Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 9
Chapter 32: Law of the Boomerang
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Kazuko and Giles! Happy Birthday to you!"
Dirk blew out the candles on the twins' birthday cake as they were too young to do it. With the candles taken out of it, they were getting messy as we saw them eating at what was made in front of them. I didn't mind it as I was glad that the little ones I first bore were getting dirty as they would soon get a bath after this. It had been a week since we paid respect for the fallen soldiers as we were also celebrating Kazuko and Giles' birthday with a lot of messes. Even Dirk was more attentive as he was dressed up in Hunter Corps cadet uniform in which he was waiting for the results of the exam that he took a few days ago. By the time everyone finished up with all the cake and ice cream, Dirk rushed to the front door as he saw a courier deliver a letter to him. Opening it up, he saw the results of the exam in which he ended up passing after studying to be part of the Hunter Corps. He was glad that he would be in the Hunter Corps as he also had to wait for the assignment to the unit of his choice, for he chose this after all.
"I finally passed!" he yelled as he showed us the letter.
"I'm so glad that you did it," I said.
"All that studying paid off in which I had to get through it."
"I'm so glad for you," said Reiko as she hugged Dirk warmly.
"And the boy officially becomes a man," I said.
All the children surrounded Dirk as they hugged him in which he was ready to start his life as a member of the Hunter Corps. All he needed to do next is to see which unit he would be in as he later saw a number at the end of the letter in his hand. It was the seventh squad as it was none other than Dean's unit in which it served to be a great fit for him. We were all proud of him as he would soon go towards the citadel in the Inland District, for he was ready to be part of Dean's unit after all. It was a joyous occasion as we were blessed that Dirk was moving up in the ranks, for he was more than likely to be starting his life from being a cadet to a Hunter Corps apprentice. I was happy for him as I couldn't contain my excitement in which I was glad that he was moving up in the world, for he was no longer a boy, but on the cusp of manhood.
"You're not a boy anymore," I said.
"I've got two years to go until I truly reach manhood," said Dirk.
"As soon as you get settled in, you're gonna have to obey Dean's orders like those in his unit."
"This will be fun, but at least I'll do my best to protect the kids. I may be a cadet, but I have to be older to target what the big boys have first."
"There you are!"
We noticed a familiar face burst into the main hall as she was there to collect Dirk. It was Sachiko as she was sporting short hair while dressed in a Hunter Corps uniform. Dirk never expected her to come here as he also liked the short hair for a change, for he would soon work with her in Dean's unit soon enough. It was a welcome change for my oldest ward as he was ready to be part in something greater, for it was a step for being in the Hunter Corps to begin with.
"Dean's waiting to see you," said Sachiko.
"I know," said Dirk.
"Still, you may have passed the exam, but you can't do further field work until you turn eighteen anyway. It's been a while since we parted ways in which I had to step up to the plate and be part of the Hunter Corps. I've been doing this since I have my Golem with me in which we've been taking charge just like my ancestor who kept going."
"If we ever get a chance to get married and start a family, we'll name our son Aaron after the guy who foisted the Golem to your clan."
"I hate to break it to you, the Golem doesn't want me to marry young yet until I mature or else he'll smash anyone who tries to ravish me."
"Talk about having Captain Cockblock protecting you…"
"Let's go; the captain's waiting for you."
Dirk followed Sachiko out of the castle as he was ready to start his life in the Hunter Corps. As for what he was ready to do next, it was step in the right direction for him as he was ready to do his part in the Order of Letters, for he was no longer a boy, but becoming a man in the process…
The next day, Dirk was in the town square as he was busy picking up supplies for his dorm room in the citadel. He was part of the unit as he also had to do the light duties first before branching out in the further world. When he ran into Reiko, he was glad to see her as he couldn't contain his excitement, for he cared about her because of her status as being a mother. He cared about her the most because she was there for him in which she was also expecting as well, for he was also there to protect the vulnerable more than anything.
"I take it that you don't have any supplies in your room, do you?" she said to him.
"I've adjusted to my dorm room, but I don't have my own cleaning supplies or personal items," said Dirk. "All I have are the clothes that I fit in instead of the common hand-me-downs, but I look good in my cadet uniform."
"Gyatso told me about how it's lonely without you."
