Hot orange twigs and sticks cracked within the flames in a hut. Shadows shifted around and anxious feminine voices filled the air. Only one was the loudest and that was Eclipse’s.

She laid naked on her back and drenched in sweat. Her moaning was loud as she gripped her ankles for her life depended on it. The surrounding women softly spoke to her while the rest prepared the towels and herbs.

Eclipse raised her head and squinted her eyes at her large belly as she pushed with all her might. She threw her head back crying to the dismay of her midwives. They rubbed on her hands and patted her thick thighs as a way of calming her but it was of no use.

The midwife kneeling right in front of her nodded in satisfaction the baby’s head showing. ‘Come on, Eclipse, your baby has shown itself!’ she exclaimed and stretched out her hand for a towel.

Eclipse gritted her teeth so hard that her jaw hurt. She pushed and her baby’s head came out. She pushed again with an ear screeching wail and the baby slid out with both shoulders. The midwife took hold of it and pulled it out only for all of them to drop their jaws astonished.

Eclipse heard her baby’s cries and collapsed. Her legs remained up with her blood gashing out. The midwives were too stricken with shock to even think of cleaning her up. Their eyes were on the fair female child who couldn’t stop crying.

The midwife holding it was the first to return to her senses. She cut the umbilical chord and wrapped the baby in a towel. The rest of the women took out the placenta and wiped Eclipse clean. She was set on a mattress with her baby on her side. The women took out Eclipse’s breast and brought the nipple to the baby’s mouth. Its cries were finally silenced as it fed.

‘She has given birth to a fair child. What will we do?’ one of the women anxiously asked and the others shuddered.

‘We have no choice but to inform her husband.’ another sadly remarked.

‘You will tell him, Maya. You are the head midwife.’ the very woman who started the conversation suggested and the rest nodded in agreement.

Maya furrowed her brows and tucked her lips. She glanced over at Eclipse, and her heart ached in pity. Getting up slowly, she dusted her wrapper and fixed her dreadlocks in place. ‘I can’t imagine a fate worse than this.’ she whispered.

Maya carefully pulled the curtain aside and met the anxious eyes of Mbesu, Eclipse’s husband. Along with him were four older men and Sendra, Eclipse’s old mother-in-law. As per custom, Sendra was the only one to approach Maya.

She went to her with her back hunched and her walking cane stabbing into the sand. The men stood away from the birthing hut—each of them murmuring encouragement to Mbesu.

Maya lowered her gaze contemplating on how to tell the family everything. She knew what to say but every time she opened her mouth, her words got stuck in her throat.

Her state only worried Sendra who shot a concerned look at Mbesu. He could barely contain himself. Eclipse screamed so much earlier that they couldn’t help but fear the worst.

‘How is our child?’ Sendra asked Maya.

Maya sucked in air and faced Sendra. The old woman tilted her bald head and her whitening eyes fixed on her.

‘Can you not speak or have I finally become completely blind that I can’t tell whether I’m talking to myself or not?’ she asked.

Maya curtsied with her right hand on her chest, ‘Forgive me, mother. The baby is a healthy little girl.’

Sendra’s face lit up, and she dropped her cane. She raised her hands up at the full moon, ‘Thank you so much goddess, Ashtoreth. You have blessed our household with a girl after two boys.’

Upon hearing her prayer, Mbesu danced. He shook his body and beat his chest. The men with him patted him on his back, laughing heartily at the good news. As Mbesu danced, Sendra got into the hut to see the baby for herself.

She stretched out her hands and the midwives in the hut widened their eyes at each other. One midwife shoved the one close to Eclipse and she bit her finger. She reluctantly picked up the sleeping baby and gave it to Sendra.

Because of her bad vision, Sendra could not see that there was something wrong with the baby. She rocked her grandchild gently and let out a hefty laugh.

‘She weighs a healthy weight.’ Sendra contented and caressed the baby’s whitish hair. ‘Is the place clean enough for my son to come and see his child?’ Sendra asked and hearts skipped beats.

‘Y-yes mother. We have washed everything.’ one woman brave enough spoke up.

‘Good, you may all leave.’ Sendra permitted and they left in a single file with their heads bowed.

