Chapter 63: Chapter 63

"You know our names but we don't know yours." Sevilon said to Emelinia without taking his eyes off Sharaina.

"I am Emelinia Naian." She answered.

"Well Emelinia, does she know that she is to be queen?" Sevilon asked her and this time his eyes were on her.

"No she doesn't. I haven't had the time to tell her yet." Emelinia diverted her eyes to Sharaina.

"It is best that you don't tell her. It will ease our work in protecting her." Sevilon said. "Who else knows about this?"

"A seer known as Dano. He has known about this for months now."

"Sevilon that young man with her was there at the castle during the time that King Raglan was murdered." Ouman suddenly said while pointing at Light.

"This confirms it even more that she is the one." Sevilon rubbed his chin in thought. "Emelinia I need you to not tell anyone else about this."

"Not even my husband?" Emelinia asked him.

"Yes not even him." Ouman answered instead.

"But he is her brother." Emelinia argued.

"I know asking you to keep this from your husband is placing you in a dilemma but you must understand that protecting her is our priority. It is for the sake of the entire Kingdom. Her rising to the throne is the only hope we have to put an end to King Meelzib's evil. We can't afford to be careless." Sevilon explained to her.

"I understand. I will do as you say." Emelinia reluctantly assured them.

****

Days went by in Gemhules and Sharaina was still home. She joined Akirexer and Channy in decorating the living room for Emelinia's baby shower.

They hung strings of colorful flowers on the walls. The sofas were covered by white scented cloths. Chairs and benches were arranged in a circular pattern and they too were hidden under the white cloths. The door was left wide open for the incoming guests.

"Sharaina, are you almost done there?" Akirexer asked Sharaina.

Sharaina fluffed a square shaped red silk pillow that had golden braid strands stitched around it. She then proceeded to gently set it on the four huge white square pillows below.

She turned to Akirexer with a sweet smile. "All done now."

Akirexer flashed her dimpled smile. "Come here, I want to talk to you about something."

Sharaina sat down with Akirexer. Akirexer tucked her lips and looked thoughtfully at Sharaina. This forced Sharaina to scratch her head, confused.

"Is everything okay?" Sharaina asked, concerned.

"Oh don't worry, everything is fine." Akirexer looked over her shoulder cautiously and turned back to Sharaina who was even more confused. "How long did you say your relationship with Light is?" She asked.

"Six months today, why?" Sharaina leaned closer.

Akirexer crossed her legs. "Nothing really, I just forgot. Sharaina, I know that you are grown now -"

"Mama," Sharaina protested.

"And girls your age have feelings they want to explore." Akirexer continued to Sharaina's agony.

"Mama please." Sharaina's eyes frantically looked around to see if anyone was listening.

"Are you and Light doing more than we should know?" Akirexer asked.

"Huh?"

"Are you two sleeping with each other?" Akirexer asked with seriousness.

Sharaina sprung off her chair. "I am uncomfortable." she voiced out.

"I know that. This is a sensitive topic. I'm just asking out of concern. I don't want you to fall pregnant before marriage. You never know what happens in the future." Akirexer stressed.

"I have heard everything you have said mama." Sharaina vigorously nodded.

"Are you two taking precautions?" Akirexer asked again and Sharaina nodded her head, feeling so awkward.

"The guests are here." Channy said suddenly.

Thank you Channy. "I'm going to welcome them." Sharaina uttered and escaped to the door.

The guests chatted happily while they approached the house with their gifts. With a bright smile and her hands together, Sharaina welcomed them all by name. Sharaina saw Farali arrive with Liss and Mayla and her mood lifted higher than it already was.

"Welcome ma, please do come in." Sharaina respectfully said.

"Thank you dear." Farali smiled back and got into the house.

"You two are staying here with me." Sharaina told Liss and Mayla.

Mayla rolled her eyes. "It's not like we have much of a choice."

Liss nudged on Sharaina and motioned her head up. Sharaina saw who she was referring to and she turned away nervous.

"Despite everything I am still afraid of them." Sharaina confessed.

