Chapter 8 - Priestess

*Year: 2770

Location: Calix Studio, City: Zion

In the mirror's reflection, Avalon smiled at herself. The woman standing beside her did so too, clapping her hands together as she exclaimed her joy at seeing Avalon look so happy.

"You are the most beautiful bride I have ever worked on! Thank you for trusting me, Miss Haze. Or should I go ahead and call you first lady?"

Avalon chuckled and shook her head.

"Oh gosh. Not you too Erza. I already have other people calling me madam. Please be the one who keeps the Avalon."

Erza chuckled. Her caramel colored eyes lit up as she caught Avalon's gaze on the mirror.

"But let's face it, you'll be the wife of the future governor of Hearth. That nickname comes with it. So you better get used to it."

Avalon let out a sigh, her hands landing on her abdomen.

"People think I'm marrying him for his title and money."

"Hush. They know nothing about you. And him? Everyone knows him as a public figure. But they don't know what happens behind the camera. Who was he without his title? Only you can answer that, Avalon."

Avalon smiled at her friend. Erza has been with her since college until they started working. She knew how she met her soon to be husband, the father of her growing child inside her belly.

"Oh, by the way, have you told him yet?"

Avalon shook her head.

"I'm planning to tell him a few minutes before the wedding. I'm scared though."

Erza pulled the strands of hair that splayed over her shoulders. She gently arranged them behind Avalon.

"There's nothing to be scared of."

"I tried to convince myself of that, ever since I found out. But I can't help it. The wedding is so close."

"He loves you just as you do, Avalon. Believe me, he'd be the happiest man, knowing you two will be expecting a child soon."

Avalon took a deep breath. She stared at Erza and nodded.

"Alright. I'll see him before I lose confidence." She got up. Erza hesitated to stop her.

"But…" she trailed off as the sliding doors automatically closed in Avalon's wake. "He isn't supposed to see you before the wedding ceremony."

–

Avalon's chest heaved in and out. She was left uncertain to pursue telling him about the baby. She'd been trying to brace herself for weeks when she learned that she was pregnant.

But Erza was right. There was nothing to be scared of.

Pressing the automatic doors of the room she knew he had occupied for today's event, it surprised Avalon to find the lights weren't on.

"Liam?"

From behind her, the sliding doors opened, and she was surprised to find Liam just stepping inside.

She immediately wrapped herself around him, her heart in her throat.

"Did you miss me already, Ava?"

Avalon nodded. Liam's chest moved as he chuckled, stroking her hair.

"You know, I'm not even supposed to see you." Liam patted her back, he savored her scent and rocked them sideways.

"Don't look at my face, then. Close your eyes." Avalon whispered. "I have something to tell you."

This had him to chuckle once again. Ever since he met this woman, he has been smiling more often. If not her, he can't imagine standing beside anyone else.

"You do? What is it?"

"I…" Avalon trailed off. Liam slowly dragged her into the spacious room. Clapping his hands to turn on the lights. There was an enormous bed in one corner and a magnificent view of the city outside from the big window.

It could be the perfect honeymoon suite for tonight. Liam could barely contain his excitement but kept the thoughts to himself.

Avalon continued to cling on Liam. He kissed the top of her head.

"Go on, love. The wedding will start in about ten minutes. People will start looking for us."

"I love you." Avalon whispered. She felt deflated. Her confidence from earlier with Erza had ebbed away. Now she was no longer certain if it was wise to tell Liam about her pregnancy. What if he would be disappointed? She should have been more careful.

Liam chuckled once more in time for the sliding doors to open. Avalon didn't have time to see who came in as Liam protectively turned around, his body convulsing as if someone was hitting him on repeat from behind.

When his hold on Avalon slackened, her hands trembled as she watched him fall, his blood covering the front of her dress.

Looking up, she only saw the tip of a silencer, men with black masks surrounding her. They fired it before she could blink, sending her sprawled beside Liam.

With her vision fading, she reached out to him, holding his hands fiercely as her consciousness slowly ebbed away.

–

"Do you wish to live, Avalon?"

With trembling hands, Avalon tried to reach out to the silhouette that kept on fading in and out in her vision.

She lost track of how long it had been. She lost track of how she was even still half alive after losing so much blood.

"He-help me." She managed, but wasn't entirely sure the man heard her. It was so soft, nothing above that of a whisper.

"Do you wish to live, Avalon?" the man repeated. His face was a blur in her fading consciousness.

"Y-yes. For…" she paused to inhale a sharp breath. "My baby… my-my baby."

"Very well," the silhouette went on. "But there are some conditions you must meet."

"I'll do…" she coughed, spurting out blood to trickle down the side of her face from her mouth. "I'll do anything."

She watched the silhouette cross the distance which separated them. But even as he crouched to touch her forehead, she couldn't make out his face.

A black fedora hat was on top of his head. He wore a black mask and even hid his eyes with tinted sunglasses.

"You shall live on, Avalon Haze." The man said. "But from now on, you shall no longer be known as Avalon. She died right here and right now.. From here and onwards, your name shall be Priestess."