Nimara: Children of the Gods

by Patricia Halladay

  “Ok Doc, how much are we to limit what she can and can’t do, and for how long?” Kai asks while getting everything cleaned up from the birth.

  “I just explained that all to Nimara, she can start training next month if she breastfeeds. Her body will go back to normal quickly, otherwise she has to let it happen on its own and that will be 3 months before she can start training. Her first heat will be in 3 to 4 months but remember that means 6 pups under a year old. Could the four of you handle that? That’s the big question. I will send over a diet plan for her to follow if she’s breastfeeding, and her lycan form will come in handy because she can feed all three at once. They will know what to do since they came into this world in their shifted forms.” Surrey tells Kai, Onyx, and Scott.

  Surrey is startled seeing Scott strip and get into the shower with me. He starts to help wash me. When I finish getting washed, Onyx stands waiting with a towel and starts to dry me off while I lean against Scott, I can’t believe how much energy it takes to birth pups. Kai puts my fluffy robe on me, it’s warm. They must have washed it for me, and it just came out of the dryer. Kai carries me into the bedroom and lays me down on the low rise bed, it’s separate from our big bed. Surrey comes out also and finishes doing my check up, just in time for the pups to start fussing.

  “Ok so all three of the girls are hungry, for this feed I think your lycan’s best.” Kai says, I go back into my lycan form and Kai helps me get comfortable in the feeding bed, then each of the guys brings over the girls. Nyssa’s still in her pup form and latches quickly, it feels weird but a good weird. Talisa shifts back into her kitten and does the same, I think it feels even more strange now, because I have multiple tits. Not just 2 like normal, I have 6 in my lycan form. Jessica’s the one that might find it a little harder, but she proves me wrong when she latches the same as the other two. Surrey checks them again, making sure they have latched properly and have a good suckling action. Once everyone and everything checks out, Surrey heads out for the night.

  While feeding the pups, I keep looking them over, nudging them when they fall asleep and encourage them to keep feeding. I pick up Talisa first and give her a bath, I can hear her purring. Scott comes and gets her from me when she shifts back. Putting her in a diaper and then wraps her in a warm blanket that Auntie Cora made out of yak wool. A mitt, hat and booties set gets put on her too and this was a gift from Auntie Amanda. Jessica’s next and Kai does the same with her. Her gifts came from Auntie Nicole and Auntie Kerry. Nyssa’s the last to stop feeding, she needs more to catch up to her sisters. She definitely will feeding like that. Onyx gets her all settled in her gifts from Grammy Marie and G-ma Mia. I have regained enough energy to get myself into bed and that’s it. I get to rest for an hour and then the guys have dinner for me. They all sit and eat with me too and check on the babies when they start to fuss.

  The first week was a lot of trial and error figuring out what worked best. The one day all three of the guys managed to stay home from the office and training to help me with the pups. Marie will be here soon, because Natalie called and told her we’d miss this Saturday’s dinner because I gave birth 4 days ago. Mom and dad have been down twice, spoiling the girls with cuddles and toys. They do not need anything for the next 6 years. Clothes, toys, books, and stuffed animals have been constantly showing up through delivery. The stuff with cards I know came from a Leader and their mate, so I send a thank you card back. The other stuff is all my parents and my mates. How the hell are the gods able to order from Amazon? I had to ban access to Amazon because it was getting bad.

  Speaking of the gods, Artemis came yesterday and was amazed when she saw the arm guard on Nyssa. I explained that the little pup was born wearing it. Artemis told me that Nyssa would be best trained with range weapons, she would have Hephaestus make her a special bow and quiver set, and she herself would train Nyssa. She looked over Jessica and Talisa too. With a huge smile she said Jessica would be best with a whip, dagger, and sword. Artemis thought it best to have Athena train her. She saw Talisa getting a very different gift and weaponry. Artemis wants to ask Ares to give Talisa the traditional weapons of the Amazon women. Spear, battle axe, throwing axe, a kopis and the bolas, and for him to train her as well.

