Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 10
Chapter 2: Where Demons Fear to Tread
(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.)
The seaship that we all boarded on landed in the southern region of Imladris, which was a place that was mainly a treasure that was similar to what was found in South America on Earth. By the time we got off to our destination, we were in the village of El Anillo del Fuego as it as mainly a tropical one. It was also the first time in a while that I didn't feel the chill of the northern wind as I wheeled myself to the villa the moment I took out my key and opened the door to it. The place itself was old, but built like a fortress as it was also similar to the Men of Letters bunker from the Elder Days. When Reiko walked into it, she was happy to see it as she also had her work cut out for her until she saw Carly coming with some cleaning tools. Even though I wanted to pull my weight, but I was barred by Reiko as she didn't want me to cause stress for my precious cargo, for this was our temporary home after all.
"If only I wasn't helpless and not doing enough," I said.
"Don't forget; you have babies in you," said Reiko cautiously. "Besides, you can't do too much anyway."
It wasn't long until I saw Hugh coming out of his hiding place as he was still in hiding from everyone after the holidays. Even though he had mixed feelings on becoming Emperor of Alecrast, he also had to fend off some of the assassins that were sent by House Arkhelios in which he knew how to slip away easily and in hiding, but he was adamant into taking care of the place before I got here. In an awkward way, I was intruding, but I also had to return to Skald Island once the cleanup was finished, for this was something that I endured for a long time.
"I never expected to see you here early," he said.
"We came here at the behest of Dean, who's on Skald Island."
"I know… During the holidays, I had to leave in which I couldn't let the Stewards come near you or anyone else over there. I had to go under a secret tunnel without causing a fuss to the villagers who live here in El Anillo del Fuego, which is the Ring of Fire in Spanish."
It wasn't long until Kotori burst into the villa as she was wheeled me out of the main hall and into another area which was mainly the infirmary wing. The place itself was old, but functional as it was a far cry to what was seen in the Elder Days. When we went towards the examination room, I calmly laid down on the scanner table as Kotori turned it on. She was busy examining me as she had to make sure that my precious cargo was safe after sailing away from the Skalvarg Archipelago. Still, I had to adhere to protocol as I also had to stay in bed after this, for it was the worst for me since that fateful Halloween night.
"The little ones are functioning normally in which you also have to stay on bedrest before they're born," said Kotori. "You've braved a lot the moment you came here to Valinor, but the Zenith Vectors are still at large and wanting to have you be their 'key' to unlocking abandoned Draaza tech."
"This place must've had its fair share of being on Trujillo land," I said as I sat up.
"From what I heard, the Trujillo Clan held sway to protect their citizens, especially in times of war. They're no stranger to dealing with what happened in the war between the Oranges and the Blues so many years ago."
"They also have a knack to be helping those in need, especially the war orphans that came and went at the time."
I got off of the scanner table as I sat down in my wheelchair the moment I wheeled myself out of the infirmary wing. When I got back into the main hall, I saw Hugh starting to clean the walls of the villa as he had to do his part the moment he noticed me there feeling slightly depressed. I had to sit back due to the fact that I was carrying the quadruplets in my body, for I would soon be in my room just to get more bedrest.
"This villa has had its fair share of war," said Hugh as he was busy mopping the floor.
"Has Lyra visited this place?" I asked.
"From what I heard from the locals, Lyra cares deeply about her people in which she's no stranger into dealing with the fallout that came from both the Orange and Blue war and the Second Galvanic Uprising. There's also a Draaza ship, but it's very close to this villa. From what I also heard, Drusus visited this place, but he also stumbled upon it in which he took some books with him."
"I read the journal of how Mavik Kandor helped into sealing away the Maladendrum in Fort Ord back in 1987, but not without the help of a Nephilim by the name of LaFonda Harbaugh. Fast forward to where the Skalvarg Archipelago was in which the central island had a university in it. That was where Clark Mahoney saw the Box of Solomon leaking out, only to seal the Maladendrum back in it."
"I also heard about how the blood moon lingered longer than its normal cycle, but so many theologians I see walk through this coastal town tell me how a gentle goddess shot an arrow into it. There were even priests saying that their matron saint vanquished the Maladendrum and saved Valinor from further destruction. As for the cherry on top, those priests happen to be part of the newly cemented Reikology that's been popping up since the death of Father Warren on Baratheon two years ago."
