Mia's condition worsened over the next few days. She lay in a catatonic state while Luc, her husband, sat at side slowly falling to pieces. King Casper began military preparations to defend the vampire court and city. Everyone was clearly rattled by Mia's condition and honestly so was I. Rayne was still under the illusion that he was single handedly going to fight off this rebel army of Hell and kill Gwendolyn's evil spawn. I knew Rayne was a capable warrior but ultimately this was not his fight. This was my fight and I needed to prepare the only problem was Rayne.
"Why are you reading that book?" Rayne's voice was flat and deathly serious.
I looked up from my black magic book and saw Rayne's grave expression. I wanted to prepare to fight but Rayne was seriously against it. Groaning I replied,
"You know why."
"I thought we agreed you are going to keep out of this fight. Your Grandmother sent me to protect you and that is what I am going to do."
"But your name is not on the prophecy." I snapped.
"Skyler you are a nature witch," Rayne said struggling with the right terms, "Black magic does not suit you. Stick with your herbs and chants."
Rayne snapped his fingers and the book disappeared. I would have started an argument if I hadn't already learned that I could read as much as I wanted in the magic store I worked in. Greg had closed the store for the past few days so we could work in 'secret'. Bea and I worked on talismans and charms while Greg scoured through the grimoires, (spellbooks), for useful information about demons. Kai on the other hand took a back seat and skulked about in his special reading room. My brother Matt and his friend Dalton took Rayne's side. They had become his secret spies watching my every move. In their mind it was them and Rayne who were going to save me and the rest of the world from Gwendolyn. As I sat with Bea carving a talisman I had a text message from Stephanie.
'Feeling quite sick today, no change on the Mia front- have you heard anything from Aidan?' she asked.
I rolled my eyes, "Stephanie is asking about Aidan." I said to Bea.
"I thought she was all into this Italian guy?"
"That's what I thought."
"Aidan and his pack cleared off, last I heard he had married his cousin or something." Bea said.
Aidan had married his cousin Nadia right on the rebound. I wondered how Stephanie would take the news. I sent her text and waited for a reply. There was nothing.
"I wonder how she took it." I said.
Kai appeared from the back room and came and sat with us. Bea threw him a piece of wood,
"Make yourself useful elf." She said handing him a carving knife.
Kai picked up the knife and effortlessly carved an elabourate charm made of rowan wood. Bea who was struggling with her own carving glanced up from her work to see Kai's finished work. Irratated by his nimbleness Bea threw another lump of wood at him.
"Keep going." She snapped.
I looked at the clock and realized Rayne would be starting his shift at Wendell's right now. Heaving a sigh of relief I put down my work and decided to take a break. I left Bea and Kai and went to see Greg who was sifting through the pages of a black leather book.
"This is real human skin." He said stroking the leather.
"Okay, that's gross." I replied.
"Any news on Mia." He asked.
"Stephanie sent a text saying there is no change. She is still the same. I just wish we knew what Mia saw that scared her so much."
"Whatever she saw, scared her shitless." Greg said grimly.
"Yeah, that makes me nervous." I admitted.
"Judging by the descriptions of some of the demons in this book you should be scared. I've been thinking maybe Rayne is right-"
"Greg, not you too! I have to do this. This is my task-"
"But some of the demons in here are really frightening."
"I know and that's why I'm going to use these talismans to ward them off." I said showing him my latest handiwork.
Greg did not look impressed by my little charm.
"I really think you should reconsider."
"Look, the prophecy says that this is my path not Rayne's."
"How do you know?"
"Because an oracle predicted it. Mia predicted it."
"What if they were wrong?"
"Do you think I should ask for a second opinion?" I said sarcastically.
"Yes I do." Greg said and then looked at Kai who I completely forgot was a fortune teller himself.
Stephanie POV
The castle was filled with a subdued silence over the last few days. Mia lay in a comatose state occasionally waking up to talk some gibberish about blood. Luc remained at her side twenty four seven slowly falling to pieces. The vampires talked quietly amongst themselves debating whether to remain in the castle or flee from the oncoming apocalyptic nightmare. My baby's future was looking bleak. Giacomo wanted to take me away, he came to my room nearly every day and spoke of marriage and family. I honestly didn't want to hear about it I needed a break from men or they needed a break from me. Plus I had grown so big and unattractive I practically waddle everywhere. Rayne dropped by every so often to check on me and Mia. Bea, Greg and Kai called too. I missed all of them.
Queen Sophie remained a steady rock for her people. Skyler rarely called me. She was always preoccupied with work and other things. I guess it was tough going for the saviour of mankind. Rayne was determined to fight the fight for Skyler like Casper wanted to fight for Sophie, but both Skyler and Sophie realized that this was their fight and no one else's.
Sophie and I often walked through the gardens together in the evening. We would talk about life when we were regular high school girls. I told Sophie about how I was bullied to the point of suicide and how I lost all my hair. In few days it will be the school prom and the thought of those girls who bullied me haunted my mind. I knew they would be going to the prom in their expensive gowns and having a wonderful time and that really hurt me. I wish I had the opportunity to go to my prom in a knock out dress and show those bitches that they did not destroy me- but circumstances prevented me. Sophie was sympathetic and said that she would make sure I went to my summer prom- she even said she would let me borrow on of her tiara.
Tonight Sophie and I went on our usual walk. Nico, Sophie's bodyguard, was walking with us for a change, which was rare. Nico usual floated about the castle like a ninja ducking in and out of the shadows spying on us.
"Why are you following us tonight?" I asked Nico.
He was walking several steps behind us as we strolled/waddled through the garden.
"The King's orders." Nico replied.
Sophie lowered her voice, "Mia said something in one of her lucid moments that has concerned him."
"What?" I asked.
Sophie shrugged her arms, "He would not tell me."
"What do you think she said?"
"Probably something about Gwendolyn's baby being born soon." Sophie said.
Gwendolyn was a demon hybrid whose offspring would end the age of man, she was married to Sophie's father and killed Sophie's mother. She also killed Skyler Grandma using a wolfstrap- I was partly to blame for that. Aidan had asked Skyler to dispose of an enchanted item called a wolfstrap which was like a leather bracelet that turned the wearer into a werewolf. Skyler was going to dispose of it when she found me nearly dead in the forest. In the chaos she dropped the strap and forgot about it. Gwendolyn found it and used it to kill Skyler's Grandmother. So we all wanted Gwen and her spawn dead.
"Crap," I said, "What will happen when Gwendolyn does give birth?"
"The war starts. She already has a rebel army in Hell just waiting for the moment to give birth. Once the baby is born then the army will march forward then that's it."
My cell phone suddenly chimed and I received a reply from Skyler,
'Aidan married his cousin Nadia-' I didn't read any more. Suddenly the sickness I felt earlier worsened ten-fold. This shouldn't be happening I didn't love Aidan, so why was I reacting in this way. Sophie grabbed my hand and offered me some support. Nico quickly rushed to my side and lifted me off my feet.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"I smell...bleach." Sophie suddenly blurted out then pointed at my clothes.
They were wet.
"Oh shit." I said, my waters had broke.
*note from angeltwist*
sorry about the massive gap, I've had a hectic last month which has made updating really difficult!!