pulse quickens and a cold shiver travels up my spine, dispersing like a firecracker as dread and alarm spread throughout my entire body.

I did not survive.

I failed.

My bottom lip begins to wobble, and I lower my head, touching my belly, which is still round and hard like a rock.

“My Queen...” A deep, thunderous voice with an underlay of horror sweeps through the darkness.

I jump with a small smile filled with grief tugging at the corners of my mouth.

“Beard, is that you?” I sniffle, knowing the boisterous tone of his voice like black ink smeared across a white canvas.

“Come into the light before the darkness claims you.” He says in a rush, trying his best