AN: -Squeals- Yay! Chapter 14 is here and the past 13 chapters have gotten so much reviews… ya know that Raine loves ya right? Good on ya sweet thangs. Anyways, lets get on with the show. (I still can't believe it! 114 reviews! Hehehehe…)

- L l u v i a

Chapter Fourteen

The voice came across the speaker. It was, unlike most of the other voices, completely clear to the three figures in the room. The figure who spoke did not waver or hesitate once while giving the speech, but did it with pure conceit – for that was what the evil side stood for.

At the simple sound of this woman clearing her throat, the three heads turned towards the speaker immediately. They huddled around it. There were two men and a woman. The woman was clad in a crimson dress, the older man was dressed in a classy dark green suit and the other man, more like an older teenager as he was only eighteen years old, was in a navy tuxedo.

When it is said that bad luck came in threes you have these masters of the dark elements. Faun as fire, Slate as earth and Arce as water. Once the perfect fighters – now corrupted by dark power to create the shadow clan.

'I have finished briefing you, my pets, now you shall brief me. What have you done to lure the girl towards you?' The voice asked in it's silky dark tones. Faun was the first one to reply to this as she was the groups leader and oldest of the three.

'We have been doing much, my sovereign. We have planted someone within the Carmel region to tell us of the progress going with the target to us.' Faun paused and Slate took over the speaking.

'They have been very useful. We have set into effect the Dark Alegion Swift Spell to speed the birth rate of the child. We are planning to catch the girl when she is at a weak state.' Finally, Arce continued the edifying seminar.

'Not whilst she is sleeping, but whilst she is driving one of those human… inventions.' A crooked smirk appeared on the smallest shadow's face as he looked into the white, swirling, misty ball that was the Dark Alegion speaker.

The silky, dark voice seemed to like the news it was told, 'And how long of a period has passed since this planted 'someone' edified you?'

'An hour ago.' Was the reply by Slate.

Now the voice sounded amused. 'Continue your work, young shadows. Your rewards will come, my children, no doubt in the whole of the universe!'

The misty ball faded to a deep black, signalling that the converse was over. Arce disconnected from the DA link and went into another room.

Once he had came back from the errand he had just run, Arce heard Faun order Slate, 'Speed up the pregnancy process.' Slate nodded and it was him that dissappeared into the room opposite the one Arce had vacated moments ago.

For a second, Arce shivered at the fact that this woman, known to the humans as Susannah Simon, would soon have the worst 14 hours of her life.

At least, he thought after that moment, she would not live to see the rest of the world die.

-(§)-

Jesse had to leave pretty early in the morning for his work down at the hospital. So it was no wonder that I woke up alone that morning. Although I didn't really feel alone. Jesse, one way or another, always seemed to be with me nowadays. Maybe it was the fact that I was pregnant or that we were soul-mates.

Either way, his presence still greeted me that morning. The sun shone through my blinds and I, with a large beam on my face, registered that the windows were closed. Jesse closed my windows.

'Just like old times.' I heard myself mutter and that made me smile very wide. This smile, however, fell off my face as slippery as butter when I saw myself in the mirror.

Oh.

My.

God.

'MOM!' I screeched, sitting on the toilet seat in shock. My mother sensed that something was wrong and came straight away to my rescue. When she got into the bathroom however, she looked at what I had been screeching about and her eyes widened considerably.

'Oh Susie.' She didn't have any smile on her face so this mustn't be normal, I thought. I was panicking overtime.

There was a very large bulge in my stomach that should have only happened at least six months after I realized I was pregnant. Seriously, it was as large as my own head times three. That was pretty darn large.

And I was only three weeks pregnant!

This isn't normal… This isn't normal… This isn't normal…

My mom wanted to go call a doctor. I heard her tell me it as I was panicking. I grabbed her wrist just as she was going to leave. A doctor was not what we needed. I told her this and she just looked at me skeptically. Then I asked her to go get me the phone and, with a last worried look, she complied.

Who did I call, you ask? The answer was completely clear.

I called Paul Slater.