Sendra remained rocking the baby happily. She chuckled at the whimpers it made in its sleep. Mbesu joined her in the hut. His eyes first set on Eclipse who was still unconscious. The dying fire in the room released a little light that only enhanced her beauty as she slept. Mbesu kissed her lovely thick lips in gratitude.

‘Thank you, my love.’ he said with the brightest of smiles.

‘Come and see your daughter.’ Sendra giggled.

Mbesu got off his knees and happily let out his hands to his mother. He suddenly gasped loudly upon seeing the child to Sendra’s surprise. Mbesu closed his eyes and wailed in agony before dashing out of the tent. This was much to the bewilderment of the men outside. Mbesu dropped to his knees in anguish and cried.

‘Eclipse! Eclipse!’ he complained.

The men rushed to him and tried to help him off the ground but Mbesu wasn’t having it. The midwives shook their heads in pity. Maya dropped her gaze. She walked away and the other women followed her. None of them were ready to witness what was going to happen next.

‘What is it, Mbesu?’ a man asked concerned but Mbesu just cried.

‘I am finished!’ he shouted with so much pain in his voice.

The men exchanged sorrowful looks. With everything that was going on, they all assumed that Eclipse died during childbirth. ‘Get up my friend. These things happen. You have to be strong.’ the man closest to him beckoned.

‘No, treason doesn’t happen. That woman in there has betrayed me and this kingdom. Go and see the child and you will understand my pain.’

Sendra walked out of the hut without the baby. She couldn’t understand Mbesu’s mourning. How could he mourn during a happy occasion like that? Her calm state further confused the men. One of them brave enough approached the tent. He hesitated when he finally got to the door and flashed a furrow at Mbesu.

‘Go and see, my friend. I permit you to go into that hut!’ Mbesu cried. ‘I need witnesses to see what this woman has done.’

The man nervously wiped his face and peeped into the tent. Even though Mbesu gave him the permission to go in, he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. He squinted his eyes at the baby and from where he stood, he couldn’t see anything alarming. It was only when the baby stretched out its hand did he shout in anguish.

‘An abomination has tainted our land!’ He exclaimed.

‘What is it?’ Sendra asked him impatiently. ‘Tell me!’ she demanded with hostility.

‘Eclipse has given birth to a fair child!’ the man announced and the others gasped.

‘What did you say?’ Sendra asked him in disbelief.

‘He is telling the truth, mother. Eclipse has ruined us all!’ Mbesu wailed.

Sendra’s chest tightened. The whole world around her spun. She gripped her cane tightly and groaned at the feeling of her heart tearing up. Her small body barely made a thud when it finally hit the ground. Mbesu rushed to her aid and shook her repeatedly in a bid to wake her up.

****

Days later, Eclipse was on her knees and in chains. Sitting high before her was King Daniminga and his pregnant wife, Queen Senedi. Eclipse couldn’t stop crying. Her eyes were on her crying baby who was put on the sacrificial board. The scorching sun showed the infant no mercy. Standing guard was the executioner and in his hand was a gigantic iron ax.

The crowd surrounding Eclipse did nothing to comfort her. They hissed and spat at her—hurling disgusting insults at her betrayal. Mbesu sat down among the village elders with his head bowed. They whispered comforting words to him. At no point did he turn to even look at Eclipse.

‘Eclipse, you have been proven guilty of treason.’ King Daniminga said in a bold and hoarse voice. ‘What do you have to say for yourself?’

Eclipse’s chains clicked as she humbly put her hands together. ‘Your majesty, believe me when I tell you that I do not understand what is happening. The only man I have ever been with is my husband, Mbesu. I can’t understand why the gods decided to put a fair child in my womb.’ Eclipse cried.

‘Silence! You dare accuse the gods of your own sins?’ the king thundered and Eclipse screamed in fear.

Eclipse threw herself on the ground, ‘Please my King, have mercy on me. Do not execute my child.’ she desperately begged but the crowd shouted in rage.

‘Let us stone this traitorous whore and her bastard!’

‘How dare she shame us all by having an affair with a man from Elionis?’

‘It’s her fault that Sendra is dead. She killed her and now Mbesu is devastated!’

‘Foolish woman!’

‘Silence!’ the king roared and the noise was reduced to murmurs. ‘Chop that child in half and cut off that woman’s head.’ he commanded.