  With the gods visiting and Marie coming to help me get a routine going, things should find some normalcy soon, I hope. The Sisters of Fate come almost every day to train the girls. They come individually so that there is always someone to watch over the Paths of Life. Helping the girls to learn what they are doing; the Sisters have started now teaching the girls consequence and reward. You would think this would be too soon, but Talisa has a bad habit of using her claws on people. Especially when they pick her up and that’s not what she wants. She likes to be left alone, with just a few very trusted people and gargoyles being kept close to her. Unfortunately, I am not one of them. The only time she wants me around is to feed. Both the Sisters and Scott tell me it’s normal. I think she will be put on a bottle, hopefully that will keep the constant tears I have from coming anymore. I will have to talk to Scott about this, as he will have to feed her.

  “Hey Scott, I need to talk to you about Talisa.” I mind-link all three so that everyone knows what is going on.

  “Ok babe, we are finished for the day, we will be right home.” He says, I really didn’t want to do this in person, but I will have to get over it. About ten minutes later Onyx, Kai and Scott come through the front door just as the girls wake up for their feeding and to have time with their daddies. Before heading up though I hand Scott a bottle of formula.

  “What is this for?” Scott asks with a sad expression.

  “This is how Talisa will feed from now on. My arms are cut to shit every day that they are actually scarring now. Which unless it’s silver being used, that never happens. I will talk to Natalie, Ram and Tania to see if they can come do her feedings when you can’t.” I say turning to leave and Scott just looks at me.

  “So you’re just going to walk away from our daughter, and all our children that are cat shifters? She will grow out of it; you have to give her time she’s two weeks old.” Scott says defending our daughter.

  “Then here Scott lets trade arms!” I say lifting my sleeve and Scott’s eyes go huge. My arms look like I have had someone slash them repeatedly with silver. I finish going back upstairs and the guys follow. Lash is here tending to Talisa.

  “She won’t eat from a bottle, even if it’s her father giving it to her. She needs and wants to feed from you Nimara. You’re going to let your daughter starve, because of your arms?” Lash says almost as if my feelings don’t matter.

  “I’m to suffer my daughter's hate and fear of me, her mother. Have you actually seen my arms? I look like I have been tortured with silver. I have to wear long sleeve shirts in plus 35 degree weather. My lycan has no fur on her forearms anymore. I went to go for a run and one of the guards almost attacked me because he thought I was a rogue because of how my arms look.” I say looking at Lash angrily.

  “How you look doesn’t matter Nimara, it’s the love you have for your children, that’s most important.” Lash says and again she still seems not to care about my feelings.

  “Fine then take Amara back, I will undo the bonding and you can remove her from me. That would be better than getting killed, because of a mistake with how I look. Since I am her enemy, being a lycan. After all, if I don’t need to worry about how I look, then I don’t need my lycan, now do I Lash.” I say angrily. Lash looks horrified that I would ask her to do this. Scott takes Talisa from Lash and tries to give her the bottle, but she won’t take it and refuses to stop crying. I get Nyssa from her crib and start to feed her. I stay human because I already know Talisa won’t come to me. After I get Nyssa and Jessica fed, I get them changed and let Onyx and Kai have the night with them. Talisa’s still crying and won’t feed. I look at Scott and he looks as defeated as I feel.

  “Please Nimara, shift and let her feed.” Scott says trying to keep our daughter happy.
I give in and shift, lay down and let her feed. I don’t treat her the same as soon as she starts to drift off I get up and pull away from her. I know she hasn’t gotten a full belly, but I am not fighting with her anymore.

  “Nimara, lay back down and let her finish. That isn’t fair.” Lash scolds me, so I do as I am told and just lay there, when Talisa’s finished Scott takes her. I get up and leave the house completely. I shift back to my human side, just so I don’t get attacked again by one of my own guards. I keep walking, once I reach the memorial cavern, I unlock the door and go inside. Attie, Lottie and Lash are waiting.

