Demon Child

When I'm through, I look back at them and he is cradling her in a sweet embrace. That had once been mine as well. Harmony has stolen my life; she has taken the one thing that had once meant everything to me. I know it shouldn't matter, because I know I will so be dead, but that doesn't make it hurt any less.

"I don't understand what has just happened here and I'm not sure I even want to. You love me Damien so please make me understand."

"I loved you Shayla, but you couldn't give me the child that I so desperately wanted. All I have ever wanted was to be a father and my wife was barren, so I found someone who could give me a child. Harmony has given me a beautiful son Shayla."

"Harmony, please tell me that he is lying. I know you wouldn't do this to me. You couldn't the bond we share is unbreakable."

"That may be true in a fairy tale, but honey this is real life. If it weren't for you Damien's accident would have never happened. He was rushing home to tell you he was leaving you and that I was carrying his child, but he never made it. My little Carter belongs to Damien Shayla. I always thought it should have been me he married. I never thought you were good enough for him. He needed a real woman and you couldn't be that for him, hell you couldn't even give him a child. I was the better choice; it just took Damien a while to see that."

"I'd like to wish you both well, but the joke is on you. When all this is over Damien will take his place in hell with me."

"You must think I'm stupid Shayla. Do you honestly think I would allow that to happen? My son is going to grow up with both his parents. I've done a little spell of my own with the help of your aunt and uncle. You see, they will be raising that thing inside you in exchange for Damien's life back, so when all of this is over we will finally be able to have the life we have wanted for so long. I just want to thank you for making all of this possible."

"You bitch!" I try to reach her, but the pains pummeling through me are too much to bear. I feel something gushing from, my water has broken. My screams echo throughout the room the evil inside me has begun his journey into the world. I feel my inside being shredded as it pushes its way through my body.

"Harmony, run to the kitchen and grab the supplies I have on the table. Hurry, it won't be long now."

I feel myself fading. I have sweat pouring from me and Damien grabs a damp cloth and wipes my forehead.

"It hurts so bad Damien. I can't do this. I'm going to die, before the child is born. I feel it."

"Stop talking like that, you're doing fine. Just stay focused and breathe. I'm going to help you through this Shayla, we all will."

"Oh god, it hurts so badly."

"I know, but it will all be over soon and then you can rest forever. For now you will stay alive and do as I say. We have come too far for you to fuck it up for me and die before the child is born."

I hear voices in the hallway before seeing Harmony return followed by two hooded figures. She sat a bowl of water and clean towels on the bedside table. My eyes widen when she hands Damien the kitchen shears.

"Don't worry Shayla they are for the cutting of the cord." Damien reassured me before a familiar voice spoke. He didn't need to remove the hood. I knew instantly that it was my uncle.

"I see we made it just in time to witness this great joy."

"Uncle Jack." The other figure comes to my side sitting by me on the bed. I know it is my aunt Helen and that they have come to take the child when it is born. "Aunt Helen. I don't understand anything that is happening here. You are my mom's sister how could you do this to me? I know that you and Uncle Jack were forced from the coven, because of choices you made, but we're family. How can you do this?"

She pulls her hood back so I can see her face as she speaks to me. Her eyes held a great sadness.

"You see child, all of this was put into motion, long before you were even born. Your mother was barren just like you, but she wanted a child so badly that she signed a deal with Satan, offering their first born daughter as the vessel to carry his child. By the time you were four they had fallen so in love with you and wanted to keep you safe.

They had changed their minds and packed everything they owned and fled with you, but that was something they couldn't outrun, no matter how hard they tried. You were the only survivor in a crash that should have killed you, but you were too young to put it all together. Don't you understand it now Shayla? You were bestowed this great honor before you were even conceived."

I was still trying to wrap my head around what she was telling me when I'm bombarded with what I'm assuming are contractions. I suddenly wonder why any woman would want to go through this. There are so many things I still want to say to Damien and Harmony about their betrayal, but it doesn't matter after this is over I'll be gone. They will then be free to live their lives and raise their son. I was beyond hurt, but they didn't care. My body burned in pain. I could feel it pushing through me ripping me on its way. I just want the pain to stop. I have reached my thresh hold I can't take anymore. I'm consumed by the urge to push, but I don't. I don't want to bring this thing into the world, but I have no way of stopping it.

Aunt Helen is propping pillows behind me as Damien and Harmony take a place on each side of me, holding my legs high and spreading them. Uncle Jack squats between my thighs and nods to Damien. He screams at me to push the urge is too strong, not to.

"Push, Shayla now! Bear down and hold it until I say relax."

Aunt Helen crawls in behind me to help me up so I can push.

"Ahhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhh!"

I yell as the thing inside me claws his way out. My eyes flutter shut. I'm fading fast. Damien tells me to relax. I feel my uncle's hand as it reaches inside me. It hurt, but nothing could compare to what this monster inside me was doing. I feel a cool damp cloth blotting me. It felt good against my flesh. For one glorious second I felt human and then the pains. Damien screams at me again to push. I bear down hard, but it's no use I have nothing left. In that instant I pray for God to take me. I can't go on. Through the fog in my mind I hear Damien voice soft and tender.

"Stay with us Shayla. It's almost over. Jack can feel his head. A couple more good pushes and you will be free of the child. Come on Shayla you can do this."

"I can't do this Damien. I'm so tired. I need to rest."

"Okay just relax now. I'm so proud of you Shay."

I don't know what there is to be proud of. This thing inside of me would be raised to destroy the world someday. I was thankful I wouldn't be around to see that day. My body once again twisted in pain and this time when I push I could hear the sound of breaking bones. Damien had lied; it took more than a couple pushes before my body finally expelled the beast. His cries were that of a normal baby, but I didn't care. I was too tired to care.

I fall back into the pillows as the room begins to spin and blackness falls before my eyes. I was dying, but still I wanted to see the child I would never know. I look around the room, but Damien and Harmony are nowhere to be seen. Aunt Helen is swaddling the infant in her arms. Her face is gleaming. I think she already loves him. My voice is barely a whisper when I speak.

"Please, can I see the child? I don't have much time left. I think I'm owed at least one look."

She came to my side and held the child down for me to see. He was asleep, but if I could name him, I would call him sleeping beauty. I know it's silly for a boy, but that's who he reminds me of. He was perhaps the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. Everything about him was perfect. How was it possible for something so perfect to be so evil? He began to squirm, and I was horrified when his eyes flew open, but there was nothing there. No color, no emotion only a blackness that filled me with fear. She pulls him out of sight.

"I promise child, to keep him safe until he is of age to roam the earth on his own. Jack and I will love him until that day."

"If you were smart you would destroy him, before it's too late."

I heard a hissing sound, and I knew it came from the child. I can tell my comment agitated him, but I didn't care. I spoke the truth.

"Hush, child you mustn't upset him with such words. This child is a great asset to humanity. He will make the world a better place and I'm sorry you won't be around to see his greatness."

"I'm not." I barely got the words out between ragged breaths and then I close my eyes. I give into the darkness that consumes me forever.