Chapter Fifty-One

(Song in this chapter is "How Does a Moment Last Forever" by Celine Dion)

Siren awoke to find herself in the cold metal room. A lit lanterne was left behind so she wouldn't be left in darkness. She was alone, the bed beside hers empty.

For a second she felt as if she had woke from a nap or a regular eight hours of sleep, but her large stomach said otherwise. She repressed a shudder. It was a horrifying feeling to fall asleep with no belly and suddenly wake up months later, ready to give birth.

With a bored sigh, Siren remained in bed and stared up at the ceiling. She couldn't wait for the little parasite to leave her body so she could continue with destruction. The only reason she kept the baby was because she knew how much it hurt Aralyne.

For a moment she ran her fingers over her stomach. How else would she use this child to hurt people? Can't exactly go with her traditional zombie idea. Baby zombies, although very creepy, weren't exactly deadly, especially since they couldn't move.

An idea came to mind and Siren smiled evilly. She placed both hands on her stomach, focusing her energy. The baby bump glowed a bright pink, then steadily darkened until it turned black. At the same time a pink crystal materialized in Siren's hand. Once the light vanished, Siren magicked the crystal onto a leather cord and placed it around her neck.

And that's when the pain began. She gasped and started screaming. For a moment she blacked out and Tulio suddenly appeared beside her. He helped her sit up and spoke to her, but she couldn't make out his words.

Siren was transported into a bright hall, her cries echoing around the halls. A handful of doctors and nurses ran towards her.


I was in too much pain to care that I was resting in Hans's lap. In fact, he wasn't the least bit hostile. He leaned over me, whispering words of comfort as I wept. His hand was in mine as I squeezed his fist. Once in a while I would notice a brief flash of pain in his green eyes, but he didn't complain.

Milo jumped in and out of my sight more in hysterics over m state than because there were zombies outside.

"Ohmygods, she'sinlabour! She'sinlabournow?! Whynow?! Can'tshecrossherlegsandkeepitin?!"

I screamed even louder, jerking off Hans's lap. Hans grabbed me from behind and wrapped his arms around me as I slumped back into his frame.

"It'll be okay," Hans assured me, rubbing my arms.

Catherine returned from monitoring a window and slapped Milo. "Get ahold of yourself, man!" Stunned, he fell silent.

"Make it stop!" I sobbed.

"God, I'm gonna kill him," Catherine grumbled, watching me with concern written on her face.

"The zombies?" Hans pressed. He hissed as I squeezed his hand again, this time hearing a crack.

"Rajah got away from Danny and Iago flew off. Jasmine is right outside," Catherine reported. "We're sitting ducks in here!" She shot Milo and annoyed look as if the entire situation was his fault. "Go make yourself useful! Bring Aralyne some water!"

Milo scurried off, running into a bookshelf before vanishing amongst the stacks.

"Shh," Hans shushed into my ear. He hummed several bars of a tune before softly singing aloud.

"How does a moment last forever?

How can a story never die?

It is love we must hold onto

Never easy, but we try

Sometimes our happiness is captured

Somehow, our time and place stand still

Love lives on inside our hearts and always will."

I focused on Hans's voice, trying to seek comfort in the lyrics. Another horrible pain had me lurch forward, but Hans held firm.

"Minutes turn to hours, days to years and gone

But when all else has been forgotten

Still our song lives on."

"I've got the water!" Milo declared, returning with a glass.

Catherine took the glass and shoved a recording camera in his hands. Where she got one, I have absolutely no idea.

"Shut up and start recording, bitch!" she instructed.

"What? But she's not actually giving birth!"

"I said start recording!" she snapped.

Milo fumbled with the camera and turned it on, focusing on me and Hans. I was gonna kill her right after I murdered Tulio.

"Maybe some moments weren't so perfect

Maybe some memories not so sweet

But we have to know some bad times

Or our lives are incomplete

Then when the shadows overtake us

Just when we feel all hope is gone

We'll hear our song and know once more

Our song lives on."

