The last several weeks had taken their toll on Emma. She was exhausted. Pregnancy did that to a person in the early months. Coupled with her ordeal, and near death experience, it was no wonder she drifted off when she rested her head on Kai’s shoulder. She slept almost the entire flight as Kai whisked her away on the private jet he’d chartered for their journey.
She dreamed she and Kai were alone at the cabin. They were happy.
Kai held Emma’s hand as they walked the mountain trails. They laughed together as they walked. They’d made love at the cabin in front of the fire before going on their walk. Emma had never felt so content in all her life. Everything was perfect.
The forest surrounding the cabin suddenly grew dark. The temperature dropped. Thick, hairy arms snaked around her middle. He captor squeezed, cutting off her air as he pulled her away from Kai. The hot, fetid breath of her captor burned her cheek as he taunted Kai. A creature with bat-like wings, thick leathery skin and large glowing black eyes held Kai at bay with a knife to his throat.
The scene changed abruptly. Emma was no longer in the forest with Kai or held by the hideous beast that captured her. She was cold, wet and alone in a dark cavernous prison. There was only the tiniest shred of light illuminating the bars in front of her. Something cold and slimy slid across the naked flesh of her thigh then another around her rounded bare belly and another and another until several slimy vines (Oh help me, I hope they’re vines), snaked around her torso and limbs. The binding force pulled her further into the darkness, into the waiting arms of a horde of evil flesh crawling creatures.
Emma screamed.
“Easy Em. I’m here.”
Emma struggled to wake from her nightmare. She slumped back against him when she realized it was Kai holding her in his arms.
“Oh.” She looked around the cabin of the airplane. She’d forgotten where she was. “Okay. Just give me a sec.” The terror she felt from her nightmare receded. Kai flipped up the armrest and removed Emma’s seatbelt before he pulled her across the space separating them, onto his lap. He snuggled her against his body.
“Shhh. It’s okay. It was just a nightmare. We’re safe.”His whispered words soothed her.
“Oh my,” she said. “That was some vivid nightmare. It felt real. I thought I was back in Garrick’s compound only somehow it was worse.”
“It was just a dream. Garrick’s dead. He can’t hurt us anymore.”
“I know, but it felt so real. And the creatures…” Emma shuddered. “I have a new found fear of lizards and salamanders and anything reptilian.” She shuddered.
Kai chuckled. “I’m sorry sweetheart but you have nothing to fear from the garden variety reptiles and amphibians.”
“You say that cause you’re you. I never liked them to start. Now they just creep me out.”
“Saurians and Dragas are underworld creatures and they’re hatched that way.”
“I know a Saurian is lizard like but what’s a Draga?”
“They’re a race descended from dragons.”
“Dragons? You’re not helping.” Laughing, Kai hugged her to him. “I don’t want to think about it anymore. What do you say about taking our minds off our problems?”She nuzzled Kai’s neck with her lips. She’d become quite the temptress in the last little while.
“Are you sure about this?” He asked. Emma couldn’t help smiling. He was always looking out for her.
“Of course I'm sure. Why wouldn't I be?”
“You've never said what went on while I was gone. You still have bruises.”
“It's not what you think. Garrick didn't touch me, neither did his men. Not like he tried to make you believe. I would tell you, I promise. He kept that part of the bargain. As for not hurting me, let's just say Garrick had a bad temper and never learned to hold it in check. I'm okay.” Kai looked skeptical. “I am. We don’t need to talk about what went on while you were away. It won’t change anything.” She raised her face to his and kissed him. “I’d much rather spend happy time with you before the world intrudes again.” Emma kissed him again in case he had any doubt about what she meant by ‘happy time’.
Kai was putty in her hands. They had each other’s clothes off in minutes. Their heated bodies writhed and strained against one another. Neither of them wanted slow. They’d waited weeks to be reunited. Emma wanted it hard and fast. Kai was happy to oblige. Nothing short of total surrender would satisfy them.
“Kai!” Emma called out his name as she reached her climax and with a shout of satisfaction he joined her.
Emma tumbled reluctantly back to reality. She slowed her breathing to a normal rhythm. She said she wanted to forget it all but she and Kai had so much to discuss. There were questions she needed answers for. They had to talk before anything else.
“Kai, as much as I would like to ignore the world and stay like this forever, we really have to talk. I wanted to avoid it but we can’t.”
“I know.” Emma slid off his lap and gathered their clothes. She handed his jeans to him then dressed herself before settling in the seat beside him.
She laid her head on his shoulder. “What’s going to happen?”
“I don't know but the Guardian might. She's expecting me to return her sword. She’ll know the answers to our questions. She has to.”
