Be warned there is some violence in this chapter!

NiGHTS sighed unhappily as she gazed out over the clouds of Nightmare. Malice had warped the two back to the castle, where he promptly locked NiGHTS in the throne room.

"Hnn!" NiGHTS groaned as she felt a tremor go through her stomach. "Ha...ha... easy baby. I know you want out."

"But you have to wait just a little longer." NiGHTS thought.

No way NiGHTS could have the baby right now. All the nightmaren were hunting her mate, Reala. She wouldn't be able to help him if she was giving birth.

Rattle.

NiGHTS turned and looked up and saw some bricks rattling.

"What in the world of dreams?" NiGHTS muttered as she flew up to investigate.

The bricks rattled as they began to be removed from the other side.

"Wait." NiGHTS thought. "Is this our old escape route?"

When Malice had been beaten the first time, NiGHTS had been confined to her bed to recover. However, you don't expect NiGHTS to sit around for all that time. No, she and Reala snuck out often using a tunnel system to meet and go on adventures.

"I only know the ways out of the castle... but Reala knows them all!" NiGHTS thought.

The final brick was removed as Reala came out of the tunnel. He stopped right in front of NiGHTS's face, their lips mere inches away from each other. NiGHTS smiled happily and gave him a big kiss. Reala was still alive! Tears began pouring down her face out of sheer joy at being able to see Reala .She had been terrified that she would never see him alive again.

"NiGHTS!" Reala hissed eyes wide in shock after the kiss. "I thought I told you to stay-."

NiGHTS swiftly pushed him back into the tunnel as she heard the lock clicking on the doors. Reala must have heard the lock too, because he swiftly pulled a chair in front of the entrance to hide it. NiGHTS quickly plopped herself down on the chair as Malice opened the door.

"What do you want?" NiGHTS said unhappily. She would have to make him believe she was upset. Otherwise he might guess she had seen Reala.

"I came to check in on you." Malice said kindly.

NiGHTS scowled. Ever since she had agreed to behave herself Malice began treating her nicely, maybe even like he truly had feelings for her. She didn't care though; he threatened her mate and her baby. Malice was going down!

"How kind." NiGHTS said sarcastically.

Malice smiled and leaned down to kiss NiGHTS. NiGHTS winced as he placed a kiss on her cheek.

"Gross! I'm going to need a bath after this." NiGHTS thought disgusted.

Malice grabbed her upper arm and sharply pulled her into the air. NiGHTS gasped as more pain came from her stomach. Malice quickly placed his clawed hand on NiGHTS's pregnant tummy.

"Soon, very soon." Malice said soothingly.

"Why do you care when my babies born?" NiGHTS asked angrily. She didn't like Malice pretending that the child was his. "He's not you kid!"

Malice quickly lost all sense of calm and smacked NiGHTS across the face again. NiGHTS was thrown off balance and landed beside the chair concealing Reala's hiding place.

"Grrr!"

NiGHTS heard Reala growling. He had just seen Malice hit her!

"Please Reala, stay hidden!" NiGHTS silently begged of her mate.

"Have you forgotten our deal NiGHTS?" Malice said with venom in his voice. "Reala? Or your baby? Now behave!"

With that Malice flew and left the room. NiGHTS heard the lock click and then a scraping sound. NiGHTS turned around to see Reala shove the chair aside angrily. Reala got up and flew to NiGHTS, grabbed her in a hug and placed a tender kiss on her lips.

NiGHTS melted. She loved Reala... the way he held her, kissed her. The way he could make her happy no matter what.

"NiGHTS..." Reala whispered as his hand gently brushed NiGHTS's cheek where Malice had slapped her. "What happened?"

"After you left, Malice came." NiGHTS explained as her voice started to rise. "He told me he'd kill the baby if I didn't do what he said!"

NiGHTS buried her face in Reala's chest. Reala hugged her tightly as he stroked her hair gently with his hand.

"You did the right thing." Reala said trying to calm NiGHTS down. "Malice would have killed our child if you didn't agree to his demands. You bought us time."

NIGHTS nodded as Reala lifted her chin and dried her tears. Suddenly NiGHTS fell to her knees as pain shuddered through her body.

NiGHTS groaned as Reala picked her up bridal style and placed her on a couch.

"NiGHTS!" Reala said scared. "What's-?"

"The baby!" NiGHTS said crying. "I think it's almost ready to come out!"

Reala's eyes went wide then narrowed.

"NiGHTS we need Puffy to deliver the baby... but she's possessed." Reala said. "You have to stay calm, take deep breaths-."

NiGHTS screamed as pain rippled from her stomach.

Suddenly they both heard the lock rattling.

"No!" NiGHTS nearly screamed. Malice was coming! He must have heard... wait. Reala!

"Malice." Reala hissed.

"... You have to go." NiGHTS said crying.

"I'm not going anywhere!" Reala hissed at NiGHTS as he tried to pick her up.

"Reala, there is no time!" NiGHTS shouted.

"I'm staying." Reala argued.

"Reala I want you to stay!" NiGHTS shouted, begging. "But if he sees you, it won't help! I can't live without you! Please hide!"

Reala looked at NiGHTS, then at the door and the lock. He looked back at NiGHTS and kissed her gently.

"I'll be close." Reala whispered to NiGHTS as he quickly flew into the tunnel system.

NiGHTS let the tears flow as she watched Reala leave.

Click.

The door swung open slowly to reveal Malice. He angrily approached NiGHTS as she lay in pain from the labour.

"Reala?" Malice asked angrily.

Malice swiftly approached NiGHTS and grabbed onto her neck. With a slap his clawed hands left thin trails of blood running down NiGHTS's cheek.

"I-I... I don't know what you're talking about." NiGHTS gasped.

"I heard you threw the door." Malice said darkly. "You asked that coward to run, and he did."

"He left 'cause I asked him to!" NiGHTS shouted angrily.

Malice growled and stuck NiGHTS again.

"Puffy! Jackle!" Malice called as the two second levels flew through the door. "Take NiGHTS. Jackle, you stay and make sure Reala doesn't get close."

"Yes sir." The both said as Jackle flew up and took NiGHTS.

Jackle flew as Puffy bounced along beside them.

"Hang in there NiGHTS." Jackle whispered. "Just a little longer."

"What is Malice thinking? Using a pregnant nightmaren as bait." Puffy complained.

"What?" NiGHTS asked. "Jackle? Puffy?"

"Hmm... Oh. Jackle you didn't tell her the plan!" Puffy asked.

"Oops." Jackle said laughing. "I forgot!"

Puffy sighed and patted NiGHTS on the head.

"We aren't possessed anymore." Puffy comforted. "We're just waiting for you and Reala."

Puffy and Jackle aren't possessed! Just acting! Yay second levels!

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