CHAPTER 5:

Kahet's Room of Terror

Six months later, a four year old Kahet sat down on the floor and sulked. His mother was finishing the redecoration of her room to fit the new baby's crib with his aunt Sali'ah's and grandmother Bai'Kar's help. His crib had now become a small bed in a separate room along with other decorations. Over the months, his life had become centered over the fabulous 'new baby' and he didn't like it. He hated giving up his space in his parents room where he liked waking up ready to be cuddled by them. Now, he had no one but a frightening and lonely room that held no one to hold him.

Now the baby will be cuddled instead, he thought sadly.

He played with his toys while watching his mother show off the new baby clothes she'd received from his father. He growled and threw his toy away to the side, almost hitting Sri'shan.

"You almost hit me!" he yelled, his red eyes watering.

"I'm sorry" Kahet said, going over to his three-year old cousin to pat his head. "This new baby's changing everything."

"It's almost here too" Sau'Nak said, poking at an old tablet with information.

"It sucks!" Kahet exclaimed and kicked the couch nearby to release his frustration. "I have to stay in a room alone!"

"That's scary" Sri'shan said, grabbing his twin's bluish arm. "I like being with mother."

"I have to stay in a bed alone at night while they get the baby" he sulked and sat back down.

"And it's getting new stuff too" Sau'Nak pointed towards their mothers. "Is it a girl or boy?"

"A boy" Kahet answered softly. "I bet he'll replace me too."

"You could always come live with us" Sri'shan comforted. "We have space."

"Thanks but I have to stay" he sighed and stood up. "I'll be back."

Kahet walked towards his mother's room while the twins stared from behind curiously.

"Let's tell mother to have no more babies" Sri'shan told his brother. He nodded back.

Kahet walked into the large bedroom to see the three females sorting baby clothes and talking about their personal baby stories. He walked in and glared at his old crib which would be used for the new baby. It was his first and had now been replaced with items for a newborn. All he had was a cold bed and a large, empty room.

"Mother, I'm hungry" he said, yanking his mother's skirt. She looked down in surprise and smiled.

"You just ate a while ago, sweetie" she said, patting his cheek. "I'm a little busy, why don't you go play with the twins?"

"I'm tired of playing" he groaned in protest. "Sau'Nak is even bored of poking at his tablet!"

"He's just like his father" Sali'ah nodded to the females. "I usually hide them from him, he's so curious."

"Mother" Kahet whined and poked at her leg. "Can't the baby wait? I'm here now while he's in there."

"I know but I'm trying to finish the room before he comes, Kahet" she said, trying to reason with him. Then with a smile, "Why don't you show the twins your new room?"

"It's scary!" he complained angrily. "There's nothing but a bed and dresser there. I don't like it."

Why don't grownups ever listen to me?, he thought.

"You're a big boy now, you're old enough to have your own space" she explained and cupped his face. "The baby needs this space here and you've always told me how much you want to grow up."

"But I want to stay with you" he said, upset. "I'm scared in that room!"

He started crying making Iliana feel remorseful already. She would've loved to keep him in her room but they needed the space and Kantra didn't want to kick a crib and a bed in the dark during the middle of the night. He had fixed up Kahet's room a week ago and had done it horribly since his son was now terrified of it. She didn't want her little one to feel bad but she didn't know what else she could do.

My poor baby, she thought.

"Why don't I take you to your room and you can tell me what you're scared of" Sali'ah spoke up suddenly and took his hand. He sniffled and dried his eyes. "Then, we can see if we can change it to make it better, all right?"

He nodded reluctantly while his aunt picked him up and carried him away. Iliana watched her crying son leave and placed her hand over her large stomach. Bai'Kar squeezed her shoulder in sympathy and sighed.

"I remember Aru'Kar was the same way when Sali'ah was born" she told her in understanding. "He didn't want another sibling on his territory and even destroyed some of her clothes when she was born."

"Do you think Kahet will do that?" Iliana asked, worried.

Are children here that jealous?, she thought. I've barely interacted with young yautja siblings since I've been here.

"I don't know but he feels left out with this new child" Bai'Kar said, softly. "He's growing up and he probably feels as if you're all leaving him behind and using his new brother as a replacement."