"Reiko…"
I wheeled myself outside in the courtyard as I saw Reiko tending to the youngest children in which they were mainly laying in their playpens. The further presence of the others playing near an old playground piqued my interest as I saw it to be made from the plastic instead of complete metal. I later noticed Jill sitting on one of the swings near the playground as she was curious about what it could do in which I also felt nostalgic about what I saw, for this was a reminder of the lost childhood that was taken away from me the moment I went towards Gehenna all those years ago.
"I've never swung on something like this before," I heard Jill say as she was swinging back and forth. "It's very new to me, but I'll manage."
"I take it that you never saw a playground before," I said.
"For a while, most of us played on the beach and collecting sand dollars and seashells."
"This place has a lot of seashells!" yelled Aora as he fell down the slide."
I was happy to see the children play as I felt at ease the moment I was there seeing them happy and adjusting at our new temporary home. Still, I wanted to explore more of El Anillo del Fuego as I felt the warm air comforting me instead of the northern wind for once, for this was something that I missed for a long time…
Dirk was busy cleaning the mess in the castle as he was hauling brick and mortar to fix the walls with. After the mess with the Maladendrum, he was hard at work as he was also taking a break after doing his job. Just as he was about to do so, he saw a woman dressed in noble clothing walk towards the castle as she noticed several Norsefolk and members of the Hunter Corps hard at work rebuilding Skald Island after what happened two weeks ago, for the Zenith Vectors were a nuisance that had to be curtailed before it got worse. The woman in noble clothing was sporting a black regal dress with gloves as she also had the same black hair and steely blue eyes similar to Iago Arkhelios in which she was here to look for something, for she would soon be disappointed about what she would see next.
"This place had seen better days," she said with an icy chill in her voice. "I doubt that the future Emperor of Alecrast would play possum in a dump like this."
"If you're looking for Dean, he's on his way out of Cordell Island on one of the ferries," said Dirk.
"I'm not here to be gawked at by the deposed heir to the throne, boy. All I'm here for is to issue a warning to your captain not to disrupt our harmonic balance on Alecrast. We rule that planet and no other, for the Alecrian royal family will never return to power. We have the keys to the kingdom and we can take away everything that is given to our subjects, for that is how the world works and that is how we play the game."
"Desdemona Arkhelios," said Sachiko as she arrived to the castle with some packed lunches in her hands. "We all know that you don't give a damn about us or the chieftains who bend over backwards over your family and the other Stewards."
"Don't you dare lash your tongue at me, you Jewish piece of filth!" Desdemona slaps Sachiko in the face as she nearly drops her packed lunches. "I know all about you due to your connection to Aaron Bass in the time of the Elder Days in which you still lug that lump of clay everywhere you go."
Dirk noticed the noblewoman getting ready to hit Sachiko again as he ran to her aid. He didn't want Desdemona to lose her temper as he also didn't want her to hurt anyone here after the fall of the Maladendrum two weeks ago. As a young man who was about to turn seventeen, he had to do his part in protecting his friends and family as he didn't want Sachiko to be subjected to Desdemona's cruelty, for she was a woman who was cut from the same cloth as the rest of House Arkhelios on the spot.
"Back away, you bad ol' puddy tat!" she yelled.
"I suggest that you leave before you get your ass chewed out," said Dirk.
"Where is your superior?!"
"He's elsewhere in which I won't give away his whereabouts due to the fact that the information is classified."
"Classified, you say?! You're beginning to sound like those morons who run the Order of Letters in which they refuse to hand over the remainder of a royal family that should've been extinct years ago! Everywhere I go, I hear the citizens and their chieftains who run the regions still crying for the return of such filth and do you know who is running this continuing shit show?! It's none other than Shigeru Mitani, the main lynchpin of the opposition! He's nothing more than a fly in our ointment in which he continues to give the Four Steward Houses the middle finger! My family runs and calls the shots, not you or those proxies who are demanding to have the Alecrian Emperor return to the throne! No matter how many times the Alecrian people beckon, no matter how many times they beg, no matter how many times that they scream and cry, we will never bend the knee nor give them their 'just and caring' Emperor, for the true rulers rule all!"
