by Trina Bates
That got them all laughing. Merrick tossed me the key card. Catching it, I noticed the keyring with four different gems hanging off of it. One a bright blue-green oval shaped gem, like Rhett's flames, a black triangle shaped gem like the color of Rhydian's eyes, a pink heart that has to be from Ebbin and a simple round metal ball. Has to be for Merrick but I have no idea what for.
“Y’all are going to have to explain this to me later,” I mumble, as I walk to the driver side door staring down at the key card and strange gems.
Inside the SUV is all leather, sleek controls and it's so roomy. There's no way I can complain with a vehicle this nice. The rebel in me wants to go find some mud and go crazy, but I doubt any of my guys would like that too much. My guys? What the hell. One day and now they are suddenly my guys. Looking to the good once again, I find I’m totally okay with them being mine. I even smile to myself at the thought.
When Ebbin gets in the front, he puts in the coordinates, I find the toggle for manual driving and head down the road. It’s a silent drive, no one saying anything, I’m guessing because no one manually drives anymore, it’s always autopilot. I enjoy the feel of the leather beneath my hands and the act of actually steering. It makes me feel safer, having the control. Pulling up to a small, white house, it is every bit the standard cliche. Right down to the matching white picket fence and all. Every open space on the large porch is covered in a different variety of flowers. The visage portrays it as simple and homey, but on the inside, a Blood Fae lives. There is nothing simple or homey about Blood Fae. They’re usually ruthless jerks. Mean and crass to the core, much like Blue.
Ebbin is the first to the door, Rhydian and Rhett on either side of me, with Merrick at my back as we walk down the small path that goes to the porch.
I have yet to meet Lyra in person, my opinion of her is not a good one, but I was not prepared for what met us behind the white door. Knowing what most Fae look like, I am very surprised with the small waif that answers. I understand now why she needs constant protection. Full blooded Fae are usually varied in a light pastel color. Tall and almost emaciated. The ones I have gotten close enough to notice, their eyes were always a sickening green color and the same went for this one as well. It is creepy.
Lyra is about four feet tall, her skin a deep purple and she’s completely bald. Her face reminds me of a cross between a horse and a rat, long face, tiny nose, huge ears and giant eyes. She’s hideous.
“Get inside. I have shit I need to do today,” she says with a sneer, her voice high pitched. It reminds me of nails on a chalkboard.
“What a people person. This should be interesting,” I whisper to the guys, with a glare sent her way. She’s far enough away, I hope she can't hear it.
Merrick, behind me shakes his head when I turn around to him. Rhett is trying to hold in a laugh, and Rhydian is biting his lip. They’re so easy to tease. I'm going to have to do this more often, see how far I can take it, before they finally break.
Ebbin enters first and Lyra takes a long sweeping look over him. Not to be shown up in any way, and a little annoyed at her staring at my man, I step into her personal space and give her a hard pointed look. Her eyes look quickly to the ground as me and the rest of my guys pass.
Inside we walk down a long hallway and are told to enter the third door on the right.
She could have said the last door. There's nothing on the other fucking side. I think to myself.
Thankfully no one answers me back, so I know it is said in my head, this time.
The room has a hospital style bed and smells terribly of bleach. A few large machines surround the bed and there are a couple chairs on one side, behind it is a set of cabinets and sink.
Being a Blood Fae, and having healing abilities, this is a little surprising. I expected some smelly candles, a couch with an old tattered quilt and some strange wall hangings with symbols that made no sense, maybe even a few shrunken heads.
“Mira, as you have hopefully gathered, I am Lyra. I don't beat around the bush. I don't make small talk. I prefer to work in silence. If you have questions, I will answer them. To get my appearance out of the way, I am small because I hold too much power. Doesn't make sense to most, most think I am just a healer and Blood Fae. I'm not. I have the ability to take pain away and give anyone any physical feeling I desire. I won't do anything to you don't ask for,” looking to Ebbin, she glares at him for a moment before continuing. “I know what's at stake. Before we start, I need you to take your shirt off so I can examine you. I won't give you a physical, I have all of your medical records already and the physical you got three months ago will be fine. Unless you would like me to?”
