Chapter 12
It's been a month now since Artemis found out about the baby. Holly was still his prisoner, much to her own dislike. Her belly had grown quite a bit, it was impossible to miss it now. Everyone could see she was pregnant. Artemis couldn't talk about anything else but the baby.
But it never was ours. It's mine, nothing more.
Holly pulled herself up a bit. The wounds on her wrists had healed, the baby had strong magic. Her own had run out a long time ago, thanks to Artemis. The baby kicked her for the first time. Or at least, she thought it kicked her. Holly smiled.
'It's alright, little one. Mom will take care of you.'
She felt the kicking sensation again, like it had heard her. She continued to talk soothingly to it.
Artemis was on her bed again, stroking her belly without knowing it. Holly could see he was trying to fit some pieces together. When he was done thinking, he started asking her questions.
'How long do fairy pregnancies usually take?'
'About nine months, just like human pregnancies.'
'How big is the baby when it's born?'
'Usually about twenty-five centimetres.'
'Are there any complications you know of?'
'Nope.'
'Do you know...'
'Artemis, stop interrogating me and tell me what you found out!'
'According to my sources, there are hybrids known. But, here's the big thing: Just fairy father and human mother. The pregnancy usually lasts about nine months, just like normal ones. But the babies are usually between 35 and 40 centimetres. I don't know if you could keep such a baby in your womb...'
Great. Now that's making me feel good.
'Humans gain about 40 centimetres, one for each week. Fairies gain about twenty, a half for each week. I think you'll turn out to be thirty or so.'
He got a measuring tape and measured her stomach.
'You gained 7.5 already...' He clearly was worried.
Oh, woohoo. Mud boy's worried. For my sake, I hope he figures out what to do.
'Artemis, I have a brilliant plan.'
'What?'
'Well, seeing as I can't go anywhere now, and seeing that it would be better for me anyway to stay here, you might as well get me out of the cuffs.'
It really would be better to stay... But I would escape. Definitely.
'I know you'd try to escape anyway. However, this might be a good compromise.' He clicked one of the handcuffs open.
Why won't he fall for it?
She felt the kicking feeling again, and Holly winced, automatically reaching for her belly.
'What is it?' Artemis asked.
'Nothing, the baby just kicked me.' I think. But seeing as babies don't kick until halfway through the pregnancy, I think something's going wrong inside. Will Artemis know?
'I won't let anything harm you,' Artemis vowed, curling his fingers in a fist.
When Holly found out what he was planning to do, she turned around, lying on her stomach.
'No, Artemis! Don't hurt him!'
'Why not? If he hurts you, I'll hurt him.' The mad look was back.
I've got to be careful...
'No. It's my... our baby. A little you. You surely wouldn't want to kill that?'
Artemis hesistated.
'If something hurts you, I'll kill it.'
'Then go ahead. But think about this: You hurt me too by keeping me here.' I bet you didn't think of that.
Artemis slowly uncurled his fist.
'And,' Holly continued, 'I'll personally kill everyone who even touches my baby.'
Something in her voice made Artemis believe her.
