Tierra shook her head. "Taking my blood isn't an option."
Lila slowly nodded. "All right, we'll try other things first." She exchanged the needle for a blood pressure cuff and wrapped it around Tierra's arm. After a few minutes, seeming fine with the reading, she ripped it off, writing the information down on a notepad.
"From what I can tell, at this point, you seem in okay health other being too thin. I need you to eat more than pork. Instead, more fruits and vegetables, and lean meats. Stay away from tuna and foods high in mercury. Drink lots of water, and eat small meals throughout the day. That should help with any remaining morning sickness." Lila produced a notepad and wrote down instructions. "I want to see you in my office tomorrow. We'll perform an ultrasound and see if we can gain information that way. Here is the address." Lila tore off a piece of paper from the notepad and handed it to Tierra. "Is there anything else I need to know about this baby?"
Moira and Tierra shared a look. How much should they tell her? She'd already witnessed what the baby could do up in the attic. Moira shrugged, leaving it up to Tierra how much to share.
"Uhm, the father is the fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse, and before today, the baby has performed some other tricks."
Lila's coloring went whiter, and she jerked her hands back from Tierra. "The father is . . . Death?" Death came out in a shocked whisper. "How—how is that even possible?"
"Believe me, you aren't the only one askin' that question," Moira said. "But then Tierra's obviously a fertile-Myrtle earth witch."
Lila swallowed and took a minute to compose herself. It didn't take her long to get her emotions under control. She was more like her niece Sunny, and bounced just as well, which reassured Tierra. "So, what other supernatural things has the baby performed?"
"Well, at Ambrosia's when the coven attempted to burn me at the stake . . . it was the baby who saved me."
"How?"
Tierra placed a protective hand over her belly. "It, uhm . . . increased my powers, rather significantly." She couldn't share that it also opened the mouth of Hell and sent its father there for a time out.
"That's not completely unheard of," Lila said. "I've come across other witches who have mentioned this same phenomenon. Obviously not to the extent that you have, but that's most likely due to the magic the fetus has inherited from the father. Chances are you'll experience more instances like what happened today whenever your baby feels threatened." She paused and took a deep breath. "I guess we'll find out together. This will be one for the books. Not, that I'll tell this to anyone," she quickly added.
Tierra shared another worried look with Moira.
Why would the baby feel threatened by Aerin?
"Until I see you tomorrow, I want you to rest. I'm sure you've been overwhelmed and haven't taken time for moments of quiet. Understandable with what you're dealing with, but you have more than yourself to think about now." Lila stood and gathered her items, packing them away in her bag.
"Lila, is there any way to tell if the baby is . . . wicked?" The word was hard to say, when everything inside Tierra told her it couldn't possibly be so.
"Actually, many mothers worry about that, too. Normal women and magical. In a sense, you have a parasite taking over, and it feels alien. I don't want you to worry. Stress is something we need to eliminate as much as possible." She covered Tierra with the blanket, petted Jinx who'd curled next to Tierra's shoulder, watching over the exam like a personal guard. Jinx purred, giving Tierra more assurance that Lila didn't mean them any harm.
"Moira, can I speak to you outside?" Lila asked, picking up her bag.
"Sure. I'll be right back, Tierra."
Tierra watched them leave, figuring Lila would give Moira further instructions to keep her calm and resting comfortably. But how did she do that when Killian was still stuck in Hell, their child projected powers of its own, witch hunters and religious fanatics stood outside their gates, and now ghosts and reapers threatened them all?
Chapter Six
A short, heavy knock sounded on her door, pulling Tierra out of the wicked spiral of "what ifs."
"Come in," she hollered.
Julian entered her bedroom, looking out of place among the velvet and satin bedclothes and the riot of colorful silk scarfs discarded this way and that. "Is now a good time for a chat?" he asked.
When would entertaining Pestilence in her bedroom ever be good timing? Tierra gave a shaky nod, curious as to why he wanted a word with her.
Jinx arched and hissed, the hair on her back standing at attention.
Julian came to a stop in the middle of the room, raised a challenging brow at Jinx, and then cocked his head to the side. "That is one very ancient feline."
"How do you know?"
"Call it a perk, if you will, of being an immortal. It's easy to recognize another."
Her familiar was immortal?
Tierra gathered Jinx—who made a low guttural growl—in her arms and tried to reassure her that Julian didn't mean them any harm. At least she hoped he didn't. Could his wanting to talk to her be a ruse to infect her with something that would kill both her and the child she carried?
As if picking up on her scattered emotions, Julian slowly locked his leather-clad hands behind his back and planted his feet wide apart. An "at ease" stance if he was in the military, but then Tierra figured he sort of was. The Horsemen were the first line of defense before any army had been formed on Earth.
"For as long as there have been witches in your ancestry, that cat has been linked to the women in your family. But as interesting as the history of your familiar is, that isn't what I wanted to discuss with you." The lines on his face deepened, and he took a fortifying breath. "I'm troubled about Aerin. What happened today with the fetus solidifies some of my concerns. I believe she is being seduced by the dark arts."
Tierra met his cool, clear eyes. "She hasn't been spending time with you, has she?"