  “Why did you leave? Your daughter was calling for you, she wanted you not Scott.” Lash says and I start to laugh, to the point I am crying. It's not a pleasant sound, it's one of a person who has truly given up.

  “Really? Then you need to be there more often to truly see how she is. I honestly don’t want to be there; Scott can take care of our daughter. She only sees me as food and that’s it. I’m not even her mother in her eyes.” I say walking past them to see my mom and dad’s place of rest.

  “Have you spoken to your girls since their birth? They say you haven’t said a word to them.” Attie asks coming over and puts her arm around my shoulder.

  “I tried every day for the first week. I stopped when Talisa told me she hated me and wished I would die. I know this isn’t magic, so I just quit talking to them, they only want their fathers, I am nothing.” I say crying as I look at my arms, the most recent of Talisa’s attacks are just starting to heal and they are days old.

  “That’s not right, she said she loves you and just wants you to hug her. Have you played with them? In your human form and lycan form?” Lottie says trying but thinking of things that I have tried already and got me scarred instead.

  “Funny she says the same thing to Scott to get me to go back and then she does this when I try.” I say holding my arms up in front of Lottie.

  “I think we need to wait for them to become the Sisters of Fate. They have been learning about consequence and reward. So them losing this gift will be the consequence for Talisa’s behavior. When her sisters get angry with her for it, she will realize her wrongdoing.” Lottie says and looks at her sisters. Attie agrees, but Lash does not.

  “Why are we punishing them? Nimara gave up without trying, she cares more about her physical appearance then she does about her daughters wellbeing.” Lash says, she’s angry at me, fine then she can have it her way. I pull a sacred knife from the floor, and the look of fear is in all their eyes. I bring forth my thread and place the blade to the strand.

  “Fine then Lash, since I gave up, I will pay the consequences of angering the Sisters of Fate. After all, this is what Talisa wants, and you seem to be ignoring the problem with your work. You have fucked something up in their Path of Life.” I say and look directly at her and start to cut the strand.

  “No momma please don’t!” I look to just the right of the Sisters and my three daughters as little girls standing there. They are crying and scarred.

  “This is what you wanted, so now you get it. Your father will take you back to his Pride, he will lose his immortality and he will take another mate. You told me yourself, you wish I would die. So now I am.” I say, starting to cut the strand again. Lash takes my hand holding the knife away. She looks scared, hurt, and angry but I honestly quit caring when my daughter told me she hated me.

  “Auntie Lash please don’t hurt momma; I did tell her those things. She is always spending time with Nyssa and Jessica. She never spends time with me, I was angry.” Talisa says twisting her fingers together.

  “Talisa, tell the truth or I will punish you!” Jessica says she is very angry at her sister and Nyssa is keeping Jessica from attacking Talisa.

  “What’s your sister talking about?” Lash ask looking at Talisa, she is still angry but now she’s willing to listen.

  “I have been attacking momma from the very start. I have been using silver in my claws to cause the scarring. I don’t want my daddy to leave me, but I realized today that I am hurting him by hurting momma. I was first born but wasn’t as important as Nyssa.” Talisa says crying and sobbing, her sisters won’t comfort her. Jessica just walks away from her to comes to me.

  “Talisa, Nyssa was smaller and weaker than you were. She needed more care because of that, not because she was more important.” Lottie says now realizing there is a problem.

  “Momma, if Talisa doesn’t want you, I do. I love you! Please don’t leave Nyssa and I.” Jessica says crying and gives me a hug. Nyssa comes running over and does the same. Talisa just stares, while her sisters don’t want anything to do with her.

  “Talisa, your actions have consequences. Your mother’s willing to harm herself, your sisters don’t want you around and you have made Auntie Lash angry at you mother for no reason. As a Sister of Fate, you cannot do this. Lash can punish your mother for her choices, which were made because of your words and actions.” Attie says, then looks to her sisters and Lottie nods.

  “What’s the punishment for Nimara’s tampering with her own Path of Life?” Attie asks looking at Lash, who has lost all color.

