Author's Note: Padme1 said, "So what are you going to do now that you created a paradox? Nemea cannot exist in this time-line, but then no one else will. The paradox can only exist until her birthday. What then?" That's a thought. ~_~ I didn't actually think about that, but after you set me on it, I did some research. Here's a quote from a website I found: "The time line has split at the point of paradox giving two futures with one common past, since I created the split then I am now in the universe in which my mother is killed so if I return to my time of origin then I return to the future of the alternative reality, a world that knows nothing of my existence, the other universe that I originated from however caries on never to see me again." [From Time Paradox!, by James Sharman http://www.exaflop.org/docs/th_sci/paradox.html] Mind-boggling, isn't it? ~_~ In either case, I'm just leaving Nemea to exist peacefully in the alternate universe she created.
Disclaimer: I don't own the movie "Underworld", its characters or plot concept.
-----
An Alternate Future
Chapter Fourteen
Nemea recognized the familiar symptoms as soon as they started. Examining her mirrored reflection, she wasn't sure how she felt about it. Her son had been born of an accident, but this child was not. After Kris, she should have considered the possibly of her conceiving another child. But, she'd been careless, hungry for affection. She felt a sickening feeling course through her. Absently touching the indistinct bulge, she wrapped a shawl around her and concealed it. Eventually, Kraven would find out. Even if she didn't let him near her, he'd discover the change soon enough.
She reached for the phone on her dresser and brought it to her face. Dialing her son's number, she listened to it ring until it was picked up on the other end.
"Kris speaking."
"It's me, dear."
"Mum? Is something wrong?"
"Do I only call you when something's wrong?" She asked wryly.
"I know enough from the tone of your voice, Mum. What is it?"
"I'm pregnant again, Kris."
"So, do I have li'l brother or sister?" He asked, laughingly.
When she didn't respond, he became serious.
"You don't want this baby either, do you?"
"I wanted you, Kris," she protested.
"Yes, but you didn't mean to have me."
"Kris..."
"I've accepted it, Mum," he said gently. "I know the truth after all. ...Are you planning to tell Dad?"
"Of course. I told him about you, didn't I?"
"But, what about the rest of it? Are you going to tell him everything? He deserves to know by now."
"No," she said, flatly. "It's my life. I only told you so you'd understand - "
"And doesn't he deserve to understand why you act the way you do? You're tog - "
"Kris, we've had this conversation before."
He fell silent at the warning tone of her voice, then he sighed and continued.
"Alright. If you need anything, just call me, Mum."
She hung up at the sound of the dialtone. Looking thoughtfully out the window, she watched Kraven drive into the courtyard. With a shake of her head, she started to turn away. But, a sudden pain hit her, bringing her to her knees. Placing her hand to her abdomen, she knew something was wrong with her child. She ignored the dizzying feeling as she got to her feet. Kraven couldn't see her like this. He'd ask questions she wasn't prepared to answer.
Finding a veiled hat, she hurriedly placed it on and went down the backstairs, which led to the garage. Razor was there, having just returned with Kraven. As she tugged on her gloves, she nodded towards her car. While the lycan started it, she got into the back and gave him directions. It wasn't long before they reached the medical facility. Telling the other to wait, she entered the building and went to visit the only one she knew could help her.
"Ah, Lady Nemea, what a pleasure to see you."
"Singe." She gave the bespectacled doctor a half-smile.
"So, what's the reason for this visit? Not a social call, is it?"
She shook her head and sat down on the chair he offered.
"I'm pregnant."
The lycan blinked at her in confusion.
"You of all people should know that I'm no obstetrician, mi'lady."
"I want you to run some tests on me."
"Ah... So, you want to know if something's wrong with your child."
"Yes. And before you do, let me remind you who placed you in this position."
Unthreatened by her words, he merely flashed her a curious look.
"You've always been a secretive person, mi'lady. But, fear not. No word of the results will be heard by anyone else."
He proceeded to take the necessary tests. After processing everything himself, he returned with a frown on his face.
"Well?"
"I've run the tests more than twice, and the samples couldn't be tainted..."
"But?"
"I won't beat around the bush with you, mi'lady. But, I ran a DNA test on your child as you said. It's a healthy girl. And forgive me for my boldness..." She just waved her hand for him to continue. "...Well, after I received the results, I thought to check on parentage..."
He paused when a grim, yet resigned smile appeared on Nemea's face as if she already knew what he was about to say.
"With existing samples of mi'lord, I've found the child to be his daughter. But..."
"Go on," she said dryly.
"The child has traces of lycan DNA in her. If you experience any pain, that is your body fighting what it considers to be a foreign presence. I could give you medication for that, but I cannot change the child's DNA without risking her life...and yours."
"Will those traces affect her physical appearance after she is born?" Nemea asked.
"I believe she will be susceptible to the same weaknesses of your kind. But, she will also have your strengths, and need to feed regularly. As for being lycan, the traces are not enough to allow her to transform. At most, her eyes, teeth, and nails will be affected. And even so, probably only under extreme duress. But, she will certainly be faster with sharper senses. The best of both worlds..." His smile fell at the other's blank look.
