Time seemed to stretch on forever, with the sharp bursts of pain from her abdomen never ceasing. Occasional cries and shrieks would come from her clenched mouth, fingernails digging into her palms through the sheet and joints stiff as she tried to not move.
It would all be for naught in the end. Her child was dead, had been dead before it was even given the chance to live. And now she’d always have a reminder of this failure, of this disgrace. She’d have to live the rest of her life with a scar, a scar that would never fade and would always ache.
Interrupting her broken thoughts was a faint cry. Her heart skipped a beat, stuttering in excitement, her thoughts tripping over each other. Impossible. The babe was dead, and even if it was alive, it was a mute- as was Maleficent’s curse.
She gulped, still tense, and gave a stiff nod. Closing her eyes, she took in deep breaths. Maybe it was a miracle…
Maleficent did wash the child from its crimson coating, and returned, in her original form, hair haphazard about her shoulders, the clothing of the now deceased midwife barely clinging to her desperately. The shadow of a life that could have been lay clenched in her arms, looking as if it could have been suckling from her.
“No life, no light-” She said simply, digging into Aurora’s open torso with her free hand, closing a fist on whatever vital vessel still rested there. “You will remember this day, dear heart, until the day you die. May it be sooner than later..” She took the child by the hair and nearly threw it at Aurora. “A scar of the mind, the body, and the soul. In that, there can be no greater victory for me, pet. Rest well… you’ll need it.” Her lips turned upwards into a triumphant snarl, and she removed her hand from the young woman’s body cavity. “You might want to have someone patch that up.” She said simply, chuckling.
(Source: yourdreamprince)
“I’m afraid not. Which means I ‘ave to open you up. The baby has to come out soon or you’ll suffer some complications. We can’t ‘ave that. I would much prefer to have mummy and child nice and ‘ealthy.”
She pushed Aurora’s dress up further, pouring a vile of potent liquid on her stomach as a disinfectant. “Breathe poppet, breathe..” She folded another bit of linen and placed it in Aurora’s mouth. “Bite hard on the count of three. One…two….three.”
Maleficent drew a quick line with the blade, skin folding as a river of red followed the glistening silver.A small whimper escaped her as the midwife placed the linen in her mouth. Laying her head back, she put both hands on the bedsheet. She inhaled deeply, trying to think of something else, anything that could help distract her from the pain that was sure to come.
Fire. That’s what she felt as the metal tore her open, the disinfectant sliding its way into the open wound. Her hands fisted until the knuckles turned white, her scream stuck in her throat, her eyes staring unseeingly at the ceiling.
A shuddering sob escaped her, eyes filling with tears as she tried to remain still against the searing pain. It was going to be over soon- it had to be over soon.
Behind the soft eyes of the midwife lay a lioness positively giddy at the sight of the young woman’s entrails before her. The heady sent of blood filling the green demon’s nostrils, intoxicating her as only Aurora’s life source could. She snapped back to reality, and neatly moved the slithering pink snake of her intestines aside, finding the head of the small corpse within her.
Smiling faintly to herself, she spared the young woman no pain, digging about until she finally extracted the child.
Wickedly, she threw her voice, as if the dead babe in her arms had uttered its first cry.
“Oh! It’s a beautiful baby girl! She looks just like her mummy. Let me clean the angel up and I’ll have her back to you in a jiffy.”
(Source: yourdreamprince)
Maleficent almost couldn’t hide her glee as the midwife’s mind became a torrent of information. She knelt, and something became all too clear. There was no way Aurora would have a nice, natural birth.
“My goodness.. oh. Well it seems as if we’re going to ‘ave to go in and fetch the baby. This could be a wee bit painful. Lay down all the way love.” She grabbed a small blade from her kit and waited for Aurora to move, all the while smiling reassuringly, a hand gingerly caressing her forehead.“Fe-Fetch the baby?” Her voice raised to octaves she had reached only when singing, she blinked rapidly. She took in a couple a deep breaths, blue eyes dashing nervously towards the blade in the midwife’s hand.
The linen on her forehead was dry now, damp at best and that was only because of the sweat glossing her face. it had only been only an hour that she’d been in labor, but it seemed that she had been right about one thing during her pregnancy- it was not going to be something smooth an easy. And things were only going to get more difficult if the midwife meant what she thought she meant.
“You mean,” she took a gulping breath as another contraction hit her, “n-not a natural birth?”
