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Now!

Who was there to help her in this? No one Drake stared in horrified fascination Penny curled her lip with contempt Neither of them interfered or spoke, because it was clear, clear to anyone with a heart or brain, that the only other thing in the rooreen ry will

Doom for her baby

She had known there would be pain And while it was bad, it was not as bad as the stroke of Drake’s whip

It was not the pain that e that she would never be the baby’sreality that she was unforgiven, still an exile from the human race, that she still bore the mark of her evil deeds

The taste of hury So close to death

I’ve said I’iveness; what do you want from me? Why won’t you help this baby?

Penny ed, bloody feet She leaned down to look at Diana’s straining face

"She’s praying," Penny said Penny laughed "Should I give her a god to pray to? I can h a veil of bloody tears Diana saw Penny reel back Like a marionette she slahed "Stupid chick If the gaiaphage wants so, he’ll let you know Otherwise it’s best not to spend a lot of ti about hoerful you are There’s only one god down here, and it’s not Diana’s, and it sure isn’t you, Penny"

Diana tried to renancy books But she’d barely glanced at the sections having to do with birth Birth was months away, not now!

Contraction Oh, oh, a hard one On and on

Breathe Breathe

Another

"Ahhhh!" she cried out, earning a jeer froht metal wire crossed his exposed teeth

Hold on, hold on, Diana told herself Don’t think Just wait for--

Another contraction, like her guts were being squeezed hard by a gigantic fist

And then Brittney was there, kneeling between Diana’s legs

"I see its head The top of its head"

"I have to--have to--have to--" Diana gasped Then, "Push!" she yelled, urging herself on

A suddenvery fast Brittney’s head rolled off her neck It landed on Diana’s belly and then rolled heavily to one side

BLAM!