CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY – THE BIRTH OF CASSANDRA

From there, the next blur of activity passed in fits and starts for Kayla. She was vaguely aware of a discreet side door opening, the familiar shapes of Skylar and some other staffers joining Lance in shepherding her outside to the waiting fleet of cars. Pain rippled through her relentlessly in searing waves, each one chasing on the heels of the last until she felt like one giant exposed nerve. "Stay with me, angel, stay with me," Lance's voice seemed to float to her through the haze, his hand clutching hers with grounding force. "We're almost there, I promise..." Car doors slammed behind them, then the unmistakable wail of sirens as a police escort cleared their path to Star City Memorial. Kayla gripped Lance's hand so tightly she feared she might be crushing bones, but he didn't flinch or pull away for an instant. In fact, he never left her side, not once the entire endless, torturous path from admitting to the delivery suite was navigated. Lance was a constant, solid force, his