Chapter 5
Ales
Elani’s pregnant.
I knew how that could’ve been possible in the simplest term, but this wasn’t the simplest term. We sat there as the doctor started to show us the ultrasound. The room was in silence as the first heartbeat came through. I stared hard at the monitor as the doctor spoke, but I watched her fingers. Her voice was no longer audible as the only sound in the room was the heartbeat of the child. I knew without a doubt it was mine, but how would I be able to convince Elani that it was mine? She would think I was crazy.
I knew how this was possible; the same way we were taken out of our old world and placed here was how all of this was possible. I needed Patro to confirm what I was thinking and, luckily, he was out in the waiting room. If I knew him, he hadn’t gone anywhere, especially where I was concerned. I didn’t realize she was squeezing my hand until the doctor called my name out multiple times. I cleared my throat.
“Sorry? You were saying something, Dr. Simmons?”
She offered a polite smile.
“Yes, I was asking would you like a picture of the ultrasound?”
I nodded without even having to think about it. I would never think about it.
“Yes, thank you,” I replied.
She smiled once more and looked at Elani who refused to look her way. Dr. Simmons cleared her throat.
“Well, I’ll give you two some time to clean up. I’ll be right back with your discharge papers.”
“Discharge papers?” Elani asked. “Already?”
Dr. Simmons offered her a small smile once more and nodded.
“I was reassured you will be better taken care of outside of our facilities.” She looked at me before standing and leaving the room.
I wouldn’t be the one to start the conversation. I knew her. Whether her name was Alana or Elani, it didn’t matter. I knew her inside and out. I pulled out my cell, texting Patro to come into the room as Elani cleaned her belly off. She pulled her shirt over her slightly protruding belly, such a tiny change none of us would’ve picked up on if it weren’t for her pain. I looked away from her belly as Patro walked in. He was silent when he came in looking between Elani and I. I cleared my throat.
“I need you to tell her, Patro.”
His eyebrows furrowed.
“I shouldn’t. She doesn’t remember.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“It doesn’t matter now, does it?” I asked Patro and looked away from him to Elani who was staring at the ceiling in silence.
I looked back at Patro who didn’t seem like he was going to talk. Elani needed to know at this point. There was no more pussyfooting. Before, I wanted to take my time. But now that she was with child, it was no longer an option.
“Tell her, Patrocleus!” I yelled, shocking them both. I gritted my teeth as I stared hard at him and waited for him to begin talking.
He cleared his throat and looked at Elani.
“You and Achilles have a history favored by the gods. Because of your love for each other, they gave you another chance to live, to love each other. You sacrificed yourself, because you loved the great warrior so much you couldn’t bear to live without him. Achilles died in the Trojan war, but you didn’t die at all. You were not reborn but merely put somewhere where Achilles could prove his love for you. The gods wanted to see if he really loved you as much as you loved him. They put you far away from him, centuries away, and I was his entrusted ally to help guide him to you.”
He paused then looked at me. I nodded for him to continue.
“When we found you, we knew you wouldn’t remember… But, the moment you remembered and called Achilles by his name…then everything continued. In simple terms, you were on pause, then you pressed play. You were pregnant when you sacrificed yourself.”
I stood up from my chair and the impact toppled the chair over.
“She was what? Did she know?” I narrowed my eyes at Patro.
“Achilles…” I heard the warning tone in his voice, but I couldn’t care less. I was furious.
“DID.SHE.KNOW?” I asked in such a hushed tone that Patro took a step back.
He avoided my eyes as he answered, “Yes, she knew.”
I couldn’t handle the answer. I walked out of the room passing the doctor’s questioning face and Patro calling after me. I needed some air before I killed someone with my bare hands.