-(§)-

After calling Paul and briefly telling him what had happened, yet again I sat on the toilet seat of my adjoining bathroom and waited. Mom had heard what I told Paul and now I really regretted it.

Mainly because I was in such a shock that I forgot the secrecy I swore to, I had used the word shifter, mediating, ghost and dead in the sentence.

'Paul, yeah, this is Suze. There is something seriously wrong with me! I don't know whether it's a normal shifter affect or not but I know it is most definitely not normal. Does it have to do with the fact that Jesse was once a ghost? Or me mediating the dead or what? Please come and talk to me. I really, really need your support.'

And to think that I said it all in one breath.

But back to the matter at hand – I was in serious trouble. I knew this because after I hung up, my mother asked, 'Susie. What was that all about? What you said on the phone to that boy Paul?' Her voice was gentle yet firm – the one she used to get the information out of people she interviewed.

I felt my face go completely pallid. This, I knew, was the moment I had been dreading for my entire life. I realized, a moment later, however, that that moment was not meant to be just then. Fortunately, my mind zipped to the other mediators I knew. I realized, in telling my mother about my gifts, that I would need added support.

One quarter of that support was coming to my house right this instant.

He arrived five minutes after the phone call. I had told mom I would talk with her about the phone call and events later, she abided only because I was feeling really sick in the stomach all of a sudden.

Anticipation – Guilt – Nervousness.

The three things summed up what I was feeling in those terrifying moments. Mostly because I wanted te 411 on mediation and how it prevents or mutates pregnancies but also because I would have to tell my mother, whom I have kept in the dark about for my whole life, about my shifter/mediator capabilities.

I was sitting there – feeling these three emotions at their raw and initial stage when the doorbell rang. Mom zipped out to get it at the speed of light and soon enough I heard frantic footsteps up the stairs and my bedroom door, once locked, swing open as easy as cake.

Mom and Paul flew into the bathroom a moment later. Paul was looking as hot as ever – I could see that he too was enjoying the nice Sunday in bed as well as I had. Note the had, meaning: not any more.

Once catching sight of me, Paul immediately straightened in shock and dropped to his knees beside me. I shuddered when I felt his cool hand slide into mine, although it was the most comforting gesture anyone had given me for the whole day.

'Suze,' Paul's voice seemed rusty as if he had not used it in a long expanse of time. It was rough and low – as was his face. All-round seriousness. Yay for Mr. Slater.

It's called sarcasm, people, learn it sometime.

He continued, 'I'm afraid to say this isn't at all a normal shifter/mediator power. I may not be the best to judge but this is the work of some major dark vibes. I may just be sensitive or something but I can sense them all around you.'

Paul, Sensitive? HA! Never in this hell called a world or his afterlife would Paul Slater be 'Sensitive.' I observed the rest of his sentence, however, and nodded in reply.

A sigh was emitted from Paul and he stood – taking my hand with him. 'Up' was all he said to me in advance. And then, with an almighty push and no help whatsoever from myself, he lifted me up.

It was only then that I realized I was crying. Pretty dumb, eh? Not to notice it, I mean. Paul most definitely noticed it because he wrapped his hands around my figure and pulled me into a colossal embrace.

'Stay Strong, Sister.' He whispered. This, despite all that had happened today, made me grin and laugh a little. I was far from being Paul's sister. Unless he meant it shifter-wise. I knew, though, that he was just being funny.

Paul guided me, with a tan hand lightly pressed onto my back, into my bedroom where I found mom and Andy talking.

Andy's disbelief was apparent – but when he saw me and Paul at the door I swear his jaw dropped.

Paul ignored this reaction and tugged me towards the bed, where he then told me to sit and name all the mediators I knew. Both mom and Andy looked confused by this question.

'Well,' I paused, thinking. My voice was weak and soft but I managed to label all of us. 'There's Father Dominic, Ashley, Jesse, Jack – you know, your brother – you, me and… Oh!' I remembered the last mediator I knew, also my psychic friend, 'Ophelia.'

Suddenly, Paul's eyes went brighter – as if he remembered something. I realized that he did. It was a little obvious because he exclaimed: 'I remember now!' He sounded pleased and handed over a small slip of paper. When I looked at it I realized my familiar handwriting and Paul's neat scrawl next to and/or underneath it.