Replacement?, she thought. We've told him no so many times.

"Kantra and I have talked to him and even spent more time with him but. . ." Iliana trailed off, feeling upset. "I hate seeing him like this."

"It's normal but let him join in and plan things for the baby" she suggested. "It may make him feel better."

"We tried" Iliana said, quickly. "We asked him to pick out newborn clothes and he picked an entire wardrobe for a female. When we asked him to fix the crib, he took his blankets and barricaded himself in his room."

"He's jealous, the poor dear" the older female sighed and shook her head.

"I know and I'm worried how worse it can get once his brother is here" she said, uneasily. "I don't want him resenting all of us, especially his brother."

"Do not put stress on the baby, make Kantra talk to him about it" she advised carefully. "All you should do now is wait for this baby to arrive."

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"This room is evil" Kahet whispered making Sri'shan run to his mother and clamp onto her leg.

Sali'ah had brought the three children into Kahet's new room to see what they could change. His small bed stood in the back center of the room while a small white hammock hung from two of hooks on the walls. His toys were confined into a metal box at the end of his bed while a dresser containing his clothes rested near the entrance. The silver walls gave the room a cold look along with its large size but the thing that scared Kahet the most was. . .

"Why is there a Kainde Amedha skull hanging from the ceiling?!" Sali'ah asked, in shock.

"Run, it'll eat us!" Sri'shan cried and tugged on his twin's arm. His twin, however, was in awe of it.

"How can you sleep in here?" Sau'Nak asked Kahet. The older pup shrugged and kept staring at his feared object.

"What is my brother thinking?!" Sali'ah demanded. "Has your mother seen this?"

"No, girls aren't allowed" Kahet said, crossing his arms.

"What about me then?" Sali'ah smiled at his stubborn pose.

"You're my aunt, you're not a girl" he said, purring happily. She sighed and patted his head affectionately.

"First thing we'll do is take down that trophy" she said, pointing to it. "Is your father trying to traumatize you with that?"

"No, he wants me to be a great hunter" he answered while looking at it nervously. "So I have to master my fear."

I hate looking at that thing, he thought.

"Will father do that to us too?" Sri'shan asked his mother fearfully.

"Not on my watch" she said, patting his cheek. He purred happily. "Is that the only thing scaring you in here, Kahet?"

"It's lonely in here" he whined timidly.

"Well, you're a growing boy and you can have as much fun as you want here without angering your parents" his aunt reasoned with him. "You can play here later without keeping them up and you can make your own rules for your room. There's many possibilities in here."

"Really?" he asked, brightening up.

I can stay up and eat in here as much as I want?, he thought mischievously.

"As long as your parents say it's all right" she enticed him. "Who wants to be stuck with their parents in a small room when you could be all alone in this big room? It's like a big playground waiting to be filled with your things."

Kahet brightened up entirely at the idea of filling his room with his things, not the baby's. This would his territory, no one else's. True, the room still looked vacant and lonely but he had to get over the fear whether he liked it or not. Besides, he was a growing boy now. That thought alone gave him more bravery and energy to tough it out alone.

"Can we have a room?" Sau'Nak asked his mother. She shook her head. "Why not?"

"Because you're still young and I'm not using your space anytime soon" she smiled and bent down to squeeze him making him moan.

"I don't have many things to put in here" Kahet said, looking over his room. Then sighed, "I'd rather have my mama with me."

"But you can't, Kahet" Sali'ah reminded him softly. His body hunched down in unhappiness. "What about this? The twins can put some toys they don't need here and when they come over, you can have a little area to play with them at."

"Like our own playing room?" Sri'shan asked happily. "Kahet?"

"Why not?" he nodded instantly to him. "We can make our own club!"

"And our own rules" Sau'Nak added in.

"See, you're cheering up already" Sali'ah chuckled and hoped Kahet would at least get used to the room.

If not, Kantra better make space for him on their bed, she thought watching the three children make plans.

"Kahet? You're in your room without any of us, that's a surprise" his father's voice came in through his doorway.