Eclipse got off the ground and helplessly ran to her baby. Her chains were pulled back, and she fell hard to the ground. A royal guard kicked her hard in the face and blood splashed out of her mouth. She rolled in the sand—tainting her bruised coffee skin with it. Eclipse laid flat on her stomach and stretched out her hand to her baby. She cried profusely to the joy of the villagers.

The executioner raised his axe up high in the air. The villages cheered and whistled. He brought down his axe hard and Eclipse screamed painfully. The axe was just about to hit the baby when a whip wrapped around the executioner’s wrist. He was sent crushing into a hut nearby.

Everyone turned their gaze to an old man. His long white beard barely danced in the wind as his beady eyes focused only on the angered King who was already off his throne. The two dwarfs guarding the old man whipped their horse whips in the air.

They wore nothing but leather skirts. Covering their dark bodies were tattoos of spells. Their nose rings and earrings glimmered in the sunlight.

The villagers dreaded the sight of the savage dwarfs. They paved the way for them in a haste. The old man's dark blue robe swept across the sand as he boldly approached the King. His cane of bones rattled as he continued stabbing the ground as he walked.

The King could not wipe the glare off his face as he watched him draw closer. The old man bowed down in respect but his dwarfs remained standing with their chests puffed.

‘What is this, Nzelu?’ King Daniminga impatiently asked, eyeballing him.

Nzelu brought up his head to the king, 'You will not perform any executions today.'

The crowd murmured appalled by Nzelu’s unbelievable declaration. King Diniminga clenched his jaw and balled up his fists. The fire in his eyes was clear evidence that he loathed that Nzelu challenged his authority, and worse before his subjects. Seeing the King’s hardened face, the royal guards unsheathed their swords and the archer’s above in the trees aimed their arrows. Nzelu raised a brow at the tension.

Daniminga's face darkened at Nzelu's grin. His queen took hold of his wrist, but he shook her off. ‘You better have a good reason to interrupt the execution.’ Diniminga threatened through his teeth.

‘Oh, but I do my king.’ Nzelu smiled, revealing his yellow stained teeth. He pointed at Eclipse who still laid in the sand in a bloody mess. ‘I cannot deny that what she has done is unforgivable. She has not only committed treason but also blasphemed against our ancestors who fought for our land in the 100-year Blood War. Surely, I say to you my king, executing her right here and now is mercy.’ Nzelu turned and smirked at the people behind him, ‘She deserves a stiffer punishment.’

The people murmured in excitement and approval. King Diniminga’s face relaxed into a dark grin. Eclipse helplessly watched them all smile at her pending demise. She sat up and stole a look at Mbesu.

Their eyes met and her heart skipped a beat. Eclipse longingly looked at him, hoping that he would at least say something. After all, the both of them spent ten years of a blissful marriage and before that, they secretly courted. Surely he must have still loved her.

Mbesu blankly looked at Eclipse, and peeled his eyes off from her in the coldest way she never would have ever imagined. Eclipse hugged herself in despair. More tears trickled down her big dark eyes. She returned her gaze to her crying baby. Mbesu’s coldness brought her to the realization that no one was going to help her. She was finished for something she didn’t even do.

King Diniminga sat back down on his throne to the relief of Queen Senedi, ‘What do you suggest we do?’ he asked Nzelu.

‘Banish her and her child into the darkest part of the land. With no man to hunt for her meals, they will die. That’s if, the beasts that dwell within the shadows don’t tear her and her child apart first.’ Nzelu suggested to the pleasure of the people.

‘Brilliant thinking, Nzelu!’ King Diniminga raised his voice for all to hear. He turned his icy gaze to Eclipse, ‘Escort that woman and disgusting child into the forest. She is to be shamed all the way there.’

Eclipse's blood turned cold at the sound of a guard's heavy boots. He roughly yanked her off the ground and unlocked her chains. The chains dropped to Eclipse’s feet, and she was shoved in front. Eclipse fell on her face only to be roughly pulled up and shoved again. She stumbled to the sacrificial table.

Her baby’s cries were drowned by the crowd’s roars of excitement. Eclipse shakily picked her baby up and held it close to her chest protectively. Her matted long hair was pulled from behind and when she turned, she was met with a slap of cow dung. Before Eclipse could comprehend what was happening, more was smeared on her face.

