Stranger Things

Snow blankets the streets in a winter wonderland, something about it feels familiar. Ren runs beside me, in his wolf form, causing the few people out this early to look at us with alarm. I smile at an elderly woman while we wait for the light to change. I wish he'd stop using his wolf form so willy nilly. The light finally changes, so we continue our morning run.

I can already smell the honey cakes from the vendor at the end of the park. They're tiny dome-like pastries filled with gooey honey and bits of hazelnut dusted with powdered sugar. Ren found them one morning, ever since we purposely make our morning run in the direction of the park. The tiny table is operated by an elderly man that sets up shop even when the market doesn't. He smiles at our approach, seating a cake on one of the stools for Ren.

"How are you?" I ask, taking one of the cakes he offers.

"Better now that you two are here," he says.

"You know," I say, between bites, "we've been buying cakes from you for almost a year now, and we still don't know your name."

"Call me Uncle Feng," he says, giving us the warmest smile, I've ever seen.

"Are you a phoenix?" I ask jokingly.

Uncle Feng just chuckles, while wrapping up a few cakes, "I'll be gone for some time," he says, "I need to check on Family."

"How long will you be gone?"

"I don't know yet," Uncle Feng hands me a box filled with honey cakes, waving away the money I offer. "No need," he says in a manner that makes me not question him.

Ren wolfs down his cake, nudging my leg to continue. I thank Uncle Feng as we head towards the MorningStar, I need my mocha.

###

The loft I share with Ren, and his pack is empty. Someone made sure to clean up, probable Beth the others are too messy. We head upstairs, I set the mochas and cakes down on the vanity. Ren changes forms stretching in the process. Why can't he change forms, without having to be naked? It's so annoying. Not that his bad looking if anything, he's arrogantly handsome, and those abs with the damned lines.

"You're more than welcome to touch," he says, pulling on black jeans.

"Who wants to touch you?" I ask, taking off my running shoes.

"Well," he says, wrapping his arms around me, "last night if I recall correctly, you pleaded for more and more."

I turn and swat his shoulders. He just snickers as I push him to the side, and head for the shower.

"You're an insufferable bastard."

"But I'm your bastard," he shouts.

"You better not eat any of my cakes!"

"Of course, not."

"Ren!"

"Yes, dear," he pops his head into the shower.

"Go away," I say.

"I could join you," he says, wiggling his eyebrows.

"I don't think so."

"If that's what you want."

"It is."

"Fine," he says, closing the shower door. Insufferable indeed.

###

I wake to the caress of winters wind; I reach for Ren but his side of the bed is empty. He probably went out to look the pack, they haven't been home for three days now. Granted, it's not uncommon for them to take off for weeks at a time.

I'm about to turn the side lap on when the smell of blood hits me. Fuck. It makes me nauseous and hungry at once, I swear being pregnant is brutal.

I grab the blade I keep under my pillow and carefully make my way towards the smell. Two forms are lying prone in a pool of their blood. A third on the dining table. Just as I take a step forward, my water breaks causing me to miss my footing and almost stumble down the stairs. What the fuck, not now. Where's Ren?

Something moves a pungent smell radiating from it. Why didn't I sense anything? Oh, fuck that hurts. Just breathe and kill that thing. In and out in and out. Every step is more painful than the last. I catch a glimpse of the figure as runs towards the stairs. What I see has me perplexed.

It's Andrew but it's not, his skin is a mixture of scaly patches and tattered feathers. His eyes glow like embers, a horn protrudes from his back, and acid seems to drip from his cracked fangs. It burns a hole through the wood.

"I should have killed you that night," I say, as he moves towards me, I swing over the railing landing surprisingly graceful.

He tries to say something but it comes out as gurgle of acid.

"Come at me," I say, graving my sword from the wall. After marrying Ren, I retired from hunting for the mob, it seemed fitting the sword be given a resting spot.

Andrew's movements are becoming slow, although that could be a ruse. He launches at me and is nocked to the ground by a wave of dark energy.

"Don't tell your mother," the beautiful stranger says. Andrew is incinerated in what looks like dark flames. Flames I've seen in dreams.

"Who are you?"

"Long story," he says, eyes like honey-dipped emeralds look me up and down stopping at my belly.

"What the fuck?" Ren rushes forward, I step between him and the stranger causing him to halt his change.

"Where were you?"

"Beth called said they were in trouble," he says taking in the loft, "they weren't there."

"Where?"

"The Hecate."

"Fuck that bastard, oh gods it hurts," I say, placing a hand over my throbbing belly.

"What did you do to her?" the stranger asks.

"Me, I should be asking you that."

"Not now," I growl, turning to the stranger, "help me."

He grits his teeth scooping me up into his arms the notion familiar. Even his scent of night blossom is familiar.

"Really?" a female voice asks as we appear in a room with billowing curtains.

"I just couldn't watch anymore," the male says, as he sets me on the softest bed I've ever been on.

"Yeah," I couldn't either the female says coming to my side.

"You can't be real," I say as the female from my dreams stands before me.

"Oh, but we are, sweet child," she says, moving a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Who are you?' Ren asks.

"That's not important right now," the female says. Another female appears at my side, she reminds me of Nora.

"Wow," another voice says.

"Out," the new female says, just as another wave of pain hits me.

She places a hand over my belly, then moves between my legs.

"I need you to push when I tell you to okay," she says placing a sheet over my legs.

The female from my dream places me in a sitting position. The moment she places her hands over my shoulders I relax.

"Push," someone commands, I'm too out of it to register who.

I do as I'm told, pushing several times until something tears out of me. The moment I hear crying, clarity hits me.

"Mom," I say, as everyone looks at me.

"Fuck," Roan says, "I'm an Uncle."

"What?" I say remembering the event of the last few years no days. What? "Oh no."

"Oh yes," Mother says, handing me a chunky baby one of his eyes is the same red as my own the other is silvery black.

"How?"

"Do you, really need us to explain how sex works?" Roan asks and Eira hits him.

"I told you to get out."

"Woman."

"Okay, okay."

"You're not done with your trial," Father says, as he kicks an unconscious Ren.

"Was that necessary?" Mother asks.

"Felt necessary," Father says.

"The little one needs to remain here," Mother says, "had your Father not intervene it wouldn't be necessary."

"What if I don't finish my trial?"

"You'll lose half your immortality, or die."

"I understand," I look down at the sleeping baby. So small, so fragile. I kiss his forehead before handing him off to Mother, "take care of him for me."

"Don't worry, you'll be back before his old enough to remember you left."

"Now," Father says, tossing Ren onto one shoulder, "you won't remember any of this until your trial is over. As far as your aware you almost died during the attack and lost your baby." He places a hand on my crown and I hear his voice in my mind, "sleep."