<h4>Chapter 495: The AWAKENING</h4>
The morning light trickled softly so through the half-drawn curtains, casting pale gold rays across the fur nket covering Jasmine’s still form.
The room was quiet now—too quiet. Only the gentle rustle of trees outside and the distant murmur of water filled the air.
Nanny Nia sat by the bed, her fingers sped tightly around Jasmine’s pale hand. She hadn’t left her side since the night before.
Her eyes were rimmed red g with exhaustion, but she couldn’t rest. Not until she was sure. Not until Jasmine came back.
She had been awake all night.
Barely able to sleep.
She was worried that if she slept, then somehow harm woulde to Jasmine.
She took in a deep breath and looked at Jasmine still unconscious.
Even with her scar and red hair, she was ever beautiful.
Nanny Nia thought about the fact that the dead baby was still here.
Marie had thought to dispose of it, Nanny Nia could remember.
Marie had packed it all up in a neat towel and started to leave the room when Nanny Nia had stopped her.
"Where are you going?" She has asked her eyes stuck on the wrapped up foetus. "With ....it."
Their eyes both locked down at the wrapped up towel.
"Well. I’m going to dispose of it." Marie said.
Nanny Nia became instantly ufortable. "I don’t think you should do that."
"Why not?" Marie frowned. "It’s dead. What? You think it will rise from the dead?"
"No..." Nanny Nia sighed stressed. "Of course not."
"So do you want to be the one to do it?" Marie asked.
"No." Nanny Nia asked a bit too quickly. She rubbed her forehead and walked Marie aside.
As though to protect Jasmine from over hearing even though she had still been unconscious.
They now both stood at the door.
"I don’t think any of us have the right to be doing that." Nanny Nia expressed.
"Even Xaden?" Marie rose a brow.
"Especially him." Nanny Nia’s face twitched. "Not after what he has done."
Nanny Nia sighed heavily. "It’s her child. Let her wake up and figure out what she wants to do with it. Not us."
Marie looked down at the well concealed towel and sighed. "I still don’t understand you people and sentiments. But fine. She can dispose of it herself."
"Thank you." Nanny Nia said.
"For the meantime you keep it." Marie said thrusting it into Nanny Nia’s arms and forcing her to collect it.
Nanny Nia had it on herps up till now.
Well wrapped up in towels like a hidden load of bread.
A faint sound escaped Jasmine’s lips... barely a breath, waking Nanny Nia up from her streams of thought.
Nanny Nia sat up immediately, right after gently picking up the well wrapped up towel from herps.
Her heart thudded wildly as she leaned in closer, almost afraid she had imagined it.
Then it happened again—a soft groan, like the ghost of a voice waking from far away.
Jasmine’sshes fluttered.
Nanny Nia let out a choked gasp, covering her mouth. "Jasmine?" she whispered, voice trembling.
Nanny Nia quickly, but gently dropped the towel on her seat before slowing walking up to Jasmine’s bed. "Sweetheart... can you hear me?"
Jasmine’s brow creased slightly. Her lips parted, cracked and dry, but struggling to form something—anything. Then a hoarse whisper, barely audible:
"...Nia?"
Nanny Nia’s tears came all at once. She leaned forward, brushing hair from Jasmine’s mmy forehead. "Yes, child. Yes, I’m here. You’re safe."
Jasmine blinked slowly, disoriented. Her eyes flicked around the room, zed and unfocused, until theynded on Nanny Nia’s face.
Now Nanny Nia was knelt down beside her on the floor, tears now streaming down the old woman’s face.
Jasmine tried to speak again but stopped. Her hand moved, barely, and brushed across her stomach.
Nanny Nia became instantly cold at Jasmine’s sharp reflexes and the realization that she would know.
That’s when Jasmine’s changed. Confusion twisted into dread as her roamed over a now deted tummy
Her lips trembled. "Where...?"
Nanny Nia’s hand squeezed hers. "Don’t rush, love. Just breathe."
But Jasmine’s breath was already catching. Her eyes, once ssy, now sharpened with panic.
"Where is my baby?" she asked, voice faint but terrified. "Why is my tummy t?"
Nanny Nia couldn’t speak.
Jasmine looked at her hungry for answer.
And then she very gently started to sit up in bed.
She groaned in pain ss she moved her body.
"No take it very easy." Nanny Nia said quicklying to her aid as she gently helped her sit up.
Jasmine massaged her temple her right hand still protectively on her stomach.
Once she was when settled, she looked up at Nanny Nia.
"Why is my stomach t?" Jasmine asked confused.
Nanny Nia felt cold and terrible.
She dreaded the fact that she had to be the one to tell her.
"You don’t remember what happened?" Nanny Nia asked her as she gently brushed her red fire curls.
Jasmine slightly shook her head and then paused.
"No... not really." Jasmine stated. "I think I remember seeing you the night before and then my tummy started to hurt.... And then I saw blood and....
And then Jasmine froze and looked in between her legs, as if to search for the blood.
"Did I give birth already?" Jasmine asked confused. "Where is my baby."
Nanny felt her bones get even more chill.
How she wished Jasmine already knew.
She hated that she had to tell her the dreadful news.
She held Jasmine’s hand. "Jasmine, I have something to tell you."
Jasmine frowned.
"You had someplications..... and you bled and...." Nanny paused.
"And what?" Jasmine asked distraught.
Nanny Nia closed her eyes. "The baby didn’t make it."
It was as though Jasmine’s hands went instantly cold.
Like it dropped instantly dead.
There was no feeling in her bones.
None that Nanny Nia could feel anyways.
Jasmine’s face was now white and ashen.
She said no word, just stared into space.
She didn’t even cry.
Nanny Nia remained on her kneels unsure of what to say or what to do.
"Are you okay sweetheart?" Nanny Nia asked her.
But Jasmine said nothing.
And the next time that Nanny Nia locked eyes with Jasmine’s they were empty.
Soulless.
Dead.