Thalia felt jolted and disoriented as the scene shifted forward in time. Her mother now looked noticeably older, resembling the way she appeared in the photographs her father hung around the house.
"Honey, are you alright? Why are you out of bed?" Thalia turned sharply at the sound of her father's voice. He was standing in the doorway of the master bedroom in her childhood home.
"I'm fine, love. I just wanted to open the blinds," her father replied. The blinds were situated at least ten feet in the air. Thalia's childhood home resembled more of a palace than a simple house, and she had always been told that her father was a very important man.
"Honey, the doctors said that at this stage of your pregnancy, and with your condition, you should not apply too much stress to your body," he added. He walked up behind her and pulled the silk string, releasing the purple silk draperies. The sunlight flooded the spacious room, illuminating the white marble floor beneath a huge bed that had its headboard positioned at the center of the wall. The bedposts were designed in the shape of majestic lions, embroidered with real gold, and the frame was crafted from the finest mahogany wood.
"Oh, you worry too much. Am I really such a helpless and weak woman in your eyes?" her mother said. Thalia blinked as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight. Her mother stepped into view, revealing her full figure. She looked more beautiful than ever, her stomach protruding prominently. Her light brown skin glowed in the warm sunlight.
"Mi amor, I understand your restlessness, but I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you or my sweet boy." He rubbed his large hand over her stomach. Thalia had never seen her father smile, let alone be so affectionate before. He was a far cry from the man she had grown up with during her childhood. She wondered where his normal, scary, domineering, and brooding demeanor had gone. What could have possibly occurred between the man he was then and the man she called father now? He must have really loved her mother.
"Move, silly man. I am going to see how my daughter is doing. She has been awfully quiet, and I know she misses her mother." Thalia's father opened his mouth as if he was going to protest, but he simply moved aside. He grabbed her arm to help prop her up as they walked. Thalia suspected her pregnancy might be facing complications, as her mother winced in pain with every step they took.
They entered a long white corridor, and with each step, torches illuminated the path in front of them. Eventually, they reached a room that was slightly smaller than their own. The room was painted pink with little stars on the ceiling. They walked in, avoiding the toys scattered across the floor. Thalia's parents tiptoed over to the bed, trying their best to be quiet.
In a small bed at the back of the room lay a young girl fast asleep. Thalia couldn't believe her eyes. The girl looked just like her, as seen in the photo books her nannies used to show her. She must have been no more than three years old.
"Look at her! She is an angel, if I have ever seen one. I can already tell that she is going to be a handful," her mother said.
Thalia's father let out a small laugh. "If she's anything like her madre, she's going to be more than just a handful," he joked. Almost instantly, her mother stepped on his foot, faster than the naked eye could see. Her father grabbed his foot, jumping and trying not to make too much noise while holding back his laughter.
"My little angel, I need you to grow up to be big and strong, okay? I just know you'll be beautiful and garner a lot of attention. However, if you pick up any of my nasty habits, then you'll be just as fierce as you are beautiful."
Thalia's father regained his composure, and his mood shifted from silly to deadly serious. "Mi amor, why are you saying things like you don't plan to see her grow up yourself?" he asked.
Thalia knew that expression all too well. When her father fixed his intense brown eyes on something or someone, it always sent chills down her spine.
"My angel, I need you to do something for me. I know it's wrong for a mother to ask her child, but I need you to grow up strong to protect your brother and even your father," her mother said, stroking the sleeping girl's head.
"Mi amor, you're worrying me. I think it's time for you to lie down," her father said, stepping closer, his intense look fading to concern.
"I need you to protect them, not from others, but from themselves in my stead. I know it's unfair of me to ask you, but I think you'll be capable."
Thalia felt a gut-wrenching knot build up in her stomach. It was as if her mother were speaking directly to her older and more mature self, standing right there. Logically, she knew that wasn't possible since she was just experiencing a fragment of her mother's memory, but it didn't relieve the squeezing feeling in her heart.
Tears began to well up in her eyes. Thalia had never had the opportunity to know her mother. All she knew about her was what her father had told her, which wasn't much. Every time Thalia brought her up as a kid, his face would darken, and his demeanor would become cold. This made her wary of asking any details about her mother for fear of provoking her father's wrath.
Now that she understood how much her mother loved them all, it was overwhelming; she couldn't take it. She began to sob so hard that it became difficult for her to breathe.
The scene shifted again. Thalia wiped her eyes and started to regain her composure. This time she was in a room she wasn't familiar with. It had all kinds of medical equipment. She looks behind her to see her mother laying on a table. Her legs spread apart holding her father's hand. A man was between her legs instructing her to push.
Thalia's mother let out screams so loud that even made Thalia cover her ears. The doctor stood up and walked up to her father pulling him to the side within Thalia's earshot.
"What is it?" Her father asked. His killing intent leaking out within every syllable.
"I'm sorry, sir. It's just that she is losing too much blood. If we go any further, I am afraid she will..." The doctor was now shaking under the immense pressure from Thalia's father's presence.
His dark brown eyes now glowed with a golden hue, and an intense aura flickered around his body.
"So what are you saying? Is my son not going to make it?"
The doctor hesitated before responding. "Well, not necessarily." Her father's powerful aura caused the glass in the room to crack and fracture.
"So, my wife is dying?" he said, clenching his teeth. The doctor swallowed hard. "If we stop now, we could potentially save her; however, the baby will not survive. If we continue with the procedure, then the baby will survive, but she will surely die."
Thalia had never seen her father so distraught. The glass shatters with his next response. "So, you want me to choose between my unborn son's life and that of my wife?"
The doctor dropped his head still shaking from the intense pressure his aura was letting off. "I can't choose I just can't. If either of them dies. I will hold you and your entire family. No! Your entire lineage responsible. I will personally eradicate each and..."
"LUCAS THEODORE DIEZ!" Thalia's mother screamed at the top of her lungs. Her outburst startled both her father and the doctor. Thalia's father's intimidating aura completely vanished, and his eyes returned to their normal state as his fierce demeanor softened. He walked over and took his wife's hand.
"Mi Amor, that quack of a doctor says that if we continue, then you will..." She squeezed the life from his hands. Her grip threatening to break the bones in his hand.
"Doctor, we can continue," she said, finally releasing his hand. Thalia's father looked perplexed; he was probably thinking the same thing as Thalia. She had always understood the stakes involved. She knew what was at risk all along, while they seemed to be stuck in denial.
The scene shifted again to her mother, who was cradling her baby brother in her arms, seemingly for the first time. Her smile was so radiant that it could easily eclipse the sun. Even though Theo was crying loudly, almost numbing in its intensity, it didn't seem to matter to her mother. She just couldn't stop smiling. Her father was holding the two of them. Her mother's legs were covered in blood. Tears were rolling down her father's cheeks as he held them, rocking them both back and forth.
"Bring her in," her mother commanded. The nurses brought in the 3-year-old Thalia. They lifted her up into the bed and placed her in her mother's arms.
"Thalia Sofia Diez, I want you to meet your baby brother and best friend, Theodore Mellow Diez."
Little Thalia placed her finger in Theo's tiny hand. He giggled, shaking her hand up and down. Their mother couldn't help but laugh along.
"I love you all so much, and I just want you to know that I will never stop loving you..."
Her eyes slowly closed as Theo and Thalia giggled together. They only paused to notice their father silently holding them, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Thalia felt her heart drop. She couldn't utter a word, and her eyes became so red and puffy that it was hard for her to see. Thalia cried out, gripping her chest in distress. She wept until she could cry no more. Only when she felt lightheaded and on the verge of passing out did the scene shift.