Solange

I was going to be an Aunt! I felt giddy at the words. I loved babies! Don't get me wrong, I'm still mad at Lucy for keeping a secret like this, and I was still plotting how to castrate Nicholas as punishment for doing...that, with my best friend. But I was going to be an Auntie! We'd all congregated in the living room once we'd be allowed back into the house. Mum had confirmed what Dad had speculated and we'd sat in silence for about half an hour. Eventually, we'd all come to our senses. It probably had something to do with Mrs. Brown being chased through the house by Charlemagne and his ignorant expression when Isabeau signalled him to stop. We'd burst out laughing and begun the celebrations. Mum explained that Nick and Luce had gone to see Geoffrey and that, when they came back, we were to give them some space. Logan and Marcus went to the vault and brought back the good blood.

As soon as the news was confirmed, Conner called the Courts and, twenty minutes later, Sebastian and Duncan arrived, concern painted on their face, "What's wrong? Has something happened?" Sebastian asked mum, "Connor said something important had happened and that we needed to get back here ASAP, so?"

I rolled my eyes and slapped Connor up the back of his head, "There's no emergency, Seb. Connor forgot to mention that. But, there is something important. You might want to sit down," they stayed standing, "Okay, well, don't say I didn't warn you. Lucy's pregnant." They sat down simultaneously, stunned expressions so similar, they could have been the twins, rather than Quinn and Connor.

Duncan broke out of his stupor first, "Are...are you sure?"

Quinn stepped forward and put a drink in their hands, "Pretty sure; Isabeau could smell her from the woods." He clapped him on the back in sympathy. To anyone else, this reaction was over dramatic and quite rude, but to us, it was normal. You see, being the eldest, Sebastian and Duncan had been through each of mum's five pregnancies after theirs. They'd been practically traumatised by the experience. Mum was a highly strung person most of the time anyway but, according to my brothers, she was like a human Hel-blar when pregnant; completely out of control and craving food all the time. For fun, they used to tell the story of 'The Pregnant Monster of Doom' for Halloween, I used to be terrified of that story, until one year, Dad overheard them and shut them up, telling them to stop exaggerating. Although his face had showed a flicker of doubt, it had ceased my nightmares about the story. Their faces now, however, showed complete and utter fear. The rest of us ignored them and went back to celebrating. The party had been going on for about half an hour now and Lucy and Nick still weren't back from seeing Geoffrey. I looked around to double check they hadn't slipped in and saw that Mum and Dad had slipped out instead,

I turned to Logan, "What do you think is taking them so long?"

"Who?"

"Who do you think? Nick and Lucy?"

He paused for a second then put on his best dramatic face, "Oh, no! You don't think they found out Lucy's carrying the demon spawn of Satan and it flew out and killed them all? And now it's coming for us!" he put his arm over his forehead and pretended to faint. Isabeau punched his left arm just as I punched his right. He scowled at us both and rubbed his new bruises.

Suddenly, his expression turned to one of panic as he frantically checked his shirt.

Relief staining his face, he turned to us, "You are so lucky I didn't spill my drink. Don't you know how hard it is to get blood out of silk?" Isabeau rolled her eyes at him. I rolled my eyes back at her and suppressed my giggles.

"Anyway, I'm going to go look for them," I said, turning away. As I reached the doorway, I faced Logan and said in a sickly sweet voice, "And don't worry; I'll keep an eye out for any spawn of Satan," and with that I left him to pull faces at my back.

Geoffrey's would probably be the best place to look first, I told myself. I changed my course towards the tunnels, passing by the library on my route. As I neared the door, I could hear voices, one as frantic as the other was calm. It was Mum and Dad, of course. I slowed my pace and hovered near the gap between the door and the frame.

"For fuck's sake, Liam! We can't just sit around and wait to see what happens!" Mum was angry. She only ever swore when she really fuming. It made me cringe when she was this livid but I wanted to know what the hell she was talking about.

Dad sighed, "Darling, calm down. We don't even know if the prophecy is true, let alone if He's still alive. Montmartre is gone and the problem with Solange is over. Everything's good. Why are trying to bring up something we're not even certain of?"

Something smashed on the other side of the door as Mum shouted at Dad, "I am certain! Liam, we have to protect them. I won't let Thanatos get them. If there is any chance of Lucy and the baby being in danger, I have to take action." I put my hand to my mouth and my eyes widened. A second later, footsteps came at me from down the corridor. If I caught listening to a private conversation, Mum would crucify me, so I ran. I came to the tunnel entrance and lifted the door. A breeze swam up to meet me and flushed my cheeks with cool air and the stench of a pregnant best friend. I lowered myself into the earthy hollow and started searching for the soon to be parents.

Who's Thanatos? I asked myself as I made my way to Geoffrey's laboratory. And why would he want to endanger Lucy and her baby? Mum's words echoed through my mind. I didn't understand any of it, but if Dad said not to worry, I'm sure it's fine. I shrugged my worries away and set on my quest to find the baby mama. Suddenly, I heard a groan from around the corner. I tensed and slowly walked around the bend in the tunnel.