Night Creatures: Book 2

by Ebony Brightman

  “That’s not even possible.”

  He studied her face. “Will you come see me later? After your appointment?”

  Nisa nodded her head, then reached for a pen. She wrote her cell number on Arlo’s hand. “Text me the address.”

  He took Nisa’s face in her hands. He kissed her forehead then her lips. “I’ll see you this afternoon.”

  Then he kissed her again and walked out the door.

  CHAPTER Eight

  HONNNNNNNK!

  “Jesus, you’re obnoxious.”

  Nisa stared at Blake with wide-eyed perturbation. Blake had insisted on driving. She’d claimed that Nisa had a lot on her mind and that she’d be able to pay better attention to the road. But Nisa was pretty sure that was bullshit, and that Blake just liked driving Nisa’s car. Blake laid on the horn again.

  “Blake! Stop!”

  “These people are driving like assholes.”

  “Welcome to LA.”

  “Pfft.”

  “I thought six months with the shaman would have made you more zen.”

  “It’s all that sugar from the Danishes. It has me on edge . . . Plus, I’m jealous.”

  Nisa laughed. “Of what?”

  “Of ‘uh, uh, oh God! Yes!’”

  She was imitating Nisa and Arlo having sex.

  “Oh, no. You heard that?”

  “I could smell it too.”

  “Don’t be gross.”

  “I’m serious. Arlo sounds like a damn animal.” She made a right turn at the light. “Again, no pun intended.”

  Nisa chuckled. Blake could be irritating, but she always made Nisa laugh. They were ten years apart in age. Their parents had died when they were young, so they’d been raised by their maternal grandmother, and she was gone now too. Her father’s family lived in the Philippines, but they didn’t know them all that well. Mostly they only had each other. The gap in their age made Nisa feel she had to be a kind of surrogate to Blake, but sometimes it was nice when they could just be sisters.

  “So is he?” Blake smiled. “An animal in bed?”

  Nisa was not the type to kiss and tell. And Blake could have a big mouth. But she’d already heard them, and if she was going to be staying at the house for a while, she’d hear them again. Nisa let loose a shit-eating grin. “Girl, yes.”

  “I knew it!” HONNNNNNK!

  Nisa grabbed Blake’s hand. “Stop it! Jesus.” But she couldn’t help laughing. Even though Arlo had pissed her off, she was still tingling from that morning’s orgasm. He knew just how to push her buttons.

  “Tell. Me. Everything.”

  “Uhhh, no.”

  Blake pouted. “Why not?” She tapped the brakes then rapidly switched lanes.

  “Because it’s private. But let’s just say I don’t see myself getting tired of it anytime soon. Or even in the next millennia.”

  “Damn.” Blake shook her head. “Now that I’m back, I need to check my Tinder account. Start swiping again.”

  “So, no one in Peru?”

  “Oh no, there were lots of someones in Peru. Well, not a lot, but enough.”

  “Anyone special?”

  “Not really. Unless you count the shaman. But that was more special like, ‘Hey, this guy is a shaman,’ and less, ‘Oh, this is someone I want to spend my life with.’”

  Nisa looked over at her sister. “You slept with the shaman?”

  Blake shrugged her shoulders. “Sure.”

  “Ewwww.”

  “Says the woman having a baby with a Lycan.”

  “Wasn’t he your teacher? And like super old?”

  “Well yeah, he was my teacher but he wasn’t old. He was in his thirties, and he was cute in a shaman kind of way.”

  “Meaning he was taller than you.”

  Blake snickered. “Exactly.”

  “Oh sister, how I’ve missed you.”

  “I missed you too,” Blake said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t around when you needed me.”

  “Don’t apologize. You have your own life to live.”

  “No. I knew Shane was a dick and I left you alone with him anyway.”

  Nisa looked at Blake, who was carefully keeping her eyes on traffic. “He came on to you didn’t he?” Blake looked at Nisa and then back at the road. “That fucking bastard. What did he say to you?”

  Blake sighed. “He kissed me. Grabbed my tits. Said he’d love to see me come.”

  “Is that the real reason you went to Peru?”

  “Yeah, it was.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Nisa asked quietly.