"In short, a hybrid."
"That would be correct."
Months later, the child would be born and christened Kay. She'd come to life on the very day Nemea herself had been brought into the world. The irony was not lost on the former hybrid. Looking at her newborn daughter, she wondered if she could ever break free from the past's tight hold on her.
Or if her child was doomed to a similar fate as her.
Disclaimer: I don't own the movie "Underworld", its characters or plot concept.
-----
An Alternate Future
Chapter Fourteen
Nemea recognized the familiar symptoms as soon as they started. Examining her mirrored reflection, she wasn't sure how she felt about it. Her son had been born of an accident, but this child was not. After Kris, she should have considered the possibly of her conceiving another child. But, she'd been careless, hungry for affection. She felt a sickening feeling course through her. Absently touching the indistinct bulge, she wrapped a shawl around her and concealed it. Eventually, Kraven would find out. Even if she didn't let him near her, he'd discover the change soon enough.
She reached for the phone on her dresser and brought it to her face. Dialing her son's number, she listened to it ring until it was picked up on the other end.
"Kris speaking."
"It's me, dear."
"Mum? Is something wrong?"
"Do I only call you when something's wrong?" She asked wryly.
"I know enough from the tone of your voice, Mum. What is it?"
"I'm pregnant again, Kris."
"So, do I have li'l brother or sister?" He asked, laughingly.
When she didn't respond, he became serious.
"You don't want this baby either, do you?"
"I wanted you, Kris," she protested.
"Yes, but you didn't mean to have me."
"Kris..."
"I've accepted it, Mum," he said gently. "I know the truth after all. ...Are you planning to tell Dad?"
"Of course. I told him about you, didn't I?"
"But, what about the rest of it? Are you going to tell him everything? He deserves to know by now."
"No," she said, flatly. "It's my life. I only told you so you'd understand - "
"And doesn't he deserve to understand why you act the way you do? You're tog - "
"Kris, we've had this conversation before."
He fell silent at the warning tone of her voice, then he sighed and continued.
"Alright. If you need anything, just call me, Mum."
She hung up at the sound of the dialtone. Looking thoughtfully out the window, she watched Kraven drive into the courtyard. With a shake of her head, she started to turn away. But, a sudden pain hit her, bringing her to her knees. Placing her hand to her abdomen, she knew something was wrong with her child. She ignored the dizzying feeling as she got to her feet. Kraven couldn't see her like this. He'd ask questions she wasn't prepared to answer.
Finding a veiled hat, she hurriedly placed it on and went down the backstairs, which led to the garage. Razor was there, having just returned with Kraven. As she tugged on her gloves, she nodded towards her car. While the lycan started it, she got into the back and gave him directions. It wasn't long before they reached the medical facility. Telling the other to wait, she entered the building and went to visit the only one she knew could help her.
"Ah, Lady Nemea, what a pleasure to see you."
"Singe." She gave the bespectacled doctor a half-smile.
"So, what's the reason for this visit? Not a social call, is it?"
She shook her head and sat down on the chair he offered.
"I'm pregnant."
The lycan blinked at her in confusion.
"You of all people should know that I'm no obstetrician, mi'lady."
"I want you to run some tests on me."
"Ah... So, you want to know if something's wrong with your child."
"Yes. And before you do, let me remind you who placed you in this position."
Unthreatened by her words, he merely flashed her a curious look.
"You've always been a secretive person, mi'lady. But, fear not. No word of the results will be heard by anyone else."
He proceeded to take the necessary tests. After processing everything himself, he returned with a frown on his face.
"Well?"
"I've run the tests more than twice, and the samples couldn't be tainted..."
"But?"
"I won't beat around the bush with you, mi'lady. But, I ran a DNA test on your child as you said. It's a healthy girl. And forgive me for my boldness..." She just waved her hand for him to continue. "...Well, after I received the results, I thought to check on parentage..."
He paused when a grim, yet resigned smile appeared on Nemea's face as if she already knew what he was about to say.
"With existing samples of mi'lord, I've found the child to be his daughter. But..."
"Go on," she said dryly.
"The child has traces of lycan DNA in her. If you experience any pain, that is your body fighting what it considers to be a foreign presence. I could give you medication for that, but I cannot change the child's DNA without risking her life...and yours."
"Will those traces affect her physical appearance after she is born?" Nemea asked.
"I believe she will be susceptible to the same weaknesses of your kind. But, she will also have your strengths, and need to feed regularly. As for being lycan, the traces are not enough to allow her to transform. At most, her eyes, teeth, and nails will be affected. And even so, probably only under extreme duress. But, she will certainly be faster with sharper senses. The best of both worlds..." His smile fell at the other's blank look.
"In short, a hybrid."
"That would be correct."
Months later, the child would be born and christened Kay. She'd come to life on the very day Nemea herself had been brought into the world. The irony was not lost on the former hybrid. Looking at her newborn daughter, she wondered if she could ever break free from the past's tight hold on her.
Or if her child was doomed to a similar fate as her.