The Serpentine Butterfly

by Addison Moore

  Skyla should be relaxed, enjoying herself, soaking in this magical season without a care in the world, and by the sound of her nightmares, by the disturbing report Laken offered up, Skyla isn’t relaxed, she isn’t enjoying herself, and for darn sure she isn’t soaking in this season. She’s stressed to the max, and it’s all the fault of my fucked-up lineage.

  I just hope we get some good news from the doctor tomorrow.

  If not, I don’t know what I’ll do.

  Skyla thinks Fems are stalking her, and I have no doubt they are.

  I pull her in tight and press a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

  Skyla and the babies have to be okay.

  I’ll do anything to make it so.

  * * *

  At ten a.m. sharp, I have Skyla checked in and seated in the waiting room. It takes less than five minutes for them to call us back and another forty-five minutes until Dr. Baxter feels like doing us the honor of showing up.

  Both his tanned skin and teeth glow unnaturally as he gloves up in an effort to get touchy-feely with my wife.

  “How is everything? Have you felt the babies move yet?”

  “Well, actually”—Skyla looks to me apprehensively—“I felt a little strange last night. And, no, I haven’t felt the babies move yet.”

  “Not to worry.” He takes a seat at the base of her makeshift bed and taps her thighs open until her feet are secured in the stirrups. As soon as she’s spread eagle, he gives a shit-eating grin. Pervert. “So, tell me how you felt last night?” He pulls forth a long metal object, and it disappears beneath Skyla’s paper gown. “This will be cold.”

  She winces. “Um, I don’t know. I was seeing things that weren’t really there. I was out with the girls. Someone probably slipped something into my drink.”

  “What were you drinking?” He glances up, alarmed, as if Skyla hasn’t gotten the baby incubating basics down yet.

  “Nothing actually. I’m not sure why I had such a weird night.”

  He pulls the metal speculum from her body and lays the glistening probe onto the table.

  “Dim the lights,” he instructs, motioning his assistant. “We’ll get this party started with an ultrasound. Let’s do a quick look-see. Typically, I use the Doppler, but, in the case of multiples, I prefer an ultrasound.” He slathers her beautifully rounded stomach with blue gel and touches over it with a blunted instrument that looks like a wand. The room fills with the sound of a baseball bat swinging at about a hundred miles an hour. Then it dims until he settles over another part of her stomach, and it picks up again. On the screen, a white glowing orb shows up, then the faint distinction of an arm, a leg.

  Everything in me wants to bawl with joy. Those arms, those legs were made by Skyla and me—with love. My heart warms just looking at the small fidgeting being nestled inside her.

  “Let me see here.” He continues to probe from side-to-side. “I’m afraid I have some news.”

  My stomach bottoms out. My heart wrenches, because as tiny as those little beings are, I don’t want a thing to happen to them. I’m not sure I want to hear any “news.”

  “What’s wrong?” Skyla’s voice wavers as she gets up on her elbows.

  “One of the babies has disappeared.”

  “What?” Skyla and I cry in disbelief.

  “It’s not uncommon,” he reassures us. “It’s phantom baby syndrome.”

  “What do you mean phantom?” Skyla says it breathy as if she’s ready to pass out. “Where did it go?”

  “It appears it was reabsorbed.” He scans over a dark spot. “The sack is empty.”

  “Empty.” Skyla falls back against the table, her fingers clasping hard over mine. “Like my heart.”

  The appointment wraps up, and I help Skyla get dressed. Dr. Baxter assured us bed rest wasn’t needed. It was simply nature running its course, that the other two looked healthy and viable.

  “This is terrible.” She leans into me, her face slicked with tears.

  “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.” The words come from me slow, layered with grief. “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

  Skyla settles her watery eyes over mine and gives the hint of a nod. “That’s the most profound thing I’ve ever heard you say. You always know what to say.”

  It might be the most profound thing I’ve ever said, but when your family owns the only cemetery on the island, you tend to know what to say in times like these.

  Skyla wraps her arms around me tight as her tears rain over my T-shirt.

  With everything in me, I wish we didn’t have to experience times like these.