"I get that he misses me being the big brother all the time…"
"You're moving up in the Order. You also can't stay a child forever in which you will be reaching manhood. Sammy is happy that you're taking the next step, for he—"
It wasn't long until Dirk spotted Iago coming towards them as he glared at Reiko with his cold, steely eyes. Turning around, Reiko had to protect Dirk until Iago did the unforgivable by kicking her in the stomach the moment she fell onto the sidewalk. Anger flooded Dirk as he rushed to Reiko's aid in which he saw Iago standing there, for he was adamant about averting a so-called "threat" to his family.
"No more royal blood," he said in a low voice as it caused Dirk to lose it.
"You bastard!" he yelled as he noticed Reiko bleeding from below.
Iago drew his sword at them until he felt a rock pelt at his face. Turning around, he saw Kivrana with a slingshot as she didn't want him to hurt anyone else, for she also saw what happened. With the whistle blown, Iago fled with a smile on his face as he would soon be surrounded by other members of the Order and the local police. As for what happened earlier, Kivrana rushed to where Reiko and Dirk were as she saw appalled by what happened earlier, for she had to get help before it was too late.
"Hang in there, Reiko," said Dirk as he removed his jacket to place between her legs to staunch the bleeding. "We'll get you out of here, okay?"
"There's no time for that!" yelled Kivrana as she carted Reiko up. "We have to take her to the hospital ASAP! As for the prick who did this, I hope that he gets emasculated for this!"
"Hold on, Reiko… Don't you dare die on us, okay? Sam would be devastated if that happened to you..."
Dirk and Kivrana carted Reiko to the hospital as they had to save her life. As for the one who did the unforgivable deed, he watched in the distance as he was exuberant in what he did. What he didn't notice was that Jack was watching in the distance as he was beyond disgusted at what was done to Reiko in which he vowed further misery to Iago and his family. Even Castiel was saddened to see this as he appeared out of nowhere in which he knew of Iago and his family very well due to the fact that the Arkhelios Clan were part of the Alecrian Stewards who still cling to power on Alecrast. Both angel and King of the Grey Havens hated the Arkhelios Family for their part in ousting the Alecrian royal family from power, for the protestations on that planet grew louder after the terrorist attack in Isildur.
"Lady Reiko…," said Castiel as he shed a tear.
"Iago Arkhelios will pay for this," said Jack as he clenched his fist.
"I know… Sam will know eventually in which he still carries what the fallen soldiers left behind, but without their future protectors."
"There is still hope, Castiel. What Iago did was to destroy what Lady Reiko bore, but there will be a way in which the fallen children's souls will be reincarnated."
"How will that come to fruition?"
"There will be a sign on Gwylthid Island, which is a place where she resides."
"Serena… She was one of the most powerful angels in the garrison in which she later took up a vessel in the form of a grand warg centuries later."
"She will protect them until Lady Reiko comes for them, but they will not be humanoid. Her adopted daughter, a white Bengal tiger, along with her mate will welcome them. Give it time, Castiel, for they will protect Sam and Lady Reiko when the time is right."
Castiel and Jack watched in the distance as they saw members of the Medical Corps surround Dirk and Kivrana while carting Reiko towards the hospital. As for what happened next, there would be a reckoning for Iago as the call for his family to vacate the Alecrian capital of Isildur was getting louder every day, for this was also a time to restore what was once lost years ago…
Reiko found herself in a void as she saw the twins that she carried. When she reached out to them, they were gone as she later saw a vision in which their souls were absorbed into the body of a white Bengal tiger. Tears ran down her cheeks as she would never see them emerge after all that has happened until she heard a voice calling her.
"Do not despair, Lady Reiko," the voice told her. "Your departed children have found a resurgence in which my adopted daughter and her mate will soon welcome them. There is nothing to fear."
"No…, wait!" she cried in desperation.
It wasn't long until Reiko woke up in a hospital room as she found herself in a nightgown complete with an intravenous drip in her arm and a catheter between her legs. What she didn't expect was that I was there as I didn't leave her side after all that has happened. She was also concerned about the little ones I was bearing in my body as their protectors were no longer there, for she was worried about my safety after what happened when Iago kicked her, for she was still saddened about the loss.
"Oh, Sammy…," she said as she had tears in her eyes. "The little ones you bear no longer have their protectors… It's not fair that they're no longer here…"
"I know…," I said to her as I held her hand. "Dirk told me everything in which your attacker kicked you to the point of you ending up miscarrying."
