Chapter One

*Chapter One*

[Rose's Birth]

"Give her to me, Nessa." Simone asked with her breath harsh as she glared at her.

"Simone, don't make this hard for me. I have been given this mission and I am determined to complete it." Nessa retorted as she held unto the wailing newborn strongly. They stood opposite each other. It was quite dark. They could barely see each other but the little illumination from the moon helped them. Each of them standing at alert and defense.

"Nessa, for the last time, give the child to me." Simone said in a low dangerous voice,  stretching out hands.

"Simone, your mother gave me this mission and I have never for once failed any mission that was given to me. Considering the fact that you are related to her, please go. Your mother told me that if anyone tries to stop me, I should eliminate the person without a second thought." She said menacingly. Nessa was known to be an assassin so killing a newborn won't affect her.

But what led to this?

*Some hours earlier*

Everyone was running helter-skelter. She was about to be born. Faint lights roaming everywhere adding more to the nervousness and anxiety that was reeking out from the people that awaited her arrival.

"Walk faster." One of the witches yelled at a lower ranked witch. The lady scurried faster, carrying a bowl that had a towel soaked with blood.

The lady stood anxiously, with heart beating at a faster rate. She was scared.

"Push." The midwife urged the woman.

"I can't do it." The woman replied breathlessly. Heavy breeze blew, thunder storms and lightning bolts everywhere. The curtains of the room blew around vehemently as ray of the thunder strike pierced through.

"You can do this." The midwife encouraged her as she stared at the opening of her vagina. They were both sweating profusely. The heat in the room could not be withstood at all. The woman's breath was becoming heavy second after second.

"I said I can't do it." The woman cried out while shaking her head hellaciously with tears rolling down her face. She definitely cannot give up. Not when this child is the only symbol of their love. The child was the only thing connecting him to her. She has to try. She has to be strong for him and for them.

Then suddenly, she was finding it hard to breath, her breath was becoming shallow and her eyes closing slowly. The midwife noticed this and hit her so hard on her laps, making the woman yelp up in pain and her eyes go wide open.

"Ugh!!!" She screamed and the head of the child popped out. And there was hope. Hope for them.

"It is just the head, you can do more. Push!!!" The midwife shouted again and the thunder resounding in the walls of the room.

"Ahrghh!!" With just this last push, the child came out fully, draining the woman's energy. The woman slumped back and released a deep breath.

The cry of the baby soared across the entire west wing and unto the skies as if alerting them of its arrival.

"It's a girl." The mid wife announced with an happy smile.

She carried the child from one of the witches that was helping her and went towards the woman. She knelt down before her and placed the child slowly in her arms. The child was soaked in blood and other fluids. The woman managed to pull her lips up to a smile as she saw her baby girl. She slowly slid up and placed her head on the head board. That alone made her breath hard. She carried the child with her weak hands and took in her features. Eyes just like her while her face was like his-her father.

Tears glistened her eyes as she thought of him. They had planned that when she will be having their child, he will be beside her, holding her hands and saying soothing words to her, encouraging her.

But no! That was all a daydream. She was driven by circumstances and he was snatched away from her.

The mid wife stood up and exited the room.

The lady was fiddling with the hem of her top in anxiety. She turned around as soon as she heard the door creak open.

"How's she? How's the child? Are.. they fine?" She bombarded her with lots of questions.

"Elder Witch Simone." The midwife cut her off.

"The baby and Elder Witch Eleanora are quite fine. There's no cause for worry." The midwife soothed her with her words. Simone heaved a sigh of relief.

"C-can I go in to see her?" Simone asked.

"Yes, sure." The midwife replied with a smile. Simone scurried past and pushed the door open. She saw her sister seated with the newborn baby in her arms.

"Nora." She called out. Eleanor forced a look up at her sister, Simone.

"Simone." She forced out with a sad smile. Simone beamed a bright smile and sat down close to her.

"Do you know how scared you got me?" She said with concern and worry.

"I am fine now." Eleanora said.

"She is beautiful." Simone cooed as she stared at the little rose that was sleeping so peacefully in Eleanora's arm. Eleanora nodded her head in agreement. Then suddenly, they felt an unyielding energy radiating from afar which seemed to be getting close to them. They knew she was the one. The door pushed open with great force as they welcomed her in.

Simone looked out of the corner of her eye with her hair standing at its end.

"Seems you have given birth to the abomination, haven't you?" A voice filled with authority asked.

"You both–" she pointed towards them. "– have always defied me, when will you live up to your reputation?" She asked with an emotionless face.

"Take the child away from her." She ordered one of the low ranked witches that were her attendants. The lady scurried past her and walked towards them with her back hunched and head bowed.

"What?!" Simone yelled in surprise as she realised that she could not move. Her mother has casted an immobility spell on them.

"Elder Witch Eleanora." She acknowledged as she stretched out her hands. She took the baby and walked back to their mother. Their mother, Athena, looked at the child and saw her facial features.

"More reason, she needs to be eliminated." She spoke with scorn. Eleanora looked at her mother, pleading and imploring her not to do what she was intending to do. She shook her head vehemently with tears rolling out of her eyes.

"Mother, please... Mother... please, don't do this." She managed to beg with broken voice. Simone kept fighting against the spell, trying to use her own powers but it was not working.

"I hereby order Eleanora Roosevelt, to be kept imprisoned under the south wing and should not be brought out or visited without my permission." Athena said with authority and turned to leave.

"No!! Mother, bring back my child... Give me back my child." Eleanora cried out as she scrambled off the bed and trying running after her mother but she felt face flat on the floor.

"My baby..." She stretched out her hands as she stared at them while they walk away. Simone finally broke free from the spell and ran towards her sister.

"Simone, they are going to kill my child... Isn't it? Please... Don't let them kill her... She is my baby... I can't let them kill her..." She stuttered, hyperventilating. Simone cupped her face and stared at her eyes.

"El, I will not let them kill her." She assured her.

"But... Promise me..." Eleanora begged her as tears roll down her face.

"I promise you." Simone said with tears rolling out of her own eyes. She had never seen her sister this weak before and it was not comforting at all. Then they heard the sounds of the guards coming towards them. Eleanora scrambled towards the drawer and brought out a locket.

"Give this to her." Eleanora said as she placed it in Simone's hands.

"Cease her." The headboard ordered and the guards marched towards Eleanora and carried her.

"Simone, save my child." Eleanora cried for the last time and slowly passed out due to exhaustion. Simone ran out of the room and towards the hall.