"Hey Aaliyah," Christine said. "I wonder how the boys got their powers?"
"Hmm." She had never thought about that. Damien was human when the boys were conceived.
"Easy, Christine," Hybrid said. "Bodies can change, but not DNA. His blood flows through their veins, so they are half vampire and half human."
"Oh no!" Aaliyah gasped.
"What?" Christine asked.
"There were more girls there with me. That means there are more kids just like mine somewhere."
A cold chill swept over them. Christine went to say something when Adam suddenly ran in. "Hey! How are you little guys?"
The twins giggled with excitement.
"Hey Aaliyah. Hey Mom," he said before quickly leaving the room.
Christine went to open her mouth only to be interrupted again, this time by Aaliyah. "Hey Mom! So, I may have a question for you."
"What is it, Aaliyah?" Christine asked.
"If Absalon asked me to marry him and I accepted, do you think Dad would kill us?"
"Hmmm," Aaliya laughed.
"Yep," Christine answered. "Did he ask?"
"Nope. Not at all," Aaliyah said with a shrug and a little wave as she exited the room quickly.
"So my little girl is engaged, Aaliyah," Christine smirked.
"Maybe, until Hybrid finds out," Aaliya laughed. "You know when he finds out, Absalon's dead, right?"
"Nah! Not dead. Maybe a broken leg or so."
They laughed.
An hour passed and Hybrid came in. A dead silence fell upon the room and he wondered what they are talking about. Suddenly, they heard a BOOM followed by the cries of a baby.
"Oh no!" Aaliyah said. "Little Alexander ran headfirst into the wall again. And where on earth is Apollo?"
"Oh crap!" Christine screamed as Apollo floated high into the air.
Christine motioned him when he suddenly started free falling! Christine quickly jumped off the wall and caught him. She looked over at Aaliyah.
"These kids are going to be the death of us."
Aaliyah held little Alex while she rubbed his head. It had already started to knot.
Absalon came to the cave, knocked and called out, "Hello!"
"Hey Absalon," Christine called.
"Hey, ummm … have you seen Hybrid?" he asked. "There's something I would like to talk to him about."
Aaliyah laughed. "So you need to talk to Hybrid? Okay, well I saw him stretch and transform as he left this morning.”
He gulped nervously. "I think I'll just wait."
Aaliyah heard her love in the room and entered smiling. She went to kiss him, but Christine pushed Absalon away. "Respect my home."
"Gosh Mom!" Aaliyah huffed.
"I'm so sorry," Absalon said.
"Well, you’re lucky your Dad didn't see that. Maybe you would still be standing there or maybe you wouldn't."
Cries filled the cave. Aaliyah slowly rose to get the child Aaliyah was now holding.
"I've got them, Aaliyah." she said.
She returned shortly with the two boys, one on each side of her. They played with her hair.
Then Alexander said, "Down! Down!"
"Ummm … Aaliyah? Did he just talk?"
"I think so," Aaliya said in disbelief.
Apollo grabbed Aaliyah's hair and said, "Pretty girl."
Aaliyah dropped both babies on their bottoms and they began to cry. "Mom, what's going on? These kids aren't even six months yet."
"They’re growing just like you and Adam," Christine stated.
Adam and Hybrid arrived to a cave full of speechless women wearing expressions of disbelief. Both tried to make sense of the situation.
"Well," Adam said proudly. “Duh!”
Adam was slugged in the arm by Hybrid. "Shut up, son. This is serious."
"Ouch! Old man, that hurt! You wanna spar with me?"
Hybrid growled with excitement as Adam growled.
Christine suddenly shouted at them. "Stop it, all of you! This is not the time for games!"
Hybrid grabbed her face and kissed it passionately. The kiss made her forget everything she was saying and she gave into her animal side. Christine transformed as his tongue caressed hers, but a loud, "Ewwwww! Get a room!" traveled through the cave, followed by a disgusted look from their children.
"Just wait until tonight," Hybrid whispered in her ear.
"I promised that I would stay up with Aaliyah tonight."
