Chapter 350
The next few days had turned into an impromptu citywide celebration as every succubus in the city wanted to stop by to see the new baby lilim. Ashe was bright and intelligent for a baby and was already trying to take small steps. She came out far more developed than human or beastfolk babies. The little toddler-sized infant seemed pretty sociable and was excited to meet new people, but when she got tired or hungry, she clung to Bella tightly.
Bella's body had healed up nicely after the birth and didn't even show some of the signs of having been pregnant, other than the swollen and milk-laden breasts she had even in her natural form now. Her body had quickly gone back to looking like it had before her pregnancy, and she was finally able to shift back into her usual beastfolk form. I had been worried a bit by how the baby might react to the change, but she didn't seem to notice the difference. She still clung to her mama just as much whenever she wanted to be fed.
The non-succubi in the city had initially been confused by everyone's sudden desire to throw parties and take time off their work schedules, but once things had been explained, most of the non-succubi joined in the festivities as well. Celebrations following a child's birth were common in smaller communities, and many people didn't really need an excuse to have a party. Because it hadn't been planned, all that really happened was lots of drinking and a feast, but the excitement for Ashe's birth had spread to every corner of the city.
Which is how things led to the current predicament...
"Bella... Corrine wants to meet Ashe too. You've been hesitant to see her before the baby was born, but maybe now would be a good time to reconcile," Morrigan gently argued.
"Mori, why should I let the mother who abandoned me meet my baby? She doesn't deserve it. She left me to be abused and be sold into slavery," Bella bitterly replied. She switched Ashe to her other breast as they continued to quietly argue.
Lori put a hand on Bella's leg. "Bella. I know how you feel, but Corrine was a victim of the circumstance too. Not everyone has the opportunity to make amends and grow from it, but I think Corrine can. Please give her a chance. Morrigan and Torien could have rejected me for the same reasons, and I would have been devastated if I hadn't been able to reconnect with them for something out of my control. I heard the story. She wasn't even conscious when her sister pulled her out of that house."
Bella's lip raised in an obvious sign of anger. "Then they could have pulled me out of there too, but they didn't. Then the next time I saw her, she insulted me and called me a freak. Then, an animal. Why should I give her another chance when I'm finally happy?!"
The baby began to cry as Bella raised her voice at the end. "Shhh, I'm sorry, Ashe. I wasn't yelling at you, it's okay." All hints of her anger faded as she tried to soothe the baby, rocking her and rubbing her back.
"We both know a lot of that was the church's influence, Bella. She needed to act like that to survive. I was there for that too, I remember," Morrigan persisted. "You have another chance to have a relationship with your mother, I don't. I can't let you throw something so precious away. Please. Just meet with her, let her apologize, talk to her a little bit. You don't have to forgive her, but just give her a chance. Please? Do it for me?"
Bella gave Morrigan a pained look. "Morrigan..." She sighed and looked down at Ashe, who had calmed down and was suckling from Bella's breast again. "Fine. I'll meet with her tonight, and I'll let her meet Ashe. I don't think I can forgive her yet, but I'll talk with her." She over at me. "But only if Lilith comes too. I don't think I can face her alone again..."
I nodded. "Of course I'll join you."
With a resolution, the argument was finally dropped, and we relaxed for most of the day, but there was growing tension in Bella as her anxiety grew for the meeting she had agreed to. Morrigan and Lori had left to go find Corrine and bring her to our house so we could talk privately. Until then, we were sitting outside to give everyone a chance to meet the new baby. It was kind of amazing how interested everyone was in her, but it made sense considering she was the first of our kind. Everyone would be a little bit curious, even if they didn't intend to have babies themselves right away.
When Eira stopped by, she quickly became one of Ashe's favorites. The hyper cheetahkin had Ashe laughing and smiling right from the beginning. She would have made an amazing babysitter for the baby if it weren't for how busy I knew Eira was.
"Gosh, the baby is so cute! She's not an ugly looking potato like most other babies I've seen!" Eira said, getting a round of laughs from everyone nearby.
Eira picked up Ashe and bounced her a little bit while the baby explored Eira's face with her hands. Eira managed to avoid getting poked in the eye like Mimi had, but didn't get away from the baby tugging on her ears and pulling her hair. Eira took it in stride though, happy that the baby seemed to like her so much.
"So are you guys just waiting out front for people to come by?" she asked.
I nodded. "We got tired of people knocking on the door every five minutes, so we've been spending time outside while the weather is still nice."
"Makes sense. We'll have a few more months of nice weather before the leaves begin to fall in earnest. Then, everyone will spend most of their time inside... hopefully spending time getting warm in the Sleeping Lion," Eira joked.
I playfully tapped her arm. "No jokes like that in front of the baby. She's smart enough that she'll be picking up words any day now."
Eira laughed. "Fine fine, but I'll bet that she'll have boys chasing after her in no time."
"Let's put that off for as long as possible. I don't think I'm ready to deal with that yet," I said, exasperated.
Once Eira had given the baby back to Bella, I pulled her a few steps away. "Morrigan and Lori are bringing over Corrine soon to meet Bella for the first time since she's gotten here."
"Should I leave then?" Eira asked, furrowing her brow.
"I was actually kind of hoping you would stay for a while. I'm not sure how it will turn out, but I'd like you to stick around to help mediate," I replied.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Lilith. I'm more used to dealing with orphans, not family issues like this," Eira said hesitantly.
