“Cathair, speak to the Warriors and have them prepare for battle, in case it is needed,” Cyn asked him as we appeared in Eisha’s hut.
“I shall also prepare two shield groups to bring with us to Italy,” He answered with a nod and turned on his heel, leaving the hut.
Seima sat down on a chair beside me; Lia and Eisha joined us while the men remained standing. Kevan suddenly sat down looking sick.
"Are you okay?" I asked worriedly, when he went pale.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I'm sorry. I didn’t want to say anything until you informed the others, but I’ve been feeling all your symptoms through my healing ability lately. I've used my magic to connect with you, and alleviate the sensations so you can continue on the missions, but the morning sickness is getting worse and I can't take it anymore." He took another slow breath.
“What on earth are you talking about?” I asked confused.
Kevan shut his eyes, resting his back on Eisha’s headboard. "She’s pregnant." He said simply.
I gasped. “What?! Who?”
“Me,” Lia said, seeming pissed. “He means me. I’m pregnant.” All eyes went to her, as I turned, shocked. “Thank you very much for outing me, you doofus!” She sighed. “I was trying to keep it on the down low, but Art and I found out two months ago.” Her hand gently cupped her belly. “I’m not sure how far along I am, but we are going to have a baby.”
"Oh my God!!" I squealed hysterically and hugged her so hard the child might as well have popped out. I pulled back looking at her while Cyn congratulated Art. “I can't believe you are going to be a Mom." Our eyes watered as we looked at each other. She nodded, and we hugged again. "Remember I get to name her, or him." She laughed.
"Can we make it the middle name instead? When we agreed to that, I swore you were getting prego first."
I chuckled. "Sure. We can make it the middle name." My eyes widened as I realized something else. "You can't come on the missions with us anymore. It's too dangerous. You are staying here from now on."
"The hell I am!" She roared standing up. "You see what you did by opening your big mouth!"
Kevan sighed, getting up. He looked much better. The sickness was already gone.
"You must not risk your baby, Lia. It is of the utmost importance that you take care of yourself from this moment on," Seima added tenderly, standing beside her. "That is a priceless gift. You must do anything within your power to make sure that baby is safe. I can stay with you if you wish. Help you through the pregnancy. I would love to be there for you through this experience, if you will allow me that."
Lia smiled at her, taking her hand. "Of course, but I'm not endangering my baby." She turned to look at the rest of us. "I always keep myself far from the action when we travel, and I have Art to protect me, not to mention all of you, plus the military guys to keep me safe. I know I'm the only one here that is not a Warrior, but you've all made sure nothing gets to me since we started this, and you need me. My ability is key in the missions, so don't you dare kick me out."
I stood too placing my hand on Lia’s arm. “I understand, Lia. You are right, we need you, but I could never forgive myself if something happened to you and the baby.”
"It won't," she insisted. "You always protect me, covering me with your light the second we get on location, and we’ve already seen that you can stop pretty much everything with it."
I sighed, she was right about that. It was another little trick Grandpa had hidden in his lullaby. A sort of Light Shield my energy was able to create. It extended from my ability to stop things, like I had done with Cyn's arrow when he shot Felix after he kidnapped us. Thanks to Grandpa's song, I could control it through the light of my Minastra GalIsacura Arthulis, and had used it for a while now, along with a few other things Cyn and I discovered.
“Using my ability to help you and everyone else means everything to me, linda,” Lia continued when I remained silent. “I’m finally doing what I was born to do, what my Grandma wanted me to do. I am honoring her through this, please don’t take that away from me.”
I looked at Art who nodded. “I won’t let anything happen to her.” He vowed. “I know I should be the first to agree with you and keep her here, but I trust her. I know she won’t risk our baby or herself. No one is as protective as I am with her, but Lia is an intelligent, independent and strong woman, and I don’t want to change that. I support her on this.”
