Now that I could see what was happening, I saw dozens of people extinguishing fire. And I saw dead bodies of everyone I was up here with.
Dead. Everyone was dead.
“I love you, Sofiya.” Vladimir cried before he laid me down again.
Noooo. I wanted to scream at him to not stop holding me. But I was unable to move.
And then his eyes slid down to my stomach. At my bump, towards our daughter. Tears were continuously falling down his eyes.
That’s when I saw just how breathless, battered, bruised and cut up he was. Like he was running to save his life. Or mine. What difference was there? Our lives were tied by the Holy Moon Goddess. We were one and the same.
And then my eyes slid to my stomach.
Vladimir let out a heart crushing sob before he dug his fingers in my stomach, ripping me open.
I wanted to scream, telling him what the hell was he doing? That I’m still alive! Couldn’t he feel that? Couldn’t he feel his own mate? Why was he causing me pain?
But surprisingly, I felt no pain. None at all. As if I’m detached from my own body.
Vlad put his other had too and ripped open my entire stomach when he pulled out our daughter.
I could hear her heartbeat. It was so low, so weak… one would think… no! Vlad will never let that happen. I willed him with all the energy I could muster to do something to make sure she lived.
She looked like such a healthy little baby. She had golden hair on top on her head. It was matted with blood and other stuff, her entire body was, but she was alive.
I heard her heart slow down. I saw Vladimir frantically rub her back, pump her chest and give her mouth to mouth. I watched his fingers tremble and his hands shake as he tried to get the heartbeat of our daughter up.
I wanted to speak. I wanted to help him. I wanted to hold our daughter. I was sure my touch-her mother’s touch would help her somehow. It will. It has to.
“Valeralyn?” Vladimir sobbed out and then I heard a soft thump before my daughter’s heart went still.
Vladimir let out a loud cry so painful that I felt it hurt my soul. It felt like my soul was torn apart.
It felt like my heart was crushed.
My daughter is dead.
Valeralyn is dead.
My babygirl is dead.
My family is gone.
Vladimir looked right at me, “I-I am go-going to honour my p-promise. I’m go-going to win the war and then-and then I’ll j-join you on the other side,” he bent forward and kissed my forehead and then my lips.
But I didn’t feel anything.
He placed our daughter besides me and put my limp hand over her, “take care of her for me till I come back, Sof. I -I’ll join you two soon.” He couldn’t take his eyes off me, and his eyes couldn’t stop crying as he slowly stood up and turned around to walk away.
No! Why is he leaving? Why is he saying all that stuff? The promise was for when either of us died! Why is he bring that up now?
Vladimir! I screamed with all my might. I used all the energy I could muster and suddenly, I could move. I could move easily and freely now!
I jumped to my feet and rushed after him.
‘Vlad!’ I placed a hand on his shoulder. He stilled before his muscles tensed and he turned around. But he didn’t even look at me. It was like he couldn’t see me at me, like he was looking right through me.
I followed his gaze that was looking behind us, on the floor.
All breath escaped me when I saw myself lying on the floor besides Valeralyn. Most of my body was charred, like I was burned to death. There were multiple cuts and bruises on my body. My stomach was ripped open-by Vladimir. My intestines were hanging out.
I’m dead?
Why?
What happened?
Suddenly, I started remembering all the events. The war. The attack. The vibrations and the heat.
The explosion.
They had bombed the palace.
I died. My daughter died.
I rushed to pick up my daughter, to touch her, to hold her for once.
But my hands went through her body but I picked her up anyways-I picked up her soul. She was waiting for me. Her Mom. Tears erupted in my eyes. She didn’t get a chance at life. She didn’t get to live at all. It was so unfair.
She was so tiny in my arms but so precious. What I wouldn’t give to live a life with her and Vlad.
I turned around to see he was already gone.
But he told me to take care of our daughter till he came back so we can go to the after-life together. So I will wait.
My daughter and I will wait for her father and my soulmate till we go to the afterlife together. I felt a gaping hole in my chest but there was no pain. There truly was no pain after death. But I couldn’t even fathom the pain he must be feeling right now.
I love you Vladimir. Valeralyn loves you.
Come back to us.
And then let’s go… home.