“I’m afraid not. Which means I ‘ave to open you up. The baby has to come out soon or you’ll suffer some complications. We can’t ‘ave that. I would much prefer to have mummy and child nice and ‘ealthy.”
She pushed Aurora’s dress up further, pouring a vile of potent liquid on her stomach as a disinfectant. “Breathe poppet, breathe..” She folded another bit of linen and placed it in Aurora’s mouth. “Bite hard on the count of three. One…two….three.”
Maleficent drew a quick line with the blade, skin folding as a river of red followed the glistening silver.
(Source: yourdreamprince)
Maleficent took Aurora’s hand in both her own, squeezing it briefly before moving to the foot of the bed and surveying the situation. “Lookin’ good from this end poppet. I’ll fetch you some towels and warm water..”
She made quick work, and returned with a pitcher of water, linens, and a small case of medical utensils. Embodying the old woman’s form had it’s benefits, and along with her appearance, Maleficent gained the knowledge of performing the task at hand.
She placed a few of the linens underneath Aurora and soaked another in the water, placing it upon the princess’ head. “You’re doin’ splendidly so far dear. Keep at it..when those contractions get closer together, we’ll really get goin’. You’re a fighter..you can do it.”Aurora took a deep breath, holding it in as the midwife placed the linen on her forehead. Placing a hand on top of the cloth and the other fisting the bedsheets underneath her, she gulped and let out her breath.
Pain. That’s all that she was registering. Not the midwife setting things up, or the way that her breaths were coming in shorter. A good while passed as the contractions began coming in stronger, whimpers of pain actually escaping her.
“Ho-how much longer do you think it wi-” The sentence was broken off by a small scream, her eyes clenching as the pain rippled through her.
Gods, she wanted this to be over already.
Maleficent almost couldn’t hide her glee as the midwife’s mind became a torrent of information. She knelt, and something became all too clear. There was no way Aurora would have a nice, natural birth.
“My goodness.. oh. Well it seems as if we’re going to ‘ave to go in and fetch the baby. This could be a wee bit painful. Lay down all the way love.” She grabbed a small blade from her kit and waited for Aurora to move, all the while smiling reassuringly, a hand gingerly caressing her forehead.
(Source: yourdreamprince)
Maleficent stepped into the princess’ chamber, her green pallor transfigured, her entire body resembling that of a stout woman in her early 40’s, a white apron about her hips. For all purposes she was a midwife, but one with a charred heart behind her bosom.
“‘Ello dearie,” she chirped with a slight cockney accent, “‘ows about we get that little darlin’ out of yeh?” She smiled broadly, placing a cool hand upon Aurora’s shoulder. “You’ll be holding your ‘lil one in no time.”With a small smile, Aurora gave the older woman a shaky laugh. Having had to keep the secret of the baby’s already defined fate was finally taking its toll on her conscience now. This woman had aided her throughout her whole pregnancy and the fact that she seemed so optimistic of the birth,
It tore her apart.
“Well, at least I’m glad you were able to make it!” She gulped and winced as another contraction gripped her. “I trust you’ll do what’s best.”
Maleficent took Aurora’s hand in both her own, squeezing it briefly before moving to the foot of the bed and surveying the situation. “Lookin’ good from this end poppet. I’ll fetch you some towels and warm water..”
She made quick work, and returned with a pitcher of water, linens, and a small case of medical utensils. Embodying the old woman’s form had it’s benefits, and along with her appearance, Maleficent gained the knowledge of performing the task at hand.
She placed a few of the linens underneath Aurora and soaked another in the water, placing it upon the princess’ head. “You’re doin’ splendidly so far dear. Keep at it..when those contractions get closer together, we’ll really get goin’. You’re a fighter..you can do it.”
(Source: yourdreamprince)
We aren’t naming the kid peanutbutter my gosh
Phillip’s eyes widened with alarm. After all the preparation they had done for this moment, he felt he was hardly ready. But how could you ever be ready for something like this? Quickly, Phillip decided it was time to make a decision. So he got up from his spot on the bed, his hand on his wife’s shoulder.
“You just hang in there. Alright, love?” he said, hoping he could keep as much stress off their situation as possible. “I’m going to fetch the midwife. Everything is going to be fine.” And with that, he touched her cheek in reassurance and ran out of the room in his search.
A slightly nervous laugh escaped her, finding his reaction amusing. Listening with a small smile as he quickly rambled, she nodded when he finished.
She sighed and laid back on the bed, taking deep breaths as she waited for Phillip and the midwife- and preparing herself for the next contraction.
