Chapter 6: Two Months Later...

'Alexa, it will be exactly two months since that dreadful night', Camellia said. 'Have you found out anything?'

'I have not found out anything. I do not know where to look because I don't even know what he looks like!' she replied.

'What are you going to do, now?' Camellia asked. But before she could reply, Alexa ran to the bathroom.

What the hell was that? Is Alexa...? Camellia thought wildly. This was one of the things she had hoped for when she was plotting about that failed night. Though it had not been a total failure, since the Prince had kept his word and brought them so much money in compensation for the 'damage' he might have caused to Camellia and Amelia had hoarded it, keeping it away even from her husband.

But right now, this situation with Alexa was not a welcome one at all. But why jump to conclusions, it might not be what I'm thinking it is.

She walked to the bathroom where Alexa has just finished being sick, and was washing her face, rinsing out her mouth in the sick, then proceeded to flush. Camellia's heart denying the evidence of her own eyes.

'Are you pregnant, Alexa?' she asked.

'Pregnant? Alexa asked shocked. 'It can't be. I'm just having the flu. Dad has never been mad at me for so long and you have witnessed how mum have been treating me these past two months. It is getting to me. You are the only one who has remained by my side, understanding and supporting me. All this have brought the flu on', she concluded, resting her head on the pillow, face up.

'How long have you been throwing up?' Camellia asked. 'I mean for how long have you had this ..er.. flu?'

'About two weeks now', she replied but I can't tell Dad or Mum, they might think I was just pretending to be sick so I can escape my punishment!' she said sadly.

'That's okay', Camellia said. 'You did the right thing by not telling them. I shall get you some drugs to calm it'.

Alexa left and ran straight to her mother's room.

'Mum, there's a sad development and we have to act fast!' she said panting and agitated.

'Calm down, what is it?' Amelia asked.

'Alexa is pregnant and you know what that means if is becomes known!' she whispered.

'What?' her mother shouted and Camellia had to clasp a hand over her mouth.

'You always said, the walls have ears and here you are s reaming at the top of your lungs. Do you want us to be found out?' she asked. 'You should think fast about what we should do about it!'

'When did you find out?' Amelia asked.

'I just left her room. I told her it was nothing but the flu and that I'd get her drugs to calm it!'

'You did great! I have a friend who specializes in herbs. Her herbs are always very effective', Amelia said, thoughtfully. 'I'd ask her to prepare me some herbs to terminate a fresh pregnancy. I shall pretend I'm the one pregnant but do not want to keep it as I am too old for that'.

'Great!'

'When I get it, make sure she drinks it and she'll definitely miscarry the baby.

******

Two Days Later...

'How are you feeling now?' Camellia asked, as she sat with Alexa in her room. She had been asking this same question since she made Alexa take the herbal potion purportedly for her flu.

'I'm feeling better now', Alexa said smiling.

'Have you seen your period lately?' she asked.

'No!' Alexa said.

Camellia was disappointed. It seemed that the drug did not do the work it was supposed to perform. The woman had assured her mother that it would take effect after an hour but Camellia had stayed with Alexa for six hours straight afterwards, and nothing happened. The next day was the same story. And today, there was still no sign that Alexa was going to lose the baby.

'You look bothered', Alexa said, touching Camellia on the shoulder and calling her back to the present. 'Is it because of my menses? You do not still think I might be pregnant do you?'

'It is possible. It is two months since that night.

Alexa thought and with a pang realised it was indeed possible. 'Oh, my God! she exclaimed. 'What do we do? I haven't been regular, so I didn't give it any thought but it is highly possible. But we have to be sure. What if it is just late in coming?'

'I know just the thing. A pregnancy test?' Camellia said smiling.

She bought the pack from the pharmacy and helped Alexa with it and after a short wait, the double red lines confirmed her suspicions.'Gid damn!' she thought. What to do? Then puff! An idea occured to her.

'You are pregnant, Alexa', she said. 'and I do not want to imagine what this will do to Dad especially, or what he will do to you if he finds out, especially since you have not found the strange man yet!'

Alexa slumped on her bed in despair. Was it not enough that she had slept with a strange man whose face she could not recall even if he walked pass her, she had to get pregnant into the bargain! What will I do now? she thought in frustration and desperation.

'Oh, Moon Goddess, help me in some way. I do not know what to do or what I have done to bring this disaster on myself and my family.

Then she recalled that it was exactly two months today, since that fateful night.

'Do you want to abort it?' Camellia asked hopefully. 'I know of a doctor who will be discreet about it all'.

Alexa looked at Camellia in horror. 'You sincerely want me to take a life, kill my own baby?' she asked.

'It doesn't even have a father. You will be doing it a lot of good if you aborted it', Camellia said. 'You don't honestly think that Dad and Mum will accept the baby, will you? Even if they wanted to forgive you for that night, this pregnancy will definitely enrage them further and make them unforgiving!'

Alexa thought about it and realised that what Camellia said was the truth. She reached a hasty decisions. There was no time to waste.

'In that case, I'll leave like I know Dad will want me to anyway', she said. 'He was going to disown me. Let me spare him the pain by leaving myself!'

'You will not go alone. I shall go with you', Camellia offered.

'Oh, no, Camellia, you can't!' Alexa said horrified. 'You cannot ruin your reputation because of me!'

'Don't try to stop me, Alexa', she said. 'We're sisters, it's the least I can do. I will just stay with you till you give birth since you are so determined to keep it! I don't want you going through it all alone!'

Alexa was so touched, she hugged Camellia. There had been times when she had doubted Camellia's love for her but this offer was truly evidence of her sister's selfless love for her. What more could one ask of a sister? she thought, tears welling up in her eyes. Why had she ever doubted Camellia's love for her?