  “Because I didn’t want to hurt you. I didn’t want you to blame me.”

  Nisa took Blake’s hand. “I would never have blamed you.”

  “You sure about that? I’m Blake the Flake right?”

  “I’m sorry about that, Blake.”

  “Nisa, no. You don’t need to apologize. It was Shane’s doing not yours. The only reason I’m telling you now is because you’re in a place to hear it. And if for some reason this is Shane’s kid and not Arlo’s, I don’t want Shane using it as a window to get back in. You are so different now than when I left. You were so broken then. I don’t think I even realized it. But now you’re a warrior. You’re strong!”

  “I’m trying to be.”

  “You are. I see it. I saw it last night and this morning. You’re different. I like this Nisa. And I like Arlo. And I don’t want my niece or nephew to be raised by that prick.”

  Nisa looked out the window again. “I promise you. He won’t be. No matter what.”

  Nisa wanted to murder Shane, or at least cut off his grubby, grabby hands. The decisions she made from here on out would have long-term consequences—not just for her, but for her baby and everyone around her. But that didn’t stop her from wanting Shane dead.

  Blake turned into the parking structure of the doctor’s office. “I know what you’re thinking. Don’t do it.”

  “What’s that?” Nisa said.

  “That you want to beat Shane’s ass and kick him out of the house.”

  “He put his hands on my sister.”

  “Yes, but kicking him out now would start a world war.”

  “It’d be better for everyone if I just banished Shane from our lives. Especially for Arlo. This whole mating phase thing—”

  “Yeah, what is that exactly?”

  “I have no idea. There are so many things I don’t know about them. I mean you saw him this morning right? Bullet wounds. Completely healed. Just gone.”

  “I noticed. Kinda freaky.”

  “Yeah.”

  “But still. Shane isn’t ready to let go. He’s being the oak tree instead of the reed. He won’t bend. And with what he knows about Arlo, if he breaks, he’ll take all of you with him. Right now he’s convinced he can come out on top. Just wait and find out whose baby it actually is before you do anything rash. I know you think that writing and selling these scripts are the ultimate prize for him, but it’s not. His ultimate goal is you. If you rip that entirely away from him, there’s no telling what he’ll do. Wait until there’s no way for him to hurt you.”

  Nisa hugged her sister. “When did you get so smart?”

  “I’ve always been smart. It’s just that now you’re ready to listen.”

  And Nisa knew that was probably true.

  #

  The doctor’s office was rife with pregnant women, including several for whom labor looked imminent. It fascinated Nisa. She was just starting to show, but in a few short months these women would be her—struggling to sit and ready to burst.

  A nurse called out. “Nisa Lennox?”

  Nisa stood up. “That’s me.”

  She and Blake had only been waiting for ten minutes. Today was Nisa’s first ultrasound. And in spite of the morning’s many revelations she was starting to feel giddy about it. She could learn the baby’s sex and, in a way, they’d be meeting for the very first time.

  She and Blake followed the nurse to the exam ro
om. While Nisa was being weighed and measured, Blake went in search of the ladies’ room.

  The nurse made notes on her chart. “The doctor will be with you in just a minute.”

  “Thank you,” Nisa said. She scooted onto the exam table, being careful not to rip her paper smock. The nurse left the room.

  Her feet dangled as she looked around. There were diagrams and models of vaginas, fallopian tubes and ovaries, and babies getting into birthing positions. None of the women in the posters looked like her. None of them were half Black/half Filipina. None of them had curly hair. And by the smiles on their faces, all of them knew 100 percent who the fathers of their children were.

  Nisa covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. Either she was pregnant by her philandering husband who’d tried to screw her sister, or she was having a baby with a Lycan who she sometimes screwed when furry. If my parents could see me now . . .

  There was a knock on the door, and a woman from reception stuck her head in. “Mrs. Lennox?” Nisa nodded, then the woman opened the door wider. “Your husband made it.”

  Shane walked in, flashing a broad smile. Nisa’s stomach churned as the receptionist blushed and closed the door behind him. He turned to Nisa, still sporting a Cheshire grin.

