Chapter 24 The Surprise

Hazel knocked on the door. "Are you ok Zuri?" "Come in." Hazel went in and shut the door. "I'm fine. I didn't know you were home." "Yeah well I'm home. So what happened?" "You met Soma right?" "Yes is that a problem?" "Sigh. He's my bodyguard. Not only that, he is uncles love child. He never knew the woman was pregnant." "Oh wow. So is he going to see him?" "Yes. I promised him I would go with him to see Aiden." "Oh OK that's good. Is that what you are upset about?" "Yeah why? Why aren't you surprised?" "I knew right away he was related to Aiden." "How? Well he looks a lot like him." "Really? I never really took time to look. Anyway. I don't know what to do." "Well first thing you can do is get your sulking butt out of bed. Then get your baby and bring your family with us to see your surprise."

We all started walking toward the forest. "How much longer Hazel." "Do you recognize where you are Zuri?" she looked around. "Wait. I know where we are going. Why are we going to the lake? Are we going to see Eri?" "You'll see." Just as she was about to get to the lake, something went right through her. NO one knew she had gotten hit until she was too quiet. Hazel turned around. "Hazel." "Shit. NO. Zuri!" "Droll!" "Kade! Take the baby to the house!" "Yes father!" "So it's a house over here. He. I find out the surprise, and I won't get to enjoy it." "Don't say that Zuri! You will survive! I promise you." Soma came over. "I might be able to heal her. I need some room." It was getting worse. She closed her eyes. "NO! Zuri!" yelled Hazel. "Hang in there Zuri. I've got your back. I was late." He put his hand on the wound. "Shit. Its not working. What the hell was she shot with?" Then Soma turned around. "Don't touch it! If its what I think it is, it will hurt demons. Hazel. I need you to be with Rio. I need Kade here. He hasn't shifted yet." "OK sure." A bit later Kade came over. What do you need?" "Do you see the smoking object? I need you to pick it up. You can right now because you haven't turned yet. That is why your sister isn't healing. I know one thing that might help. Are you Droll and Kade the only immediate family?" "Yes. We are." "Ok. I need you both to touch close to her wound. Not on the wound." They both put there hand down. She was feeling the attachment to them. She was fighting. "That's it. Keep going Zuri. You can do it." then once she was healed, they let go. She slowly opened her eyes. "What just happened?" "Oh thank goodness it worked. Sigh." Then Kade showed her what shot her.

"This was went though you just now. Who would do this to you?" "NO. They found me. Shit!" "Who is after you Zuri?" said Soma. I sat up. "Easy now." Said Dad. "Sigh. I'm good. OK let me start from the beginning. When I was living with aunt Lia, I grew up like a normal girl. Then I found this little boy who was hurt. He looked about 5 or 6 years old. I helped him then I took him to his parents. They turned out to be bad guys. I didn't know who they were at the time. I was taken. They did experiments on me. They found out what weakened me and what didn't. I was so weak I couldn't move. Then one of my friends found me. His name was Zax. He got me out of there and to a hospital. I barely survived. Uh. Once I was well enough, I saw my aunt and uncle. They told me who the people were. They were people after the royal family. I didn't understand what that meant. I didn't know I was royal. I asked my aunt Lia and uncle Ben but they kept quiet. She kept saying that I would know when the time is right. Now I know. I was the one they were after. Other than experiments I don't know what they would want. I still don't."

"They are called the Rising Phoenix. I've been the same place you are. I've been shot with the same weapon. Its not only water demons, but all demons. How old were you when you were attacked?" "I was 10 years old." "Yes that is the youngest they experiment on, unless they change it." "Do you know what they want?" "No. I don't. Try not to get kidnapped again." "I'll try not to." Then I looked up at dad and Kade. "Ok someone help me up." Soma and Kade Helped me up. "Ok lets see the house that Hazel surprised me with."

Soma Dad and Kade stayed close and kept their senses up now. They don't want her or someone else getting hurt. "Ok here we are." She looked around. "No way." She put her hand over her mouth. "What is it Zuri?" said Kade. "Nothing. Kade you or dad might need to hold Rio. I need to talk with Hazel." "Ok sure." Dad and Kade looked confused.

I ran up to the house. Soma ran up with her. When I got there, I yelled, "Hazel Arson!" Then Soma caught up, with dad and Kade at her heal. "Uh oh. What did I do now?" "You know Darn well what you did! Give the baby to Kade." He gave the baby to Kade. Then we went out back. "So do you know what you did now?" "Uh no?" "This house maybe?" "Oh the house. Yeah I sort of secretly went to your uncles house and saw one of the pictures you drew. I redrew the picture at work. I had to have your uncle Ben translate what it said, so I wrote that as well under the picture. I normally don't do that with my paintings." "I see. And that painting?" "Well I assumed you didn't want to see it so, I put it in the Attic." "You even… Why? Why did you do this?" "You really don't know why?" "Well I sort of do. Its because you love me and Rio. When I dreamed of this house, I didn't know I was demon. I just liked swimming." "Yeah your uncle told me. As for the 4 kids?" She blushed. "OK slow down there tiger. We aren't even married. As for the other thing, we can go tonight." His eyes were shocked. Then he cleared his throat. "OK then." Then they went inside to join the others.

