CHAPTER 60: MEMORIES...

Selena was now living the way she wanted. All the attention she had wanted from Oberon came freely.

The maids were always at service, the guards followed her around and made sure she was always protected because, Oberon didn’t want anything to happen to ’his heir.’

One of the cool afternoons, Selena sat in the garden, she was bored and wanted to be alone.

She sat on a chair, taking in the atmospheric beauty of the garden.

She smiled remembering how Oberon a meeting just to give her the attention she wanted.

"He is such a caring man," she smiled to herself.

Her eyes twinkled knowing that he would give in to any of her requests.

She played with some of the flowers still at loss of what to do.

"What are you doing here alone?" She heard a voice behind her.

She turned around and noticed it was Due.

Selena adjusted on her chair for Due to sit. She sat down besides her.

"Due, it has been five months now," she looked at her feeling apprehensive.

"So?"

"I am not pregnant, there is no way I could have a baby bump."

Due blinked her eyes in realisation, "Oh, a baby bump. You will definitely have to grow one."

She nodded, "Where will I get one?" She bit her lips nervously.

"Uh.. exercise a little more patience, I will think of something."

"Patience? My mother in law is growing worried, she is wondering why mine is delaying whereas I am not pregnant," she held her head.

Due bit her lips im thought, "Baby bump," she frowned.

Selena looked intently at her, "What should we do?"

"I have not thought of it, but I will, there is nothing to be scared of, you shall get your baby bump."

"I am getting worried, save for the fact that Oberon did not notice this, he would have asked the same question."

Due closed her eyes in thought, "Hmm, that is true, we have to think of a solution and fast."

She bit her lips, "I am so scared but the thing is, I have to play along, if he noticed my countenance, he would be suspicious."

"He will not notice, there is no need to be worried, be calm okay?"

"I will try to be," she gulped down nervously.

"Everything will be fine, I promise," Due held her hand and gave her a reassuring smile.

Due stood up, "I have matters to sort out, this your fake pregnancy must be kept up, we can not risk anything," she shook her head.

She stood up, "I will meet you later, be calm and do not act suspicious," she nodded and walked out of the garden.

Selena watched her leave, "This is killing, I can not put up with this," she bit her lips, holding her head.

She sighed, "If I can pull through with this, I would throw a very big feast," she shook her head.

***

"Nyx, he has woken up, I think it is time to feed him."

Nyx rushed out of the bathroom in a hurry, "I will be there soon," she hurried there.

Dora rocked Archi but he didn’t stop crying, "Nyx, hurry up, he might pull down the building."

"He does not have the power to do that, and besides do not worry I will be there soon," she hurried to them.

Dora rolled her eyes, "That was slow," she looked at Nyx.

"I was as fast as I could, what is the whole fuss about?"

Dora chuckled, "Please feed him, he is very hungry," she shook her head.

Nyx took Archi from her, and began to feed him.

Dora sighed and stood up, "Uh.. Nyx, there is something I would like to do, please excuse me," she headed to the door.

"What do you want to do?"

"Something," she walked out food the room.

Nyx watched her leave, "Come back on time okay?"

Dora nodded and walked out. She quickly left the house and walked deep into the forest, "Oberon," she called.

She walked to a particular tree and sat on it, "I should be close to finding who he really is and how I am related to him," she bit her lips.

She wrote on the ground, it was some sort of language and she spoke as she wrote.

Something crawled out of the ground, while she was still incanting her words, a bright light followed as it crawled out slowly.

She incanted her words louder and faster, it finally crawled out and stopped beside her.

She stopped incanting when it was beside her.

"You took so long," she caressed it. It was a worm like creature, that had the features of a snake and a wolf.

"I have something to share with you and I also want you to help me," she sighed.

It curled itself to listen to her. She poured out all of her worried to it, she told it about Oberon who she suspected she knew somewhere.

It straightened itself after listening to her story, without making a sound, slid to a tree and wrapped itself around it.

"How is a tree supposed to help me?" She raised her brow.

It clutched tightly to the tree, after a few seconds, it parted.

She gaped, "It opens?"

It unwrapped itself and slid to somewhere away from the tree. Dora looked at it surprised, "What is happening?" She whispered.

She walked to the tree, wondering what it contained. When she got to the tree, she gasped, "This..."

***

"Mother," Oberon walked into Elena’s room.

She looked at him, "Oh, Oberon," she stood up, went to him and embraced him.

"What brings you here, it is nice to see you."

"Mother, I do not know why, but I feel this celebration of mine is incomplete," he bit his lips.

"Why, what is the matter?"

"I miss her," he looked at the wall, "I wish she was here to be a part of my celebration."

Elena’s face drooped, "Oh, I know, but she is gone now, there is nothing we can do about it," she shook her head.

"Why did she have to leave?"

"Your father... he has ordered that she should be taken out of the palace because she brought bad luck to us. I had begged and pleaded but he did not listen to me."

He lowered his gaze, "I miss her so much," his voice barely above a whisper.

Elena held his shoulder, "This should not deter your celebration, she might not be here but she is always with us."

Oberon looked at her, "Mother, I know she is not dead, I feel she is still alive somewhere."

"I do not know where she is, what can I do?"

"We could still look for her."

"All the efforts to look for her failed, I had tried looking for her but it was abortive. You might not find her, your search will fail."

He felt heartbroken, "I had always wished my child would have an uncle or aunt but here he has none," he hung his head.

"Why are you so sad? She has been forgotten a long time ago, there is no need trying to look for her again, she might be or is dead."

"Does it not hurt you to say that? Have some hope."

Elena looked away, "I had hope, but now, it is dead. What is the use?"

Oberon gave her a long, sad, stare, "Just like that?"

She nodded, "There is nothing I can do."

He sighed, "I wish I could find her," he held the window, "One day, I will," he said to himself.

She looked at him, "Just be happy, you will be a father soon, so why worry so much?"

"I am not worried, I am only sad she could not be here."

"She is here with us, though it might not be in person, but in our hearts."

He faked a smile, "In our hearts," it was more of mockery than repetition.

He turned around, "I have to go, I will see you later mother," he kissed her forehead and left the room.

Elena sat on the bed when she had left, memories of her daughter came back flooding in her heart, her eyes filled with tears, "My child."

She took out a portrait of her daughter that was lying on the bedside table, "I also wish you were but unfortunately you are not here with me, with us," she hugged the portrait.

"One day, you might come back to me, one day," she kissed the portrait, "My child."

Oberon walked back to his room, Selena lay on the bed, he walked up to her and kissed her cheek, "How is my heir?"

She blushed, "He is happy now that you are here," she chuckled.

He nodded and sat beside her. Selena noticed his mood had changed, "What is the matter?"

"Tomorrow is her birthday,"

"Who?"

"My sister’s. She is supposed to be here with me but she is not."

"Who is she?"

"She was my sister. Her name is..."