Chapter 7: The news.
Irma was uneasy. For nearly 3 weeks she had been living with Phobos, who had made only a few comments of marriage and no actions to start marrying her. He hadn't mentioned children, nor had he said what would happen if she ever got pregnant with his child. And the bond she held with the Guardians had told her that her friends had crossed the Veil multipule times looking for her.
The 16 year old tucked a tendricle of red hair behind her ear and studied her reflection, trying to foresee herself with a much more obviously pregnant belly. When I told Mom that I was pregnant, I didn't mean it! I didn't expect it. She thought quietly.
The door opened and she hastily turned to face Phobos with a natural, warm smile.
"You look worried." Phobos said briskly. He was busy; she could see that by the look on his face and by the papers she carried in her hands. Nevertheless he put his papers on his desk and walked over to her, lifting her chin easily in one hand. "What's wrong?"
Irma considered lying, decided against it, and then tried to figure out how to put her news delicately. "I haven't been feeling well recently." Irma said softly. "And I think I know why."
Phobos released her chin and walked over to his wardrobe. "Are you ill? And have you seen my green overcoat? I've been looking for it." He asked absentmindedly.
Irma felt an edge of annoyance rise up like bile in her throat, but she swallowed it...and realized that it hadn't been annoyance but rather morning sickness. She braced herself against the wardrobe and tried to rally her fleeting courage. The only thing she could rally was nausea.
Phobos looked up at Irma and noticed her face rapidly draining of all color. "Irma...?" He asked as gently as he could. Irma swayed slightly, though she had such a grip on the wardrobe that her knuckles were going white. "Irma?" Phobos said, catching her in his arms.
Irma blinked up at him. He can't know! He won't want the baby or me! She thought crazily. "The green...coat is in...in...the..." The world was blacking out. "The..." She went limp.
Phobos shifted her hastily in his arms. "Irma!" He shouted. A maid ran in, and Phobos glared at her. "Don't just stand there--go get a doctor!"
The maid fled, and Phobos found his heart beating fast. If Irma dies, I don't know what I'll do. He thought uneasily. "Hang on." He told her quietly.
Caleb walked up to the Guardians, fuming quietly. "You won't believe this. Irma's having a baby." He said sharply. "And here's the surprising part. Phobos wants to keep it! He said it can be his heir or whatever."
Taranee's mouth dropped. "She's having a what?" She demanded.
"And he wants to keep it?" Cornelia chimed in. "She's only 16--doesn't he know that?"
"I don't think he cares." Caleb replied softly. "The only good thing about this is that Irma will probably be left alone for hours while she redecorates the nursery."
Will looked at her friends and smiled slightly. "I say we pay Irma a visit." She said firmly. "And if we have to bring another heir across the Veil, so be it."