Lia smiled at him, and the love and admiration that poured out of Art said it all. I sighed. "Okay, but this means I will stay out of the front line, and remain with you at all times, protecting you. Cyn and the others will just have to lead without me." Cyn nodded with a small smile just as Lia opened her mouth to protest. "No. That is not a request,” I added sternly. “If you want to stay in the mission, your ass better be next to me at all times."
“I shall be by your side from now on too. Help protect her,” Seima vowed, and I smiled at her.
Lia chuckled. “Deal.”
Kevan got to us and smiled at Lia. Moving her hand, he placed his palm on her stomach. Art visibly tensed. "I knew you were pregnant because I could feel it from the first week.” His eyes closed while his hand began to glow. “That was over ten weeks ago. You are almost three months pregnant, Lia.” When his lids lifted, emotion shone in his gaze.
Lia’s eyes filled with tears when she looked at Art. He was by her side instantly, kissing her and holding her close.
Kevan’s gaze focused on Seima, and he moved standing in front of her. “I’m sorry, I was feeling bad and didn’t stop to think. I realize now that you might not even be aware, and for that I’m sorry. I was insensitive. When I said she’s pregnant, I meant you, Seima. Your morning sickness is killing me.”
The door suddenly opened as Cathair returned. His gaze went over the room and his brow furrowed. “What have I missed?”
The silence stretched as we all stood there, shocked. Seima’s gaze remained locked with Kevan’s, Cyn and I could feel the disbelief rolling through her in waves, mixed with distress.
“I’m pregnant.” Lia answered, diffusing the situation, and Cathair looked at her surprised. His arms hugged her tightly, then congratulated Art.
"I am so happy for you, my friends. This is a wonderful day." The emotion was evident in Cathair while he looked over the room again. “What else has happened?”
“Seima is pregnant,” Kevan answered, certain. Cathair took a step back as though someone pushed him. The air rushed out of him.
“What?” Seima asked, regaining her voice.
“You are pregnant?” Cathair whispered astonished, walking to her. His chest rose sharply with his uncontrolled breaths.
Seima’s soft golden hair swayed, while she shook her head adamantly. “No. You must be mistaken, a chara. It is not possible, I...”
“It is,” Kevan assured unwavering.
"No. No, you are mistaken," she said relentlessly. "I cannot bear children. I will never be a mother. I have made my peace with that." Her gaze went to Cathair, who stood next to her, silent. "We both have."
Kevan reached for her hand. “It is possible, because I healed you."
"What do you mean, a chara?" Seima asked her face hardening. She was closed off to the idea of having a child. She was for many years. I imagined it was the best way to protect herself. “Do not attempt to spread hope where there is none. The Mòr Sagart told me I shall never have kids.”
Her voice became harsher as her distress grew. Cyn and I exchanged a concerned glance.
Kevan's expression softened. "A couple of months ago you and I spoke, and I told you I sensed an illness wanting to attack your body, that I needed to heal you before it became worse, remember?"
Seima’s eyes suddenly moved from him as the memory apparently came to her. She slowly nodded, frowning, and swallowed as her gaze refocused on him.
"I lied," Kevan confessed, and her expression transformed to disbelief. "I told you that because I could feel so
mething in your uterus, but I wasn't sure what it was, and I didn't want to give you false hope or worry you. When I touched you, I was able to recognize what was happening. I felt an uncomfortable pressure in my belly when I was around you, and I didn't know what it was until I finally ‘saw’ it within my ability. Your tubes were twisted, probably something that happened during your development. It's a rare condition, but some women go through that. The position of the tubes doesn't allow pregnancies—similar to when they get their tubes tied—but it can be fixed with modern medicine, or in this case, with my healing ability."
Seima shook her head unyieldingly, reluctant to believe even as Kevan explained. “If you are telling the truth, then why did the Mòr Sagart not heal me?”
Kevan sighed, understanding her mistrust. “We come from two different worlds. He was not aware then, because during his time this condition wasn’t known, so it couldn’t be healed. In my world it can, and my ability guided me to.” His other hand rested on hers and he squeezed it reassuringly. “That night, when I allowed my healing energy to flow through you, it slowly straightened your tubes into their natural position. That is a why it took me so long to heal you. Didn't you feel a difference in your body then?"