"Shush, here they come. Act natural." Liss dismissed.

"Hello Sharaina." Nami greeted her.

"Good afternoon ma - Stariss. I'm glad you could make it." Sharaina said while trying her best to hide the fact that she was nervous.

Nami gave a faint smile that didn't even touch her eyes. "Why wouldn't we? Your mother personally invited us." Nami said and walked in with Stariss.

Sharaina breathed out through her mouth and received a pat on her shoulder. "She is likely to be your mother in law one day. You really need to start getting used to her presence." Liss advised.

"I don't know, I just can't shake the feeling that they don't like me but you're right. I'm probably just over thinking things. No one has been rude to me especially Nami."

"You see, that's a sign that they have accepted Light's decision. Now relax, more guests are coming." Mayla added and both Liss and Sharaina smiled girlishly.

****

Emelinia wore the traditional red maternity dress. Her dress was long, flared and glittery. The darkas gods believed that red was a color of fertility because the vini leaf turns red after a positive test.

On her head was a crown made out of twigs and fresh red leaves. It symbolized that all mothers are queens and they ought to be treated as such.

Emelinia's hands were covered by red glass bangles halfway to her elbows. They symbolized transparency of mother's in their quest to nurture life.

Emelinia stretched out her elbows. Both Akirexer and Channy got hold of one. As their tradition dictated, the most important mothers in her life were to escort her to her seat. Akirexer took Emelinia's right hand as her mother in law while Channy stood at her rightful place on the left side of Emelinia.

They both lifted Emelinia's dress and exposed her bare feet that had anklets made out of leaves and straw. They were just an emphasis on the royal perceived nature of mothers.

The guests joyfully sang as they waited for the expecting mother. They sang loudly when they saw her getting down the stairs looking so beautiful in her attire. Channy and Akirexer helped her sit down on the red pillow Sharaina set up. Married women danced around Emelinia while throwing flower petals on her.

Emelinia looked up and met Naian's gaze. He was in the company of his friends. He too was dressed in traditional red attire. He had a long dress like shirt that had slits on the sides. In it was a buggy trousers and on his feet were pointy shoes with golden embroidery.

Naian looked proudly at Emelinia. He winked at her and she dropped her gaze, blushing to herself.

Tamithra entered the house. With her drunken eyes, she scanned the place. She saw Liss with Sharaina and Mayla. She glared at them and faced away disgusted.

So this witch is truly back? Hmph, must have been the pregnancy. She darkly thought.

Light suddenly bumped into her on his way in. "I am so sorry." He apologized.

Tamithra focused her dizzy stare on him and grinned. "It's okay, handsome." She said.

Light was caught off guard by her remark. "Er, thank you." He smiled at her and excused himself.

There are some dashingly handsome men in this world. Tamithra almost chuckled.

She watched him join Sharaina. Her eyes widened when she saw him put his hand around her waist.

"So she finally found herself a man? She has good taste." Tamithra nodded and walked into the living room - careful enough not to let anyone spot her.

Akirexer and Channy went to Emelinia and kissed her forehead. They then proceeded to place their gifts at her feet. The other women followed suit but only touched her hands and placed their gifts at her feet. Sharaina kissed her and gave her gift.

Nami and Stariss went over and gave their gifts. The two of them went to the corner they took refuge in and continued to glare at everyone especially Sharaina.

"How much longer are we supposed to be here mama? I can't tolerate being around these lower class people anymore." Stariss gagged.

"Be quiet before someone hears you. You know that we can't leave until this function is over. Have you forgotten how happy Light was when Akirexer came to invite us? Leaving now will just upset him."

"But mama it's horrible here. I don't understand how Light is able to spend so much time here. Everything is cheap. These people live like animals." Stariss whined.

"Don't you think I know that? Shut up already." Nami dismissed and Stariss pouted.

Tamithra walked passed them and walked over to Emelinia with her gift.

Naian stood up completely horrified to see her with a big gift in her hands. Emelinia looked at her tensed. Akirexer became infuriated and almost went over there to throw Tamithra out when Channy held her hand. Sharaina glared at Tamithra and then at Liss.