Stripping my hoodie and shirt off, she gestures for me to lay on the bed. I’m surprised she already has my records and a little pissed off. Just how the hell is she able to get those without my consent?
Not wanting to make this any more awkward than it already is, I left it alone and answer her questions.
“I think I'll be fine. We can do it later if needed.”
Nodding her head, she sits on the stool to my right and starts poking at me. All my guys are standing behind her, looking from her hands to my face. I nod, letting them know I’m okay and look to my stomach.
“I will need to taste a prick of your blood to find out what the child is. I can't use it for anything after its consumed. I have a contract for you to sign before I do that. It states everything I just told you and will hold me liable to the Conclave and the fucking Hounds.” The last part is said in a scathing tone. She scares me a little with her words, but I’m also happy it’s in the paperwork. She knows what she did was wrong.
“I thought there would be no fucking blood involved. This was part of what you told us all last night!” Rhydian’s outburst surprises me and has me sitting up staring at him. He isn't talking to me but to Ebbin.
“I had no idea about this. Mira, are you okay with this?” Ebbin asks, glaring at the small woman, who to her credit, looks like she can care less at what is being said or the looks she is being given.
I nod my head once to them and give my attention back to Lyra. Rhydian’s right, but I’m here now, with documentation. If she does anything wrong, I will have her ass, and get the Hounds on her. Or my guys can take matters into their own hands and punish her. I like the last idea better.
“That sounds fine. I don't want you to hate doing this for me. I do know the reason, but I am grateful. I will sign as long as you understand all these men will be here with me, anytime I am here. They won't leave the room. Just so we understand each other.” She isn’t looking at me but I glare at her while I speak and fist the sheet that is under my hand.
Waving my words away, she continues her exam of my stomach and checks my legs for what, I have no idea. She knows what she’s doing.
Finishing, she hands me the paper. Reading it over, it's exactly as she said it would be. I sign it and hand it to Ebbin. He reads it over, signs as well even though it isn't necessary. He hands it to Rhett who does the same, as do Merrick and Rhydian, making me smile and appreciate that they’re all here and really are willing do take this all the way with me.
“The closer the blood is to the child, the stronger it will be. Would you like me to prick you on the stomach, or have one of your men do the poking?” She asks with a small needle in her fingers. Laughing at her own would be joke, I don’t find her funny, and from the looks on everyone else's face, they don’t either.
“Merrick. Would you mind?” Looking at me puzzled, I smile at him while holding out my hand. He seems the most tense in this situation, his shoulders back, chest out and the vein in his forehead, pulsing with each beat of his heart. I want them all involved, like we agreed. I have a feeling this will bring him and I a bit closer. Knowing I need him and want him at a time like this, it might soften him a little.
Taking my hand in his, he holds the needle with the other. Giving me a light kiss on the cheek, he lets go of my hand, pinches the skin of my stoma
ch and I barely feel the prick as I watch him stick me with the needle. He doesn’t draw any blood. Giving her nothing more than needed, he hands the needle back to Lyra. She rolls her black tongue over the needle, you can watch the ecstasy and joy roll over her face as she revels in the taste of my blood, I’m about to throw up watching it.
All of the sudden her eyes go wide and she slumps over. Before she can fall off the stool, Rhett catches her and places her in one of the two other chairs that are in the room. I grab my shirt and rush to her side as I try to put it on while fretting about what might have happened to her.
Holding her tiny child-like hand in mine, I start to rub the top and lightly call her name. She is alive, but seeing someone so small and fragile, it isn't fun, and I’m genuinely worried about her.
It takes her three long minutes before she cracks her eyes open.
Whereas before they were green, they are now pitch black. She jerks her head up in one swift motion, stares at me with her freakish eyes and grabs my hands. Before I can move away, she has me in a vice like grip and I am taken into her mind. Somehow, I register I'm in someone's arms. I can hear the worry in the voice that is calling my name but it sounds so far away and I can’t make out who it belongs to.
