Death’s Sweet Embrace

by Tracey O’Hara

  Rainbow stroked the child’s hair as her face contorted in pain. “No, my darling. You did good, you ran like the wind.”

  “Jericho, take Elsie outside,” Serena said.

  The burly twin gently pried the sobbing child off her sister and carried her out the door.

  “How many weeks is she?” Kitt asked her mother as she palpated Rainbow’s stomach.

  “Thirty-seven weeks,” she answered. “I have some magnesium sulfate back at the clinic we could use to slow the contractions.”

  Kitt shook her head. “It’s too late for that. But we do need to get her back there.”

  “My babies,” Rainbow cried.

  “Sh-sh-shhh . . . lie still,” Serena soothed. “It’s going to be all right.”

  “We have to get her to the car,” Kitt said.

  Joshua lumbered forward and carefully lifted Rainbow off the floor with such tenderness. Kitt raced ahead to get the doors and Serena climbed into the backseat to support Rainbow’s head in her lap. Joshua got in behind the wheel and Kitt jumped into the passenger side and turned to face the back.

  Jericho remained on the porch, cradling the child on the swing seat as they drove away. Both the twins displayed a kindness Kitt never thought possible of Leon’s siblings, and her new respect for them increased another level.

  Rainbow was bleeding heavily. Her skirt was saturated and so was the old rug her mother had placed on the seat under her. Serena looked up, worry clouding her eyes, and Kitt reached over to squeeze her mother’s hand.

  “We’re nearly there, Rainbow,” her mother said. “Just relax and you will soon be holding your sweet babies. I promise.”

  One way or another. Kitt just hoped they could save both them and their mother.

  Even though it was only a few minutes’ drive, the journey seemed to take forever. When they eventually reached the clinic, Joshua drove right up to the door, jumped out immediately, and gently lifted Rainbow out of the car to carry her into the clinic.

  Serena’s hand on Kitt’s arm stopped her from following. “Is it what I think?”

  Kitt nodded. “I’m afraid so. The continual bleeding indicates a severe placental abruption. If we don’t hurry, we could lose them all.”

  “Do you think we’ll need to operate?”

  It’d been years since Kitt had operated on a living person and she hoped she didn’t have to today.

  Kitt sighed. “Hard to say until we examine her fully. Can you check her dilation?”

  “Yes,” Serena said, looking around. “We should send for Leon.”

  “No,” Kitt hissed, a little too forcefully. “He’s the cause of this, you must know that.”

  “It’s not the Pride way to interfere—”

  “FUCK that!” Kitt took her mother by the upper arms. “He may just have killed three members of the Jordan Pride. How do you think the council would view that?”

  Serena straightened—the uncertainty disappearing from her face. “I’ll speak to your father as soon as I can, but right now we need to save Rainbow and those babies.”

  Kitt followed her mother into the clinic, and while Serena performed the internal exam, she went through the clinic inventory in case she needed to perform an emergency C-section. A lot of the equipment was old and outdated, but adequate for their purposes. Just. In general, most of the Pride was fairly healthy, but the children were practically human until their eighteenth year, and some Latents still lived among them. She would have to make sure the Pride updated the equipment when . . .

  If . . . she corrected. If she came back.

  She pushed away her self-pity. Three lives depended on her and her mother and she had to be completely focused on the task ahead.

  “Nine centimeters,” Serena said, peeling off a pair of surgical gloves. “And her contractions are coming very close together. Joshua, go into the house and bring back as many pillows as you can find. We need to make her more comfortable.”

  The twin moved quickly. Most women in the village gave birth in their own homes and in their own beds. This examination table wasn’t the most comfortable, but it was sufficient. Kitt wheeled the ultrasound machine close.

  Serena cut open the girl’s ruined dress while Kitt turned on the machine and spread the gel over Rainbow’s stomach. She rolled the handheld scanning device over the pregnant female’s abdomen. The black-and-white image on the screen showed the babies, top to tail. It also showed where the placenta of the breech baby had come away from the wall.