She blinked taken aback, and her gaze dropped to the floor. "I… I felt lighter, healthier, but I supposed it was just the illness leaving my body. I did not realize anything had chan…” She stopped, and her gaze returned to him. The walls she built throughout the years disappeared before our eyes. “Is this true, a chara? Could it be?”
Kevan nodded, smiling. “You are pregnant, Seima.”
Her hands flew to her face, covering it as she began crying. Cathair immediately pulled her into his arms, and kissed her desperately. His lips moved all over her face as he rained kisses of happiness on her, and tears fell from his eyes.
“I am with child,” She mirrored Kevan’s words barely believing it. The tears spilled from my eyes too, when Cathair kneeled in front of her and kissed her belly.
"This is a glorious day indeed. Thank you, Mother Goddess." He prayed, resting his forehead her stomach.
"No," Lia added and once again all eyes went to her. A knowing look flashed across her face. "This had nothing to do with the Goddess. It was not her place to intervene. It was someone else's." Certainty filled her words as she smiled. "This was all Kevan."
I wiped my cheeks to no avail; more tears grazed my skin. Cathair stood and squeezed the hell out of Kevan with a bear hug. We chuckled, but the sound was accompanied by sniffs of joy all around us. Everyone was crying, although Art and Cyn were pretending not to be affected by the turn of events. Men. Cyn kissed my cheek and held me close to him, just as Cathair did the same with Seima. Art sat on the chair behind Lia and carried her to his lap, cradling her to him. Kevan walked to Eisha, taking her in his embrace too, and at that moment we all shared the absolute happiness we felt.
Cyn kissed my temple, and I smiled looking at the love that surrounded us. He was right. This was worth fighting for and risking everything to protect. My eyes went to the table as the cell phone John had given us beeped. Art handed it to me.
“Hello?” I said putting him on speaker.
“High Priestess. I thought you’d want to know. We just heard from our asset in Italy.”
“What did she say?”
“Nothing exactly. She sent us a video instead. It confirmed what I originally thought. She was under surveillance and at risk of blowing her cover. It’s why she didn’t communicated before, but this video was worth risking everything. You need to see it.”
Cyn and I reacted instantly. My staff materialized as Cyn threw his stones in the air and a few seconds later we were all back at the gird.
“What is it?” I walked towards the desk where John was sitting, scaring the bejesus out of him.
“Shit.” He whispered, holding his chest and stood, the cell fell on the desk. “I’m never getting used to that.” He shook his head as Kevan approached him. “Can you help me transfer the video to the monitor?”
Kevan nodded, but he was already working on it. He had always been the technology guru of The Brotherhood. Most of the current systems they used to scan our magic were designed and built by Kevan. He pulled a small chip-looking antenna from a drawer and connected it to John's phone. Pointing it towards the massive display on the front wall, he slid his finger over the cell's screen as though he was tossing the video literally out of the phone. The next second, it appeared on the giant monitor.
The images took a moment to register. The woman was going down dark stairs and whispering as she filmed. It was a cave-like place, and her voice had an echo, which made it more difficult to understand. Kevan's fingers rushed over a keyboard, and the image flickered on the screen then began all over. We could hear her voice clearly now.
"They have them down here," She whispered without explanation as she went. "I discovered them this week because the Romans were hiding them even from us, but with you raiding their other branches, they got nervous and gave away their secret. They’ve been on me like flies on honey, so I waited until I knew I could get you the Intel you needed, John. They keep this area heavily guarded, and I took out two guards to be able to get through the stairs, so I know I will get caught sending you this, but these people need your help. I hope you have the full team, and come here next."
Her voice stopped when she pulled a gun with a silencer, and shot three guards who rushed her as she got to the bottom level. Another one jumped her and the video blurred while she turned and hit the man in the throat. He stumbled backwards and fell to the floor. Pulling the keys from his belt, she rushed towards the dungeon and opened the first gate. She ran through a corridor as new voices of enraged guards came from behind her. Her frantic face appeared on the screen.
