I-I don’t know what happened.” The midwife’s voice and hands shook as she pulled the sheet up over the woman’s small body. The spirit remained in front of him for one moment longer before gathering the weaker spirit into her arms and floating away as if on a wisp of wind.

A tear escaped before he reined in his emotion. It moved next to the man in the corner, who choked out a single sob, reaching for her. The larger spirit swooped down and covered the infant girl in a kiss as soft as a breeze. Sister Ruth gasped in wonder, then shifted the baby from her shoulder and cradled her upward to let her face show. It took shape: a winged being of blinding purity. His eyes widened as another vapor, even stronger than the first, arose from the woman’s lifeless form. The midwife didn’t see the soft shimmer of mist rise from the patient’s chest, then linger in the air above her body, but the man in the corner did. “Where’s the doctor? He should be here by now!” She shook her head and spoke in a panicked murmur. Sweat ran down the midwife’s temples as she continued chest compressions. Darkness fell over his face as the young midwife tried to resuscitate the woman on the bed. In the corner of the sterile room a large man with a smooth, shaved head and goatee stood watching.

Even stooped with age, the oldest nun at the convent exuded a regal air as she shushed the tiny bundle, attempting to shield her from the sight of her mother’s last breaths. The newborn wailed as the midwife wrapped her in a receiving blanket and quickly handed her to Sister Ruth.

Sweet evil series