-You are NOT a Hollow.-
What the fuck? That is Lyra’s voice in my head! And just what the hell did she mean ‘I’m not a Hollow.’ Of course I am.
-This is what I felt, what I saw. Your blood is the strongest I have ever tasted. Feel what I felt, watch what plays in my mind.-
Lyra is in my mind, pushing images of wings and Demons into me.
Strange as all that is, for some reason, it also felt right. Like somehow I should know these things, and that people were supposed to be able to talk into the minds of others.
There’s one vision in particular with a war and the very real feel of death looming overhead in the vision. With my senses muted to the outside world, the terrifying images and feelings flowing from Lyra to me were overpowering. I don’t understand what any of this means.
Why is this what she got from my blood?
We were supposed to be finding out if my child is going to be part Other or full Hollow, not playing scare Mira and joke around, telling her she is Other.
Did this mean my child is going to be some kind of Demon with wings? None of the guys are a Demon. Not knowing what Merrick is, I still know in my heart he isn't a Demon. Him having wings, I can believe that. That would make the battles and Death make a little more sense to me.
-Lyra, I don't know what any of this means. Please take us out of whatever this is. I need to talk to everyone. Including you, but not like this. I can hear them reaching out to me. I don't want to make them worry any more than they already are. They will no doubt be pissed at you. You need to release me. Now.-
With no reply or warning, I jolt awake, my eyes flying open trying to find the faces of my guys. I'm dizzy and confused as to what just happened and wondering why I’m laying back on the bed. My vision clears and all four of my men are surrounding me, worry written across all their faces.
“It's fine, I'm fine. Is Lyra awake? Don't be mad at her, she can’t help what happened. I need to speak to everyone,” I rush everything out as quick as I can, hoping they will spare the little Fae and let me talk.
“You're insane if you think we aren't all pissed! That's not even a good enough word for it! Mira, you have been passed out for three hours! What the hell happened?” Hearing the fear and anger lacing Rhett's words makes me pause. From what I know of him, he's always been the joker, the one to help lighten the mood in any given situation. For him to be this upset, and to vocalize it? Insane, that’s not who I‘m a little more than worried now. I need to help ease everyone's minds, not only to calm them down but to get them back to their normal selves. Lyra will no doubt be walking into a mine zone of pissed off guys and be in a lot of trouble, knowing this lot, when she wakes up.
But wait, did Rhett really say three hours? It only felt like we were in that vision for a few minutes, Guess I can't fault the guys for being worried.
“Be pissed but I still need to talk to her. There are too many questions! Just fucking calm down! No one knew this would happen!” Sitting up, I get off the bed and find Lyra sitting calmly in the chair Rhydian had placed her in like nothing had happened.
“You need to tell me what the fuck that was and just what the hell is my child?” Turning to Merrick, “What the hell kind of Other are you? She showed me images. War, Death, and wings. Nothing made sense.” I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose trying to stop the oncoming headache I can feel.
“Not in front of her,” he replied, my annoyance topping out I wanted answers and I wanted them now. My eyes fly open and I set a death glare right on him and grit out my next words, barely breathing. “I don't give a shit if she’s here or not. Tell me or leave.” I know pushing him isn't okay, but something has to give. I’m tired, hungry and my head hurts.
“I'm a Smith,” he grits out in a seething tone, whether it is meant for me or the Fae, I didn't know. “I don't have wings, I don't even fight… that much, and I definitely don't go around killing people.”
“What is a ‘Smith’?” I ask rolling my head, trying to ebb out the pain and soothe the headache that is in full swing.
“I can bring metals into my body, shape it in my mind, push it all out and work it into whatever I want. Mostly, I make weapons and spell them with certain… attributes that suit the user. When I come in contact with silver? My veins turn silver and my skin takes on a deep blue hue. Along with that, my skin is impenetrable and I can also call metals deep in the ground to do my bidding, if you want to call it that,” he’s staring at the ground trying to burn through it with the glare that has overtaken his face.