Maleficent stepped into the princess’ chamber, her green pallor transfigured, her entire body resembling that of a stout woman in her early 40’s, a white apron about her hips. For all purposes she was a midwife, but one with a charred heart behind her bosom.
“‘Ello dearie,” she chirped with a slight cockney accent, “‘ows about we get that little darlin’ out of yeh?” She smiled broadly, placing a cool hand upon Aurora’s shoulder. “You’ll be holding your ‘lil one in no time.”
The lot of you should really rethink this whole.. having children idea. I’ve grown listless and quite bored as of late, you never know who I might bestow a “gift” upon.
“All in good time dear,” She stooped low and caught Phillip’s cheek in her palm. It had taken so long for her to feel like her revenge was realized, and the corpse before her symbolized her ultimate success. Hard enough as that was to let go, life long suffering was lasting, and Maleficent could endure her nemesis amongst the living for a bit longer. Who’s to say he had to stay alive?
“Today will haunt you, hover over you. You will always have that nagging sensation in the back of your mind when you look into your lovers eyes. The urge to bring another life into this world tainted, blackened by what you have done. And that, my dear, is a more powerful ache than I could bestow simply by slaying your husband.” She placed her hand firmly upon Phillip’s chest, and extended the other one, glancing at Aurora briefly, the young woman’s convex belly within her grasp.
“You might want to ready yourself,” she said, unable to contain her exuberant grin, “This will be painful.”She gulped, tears still falling down her face as she tried to gulp down her hiccups. Clenching her hands shut when Maleficent touched Phillip, and having to resist the urge to back away when the fairy held her swollen stomach, she nodded.
“I know,” she whispered, barely audible.
But she’d be able to have more children. This wouldn’t be their last. As long as he was alive, they could still have a family. They could still be together. And that’s all that mattered.
A sea of emerald flame crested upon the three of them, licking at flesh that did not burn. Maleficent’s eyes were clenched, her whole body consumed by the limitless power that coursed through her veins. Like a feline preparing for the kill, her fingers clenched, her long talons digging into Aurora’s skin, as well as Phillip’s, her own body a buffer, linking them.
A wave of heat lapped its way up the enchantress, extending to both her arms, and then, steadily, inside each fragile life she held in her hands.
The underworld still demanded a soul-
Her back contorted as a spell from centuries past worked its course, her eyes forced open, pupil-less, milky white. With a final burst of vibrant heliotrope, she slumped backwards, breast heaving, desperately trying to regain a grip on a world that seemed to spin.
She took labored breaths, waiting for the moment Aurora’s body would fight against the deceased fetus, hungry for the sunken look of pain in the girl’s crystalline eyes.
(Source: yourdreamprince)
“Oh two dear, naturally. One can afford to indulge when you’re never sure which idiot hero will drive a sword into your heart,” she chuckled a bit, shaking her head. “On the subject of heroics, however, I’ve been meaning to ask you,” she squared herself, despite her overwhelming ego, she still felt small beside the Dark Lord, “would you have any interest in joining me for a bit of torture? A touch of maiming? I’m sure there is some unsuspecting imbecile out there that could become a prime target. I’ve been feeling a little stir crazy lately, and nothing calms the nerves like the smell of blood, don’t you agree?” She smiled faintly, smoothing the folds of her robes.
Chernabog took a sip of his tea and considered it. Maiming? Torture? It all sounded so very promising. After all, there was nothing he enjoyed more. It sounded almost as appealing as Walpurgis Night. Why wait? “I am sure I could find some time in my very busy schedule to join you in such a fright,” he agreed. “What exactly did you have in mind my dear Maleficent?” He smiled, he could already taste the
teablood.“Oh. I figure we could walk about down and sneak up behind whichever prey we deem fit. Although I must say I am up for a challenge. I like my victims to have a bit of fight in them. There’s nothing fun about shooting fish in a barrel.” She cocked a brow rakishly and finished her tea. The warmth flooding her body and giving her as much energy as her beloved green fairy. There was no better night than this to seek out the lambs so ready for the slaughter.
“I agree completely,” he nodded. “Fight just adds to the game,” he said, chuckling darkly. He crushed the tea cup in his claws once he was done drinking. “The full moon is out this witching hour, what better time to seek out our prey, hmm?”
“No time like the present indeed,” She stood once more, gesturing broadly, “Now the question is, which poor soul to we choose? There are an insufferable amount of heroes and hero types about..”