"Today is the first I've seen her since our . . . interlude in her bedchamber a fortnight ago."
That night the de Moray chandelier's crystals had broken due to the gymnastics being performed above in Aerin's bed.
"I would like you to inform me about what really happened in the attic earlier." Julian didn't break eye contact, nor did he move. He stood like a statue, as if attempting to come off nonthreatening, but his mere presence had everything inside her at high alert. Though her child didn't seem overly concerned. Maybe she could take comfort in that?
"How did you know the baby created the force field?"
His mouth twitched as though amused by her question. "Since being informed of your condition, I've read everything I could find that might give us some insight into what the child could be."
"What did you read about babies and force fields?" Could there be documented proof of other magical beings such as the one she carried?
"It's of no matter."
"No, really, I'd like to know." What if this book could help her deal with the changes and magical powers her child had already demonstrated.
"I found a chronicle . . . Actually, it was set not far from here in the Hoh Rainforests on the Olympic Peninsula near Forks."
"Twilight?" she blurted. Julian Roarke, Pestilence, the third Horseman of the Apocalypse had read Twilight?
"Not actually Twilight," he reluctantly admitted. "But the fourth book in the series, Breaking Dawn. The book brought up a concept that I found interesting as it talked of a vampiric-human child with magical properties that protected itself while inside the womb."
"Did you read the whole series? How did you even come across the book?" It was fascinating to know that Julian had read the teenage saga that had captured so many women of all ages with its sweeping romance and teenage angst. Tierra hadn't made time to read it, but Sunny had devoured each and every book and constantly talked about Edward and Bella. Although, Tierra couldn't remember Sunny mentioning anything about a magical baby. She wondered briefly, if Julian would be team Edward or Jacob? M
ost definitely Edward.
"I attempted The Google, and the book appeared." Julian adjusted his stance as though uncomfortable with the subject. "I pursue many topics and have a wide variety of interests. The information I researched seemed consistent enough to spark the idea that something similar was happening with you. I started investigating the possibility when you had escaped Lucifer's clutches at Ambrosia's."
"You realize Twilight is fiction, right?"
"Many things that have been written off as fiction have some basis in fact. Case in point, most believe that witches are fictional."
"Touché. Did you found anything else?"
"Other than the legendary barrier of the Gates of Alexander, but that doesn't really apply here. The same with Merlin when he erected a force field and encased himself inside a cave for many years. I did find a similar reference to a magical fetus able to protect itself in a television program titled Charmed that aired in the 1990s. It seems to be a phenomenon with twentieth century fiction writers. Now that I have revealed the . . . source of my information, what really transpired earlier in the attic?"
"It's like we already said. I was tired, and Aerin tried to help me to my room."
He regarded her with skepticism as if instinctively knowing she hadn't revealed the whole truth. "How did you feel at the time?"
How much should she tell him? Definitely not the truth that Aerin's touch had filled her with feelings of darkness and despair . . . and a wickedness that surpassed anything Tierra could imagine.
"I don't feel comfortable with this conversation." Jinx picked up on her conflicted emotions over betraying her sister, and let out a long screech that would make a lion retreat.
Julian narrowed his steely eyes. Instead of being intimidated, Jinx hissed at him. "My intent is to help Aerin. She . . . she is important to me."
"It wasn't long ago that you tried to kill her. Why should I trust you now? Just because we agreed to work together to try and get Killian out of Hell doesn't mean that you have her, or our, best interests at heart."
"You are perfectly correct. We don't. But there are worse things than death, worse than the end of the world. I believe Aerin's very soul is in jeopardy, and I would do anything within my power to keep her soul pure."
"You're asking me to betray her."
"That I am not. Help me bring her back from whatever precipice she's flirting with."
Tierra took a deep breath and released it. Could he truly care for Aerin? It was true that he hadn't been able to touch another soul without destroying that person, except for Aerin. Taking a leap of faith, Tierra revealed, "When Aerin touched me, I felt . . . devoid of life, a darkness so deep that it swallowed the light. What could she possibly be doing to give off those vibes?"
Julian took the news like an expected blow. "I don't know, but I plan to do everything in my power to find out."
****
That bastard.
Lucy sat astride Aerin's broom, hovering outside Tierra's bedroom listening to her and Julian discuss Aerin's latest behavior. Interesting that it had taken this long to raise any suspicions since she had possessed the darkest one of the four sisters for a while now.
Aerin beat inside her head, a combination of threatening, vulgar swearing—impressing even Lucy—and pathetic pleading that was getting incredibly old.
Lucy slapped her back. It surprised her that Aerin had enough strength to fight her after all this time. Other victims Lucy chose to wear like a suit, retreated to dark corners and whimpered.
Not Aerin.
Somehow Lucy needed to destroy her—starting with her mind.
These de Moray bitches were too powerful for their own good.
Just that one probe in the attic with Tierra had shown her that.
She had planned to switch Aerin for Tierra. A little push to put Tierra under her spell and then full possession once she moved Tierra to her bedroom.
Fucking fetus.
The brat had to be destroyed, and fast.
She was the fucking Antichrist. Not this baby.