"They are here. I'm out of time. They brought thirty more this week."
The camera turned again, showing cell after cell filled with people along the hall, all the way to the back. The people clung to the bars as she ran along the hallway filming them all. It was all happening so fast that we couldn’t really see their faces, but there had to be a reason why she needed us to see. She could have sent a message saying they had prisoners, yet she risked her safety to film it instead.
“Come help them, please!”
She yelled as one guard got to her, grabbing her. The phone fell to the floor, and to our dread, we saw her fight four guards at once. She shot one and knocked two unconscious in three seconds, there was no denying she had skills, but five more men appeared, grabbed her and twisted her arm, the gun falling to the floor. She screamed in pain but still reacted. Using her feet, she pushed herself up the wall, jumped and landed behind the guard, kicking his back. Her arm dangled from its socket, but she kept fighting until one kicked her in the chest so hard, she flew backwards against the bars of a cell. Her back connected harshly with it, and she fell face first to the floor.
“Help them…” she whispered just before her eyes rolled back and she lost consciousness.
“Oh, my God,” Lia whispered shocked cupping her mouth as everyone else remained silent.
My gaze returned to John, and I noticed the slight trembling of his tense body, his hands fisted, and his skin was stark white. I had no doubt he wanted to kill every single man who touched her and I couldn't blame him.
"How did she sent the video if they captured her?” I asked.
"It was a live feed but I recorded as it played. This happened while I watched in real time." The pain and rage in John's voice were disheartening.
“Do you recognize where that is, Kevan?” I asked, hoping we could go there immediately.
He shook his head. “I can’t see enough to distinguish it.”
“Play it again,” I said, hating myself for it. We watched over and over, looking for a clue but there was nothing. “Again.”
I asked for the fifth time, walking closer to the monitor. There had to be something that could help us. My eyes watered as I watched t
he assault the Roman guards had put the SEAL through. Taking a deep breath and pushing the tears back, I focused until her face hit the slab and she pleaded one last time. My gaze shifted away from her, unable to see the blood anymore, and my eyes widened.
“There!” I shouted pointing at the screen. There was a sign visible through the small slit window in the back, which looked like a basement window. It reminded me of the underground apartments in Washington—Grandpa and I lived in one once. “Wherever they are, the dungeon is almost street level. Can you clear the image enough so we can see the street name?” Before the last word left my mouth Kevan was already typing away, working on the video quality.
The pixels on the monitor began to move until it became a perfect shot. Kevan zoomed in on the sign that stood at the corner across the street. It was far enough that we could see it even from street level, close enough that we were still able to read it.
"Via Margutta,” Kevan said walking closer. “I know where they are. That’s in the center of Rome.”
I turned towards John. "Where is the rest of the team?"
“They are in the different locations, guarding the rescued men and women.”
"Go with Art to get them all. Hurry, we need to leave as soon as we can." He nodded once and walked towards Art. They disappeared through the portal. My gaze returned to the image as Kevan zoomed out. "Play it again."
“Brina,” Kevan’s voiced was pained.
“I’m okay, I promise," I lied. I was having trouble deciding if I should throw up, assist John in killing every Roman there, or cry my eyes out for what those people and that poor woman had gone through while there. That video would give me nightmares for ages. "We need to figure out why it was so important to her that we saw this video. Why didn't she just send a message? Why did she want us to see those people? Play it again."
He took a deep breath, and I braced myself. Cyn held my hand, offering me what little support he could as we all witnessed the cruelty of the Romans one more time. The others returned and remained still, everyone was tense and hurting around me. I could feel the distress in their essence through my bond with Cyn—the same one we felt—and I sent a silent prayer to the Goddess. I prayed that we could find out what she needed us to know before we went to rescue this woman and those people. It was important enough for her to risk everything. The video ended with the same image of her unconscious, beat up face. My eyes welled with tears as I stared at her.
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