Chantelle Harvey, was a fifty-year-old librarian with dirty blonde hair and black dotted eyes. She was a little overweight, but looked beautiful with her body. Arranging the books in her store, she perceived my scent and, from a distance, heard my footsteps. She looked around in curiosity as I proceed to her store. I want to ask her questions about what happened the other day in the coven. If she was against me and my kids. In an instant, her shape shifts into the body of her youngest daughter, Gloria.

I walked in and saw her arranging the books. "Hello sweetheart, how's sales?"

"Fine, thank you ma'am." Gloria answered and raised to her feet.

"Are you the only one here? Where is your mother?" I noticed the emptiness of the room and faked a smile at the little girl.

"She went out. She'll be back in the evening." I frowned at her words, knowing Chantelle never jokes with her book business.

"Okay, fine. Whenever she's back, tell her Adelaide Cooper asked for her."

"From where, ma'am?"

"Just tell her, Adelaide, she knows me well." My subconsciousness spat and I turned away and walked out if the bookshop. Things are getting off. These witches are getting on my nerves by the day. I thought as I checked on Ember Zane at her grocery store down the road.

I left, Chantelle transformed back to her normal self and continued her work. She smiled at the fact that I got deceived.

She was a hardworking woman and sells her farm products at cheaper prices. Even as witches, we help humans a lot, even though they do not know who we are. Well, that's understandable. But why would they turn their backs on me now when I need them the most?

Getting to the grocery store, I looked around and find out that the place was empty. I could perceive her woodsy scent from every corner.

"She should be around." Her sales manager, John explained.

"Hello dear, is Ember around?"

"Yes. She sat here just now." The guy pointed, looking so confused. I bet he did not know that she was a witch.

"Don't worry. I'd be back later." She hid herself from me despite knowing that I was there.

I stepped out of her grocery store and went to Hazel Hughes store. It was a mini-store with a big signboard in front of it.

I met a slim lady in a red gown and heels smoking cigarettes. She sat at the entrance, where hazel sit and I was puzzled.

"Hello Miss. Please, where's Mrs. Hughes?"

The girl rolled her blue eyes at me and hissed. "She's not around"

"She's not around."

"Really? Tell her I understand her tactics and how she and the rest of the witches are avoiding me. Tell her that the nostrils aren't far away from the eyes."

About to turn my back and leave, she shape-shifted back to her original form.

I turned to Hazel, and she dropped the pen, which was the cigarette she was smoking a minute ago, in her hand on the table.

I gazed at her with a serious face, and she rolled her eyes at me. "You're a naughty witch, Adelaide!" She hissed and walked out of the corner where she sat.

Hazel grabbed my arm and took me into her storeroom, our hands interlinked with each other's like the sisters we are. She took me away so nobody would easily find us or eavesdrop.

"Adelaide! This issue is a mystery that no one should make it known to the real world. It's your destiny! Accept it. No one struggles with destiny. Even as witches, some things are, and there's nothing we can do about it."

"So, what are you insinuating?" I raised an eyebrow at her and she gave me a fixated glare.

"It is your fate that your children would spend 20 days on earth."

"Just 20 days?"

"Yes, just 20 days and nothing more. You should have come for us to help you when you were barren, but you said no, you'd wait for God's time. Well, either from God or from supernatural powers, your children won't live for more than 20 days. And after these twins, you won't be able to bear a child."

I watched her intently, digesting her words. I knew Hazel would never lie to me, even if other lies. She could tell me about the truth.

I felt bitter about her words and realized that it might actually be true. On my way home that day, I cried bitterly and stopped by a bridge, watching the water and listening to the sound of a wave that roared somehow made me calm. 'How would I live if I lost my children? My life would be like an empty barrel, useless. I'd live in a world so cruel and selfish. I'd be lost and lonely.'

I looked at my ring finger, and my wedding ring was still there. Only God knows how much I loved him. I took off my ring and kissed it one more time. My heart raced at the pain in it as I closed my eyes to think for a moment. Damon would never come back to me. He wouldn't, I know. I've lost him forever to another woman. There are times I made his contract with other companies successful with my superpowers, but he never knew. Well, I don't need his acknowledgement, but this hits me really hard. I held up my head and watched the birds in the sky. They were tweeting in chaos, and I wondered how happy they must be. Even birds have each other's sides, while I... I'm just a stupid witch. I've never used my powers in the presence of anyone before. Lost in thought, I took the blue amazonite necklace off my neck and dropped it into the ocean. I watched it sink like it meant nothing. This way, nobody would find it.

'I'm sorry that I'm so complicated that I mess things up, grandma. But I shouldn't be your successor.' I said to myself.

Nobody would know about me and my story. My secrets would die with me. Maybe grandma was wrong after all. She shouldn't have given her necklace to a weakling like me.

An hour later, I went home. I was preparing dinner when a call came in. It was from Elvira and I picked.

"Hello bestie." She started with a high-pitched tune. I guessed she was excited about something and I wondered why.

"When would you be back? I'm preparing your favorites; carbonara pizza and fried chicken wings."

"Wow, that's exceptional!" she jerked and her voice suddenly went down. "I want to tell you I won't be able to come home tonight. Jeremy is giving me a special treat at Ozone Hotel. We'd be spending the night together."

"Oh, I understand." I tried to smile, but my voice cracked. "Have a great time, then."

"I'd be back first thing tomorrow morning." She promised over the phone.

"Okay then. Extend my greetings and have fun."

"Bye." She hanged up, and I jerked to the beeping sound of the oven.