  “I don’t know, I never thought her own child would cause such a horrible mess. Are we sure these are the ones we want to take our place?” Lash asks, her sisters have gone quiet as she waits for an answer.

  “My lycan.” I say looking at everyone in the room, the Sisters of Fate already know what I am offering as my punishment.

  “What do you mean momma?” Nyssa looks at me, she knows what I am offering, but her sisters don’t.

  “Take my lycan, I can remove the bond and you can take Amara. I can feel how hurt she is. This way she won’t hurt anymore, and I will be human.” I tell them, Talisa starts crying and begging them not to. Jessica and Nyssa just hold me tighter, like I am going to vanish in front of their eyes.

  “Auntie Lash, please take mine. I am a hybrid, so if my lycan is gone, I am still a water nymph. That’s okay, even Bailey says it’s ok. She would rather leave then our momma. She can’t break the bond, and if she does it will kill her. Even her goddess blood cannot save her from Uncle Hades. Please take mine instead. Please?” Nyssa begs holding her Aunt.

  “There will be no punishment!”

  Chapter 22

  ~ Nimara ~

  A loud crack of thunder hits, as the rain starts to pour and can be heard on the rock ceiling of the cavern. A man walks out from the shadow along with Hades.

  “I told you three not to start training the girls. You disobeyed my orders! You were lucky I even allowed you to ask for Nimara’s permission to have them take your place! It stops now! Hecate!” Hecate appears beside the man and bows.

  “Yes my Lord Zeus, what is it you wish of me?” Hecate asks, she looks at me and then my arms, tears start to fall as she sees what I have been going through.

  “Daughter heal my Sisters arms properly. Then remove all memories and block the children until their 13th birthday. They are going to have a happy childhood, keep their animals though, because this is not normal for a cat shifter to attack her mother like this. Not even close!” The man Hecate called Zeus says, he’s angrier than Lash was and honestly I am more afraid of him than her.

  “As for you, my three disobedient daughters. You will be stripped as the Sister of Fate, and serve Hades, you will answer to him for all of eternity. The original Fate’s will train the girls, the three of you will have no contact with them ever again. Do I make myself clear? If you break any of these orders. It will be death and your eternal souls will feed the Hell fires!” Zeus roars and the Sisters are scared.

  “Yes my Lord Zeus.” All three girls answer in unison.

  “Nimara, I am sorry for what has happened. We should have known better, and we should have listened to both you and our father. Please forgive us?” Attie, looks genuinely remorseful for what has happened. Lash is white as a ghost and Lottie is giving me a smile. Did she know this was going to happen?

  �
��Of course I did, but it had to happen. Lash has been off the last hundred years or so. This means she needs to be watched and where better than the Underworld. I feel bad for Attie but not a lot. She chose to do this, as did I. So the punishment fits, we deserve to lose our position and titles, we harmed not only Talisa but you as well.” Lottie says, and with a flash, everyone’s gone but Hades and Hecate.

  “I am so sorry Nimara, I haven’t been over to help when I said I would be. I would have realized something was wrong as soon as I saw the marks.” Hecate says starting to heal my arms, while giving me a hug and kiss. She brings up a portal straight into the living room. We walk in and the guys are shocked to see Hades and Hecate with me. Hades binds Talisa to keep her claws in and brings her over to Hecate. Scott tries to intervene, but Onyx and Kai hold him back. Hades then lifts Nyssa and Jessica, bringing them over at the same time. Talisa’s crying frantically causing Scott to want to get to her more.

  “Scott, he’s not hurting her. She’s been given a second chance. The girls are no longer going to be trained, their memories are being wiped of everything and their powers blocked until they are older and can understand. This is the best way, and the Sisters of Fate have been stripped of their powers and are to serve Hades for disobeying Zeus. So calm down, your cub is fine, and she will love her mother like she’s supposed to. Her behavior before was not normal for any shifter.” Hecate says with a bluish purple glow dancing around the girls, when it stops, Hades places them gently into their fathers arms. Talisa automatically starts to fuss in Scott’s hold.