Desdemona was ready to attack again until she heard footsteps approaching. Turning around, she noticed Moro walking from the town square with some bags of groceries as she was eager to make dinner for everyone. She never noticed the lady of House Arkhelios to be here of all people as she was here for a mission that was up to no good, for she had to get her out of Skald Island before things got out of hand. Desdemona, on the other hand, wasn't afraid to attack people, especially pregnant women, as she glared at Moro and was ready to attack her, only to stop as she saw her holding at her stomach.
"This should be fun," she said as she was ready to strike.
"So, you're about to attack a pregnant woman, right?" said Moro as she displayed her Nephilim powers. "I know all about you, Desdemona, but what you're doing here is harassment."
"I'll take my leave for now, but I'm here to give the surviving members of the Alecrian royal family a warning not to take the throne ever again!"
At that moment, Desdemona left the island in disgust as everyone was relieved that she didn't cause further damage here. Still, Moro stood her ground, despite the fact that she was pregnant, as she wasn't about to let the lady of House Arkhelios get her way this time. Still, she didn't want any trouble growing as she was also cautious with the very steps she took, for she was also about to have some bedrest somewhere for the time being.
"Let me help you with that," said Sachiko as she took one of the bags of groceries.
"I couldn't let Queen Karen get her way this time," said Moro as she grabbed the other bag.
"Does Sigurthur know that you're carrying heavy things in your condition?"
"He's too busy helping in the cleanup effort here. Recently, he's been checking out the university ruins in which he also noticed where the Box of Solomon was destroyed. He even went to the abandoned gym to see everything melted, but is glad that the Maladendrum is destroyed once and for all."
"I wonder how Reiko is doing…"
"She's fine, but Sam also wants her to rest up just like him. She already put the kibosh on the Maladendrum and even shot an arrow to the moon just to get rid of the crimson hue that didn't go away."
"That's good to hear…"
"What the hell are you doing lifting groceries in your condition?!"
Sigurthur rushed out to where everyone was as he grabbed the remaining bag out of Moro's hand. He was adamant into doing the heavy lifting as he also didn't want her to risk her health and pregnancy doing errands in which her body is already responding to what she bore within her. When they all got inside of the castle, they were in the main hall as they saw everyone hard at work with Sachiko picking up the packed lunches she got earlier. The sight of normalcy was a grand one as everyone was wanting something to eat the moment that there was the scent of roast lamb with vegetables filling the dining hall. With the castle being fixed, everyone was ready to have their lunch as they got their fill of food for the day. When Dirk and Sachiko entered into the sitting room, she uncovered her packed lunches as they consisted of the usual bento and dosirak boxes that she bought earlier. The sight of onigiri and cooked fish was pleasant as Moro grabbed one of them and began to devour the food that was in it, for it was a good one indeed.
"That hit the spot," she said.
"At least you're not doing any more heavy lifting," said Sigurthur.
"Dean's gonna have a field day once he gets back to Cordell Island," said Dirk.
"I hope he doesn't face the wrath of Desdemona," said Sachiko worriedly.
"He won't 'cause he cares more about his family and unit more than anything. As for Sam and the others, I hope that Granny Lyra doesn't smother him too much."
"Lyra Trujillo is more than just a crucial member of her clan," said Sigurthur. "She cracks the whip on those who don't fall out of line in which she also cooks some good Peruvian food on the sly."
"From what I gathered, most of the customers in the Tsubaki District often have dinner that consists of arroz con pato," said Sachiko. "As for the rest of us, we'll enjoy our lunch without further delay."
Everyone kept eating their food from the lunchboxes as there wasn't any more problems today. As for the cleanup effort, it was ongoing as this wasn't the first time Skald Island faced the horrors of the unknown, for there was also the wrath of both the Zenith Vectors and the Four Stewards to worry about as well…
Later on in the evening, I decided to take a stroll outside the villa as I was near a a cave. Wheeling myself inside of it, I noticed it to be part of a ship as I saw the name, Clampett, in bold letters on the wall. Going further inside, I saw where Drusus took the books as I later saw an unopened room the moment I carefully stood up and examined the door carefully. It was like before in that underground Draaza lab at the Jade Bamboo on Westeros as I noticed it to be preserved, for I had to open it right away.
"Enter retinal scan," said a computer voice as it scanned my eye. "Retinal scan approved." The door opens up as it reveals a room that was left unscathed. "Greetings, Sam Winchester; you now have access to our codex room."
