The fall

Chapter One -- The Fall

Sofia moved quietly around the house, humming to herself, and setting the dining-table.

“Perfect.” She mumbled as  she lit up a little candle in the middle. The smell of roasted chicken and fresh vegetables filled  the air.

“I pray this work.” Sofia said, hoping this would help her mate, Damien,  out of his distant moods.  Several attempts had failed as she tried to him to pass a moment with her, had rendered her sad yet she could not resist the temptation of a quiet intimate dinner to-night. Maybe to-night that would be different. Maybe tonight would end well, revive their mate bond and maybe… the dull and fading mate mark on her neck would be brought back to life.

Her heart had shattered into  a million pieces when she learned of the reason behind a fading mate mark.

Her mate was falling out of love.

“Help me moon goddess”. She prayed.

Sofia checked the clock. It was nearly seven. She stared at the door, and wondered how he was going to come home and look at the preparations she made. She smoothed her dress by rubbing her hands on it. 

“Pray for me.” She mumbled to her bump.

The opening of the front door took her out of her thoughts. She turned about and her heart went soaring upon the sight of her mate. Damien walker in , coat in his hand, his briefcase on the other, his face void of any emotion. No smile, no lingering look. 

He gave minimum attention to the dinner that she had prepared.

“Welcome home. I went out shopping today so I made dinner, Damien" Sofia began, and walked towards him. “I made your favorites, come see.” 

He didn't look at her. His voice was calm, detached. “You went out despite doctor’s orders to stay at home and rest. Tell me, do you want to lose this one the way you lost the first four?”

The words fell on her, cruel and harsh, but she smiles through it."Im sorry ...  I was  hoping we could--"

"Eat together?" he cut her off result, and, after a time, glanced at her. "No, Sofia. It's better if focused on resting and not losing this baby.”

Her chest tightened. She had spent hours cooking and fantasized over a time when she could have a chance of simple communication but it was clear that he was not interested. She bit lip, trying to hide her pain. She didn't argue. She didn't protest. 

“I’m sorry.” She mumbled but Damien was already making his way up the stairs.

Reaching the staircase she paused, swallowing the lump in her throat, blinking repeatedly to prevent the tears from gathering. “Would you like to have a gender reveal... of this baby... Damien, in case everything will be well?” Her voice only trembled just over to the edge of a whisper. “Nothing extravagant, just you, I, and family…”

Damien stopped in his tracks but did not look at her. His hand was lightly on the banister and he lightly answered, “Gender reveal? sure. If it survives."

“Why… why do you say it like that? This is not an IT Damien! This is our child! This is your child! Why do you treat me like this? What wrong have I done to you? Tell me, is it something I am not aware of, tell me so I can apologize for it. I am sick and tired of you avoiding me like I am some sort of diease! Talk to me!” Sofia demanded as she climbed the stairs, to keep up with Damien who walked further, ignoring her. 

“Stop it, Aria.” Damien warned but he did not stop.

“Stop what!” She yelled back.

“Stop trying to bring this dead mate bond back to life. The only thing keeping up together is that baby… that if it survives.” He said coldly.

The  manner with which he spoke wounded her more than an outburst of anger. But she made a slight nod, and swallowed her disappointment. She took the second step when a sharp pang of pain shit through her abdomen.

“Heaven.” She hissed. She had been having the same pangs of pains in her stomach and this was the indication that no more movement was safe any more.

And when she lifted her weight to make another step her foot slipped. One second she was standing; then she had the world tipping on her side. She flailed her arms trying to hold something, but she only caught air.  Her figure collapsed, and hit the wooden steps abhorrently. Her back and head hit the ground with a thud and pain radiated in her abdomen. there was a gasp on her part as she attempted to call, but her voice was choked in her throat.

"Sofia!" Damien screamed. 

“My back, my head…it hurts.” Sofia tried to mumble, but the sound barely reached her own ears. She tried to make a gesture, to start herself up, but a sharp pain shot through her back and lower abdomen, forcing her to stay still and wince in pain. 

 Colors blurred  before her eyes and she heard Damien’s  voice calling her name a second, a third time, even closer. Her body was hurting in places she didn’t even know existed.  Tears rushed down her face, a bitter feeling rising up her throat.  But she paid no attention to it, her mind on the excruciating pain, and the horror that lay in her heart.

“Her baby.” 

Damien  gently tapped her cheeks  and touched her hand which was trembling as he tried to lift her. "Sofia! Stay with me. Please..."

She scarcely could nod, as another pang of pain was shot through her. She could feel the warmth of his body, the beating of his heart against her ears. This was the first that he was not distant, not chilly. He was pathetic, his eyes were open, his face, which was normally placid and self-composed, was flushed with crude anxiety.

She tried  speak, to say that it was not only the fall, which frightened her but the fear of losing her fifth baby.

The first four she had lost was hell.

She spent days and nights crying her eyes out.

Losing the fifth one, would send her to her grave.

“Stay with me.” Damien’s panicked voice was now beginning to sound distant in her eyes.