"I failed, Sammy… I'm so sorry…"
"Don't worry too much, okay? All I'm thankful for is that you're still alive. As for the ones you lost, they're buried in a shrine near the abandoned lighthouse in which Dirk even laid flowers there. The monster who kicked you will get what's coming to him in which he'll also have karma done to him."
It wasn't long until Ravenna came into the room as she was concerned about Reiko's health. She didn't want her to fall into despair as she also wanted to make sure that she was okay. Like all of us, she was also no stranger to dealing with sadness as she was devastated that our two little ones didn't make it, for the monster who did it will face swift retaliation for what he did.
"I'm so sorry for your loss," she said.
"The man who attacked me didn't show a shred of remorse," said Reiko.
"From what I heard, Alma wanted to castrate the bastard in which he even riled up the rest of the townsfolk who live here. Dirk and Kivrana were the ones who saved you and later told Sam about the heinous deed that led to your miscarriage. As for the monster who caused this, he is so well-known that even Lyra wanted to spit in his face. And for the record, the man is known to be Iago Arkhelios, whose sister is part of the Alecrian Stewards who rule Alecrast after the Emperor was ousted from power."
"Wait… After Iago kicked me, he said the words, 'no more royal blood,' before he left. What does this mean?"
It wasn't long until Dean burst into the hospital room in which he was concerned about what was going on. After all that has happened, he didn't want us out of his sights as he wanted to get back at Iago for harming Reiko earlier. He was also worried about my own safety as I had the four passengers in me, for the situation ended up going from bad to worse this time.
"I heard about how that asshat kicked you," he said.
"She knows," I said cautiously.
"Dirk wanted to corner the bastard and kick his ass, but I didn't want him to 'cause that's my job."
"We all know who he is, Dean. It's Iago Arkhelios and his family is part of the Stewards who ousted the Alecrian royal family from power."
"Wait…," said Ravenna. "I know that the two of you don't know of this, but your grandfather was Emperor before the Stewards ousted him from power. Rovadra's mum told me about how he had to protect his children from the Stewards' wrath in which he placed them in the Order of Letters, but at a price. The children had no choice but to abandon their royal identity so that the Stewards wouldn't go after them. One of them was poised to be Emperor, but he remained in the Hunter Corps until he drew his final breath."
"What?!" said Dean as he was shocked to hear what was there. "Are you telling us that our Dad was to be the Alecrian Emperor and we were part of a royal bloodline?!"
"After the terrorist attack from the Zenith Vectors in the capital, the protests to bring the Alecrian royal family back to power grew louder in which the Stewards would stop at nothing to choke the bloodline until it loses its breath. Look at you! You're the missing link."
Reiko looked at me and Dean as she was now more determined to help us, but she was incapacitated after she suffered a miscarriage. With us being part of a royal line, we also had to watch our backs as the Stewards of Alecrast were still trying to cling onto power on Alecrast. Still, she had to be brave in the chaos as she had to do her part in protecting the family she has, for she couldn't let us fall victim to the ones who are trying to grasp onto the fading power that was quickly deteriorating fast.
"Do not despair, Lady Reiko… There is nothing to fear…"
Reiko felt tears stream down her cheeks as I saw the pain and anguish in her eyes. The sounds of her sobbing worried me as I didn't want her to fall unto further despair in which I have seen the situations of sadness play out in front of me. It wasn't long until Dean and Ravenna also hugged her warmly in which they also wanted to put Iago in his place. We also noticed Kivrana burst into the room as she was glad that Reiko was alright, but saddened after the miscarriage in which she wanted to show support, for she also wanted to accost Iago for his misconduct like everyone who wanted to toss him out to pasture…
Nibori arrived in Skald Island after wrapping up another hunt while salvaging for old scrap. After having a busy schedule, she noticed a group of protestors surrounding a newly minted shrine in the form of two small Buddha figurines with flowers and a stuffed Krypto toy adorning it. The sight of Iago waiting near the dock at the harbor while dealing with the protestors who were wanting him to pay for what was done earlier, for he wasn't about to go down lightly.
"You are all fools for harboring the Alecrian royal family!" he yelled. "That High Elf made me do it so that her future spawn wouldn't inherit the throne on Alecrast!"
"You're a murderer!" yelled Alma as she led the protest. "You attacked Reiko out of spite in which her husband has become a walking target on a daily basis!"