I went into the room in my wheelchair as I found it to be a place where the occupants stored most of their treasures that were left unscathed from decay. There was no trace of codex material anywhere as I saw a set of vinyl albums that were similar to some of the usual music that my past self and Dean's used to listen to. The sight of AC/DC's "Back in Black" album was a huge find as I examined it carefully in which it was still in its plastic wrapper. By the time I put it back, I went out of the room as I noticed Drusus standing there the moment he froze in shock. He was eager to return the books that he found in the derelict as he had them in his satchel the moment they were unscathed by the dangers of the Zenith Vectors two weeks ago, for he had to return them to the ship anyway just like returning a library book.
"Oh, crap!" he yelled as he stood still. "You scared me!"
"Sorry about that," I said. "I was on my way back to the villa."
"I tried hard to get into that room you came out of, but I take it that whoever crashlanded here in El Anillo del Fuego had a knack for storing odds and ends."
"Lyra will have a field day about this…"
"This place belonged to my ancestor, but we should also put back what we take from it…" I notice an unusual plant creeping on the floor as it was about to attack Drusus the moment it wrapped around his leg. "Oh, no!" I see him fall to the floor as the creeping plant began to drag him further away from me. "Sam! A little help here, please?!"
"Hold on, Drusus!"
I used my long silver hair as a rope as I wanted Drusus to grab at it. When he was about to do that, he was trying to break free from the plant that wrapped around his leg as he was holding onto my hair while screaming. I was out of options here as I was about to take a huge risk the moment I had no choice but to use my raw power to save Drusus from certain death. At that moment, I saw the base of the plant as it had a huge maw in front of it in which I used my raw power to destroy it in which I saved Drusus in the nick of time, but at a price. With the plant destroyed, I was relieved that no one else was hurt as I felt a sharp pain in my stomach the moment I cried out in pain, for the raw power I used accelerated the pregnancy that I had in me without warning.
"Hey, stay with me!" he yelled as he tried to calm me down.
"What the hell?!" yelled Kotori as she rushed into the cave.
"We have to get him to the villa or a hospital or something!"
"What happened?" asked Lyra as she entered into the ship.
"There was this plant that nearly dragged me and Sam used his raw power to save my bacon…"
"There isn't time," said Kotori worriedly. "We need to get him to the infirmary wing as soon as possible!"
And so, I was wheeled away from the derelict ship as I was on my way back to the villa. The clock was ticking for me to be operated on as I was going into premature labor due to the acceleration from the raw power that I had. Still, I took a bold risk, but I couldn't let Drusus die as I was about to prepare for birth the second time, for this was too much for me…
I was on my way to the infirmary wing as I made my way towards the operating room the moment Kotori led the charge. When I was placed on the operating table, I noticed Kotori washing her hands as she was putting on some operating scrubs in which she was being accompanied by someone that I never saw before along with Reuben, who arrived just in time. It wasn't long until I was prepped the moment I felt an oxygen mask being placed over my face while I had an anesthesia being injected into my arm through a drip. Still, it had to be done as the clock was ticking, for I was about to fall asleep once more in this grueling procedure.
"Patient is sedated," said Reuben as he got out his medical tools.
"Thank the maker," said Kotori.
"We never saw this coming until Lyra told me once I came here to see how Sam was adjusting."
"As soon as we operate, the better. As for him using his raw power, he saw a plant monster in the ship in the cave, which is similar to what was found on Stohess."
Reuben looked out the windowed door as he saw Drusus sitting on the bench with a worried look on his face. Still, he was indebted to me for saving him from that plant earlier as he wanted to make sure that I was okay. I was fully sedated and anesthetized as I was about to be under a caesarian section once again in which I was also fearing the worst the moment I closed my eyes and drifted off into a deep sleep. I was simply dreaming of what was yet to come as I found myself in a void the moment I saw Hugh being pursued by suspicious soldiers dressed in black while riding their horses. I sensed him to be in grave danger as I found myself on Alecrast the moment I noticed the scenery changing from a warm spring to a harsh winter. The cold chilled me to the bone as the wind howled so loudly that I ended up waking up in a hospital room. I returned to reality as I sat up and felt at my stomach in which I found it devoid of what I was carrying earlier, for the worst was over.