Kahet turned around and ran to his father to squeeze his leg affectionately. Kantra smiled and picked up the pup to look over the room he'd created. It was big and over time, it would change according to Kahet's taste. Looking up at the trophy hanging down, he smiled happily at it while his sister walked over to smack him. Massaging his head, he placed Kahet on the floor and glared at her.

"Ow! Sali'ah! What was that for?!" he growled at her.

Is she pregnant again or something?, he thought. Females in our society are easily infuriated over anything!

He had just arrived home for the day after another day of grueling reports. Since Iliana was due at any day, he headed straight home afterwards instead of visiting his siblings like he sometimes did. Today, he'd come home to see Iliana finishing the baby's area with his mother and decided to leave when they asked for his opinion on blankets. He was a male and had no interest whatsoever so he knew it was better to leave before he got a lecture on the subject from Iliana. His ooman partner was very adamant on coordinating things to her fashion while he didn't care like most yautja males. When it came to child rearing, Iliana had her culture and he had his. Usually, he gave in regrettably in order not to cause their child any stress. So after greeting the two females, he thought he'd seek sanctuary in Kahet's room but obviously, he had been wrong.

"Why is that gruesome thing hanging?" she demanded. "If Iliana saw it, she'd be mortified!"

"It's a trophy! It'll make Kahet used to the aspect of hunting" he said, shrugging his shoulders. "He loves it, right, Kahet?"

"It wants to eat me at night!" he cried, glancing away from it. "I know it does!"

"Kahet, it's already dead" he pointed out.

"You have a dead thing in your room?" Sri'shan cringed. The twins grabbed Kahet and looked at the trophy, almost expecting it to come alive again and eat them.

"You're going to do more damage with that to him" Sali'ah warned her brother. "He's 4. He's not ready for that yet, if at all, he should be reading up on small creatures. Not our most favorite prey!"

"He'll be ahead of the other students" Kantra said, dismissively. "How can he not like his new room? It's big and quiet."

"And lonely" she pointed out quickly. "He's used to sleeping with you two and now he has this huge room to share with that thing!"

"It's not a thing! It's my trophy" Kantra said, offended. "I know what I'm doing."

"And what does your mate think?" she hissed at him. "I doubt she wants her oldest son terrified of prey. What's next? You'll hang a human trophy from there?"

"Don't insult my parenting, Sali'ah" he growled threateningly. "If there is an issue, then Iliana and I will take care of it."

"What is all this noise?" Iliana called out and entered the room quickly. Bai'Kar entered in after her with a concerned expression. "What is with the yelling?"

"Sali'ah and I were-"

"What in all the heavens is that?!" Iliana yelled, pointing to the hard meat trophy. "Why is there a skeleton in my son's room?"

Do I have to keep repeating myself?, he thought.

"It's a trophy!" Kantra sighed in irritation. "I put it here to decorate the room. Our son will be a hunter one day and I wanted to start him on that path! Why is everyone going crazy with this?"

Is he insane?, Iliana thought while staring at the shiny skull overlooking the room. Humans would be scared of that even if they were adults.

"Is that why he keeps coming to our room at night?" she asked him angrily. "You're giving him nightmares, Kantra!"

"He's not, he's just getting used to the room" Kantra said, grabbing Kahet into his arms again. Kahet shook his head and reached out for his mother.

"I can't sleep, it wants to eat me!" he wailed to his mother. She looked at her mate in her protective mothering way usually meant for enemies and knew he was in trouble.

"We'll go back to decorating" Sali'ah said quickly, grabbing her twins and exiting quick. Bai'Kar just sighed and followed her daughter.

"Kantra, I want that thing out" Iliana ordered quietly. "You promised your trophies would stay in your trophy room, not anywhere else. Once Kahet is old to know what that thing is, then you may place it back. Understood?"

Kantra watched his fuming mate and realized it was futile to even try to argue. Over the years, he'd realized he would have to compromise some traditions from his culture so he could fit hers in. Obviously, today his battle was lost. Looking at his nervous son, he nodded to her.

"If it helps him, then fine" he said, dismally. "I don't want my son to be frightened of his room and take it out on me."

