by Lucy Kelly
“They can have two each and then no more until we’re done,” said Addie.
“You heard her; it was a great queenly decision,” said Jett as he reached for a box. He had a major sweet tooth.
“Malpha, before Cassandra tells us what she saw, why don’t you tell us all what to look out for on the Council,” said Addie, taking a big bite of her pastry. “Damn, these are good; they’re still warm.”
Malpha looked around at everyone. They were all paying attention to her, waiting patiently to hear what she had to say. While they were doing that, they were also eating their pastries and drinking coffee. Rune was sitting on an ottoman and rubbing Addie’s feet. Jalen was sitting on the arm of Grace’s chair and playing with her hair. The feel of the room was very different from the highly formal meetings she usually attended.
“While all the Council members have their own agendas and are not above manipulation to get what they want, there are only two who are truly dangerous. Tulia, of the Celestian lineage is, in my opinion, a dishonorable woman. While I have no proof, it’s believed she shares her body to influence men, betraying her Ankida. The other one is Councilman Morrack, of the Seraphian lineage. For the first time in recorded history, a female Nephilim has been raped. Morrack’s son was the culprit. He attempted to make me believe it was a joining. I interviewed the woman and it wasn’t a joining. Morrack was able to prevent his son from being sentenced as a criminal by convincing the remaining Council members the female was mentally unbalanced. I have her hidden; Glynnis knows where. Morrack has been slowly maneuvering people loyal to him into key positions. I’ve had to do some pretty outrageous things to block him. I didn’t want him to discover how much I knew about him.”
At this point, Arjun interrupted her. “You mean when you tried to pass the crazy law about third cousins twice removed not being able to be posted to the same agency? I can’t remember now, but it was something idiotic.”
Malpha just nodded.
“Why didn’t you ever confide in us?” asked Rune in a soft voice.
“My suspicions and knowledge could not be shared over a communications channel. It would have undermined my position and my power diminished if I ever went to you. As I recall, you always had a ready excuse of some type as to why you were unable to come to me,” she said.
A hush fell over the room. No one moved. No one spoke.
“Men!” exclaimed Grace. “They are idiots, every last one of them. But what are you gonna do? Can’t live with ‘em—can’t live without ‘em.”
Malpha gave Grace a sheepish smile.
“Is that all of it?” asked Addie.
“There is a great deal more. It would take a very long time to recount it all. The Regent Glynnis has all of my personal diaries and logs. She will share them with you, Addie, and no one else,” she emphasized. She didn’t want any of Addie’s consorts reading those diaries—ever.
“Your privacy will be protected at all times. I give you my word,” Addie stated gravely.
“I want to know what happened with the brandy,” said Grace. “Granny Mac said that just before your shuttle left, a case of Seraphian brandy was delivered. She suspected sabotage. She sent you a message to toss the case out of an airlock. What happened?”
“When I saw the vintage on the first bottle, I knew there wouldn’t be any poison in it. There is no way a Seraphian would poison a brandy of that vintage; there are less than one hundred bottles left. It is too valuable. However, Seraphian brandy is exclusively aged in casks made of wood from the kapok tree. The wooden crates used to transport the bottles are also made of kapok wood.” Malpha gave them all another sheepish smile.
“I’m rather well known for my preference of Seraphian brandy. As soon as I touched the crate, I knew something was wrong.”
Grace interrupted, “If you knew something was wrong, why pull out a bottle to check the vintage?”
“I could see the year engraved on the necks of the bottles. To continue, I recognized the wood was incorrect. An analysis with a hand scanner revealed it wasn’t wood at all, but an explosive molded to look like wood. Further scans showed the detonation timer would be triggered when a bottle was removed from the case,” Malpha answered.
Grace interrupted again. “If this brandy was so great and valuable that he wouldn’t poison it, why would he blow it up? Also, why use a timer and not an immediate blast?”
