The children are born

It was a few days after Venus talked with Liones that the first of the three children were born. Rose gave birth to a healthy baby girl that she named Athena. The baby girl showed no signs of corruption thanks to both William's intervention and the church's priests. The next morning, Larissa went into labor as well and that afternoon, her son Ares was born. The boy was healthy and showed no signs of his mother's werecat blood. At least at first. Before the day was done, he grew claws on his left hand that glowed red and accidentally cut deep into the floor. As quickly as the claws appeared, they shrank back to his normal finger nails as if they had never been there.

The priests worried about how lust could affect the growth of the children and it was agreed by most of them that Athena was safer from it than Ares simply because of the mixed nature of his blood. Liones confided in Venus that he felt the boy would be better off if the priests kept their opinions to themselves and didn't judge the lad as he grew. Venus doubted that Ares or any of the three children would actually be allowed to live their lives without priests watching their every move.

A week after Athena's birth, Venus finally gave birth to her daughter as well. Minerva was beautiful, but her eyes were piecing and intelligent. When Venus first looked into her daughter's eyes, she felt a surge of power as their minds connected.

(Mother?)

Venus gasped in shock and the priests that were helping with her birth looked at her in surprise. She waved them off and tried to answer in her mind.

(Yes? Can you hear me?)

(My... Mother.... What... Am.... I?)

(You are my daughter. No matter what happens in the future, remember that you are mine and I love you.)

(Am... I... A..... Monster?)

(No baby, you are a gift. You have a destiny that only you and your brother and sister can accomplish. You can save this world.)

(From.... Daddy?)

Venus hesitated in answering. Would her daughter understand the reasoning? Would it confuse her that she was needed to kill her own father? Venus didn't know what to tell her. She imagined all the wrongs that Kalveroth had done in the past and to her and the other women. Suddenly, warmth flowed into her mind and she realized that Minerva had shared those thoughts.

(I understand.... Father... monster.... Will do.... My best....)

Venus smiled down at her little girl and suddenly felt very tired. Giving birth had taken everything she had and she now felt the weight of it pressing upon her. Liones took the child and Venus had a moment to notice his shocked surprise when his eyes locked with Minerva's, before sleep took her.

Venus woke up the next morning the Rose and Liones sitting next to her bed. Rose was letting Athena suckle at a tit and the old priest was trying to avert his gaze. Venus could see he was uncomfortable, but allowed the mother to continue feeding.

"What's going on? Is something wrong?"

"Not at all," Liones answered as he pulled a small book from the pocket of his robes. He handed the book to Venus while still trying to avoid looking at Rose.

"What's this for," she asked before seeing that the author was her father.

"This is a book on his magic and studies. I had forgotten it was even in the archives here until your delightful daughter informed me of it. She said she could "feel you had great magic inside and that she could feel something that would be of use to you" in the archives. She is quite something. Extremely powerful magic. And that mind connection ability? Completely unheard of. She is wise beyond her years already. I'll take great joy in both teaching, and learning from her."

"Where is Minerva now?"

"Sleeping," Rose spoke up with a sly smile as Athena finally released her tit.

"Yes. She made me hold her half the night and let her read from a magic tome. She can read, Venus! And she's barely a day old!"

Venus was amazed, both that her daughter was able to read, and at the old priest's genuine excitement. She knew that she could entrust the children to him. Unlike most of the other priests, this man was taking the prophesy to heart and was willing to guide the children instead of judge them. But then the old man became somber and the twinkle left his eyes.

"We have to keep this quiet. Only myself and a handful of people are going to know. Athena hasn't shown anything different than a normal child, but both Ares and Minerva are clearly gifted. I believe that Athena is as well and we just don't see it yet. Minerva said you have powerful magic inside you Venus. Study that book and learn your father's spells. I found a second copy of that book and Minerva is already studying it as well."

"Alright. I'll probably need the extra power in the coming days. War between Vampires and werewolves, rogue Shadow Hunters, and now Kalveroth? I'll need all the power I can get. Speaking of power, I haven't seen Rondo since...."

"He's been keeping mostly to himself," Rose said sadly.

"Why? Is he angry with us?"

"No... At least, I don't think so. I think it is more angry with himself. He is our husband, as well as an alpha Werewolf. I think he is taking our rapes harder than we are. If it wasn't for the whole prophesy thing, I would probably be a broken down mess right now."

Venus nodded in agreement. She was too stubborn to cry in public, but she had let her tears fall freely several nights the last week once everyone else had left her alone. She had spoken to Rose and Larissa and realized that they had both blocked out much of what had happened. She didn't know if it was William's hand or their own minds working to keep them sane, but Venus didn't have the same luxury. She remembered everything. Every bit of her submission to Beldan and the rapes that followed.

"I'll talk to him."

"That means leaving this wing of the church," warned Liones. He had told her before that some of the Battle Priests were not convinced that Venus and the other women were not corrupted beasts now that they had been filled with demon seed. Liones had made sure that the wing that She and the others stayed in was guarded by a select few Battle Priests that he knew could be trusted.

"I must speak with my husband. If I have to fight my way out, I will."

Venus flipped through the book and read one of the beginner's spells. She thought it looked easy enough and focused, trying to make fire appear in the palm of her hand. It started as just warmth gathering in her palm. Then a spark. After a few minutes of concentration, a small flame flickered pitifully in her hand. She gave the Priest a smile.

"If I put my mind to it, I can get past anyone."