She sadly closed her eyes to her angry in laws who continued smearing dung in her hair and on her hands. They snatched away the golden necklaces on her neck and pulled off her diamond earrings. Her ivory bangles were brutally taken off. The only thing left was the ring on her finger.

Eclipse’s in laws paved the way for Mbesu. He didn’t even look Eclipse in the eye as he approached her. Eclipse gasped at the feeling of his touch when he took her hand. Mbesu stared deep into her eyes, and she grew weak in her knees at his moist eyes. They harbored so much pain in them.

‘Why did you do this, Eclipse?’ he whispered low enough for only her to hear.

‘I didn’t do it Mbe-’ Eclipse stopped in disbelief when she felt her ring slide off her finger.

Mbesu’s face hardened as he stared down at her in sheer disgust. He walked away from her and disappeared into the crowd. Eclipse desperately shouted after him but her in laws pulled on her hair and shoved her in front. They gave way to royal guards with whips.

One slash landed on Eclipse’s back and tore her wrapper. She screamed in pain at another one—frightening her baby even more. Eclipse walked on with the hateful mob hurling insults at her and throwing stones.

She held onto her baby, taking care to shield it from all harm. Her gaze stayed on the ground as she walked through the village. She couldn’t bear to see the hatred in the people. Some of them climbed on top of their roofs just to bear witness to her misery.

Eclipse didn’t walk long before she arrived at her house. The sight of her two sons aged 12 and 9 crying at her condition tore her heart to pieces.

‘Mother!’ they cried as they struggled to go to her, but the adults holding them refused to allow it.

'Do not shed a tear for that woman. She is a whore!' they said to the boys.

'Mother!'

‘Take care of yourselves my sons. I will always love you even in death!’ Eclipse cried after them.

She was shoved in front so hard that she stumbled to the ground. More whips tore her tender flesh, but she did her best to shield her baby. Eclipse got up with difficulty and continued to walk. The flogging stopped immediately. She walked for hours before they finally came to the forest. Only the guards went with her into it. They people stayed out, cursing Eclipse.

Walking through the forest was difficult due to the grass and branches. The sun was already setting and darkness began to spread. Noting this, the guards decided to finally abandon her there. One of them pushed her hard and she fell. Eclipse looked at all of them through her hair.

The guard who pushed her looked around at the darkening forest and whistled. ‘I feel sorry for you. Soon it will be dark and you will have nowhere to hide.’ he mocked and the others laughed.

‘You can’t even pray because you accused the gods of your sins. Who will protect you?’ another asked and high-fived a couple more.

‘You know what, I honestly feel sorry for her. She will be better off dying a quick death. I suggest we help her attract a predator quick.’ the guard who pushed her mockingly laughed.

He fiddled with his pants and Eclipse faced away appalled. She closed her eyes shut when he whipped out his penis. Eclipse shuddered with a whimper at the warmness of his urine. She gave him her back, so that none of it went on the baby.

‘Now you will be rest assured that your misery will end before sunrise.’

Eclipse didn’t lift her head to their laughter. She kept her back turned, praying that they would just go away. The guards spat at her and cheerfully walked away. Eclipse stayed on the same spot dazed. By the time she could no longer hear them, it was dark. The only source of light was the full moon that occasionally hid behind the clouds.

Eclipse looked down at her sleeping baby. The cloth it was wrapped in was slightly wet. Eclipse carefully unwrapped the baby and set her hand on its extremely wet nappy. Fearing that it was going to burn the baby, she took it off. She wrapped her baby on her back and held onto the wet nappy.

Eclipse wandered around for a safe place to sleep. Because of her beaten and tired body, she could not search efficiently in the unfamiliar forest. She walked for some time before she came to the sparkly Maviki River. Eclipse rushed to it and knelt down. She splashed her face with water and drunk to her fill.

Eclipse felt her baby fidget behind, and she brought it to the front. She unwrapped her baby and lovingly stared down at it. Its skin was as pale as snow and eyes as grey as the beads around its little neck.

Eclipse took out her breast and set her dark nipple on the baby’s pink lips. She smiled at the stinging pain she had to endure while nourishing her little one.

