” Mia! ”
Lin woke up with a start.
His entire body was sweating. He was sure he had heard a loud, strange cry. He woke up from his sleep because of it.
But it wasn’t Mia’s. It felt like it was a baby’s cry. A cute little baby boy. Floating in the water with eyes like his and face like his Mia.
Was it a vision of his child?
Lin felt that strange emptiness inside his pit again. He clenched his chest with his hands.
He darted off from his room. Straight outside.
His legs stopped right at the border. The border where they had seperated themselves from the raging beast outside.
He fell on the ground on his knees. He wanted to head straight to the ocean . Dive straight till he reached the depths. To the mer-kingdom. To his life . To his world. His Mia. Even if it was without the Water Breather. He was willing to take the risk.
But he couldn’t risk her safety. He couldn’t risk the creature the lurking anywhere near his wife and unborn.
Was his baby still unborn? Then why was he having this strange sensation? Whose presence was it that made the unrest in heart so extreme.
Lin stood up slowly, dejected once more, as his heavy legs dragged him back to his lonely room.
“Weeeeeeee! ”
The cry of the boy rang in ripples around the mer-kingdom.
” My baby. My b… ”
Mia extended her hand to hold his little hands but just then her eyes shut and her entire body went limp.
The bubble burst and Mia’s limp body fell right in the waters mixing with her environment. Jade and Ruby swam forward to grab her as the Queen took Mia’s boy in her arms.
She cut the cord with a flip of her hand. Then with another swish of her hand turned the insides of Mia into their proper positions.
” Take care from here, ”
The queen instructed as the midwives rushed to take care of the unconscious Mia.
The queen headed out with her boy in her arms.
” Let me know when she is rested and comes around. The baby is hungry. He needs to be fed. ”
Jade and Ruby nodded as they watched the Queen leave with their niece’s son.
” Yes, your majesty. ”
They watched each other and then went back to tending Mia again.
Mia found herself inside a heavy mist this time. She walked but it felt like she was floating. She was looking for someone. Something.
” Lin, is that you? Lin? ”
She called her lover. Her darling. She wanted to tell him everything about herself. She wanted to tell him their boy had come arrived. She wanted to tell him he was a father. Tell him how sweet it felt when she heard his first wail.
” Lin? ”
She walked further. She stumbled upon something.
“This is…” She picked up something shiny.
” Is this a pendant? ”
She turned it over and over again, trying to guess where she had seen it from before.
Suddenly it became a light and drifted off from her grip. Mia turned around. There was someone standing behind her whose face she could not see.
” Lin? Is that you? ”
The figure seemed very familiar to Mia. It called Mia towards itself with both hands. Mia walked towards it. One step at a time.
“Lin… ”
She kept calling her husband’s name when suddenly she fell inside what seemed like a watery puddle.
She closed and opened her eyes in a blink. The entire landscape had changed. She remembered this place very well.
Though she had only been there once.
It was the land where was the Tree of Knowledge.
Mia was standing there, but the Tree was nowhere.
Mia looked around.
” Where am I? Isn’t this where there was the Tree of Knowledge… ”
She was wondering when she felt the presence behind her again. It was the same person.
Mia turned around. Very cautious.
One look at its face, sent her reeling back.
” Nooooooo.
Stay away from me.
Get away. Get away. Get away please. ”
Mia sent blow after blow with both her hands. She could feel the beating of her own heart and it’s pace had suddenly become audible.
Her hand went involuntary to her baby bump. Then she realised she and already given birth. It was a relief. Atleast her boy had safety, even if that was not her case.
” Mia, don’t worry. I am not here to hurt you. I am your uncle Jin. ”
Mia turned her face towards him. His voice was different. His tone was different. Much more humane than the last time she had heard it. The last time when… When he had almost… Almost tried to… Mia felt disgusted even to think about it.
That thing back there was not something with any feeling. It was a monster that was driven on instinct. This in front of her was different. Even though it had the same face, body and voice, it was nothing like that creature.
” Mia, you don’t need to come near. We can talk like this. I believe you remember being in the Land of Dreams before? ”
Mia nodded. She distinctly remembered her conversation with Nana there, though it felt like it was all in her head.
” This place is an extension to it. We have very little time. So it’s better if I do all the talking. You have already given birth to a beautiful baby boy Mia. I would have wanted to congratulate you heartily on such an occasion as your uncle but I am sorry to remind you that you are running out of time. You remember what the Tree of Knowledge had asked you right? ”
Mia nodded.
” Mia you need to head straight back there. The beast that is after you is becoming stronger day by day. It’s becoming unbearable for me to watch it’s dance of fury and yet watch helplessly without doing anything.
Mia, I beg you. You are the only one who can bring all this to an end. Head for the Tree of Knowledge. Please. I beg you with folded hand. ”
The huge man went on his knees. Mia reached her hands to comfort him.
Just then, Mia felt a sharp pain at her stomach, that jolted open both her eyelids.
“Mia… Mia are you alright? ”
Jade and Ruby were on her either sides. Mia looked around. Panicked. She searched with both her hands.
” My baby. My baby. Where is my boy? “