A sad look came across his face. Adam saw the sad look. He wanted to get his dad's mind off it so he punched him in the back.
"Ouch! You little..."
"Let's go, old man, if you can catch us!" Aaliyah and Adam both transformed and left the cave. Hybrid transformed and ran after them happily.
Aaliyah’ eyes filled with tears for a second, and Christine noticed. “What's wrong, Aaliyah?"
"I'll never..." Aaliyah’s voice faded.
"Never what?"
"Nevermind."
"Nevermind? What, Aaliyah? Tell me."
"I'll never know real love, Christine.”
Tears rolled down her face. Christine reached over the table and embraced her, trying to reassure her that one day she would.
11
Two weeks had passed and the twins had skipped their toddler stage altogether. It seemed like they were about five or six years of age. They ran, jumped, laughed and played with the hybrid clan most days. Good times were had by all, but somewhere in the distance a set of eyes watched them.
Morning swept over the cold land as Aaliyah rose to take her rowdy bunch on a morning walk. They had nearly made it to the meadow when she was hit hard from behind. She fell to the ground, only to rise up quickly.
She was surrounded by men in black cloaks. Their faces were completely covered and a strange symbol was tattooed on their chests. She rushed toward them, fighting and knocking two of them down. She was hit again and again. There were just too many. They grabbed the boys and again she rose, trying to reach her children.
They screamed. "Mom! Help! Mom!"
Aaliyah to collapsed. She was too weary to hold herself up. Lying on the ground, Aaliyah saw a man carrying her two boys. They were fighting and screaming as he dragged them off through the meadow. Aaliyah’s heart cried out, but her body was exhausted. Tears fell unnoticed down her cheeks as she fought to remain conscious.
Alexander! Apollo! I have failed them! she thought before losing consciousness.
She was awakened several hours later by Christine. "Aaliyah, what happened?"
Coming to her senses and seeing her, she screamed in agony, "My babies! They took my boys!" Pain shot through her body as the tears flowed uncontrollably.
Christine embraced her. It didn’t help as she tried to stand. Aaliyah had been badly beaten, broken ribs, a fractured hip and a broken wrist. Christine vowed she would find out who had done harmed her sister.
Aaliyah spoke, “Pray you find them before me."
Christine lifted Aaliyah on her shoulders and carried her back to the cave. A trail of tears followed them. Sobbing the entire way, Christine tried but couldn’t stop her own tears because hearing her friend cry broke her heart. They arrived to the cave and told everyone what had happened. Anger flowed throughout the cave.
Adam and Aaliyah ran to the place where their swords lie and grabbed them. Hybrid transformed and instantly they were gone. The hybrid clan ran like the wind, searching for any scent or trace of their family. Hours passed, but they still couldn’t find the distinct scent. It was as if they had vanished.
Meanwhile at the cave, Christine tried to comfort Aaliyah, but her anger rose and fell. Using all her might not to transform, Christine tried to focus on not taking off to help search for her nephews and remain with Aaliyah. Suddenly, a saddened Adam returned, followed by Aaliyah and finally Hybrid.
"We can't find them," he said tearfully. "I promise I will, even if it takes the rest of my life. Your sons will be in your arms again."
Aaliyah�
�s heart broke again. She cried until finally her body couldn’t take the stress and she passed out.
The next morning, a bruised and battered Aaliyah tried to sit up, but her body was too broken. She called out, but no one was there. Everyone was gone. She attempted to roll out of bed only to meet the floor with a loud thud. Her body was damaged, torn, but nowhere near as bad as her heart and soul knowing that her children were gone and may never return. Aaliyah felt splintered without her boys to complete her.
Hours passed and finally the hybrid clan returned exhausted and weary. They had searched and searched, but to no avail. Sadly, Christine helped Aaliyah up from the ground.
Adam and Aaliyah couldn’t take it. They had all that power, but it didn’t help their situation one bit. It was the first time in their lives that they had felt this helpless. They dropped their swords to the ground in defeat and with heads down, walked to the back of the cave.