“Most likely, Morrack felt the sacrifice was worth it. I’ve been attempting to purchase a case of this vintage for over sixty years. The Seraphians have been unwilling to sell one to me. Perhaps he felt I’d be so overjoyed with the gift, I’d grab a bottle without seeing the trap for what it was. As for the timer, it would have given me enough time to open a bottle, pour a glass and take a sip. His version of a last request, I suppose. Even after so many years as adversaries, Morrack doesn’t know me as well as I know him. I was immediately suspicious. I disarmed the detonation sequence long enough to remove the brandy and safely eject the explosives,” Malpha concluded with a shrug.
Arjun looked over at Malpha. “What year is the brandy?” he asked.
“3347.”
Arjun shared a look with the other men. “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to part with one bottle?” he asked, with a pleading look on his face.
Addie looked at her Ankida. This was a new side of him, one she’d never seen before. He was practically salivating. She looked around; the other men were acting the same way.
This must be some brandy, Addie thought
“No, I won’t be giving you a bottle. There are eighty additional bottles available for purchase on HeVan. I will be taking these with me. I believe I’ve earned them. However, I will be giving one bottle to Cassandra. She informs me she is not of an age yet to enjoy it. When she reaches the age of maturity, the brandy will only have been improved. She was a tremendous help on the shuttle,” Malpha answered.
Malpha would say no more on the subject. When everyone looked over at Cassie, she blushed.
Cassandra saw the looks in their eyes; they weren’t going to let this drop.
“Malpha, remember what I said?” asked Cassie.
“Oh, yes, there is one more thing—do the words, ‘what happens on the shuttle stays on the shuttle’, have any meaning to you? You may take that as your answer.”
Addie and Grace began laughing. “Ooh, don’t make me laugh,” said Grace.
“Alright, then, that’s settled. Cassandra, do you have anything to add from your visions?” asked Addie.
Cassie was about to speak, when two warriors burst into the room, followed by Catherine and her Ankida, Rapha, Delpha, and Zephyr.
“What is it; what’s wrong?” asked Arjun.
Catherine walked over to Addie’s chair and held up a scanner. “Did you even realize you were in labor, Addie? Your chair sent us a signal.”
“I’m in labor? I thought it was a backache. I’ve had so many aches and pains in the past few months, it seemed as if it were just one more,” said Addie.
Delpha and Zephyr went to the hall and pushed in a portable med-bed.
“You’re having the babies now!” said Arjun.
He walked over to Rapha and turned him around. Grasping his shoulders in his hands, he stated, “She means everything to us; take every care,” he said in a hard voice.
Grace looked over at Addie, “He’s already lost it. He’ll never last,” she whispered to her sister.
“Ya think?” Addie answered.
“You’re using sarcasm? You’re barely in labor, nowhere near transition, and already with the sarcasm?” asked Grace.
“I’m having a C-section. I have to get in my snide remarks, foul language, and blaming them for getting me in this way now, while I still have the chance.”
“True—so true,” said Grace, nodding her head. “Do you need any swear words? I have quite a collection.”
“Nope, I’ve got it.”
“Okay, let me know. I’m here for ya, sis.”
/> Both of them were talking nonsense to cover up the fact they were very nervous. They knew Addie’s babies would most likely be born premature and underweight. She was still four or five weeks away from her due date. Addie allowed Rune and Kylan to lift her onto the med-bed. Rapha pressed a few buttons and the med-bed went from hovering about two feet off the floor to three and a half feet above the floor. They guided the bed out of the room and down the hall. Everyone got up and started to follow.
“Hey, don’t leave me hanging,” called Grace, who was still lying in her chair. She couldn’t get out without help.
Justyn’s face got red. He turned around quickly, went back and picked her up.
“I understand—queen’s babies, et cetera. However, I’m the mother of your children—you are not ever allowed to forget about me. I need to be there for my sister, my faithful one. Mush—carry me where I need to go,” Grace ordered.
