Aria woke up one morning feeling dizzy and weak. A strange heaviness settled in her stomach, and an uneasy pressure made her clutch her growing belly. The child inside her was no ordinary child — its power was already stirring, growing stronger each day. Fear filled her heart, and tears began to fall as she whispered, "This child… it's hurting me."
Riven heard her cries and rushed into the room, concern etched deeply on his face. "What's the matter, Aria?" he asked, gently taking her hands.
"The baby… it's hurting me," she replied, voice trembling. Her breath came in shallow gasps as the strange sensation worsened. The realization hit her like a wave — the child inside her was no ordinary child, but a devil growing inside her.
Riven paused, watching her with a mix of worry and resolve. "Take a deep breath, Aria," he said softly. "I know this isn't easy, but we will face this together."
Aria nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She knew her child's powers were emerging, and every day brought a new, terrifying sign. The child was becoming stronger, and the signs were impossible to ignore.
----------------
*The first sign* was the sudden surge of heat inside her belly. At random moments, Aria would feel intense warmth radiating from within — warmth that no normal pregnancy could explain. It burned like a fire, fierce and alive, pulsing like a heartbeat only she could feel.
*The second sign* came one evening when she accidentally caused the lights to flicker and shatter around her. The power inside her was not just physical — it affected the world around her. Objects trembled, glass cracked, and shadows twisted unnaturally whenever the child inside her stirred too violently.
The *third sign* was the strange voices whispering in her mind — not her own thoughts, but faint, haunting murmurs that seemed to come from the unborn child itself. Sometimes they were soft, almost comforting; other times, they were sharp and angry, warning her of things she didn't understand.
Finally, the *fourth sign* was the sudden strength she felt coursing through her body. Despite her weakness and fear, she found herself able to resist pain and danger like never before. Her instincts sharpened, senses heightened, as if the child was preparing her for something far greater than motherhood — a battle she couldn't yet see.
Each new sign left Aria more frightened but also strangely connected to the life growing inside her. She wanted to believe the child could be different, that love could overcome darkness. But the fear of what the devil's blood might do to her baby weighed heavily.
Riven stood by her side, a dark shadow of power and protection. "The child is not just yours — it is ours," he said quietly one night. "The power within will shape the future. You must be strong, for both our sakes."
Tears welled in Aria's eyes, but she clenched her fists and nodded. The path ahead was dangerous, but her love for the child gave her a new kind of courage.
She whispered to her unborn baby, "Grow strong, little one. I will protect you, no matter what comes."
The devil's son may have given her this child, but Aria was determined to guide its power with love — or die trying.