This is what the paper read:

DEATH OF ANCIENT ALEGIONPHOST

1

She who is the offspring of Alegion spirit and ultimate holy creator god will serve as a protector to the sovereign Susannah of Alegion.

2

The astute messenger will stand by the sovereign as will the slayer of darkness Paul, the minister of awakening will use the power of mediation to aid the man of honorable intentions Jesse/Hector in creating the resistance against the Ancient Alegionphost myths.

3

Preface to the clash between radian and shadow clans, the sovereign of Alegion will corrupt the smallest of the shadow clan.

4

Once the smallest fails to live through torture, the sovereign will use her Ancient Alegion power with aids from a child in white and the radian clan will defeat the Ancient Alegionphost myths.

Amen.

As I looked at the paper, eyebrows raised and inside chuckling because he only labeled four people, I vaguely remember hearing Paul talk to me, 'I didn't understand who the "smallest shadow" the Alegion spirit or the other things were.' Paul told me. I nodded.

The idea dawned on me then and there. I told Paul to wait for a moment – mom and Andy had left with perplexed stares at us beforehand – and I went to find, inside my bathroom, my Celtic Moonstone Pendant. Immediately I thought of Ophelia – I could consult her later.

I returned to my room with the pendant in my hand. Once again, when it came into contact with my hand, the cabochon lit up with the familiar silver glow.

My voice was a strange, low hiss. 'Tell me the prophecies and their meanings…' I cooed, hoping the pendant would hear my plea.

It did. I felt calmness throughout my whole body and in the next blink… I knew the answers.

Quickly, I wrote them down. These where what I came up with for the answers that Paul couldn't figure out:

She who is the offspring of Alegion spirit Valerie and ultimate holy creator god will serve as a protector Ashwinder to the sovereign Susannah of Alegion.

'Whose "Ashwinder" and "Valerie"?' Paul asked. I ignored him and solved the second prophecy.

The astute messenger Ophelia will stand by the sovereign as will the slayer of darkness Paul, the minister of awakening Father Dominic will use the power of mediation to aid the man of honorable intentions Jesse/Hector in creating the resistance Radian against the Ancient Alegionphost myths three shadows

'Radian…Shadows…' Sometimes I swear that Paul is insane. I heard him muttering to himself. I just rolled my eyes and started writing again – before I forgot it all.

Preface to the clash between radian and shadow clans, the sovereign of Alegion Susannah will corrupt the smallest of the shadow clan Arce

Once the smallest Arce fails to live through torture, the sovereign Susannah will use her Ancient Alegion power Celtic/Alegion Moonstone with aids from a child in white and the radian clan will defeat the Ancient Alegionphost myths.

The power wore off and I stopped writing. That was the end. The only answer I did not find out was who the "child in white" was. It wasn't that I forgot the knowledge – the Pendant, the Celtic/Alegion Moonstone, didn't know it either. It must be too important or maybe insignificant for the Moonstone to keep in it's memory.

I relayed this to Paul. He blinked a couple of times but eventually got the gist of what I was saying. I told him everything that had happened lately since I had last seen him and he kept nodding and comprehending what I was telling him.

'So,' I breathed out after providing with him a huge explanation, 'What do you think I should do?'

Paul grinned and rolled his eyes – as if the answer was obvious. 'I suggest you call-' He stopped. Not because anything really huge happened but because abruptly, my portable princess – uhhg – phone started to buzz. Paul dived for it and answered the call.

'Hello?' Was all he said. Then the person across the line said something long and caused Paul to nod again (if he nodded anymore, I thought at the time, his head might just fall off) and then he handed the phone to me.

I put the cool plastic against my ear, 'Hi, This is Suze.'

'Susannah?' It was Ophelia. I smiled at the simple greeting of my name.

'Hey, Ophelia. How was the convention?' I asked, sitting on the bed. Paul looked a little dazed, I briefly wondered why but said nothing to him.

'It was good, it was good.' Ophelia said quickly, 'Actually, dear, there was something interesting I wanted to tell you.'