Hybrid reached down and hugged Aaliyah. He had never shown her this kind of affection before and she didn’t know how to respond. With tears in his eyes, he told her again that her babies would be found safe. Something about the way he said it comforted her soul. Christine held her head and Aaliyah held onto Hybrid's hand.
Three more days passed with the same result as before; they’d spend it searching the land for the boys or even just a scent of anything that was a sign of life. One day, Christine found a scent heading toward the land that used to be where the vampires lived. The smell quickly disappeared. She ran faster, calling for the boys, but her voice fell on deaf ears.
Hybrid and the kids still had yet to find anything. Aaliyah sat at the cave opening, slipping further into depression. Hybrid returned to the cave first and saw Aaliyah sitting sadly. He placed his hand on her shoulder. She turned and embraced him. His hand rubbed through her hair and he tried to console her. She looked up at him, eyes filled with tears, and begged him to find her babies.
He answered with a nod. “They will be found, Aaliya. That I promise you.”
He kissed her forehead and helped her back to the bed and tucked her in. Christine and the kids arrived to the cave. Christine told them of the scent she had caught. A small glimmer of hope filled the room. They now had an idea of where they must search.
Absalon came to the cave after being away for some time and found out what had happened. As he placed his hand on Aaliyah’s, he received a stern look from Hybrid.
"Sir, if you don't mind, can we talk?" Absalon asked.
"If we must," Hybrid said angrily.
As the two walked off, Aaliyah was afraid. She knew her dad still didn't like Absalon. A loud noise followed by a screaming Absalon had Aaliyah running outside to find her new fiancé lying on the ground, holding his face and bleeding.
"Dad! Stop!" Aaliyah screamed as tears fell.
"You’re a young girl. You’re not ready for this! You are not ready for the responsibility!" Hybrid shouted, enraged.
"I have the weight of the world on my shoulders and if I want to marry him a thousand times, I will!"
Hybrid transformed only to be hugged from behind by Christine.
She looked at her daughter and yelled, "Get him out of here now!"
She held Hybrid back as much as she could so that Aaliyah could grab her fiancé and disappear.
12
Adam arrived to the scene, laughing hysterically. "S Dad found out, huh?"
Hybrid turned around swiftly, looking at him with eyes blazing in anger.
"Dad, calm down. It's okay."
Christine held him tightly and rubbed his face, but it was not working. All of it had taken a toll on him, too. He shrugged her off and ran wildly to the woods. Adam was about to run after him when his mother placed her hand on his chest.
"He has to deal with this himself."
Aaliyah staggered to the front of the cave, reaching for them as she lost strength and fell to the ground. When he saw her in such bad shape, Adam began to cry. He reached down, lifted her into his arms like a baby, and walked her back to the room.
Christine ran after her daughter only to find Aaliyah and Absalon standing before Danielle. She walked toward them as she heard the words, "You are now husband and wife."
Christine grabbed her daughter who shrugged her off and said, "Mom, it's done. Accept us or leave us the hell alone."
Aaliyah was slapped in the face by Christine, who now towered over her. Absalon pushed Christine away.
"Back off."
Aaliyah angrily transformed! Danielle held both arms out as her Amazon tribe now surrounded them with arrows pointed at the three of them. Aaliyah stood wiping blood from her mouth.
"I'm done!" Aaliyah yelled. "I'm done being what you want me to be."
Christine stared at Aaliyah. "All I have ever wanted was for you to be happy. I have never asked for more than that. That's all, child. Remember? I'm the one who told you to follow your heart. I'm your mother and that alone deserves respect, Aaliyah. I have done my best to teach you right from wrong. I have allowed you to be a child and now you repay me by doing this because you’re mad at your dad? Fine. If you think that this means you are grown up, than be a woman and tell your father yourself. I want no part of it. I am sick of trying to protect you and the first chance you get, you slap me in the face with your irresponsibility.”
They stared each other down before Aaliyah’s shoulders slumped and tears began to roll down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Mom.”