‘My baby, it is just you and I now. Everyone has forsaken us, including the gods. I don’t know what sin I committed that forced the gods to punish us harshly like this.’ Eclipse wiped her tears and faced up to the moon, ‘Regardless of what has happened, you are my child. I do not care what color you are. It is in my womb that your life developed. If mothering you is a way to atone for sins I am not aware of then so be it.’

Rapid bubbles bubbled up on the source of the river. The ground beneath Eclipse's knees shook rapidly. Eclipse gasped, and stood up afraid. Her sudden movement forced her nipple out of her baby’s mouth. The baby cried upset that its meal was interrupted.

Eclipse forced her dripping breast back in but before she could turn around and run, something violently burst out of the water. Its shadow blinded her from the moonlight. Eclipse let out sharp scream.

Eclipse couldn't stop her trembling at the sight of the terrifying beast before her. Its pointy teeth glimmered in the moonlight, and its hiss left a ringing sound in her ears. It was the biggest dark snake Eclipse had ever seen in her entire life. On its head were terrible red long horns.

The beast stretched even longer. A cold chill ran down Eclipse's spine at the cracking sound of wood snapping. She widened her eyes petrified at the trees around the banks breaking. Eclipse turned gasping at the ground behind her breaking from underneath.

Eclipse shakily turned to face the beast that just stared down at her with sharp yellow soul devouring eyes. She got down on her knees and bowed before it—trembling so much as if it was freezing. The beast lowered its head, and brought it to Eclipse. It breathed on her and wind blew on her long curly hair.

'Your submission has pleased me, human.' it said to her in an echoing feminine disembodied voice.

'One is supposed to bow in the presence of a god.' Eclipse uttered with her head low and baby close to her chest. She closed her eyes to the laughter that followed.

'I am no god. I am Breenis, a marine caretaker and servant of Dagon. I rarely reveal myself to humans so count yourself fortunate.' the beast narrated in a cheerful tone. 'Look into my eyes.'

Eclipse swallowed hard and pursed her lips together. She held her baby even closer, trying her best to muster the courage to do what she was told. There was no telling what her submission would mean but her refusal would definitely be the end of her and her baby.

Eclipse slowly raised her head but her eyes were closed. She sucked in some air and slightly opened them. She screamed at Breenis' face inches away from hers. Her eyes met Breenis' eyes and a magnetic force held her head still.

Eclipse's mouth fell open and her hold on her baby loosened. Breenis' eyes glowed a freakishly yellow glow and a beam was sent into Eclipse's eyes. Her eyes glowed yellowed and sent out a beam that connected to Breenis' eyes.

Breenis closed her eyes and the connection was cut. Eclipse fell to her bottom with a splitting headache. She protectively held her baby with one arm and massaged her forehead with the other. All the while, Breenis partly got out of the water and coiled herself around Eclipse.

'You had it rough it seems.' She beckoned and stared down at Eclipse who was trapped in the middle of the walls of her serpent body.

Eclipse sadly nodded her head with her gaze low. 'Yes and I do not understand why. My husband is the only man I have ever been with.'

Breenis chuckled softly, 'Woman, have you forgotten that you have been divorced?' she mockingly asked.

Eclipse's heart dropped at her taunts. She hadn't yet fully come to terms that Mbesu divorced her and threw her out of his life. Eclipse strongly felt that the mockery behind the giant serpent's voice was wicked, but she was afraid to speak up.

'Regardless, that child is his.' Breenis said once more and slowly swayed her head from side to side.

Eclipse forgave the harsh words of Breenis. It felt good to be believed if it was by giant demonic snake. 'You believe me?' she asked for clarity's sake.

'But of course. I knew a dark couple who were banished from their village for witchcraft allegations. For years, they had no contact with the other lands. So you see, there was absolutely no way for the woman to have mated with a fair male.'

Eclipse folded her legs and looked up at Breenis in amazement. She had forgotten about her fear. 'What happened to the family?' she asked.

'Oh, I ate them.' Breenis confessed, giggling, 'They came to bathe in my river and it so happened that I was in the mood for human blood.'

Her words brought back Eclipse's fear like a lightning bolt. Eclipse's body stiffened, and she once again protectively held her baby while her eyes wandered around for any chance of escaping the serpent walls. One ring was at least 3 m tall and Breenis coiled herself twice so Eclipse was looking at approximately 6 m of a scaly like wall fence.

It was utterly hopeless.