"Alma Farragut… From what I heard, you married your Draaza husband, produced Draaza children and grandchildren, and later made a name for yourself with a restaurant that doesn't fit the picture of Skald Island!"
"You better watch your mouth 'cause I'll knock your teeth out with those fists I have."
"I will not be the Order's punching bag nor will I let my family relinquish power over Alecrast in which we kept it stable after we ousted Emperor Henry and his family! I know of his past self in which he was trapped in a time loop during the Elder Slaughter of 1958 at the hands of the Queen of Hell! I also know that his grandchildren have been under the Order's skirts for far too long in which the calls to bring them back to the throne grew louder after the Zenith Vectors caused that terrorist attack in the capital!"
"And yet you had the gall to kick an innocent woman to the point of miscarriage?! She didn't just feel the tragic loss of her unborn, but all of us did! No wonder the King of the Grey Havens wants to toss you in the very same den that houses Abaddon!"
"I will have you crushed for this accosting, you petty Orcress, along with the other protestors who besmirch my name!"
Nibori pulled out her talisman from her hip holster as she saw the truth of what was blurted out. The sight of our stillborn twins dead from taking breath unnerved her as she saw Iago ready to unleash his wrath on the protestors who were near the shrine. It wasn't long until she rushed to everyone's aid as she pulled her plasma rifle on him. She didn't want any trouble as she also had to protect Alma and the rest of her protestors from the wrath of the man who caused Reiko to miscarry. Still, she had to keep the peace as she couldn't let Iago cause terror for the protestors, for she had to do her part to stand up to him as soon as possible.
"Keep your distance," she said as she saw him trying to brandish his sword. "I know what you're gonna do because I won't let you attack the people near that stillborn shrine."
"I will not be accosted by another member of the Order here!" yelled Iago as he was getting angrier.
"Really? I heard your talk about what you did and you try to leave with a smile on your face!"
"She had it coming! I had to choke the royal blood from her body so that we can hold onto the power on Alecrast!"
"You mean by committing murder? I saw the aftermath of what you did and I also know a spell to make your sorry ass impotent and dumb."
"Really? You're not even a witch and yet you use such magic on me?"
"Is that so? I'm up for crafting a magic so potent that it can eventually have the power to make your balls shrink!" Nibori later sees a group of cops coming towards Iago to the point of surrounding him and averting a catastrophe. "And our 'golden boy' gets his ass handed to him."
It wasn't long until Iago had a set of handcuffs on his wrists as he was taken away. He had nowhere to go other than a jail cell as Nibori watched him get stuffed in a ferry. Nibori later spotted Akio emerging out of the ferry as he rushed to where the stillborn shrine was in which he saw the protestors cheering over Iago's arrest. The sight of the stillborn shrine adorned with flowers and stuffed animals made him both seethe in anger and pray solemnly to what was lost in which he had a gut feeling that Iago caused more than just Reiko miscarrying, for this was a personal vendetta against the remnants of the Alecrian royal family that was lost forever through memory.
"I had a feeling that this would happen," he said.
"You've been pursuing him, haven't you?" said Nibori.
"He threatened me with his sword, but backed off. When he left, he wasn't defenseless in which he cut down anyone who was weaker than he was. I had to find him here, but I was too late in protecting the two defenders of the quadruplets that Sam carries."
"So, he's got some biscuits in the oven again…"
"The quadruplets are from his seed, but the ovum came from the two soldiers who sacrificed themselves to save the Skalvarg Archipelago from the ravages of Bertram Blackthorne and his forces. As for what Iago did, he'll get his ass chewed and his family won't be able to bail him out of his time on Valinor. His obsession to eradicate the Alecrian royal bloodline resurfaced in which three of John Winchester's sons ended up going into hiding just like before when the rest had to hide from the wrath of the Stewards. Yes, the Winchesters are the Alecrian royal family, but the Stewards don't want competition in which they'll do anything to cling to and not share power."
Dirk rushed out to the stillborn shrine as he saw Alma and the rest of the protestors return to work. When he noticed Nibori here along with Akio, he was ready to tell them everything in which he'll stop at nothing to get justice for Reiko. The sight of Iago kicking her to the point of miscarrying was the last straw as my oldest ward refused to back down when it came to defending the honor of the one who helped to raise him in the first place.
"I know what happened to Reiko," he said.
"We know," said Nibori.
"I know that the bastard's still here and he'll get his comeuppance for what he did."
