Chapter 4.

Just as she was getting lost in what was happening with her baby, an ethereal angelic figure materialized in front of her, causing her to stumble and fall backwards to her butt. Mitzie was gasping and trying to scoot backwards away from the figure that stayed in the same spot.

“Daughter of Samael, do not be afraid. I pose no harm to you” the strange voice said as the figure materialized into what Mitzie thought to be a woman.

“Who the hell are you and where am I? What the hell is going on?” Mitzie choked out, trying not to cry as she stopped scooting and sat with her legs spread in front of her while holding her stomach.

The woman had floor-length wavy jet-black hair with caramel colored skin, sharp emerald-green eyes, and was wearing an enchanting lipstick color that Mitzie had never seen before. She smiled at Mitzie and stood with her fingers intertwined in front of her.

She wore a floor-sweeping royal purple goddess style dress, complete with silver belt and arm bracelets. The band on her head wasn’t a crown or halo, but more like what Mitzie thought looked like something Olivia Newton-John would wear in her 80s videos.

Mitzie gazed with her mouth open at the woman’s beauty and thought her to be about the same age as herself. Her eyes were wide as she took in this strange woman who suddenly appeared in front of her.

After a few brief moments of silence, Mitzie shook her head, “who. The. Hell. Are. You? What the hell is going on?” She asked, getting annoyed that this woman refused to answer her.

The woman continued to smile as she took in Mitzie’s appearance, and apparent fear.

“Daughter of Samael, do not be afraid….” She began.

“You’ve said that already!” Mitzie screamed cutting her off.

“How do you expect me to not be afraid when I have no idea what is going on, where I am, or who you are? ANSWER ME!” she yelled at the top of her voice.

The smile never left the woman’s mouth as she took a small step towards Mitzie. Mitzie scooted back slightly at the woman’s sudden approach.

“I am Etheria, Princess of Etherios,” she said in the voice that still seemed to be in surround sound.

“That doesn’t tell me all that I asked” she said starting to feel an anger coming on.

With the smile still on her face, the woman continued to stare at Mitzie. This time when she talked, Mitzie noticed Etheria’s voice somewhat soothed her.

“Daughter of Samael, my apologies for this sudden introduction. We fear, however, the time has come for you to return home. There is a great war upon our people, and your spawn is the key to our victory.”

What. The. Fuck. Did. She. Just. Say?

Mitzie sat with her mouth gaped open, continuing the staring contest with this woman called Etheria.

After what seemed like a long time, Mitzie suddenly burst out into rambunctious laughter, falling onto her back, and holding her stomach.

“What….” Mitzie tried to say but was laughing too hard to form words. Etheria continued to watch Mitzie, the smile never leaving her face.

Mitzie laughed so hard she had tears streaming down her face. Once she was able to control herself, she sat back up, crossed her legs, leaned back on her hands, and looked Etheria in the eyes.

“So, apparently whatever I ate this evening not only didn’t agree with my baby,” she said rolling her eyes as she stroked her stomach that, somehow appeared a little bigger just that fast, “but it’s also giving me weird dreams! Okay, I’m over it, now. Wake up, Mitzie,” she screamed the last part cupping her hands around her mouth as if she were calling a long distance.

Etheria gave a small chuckle which made Mitzie glance to her in an irritated way.

“Daughter of Samael…” Etheria began.

“Stop calling me that!” Mitzie snapped. “My father’s name is Roger Kingsley! I think you have the wrong person! Look, I’m just trying to wake up now so that I can go back to sleep peacefully…I’ve had a long day and I do not need this interference with my rest.”

Etheria began to laugh, not a loud one, but just enough to get Mitzie’s attention. Mitzie looked at Etheria, “what the hell is so funny?”

“Oh, daughter, I mean, Nelacos, if you prefer….”

“Wait wait wait wait wait...” Mitzie interrupted. “Now I know this is a dream. First you keep calling me Daughter of Samael, now you’re calling me Nelacos. What I prefer is to be called by my name, which is Mitzie,” she exclaimed feeling anger rising in her.

“Look, can I just wake up, now?” she yelled hoping that the jerky movements of her hands would prompt her body to jolt awake.

“I know what I speak to you is strange, Nelacos, however, if you permit me, I will explain everything to you,” Etheria said, taking a few more steps towards Mitzie. The smile that Etheria was once wearing was replaced with a serious look, which made Mitzie realize that she had not choice in the matter.

Afterall, if her body wouldn’t cooperate and wake up from this dream, she might as well see what this dream is about. Maybe she can help shed some light on the uneasiness she’s felt about her pregnancy.

“Alright. I have no idea what’s going on, what it was that I ate, but it doesn’t seem like I’m waking up right now, so I’m all ears,” Mitzie said as she bent her legs and wrapped her arms around her knees to keep them up. However, with the slight increase to her stomach size, she found this to be more difficult than it usually was.

Etheria waived her wrist, and two platinum-colored chairs appeared in the room with them. The chairs were ordinary dining chairs, save the platinum-colored arms and legs, and the purple velvet seat and back cushions.

“If you would please, I believe you will be more comfortable than on the floor” Etheria motioned towards one of the chairs.

Mitzie gave her an unsure look, but decided she would be more comfortable on the plush cushion than on the hard floor. Especially if it was going to be a long story.

She slowly got up from the floor and moved to sit in one of the chairs, not taking her eyes off Etheria.

Etheria sat in the other chair, waived her wrist again, and suddenly, they were sitting face-to-face. Mitzie gasped at how quickly that happened.

She starred at Etheria for a bit. “Okay, now, tell me what’s going on? Why can’t I wake up?” she asked looking around as if looking for something.

The smile returned to Etheria’s face. Mitzie noticed how warm the smile appeared to be, and it calmed her. She didn’t understand how that was possible. She was prepared to hear what Etheria had to say.

“As I’ve introduced myself, I am Etheria, Princess of Etherios. And you are Nelacos, Princess of Etherios….”

As soon as she said that Mitzie couldn’t help but burst into laughter again. So hard she thought she’d lose her balance in the chair. Etheria sighed and rolled her eyes at Mitzie.

“Okay…. okay…” Mitzie choked out trying to contain her laughter.

“So, in this dream, you’re Etheria, Princess of Etherios,” she said making air quotes, “and I am Nelacos, Princess of Etherios” doing the air quotes again.

“Wow. All my life I’d wanted to be a princess and knew it would someday happen in my dreams,” she said the last part with the air quotes again.

“I know this is difficult to understand, but if you’d please hear me out, we haven’t much time, twin sister” Etheria said, causing Mitzie to immediately stop laughing and her eyes to open wide.