"I honestly don't know how she found out." Liss remorsefully said to Sharaina.

"She better not do anything stupid Liss or I swear she will regret it." Sharaina said to Liss.

Light couldn't understand why Tamithra's presence upset them so much. He was bewildered to see Akirexer and Channy glaring at her. She seemed nice when she accepted his apology earlier. He was curious about what she could have done to make such a good family hate her presence.

"Hello," Tamithra greeted Emelinia with a wide smile on her face. "I am so overjoyed to know that you are going to be a mother soon." She gently held Emelinia's face. "You see Naian and I used to do it so much but I didn't get pregnant not even once so I feared that perhaps he was impotent." Tamithra let go of Emelinia's face and chuckled.

The guest dropped their jaws in total and utter shock. Sharaina wanted to go there but Light held her back. Nami and Stariss laughed to themselves. They no longer regretted attending the event. The drama before them was far better than any play they had ever watched. Emelinia felt devastated and helpless.

"Tamithra shut up!" Naian angrily exclaimed and she pouted. "Who invited you here? Get out!"

"Is she better than me in bed? Does she make you feel the way I used to?" Tamithra asked him with a disgusting chuckle.

"What the hell did she just say?" Sharaina angrily asked and heads turned.

"Tamithra you a disgrace to all women. You don't even care about your own reputation." Akirexer scolded her.

"To hell with my reputation. Who cares?" Tamithra answered Akirexer. "Your son is the full package. I'm only congratulating you people. Why are you so angry?" Tamithra rolled her eyes.

"Shut up you useless and shameless girl!" Channy yelled at Tamithra. "How dare you say such disgusting things? You should be ashamed of yourself."

Tamithra laughed. "Oh so you are Emelinia's mother. Don't worry I mean no harm. I'm just saying that your son in law is fully functional. It's just that it wasn't our time to have children." Tamithra clapped her hands. "I did enjoy the sex though." Tamithra turned to Emelinia. "No man has ever satisfied me as much as he used to. I hope he isn't holding back on you. He should have you screaming the way he used make me. You are his wife after all." Tamithra continued and Emelinia clutched her dress feeling flustered.

Naian roughly pulled Tamithra to face him and slapped her across her face. The guests gasped at the sound of it.

"What is wrong with you?" Naian furiously asked her.

"You slapped me." Tamithra dropped tears. "You never hit me no matter how angry I made you but today you have slapped me."

"And I will do it again if you don't shut up."

Tamithra looked darkly at Naian. "You know what, forget you. You never deserved me and you never will. Fuck you, fuck your wife and fuck everyone."

"Oh yeah, well fuck you too." Sharaina voiced out. "What are you still doing here anyway? Leave already."

Tamithra laughed softly. "Yes, I should." She grinned at Light and went to him. She pulled his collar and slammed her breasts on his chest. "Why don't we leave together?"

Sharaina pulled Tamithra off him by her hair and threw her to a table. Tamithra blocked her fall and glared back at Sharaina.

"Don't you ever touch him again, you hear me?"

"Now you know why seeing Naian with that seer infuriates me." Tamithra hissed.

"You don't even have the right to be upset. Is there no end to your shamelessness? You're the one who left not him!"

"This seer doesn't deserve him!"

"I have a name and it is Emelinia Naian." Emelinia got up. "I don't know what happened between you two in the past but what I do know is that Naian is my husband not yours."

Tamithra rolled her eyes unamused. "And so?"

"So you stay out of their lives!" Farali exploded. "Tamithra you have disgraced me today. If your mother was here, she would have self hibernated."

"Aunt -" Tamithra was silenced with a slap.

"Not another word from you." Farali threatened and dragged her out.

Emelinia walked away in tears. Her baby shower was ruined. Naian went after her without a second thought. All the guests were murmuring amongst themselves. There was so much noise that no one heard Nami and Stariss laughing to themselves.

"The party is over. Thank you for coming. Please leave your gifts on the table on your way out." Akirexer said aloud with a bow.