“Won’t the Guardian be angry when she sees me there with you? I thought the place is supposed to be forbidden to mortals.”
“It is. You’re not mortal. She's expecting you.”
“How can she be expecting me? Does she want to kill me? I didn’t pass a challenge.”
“Didn’t you?”
“What challenge?”
“You saved me.”
“I think your memory is slipping. You saved me.”
“You don’t get it. I was tired of my endless existence. I was fast losing hope there was anything worth saving in this miserable world. Until I met you. You are everything that makes a person worthy enough to pass the challenge.”
“ No. I’m not. I’m not brave. I was terrified while you were away. How is that passing a challenge?”
“The challenge is different for everyone. And you are one of the bravest most loyal people I’ve ever met. And I’ve met more people than most.”
“But how can that be enough to make me worthy?”
“Apparently, I’m a tough case. She saw the change in me and she figured anyone brave enough to love me had to be worthy.”
Emma laughed so hard she had tears streaming from her eyes. “What’s so funny about that?”
“Well it’s very flattering for me but not so much for you.”
Kai laughed too. “Yeah. I guess you’re right. I know I had little use for mortals. I thought they were an ungrateful, entitled burden. The underworld crowd’s no picnic either. I didn’t feel like I belonged in either world. You make me feel like I belong. Like I have a purpose. I’d forgotten why I protect humankind. Did you know that I’m scary and intimidating?”
“Umm, yeah.” She rolled her eyes.
“I mean I’m supposed to be when I’m doing my job but I didn’t realize I was like that all the time.”
“Oh Kai,” Emma was laughing again.
“Quit that. I’m being serious.”
“I know. That’s what is so funny.” Emma wiped her eyes. “So seriously, she’s not gonna kill me?”
“No. It wasn't easy, but I convinced her to let me take the flask of water. She didn’t care about Garrick. She knew he couldn’t beat me. She gave me her sword so I could kill him if he drank from the flask. She was clear. I had to sever his head from his body with her sword. We have to return it to her. She also thought I deserved a reward for my service and she believed you’d passed a tougher challenge than she’d have devised. The flask was meant for you.”
“What if I didn’t want it?”
“I planned to give you a choice." Emma shot him a skeptical look, "Don't look at me like that. I did. Then you were dying with a knife sticking out of your chest. I either wasted precious time convincing you to stay with me forever, or I could make the choice for you. It was no contest. I couldn’t let you go. Not yet and not like that. I’ve only just found you. I hope you’ll forgive me someday.”
“In case you’ve missed it.” Her eyes smoldered as she remembered their recent loving. “I’ve already forgiven you. You did what you felt you had to. How can I be angry with you when all you wanted was for me to live?” Kai leaned over and kissed Emma.
“I hope you’ll still feel that way in time. Everything and everyone will pass before us.”
“As long as I’m with you, I know I will. Right now my concern is for the baby. What’ll happen? Will the child grow normally or will it grow to a certain age and then stop aging altogether?” A horrifying thought occurred to her. “What if the child remains just that, a child or worse, an infant unable to develop or grow?”
“I don’t know,” Kai pulled her into his arms. His support comforted her. “I don’t. Let's not over think this. We can’t worry about the unknown. It’ll drive us crazy. I’m sure the Guardian will have answers for us.”
Emma knew he was right. She tried to relax. There were still things they’d left unsaid nagging at her. Unable to wait any longer for him to volunteer the information, she blurted, “How do you feel about the baby?” She’d surprised him with her sudden outburst “I sprung it on you in a highly intense moment. We haven't talked about it yet.”
“Honestly, it terrifies me.” Emma tensed and tried to pull back. Kai tightened his arms around her. “Hey, before you pull away let me explain. I’ve never once considered becoming a father. I never thought it was an option for me. I had my duty and all that entails but aside from that I’m not the type to leave a string of children behind. If I were to have a child I would want to be there. For the child and the mother and I couldn’t imagine ever loving someone enough to step away from my duty. So I’ve never even considered the possibility. I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to. This immortality business is tricky. There’s still so much that’s unknown to me. As far as I know, until now I was the only human to drink from the fountain that’s been allowed to live as an immortal.”
“That doesn’t tell me how you feel about having our child.”
“I’m not gonna lie. That’s what scares me. In the past, every time I’ve cared for someone they’ve died. That’s why I avoid connecting. I’ve never fallen in love before. So I never once considered the possibilities. With you, there was no choice. I felt drawn to you from the first moment. Now all I can think is we have an eternity of possibilities. I admit the idea of fatherhood terrifies me. I’ve had no exposure to guide me.”