'Yes?'

'One of the divination artists, Arian Morrigan fell into a deep trance – saying spirits were speaking to her, and that they told her to tell me to inform you that you, my child, are in grave danger. They said something about a pregnant woman with an unborn child – having terrible nightmares of destruction. I immediately thought of you, dear.'

She continued, 'I would like to tell the rest of the story to you in person, child. Incase -'

I provided a good guess, 'Someone's trying to intercept the conversation? I understand. So I will come to your place again at midnight?'

'Oh no, dear. You are a special case, you have free access to my address anytime.' Her soft voice did not waver, but I could hear humor entwined through her flat accent.

I looked at the clock across the room and nodded to Paul, who was looking at me. 'I will be there in twenty minutes.' Paul coughed at this and I just rolled my eyes for what seemed to be the millionth time that day.

'Perfect. I will await your arrival!' She beamed joyfully and, after a short farewell, hung up.

I hung up after the call and instantaneously dialed the Carmel Hospital number. When they picked up, I asked for Jesse de Silva and was put on hold.

Around, oh, five minutes later, Jesse picked up the phone. His silky voice made my knees feel weak once again. Heaven took over my body when he realized who was on the phone and his voice dropped a few octaves lower.

My face heated up, 'Hello Jesse.'

'Hola, Susannah.' Came the reply, a moments pause and then he asked, 'What are you calling for, Querida?' I could imagine him, in his doctor uniform, on the phone with me and leaning against the front desk while girls ogled his butt and he didn't even notice.

'Jesse.' I tried to keep my voice level, 'I have a very… large, problem.' I added, looking down at my stomach and running my hands up and down the bulge.

'It seems that Misters Arce, Slate and Miss Faun want to speed up my pregnancy process. I am only two weeks pregnant and I look like I've been pregnant for six months.' I sighed, 'I'm damn sure it's their work, the three shadows, I mean. Remember what I told you about them?'

Jesse was completely silent. Finally, he said, 'Did you notify anyone else, Father Dominic, perhaps?'

'Yes. I did notify someone. But not Father Dom. I notified Ophelia and Paul. Paul's over here now. He has some answers to the prophecies I shared with you.' Again, the line went silent.

'And you have decided on doing something, Querida?' He asked.

'Yeah. I'm going to go over to Ophelia's in around -' I checked the clock again, 'Fifteen minutes. Is that okay with you?'

'Perfecto.' Once again, my legs felt like they were going to give way. 'I will meet you after my shift is over, okay, Susannah? Will you be back by four?'

A smile crossed my face, 'Three?'

And both together we said quickly, 'Two?' I released a laugh.

'Three it is, Susannah.' Then with another goodbye, Jesse hung up.

Too bad I didn't know that then, it would be the last time I heard his voice for a long time.

-(§)-

I made my way over to Ophelia's – but got caught in traffic. I realized that was because of the new mini-mall being planted over west where Ophelia lived.

So I was sitting there, waiting in traffic and hoping desperately that it would move in at least a five-minute time span. I started to play around with the pendant for a few minutes before, unexpectedly… my wish was granted.

The traffic started to move. I turned off the main road and sailed down the one closer to Ophelia's house. I was so happy that the traffic had moved that I didn't realize the other car coming until it was too late.

In movies, serious car crashes involving some very dangerous spins go in really slow motion. It's true. At the moment my car smashed into the opposing one, I felt my whole world being slowed down – as if I was conked on meds. Slowly, the car rotated in two 360 spins and then hit, of all things, a power poll.

I was knocked out so fast I didn't even feel the black wisps of smoke spin around me and bind my body faster than someone could say 'Alegion.'

All I saw was blackness.

AN: I HATE CLIFFHANGERS! Seriously, guys, I am SO sorry the end of this turned out to be a cliffie. I couldn't help it. It was how the chapter was supposed to end – but not with a cliffhanger!

Is that even possible?

When someone finds out, please tell me!

As for now, please review ma story and make me feel loved :) I love feeling loved… If that makes any sense whatsoever.

Confuddled,

L l u v i a