"If nothing else, you're good with the baby. I think you'll be able to help by distracting her if things get heated," I said.
Eira sighed. "Alright, fine. I'll stick around, as much as I don't think it'll help. Who else are you bringing?"
I scratched the base of my horn. "Outside of my immediate lovers, Nelly, Kal'daeryn, Raya, and Sibyl. Raya helped me out when I had some... traumatic issues to deal with, so I think she can help here too. We'll be there for moral support, more than anything else."
"If you say so," Eira said, shaking her head.
Right on cue, I could see an anxious looking Corrine walking up with Morrigan and Lori. Her eyes locked onto little Ashe right away as she approached. The first look she had at her grandchild put a happy smile on her face. The baby was sleeping right now, tuckered out from all the playing she did with Eira a few minutes ago. The baby was in and out of sleep a lot when she wasn't being fed. Or being changed... She was still a baby after all.
"Belladonna... it's nice to see you're looking so healthy after having your child," Corrine said as she came to a stop a few feet away.
Bella sighed before standing up, still cradling the baby. "Ashe just fell asleep. We should go talk inside."
Corrine nodded and looked at the baby. "May I hold her?"
Bella's lips pursed. "Maybe. Let's go inside first."
When we entered the living room, Raya had laid out some snacks and made tea for everyone. She had known Corrine would arrive soon, apparently. The lights were slightly dim, and the room smelled nice from the scent of the cinnamon-like flavored tea we often drank.
Raya glanced at Corrine and nodded to her. "Hello, I'm Raya. It's nice to finally meet you, Miss Corrine."
Corrine's eyebrows rose in surprise as she looked the kitsune girl up and down. "Are you another of Lilith's wives?"
Raya chuckled and shook her head. "No, I'm a close friend of the family. Sibyl over there is my lover."
Sibyl blushed and nodded as she brought over a tray of freshly baked bread and set it down in the center of the table.
"Corrine took a seat across from Bella and glanced at the bread. "I thought grains were being rationed right now?"
"It's a special occasion. We use fewer grains than most families in the city, so I got permission to have some extra for the occasion," Sibyl replied. "I baked it myself, try some."
Corrine glanced at Bella before taking a slice and using some of the provided butter to eat it with. While she was doing that, Bella handed the baby off to Nelly, who cradled her as she continued to sleep.
"If things go well, maybe you can stay for dinner tonight too," Sibyl added.
"So. What is it that you want to talk with me about?" Bella asked in a guarded tone.
Corrine paused and set down the butter knife. "I was hoping that we could repair our broken relationship. I've missed you for a long time."
Bella crossed her arms and leaned back into the couch. "It didn't sound like it the last time we spoke."
Corrine frowned. "When we last spoke, I didn't know you were my so- my daughter. I was worried about you when you disappeared without a trace. After asking around, the last person who was seen with you was Lilith, and so I just wanted to know what happened to you."
"You abandoned me there is what happened to me. Everyone left me there alone, and all I had was Father, who sold me off as soon as he decided I wasn't useful to him," Bella said in quiet anger.
"I couldn't even save myself, Bella," Corrine whispered. "I was weak. In some ways I still am, but it wasn't until after my training that I could even stand on my own two feet."
"Yes, your training with the racists. How did that go?" Bella spat.
"Bella, I think you're being a little too harsh," Raya interjected. "I know that you're angry, but let's take a step back. Corrine isn't trying to pick a fight with you."
"It's alright. I deserve it. I did abandon you... but I'm sorry for that," Corrine said.
"Sorry your son is a freak, a beastkin, and in a relationship with your fated enemy?" Bella pressed.
Corrine shook her head. "No. I'm sorry I was too weak to be there for you when you needed it. That I wasn't strong enough to protect you from him. That even now, you carry the weight of what he did to us on your shoulders. None of those things I said were true."
Bella began to cry. "I watched him nearly beat you to death... and it was my fault... My fault because I was a freak, and the only reason I'm okay with that now is because I'm with Lilith, who accepts me anyway. Everyone else always leaves..." Like a dam burst, all of Bella's anger switched to sadness and self-loathing. She must have been suppressing this emotion the entire time.
"Bella, you're not a freak," I said firmly. "There is nothing wrong with not feeling like you were born in the wrong body. Look at all the people in the room with us. No one in our family would abandon you for that."
Ashe suddenly woke up and began to cry, which prompted Bella to stand and wipe her tears away before taking her back from Nelly. "Shh, it's okay. Mama's here, Ashe."
The baby reached up at Bella and ran her small hands across Bella's wet cheeks. Her intelligent eyes looked sad as she looked up at her mother. Rather than continuing to cry or making any other noises, the baby rested her head against Bella's chest and let Bella cradle her in her arms. The sight struck me as strange. The baby seemed incredibly empathic, which maybe wouldn't be too weird for a baby succubus. I don't think I had been around babies much in my past life, but it still seemed odd. I let the thought pass by as I was more concerned with Bella right now.
"I don't want to talk about any of this anymore... Can... Can you come back tomorrow?" Bella asked in a quiet voice.
Corrine nodded. "I will. I'm sorry to dredge up these bad memories, but I think there's a lot that the two of us should discuss." She stood up and walked to the door before turning to give Bella and Ashe a longing look before leaving.