“What about Aiden? You said he was a father. Was he a good one?”
“The best.”
“Then you have a point of reference.” Kai seemed pleased at the thought.
“I’m also extraordinarily proud and profoundly moved that you and I have created a miracle.” Kai stretched his arm down and placed his palm over her flat belly. “I’m happy we're in this together even though it scares the hell out of me. I promise I’ll do everything in my power to be the best father that he or she could want.”
Why can’t I stop these damn tears? She dabbed at her eyes. He was in it with her all the way. She kissed him again. “Thank you. I was terrified you wouldn’t want this. That you’d send us away.”
“Never. I love you. I’ll always want you. I can’t bear the thought of my world without you. I love you, and I’ll love this baby too.”
Emma swallowed the lump in her throat. “I love you too.”Tears streamed down her cheeks. Damn hormones. “You won’t regret it.”
“I’ll never regret this. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”
Emma’s heart skipped. She rested her head on his shoulder. He entwined her fingers with his and kissed her hand. The two sat together like this for the remainder of the flight cautiously discussing the future. Emma noticed neither of them mentioned a future that didn’t include the tiny life they’d created.
The plane landed and they travelled by land rover for another day and a half. Kai led Emma on foot through a beautiful ancient forest. She was in awe of the magnificently proportioned trees. Their thick branches blocked most of the sunlight from reaching the interior. There was no breeze yet they swayed with a life of their own. Kai helped Emma navigate the intricate labyrinth. It took several hours of hiking before a break in the trees finally revealed their destination. Dappled light filtered through the leafy foliage to dance along the shimmering surface of the pool.
The graceful silvery figure of the Guardian glided towards them. Emma saw a smile of welcome light her face as she came closer. Emma liked the sound of her layered voice. It was strange and melodious.
“Welcome my friend. I see you’ve succeeded.” Kai held the borrowed sword in his outstretched hands. She took the sword from Kai’s hands then turned to Emma. Emma straightened her spine and stood as tall and proud as she could muster. “I never doubted you for a moment.” She tilted her head in Emma’s direction.“She is a surprise though. Much smaller than I imagined your mate to be. Although I can see why she appeals to you. She is both beautiful and brave. I can feel her strength.”
“I’m standing right here you know.” Emma hated being talked about like she wasn’t there. No matter who it was and even if they were saying nice things.
The Guardian laughed like tinkling bells. “Yes. Now I see you have chosen well.” The Guardian turned to Emma and smiled. “Welcome, Emma. Please come with me where you can rest from your journey, then we can talk.”
She led them in the direction from which she’d entered the meadow. They followed her to a door tucked into a grass and moss covered hill. Emma held Kai's hand they followed her through the doorway. The inside was much larger than Emma expected and more rustic. For some reason, she thought everything would be white and ethereal like the figured they’d followed. Instead, the inside of the hillside cottage was homey, warm and inviting.
The Guardian placed the sword in its sheath and hung it on the wall.
“Please sit down.”She gestured to the two chairs at the little wooden table. She brought some simple refreshments to the table. Emma couldn’t wait. She blurted the whole story of the unusual predicament she and Kai faced.
“I’m sorry I don’t have the answers you’re seeking. If you’d become pregnant afterward I’d feel confident in saying that the child would be normal and would lead a normal human lifespan. The spring only affects a person who’s drank the water. Your child also consumes what you do therefore it’s unknown. Nothing like this has ever happened before. There’re no others like you or Kai. There’s nothing you can do but wait.”
“No! I refuse to accept this. There has to be someone who knows.” Emma didn’t give up.
“I’m afraid there’s no one. I’m sorry. Only time will tell. If the child continues to grow inside you, I’d take that as a good sign. Once you drink from the spring, aging stops. It stands to reason the child’s development in the womb would also stop.”
It wasn’t the news that Emma was looking for but it was better than she expected. She’d been plagued by too many different scenarios. Her imagination was her worst enemy. She could tell herself not to worry, but when the life of their child hung in the balance, that was next to impossible.
Emma saw no need to delay any further. The faster they returned, the faster Emma could book an appointment with a doctor. Someone had to have answers for her.
“Emma, as soon as we get back we’ll find a doctor and get some tests done. I don’t know much about modern medicine, but in this day and age surely there are ways to check on the baby.” It was like he read her mind.
Emma looked at Kai and burst into laughter. It amazed her that he’d lived in this century and still had no idea about ultrasounds and other miracles of modern invention. “Oh Kai, you really have kept yourself apart from the rest of the world.”
“I haven’t had much reason to keep up on medicine. I don’t need medical services.”
