SLOANE
There was a noise, screaming? No, wailing. The sound of a baby's cries pierced the air and I slapped my hands over my ears, trying to block it out. What was going on? Where was I? My attention turned to where I heard low murmuring, a woman was hunched over another, blood splattered the floor and I heard soft soothing sounds. Whimpering sounds were coming from the figure on the bed, no pallet? Whatever it was, it looked quite uncomfortable. I moved closer, and my breath hitched. A woman of unearthly beauty lay there, her hair silver of the purest kind, splayed behind her. Her skin, ivory and bright, gunmetal gray eyes glittered in her face; her intelligence and pain clearly reflected in them.
“Marta…I can’t” her voice was thick with distress as she cuddled the child.
“You can an