I was out for a while as I heard the sound of babies crying in another room. I wanted to know what became of them as I was trying to get out of bed until Reiko stopped me the moment she entered into the room. She was grateful that I was safe as she didn't want me to get out of bed right now, for I had to rest after enduring another caesarian section earlier. Still, I had no choice but to use my raw power as I had to do my duty to protect the ones I cared about, for this was what came early after destroying a creepy plant monster earlier.
"Reuben and Kotori are taking care of the newborns right now," she said to me.
"Where are they?" I asked frantically.
"They're in the baby ward," said Reuben as he entered into the room. "Lyra told me about it in which you took a risk of accelerating the pregnancy to the point of giving birth."
"A plant monster tried to kill Drusus earlier. If I hadn't used what I had, he would've been dead by now."
"You went up against a tunda, didn't you?" I nodded sincerely. "From what I heard in the lore, such plants are often the manifestations of cruel mothers who won't tolerate disobedience from their children, but this one is similar to what Dean went up against on Stohess. After the fracas earlier, you and Drusus weren't the only ones who were after the spawn of Audrey II, for it had a bounty on its head for any hunter dumb enough to take it out."
"Thank the gods…"
I began to lay back down as I was tired from the ordeal that I had earlier. After all that was said and done, I was also starting to worry about Drusus as he would soon be put under the microscope of what he would endure next, for this was getting from bad to worse in a nutshell…
Drusus was in the sitting room as he was worried about my health after what happened earlier. Still, he was shaken after nearly being killed by a tunda as he was also about to face the full brunt of an inquiry on his head. Bracing for more further drama, he was shaking with fear as he saw Lyra enter into the sitting room the moment she was eager to set the record straight, for she wasn't about to let him off the hook at what he saw and what nearly killed him earlier.
"You went back into the Clampett to return some library books, but had to be dragged by the bastard son of Audrey II," said Lyra. "Your reckless actions caused Sam to use his raw power to bail you out and kill the tunda to the point of accelerating his pregnancy the moment Kotori and Reuben had to operate on him to deliver the babies or else he would've never made it."
"I'm so sorry about all of this," said Drusus. "I never saw it coming when that thing dragged me just to be an appetizer to it."
"Well, you should be after what happened earlier."
"Look…, I know that you guys didn't want Sam to use his raw power while he had a bun in the oven, but if he hadn't did so, I would've been plant food by now. That thing is dangerous and it must've been hiding in the cave without my knowledge."
It wasn't long until C.J. entered into the sitting room as she had a flower in petri dish in which it came from the plant that nearly killed Drusus earlier. Lyra was stunned to see it as she recognized the flower directly in which such a plant would come and attack people at random, but this one was different. It was highly unlikely that a tunda like that would come here as it was mainly hiding in the distance in the cave where the Clampett was, for there was no end to dealing with a deadly plant with a voracious appetite anytime soon. Even Drusus was shocked to see the flower in the petri dish as he also didn't want to have any future houseplants for the rest of his days, for this was too much for him after what happened earlier.
"This was found near one of the caverns by the waterfall," said C.J.
"We have a tunda problem, but it was dealt with earlier," said Lyra.
"This one was seen everywhere further from our village, only to travel form place to place."
"And it was destroyed, but it also had a bounty mainly for whoever was able enough to get rid of it. I never expected one of those things just to quickly go to seed and grow into a carnivorous weed with pretty flowers. Plants can be both pleasant and threatening in which we have to be cautious at what we have around the house."
Lyra takes the flower in the petri dish from C.J. as she examined it carefully. She knew of it to be one of the tunda plants as they were the most dangerous of all lore monsters that ever crawled all over the Ashizoka System. Still, she saw the threat averted in the Clampett, but she was also concerned about what was about to happen next. By the time she left the sitting room, she went outside to the cave next to the villa as she was exploring the further surroundings of the derelict Draaza ship inside of it. When she went inside, she walked into the room I opened as she saw the many treasures that were unscathed by age the moment she saw the collection of vinyl albums that were in there. What she also saw was that there were a few books and journals that documented the lore of what happened in the Elder Days the moment she saw an old movie poster encased in a frame. It was something that was ancient as she noticed the image of a boy riding on a white dragon on it complete with other drawings of people.
"'The Neverending Story…'" she said as she saw the words on the poster. "Whoever collected this poster must've loved watching a lot of movies."
