Chapter 8: The nursery incident
Irma thoughtfully looked at the yellow silk. "Hm. I don't know...if it's a boy, maybe he won't like that egg-yolk yellow. Let me see the blue, Cedric." She ordered.
Cedric's eyes narrowed and he awkwardly thumbed through the many different silk blankets draped over his arms, shoulders, nearby chairs and a few very bewildered guards. Finally he held up a light blue blanket. "This one, my lady?" He offered. "Please?"
Irma ignored the 'please' and pressed a thumb to her lips before making a face and shaking her head. "No, no. That's too light, Cedric. Don't we have anything more masculine?"
Cedric arched an eyebrow. "I doubt it, my lady. You like tired--why don't you rest?" He suggested.
Irma pursed her lips, then nodded. "I think I will." She agreed. With a feline grace, Irma sank into a low over stuffed chair and rested her head on her hands. "Cedric, do you ever hear of the Guardians?" She asked suddenly.
Cedric was busy shedding his blankets as he answered. "Rarely, my lady. There's nothing for you to worry over." He soothed. He pulled the last blanket off his head, where it had been draped like a veil, and gave a clumsy bow before her.
Irma looked up. "I wasn't worried." She said softly. Before her eyes could well up with tears, however, Phobos walked in.
"Irma, darling. I do love what you've done with the room." Phobos said cheerfully. "I've never seen such lovely yellow drapes." He fingered the cloth on the wall and kissed Irma on the cheek. "I think the baby will like it."
"I hope so." Irma replied. "I think I'm going to start folding up some diapers and blankets."
Phobos smiled. "Do you need help?" He offered.
"No, that's going to be my quiet time today. See you in a few hours!" Irma kissed Phobos goodbye and began to fold the huge mountian of linen diapers. But within a few minutes, a flurry of beating wings landed on the balcony.
Will raced over to Irma. "Irma! Come on! You can go home to--" She broke off in midsentence and stared at Irma. "You look...different."
In face, Irma looked very different. She now wore her hair in a simple bun, fastened with an elegant jeweled clasp. A simple but obviously expensive dress flowed over her like water over rocks, and she wore a bit of simple make up. The overall result was that Irma looked, to say the least, much older.
Irma pulled away from her friends. "What are you doing here? Leave, please!" She whispered. "I can't let you stay!"
Cornelia spoke up. "Come with us! You know that it's not safe here. Come on!" She urged in an undertone.
But the pregnant girl jerked away once more. "No! Listen, I am having a baby! Its daddy is making me the happiest girl alive--why can't you just respect that?" She said sharply.
Hay Lin arched an eyebrow. "Because you're 16 and the guy you're living with is our enemy?" She pointed out.
Irma narrowed her eyes. "Go! Go and don't come back! I'm happy here. Just--leave!" She shouted.
A guard's voice rumbled in the hall. "Lady Irma, are you okay in there?"
Irma ran over to the door and locked it hastily. "Fine! I'm fine! Just...I'm just singing to the baby in here! It's alright!" She shouted. Then she raced over to the Guardians. "Leave! Please!" She begged.
Will frowned slightly, then nodded. "We'll come back later." She promised. The Guardians flitted out the window, and Irma sat dow, exasted, in front of the diapers.
Phobos appeared suddenly, holding the key with which he unlocked the door. "Irma?" He asked, seeing the tired look on her face.
Irma got up and leaned against him gently. "Can we go elsewhere for me to have the baby?" She begged softly. "Or...could we leave until the baby is born?"
Phobos met Cedric's eyes and narrowed his own. "Of course. We'll go to my secret bunker. Would you like that?" He said gently. Irma nodded, and Phobos smiled wider. "It's settled, then. Irma, you go pack. I'll join you soon!" He escorted her to the door and then turned to face Cedric. "Find out what scared Irma so badly. I'll not have a threat near my wife-to-be and child." He ordered.
Cedric smiled. "With pleasure." He hissed as he changed into his serpant-like form and slithered out the huge door.