I took out the pizza and cut a tiny piece. Trying to eat it, I couldn't help but to burst out into uncontrollable tears. It wasn't because of the pizza or Elvira. I'm so happy for my best friend right now, but I'm not happy for myself. I placed the rest of the pizza in the fridge and walked into the living room.

I turned off the lights and sat on the sofa to think. I'd lost appetite to eat, yet I couldn't sleep. Since the last two days, I haven't had a good night's rest. It's ten days left and I know I needed to do something. I scratched my head in anxiety and thought about what happened eight years ago.

It all started with Doctor Tate Andrews. It was of the seventh day of September, a couple of weeks after I got a job at Harlequin's publication company. I had allergies, cold and flu and visited a nearby hospital for treatment. He told me I'd have to come back the next day for an injection, after which he prescribed me some drugs. I felt a little relieved and visited the next day, as he advised.

After receiving the injection, dizziness took over me. It was strange. He told me it was because of the injection he gave me and that, for it to take effect, I'd have to rest for a while before leaving. I asked if there was any silent ward where I could manage for a while. He asked me to use the bed in his office.

I gently laid on the stretchable plastic bed and slept off. He waited for a couple of minutes to make sure the drugs gets effective on me.

Meanwhile, Doctor Andrews had everything going according to his plan. First, he walked to his door and locked it from inside, so no one would intrude. Then, he tiptoed to the bed when I was deep asleep. Tate nibbled softly on his lower lips as he watched me, helplessly dozing off. He gently tilted his head towards mine, driving wet kisses to my lips. The doctor held my hair and took an intense look at me. As if being satisfied, a smile spread on his full lips.

Tate started unbuttoning my shirt and deepened his hand in my bra. He fondled tenderly with my nipples and kissed me once again. This time, he couldn't hold back. He unzipped my skirt.

About 30 minutes later, my eyes flickered to the light of the room. I gently opened my eyes and a striking pain clouded my head. As if I was swimming and floating, right in the middle of an ocean. My vision blurred, but I tried to pull my weak body out of the bed.

"Where am I?" I asked in total puzzlement. "Auch!" My head felt heavy with the pains.

I buried my face into my palms to think for a moment. I wiped it off with the reels of my hands, knowing I'd taken the injection.

'What am I doing on the bed?' I voice whispered in my ears as I felt the wetness in between my legs. My stomach caught fire to the reaction of what might just happened. I didn't check myself, but I perceived the rot, metallic smell of blood. I raised my gaze at the doctor seated beside me and the look of guilt on his face tells it all. He had raped me.

"Adelaide, I'm sorry." He started with a low, calm voice. "It's not that I want to hurt you... No. You're someone I have a lot of love and respect for. I don't know how to explain this, but you have to believe me. I love you so much, Adelaide." Tate uttered, remorsefully.

"You love me?" My slim eyebrows pulled up in confusion.

"Yes. I'm a big fan of yours. I've known you for a couple of months now, you have no idea. You can call it an obsession. I know you work with Harlequin publishing company and I've read your books. Adelaide, I've fantasized about having you to myself, but I was scared. It scared me you'd reject me and tell me no." He took off his reading glasses and focused on me.

Looking at him, his eyes bled for mercy, but this wasn't even a mistake. He did it purposely.

"When you walked into this office yesterday, I... I had to come up with an idea. To hook you up with me without being rejected. That was why I sedated you, so you won't feel the pain or reject me. I'm truly sorry." He sniffled and dropped the pen he was holding.

"Did you just say sorry?"

"I wouldn't have done it. I swear... I mean to cause you no harm, I mean that."

"And... Do you think what you just did now is not against your ethics as a medical doctor?" I gasped. Never in my life have I felt so furious.

"That's why we have to keep it a secret. Please, don't report me to anyone... I would lose my job if you do. For the sake of love, please... Forgive me. For you to have me as a lover is a plus. I'm one of the best hand in the profession today. There's no need to cause shame to the both of us." He stretched out his hand at mine, but I slapped it away. He jerked off immediately, still pleading.

"Take your filthy hands off me, you shameless doctor!" I spat at him with the anger burning in me. I never expected this. I wouldn't have come if I knew he was up to something.

"You're such a disgrace, doctor Andrews! I should kill you right now, but I've promised not to use my powers to hurt someone."

"Adelaide Cooper... I'm sorry." He begged one more time.

"Don't touch me." I grabbed my handbag and left his office in tears.

Then, I thought about what doctor Kenny told me the other day. My heart fluttered to the thoughts playing in my head.

"When you had the abortion, you ought to receive an injection within 24 hours. And that's haemoglobin injection. But, the doctor failed to give you. Because of that, we would need another Rhesus negative for you to get pregnant."

I felt puzzled by his words. I did not know about this.
"What do I do now? Is there any potential cure? Would I ever get pregnant?"

"It would be a little difficult because it doesn't work in most cases. All you need right now is hope and believe. I'd prescribe you some drugs that would help, but prayers are the drugs for the soul." He muttered.

I couldn't help but to blame doctor Tate Andrews. He caused these. He drugged and raped me. That jerk made me barren because of his incompetence. I couldn't help but to question myself if love is really worth it.

'Now, I had to face the consequences of being a victim.' I thought as I heaved out in regret. I walked to my room and watched on my babies. They smiled at me, I couldn't hold my tears. I'm blessed with two lovely kids. They are just ten days old, but I've grown an attachment with them. It only gets worse before it gets better. I pondered and pondered and I had a sleepless night. It remains ten days now.

***

This chapter should have been longer but I lost about 500 words today. Just one click and it all disappeared. I'd still work on it and re-update. Stay tuned for the next drama.

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