  * * *

  Skyla and I hold one another in bed for the next several days, well into Saturday. It’s the Fourth of July, the day of Laken and Coop’s nuptials, so we dress to the nines and head down to Silent Cove just below White Horse.

  “Looking good,” I say as we come upon Coop. The wedding is literally on the white sandy beach below Logan’s home. It’s picturesque, dreamlike, and the most perfect venue for a wedding. Maybe when Demetri has Skyla and me renew our vows, we can do it here. Or Rockaway. For sure Rockaway. The Transfer pops back into my mind. That’s right. The demented demon prefers darker, far more nefarious pastures.

  “Thanks, man.” Coop pulls both Skyla and me in for a hug. “The sun is up. The ocean is sparkling.” He tweaks his brows at my beautiful wife. “To whom do we owe this amazing weather miracle?”

  Skyla laughs, the first one in days, and it warms my heart to see her smile. “I may have exercised my abilities to make the dark clouds disappear. I mean, if I can’t do it for my own life, I might as well do it for yours. Where’s the bride?” She gives a quick glance around.

  “In the house getting ready.”

  “Well, in that case, excuse me. I’m dying to see her. I just know she’s going to make a stunning bride.”

  “That she is.” Coop nods as Skyla makes a dash for the house.

  “How did everything work out the other night? Laken said Skyla was pretty cryptic in her messages.”

  “We lost one of the babies.”

  “Shit.” He pulls me in once again for a quick embrace. “Sorry, man. My heart is heavy for you.”

  “Destiny has a will. We’ll see that child again one day.” I know for a fact I will much sooner than Skyla. “But today is about you. Are you nervous?”

  He takes in a full breath. His eyes cut to the house behind me. “Just enough. I want this with everything in me, Gage. There isn’t another woman I want more than Laken.”

  “Why do I feel a but coming? You getting cold feet?”

  “No. Wes contacted me yesterday. I was helping out at West, doing some coaching, and he just showed up on campus out of the blue. He actually tried to talk me out of it.” He gives another nervous glance toward the house. “I know for a fact he’s planning on trying to talk Laken out of it, and if I were a gambling man, I’d guess he’ll choose that tender moment just before the wedding while her emotions are off the charts. No offense, but your brother can be a real asshole.”

  “No, I get it. Look, if it makes you feel better, I’ve got no problem making sure he doesn’t show up.” I start to pluck my phone out of my pocket, and he waves the idea off.

  “He’s already here. Chloe’s milling around, showing off her belly. I know it makes Laken cringe, even if she won’t admit it. Besides, it’s best if Wes sees us making it official. Maybe that will drive the point home that she’s never going back to him. The Interlopers are here as well. I spotted them edging around the property.”

  “You don’t have anything to worry about.”

  I spot Demetri speaking with Dudley and frown at the two of them.

  “Look who’s here.” Logan pops up and catches Coop in a mock chokehold. He’s wearing a suit that closely matches Coop’s. Logan is in the wedding, so it only makes sense. “You want me to keep the truck idling for you?”

  “I’m not running, dude.” He gives Logan a playful shove off hi
m.

  For a second, Logan and Coop look like the exact same person, as close to twins or brothers as you can get, and my gut cinches. Twins. That’s what Skyla and I have now. I’m grateful to God, but so saddened by our loss. Neither Skyla nor I knew we could grieve so deeply for a child we’ve never met.

  “Is she okay?” Logan gives my arm a squeeze. We let him know, first thing, that we lost one of the babies. It was through a text, and I felt like an asshole, but at the same time, I didn’t want to be around anyone but Skyla.

  “She’s okay.”

  He gives a slow, somber nod. “I’m sorry, man.” Logan pulls me in and collapses his arms around me in a deep, strong hug, and it’s all I can do to keep it together.

  “Look, I got someone I need to talk to.” I pull back and give several hard blinks, trying to keep it together. “Sorry.” I don’t wait for a response, just take off into the crowd and bump into Bishop of all people.

  “Hey, gorgeous.” She takes a sip from her fruity drink. “You mind putting me down on your dance card for later?” Her dark brows do the wave.