Another surge of unbearable pain, and… it receded. It was vanishing.

"How does a moment last forever?

How does our happiness endure?

Through the darkest of our troubles

Love is beauty, love is pure

Love pays no mind to desolation

It flows like a river through the soul

Protects, persists, and perseveres

And makes us whole

Minutes turn to hours, days to years then gone

But when all else has been forgotten

Still our song lives on

That's how a moment lasts forever:

When our song lives on"

And just like that, the pain was gone. Exhausted, I slumped against Hans, breathing heavily. Tears were still streaming down my face and I shook. It was over. At least I hoped it was over! I never wanted to experience something like that again. My eyes drifted shut as I basked in sweet relief. Tulio and Siren, were going to die for this.


Tulio felt like he had been in the hospital for days. Deliveries were never easy, he knew that, but with Siren it just seemed ten times worse. Once the labour pains had become particularly bad, Grandpa Lao Shi had to be called to help magically restrain Siren since she had been on the verge of bringing down the hospital. Tulio tried to distract her, but of course she ignored him and threatened to murder him and everyone in the hospital for what he did to her. Although to be fair, she had been the one to seduce him as he recalled.

At long last, Siren stopped screaming and the shrill cry of a baby filled the room. Tulio's heart dropped as he stared down at Siren's exhausted face.

The baby. The baby was here! Oh gods, was this really happening? He couldn't be a father! He didn't exactly have the best father-figure to model from. What if he screwed up? What if he treated his child the same way his own parents made him feel? What if –?

"Tulio?"

He turned to the nurse holding a white blanket.

"It's a girl." The nurse peeled away the edge of the blanket to reveal a tiny pink face, scrunched up from crying.

A cord tethered itself to Tulio's heart, the other end connecting him to the infant. He had no recollection of moving, but he somehow found himself standing beside the nurse, his fingers raised to caress the baby's soft, velvety cheek. His daughter's soft, velvety cheek. His daughter.

The second the back of Tulio's knuckles touched the baby's face, her wailing subsided. Her eyes blinked open to reveal irises that weren't quite blue or green, but somewhere in the middle.

"What are you going to name her?" the nurse inquired.

"Crotch-Goblin Parasite," Siren said, completely deadpan.

The nurse gave her a scandalized look.

"Lucy," said Tulio after a moment's thought. Lucy had been the name of the nurse-maid that cared for him when he was younger. She had been the only adult to show him genuine love and kindness.

"How nauseatingly cute," Siren grumbled.

Ignoring Siren, Tulio took Lucy into his arms. He was unable to take his eyes off her, and she just continued to stare at him in turn.


As much as I had wanted to, I didn't fall asleep. The screams coming from outside the library wouldn't allow me. Glass shattering had my eyes snap open. Milo screaming like a girl, dropping the camera.

I struggled to my feet, my legs wobbly beneath me. Hans remained at my bac, keeping me steady.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" Hans inquired.

"Yes. I have to be," I said, my voice sounding thin to my own ears. I reached for Excalibur, held securely in Catherine's hand, but she passed me the glass of water instead. "I'm not throwing water at the zombies. They're not the Wicked Witch of the West."

"Bitch, it's for you," said Catherine. "Now drink before I toss you into the pool of acid along with Tulio and Siren."

Flipping her off, I quickly chugged the water. At the very least, it soothed my sore throat.

"Love you, too, duck," said Catherine, handing me my sword.

Either zombie Jasmine heard us talking, or she heard Milo scream (my money was on the latter), because she shuffled through the library toward us.

Catherine scowled, storming up to Hans, she slapped him across the face. "This is all your fault!"

"How the hell is this my fault?!" Hans demanded.

"I just need someone to blame!" Catherine yelled. "You're a man! It will do!"

