Prolouge
Analis held her breath as another contraction passed. Her midwife stood by watching as Analis’s husband Reid held her hands helping her through the pain. When the wave passed she let go, allowing him to walk over to the midwives and doulas. “She said she feels it.” All the woman jumped into action assisting Analis into the birthing tub.
Analis felt pain everywhere as she grew closer and closer to meeting her child. She and her husband had been trying for a couple years, but their pregnancy was secret from the beginning. They wanted to keep everything quiet in case something happened. Nine whole months they had spent cherishing every moment with just themselves, hidden away from the world to protect the magic that was going to enter their lives.
As soulmates, every moment was all the more special. Soulmates were connected. Some mentally, emotionally, some even physically. The bond was different even in strength. Analis and Reid shared a emotional bond, one of the least common. From the moment their marks developed, Reid felt what she did, and she felt what he felt. When they met, their bond only grew stronger. Even now, in pain, Reid felt a bit of what she felt.
He just wish he could take it. He couldn't take her pain away and that made a pain of his own. The only thing that kept him standing and hopeful was Analis and her own hope. She knew she could do it and so did Reid. She was strong and could bring their daughter into the world.
“You’re almost there,” Reid whispered in her ear. His hands wrapped around hers she held on tight. “Just a little more, I know you can do it.” Analis felt her husbands face on hers as she took her moment of rest. It wasn't long before she began squeezing his hand as she could as she felt the pain begin again. “For her.” He whispered.
Analis pushed. Her midwife kept encouraging her. Analis felt her husband keep their connection helping her through the pain until relief washed over her body and she got her child into her arms. Tears filled and fell from their eyes as they held onto their daughter. “She’s here,” Analis held her daughter close as she cried. “She’s here.” Exhausted she still had the strength to hold her daughter close to her chest.
“You did it. I’m so proud of you,” Reid kissed her forehead admiring their beautiful daughter. Her working and loud lungs. Her cheeks and nose. The small delicate hands that griped for anything they could, including his finger. Her grip was so strong he was sure he felt something more.
“Fiona,” A doula said walking up to the midwife. “Her arm,” Fiona rounded to the other side of the birthing tub seeing the crying child’s arm. A dark mark like a tattoo on the inside of her right forearm. Fiona didn't know if was she saw was true but she suspected she knew what it was after all, everyone in the room had something similar.
“A moment,” Fiona put her hand to Reid’s shoulder quietly telling him to move to the other side as she not only checked Analis but the baby. She pulled her small arm out carefully seeing the lone black picture of a rose. Not just the flower that sat right in the middle but a stem with thorns and incredible detail ending just above her wrist. “She has a soul mark,” She looked to them surprised. Analis and Reid looked at the mark as well, surprised, before looking at each other.
No one in the room had heard of a soul mark appearing at birth. Almost everyone’s mark appeared when they hit puberty. Some people has simple shapes or odd symbols. Behind Analis’s left ear and Reid’s right they shared a small paper airplane. All marks mirror each other. Reid was attempting to throw one to another student in their senior year history class and instead hit Analis’s head gaining a glare right from the eyes of his soulmate.
No one in the room had ever seen soul marks so detailed before or big. Everything about it was never seen before. No one had any idea what to do. Or if anything had to be done. So, Fiona continued to do her job until she had Analis and her daughter in their room comfortable and resting allowing her and the doula’s to clean up with assistance form Reid.
“Should we be concerned?” Reid asked.
“I don’t think so. It is curious though. I’ve never seen anything like that before. You could get her checked out but...” Fiona trialed off. She didn't want to worry him. Fiona's been with many families and had assisted in the birth of many more babies. She never expected to care for a family like she did this one.
“What?” Reid asked as the doubt in Fiona’s voice appeared. Reid only wanted to protect his wife and daughter.
“Something like this...I can imagine she’d just be treated like a lab rat for some time. They may even try and locate her soulmate to test more. Word is they want to start looking into the marks and connections. Technology is advancing and people want answers.” Reid took a deep breath as fear began to take over. They tried for so long for their daughter the thought of putting her through tests scared him. He was sick as a child and hated doctors to this day because of what he went through. “Whatever this is...I don’t think we can stop what’s coming her way. Her and her soul mate will have one epic story I’ll say that much. I don't think she has anything to worry about. She has you two.” Fiona gave him a reassuring hug before shooing him away to return to his wife and new child.
Reid return to their room seeing his wife half asleep as she played with their daughters hand. Admiring all her tiny fingers and toes. Reid knew he didn’t have to be connected to her emotions to know that she never knew it was possible to love something-someone so much. Walking over he calmly got on the bed careful not to disturb the newborn.
“Is she okay?” Analis whispered.
“I think we need to keep it quiet. We need to hide it.” Analis fully opened her eyes looking over her shoulder to her soulmate. “People are starting to study the marks. I don’t want her poked and studied. I don't want her to feel broken.” He brushed his hand over her small head her dark hair sticking up. “I won’t put her through that hell.” He said remembering his own time in a hospital.
“We’ll protect her. Always. They can’t force us to study her.”
“But they won’t leave us alone either. That’s just as bad.” Analis nodded agreeing with him. They’d protect her no matter what. Reid kissed the baby forehead lightly. “We’ll always protect you Luna.” Analis smiled at their daughters name. Fitting as outside shine the full moon in the clearest of sky’s they’ve had in weeks.