  “You’ve had much more experience at this than I. What do you think?” Kitt said to her mother.

  “It’s not a full abruption, so hopefully there will be enough oxygen getting through for the birth.”

  “Do you want me to perform a C-section?”

  “Not yet,” Serena said. “This labor is happening fast.”

  “Okay, but I’ll stand by in case there’re any complications.” Kitt moved the machine out of the way.

  Joshua came back with several pillows, which they propped around the patient. The female’s eyes filled with tears of terror and uncertainty. Her mother really was the expert when it came to birthing babies.

  “You’re doing really well, Rainbow,” Serena said.

  The female clutched Kitt’s offered hand fiercely. “Can’t you stop it? They’re not supposed to come yet.”

  “No, sweetie,” Serena said. “Your water has broken and you’re almost fully dilated. These babies are coming today.”

  Rainbow shook her head. “No, I’m not ready. You must stop it.” Her voice rose to near hysteria.

  Joshua took the hand of his brother’s wife and began to hum a very old lullaby, one Kitt hadn’t heard for many years. It seemed to do the trick. Rainbow calmed a little, then she lay back and closed her eyes until the next contraction ripped through her.

  When Joshua looked up, his eyes were damp. Kitt put a comforting hand on his shoulder and patted it gently as he continued to hum the beautiful, haunting melody and stroked the pregnant female’s brow.

  Rainbow let out a heavy pain-filled groan. Kitt worried the babies were in distress.

  “She’s crowning,” Serena yelled with excitement.

  Kitt moved behind her mother. The matted mass of red-gold hair showed from between Rainbow’s thighs. With one more push, the head was free and the infant’s body slid out on the next contraction.

  “It’s your boy, Rainbow.” Serena beamed as his wail filled the room. She wrapped him up in a fresh warm towel Kitt handed her and laid him on his mother’s stomach while she clamped off and cut the umbilical cord.

  “Here, let me clean him up a little,” Kitt said. “Okay?”

  Rainbow clutched her baby close and glanced at Serena.

  “She’s a doctor and will take good care of him,” her mother said. “I promise.”

  Wiping off the blood-streaked white vernix caseosa coating gave her a chance to check the infant for any injuries. At this stage, she didn’t want to distress the new mother any more than she needed to. Rainbow’s fall could have caused all kinds of damage—broken bones, fractured skull, or even internal bleeding. Kitt had to make certain he was okay.

  He was perfect—a little undersized given he was slightly premature, but his color was good and he breathed well without assistance. She wrapped him back up in a tight little bundle and passed him to Joshua while Rainbow prepared to give birth to his littermate—the breech with the placental abruption.

  Rainbow let out another low guttural cry—her hands balling the bedding as she pulled herself forward to push.

  Serena looked up at the pale and exhausted expectant mother. “We have to take this one a little more slowly.”

  Breech babies weren’t unusual in Bestiabeo births; her mother had delivered them dozens of times. The placental abruption caused Kitt the most concern. If the baby had been starved of blood and oxygen, it could cause major complications.

  Serena worked the baby’s rump out of the birth canal until the legs were
free, though it took quite a few more minutes to carefully ease out the arms and shoulders. As the minutes ticked by, Kitt stood by helplessly as her mother worked.

  The baby had to come out, and soon.

  Then Serena lifted the body and eased out the head. The baby lay still in her arms. She glanced up, clearly worried. Kitt wrapped the small body in a towel while her mother separated the cord.

  Kitt placed the tiny bundle on the special heated table and unwrapped it to find the lifeless pale gray little girl. She picked up the suction bulb and cleared the airways, but still the little girl didn’t cry.

  “What’s happening to my baby?” Rainbow asked. “Where is she?”

  Kitt ignored her and placed the stethoscope on the tiny chest. The baby lay still, deathly still, but her heartbeat fluttered weakly. She reached for the mask, placed it over the tiny infant’s mouth and nose, and squeezed the bulb. Bruises covered the poor little mite’s body, and while some were from the trauma of birth, Kitt suspected others were compliments of Leon.

