Hush-Hush (Doomed Cases Book 0) Read online

  This child was a blessing, but it was also a curse if it turned out that Arthur was the father.

  “Stay with me a few weeks before my due date. I’m not saying yes just yet, but this is the best solution of them all, Matilda,” I told her, pushing images of Ricky out of my head.

  He could easily talk me out of it, but I had at least six more weeks to fully commit myself to this plan.

  “I have been living alone for the past five years, putting a lot of hours into my business. It would be an honour for me to take care of your child. All my family is dead, and my husband is in hell. It’s a new purpose, something that would make me happy,” Matilda said and then got up too.

  I didn’t say anything else, thinking that maybe this whole thing was unbelievably stupid, but deep down I trusted her already. Warlock or not, I knew that she had a good soul.

  We exchanged some details and I walked her to the edge of the forest. We talked a bit more, trying to get to know each other better. Matilda left an hour later, assuring me that she would be back.

  I went inside the cottage feeling conflicted and lost. The child was kicking and my internal voice was telling me that I couldn’t take it back to London and I wasn’t willing to give it out for adoption.

  Matilda was my solution, possibly a miracle sent from hell. It was either that or leaving everything behind and disappearing. The problem was that I wasn’t ready to vanish just yet.

  ***

  No one else visited me, and the Watchers didn’t show up again. Matilda’s magic must have worked, and I was suddenly very glad that our paths had crossed. A few weeks before the due date I was planning to relocate, but now this was almost impossible.

  Ronan believed that I was too vulnerable to move around and he wanted me to stay put, as far away from the demonic community as was possible.

  Matilda came back four weeks later and after some gentle persuasion Ronan agreed to let her to stay over in the cottage. I was lucky that my and Ronan’s paths crossed years ago. Deep down I knew that he had a kind soul.

  I had never had any friends. Ricky had been part of my life for as long as I remembered, so it was going to take me a while to get used to having someone around me all the time.

  Matilda talked about her life, letting me into her world slowly. She was taking her time. She probably sensed that I didn’t trust many people. I wasn’t sleeping well, with thoughts about the past and Arthur keeping me up most of the time.

  In the last two weeks I learnt from Matilda that warlock’s were able to produce extraordinary power: they could manipulate fire and human thoughts. Matilda was particularly good with potions and remedies. Demons had been afraid of them, only because they were afraid of their powers. Matilda had married her husband for love, but his family betrayed him.

  He was taken down to hell when he tried to protect her from other demons and she had been hiding ever since.

  I didn’t know how, but we connected emotionally and spiritually. Matilda was kind, caring, and she taught me to stay positive.

  As the due date approached I grew more conscious about what my life would be after the birth. I spoke to Ricky again and some of the news from London caused me further aggravation. Arthur had gotten engaged to Natalie Morgan. Ricky didn’t want to talk about him, but eventually he had to tell me that the future king was finally over me.

  Then, during one evening at least ten days before my due date, my water broke. I went into labour two hours later completely unprepared and petrified. Ronan was out sorting some business in the village, so I had to rely on Matilda. My energy went berserk, igniting various things in the cottage. Ronan had to use special potions to keep my powers in control. I couldn’t touch anything, my fingertips were in flames. The contractions were getting stronger. Everything changed an hour later.

  Around five a.m. I started screaming at the top of my lungs, experiencing the worst pain in my life. I thought that labour wasn’t going to be that hard. Millions of women went through it, often more than once, but I couldn’t stand the agonising pain.

  “Maxine, I’ll use a little magic to help you relax.” I heard Matilda’s voice close to me.

  It didn’t work, because the pain was unbelievable. Sweat was dripping down my face and I was ready to rip that child apart. I just prayed for it to stop hurting. I didn’t know how long I was in labour, but at some point Matilda told me to start pushing. Then I heard Ronan in the room too. He must have sensed my distress, so he came back.

  Images of every man that I’d ever been with started moving in front of my eyes. Matilda was talking to me, and I kept screaming until the pain pushed me to release some violent vibes.

  Tears mixed with sweat, and then more rippling pain. This whole thing lasted for what felt like hours, but somewhere in between my screams, pain, and sweat I finally heard the baby cry.

  Everything suddenly stopped, and I experienced an explosion of colours, warmth and joy. Time ceased and nothing else mattered anymore.

  Matilda had tears in her eyes and suddenly there was this tiny creature on my chest, covered with sticky white stuff. It was the most beautiful baby that I had ever seen and it was mine.

  “There she is—your daughter,” Matilda whispered, wiping her tears away. I was exhausted, ready to shut down my energy, but I couldn’t physically move. The world stopped as I stared down at something so special and so precious.

  My mind was spinning out of control, and I swallowed hard, wondering why on earth I ever wanted to get rid of this beautiful tiny little girl.

  God, the pain didn’t matter then, well, nothing mattered.

  Then she stared at me and images from the past began assaulting my mind.

  I felt her heartbeat, her tiny limbs on me. She was sending me images, revealing the identity of the father. This wasn’t something that I ever expected or prepared myself for.

  I opened my mouth and kept touching her, making sure that she was still real.

  This little mongrel baby informed me that the future king, Prince Arthur, was her real father. This was beyond amazing and scary at the same time. In that moment I knew that my life was never going to be the same again.

  “It’s true then. My dear lord, Maxine. She’s connecting with you, right?” Ronan asked, appearing next to me.

  The sudden joy shifted into disappointment and anger. Either way, with or without this new knowledge I still had to give her away. I loved her instantly and unconditionally. She was stunning, but there was royal blood in her veins and that turned her into a cursed child. She needed someone that could give her all the love and devotion, something that I wasn’t able to provide myself.

  I wiped my tears and pushed myself to look away. This was the worst feeling in my life. Sudden despair filled my lungs and I couldn’t catch my breath. The pain was suddenly unbearable, worse than I could have ever imagined.

  “Take her, Matilda. You were right. I want you to look after her for me. I don’t know if I ever will be capable of being her parent, but for now she’s your daughter.”

  Matilda understood. She touched my face and lifted the baby. She was going to be her guardian from now on. I was broken, knowing that she would be away from me, possibly forever.

  I looked away knowing that there was only one thing left for me to do. I had to go back to London and try to start over—without her. Ricky was running my business and he needed all the help he could get. There was no point in me hiding anymore.

  I would go back, carrying the burden of the most dangerous secret on my shoulders—a secret that could drag me back to hell if ever discovered.

  Demonic Triangle (Doomed Cases Book 1) is out now!

  Other books by Joanna Mazurkiewicz:

  Cutter (Contemporary romance)

  When the clock strikes (Paranormal Personnel Saga # 0.5)

  £6.19 per Witching hour (Paranormal Personnel Saga #1)

  Past the Witching hour (Paranormal Personnel Saga #2)

  Half Past the Witching hour (Paranormal Personn
el Saga #3)

  Quarter to the Witching Hour ((Paranormal Personnel Saga #4)

  The Darkest Hour (Paranormal Personnel Saga #5)

  The Whispers of the Sprite (The Whispers Series #1) (Currently free)

  The Dark Night Whispers (The Whispers Series #2)

  Her Secret Whispers (The Whispers Series #3)

  My Last Whispers (The Whispers Series #4)

  The Whispers Series, book 1,2,3