Sharumez just arrived home from Mobay and was shocked to see the guests leaving sooner than expected. He looked around for his family but he only saw an upset Akirexer and an angry Channy. Akirexer was so upset that she didn't see the suitcases in his hands. He dropped them and rushed to her. Channy stepped away from them and looked on.

"What is going on? Why are the guests leaving before the end of the ceremony?" Sharumez asked her but Akirexer was too upset to speak.

"Some annoying girl came here and insulted us very badly." Channy angrily explained.

"What girl?" Sharumez was baffled

"Who else but Tamithra." Akirexer angrily asked him.

"Where is she?" Sharumez became angry too.

"Farali took her home." Akirexer answered.

A slim and tall older woman with peach colored hair tied in a bun entered the house. She pulled her glasses down and looked at the gossiping guests. She raised her brow when she set her eyes on Akirexer and glared at her. She then boldly walked over to her and when Akirexer's eyes fell on her, she stepped back.

"Mama?" She asked surprised.

"What is so surprising about me being in my son's house?" The woman asked her back in a cold tone.

Sharumez cleared his throat. "Mama please." He rebuked. "I bumped into her on my way home. She intended on paying us a surprise visit." He explained to Akirexer.

"It's nice to have you home mama." Akirexer said with a bow.

"I have never found it nice to be in a home with you in it but okay I guess." She coldly answered again and turned away leaving Akirexer rolling her eyes. "Where is my grand son and that seer daughter of yours." She asked when she turned back to Akirexer.

Alainara came running into the living room. She immediately recognized the woman as her grandmother because Akirexer showed her some pictures of her in the photo album. She went and gave her a big hug and the grandma looked down at her with a stunned look. Akirexer pulled her away. Alainara looked up to her and smiled warmly at her despite not smiling back.

"She is our youngest daughter Alainara." Sharumez introduced.

"I see that she isn't a seer. Where is the seer one?" She asked.

No one had to answer her question because Sharaina approached her with Light. She was still feeling a little upset but when she saw her grandmother looking at her, her mood turned for the worse. She went over to her and gave her a bow. Sharumez's mother looked at her stunned that she wasn't a seer.

"How are you not a seer?" She asked Sharaina.

Sharaina looked at her father and then at her grandmother again. "I don't know." She coldly answered with a stoic. "Come on Light, I need some air." She said and walked away.

"Rude one isn't she?" Sharumez's mother remarked with a smirk.

"She is nice grandma. You just found her in a bad mood." Alainara innocently said and held her hand. "Come with me." She happily pulled her to chair.

****

Light watched Sharaina draw a portal and followed her into it. They stepped into the dimension that Sharaina discovered. He was fascinated with how it truly didn't have any life forms. He joined Sharaina on a rock and the both of them looked at the vast land before them. It was night time in the dimension so they enjoyed the view of the stars.

"So that's your grandmother huh?" Light broke the silence.

"Her name is Emana." Sharaina said without taking her eyes of the stars.

"You were rude to her. That wasn't nice." Light rebuked her.

"I don't like her attitude." Sharaina answered without remorse. "Things are going to get worse for Emelinia." She said and Light said nothing. "Light, I was so furious with Tamithra. I haven't been that angry in a long time." She looked him in the eye. "I didn't become berserk. Do you think that now I know why I turn monstrous, I have some attained some control over this power?" She asked him.

"From my experience, I can agree that you have achieved some control. Gradually, you should be able to stop yourself from going berserk no matter how angry you are." He softly said to her.

"I really hope I stop. I don't want to lose you. I am not the same when I become like that." Sharaina frowned.

Light laughed softly and it stunned her. "You look even prettier when angry. I don't think you can lose me if I were to see you like that. In fact I would want you more." Light winked at her.

Sharaina laughed. "You are such a clown sometimes."

****

Emelinia rested her head on Naian chest while he held her. She was still feeling very upset with what happened. She wondered how she was going to face everyone now. "How could someone be so shameless?" Emelinia said.

"I am going to get a restraining order against her. I don't want her stressing you out in your condition. Right now, you and our unborn child are my priority."