"Not the time!" I snapped at them. I took one step forward and my knees gave out. Excalibur fell from my grip to clatter on the floor. Jasmine creeped ever closer.

"Take the virgin first!" Catherine screamed, shoving Hans forward. He stumbled past me, swearing.

"What do you mean virgin?!" Hans snipped, his face red as he glared over his shoulder at Catherine. For a brief second his eyes flicked towards me in… embarrassment? I would have thought that was kind of cute if we weren't about to die.

"I can smell virgins like I can smell coffee in the morning," Catherine simply stated. She then shot Milo a side-eyed glance. "By the way, you might want to sort that out."

Milo's face turned even redder than Hans's.

Snatching up Excalibur again, I stood straight and faced Jasmine. "You three get out of here."

"We're not leaving you," Hans replied. His green eyes roved over the library. "Catherine, the lanterne!"

Catherine picked up a lanterne from a table and chucked it towards the zombie, and…

Missed.

An entire shelf of books burst into flames, quickly spreading through the library.

"She's right there!" How the hell could you miss her?!" Hans yelled, gesturing towards Jasmine.

"I never said I had good aim," said Catherine.

Milo just stood in stunned silence, gaping at the burning books.

God, this fight was going nowhere. Ignoring the others, I rushed – er, wobbled – towards Jasmine and swung Excalibur at her head. She easily dodged out of the way. As I turned to strike again, another window shattered and in burst Rajah.

"Come on!" I screamed in exasperation.

"You handle Jasmine, we've got Rajah," Hans said, turning to the tiger.

I didn't have time to argue, not if I wanted to destroy the zombies and save the library in the process. With each swing of Excalibur (and Jasmine continuously dodging), I felt my strength slowly returning.

An unholy yowl caught my attention, making me jump. For a heart-stopping moment, I feared one of my friends had met an untimely end. Tearing my gaze away from Jasmine, I looked back to assess the damage. The sound had come from Rajah, who had leapt into the fire.

"Burn, kitty, burn!" Catherine sang, adding a little dance. She held a hand out to Hans to high-five.

Hans pressed his right hand over his left arm, blood seeping between his fingers.

"I don't think so," he grumbled.

"Gods, you're no fun with that stick up your arse!"

"Aralyne, look out!" Milo shouted, pointing behind me.

I whirled around, intended to block Jasmine's attack, but instead, my sword pierced her chest. Her body exploded into dust. Well, that had been easier than I expected.

"You know, maybe I shouldn't have given you the water after all," said Catherine, taking in the destruction she had inadvertently caused.

"I doubt a single glass of water would be able to stop this," I pointed out. "Come on, we'll escape through there," I pointed at the window Rajah had jumped through.

The four of us scrambled for the exit, Milo first, then Catherine, and Hans was last after helping me out. Once we were settled on the street, I got my bearings and spotted a fire truck just pulling up to the scene. Hopefully they'll be able to save the books. Or what's left of them.

"Aralyne!"

I turned in time to see Danny land before me. He was holding himself back from tackling me to the ground.

"Are you… all right?" he hesitantly asked.

Nodding, I threw my arms around him, holding him tight. He eagerly returned my embrace, momentarily lifting me off the ground.

"Iago?" I wondered, when we had separated.

"Dead," said Danny. "Got him with a ghost beam as he was trying to escape."

"So, what now?" Catherine wondered, trying to brush soot off her clothes, but just did a fine job of smearing it into the fabric.

My gaze wandered in the direction of the hospital. "I need to have a word with –"

"Douchebag McGee?" Catherine supplied.

Hans snorted.

The hint of a smile tugged at my lips, but I was still too angry at Tulio to let it fully form. "Yes, him. And his devil spawn."

(Hello, my loyal fans! I am not dead! Just been busy the past 2 years. On top of work, I have actually been writing real books, and that's where most of my focus has gone. If anyone is interested, it's on Amazon: A Budding Rose by F.C. Flores . Hope you enjoyed the laughs!)