Yet, these witches had found Mirelle's sanctuary, and even though Lucy possessed Aerin, she hadn't been able to find her way in. Once the sisters were asleep, she would give it another try. So far they'd found out that their father was Malcolm's son. Did they know that Malcolm's line descended from the Goddess?
Obviously not, or they would've told her. She still had time. But time was running out and the threads she held were becoming taut.
Julian hadn't lain with her. He couldn't stomach her, the Queen of Hell, even though he'd fucked Aerin the corporate whore. Maybe she needed to be sweeter?
Ugh.
Of all the sisters, Aerin appealed to her the most. They were so similar. But Julian must sense more than Aerin's attitude. He was the most perceptive of the Horsemen. After all, Aerin's own sisters hadn't a clue she was possessed by Satan.
Though Tierra had reservations, it seemed.
Attempting to burn that fertile witch at the stake had been a miscalculation on her part. She saw that now. Not taking into account the brat she carried and whatever powers it had from Bane, deemed that a failure. That was on her. She knew better than to react with emotion rather than cold calculation.
And once again, she reacted rather than thinking it through. Nudging Tierra in the attic had been a moment of opportunity. If they'd been alone, she would've gotten past whatever magic the fetus projected. The temptation of possessing the witch with Death's spawn had been too great of a lure, and she hadn't calculated the consequences.
The idea of overtaking a pregnant woman always made her want to vomit. She'd done it before but not with a fetus tied to Death. As far as she knew—and she knew plenty—only one time before had a situation similar to this been recorded.
When the Goddess had knocked herself up with that Druid.
Some of the greats had been birthed from Lucifer. Starting with Cain, Nero, Vlad Tepish, Hitler, Genghis Khan, Osama bin Laden, and her favorite all time pet project, Countess Elizabeth Bathory. She stuck around after the birth of that baby, raising her through her formative years. Grooming her.
She missed her, but then she did treat herself to the occasional conjugal visits in Hell. Such a diabolical soul, Elizabeth. Lucy made a mental note—one that had Aerin cringing for hidden corners—for another date with the greatest serial killer of all time.
Lucy had high hopes for Death's spawn. One way or another, she would find a way to either kill it, or control it. For now, she'd—
Doctor Lector flew at her from out of nowhere, surprising her into a shriek. Wasn't that embarrassing? Damn flying rodent.
Normally she liked bats. Not this one.
He came at her again, almost wobbling her off the broom. She snatched him out of the air, pinching his wings between her manicured fingernails.
"Think you can get the best of me, do you?" Maybe she would fry him up in lard and feed him to the pregnant witch? Doctor Lector gave a high pitched screech that had Lucy wincing. "That's it, you flying rat. Let's see how Aerin likes this." She crushed the bat in her fist and tossed the remains away like so much trash.
Aerin screamed inside her head and beat against the barriers Lucy had imprisoned her in.
Lucy smiled in satisfaction. That was fun. Now who else could she crush?
Killian Bane.
Her smile widened. She had just the thing to make him to beg.
Chapter Seven
Killian slumped against the copper rods holding him in place, having endured another of Aerin's sadistic sessions. The more he refused her demands, the more she amped up the electrical works. During their last episode, she had wrapped him in a web of lightning until he felt like a fly sucked dry by a spider.
He had suffered torture many times throughout his existence, and even though he was an immortal, he didn't know how he could endure much more. She couldn't kill him, but if she kept this up, she might break him.
After he'd refused her demands, blessedly she
had left him in a huff of colorful swear words. He hoped she was frustrated enough to give up soon.
What if Aerin was the opening act, warming him up for Lucifer? It would totally be something the Devil would do.
He needed to take this brief respite to recover and remember why he needed to stay strong.
Tierra and the babe.
They were what kept him steadfast and resistant, even though his body begged him to take the deal and end his misery.
He heard a commotion from outside the room and raised his head, eyes struggling to focus. Four lackeys brought in a bed of copper nails.
What did Aerin plan to do with that?
Part of him didn't give a shit, the other part started to sweat.
Aerin supervised the low-level demons, barking out orders that they followed without hesitation or comment. It sure hadn't taken her long to work her way up to management.
"Chain him first then strap him face down on the bed," she instructed. "You might've withstood what I've done to you so far." A crafty smile spread over Aerin's lips as she addressed him. "But not what I have planned for round two."
Round two? The torture he had already endured should classify as more than that.
Even in his weakened condition, he struggled to be free as the demons yanked out the stakes and manhandled him chest-down onto the bed of nails. Every part of his body pricked with the leaching copper points, sending pain to areas that he believed had lost their ability feel.
He'd been wrong.
"Restrain him good and tight."
Two demons, their eyes soulless, held him down as others secured chains around his neck, hips, and thighs, locking them to metal plates bolted to the stone floor. Aerin ran her hand through his hair and leaned down to whisper in his ear. "I want you to feel every nail pierce your skin."
Actually it was a relief from the copper rods staked through his muscles, and he had the added benefit of lying down. Not that he would inform her of that. How many days had he stood on his feet without relief?
Which Witch is Wild? (The Witches of Port Townsend Book 3) Page 12