  “How’d you know where the doctor’s office was?”

  “Joint calendar, remember? Your phone still syncs with it.” Shane dropped into one of the chairs and stretched his legs out in front of himself. He pulled out his own phone and read from it. “10 AM. Dr. Ng. 16-week ultrasound. And there’s a little heart next to it.” Shane turned the screen in her direction. “See?”

  Nisa slapped it out of his hand, and it hit the floor with a crash. Satisfaction ripped through her when she saw the screen had cracked. “I want you to leave.”

  “And I want that dog to keep his dick out of my wife.”

  “I know what you did to Blake.”

  Shane picked his phone up and wiped it on his leg. “Well, she’s hot, Nees. Some things can’t be helped.”

  “You’re a pig.”

  “Is that better or worse than a rabid dog?”

  “Get out of here, Shane.”

  “If Blake doesn’t want male attention she should try wearing a bra.”

  Nisa grabbed the model of a baby fetus and threw it at Shane’s head. He blocked it and jumped up, grabbing Nisa’s arms and cornering her before she could throw anything else.

  “Do that again,” Shane warned, “and you’ll regret it.”

  The door to the office swung open. Nisa and Shane looked to see Blake and Dr. Ng.

  Blake’s eyes were fire. “Touch my sister again and you’ll be the one with regrets.”

  Shane plastered his face with a smile. Then he backed away from Nisa and straightened his clothes.

  “Who are you?” Dr. Ng asked.

  “I’m the husband.”

  “I see.” Dr. Ng leaned back and looked down the hallway. “Jorge? Could you come over here, please?”

  Heavy footsteps echoed in the corridor. Then a large Latino man in scrubs appeared. “What can I do for you, Doc?”

  “Please escort Mr. Lennox out of the office.”

  Shane put his hands up, trying to look friendly. “No need. Just a little spat. I’m happy to wait in the lobby.”

  “No Mr. Lennox, you’ll be leaving. We don’t tolerate men manhandling women in our office. Especially not their pregnant wives. Jorge will escort you all of the way out.” She looked at Jorge for emphasis, and Jorge nodded. “And I don’t want to see you here, ever again.”

  Jorge held his arm out, inviting Shane to lead the way. Shane’s face twisted into something furious. “I’ll see you at home, wife.” Then he stormed out.

  Dr. Ng shut the door behind them. When she turned back around, Blake gave her a high-five.

  “Well,” Dr. Ng exhaled. “Should we get to it then?”

  “Dr. Ng?” Nisa said. “Thank you.”

  “Call me Pamela. It’s been that kind of day.”

  #

  Pamela turned out the lights and wheeled the ultrasound machine over to the examination table. Nisa was lying on her back, Blake holding her hand as she stared at the ceiling tiles. The doctor had already reviewed her weight and blood pressure. So far it all looked good.

  “This is going to feel cool,” Pamela said.

  Nisa shivered as gel spiraled onto her abdomen. She was regretting not having Arlo there. She was grateful that her sister was by her side. But it wasn’t the same as Arlo reassuring her they were in this together.

  Pamela pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, then rolled the transducer in the gel on Nisa’s stomach. Distorted sound waves emanated from the machine. Blake bit Nisa’s hand, excited, but the bite barely registered as Nisa’s eyes were glued to the screen.

  “Well, it looks like we have a foot.” Nisa squinted as Pamela pointed toward an amorphous shape, then swept around toward the top of Nisa’s stomach. “And here’s the head.” There they could see what was the clear shape of a skull with a tiny little nose and mouth.

  Blake squeezed her hand tighter as Nisa’s eyes pricked with tears. Pamela moved the transducer again, shifting it down until something began to flutter. The machine emitted a cyclical sound.

  Nisa’s voice came out softer than she meant it to be. “Is that the heartbeat?”

  Pamela smiled as she again adjusted her glasses. “It is. And a healthy one at that.”

  Nisa rested her head back against the table but continued to stare. This was happening. There was a baby in there. She squinted, looking for proof of paternity. A fang. A pointed ear. But there was none. All she could see was the ultrasonic outline of what looked to be a thriving, developing child.

  “Do you want to know the sex?”