"He's been arrested not too long ago," said Akio. "Even though he had a knack for getting bailed out by his family on any type of planet, but hot here."
"What are you talking about?"
"Valinor has a stricter penal code when it comes to assault and other crimes. Sooner or later, Desdemona won't be able to defend her brother this time."
"Who is Desdemona?"
"Desdemona Arkhelios is Iago's sister and the First Steward of Alecrast. House Arkhelios rules Alecrast along with three other houses: House Maitland, House Dunford, and House Grimaldi. They ruled Alecrast after ousting the Alecrian royal family from power. Even though Alecrast no longer remembers the time of the Emperor ruling with a just hand, all it sees is the presence of the many Chieftains who are longing for the return of the Alecrian royal family. It turns out that House Arkhelios is obsessed with eradicating any trace of the Winchesters in which they are considered to be a threat to their rule."
Dirk never knew about my family lineage being part of a royal line until now as he rushed towards the hospital. He had to tell me about what was going on as he also had another reason to be a soldier, for he wanted to protect what was precious to him in the long run. Just as he was about to go there, he heard his stomach growling as he went towards Kwangya in Motion to have some dinner. When he sat down at a table, he saw Alma and her family serving customers their food as they were eating their fill in the premature winter. Looking at the menu, he was ready to have something hot as he ordered up a bowl of haemul sundubu-jjigae with a glass of water. When he tasted the spicy stew, he later noticed Sachiko sitting at the table next to him as she was eating a bowl of maeuntang before going back to the citadel, for they were concerned about Reiko's overall health.
"If only I protected Reiko…," he said as he had tears in his eyes.
"Dean told me about what happened to her," said Sachiko.
"That scumbag who came here had the gall to kick her for no reason in which he wanted her to miscarry."
"Even though she lost the babies, she's still alive and that's all that—"
"Reiko nearly died! If Kivrana and I haven't taken her to the hospital, she would've bled to death! I don't know if she'll ever recover from losing a baby. I don't know if she'll ever smile and see us there helping her out… She'll end up being a bereaved mess once she gets back to the castle in which—"
"Reiko will not be a bereaved mess forever," said Lyra as she entered into the restaurant. "I know who did it to her because I also suffered from what happened to me."
Lyra sat at the table where Dirk was as she was both concerned and angry at the same time like the rest of us. She sensed Dirk's sadness for not being able to protect Reiko as she also suffered from the lingering wrath of what she went through. She remembered the very wrath of Iago clearly as she was clenching her hands in which she ended up shedding tears while trying to hold it together. The presence of the Arkhelios family member made her guard everything more heavily as she also wanted to tell Dirk about the latter's terrible cruelty towards her, for she never forgot about what happened next.
"I know that Iago was here and he caused Reiko to miscarry just to continue to obsess over the presence of the Alecrian royal family still thriving outside their planet," she said. "His cruelty knows no limits or boundaries because he believes in domination over his enemies."
"What did he do to you?" asked Dirk.
"When I lost my beloved Esteban, Iago wanted me for himself in which he also wanted me to abandon my children and the orphans who lost their families. I refused his advances in which he would stop at nothing to make me his. One day, he cornered me and later told me that he would make me his in which he refused to take no for an answer. It wasn't long until I was attacked the moment I felt belt marks searing my flesh and then…, he violated me in which he wanted to take me out of Valinor. That was when I used my Nephilim abilities to intimidate him for now. The only thing that I noticed was that I was pregnant in which I saw Iago again. He said to me that I would 'deliver his heir,' but I noticed him stepping back. He knew that I was carrying his daughter, but he didn't give a shit about what I went through. That was when he kicked me to the point of miscarrying in which he didn't want any other female than his sister. I nearly died in which I was taken to the hospital by Bruce and the rest of the Clover Brigade."
"I'm so sorry about this…"
"I know that you and Sachiko will wed in the future, but I also advise you to protect her with your life."
"My Golem does it because he's mainly the Captain Cockblock on the battlefield," she said.
"Both of you, be careful around House Arkhelios. They're the most dangerous out of all the four Alecrian Stewards." Lyra fishes out a coin as it features the crest of the four houses and later gives it to Dirk. "The Alecrian royal family must be protected. If they aren't restored to power in three years, then Alecrast will suffer an eternal winter that will spread to Drakonus, Westeros, and even here. There are also the Zenith Vectors who still want humanity to be top dog to their own sick desires to watch out for in which we can't fail the Ashizoka System."
