I looked out the window of my rooms in Amber, watching waves roll in and out. High tide.

"Quentin, please talk to me."

"What would I say, Bailey?"

Footsteps. A small hand grabs my chin with some force and pulls it towards her. "Look at me!" she says with fierce urgency. I stare directly at her face.

"Is this the end of us?"

I blink, and my mouth moves to form words that never came.

"I thought you loved me. You even told me so. Can you even begin to understand how horrible and ashamed that this"

And she grabbed my hand and forced it upon her oblate stomach --

"...makes me feel? You think you feel bad? You bastard..." she trailed off.

"How am I supposed to feel?" I yelled, spinning. "I dove into the Abyss to save you, survived that, and still couldn't stop It from doing this to you..."

*****

I walked through the red mists for days upon days -- I had lost count. Brand had left long ago, fearing to go any closer to Her lair.

And just as I had expected, a large cave mouth -- large enough to take in a couple of 747's -- loomed before me, bones of various beings littered outside. A dark and foul-smelling smoke flowed along the cave's rooftop to mix with the pink haze about me.

I thought I heard, in my mind, a hideous chuckle.

Regardless, I made my way through the choking, inky blackness, until I entered a cavern maybe miles high, where the great beast Herself regarded me, foul and dark stains on his lips.

Ah, the blood of Amber... always a delicacy. It has been too long, I heard in my mind. I glanced at my feet, where a small, broken, gore-coated body lie, only recognizable by the long brown hair...

I screamed.

*****

Bailey's breathing became rapid; sweat streamed down her brow as she lie back, spreading her legs. I sent Sarah off for towels and hot water, laughing at myself for thinking there was actually an application for such things during a labor. She returned, though, and we both watched, somewhat awed and scared, as my love became fully dilated.

Bailey began screaming with each contraction.

"Hold on, Mom," said Sarah, holding her hand, as I began flipping through my Trumps.

Bailey sat upright and released a primal scream, followed shortly by Sarah as a thick, viscous liquid began pouring from my wife's womb... followed by the head of a snake...

*****

I woke.

Bailey wiped the sweat from my forehead and held me close as I shivered, whispering soothing words in my ear. I settled down again, looking at her, my love, my salvation.

She smiled, and I could do nothing but return it even as I watched her drive the blade into my chest. The pain exploded in my head, and I still watched her smile, specks of my blood over her face and breast.

"I love you..." I said, a bubble of blood popping on my lips.

*****

I woke. Brand was nowhere around.

I tested my leg. Better, but still bad. I'll need to have it rebroken and reset when I got home.

I continued to walk.

Unicorn, keep her safe till I get there...

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