  She would not let Leon destroy this tiny girl, her mother, or her sibling. Death of a littermate was considered extremely unlucky, and these children were already unfortunate enough to have Leon as their father.

  The tiny arms and legs lay lifeless, but Kitt kept pumping the resuscitation bag, not giving up. She closed her eyes in silent prayer and gave the bag one last squeeze before she’d finally admit defeat.

  She looked down one last time, just as an arm twitched. Then a foot. Then arms and legs clenched and drew up as the tiny girl let loose an almighty wail, turning her blue-gray complexion purplish red.

  “That’s it little girl, complain hard and loud,” Kitt said as she wrapped her into a warm towel.

  ***

  Kitt came forward in the old stuffed chair as her mother opened the door. One of the babies snuffled in sleep, but didn’t wake. Neither did Rainbow, who lay curled up in the bed beside her tiny bundles. Serena padded over and checked on the sleeping family before tiptoeing to where Kitt sat.

  “The babies are both looking pink and healthy, and are breathing well,” Serena whispered. “Why don’t you go get some sleep and I’ll take over.”

  She exchanged places with her mother and quietly left the room. The vision on the bed of the mother and her babies brought a lump to her throat. She never got a chance to have that with her own children. She’d known she would have to give them up, so when she gave birth, she couldn’t bear to look at them. If she had, there was no way she could have let them go.

  Looking back was never good. She now saw opportunities she couldn’t back then. Opportunities that would’ve let her keep her daughters close. Hindsight is such a wonderful thing.

  The Tiger Twins came to their feet when she stepped into the living room, their expressions worried and expectant.

  “They’re all fine,” she said. “Rainbow and the babies are healthy and sleeping.”

  The two large males relaxed. They seemed really concerned about their sister-in-law. Or maybe it’s guilt for allowing this to happen.

  “Have they found Leon yet?” she asked.

  Joshua shook his head. “He was seen up at the lodge earlier on, but disappeared a few hours ago.”

  “Well, it’s been a hell of a day and I’m beat. You boys should get some rest too,” she said and left them to sit in front of the fire.

  The twins had their own homes in the village, but with Leon on the loose, they decided to stay in her mother’s tiny parlor.

  Kitt warmed milk on the old stove and made several mugs of hot chocolate. She took some to Joshua and Jericho, then a cup to her mother before taking her own to her old room. It hadn’t changed it at all—girly things still lined the shelves above her pink bed.

  Looking outside, the thin cloud cover cleared to reveal a full moon shining brightly down onto the wilderness below. The houses of the village were purpose-built for felians and had easy access to the ramps that led down to the tree line.

  The sudden urge to run through the snow among the trees suddenly overcame her. She found an old Abeolite suit in her closet and undressed before she changed her mind.

  The cold crisp air caressed her skin with icy fingers, covering her with goose bumps and contracting her nipples to painful little nubs. The familiar prickling sensation started along her arm and moved to her stomach. The thick fur chased the chill on her skin as it spread down her limbs and across her back. She dropped to all fours as her backbone began extending, pushing out into a tail, and her arms thinned to become powerful front legs. Within seconds, she’d fully transformed and sprang down the ramp to hit the snow.

  It was fresh and clean and crisp under her paws. The air sang with life, and above her billions of tiny pinpricks shone from the heavens. She’d forgotten how beautiful this place was.

  Oh, how she’d missed it.

  Like a kid again, Kitt leapt and ran, jumped from rock to rock, bounded over fallen tree trunks, and rolled in the snow. She enjoyed every minute of her snow leopard form—every minute of freedom. She lay down on a rock and licked the fur along her front paws, cleaning off the snow. A hare darted away to her right. The predator in her stirred for a second and she crouched, but she wasn’t hungry for fresh flesh or in the mood to chase, not even for fun.

  The snow-covered branches hung heavy in the moonlight; the wind blew through the trees, carrying the scent of the wilderness. It stirred her blood.

