Chapter 7
For the next few months, the wait was agonizing. Sebastian and Claude made sure to aware themselves to any sudden changes in each other's behavior. It would be a nightmare if both demons proved to be infertile and incapable of reproducing. The love between Sebastian and Claude might have proved to be strong enough to end the feud between their families, but they would never be truly bound by a child.
However, Sebastian couldn't ignore the moment when he realized Claude was eating and sleeping more often than he normally did. The spider demon was also going through several mild mood swings per day and was attempting to nest in his bedchambers when he was left alone, so it didn't come as a shock to Sebastian when Claude finally confessed that he was expecting.
But Claude still kept a close eye on Sebastian, and he couldn't ignore the fact that there was something just a little bit off about his mate. He couldn't place a finger on it until he realized Sebastian's behavior was becoming more erratic than his. Sebastian was making attempts to nest in his bed and showing signs of discomfort; indicating he could be even farther along than Claude was.
He was almost certain that Sebastian was also expecting, but the raven demon wasn't saying anything about it to him. This would prove to be a problem since the members of Satan's castle didn't know about Claude's pregnancy just yet. Now they might have to face the fact that there might be two children on the way, instead of just one.
"Sebastian, we need to talk." Claude said as he approached him.
"Is something wrong?" Sebastian asked.
"No, it's just . . . I want to know if there might be something you're not telling me."
"I don't think so."
"Sebastian, I'm seeing you show signs of pregnancy."
"Claude, I'm fine. I know I haven't conceived."
"I'm pretty sure you have, and you have to be pretty far along to be growing this uncomfortable. You tend to be moody, I've seen you make nests in your bed, and you do look uncomfortable."
"That doesn't mean that I'm . . ."
"There's no other way to explain it. Unless you want you want me to drag your father into this and have him give us a firm diagnosis, I suggest you tell me now."
Sebastian sighed, "Alright . . . I'll admit that I have been trying to nest and that I've been uncomfortable, but there have been no other signs. I don't want to raise any false hope, so I didn't say anything."
"Not even to me?" Claude asked, "The one who's going to give birth to one of our children?"
"I know it was a stupid thing to do, I'm sorry."
Claude nodded, "We should tell our families. They need to know."
Sebastian returned the nod but remained uneasy about telling his family. How would his family react to both of them bearing the first children? He was more than positive that his mother would share their excitement, but what about his father? What about Claude's father, Crocell?
The two demons walked to Satan's throne room, where they found the elder demon merely sitting in his throne looking rather bored until the next catastrophe erupted. His head turned to them as they approached.
"What are you two doing here?" he inquired, "Has something happened?"
Sebastian hesitated for a moment. He really wished his mother was in the room to hear the news. Not only that, he wished she were there to defend them incase Satan went against the idea of both him and Claude carrying children.
"Actually, something has happened, father." Sebastian started, "As you are very well aware, Claude and I have officially been mated as a pair. That was many months ago, but it's only just recently I've discovered that I'm . . . that I'm with-child; Claude's child."
Satan sat straight up in his throne, "You're serious?"
"There can be no doubt, but I'm very far along; at least four months."
Unlike humans, who had a nine-month pregnancy, demons were pregnant for around five and a half months.
"But you haven't been showing any signs." Satan pointed out.
"I know," Sebastian replied, "they've only recently surfaced. And there's something else, too. Claude is pregnant, as well."
"Really?" Satan gasped in a shocked tone, "Both of you?"
"Both of us. But Claude isn't nearly as far along as I am. He might be a month or two along."
Satan let out an amused huff, "I suppose that's one way to ensure there's a child."
"We thought Michaelis hadn't caught." Claude spoke up, "After so many tried without visible results, we could only think he wouldn't be able to conceive the heir, so I was willing to step up to the job if it meant we could have a child."
"You're playing Mr. Mom, eh? You're father's going to hear about this, eventually; you know that right?"
"Yes, you're Majesty. I know that."
"Are you ready to face whatever music that comes from him?"
Claude gave a sly smirk, "I was born ready to put up with him. But the fact we're going to have two children is something he can't change."
"They're both expecting?!"
The exclamation echoed throughoutthe Faustus mansion as a servant broke the news to Crocell.
"That's what I was told." The servant replied, "According to Lord Satan, both Prince Michaelis and Sir Faustus are with-child, and the prince is due soon, so I hear."
Crocell shook his head, "Just what were they doing? What were they thinking? I never expected Claude to be the one to bear the child . . . or one of them, rather."
A loud clap of thunder shook the mansion . . . or what sounded like thunder. The thing of it was Hell didn't have thunder storms. There was rain that would fall from time to time, but it would never storm.
"What the . . .?"
Crocell looked out the window to his study and stared at the sky. It looked as though a tornado was starting to form, but it never did. Instead, from the swirling portion of the sky came an opening and hundreds of white-winged figures began to pour in.
"Oh hell, no!" Crocell exclaimed, "Alert Lord Satan that the angels are invading Hell!"