“I know it just amazes me how you can be so modern in some ways and so uniformed in others. It’s a curious mix.” She was grateful for his ignorance. It made the trip easier to spend her time educating him on the advances made in medicine in the last century. It gave her something else to focus her attention on while they travelled.
“So where do we go from here? When we get back to the city, we can’t go back to my apartment.”
“We'll check into a hotel. I've already made the arrangements. After that, we'll find a doctor.”
“I don't just mean now. I meant where do we go from here? I feel a bit lost. I can't go back to my old life. Things have changed too much.” It was hard to think about, but it was true. She couldn’t go back to the life she’d led before and honestly she didn’t want to. Emma had changed so much already, and there were still changes ahead of her. She needed time to adjust to her newfound life. She wasn't the same person that walked out of that restaurant on that fateful night. It seemed like a lifetime ago. It kind of was. Despite everything that had happened, she was happy. She had Kai, and that counted for a lot.
“We’ll find a place we can call our own and create a new life together. Regardless of what happens, I want to be with you always. We’ll find a way to make it work.” Despite all the obstacles she saw looming between them and happy life, Emma wanted to accept what he said was true. They just had one hurtle left before she’d believe everything would be alright.
* * *
Kai checked them into a luxury hotel then took Emma straight to the hospital, the same one he'd taken her to when she’d lost her sight. The busy doctor entered the room with his head down as he perused Emma’s chart.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Herrington.” The doctor held out his hand before he lifted his gaze from her chart. Surprised recognition flared in his eyes. He remembered Kai. His hand dropped just a bit. He stiffened his spine and offered his hand to Kai. “I see we meet again.” Kai refrained from glaring at him like he had the last time they’d met. “I take it you've regained your sight.” He directed his inquiry to Emma this time. Smart man. He remembered them well.
“Yes, Dr. Herrington I did. Thank you for all your help.”
“I’m afraid I wasn’t able to do much. So, what brings you here today?”
“She’s pregnant.”
“Congratulations, although I hardly think that warrants a trip to the emergency room.”
“She was in an accident, and we want to make sure everything’s okay.” They’d decided on their way to the hospital to keep it simple.
“What kind of accident?”
“The kind that might jeopardize the baby.”
“Kai.”Emma placed her hand on his arm.
“Sorry doc. I’m just worried. She fell and she also drank something she shouldn’t before we knew she was pregnant.” That was the story they decided on. The doctor would assume alcohol.
“Okay then. It might be too early to tell about the drinking, but let's run some tests.” Dr. Herrington left the room. A few minutes later a nurse came into the little cubicle to lead Emma away.
“You can wait for her here sir. This won’t take long.”
Kai watched Emma follow the nurse from the room. Stupid hospital! Why wouldn’t they let him stay with her? Part of him wanted to demand they include him but that would only add to Emma’s anxiety. He’s rather be in there to support her while the hospital staff ran tests. Even this short separation made him anxious. He hated waiting. He kicked the chair against the wall. It seemed like he’d waited hours before the nurse popped into the room again. It’d only been fifteen minutes.
“Sir, would you mind coming with me?” She asked then left without waiting to see if he followed.
“Why? Where are we going?” Kai demanded.
“She refused to let us do the sonogram unless you’re there.” Yes! That’s my girl. Relieved, Kai followed the nurse down the long hallway. She turned left down a shorter passage and entered the second door on the right.
Emma was lying in a hospital bed wearing a paper gown and covered with a thin white blanket from the waist down. Kai moved to her side and took her hand.
“I wanted you here for this. You shouldn’t miss out because of some stupid hospital policy,” Kai raised her hand to his lips.
“Thank you. I was ready to charge down the hall when she came for me.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
“Shall we get started?” The technician lifted the gown and tucked it under Emma’s bra. The blanket draped over her lower half was pushed down to expose her belly. The tech squeezed clear blue gel onto the still flat surface before pressing the wand against Emma’s tummy.
“Ooh, I wasn’t expecting that to be warm.”
“We keep it in a warmer now. We never used to but patients kept complaining.”
“Well, I’m grateful.”
Impatient for answers, Kai shifted from one foot to the other listening to but not engaging in the conversation. He was anxious for the tech to get started. He watched the tech slide the wand over Emma’s lower abdomen and click away on her keyboard with her other hand. A grey and black image appeared on the monitor screen.
“What is that?” He pointed to a portion at the bottom of the screen that appeared to flicker.
“She’s not very far along, but that’s your baby’s heart beating.” Kai’s chest swelled with emotion, too much emotion for him to handle. Overwhelmed by the emotional tide, Kai did something he’d never done before. He slipped to the floor in a dead faint.