It didn’t take long for word to spread throughout the ship about the queen’s babies being ready to be born. The passageways cleared on the way to medical and then clogged up behind them as they passed.
They had been waiting for about an hour when Jennifer arrived with a cart of food. She’d made sandwiches and meat pies—food they could eat while being held in the hand. She couldn’t walk through the crowd, so the trays were passed around the room.
****
Malpha was eating something called a chocolate chip cookie. She was thinking the flavor of the chocolate, whatever it was, would go well with her brandy when he walked in.
She was sitting with a group of women. He hadn’t noticed her yet, so she took advantage and watched him covertly as he made his way over to the warriors at the door into the medical treatment rooms and spoke to them. He wasn’t as tall as the other Nephilim, but he was very manly. His hair was a burnished brown and his eyes a piercing blue. The way he carried himself told her he was aware of his body and his surroundings. Even more strangely, her breathing grew shallow and she knew her pulse was scrambling. This was the effect she thought Arjun and his brothers would have had on her. However, it was the stranger who was making her feel this way.
He turned in her direction. She looked away so he wouldn’t catch her staring. The next time she looked, she was surprised to see he was crossing the room to her. He caught her eye and she could not turn away.
“Hello, I don’t believe we have met. I thought I had been introduced to all of the women on board ship. And here, the most beautiful, has been in hiding. I am Ben of the KowLer,” he said with a short bow.
“And I am your bride, Malpha. Perhaps we should step into the hallway and speak privately,” she said in a soft voice. She was shocked to note her hand trembled slightly when he reached for it.
By the time they weaved their way through the crowd and found a spot where they could speak, Malpha had made up her mind about what she wanted to do. She didn’t give him a chance to speak; she spoke first.
“Except for an overnight bag with a few basic necessities, all my things are on the shuttle, ready to go. Addie and her Ankida are going to be busy with their progeny for the next few days. It would not be right to interrupt their happiness. I suggest we contact the Bridge for a pilot and take this opportunity to leave,” she said.
Ben, King of all KowLer, could not believe his luck. This beautiful woman was going to be his wife. Also, she didn’t seem to feel they needed a long formal courtship. He was slightly disconcerted with the way she seemed to be making decisions for them. But as he was in agreement with her plan, he went along with it. There was time; she would learn.
“As you wish, my future queen,” said Ben. “We shall depart whenever you say.”
It didn’t take long to make the arrangements. Within the hour, they had slipped away to begin their new life together.
****
Back in the surgery room, a team was delivering the fourth infant. Each infant had her own medical officer dedicated to her well-being. Each was immediately scanned for lung development and any other possible anomalies and abnormalities. After the tests were completed, they were washed, wrapped, and put into incubators.
Grace was right. Arjun and his brothers had all needed mild sedation. Addie wasn’t feeling any contractions. Catherine had given her a muscle relaxer to make the birth go easier. Unfortunately for her Ankida, whose souls were connected with Addie, they felt all the contractions she didn’t. By the time the last baby had been delivered and her incisions closed, her Ankida were in med-beds of their own, out cold.
“I need to hold each of my babies in my arms. I need you to give a stimulant to my guys so they can get off their asses and get over here. Men are such wimps! And I want my sister,” Addie told Catherine emphatically.
“Okay, sweetie—I’ll get Grace first and then check on your men. I’ll bring over the babies after the men are here,” she said.
Grace was carried to the room and put in a chair near Addie’s bed.
“So, are you finally going to tell me their names?” asked Grace.
“I can’t help it if it’s against some huge Nephilim tradition to pick names in advance or say them out loud. We haven’t even discussed them with each other. So I figure I get to pick all the names; I’ve got them all up here,” she said, tapping her forehead.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Addie was energized and aching to hold her babies in her arms. She’d felt them grow, move, kick, and squirm together in the womb. Now she wanted to see their faces. Would they have her nose, their father’s eyes? She had an inexplicable need to count their fingers and toes. Back when she got pregnant, she’d been told that not only was she having six babies, but there were three sets of twins. What she didn’t know was if they were fraternal or identical.