  “Sorry. My dance card happens to be full for life.” Not sorry. I try to make my way past her, and she blocks me with her ever-growing body.

  “So, are you ready for fatherhood?” Her finger finds its way to my collar, and I take a full step back.

  “As ready as you are for motherhood.” Hell, I have no idea what kind of mother Chloe is going to make. A horrid one, I suspect.

  “I’ll never be ready for this thing.” She makes a face at her stomach, and suddenly, I feel sorry for the kid she just referenced to as a thing.

  “Yeah, well, Wes will love it.”

  “You should love it. It’s your niece. I had suspected I was having a girl, but Skyla confirmed it.”

  “She did?” I’m skeptical. But I’m suddenly the tiniest bit interested in my niece. I may not like or appreciate Chloe in any way, but I do have a love for family, and whether or not I care to admit it, that baby is exactly that.

  Chloe nods between sips. “The night she lost the baby. I’m sorry, by the way.” She makes a face that looks something like grief. “I touched her belly, and I knew. Anyway, you got any names for the two that are sticking around?”

  “Crap.” I look past her in an effort to get away. “No names as of yet.”

  “I’m not dreaming up any keepers either, and all Wes can see, hear, or think about is Laken, Laken, Laken.” She whines that last part out so loud that ten different people look in our direction.

  “Well, I’m sure you’ll come up with something.” I spot Wes leaving the house. “Speak of the devil. If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to have a word with my brother.”

  Chloe steps in, her fingernails dig into my arm. “Celestra has cockblocked him. Wes is pissed to high heaven. Whatever you have Skyla doing, it’s working.”

  “What are you talking about?” I glance over my shoulder and spot Logan still chatting it up with Coop and wonder if Logan is the one I should be interrogating.

  “You know, the pledges. They’re disappearing faster than you can say abracadabra. Wes is seeing red, and all he talks about these days is revenge.” She smirks. “I mean, what did he think would happen? He opens the door to all his secrets and expects you to keep it from the pinhead you’re sleeping with? Although, I must give it to Messenger, she’s really got him by the balls with this one. Where’s she housing all these people? God knows if she doesn’t play by the rules, the Justice Alliance will nail her ass to a feathered wall.” She gives a dark giggle.

  “Shit.” I head over to Wes first. If Chloe assumes I know what the hell is going on, I’m sure he does as well. “What’s up?” I give him a quick pat on the back. Placating. That’s about my only weapon at this point.

  “Just spoke with Laken.” He blows out a breath, exasperated from the effort. He’s all decked out in his Sunday finery. His Italian suit is cut just right, tailored just for him, no doubt. One might easily mistake him for the groom. I’m betting he hopes Laken will. “She’s pissed.” He shakes his head as if it were a revelation. “You know, I don’t get it. We were and are the great loves of our lives. She and I—we were inseparable in Cider Plains. We’ve crossed every heartbreak together. We crossed death and made our way back to one another at Ephemeral. How can she do this to us?” He shakes his head in genuine disbelief.

  “Wes.” I press a hand against his chest to steady him. “You did this. You chose evil. No offense, but she doesn’t want to dance with the devil.”

  His eyes harden over mine as he firmly removes my hand. “You are mistaken. I, my brother, much like you, am an angel, something greater than that even. I am of the Fem order of beings mingled with the blood of the Countenance—the blood of Laken’s people. In that respect, we are one in the same.”

  “She doesn’t want to see the Nephilim wiped from the planet. Is that a shared goal of yours, Wes?”

  He touches his hand over his chin and holds back a laugh. “Do you think that’s the end game for me? It’s not. What’s important is lifting the Fems back to their proper position above the Sectors. That’s where we belong, and we are going to accomplish that.” He jabs a finger from his chest to mine. “You and I with our seed, so don’t go getting all high and mighty on me.” He turns to leave, then spins back in my face with a vengeance. “And don’t think because you ran off to tattle like a pussy that I don’t have this in the bag. Demetri thinks it’s ingenious to have you follow me like a shadow, had me sign a blood covenant that I wouldn’t hold anything back from you, and this is the thanks we’re both repaid.” He strides past me, and I pull him back by his suit jacket.