'Eclipse, I used to be a woman like you hundreds of years ago. As you can see, I have served Dagon, the arch demon of marine spirits for so long. I am weakening and it's only a matter of time before I perish but Dagon won't let me unless I find a successor.' Breenis narrated.

Eclipse thoughtfully looked at her. She couldn't tell if her eyes were fooling her because for a moment, she saw sadness in Breenis.

'Have you been able to find a successor?' she asked with genuine concern.

'Yes,' Breenis lowered her head even more at Eclipse who held her breath, 'I want your daughter to be my successor.'

Eclipse dropped her jaw and fearfully backed away, 'My, my – my baby?' she stammered.

'Yes, her.' Breenis declared.

Eclipse shook her head, 'No, please not her.'

'It has to be her.' Breenis coldly re-enforced.

Eclipse dropped to her knees, 'Take me instead of her.' she pleaded.

'No, you are older than 21. It is not possible.' Breenis refused.

Eclipse burst out crying. 'Please, she is all that I have left.' she begged.

Breenis cracked up laughing, 'Foolish woman, can't you see that I am offering your daughter an honor? She will be great and powerful. No one will hold a candlelight to her.'

'She is just a baby.'

'She will take over after her 21st birthday.' Breenis clarified but her words did not lift Eclipse's spirits. 'Look, if you hand over your daughter as my successor, I will let you raise her. To top it off, I will protect you and provide for you for as long as I live.' Breenis softly said and then her eyes beamed once again, and she stretched her mouth wide, 'Should you refuse, I'll devour you and raise your daughter myself. Either way, I'm getting what I want.' Breenis added an icy, 'I always do.'

Eclipse helplessly stared down at her baby sucking its thumb. Her tears blurred her vision and a cry escaped her lips. Was this truly the only way the both of them were going to survive their harsh fate? She kissed her baby on the forehead and mouthed 'sorry'.

Facing up to Breenis, Eclipse reluctantly held up her baby. Breenis uncoiled herself and shot up into the sky. The part of her body that remained in the water violently moved past Eclipse, and she shielded her baby screaming. The sight of a gigantic snake up in the sky was as horrific as a dragon's.

Eclipse couldn't believe it when Breenis started to shrink in size. A pair of arms shot out of her sides and her upper body morphed into a head with full of dark hair. The red horns shrunk and stuck out on top. A pair of naked breasts appeared next. Her skin was of an ebony shade and it glittered in the moonlight. Nothing below the waist changed.

Breenis slowly fell down in her new form. When she was finally down, she stretched out her hands to Eclipse. Eclipse slowly approached her and reluctantly set her baby in Breenis' arms. Breenis smiled widely with her lovely dark lips. She brought her long dark nails to the baby's head and caressed its cheek while Eclipse helplessly looked on.

'You have made the right choice.' Breenis acknowledged, 'Not that it mattered anyway.'

'So, you will take care of my daughter and I?' Eclipse asked as she longingly looked at her baby peacefully sucking her thumb in Breenis' arms.

'I take my covenants seriously, woman.' Breenis replied without peeling her eyes off the baby. 'Have you decided on what name to give her?'

Eclipse slowly nodded, 'She will be Martina. I am naming her after my late mother.'

Breenis brought her finger to the baby's forehead, and poked it with her long dark nail. A bright yellow light appeared and consumed the baby. To Eclipse's surprise, her baby didn't cry at all. It just continued to suck its thumb and make bubbly sounds as if nothing was happening.

Breenis withdrew her finger and the glowing stopped. Eclipse cringed at Breenis biting her finger. Breenis smeared her blood on the baby's forehead. 'Martina, as of tonight, you are my successor.' Breenis returned Martina to Eclipse. 'Look,' she pointed her bloody finger at a basket floating in the river. 'Go and retrieve that.' she ordered.

Eclipse looked intently at the basket that was now at the bank trapped in between large roots. She turned back only to find Breenis gone. Eclipse looked around her and there was no sign of Breenis anywhere. She pursed her lips, then went back to the river and picked up the basket. It was heavier than it appeared.

Eclipse opened it and her lips parted to the different fruits in it. She immediately started to eat everything hungrily. At least now, she was going to be able to produce enough milk for her little one. Eclipse looked over her shoulder with a mouthful and spotted a cave not so far away.

Shelter.