She was a little worried about having children who looked alike and not being able to tell them apart. Part of her knew she’d always be able to recognize her children. But there was a teensy, tiny doubt—what if she made a mistake? She never wanted one of her daughters to feel unloved or less in any way than her sisters.
I’m really a mom now. I’m worrying over something which may never happen, she thought.
“Addie, are you even paying attention to anything I’m saying?” asked Grace.
“Nope, I’m not. I’m basking in baby land. Do you think it will take much longer?” she asked a little anxiously.
Before Grace had a chance to answer, her three Ankida walked in. Each one was carrying two babies.
“Shouldn’t they be in the incubators? Don’t they need oxygen or something? They’re so tiny!” she said, ending in a worried whisper.
“They are small; we expected some problems. But Addie, other than being small, they’re perfect. They don’t have any medical issues. All their scans came back as full-term, healthy babies. The only thing we need to be careful of is keeping them warm. They’re too small to generate enough heat on their own,” said Catherine from the doorway.
“Would you introduce me to your daughters?” asked Grace from where she sat beside the bed.
Arjun stepped over to the bed and handed Addie the daughter he held against his chest with his left hand. The baby fit into the palm of his hand.
Reaching over, she took the baby from Arjun. “Catherine, is this my first born daughter?”
“Yes, Addie, your Ankida are holding them in the same order we took them from your womb.”
Addie took a moment to stare into the face of her daughter before turning back to her sister and Ankida.
“This is Aelwen Naya Azazyel. Her name means fair renewal. I chose this name for her because I knew she would be beautiful and she would help bring renewal to the Nephilim people.”
Lifting up the baby, she kissed her head and then placed her against her breast. Aelwen immediately latched on and began to suckle. Addie touched the tiny cheek with the tip of her finger. She had baby-soft skin and dark, curly hair like her father. She opened her eyes. Addie was expecting blue eyes, as all babies had blue eyes, didn’t t
hey? Aelwen’s eyes were green, as green as the grass on a summer’s day. Being so small, her belly was quickly full. Addie picked her up, rested her on her shoulder, and rubbed her back. It didn’t take long for Aelwen to let out a lady-like belch. It made Addie smile.
“Would you like to hold her?” she asked Grace.
“Oh, yeah, I need to introduce her to her cousins here,” said Grace.
Addie transferred the now sleeping Aelwen to Grace with one last kiss and then turned back to Arjun and took the next baby from him.
She repeated her actions with the second baby, naming her Bedelia Asha, which meant heavenly hope. Once Bedelia was fed, Grace handed Aelwen back to Arjun and took Bedelia.
Then Kylan stepped up and handed their third daughter to Addie.
This process of bonding with each infant and then naming them in front of their family was a joyous time. After Bedelia came Cara Shanti, meaning beloved peace; Dilys Tarika, meaning beloved star; Erena Amara, meaning peace eternal; and Fenella Mahari, which meant beautiful divine maiden.
Catherine, seeing all her charges were doing well, left the family alone. Grace, seeing her leave, decided to have some alone time with her Ankida, too. So she asked Justyn to carry her from the room. When they got to the waiting room, she was startled to see so many of the warriors with tears in their eyes. Then she realized they had been given the gift of hope. The Nam-Nin had returned and there was hope for their people.
She looked over at the wall. Someone had written out the names of each of the babies and posted them on the wall. Once they had been named, those names would have power. Many would inscribe them on amulets or other objects to remember the birth and to bring the meaning of their names into their lives.
Back in the delivery room, Addie was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable. The numbing agent they’d used to close the incision was wearing off. She felt as if she should be able to walk around normally now, but knew she couldn’t.
“What’s wrong, Aditya?” said Arjun.
Arjun preferred to call her by her full name. He was the only one who never called her Addie.