Christine was still angry, but she loved her little girl. It was that love that had her reaching out to Aaliyah. Aaliyah’s heart ached and when her mom reached out, she gladly stepped into that love. As the two embraced, Absalon to tapped Christine on the shoulder.
He blushed as he spoke, "My wife and I are leaving for our honeymoon tonight."
"Umm..." Christine paused. "If you leave tonight, Hybrid will track you down and kill you. You may want to wait until he calms down."
Hybrid returned hours later, exhausted. He lie at the foot of the cave and fell asleep. Aaliyah couldn’t sleep and walked out of the cave and tripped over him. He woke up and began to laugh.
"Oh my god! You are so stubborn!"
"I know," she laughed.
Laughing made her hurt even more. They both sat up all night talking. When Christine found them together the next day, the hybrids again set out looking for the boys. It was close to where the vampires used to live.a Absalon had decided to tag along. He tried his best to seem helpful but was a bit clumsy and his presence caused Hybrid’s blood to boil.
Absalon, being brave, tapped Hybrid on the shoulder and said, "Dad, we're going to find the boys."
Hybrid turned to him quickly and looked at his daughter. Christine hung her head. Hybrid realized that the marriage had already happened. He slowly turned and began to walk away. It turned into a jog and then a full-fledged run. Tears flowed down his proud chin.
Aaliyah screamed, "Daddy!" but it was too late, he was gone. She turned to her husband and asked loudly, “Why? Why did you say that?”
"I just want to be accepted, baby," he said.
Christine went to speak when she heard something. Voices were coming from beneath the ground. Christine was excited.
That's why we couldn't smell them, she realized.
She pointed to the ground and placed her finger over her mouth. Adam unsheathed his sword, as did Aaliyah. They felt around for some type of opening. They found a small hole that led to another which led to a door hidden in the ground. They slowly lifted the door and Christine entered, followed by Adam and then Aaliyah.
They headed underground and slowly strolled inside of the cave. They walked for a few miles and finally reached the end of it where they saw a larger cavern. There were hooded figures keeping guard.
Adam retracted his sword and rushed forward with Aaliyah at his side. The men were killed with one swipe and they kicked open the door. They found other children tied to the wall, their faces covered in blood.
"What … what is
going on here?" Adam yelled.
"They've been feeding them blood," Christine said in disgust.
"But why? Why?" Aaliyah asked.
"I don't know." Christine was just as confused as they were.
They checked each child and the children lunged at them. They finally found Alexander. His eyes were no longer beautiful but red, his hair longer and his pure face was now smeared in mud. They unchained him and he lunged at Adam. Without thinking, he punched him, knocking him out cold.
"Adam!" Christine said angrily. “Why did you hit him?"
"He tried to attack me, Mom!"
They walked through the underground cave when they finally reached a citadel where the hooded men had surrounded Apollo. He was floating with arms outstretched, his eyes red and blood fell from his hands.
Christine flew through the air and grabbed her nephew. Adam and Aaliyah punched and kicked the hooded men. Their leader began laughing.
"It's too late! It's happened! He's coming back! Hahahaha, he's coming back!"
"Who? Who is coming back?" Aaliyah asked.
The ground began to shake. The symbol of a pitchfork appeared on the ground, the same one from their robes. A being with a dark aura appeared and laughed evilly as he proclaimed that this world was his.
The hooded men kneeled and proclaimed the arrival of Hades. Christine, being an Amazon, grabbed her children and nephews and ran quickly. Adam and Aaliyah did not understand why, but the fear in her eyes told them all they needed to know. They ran faster and faster until they reached the Amazon village.
Holding the boys, Christine screamed at the top of her lungs. "He's returned!"
The words rang through the camp as the Amazon's all prepped for battle, perhaps for the last time. As they prepared, the ground shook and the sky turned red. Adam and Aaliyah looked at each other in disbelief.
Danielle ran to Christine with her sword. "We have to find the key."
"What key?" Aaliyah and Adam asked looking at each other.
Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels Page 165