"Good, I want it gone by tonight" she said, turning her voice to a sweet tone. "Now Kahet, don't you feel better?"

I'll get to live now!, he thought happily.

"Mm-hmm" he nodded enthusiastically. Then patting Kantra's shoulder, "Sorry father."

"I suppose having a kainde amedha roommate is frightening to some" Kantra sighed and patted his head. "A ooman one would be boring but-"

"Ahem!" Iliana interrupted and waved to him. "Previous human prey standing here while pregnant with your son! You also forget your children are half-human."

"I get it, Ana!" he said, waving her away in return. She scoffed and crossed her arms. Then to Kahet, "I just want what's best for you."

"Really?" Kahet piped up. "Then can the baby wait a while?"

"That's not possible, son" he chuckled and ruffled his hair. He groaned. "Now, why don't we let your mother go back to her task?"

"Why does the baby need so much? I didn't" he pouted and crossed his arms.

"Honey, how can you know?" Iliana chuckled at his childish antic. "You weren't born."

"Your mother has to do this so why don't the two of us go eat something and talk about hunting?" Kantra asked, hoping to draw his attention to that. Kahet placed a hand under his chin thoughtfully and then nodded.

"Now you're having hunt talks?" Iliana asked, poking Kantra's arm. "Bad Kantra."

"It's either that or the trophy, my dear" he purred to her making her shake her head in dismay. "One day our Kahet will be grown."

"I know, I don't like it" she said, disliking that thought. "I wish he could just stay small and with us."

"You only say that because you're used to mothering" he said, caressing her cheek with his hand. She nodded gently and sighed. "In forty years, you'll want all of them out of here."

Forty? What will I be, a baby factory?, she thought. AndI never appreciated the small number of human offspring compared to yautja ones.

"Forty? I'll be an old woman by then" Iliana said in surprise. "If you think I'll be having kids at that age-"

"You humor me, Ana" he chuckled and kissed her gently. Kahet gagged and wiggled in his father's arm for freedom. "You haven't aged a day since you arrived. Remember, our culture ages very slowly and the fact that you sank your teeth into me years ago and drank my blood also helped your longevity."

"Blood? Ewww" Kahet winced and his father finally put him down. He scampered away and outside of the room quickly while yelling, "Mom's a vampire!"

Cute, Iliana thought. He really liked those stories. He didn't like Frankenstein though.

"You were hunting me, I had a right to do it" she said, easily. Then thoughtfully, "So I'm aging slowly like your kind?"

"In a sense" he shrugged and wrapped his arm around her waist. "I couldn't bear losing you to an ooman lifespan, Iliana. That is why I always want you to remain in our atmosphere so you can last at my side."

"I love you too" she said, caressing his lower mandibles and kissed him. "And thank you for fixing up Kahet's room."

"I still don't see what's wrong with it" he said, still clueless. "I loved having one when I was small!"

"And look at how you turned out" she teased and soothed his taupe colored chest.

"Exactly-Hey!" he complained but squeezed her gently. Placing a hand on her belly, he said, "Be more like me. Ask me to put a trophy in your room to mesmerize you."

"It should've been a girl" Iliana muttered but placed her hand over his.

"Next time then" he grinned suggestively. She glared in return. "You know we will. It's only a matter of years. We can't keep our hands off each other even if it means death. And we were near death when we first mated on Earth."

"Must you remind me?" she hushed, blushing instantly. She quickly swatted down the memories of those times out of her brain.

"Father, I'm hungry!" Kahet called from outside.

"So am I, but for something else" he purred seductively to Iliana.

"I'm about to give birth soon, I don't even want to think about that" she scolded but groaned in protest when his teeth bit into her neck. "Darn vampire, go feed Kahet and get your mind off of that."

"Only because you're pregnant and I obey you for now" he said, letting go only to pet her stomach again.

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A few days later, Iliana sat in bed writing in her daily journal, which she'd bought on Earth years ago and brought more so they'd last over time. So far, everything was finished and she could just relax until her kicking child would enter the world and create chaos into Kahet's. Kahet had settled down a bit and was now unafraid of his room but still wary of spending his nights alone. Kantra would then spend some time in there until he fell asleep and then returned to his own room to collapse into slumber land.

