Baby Azalea

"Who is the winner now, my love?" Inez smiled. She still had energy left in her after being delivered of a baby, because of the ice power she possessed. She looked at her child with so much love and affection.

"Right. I lost, but how?" He pouted his lips. He was so confident that she will give birth to a baby boy. He couldn't imagine himself losing to his wife.

"Come here, will you? Do you not want to see our baby?" She said, beckoning on him to come closer.

"She is charming," he said, admiring the little one in her arms. She looked cute, but exuded a strange aura that no one could explain. Her smile was alluring, her eyes, though seemed unusual, made her look like a goddess. Her soft scarlet hair matched her eyes. Such a cornucopia of beauties!

"Of course, she is. She is just like her mother, right?" She teased him, wriggling her eyebrows.

He took the baby in his arms, as he stared at her, as though he were communicating something that no one would understand.

"What do we name her?" He heard her ask.

"Azalea," he whispered. Inez looked at him, trying to grasp what he meant.

"Hm?"

"Her name is Azalea Lennon Dracula."

"Such a beautiful name, my love. Where did you get that from?" She asked, as he sat beside her.

Before he could answer her, the door flung open. His mother, Bruce, the sorceress, and Duke Lennon came in.

"Look at you! You are now a father," his mother whined, expressing happiness.

"Hey, man. You surprise me, from a cold iceberg, to a loving husband, and now? A caring father. I'm proud of you," Bruce said, patting his back. He continued, "can I hold her?" He did not wait for a reply when he tried to carry Azalea.

"Hey! Be careful, do you know how to carry a baby?" He pouted, using his arm to shield her.

The two men began to exchange words like kids, making the room to echo with laughter from the women.

"What is her name, dear?" The sorceress asked Inez. The room was silent, as they stood there to listen to the baby's name.

"Her name is Azalea. Azalea Lennon Dracula."

"Dracula?" Duke Lennon asked, looking perplexed.

"Yes, father. Michael gave her the name."

"You know what Dracula means, right?" Queen Iryz asked.

"Enough with the serious talk. Let's mer—" Michael said, swallowing the remains of his sentence, as the thunderstruck.

"What is going on?" Duke Lennon asked no one in particular.

It rained heavily, the thunderstorm, the lightening… It was a sign, but what sign could it be?

*A year later…*

"Baby Azalea, where are you?" Bruce whined, searching every nook and cranny for her. Azalea had learned how to walk, which was unusual and surprising to everyone, for a year-old baby. She did things that were older than her age.

"Got you!" Bruce yelled, grabbing her from behind the tree. She giggled, and threw her legs in the air, as though she were riding a bicycle.

She spoke gibberish, and Bruce mimicked her.

"Are you sure you would rather not be a kid again?" He heard someone say. He need not be told that it was Michael.

"Can you communicate in her gibberish language? I'm talented, man."

"Dada," she called, swinging her hands in the air to get her father's attention, trying to ask him to carry her.

"Come to Daddy, my little princess."

"Yay!" She exclaimed, giving him a wide smile, showing her milk teeth.

"It is time to eat, honey. You will play with Uncle Bruce later."

"Look how dirty you are, Azy!" Her mother exclaimed.

"Don't yell at her, she's just a kid. Besides, she is not injured." Queen Iryz said, taking off Azalea's cloth.

Inez sighed. She never thought parenting was such a huge responsibility. Maybe she was just overprotective of her, or perhaps Azalea was just so different from every other child, and hence, required special treatment.

"Any updates?" Michael asked, switching to his leadership mode. He received a report that Amadeo was planning to attack them, and start a war.

"With the mysterious man and his minions forming an alliance with Amaldeo's army, they plan to start a war to take over Manchester. What we do not know is when they intend to attack." One of the soldiers said.

"Manchester is not safe, until the war is over. We do not know what their plans are, but I want you to be ready. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Michael, I need to talk to you," Bruce said, after the dismissed from the meeting.

"Not now, Bruce. My wife is waiting for me, and I miss her already," he said, looking innocent.

"It is important."

"The only important information I need is when they plan to attack. If not, goodnight." He shut the door.

Bruce sighed. He needed to let him know.

The clashing sounds of swords were heard. Manchester was under attack. An unexpected visitation.

"Everybody, run for safety. Go to the safe house now!" Bruce yelled, protecting the villagers with some soldiers.

"I need you to listen to me. Whatever happens, do not leave here," Michael instructed his wife.

"No, I will go with you this time. Mother and the sorceress will take care of Azalea. Please don't stop me," she pleaded.

There was no time for argument, and so, he accepted.

Michael fought his way to the mysterious man, while, Inez attacked Eris.

"Oh, Hello there. You look hot and fierce."

"Shut up, you fool. Are you not ashamed of yourself?" She spat bitterly.

His ego was crushed, and anger blared.

He attacked her with full force, but her movements were quite fast.

Her sword tore his arm, and he was shocked.

"I see you learned how to fight. I've been easy with you, now, I will show you the man here."

"I wish you were the one," she scoffed.

She kicked him, and he fell to the ground. She was not aware of the minion behind her.

"Inez!"

She heard someone scream her name, she turned around to see him lying in a pool of blood.

"No!" She yelled, falling to the ground, as she cried on him.

"I… I'm sorry—"