  Nisa nodded her head. “Please.”

  The heartbeat faded as Pamela slid the transducer down and around. “It can be hard to get a good angle sometimes,”—she leaned into the screen—“but today I think the baby’s gonna cooperate.” She pushed the wand in a little harder and her hand traced shapes on the screen. “Right there. See? It’s a girl.”

  “Hot damn,” Blake muttered.

  Nisa was speechless. She was having a girl. She imagined holding a baby that looked just like Arlo, and Arlo holding them both.

  “Thank you, Dr. Ng.”

  “Pamela. We’re on a first name basis now, remember?”

  Nisa felt tipsy, as though she finally had permission to be truly happy. “Thank you, Pamela.” She looked over at Blake. “You’re going to be an aunty!”

  Blake smiled widely. “I’m totally teaching this kid to kick ass.” This time it was Nisa she high-fived.

  Pamela moved the transducer to show a profile view, then hit the print button next to the monitor. A small motor whirred as photo paper curled out of the machine. Pamela trimmed it off like a receipt and handed it to Nisa. “Here you go, mommy.”

  Nisa was still staring at it when Pamela stood up and turned on the lights. Then she passed Nisa a box of tissue, and it was Blake’s turn to stare at the picture while Nisa wiped off her belly.

  Pamela was at the counter making notes on her laptop. “Okay, so the gestational sac and yolk sac look good. Levels of amniotic fluid look good. The cranial and abdominal circumferences are right on target. And so is femur length. Everything here suggests a healthy, happy baby.”

  “Awesome,” Blake interjected.

  “That said . . .” Pamela took a seat on her rolling stool. “This is what we call a geriatric pregnancy. It’s somewhat of an outdated term, but refers to women who are pregnant after the age of thirty-five. It’s more and more common these days for women to wait to have children, but it does carry with it some additional risk factors.”

  “Yes,” Nisa responded, “I’m aware.”

  Blake frowned. “What kinds of risks?”

  Pamela took off her glasses and set them aside. “Well, mainly chromosomal defects and premature birth, or a low birth weight for
the baby. We’ll also want to monitor you for high blood pressure as it can lead to preeclampsia, and watch out for gestational diabetes.” She consulted her chart. “You’re thirty-eight, right?”

  “Yes,” Nisa confirmed, “thirty-eight.”

  “These are factors we’d consider for any pregnant woman, but they occur with higher frequency in women your age. I haven’t seen anything that alarms me, but I’d recommend that you get an amniocentesis just to be safe.”

  “What would they be testing for,” Nisa asked.

  “Chromosomal abnormalities. Neural tube defects. Genetic disorders. Things like Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, spina bifida. Things that might impact your decision to carry to term, or that will help you be better prepared for any special needs the baby might have when it’s born. If the father were African-American we’d also test for sickle cell, in case you were both carriers.”

  “And if I get the amnio,” Nisa paused, “can it be used to test for paternity?”

  Pamela’s eyes were shrewd. “Amnios carry a small chance of inducing miscarriage, so if you were only trying to determine paternity I wouldn’t recommend it. But given your age, I think getting an amnio is worth the risk. Assuming the potential fathers are also willing to get tested, yes, an amnio can answer the question of paternity as well.”

  Nisa was quiet for a moment as she absorbed her options. But Blake had questions of her own.

  “Anything else we should be aware of, Doc?”

  Pamela smiled. Nisa could tell that she liked Blake. Most people did. She looked at Nisa. “You should exercise regularly. If you don’t already have a routine, come up with one but nothing too strenuous. Stick to a healthy diet. Watch your weight. No smoking or drinking alcohol. Keep taking the prenatal vitamins. Try to keep your stress to a minimum.”

  Good luck with that last one, Nisa thought.

  Blake interjected again. “What about sexual activity?”

  “Sex is fine,” Pamela said. “Just make sure your body feels comfortable. If you’re not already, you’re probably going to want to stay off your belly. Also maybe prop your hips on a pillow when you’re having sex on your back. Everyone is different. Some women can’t get enough of it while they’re pregnant and some find it cumbersome or even painful. If something’s not right, your body will tell you.”