“You could have just said you control metal. Much simpler, but thank you. I've never heard of that before. Are you Fae?” my voice is low and calm, trying to reassure him and calm him as well. I don’t want him I‘m a threat.
“Yes, pure.” He nods once, stiff and angry with his arms now crossed. He still won’t look at me, and I’m surprised at that and his admission. If he’s pure, he looks nothing like the rest of the Fae, but neither does Lyra. Merrick has tan skin, he is all muscle and looks like a Hollow, a giant Hollow, but there’s nothing about him that screams, Fae. Getting the point he doesn’t want to say more, I leave it alone.
Looking to Lyra, “Explain. I only slept with them. I know what they are.” I cross my arms and purse my lips at her in annoyance, wondering just what kind of game she’s playing at.
Straightening herself, she looks me right on the eyes and yet again, throws my world off its axis.
“YOU are Other, your child will be a full blooded Other. She will be magnificent and something our world’s have never seen. You’re a Valkyrie and a Death Demon. Your blood spoke to me with such power, it's like nothing I have ever tasted. How old are you? Valkyries don't come into their powers until their twenty-seventh birthday. I don't know enough on Demons, but if you're the child of a Death Demon, it's somewhat simple to track down your lineage from books, and to answer your other question, your child will have all of your strengths that of Death and Valkyrie if you so choose, but will also be a shifter.” Her smug rat face has my hackles up and I clench my fist to try and keep from slapping that look right off her face.
Looking to Rhydian, she gives him a pointed look purses her lips and raises an eyebrow at him in question. Perplexed at that, I too turn to him. His hands are in his pockets, shoulders drawn forward and he looks down to the floor when our eyes meet. “What, Rhydian? Why is she looking at you like that?” I ask squinting my eyes at him, tapping my foot on the floor.
“Because,” he blows out a breath and looks me in the eyes with regret and remorse in his own. His eyebrows are drawn and I want to go to him, comfort his worries, but his next words keep me from doing so, “I am the only shifter.”
As much as I want the baby to be Ebbin�
�s, I’m honestly happy with her being Rhydian’s. He will make an amazing father, they all will. I just have a strange feeling though, there’s more to all of this than what everyone is thinking. Something else is at play here.
“My kind can also feel their children, even in the womb. She calls to me. Found comfort when I held you in the grove. I know she’s mine, though I didn't know it was a girl at the time. I didn't say anything to you only because it shouldn't matter. You know we will all be here no matter what. She will be loved equally by us all. I'm sorry I kept it from you. I knew the truth would come out, though I didn't expect it to be this soon. I was hoping for you and Ebbin to enjoy this a bit more before it came out.”
His words make sense, the reasoning I can almost understand. I just don't deal with secrets very well. They feel like a betrayal. He knew and he still kept it from us. If I would have known, I would’ve made a point to let him be the one to stay last night, to sleep next to me. If his daughter is calling to him, she obviously needs him. Why would he keep that a secret?
“You need to go,” I say looking away from him the hurt I feel from his lies makes my stomach drop and I start to sweat with the pain of his betrayal.
His eyebrows rose high on his forehead and his lips parted in surprise. I know he wants to argue and try to stay, but thankfully he lets it go. We both know we’ll talk later and figure out where to go with this then, not now. I can’t handle this on top of everything else right we have going on. I need to keep a clear head and try to work through everything Lyra just dropped, not only on me, but my guys as well.
“Okay, I'm Other, I don't know if that makes any of this any better. How am I supposed to find a fucking Death Demon? What happens on my twenty-seventh birthday? That's in two weeks!” Hyperventilating, Ebbin comes to my side and makes me sit back down on the bed. Holding both my hands in his while someone rubs circles on my back.
I'm Other. My baby, my little girl will be fine and so will I during this pregnancy.