Dirk continued to look at the coin as he had a feeling that the Zenith Vectors weren't the only problem on our hands. The presence of Iago Arkhelios and others like him were watching in the distance as they will stop at nothing to cement their status and not share power. Still, Dirk had to warn me about the further danger as things got from bad to worse, for he had to do his part into protecting everyone, including the family who raised him…
Reiko was in her hospital bed as everyone went home for the night. It was quiet as she sat up with tears still in her eyes. She was still reeling from where Iago kicked her as she was trying to remain strong, but still feeling saddened after what happened to her. She was alone, but not without me as I was on the floor dozing off and not leaving her side. I was worried about her as I didn't want to leave her alone while she was grieving in which she needed to recover before doing anything else. Still, she was concerned about the safety of the four parcels that I had in me as she didn't want anyone to harm me in which she remembered the voice telling her not to despair, for there was nothing to fear.
"I'll… try to be strong…," she said as she was trying to hold it together. "It's just not fair that the little ones destined to protect the little ones that Sammy has had to die. If only there was a sign for me to be stronger to protect him because he always worries about us all the time…"
It wasn't long until Reiko heard a crash through the window as grand warg with a calico pattern burst into the hospital room. I woke up as the grand warg displayed an angelic aura in which it was here to talk to Reiko directly. Still, I sensed that the creature was here on business as I noticed it to be an old one due to its age over the years, for it was a rarity that came here unannounced. From the look of it, the grand warg was also a female as it was not as big as the males due to her appearance of being a mother in which she once had a litter of warglings once, for she was someone who burst in here to tell Reiko about what could happen next.
"Do not be alarmed, Lady Reiko," said the grand warg. "I came here to give you a sign about the children you lost."
"Who are you?" she asked.
"My name is Serena and I am an angel of the Lord. In the Elder Days, I fought alongside Castiel and the rest of the garrison, but most of them were swayed by the temptation of the Apocalypse coming. Even after it ended, I stood firm to fight the corruption until I lost my vessel, only to take another one in the form of this grand warg who was being hunted by poachers as a pup. Years later, I resided on Gwylthid Island with my mate and children until I saw a lone tiger cub who lost her parents one day. I raised her like my own pups in which I also noticed another tiger cub being brought here by the ones who rescued him and his family from exploitation. I watched them grow up and later become a couple in which they're expecting their own cubs."
"And you came here to give us hope," I said as I stood up.
"According to Castiel, you're with child, but what you bear will be targeted by the Alecrian Stewards. The Four Houses fear what you bear just like the ones before them in which they won't stop until they cull the the entire Alecrian royal family from existence."
"And what about the children I lost?" asked Reiko. "Will I ever see them?"
"My adopted daughter and her mate are preparing for their birth in which they also happened to be the souls of the ones that your husband's past self once knew. My adopted daughter is the reincarnated soul of the one who was mercilessly killed in the flames by Azazel. Her mate is the reincarnated soul of the one who invented the Phoenix grenades to destroy drowners with. The reincarnated souls of your stillborn sons are in good hands because we are the ones who will raise them until they come to you."
Reiko got out of her hospital bed as she slowly crept towards Serena in which she was grateful that the reincarnated souls of our stillborn sons were in great hands. When she touched at the grand warg's snout, she couldn't hold back further tears as she was blessed that the children we lost were in good hands, for it was the greatest blessing that saved her from despair.
"Thank you…" she said as she hugged Serena warmly.
"There is nothing to fear, Lady Reiko," she said. "As long as there is the presence of the Alecrian royal family, there is always hope. I have faith in you and your husband in which your golden age will help those in need."
"And we will have it," I said. "There is always light at the end of the tunnel, for we still have a way to break free from the sadness that tethers us to despair. It's the most we can do, right?"
Serena vanished without a trace as Reiko and I were alone. What we didn't expect was that the window where the grand warg burst into repaired itself as it was back to normal. When Reiko slowly returned to her bed, I helped her get into it as she was hopeful that the reincarnated souls of our stillborn sons would be protected by Serena and her family, for the tiger cubs were a sign that kept us hopeful for the future at hand…
The next morning, I was home as I was wheeling Reiko out of the hospital in the wheelchair that I had. When we went towards the stillborn shrine, we saw it adorned with flowers along with a diorama that had the Justice League, or perhaps the SuperFriends, put in front of it. What we noticed that the two small Buddha figurines changed into a pair of tiger cubs as it was a further sign of what was yet to come. We even prayed to the shrine as we were thankful that they would be in good hands with Serena's family, for it was a sign of a future that was destined to keep us in our golden age. When we finished praying, we noticed Kivrana placing flowers and a plush Huckleberry Hound toy near the stillborn shrine as she prayed for the ones we lost, for they were up there waiting for us.