  This was where she grew up.

  This was where she belonged.

  This was her home.

  Kitt sighed contentedly, lay her head down on her paws, and closed her eyes. Music and laughter drifted on the breeze. She lifted her head and listened.

  Since I’m here, I may as well take a look.

  Kitt padded around the lake. The closer she got, the brighter became the lights from the lodge. This was the other side of the Pride life, the sordid side. Far removed from the simple village on the other side of the lake.

  The Jordan Pride Lodge supplied them with the money to be able to live a simple life in the wilderness. It took care of every male, female, and child. The Pride referred to it as the Family Business. While it actively improved the lives of all Jordans, other more illegal activities allowed them power.

  Pride activities allowed them to expand their land further, buying up other surrounding Bestiabeo holdings. It was why they warred with the neighboring Matokwe Pack: they both vied for the same land and the same business.

  Kitt changed back to human and entered the lodge. The large central fireplace added to the warm glow of the wood-paneled lobby with cathedral ceilings. Several people occupied the lounge bar. All the women were young, attractive, and expensively dressed; men’s wear ranged from expensive suits to designer ski wear.

  The lodge was gilt and glitz. A false promised land. It offered a retreat to some of the most powerful and dangerous people in the country. The patrons, both human and parahuman, were men of power and men of wealth, not to mention men of questionable business practices.

  Here they could relax far from the prying eyes of the country’s law enforcement agencies to conduct business in private on the pretext of skiing or hunting. More under-the-table deals were done here than in boardrooms. Some of the most powerful underworld figures in the country, if not the world, had permanent bookings here and brought their mistresses along for a little pampering in the Pride’s health spa.

  “Miss Kathryn,” a voice called from the office behind the concierge desk. “It’s so good to see you after all these years.”

  She looked at the old man, taking another moment to recognize him. “Cuthbert, you’re still here.”

  Her father’s hotel manager smiled as he walked toward her. He was the only human Tyrone entirely trusted; the only outsider he’d allowed to marry into the Pride. When she’d last seen him, he’d been a man in his prime; now he was on the far side of middle-age.

  “They told me you were home, though we didn’t expect you to visit us her
e.” He looked around nervously.

  “What’s wrong, do you have orders to keep me out?” she asked.

  “No,” he said quickly and patted her hand. “No, not at all. It’s just Leon was here earlier, drinking heavily and cursing your name. Belladonna wine. Then others came looking for him.”

  “It’s okay. I just wanted to see the place again before I left tomorrow.” She patted the old man on the shoulder. “Say hello to your wife for me.”

  “I’m sorry your stay couldn’t be longer. I’m sure she would’ve liked to see you.” Cuthbert’s smile grew wider, trying to cover his relief. “How about going out the back. It’s faster to get back to the village.”

  Kitt followed him through the office and down a service passage. They moved through what seemed miles of tunnel and came out where she knew they would. The ski shed. Hanging on the wall were several heavy anoraks and insulated ski pants. Cuthbert handed over a pair of each, which she slipped on over her Abeolite. He also grabbed a set of keys from the small cupboard hanging on the wall and tossed them to her. The number on the key tag matched the snowmobile she stood beside.

  “I’ll send one of the boys to fetch it from your mother’s tomorrow,” Cuthbert said.

  Sleep and a nice warm bed called her name. The trip had been both emotionally and physically exhausting. The snowmobile would get her back to her mother’s much faster than on foot, even four of them.

  “Thank you,” she said to the old man.

  Kitt climbed into the saddle and fired up the machine as Cuthbert pushed open the shed door. She gunned the engine and waved goodbye as she shot out into the night.

  Traveling through the snow and forest on the snowmobile was almost as good as running in felian form. She kept the throbbing machine on the well-worn track between the lodge and the village, its lights shining in the darkness, showing her the way.

  A bright flash exploded behind her eyes. She found herself flying through the air.

  She tumbled.

  And landed hard on her back.