  “I can no more deny the Nephilim the help they need than Laken can. Why are you hell-bent on destroying your own people? Who the hell cares if the Fems are on top? It doesn’t change who you are.”

  He shakes his head, incredulous that I’m not getting it. “It will change everything. You might have been born to breed, but I was born to lead. Chew on that and see how well it goes down. Demetri knew I wouldn’t bow to the whim of any woman’s heart when I know what’s right for our people—the Fems. And that’s why he created you. A softhearted poet who would be sympathetic to the enemy—marry the enemy. Because that’s who you needed to fall in love with—a Celestra with Caelestis genes no less. Don’t think for a minute that you are your own. You were bought for a price, and now he expects us both to perform. We’re hardwired to be who we are, Gage. It’s showtime, and I’ve no doubt you’ll please the crowd.” The music starts in, and bodies rush to their seats. “I just don’t get why he’s pitting us against each other.” Wes takes off toward Chloe, and I take a seat down front closest to where Skyla will be standing.

  A few of the bridesmaids walk down the aisle with friends of Coop’s on their arms. I recognize the younger girls as Cooper and Laken’s sisters. They look overjoyed, thrilled to be uniting their families in holy matrimony. A twinge of sadness spreads through me. Is this what I denied Skyla by eloping? Just looking around at the attention to detail, the beautiful flowers arching over the makeshift altar, Coop with his dapper, yet, casual suit, the family already weeping in the seats around me. If I could go back, I’d gladly gift this all to Skyla.

  Up next, my beautiful bride comes down the aisle in a peach dress that hugs her luscious curves, her belly sways out in front and causes her to wobble slightly. She’s arm in arm with Logan, and seeing them like this, so formal, shining and glowing, it makes it feel as if it’s their wedding I’m attending.

  “Don’t they look like the perfect couple?” a female voice chirps in my ear, and I turn to find Chloe and Wes taking a seat beside me.

  I don’t answer. Instead, I turn my sole focus on my beautiful wife.

  She’s barefoot. Skyla had a hell of a time trying to get her feet into those heels, and with the sand, I didn’t think it was safe. It looks as if she agreed. She blows a kiss my way as she passes me by, and I do the same.

  Logan and Skyla
take their respective spots at the top of the altar, and my heart drops down into my stomach. Yes, they do look like the perfect couple. A horrid grief rips through me because one day they’ll be just that. I’m simply a road bump to their happily ever after. In the long stretch of Skyla’s life, I’ll simply be known as the Gage years. I would have given her twins, though. Those children will be my legacy. Tears come at the thought of leaving a wife and children behind. My chest bucks, and I struggle to fight it.

  Logan turns to Skyla and takes up her hands, whispers something into her ear, and she gives a soft laugh.

  The music shifts, and everyone turns to look at the bride. But my eyes snag on Logan’s, and he drops Skyla’s hands like a hot potato.

  I offer a quick nod and smile to let him know it’s all good. It takes all my effort to watch Laken as she makes her way bashfully down the aisle on the arm of a guy, who by the looks of it can pass as her brother. Yes, she is stunning. Skyla is right. Laken is a beautiful bride. But my heart transposes Skyla’s face over hers, my face instead of Coop’s. And sadly, the only face I can seem to juxtapose over Cooper’s is Logan’s. If and when I do die—if and when Skyla and Logan do get married, he had better gift her a damn big wedding. A thought comes to me. This very location will most likely be where they’ll do the deed, and my heart breaks just thinking of it. It shatters in one magnificent explosion, nothing but fine dust left in the aftermath, because no matter how right that would be for them, it kills me on every level. Skyla is mine. It should only ever be the two of us together.

  The ceremony goes off without a hitch. Once Laken and Coop exchange their vows, there’s not a dry eye in the house, including mine. I can’t help it. Laken and Coop belong together. There are some people whom you just know are meant to be, and those two are certainly meant to be. I glance to the side at Wes, his stoic expression, his jaw set tight in anger. I know this has to be a living hell for him, but it’s good for him to see it, to bear witness to the fact he will never hold Laken in his arms again, at least not the way he demands.