"Almighty Fa'Uluur," she said. "Give the ones who never drew breath safe passage to the heavens that were given to us. May You guide them peacefully and serenely in hopes to be in the Celestial City for all eternity. May Your light and warmth give them happiness and love, for their hope will forever shine above the darkness."
"You're praying for the ones we lost," said Reiko.
"Yeah…" Kivrana sheds tears as she wipes them away from her face. "It's not fair that you lost them… As for the asshat who did that to you, I hope that he gets his balls busted for it."
"The killer of our stillborn will have instant karma done to him," I said. "Sooner or later, he'll notice that there will be those other than us who will bring him down to the gallows if he continues to obsess over other perceived threats."
"But he's from House Arkhelios, which is the most dangerous of all the four Stewards who maintain power on Alecrast. His family are the worst in which they lead the stranglehold on everyone, including the people you helped. I heard Lyra talking about it in which she really wants to kick Iago in the balls."
"I may be of royal blood, but I can't rule the throne. All I hope for is that we help so many people we can."
"Of course we can!" yelled Reiko as she got up from the wheelchair. "We may lose friends, loved ones, and other people, but we can't sit by and let those who abuse power continue to cling to it! I brought down a religious tyrant in which the royal family there on Baratheon returned to help those in need! We will be the harbingers of justice, for—"
It wasn't long until I saw Reiko be in pain again. I noticed her sitting back down in the wheelchair as I was worried about her health. I didn't want her to do too much as I also wanted to make sure that she was alright, for she needed to be cared for after what happened to her yesterday. By the time I wheeled her back to the castle, we noticed Dirk rushing to our aid as he was glad that Reiko was discharged and ready to rest up. He was grateful that she was okay as he also wanted to make sure that she was adjusting to being back, for she needed some rest after what was done to her.
"Thank the gods that you're back," he said.
"I know," said Reiko.
"The ass-clown who kicked you got busted. Akio has him in custody, but everyone wants to eviscerate him for what he did to you."
"That's good news," I said as I was starting to feel a little queasy.
"The two of you were supposed to be at the hospital!"
I saw Dean coming towards us as he was concerned about our health. Even though Reiko was happy to see the souls of our reincarnated sons soon, she was looking up in the sky as she noticed Jack watching over her. There was hope in the form of a pair of tiger cubs as we would soon see them, for it was a sign of unwavering devotion between the two of us… until I rushed towards the trashcan and vomited into it.
"You just had to have morning sickness, didn't you?" said Dean.
"He's adjusting to the quadruplets," said Reiko.
"By the way, how are you feeling?"
"I still feel empty, but I know that the ones I lost are in good hands until I see them again."
"Are you talking about the tiger cubs?"
"How did you know?"
"Cass told me. He knew that the grand warg who burst into the hospital was one of his own subordinates in which he had high hopes that the reincarnated souls of what you lost will thrive in the form of those cubs. As for the asshat who attacked you, he's dangerous and so is the rest of his family."
It wasn't long until I stepped away from the trashcan after I finished vomiting as I was sitting on the steps. The combined presence of the four parcels I carried kept me sick to the gills as I noticed Reiko getting up from the wheelchair and steered me into it, for she didn't want me to do too much.
"You go through too much, Sammy," she said to me.
"Don't you need it?" I asked.
"The little ones keep making you unwell with morning sickness in which you can't be up in your condition. Besides, loss and resolve are what makes us more kinder than what we think. I know that the ones I lost will see us again, but the remaining little ones you carry shouldn't be under heavy pressure all the time."
"But you suffered a miscarriage and you also need rest just like—"
"Not another word, Sammy…" Reiko places a finger on my lips as she didn't want me to worry too much. "Besides, we also have hope for what we've got in which we should also appreciate what gets put in front of us."
I couldn't say no to Reiko as she was there to remind me not to do too much. Still, we had a long way to go as we also had our reasons to have a divine form of protection in our midst, for there was always light at the end of the tunnel…
To be continued...