"Sigh. Ok. Well. You all are going back home tonight except for Soma. I was hoping you two can take Rio with you." "Yeah. We understand." Said dad. "Until then, do you all want to visit our friend Eri?" "Well the only one that can go under is you and Hazel you know?" "I can bring her up. But you don't have to stay out of the water. It's a nice day today." "Good idea." Said Hazel. "Lets go." Then Hazel turned and dove down with her.

"Its been awhile since I've been in here. It feels so nice." Then I twirled around and around. "Ok don't make yourself dizzy." "I know. Ok lets go." Then off she went. Hazel rushed after her. He wasn't the same demon as her, but he was a water demon.

"We wait here and I call Eri." So she cleared her throat. "Eri." Then she heard a swimming sound. "Oh hello Hazel. You came too?" "Yeah. She wanted me to. Also we have some people who want to meet you and show you something." "Oh really? Ok. Oh how is Tyson doing?" "Oh he's good. He is going to be busy. He is a magician assistant, and he is continuing his healing training." "Oh good. We were worried about that. Dad knows I'm hanging out with you. He said if I went to the surface to be careful." "Ok then. Come on." Then we all swam up.

"We are back everyone!" I yelled. Then I saw dad holding the baby. "Oh Eri. You haven't met my son yet." "He is 6 months old now." "Oh he is so adorable." "Hello little Rio. Can I hold him?" "Sure his a little active thing." She swam over to Dad. "Here you go. Be careful." He had a water diaper on. "Well hello there. I'm your Aunti Eri. You are so adorable." He giggled at her. Then he clapped. "He likes you Eri." "Yeah. So what did he do to Tyson?" "Oh he blew raspberries at him and laughed. That usually means he either doesn't like them or things they are funny." "Oh that's to be expected." "So want to come see what Hazel surprised me with?" "Yeah give me a minute. Ok now lets go." Then she came out with us. Hazel turned back to human and Eri was shocked. "Woah your fiancé is handsome." "Yeah I think he is in both forms." "Yes. He is. Oh and Eri. I didn't tell you this, but I am stuck like this now." "Yes I know. Father got a letter from yours." "Ok good." "Well if you ever want to live with me and father, You can. Well until we see what demon Kade and your son are. As for your father, well if he wants to visit, I can temporary put a spell on you to help you breathe." "Well we have a few years to make our decision. Plus look at this." Eri saw the house that Hazel had made for her. "Wow gorgeous." "Haha Wait until you see inside." Then Eri went inside. "Woah. Gorgeous. Then she looked inside the bedrooms and all the rooms. "So where did this idea come from?" "Ah you know a children's drawing come to life." "Oh well it's a pretty good idea. OK so what do we want to do?" "Hmm. Hazel what shall we do? It is getting late." "Oh well lets see. What do you girls usually do. You two girls can spend time together." "OK then we will be off." Then I took Eri out with me.

"Ok here we are." I knocked on the door of Kira's door. "Hello Zuri." "Oh she is pretty. Follow me." "After this you have to go home huh?" "Yeah I should." "Ok. Hey maybe when I have time we can hang out during the day." "Yeah good idea." "Ok now. This is my neighbor. She will do Zuri. I will do you Eri." "Oh is this a spa?" "Yep." "Oh and who is that handsome man next to you?" "Oh don't mind him. He's my bodyguard. He is also my cousin. As far as I know he is single Kira." She blushed. "Hey I'm you know I'm not looking right now. Plus its already been a year since he died. I haven't gotten over it yet." "Oh I forgot. Sorry. I know what its like." "Yeah I know." "Anyway this is a happy day. Lets get started." So they smeared stuff over our faces then did our fingers and toes. Then a few minutes later, they took off the mask. Their face was glowing. "Oh and Eri. The water won't interfere." "Cool. Well I better go." "Wait let me see you off. Come on Soma." "Wait his name is Soma?" "Yeah why?" "Uh no reason."

I saw her off with Soma then I went back with him. "She seems to be an interesting girl." "Haha yeah. Hazel said I attract lets just say unique people." "Haha that's a polite way to say it." I rolled my eyes then we get home.

"I'm home. I am pooped." "Oh where is everyone?" "Hazel?" "I'm here!" He came down to meet us. "They went home because it was getting late. Come on up. Did you eat?" "Yeah I ate. I went to Kira's" "I see your skin is glowing." "Yeah we did a spa night." Then he grabbed me and started kissing. I tried to talk but he wouldn't listen. He kissed me to shut me up. Then we had some adult fun for the first time being together.

"That was…" "Awesome. Right?" said hazel. "Yeah. I missed that feeling." I looked at Hazel. "You know, you don't have to turn demon to do this?" "I know. I won't all the time. I wanted to the first time." "Ok now lets go again." This time he stayed human. Then we had a couple of rounds then we showered.

I cleaned up. Then got dressed. "Do you know how long it takes for my kind to have a baby?" "Yeah. I had a friend who had a girlfriend the same as you are. It takes only 5 to 6 months to have a baby." "Oh ok. Only 2 months more than a human. That's good. I just don't want to have a baby until after the war is over." "Plus Rio will be a good big brother at 2 or 3 years old." "Yeah its better if we try after the war." "Lets go to sleep now." Then I snuggled up to him. Then we both fell asleep.