Iliana yawned and turned off the lights by pushing the sensor next to their bed and lay down. Kantra was currently face down with an arm hanging over the edge of the bed while his face was plastered into his pillow. Iliana smiled softly and turned to embrace his arm while she lay on her side to sleep. Snuggling into the blankets, she moved around the bed to get comfortable which in return woke Kantra up.

"Is it time to get up already?" he asked, groggily. "I'm still tired."

"No, I'm heading to sleep" she said, running her fingers through his hair. "Go back to sleep, Kantra."

"Are you all right?" he asked, turning onto his back to face her. She smiled and caressed his chest with her hand. "Is it the baby?"

"Everything's fine, I just can't sleep on my side with this baby bump" she sighed and moved around again. "Sorry."

"Turn around" he said, grabbing her shoulder.

She listened and turned her back to him while he shifted to his side. Facing her, he cuddled up to her from behind making her complain.

I'm not about to be his pillow or play thing, she thought.

"Hey, I'm serious, I'm not looking for a midnight mating with you right now" she groaned.

"Trust me and stop nagging" he grunted but squeezed her bottom making her growl. "All right, I'm serious now!"

That's what he always says and we end up naked and tired an hour later, she thought.

While she grumbled, he propped up her body against his and placed his arm underneath her head. She rested her head against it while laying comfortably against him with no bother from her baby bump. Smiling, she laced her fingers through his and squeezed his hand.

"I love you" she said, softly. "You always find a way to comfort me."

"It's the least I can do" he purred into the back of her head. "Sleep now, Iliana."

The couple slept a few more hours until Kantra felt himself be shaken by soft hands. He was dreaming about the day he'd be an Arbitrator and was on an adventure to take down a Bad Blood and had chucked the dead body at Sau-Trul for the hell of it. Opening his eyes, he groaned into the dark.

"No, I was embarrassing Sau-Trul, I've earned it" he whined and wiped his eyes to clear the sleep from his mind. "What is it now? Did Kahet have another nightmare?"

"No, my water broke" Iliana told him while moving to stand up. "I have to get to the med bay."

"Water? Baby?" Kantra asked, and then connected the words in his brain. "The baby!"

He quickly stood up despite he'd just awoken and headed out the dormitory in the nude. He ran into the main foyer in the dark after tripping and almost falling over Kahet's toys and grabbed Iliana's emergency things. He was almost out the main entrance when. . .

"Kantra! Get back in here!" Iliana yelled, making him stop. He turned around in surprise. "Where are you going?!"

"You! Pregnant! Med Bay!" he cried, disoriented.

"Kantra, you're leaving without me" she pointed out quickly and went to him. She grabbed his face and made him look at her, "Let me get ready and you go put some clothes on because you're naked and I don't need you running throughout the ship like that."

I'm what?, Kantra thought and looked down.

"Oh no! My brain must've moved faster than my body!" he said in shock. "I need a moment."

He collapsed onto the couch and closed his eyes. Iliana stared at her poor mate who looked as if he was about to go into labor instead and headed towards her bedroom to change. Afterwards, she went out to where Kantra was to find him knocked out into his sleep again. She shook him lightly and waited for him to wake. His green eyes opened and focused into the now lit room.

"I had this awful dream where I was naked and heading to the med bay" he said, yawning.

"It wasn't a dream and I'm still having the baby" she said gently and pushed him back down before he could get up. "I want you to relax and when you're ready, I have your clothes ready here and we can leave."

Oh no, it's really time, he thought. And I almost embarrassed myself. This is part of why males avoid females when they birth.

"You always plan for disaster" he murmured and stroked her cheek. "I'll be up in a minute, just go call Ani-De. I'll go get Kahet and take him to my mother's."

"Good plan" she said, kissing his forehead. "Don't trip on the toys, okay?"

"I think the toys are the least of my worry" he groaned and watched Iliana leave. "I'm going to be a father again. Please gods, don't let Eliok bring in food like he did with Kahet's birth."

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End of Chapter 5. Iliana's ready to have her baby and we'll see the aftermath in the next chapter.