Without warning, Lyra heard the sound of something rustling in the distance as she left the codex room and went towards the further parts of the Clampett. What she saw there was the same thing that the monster plant came from as it was a tangle of noxious weeds that came alive and were ready to tangle her without hesitation. When she saw the tendrils coming to entangle her, she used her Nephilim abilities to scare it the moment she saw them beginning to wither. When she saw the real problem coming in front of her, it was much bigger than the last one as she saw it to be the alpha of the weeds that were instantly creeping near her village. She had to stop them as she later noticed an Orc rushing into the derelict ship and threw an incendiary grenade at the plants the moment they succumbed to the flames. With the plant destroyed, she turned around and saw the Orc seeing the evidence of what the invasive tunda plant had wrought as he was glad that the worst was over, for it wouldn't entangle another unsuspecting bystander again.
"About time that I got the bloody thing," he said.
"Nathaniel Dickerson," said Lyra. "I never expected you to show up here in this tropical popsicle stand."
"The plant had been busy being an invasive species that it decided to go to this cave and lure unsuspecting victims just for dinner. It recently made its way here when it sensed something coming to that derelict ship and that was when it made itself at home just to feed on everything."
"At least you finally put an end to the alpha variant."
"We were hunting it for a while now," said a Va'Kihri woman as she rushed into the cave. "At least it and its spores have been flushed out so that no one in this village will be part of the buffet."
"Primakyar Na'Khevna… I never expected you to show up here, but your timing is bad when Nathaniel destroyed the alpha plant, but I have evidence of how it was spreading its flowers." Lyra shows it to the two hunters as it was now wilted and withered. "Even its spores wither once the alpha plant is taken out…"
"At least it's gone and out of the way. As for the bounty on that thing, we're giving part of it to the one who was dumb enough to flush it out."
Lyra was aware of the typical monster hunting business as some of the dangerous threats fetched a high price to eliminate once they were spotted. Still, she had to tell Drusus about the partial reward he would be getting as he helped to flush out one of the worst lore monsters imaginable, for this was something that became more than just a simple hunting job…
I was still in my hospital room as I kept laying in bed the moment I sat up and saw Reiko entering to see how I was doing. She was thankful that I was still alive as I had to stay in bed a little longer after giving birth the second time, for I had enough of it. I also made it clear that I didn't want to be with child again as it was mainly a woman's job to carry children to term, for I was also feeling more tired than normal.
"The babies will be observed by the Medical Corps," said Reiko.
"I'm glad that they're fine," I said as I yawned.
I decided to get up as I slowly got into my wheelchair and left my room the moment I went towards the baby room. The place itself was sterile and clean as I noticed the four newborns in their little bassinets sleeping. What we also noticed was that there was a Draaza woman coming into the nursery as she noticed one of them crying the moment she picked him up and exposed her breast in order to allow her to nurse. I was glad to have assistance as I noticed another of the quadruplets crying in which she wanted her breakfast in which Reiko handed her to me while I began to open up my robe and allowed the baby to latch onto one of my pectorals. It was a sign of renewal as I noticed the Draaza woman shedding tears in which she experienced a loss that led her to having an abundance in breastmilk, for she wanted to help us in every way she can mustered.
"You're used to this, aren't you?" she said as she stared at me.
"It's my second time," I said as I finished feeding the newborn.
"Sammy, this is Dirithi," said Reiko. "She's been hurting after she lost her baby in which she is thankful that she's helping us wetnurse the newborns."
"You helped to flush out the threat that killed my husband and cost me the life of my baby."
It wasn't long until we saw a Draaza boy rush into the baby room as he was bringing in some diapers and baby clothes for the newborns. He even rushed towards Dirithi as he was concerned about her well-being the moment he noticed me and Reiko in the room. It was at that moment that he bowed in front of us as he was blessed that we averted a threat, for this wasn't about what was discovered in the Clampett earlier.
"I thank you for helping Lady Lyra flush out that monster so that Nathaniel and his mother could finish it off," he said to us. "Your presence is a blessing in which you helped to avenge my dad and baby sister."
"I didn't do much," I said.
"According to Drusus, you used your raw power to take out one of the queen's drones in which Lady Lyra and the others took out the rest. As for what was inside, it's being cleaned up after what happened earlier."
"Careful, Tzippidar; there are babies in the room," said Dirithi cautiously as she finished nursing one of the quadruplets. "At least we're breathing a sigh of relief now that the monster is gone. Your father and sister will be in the Grey Havens watching over us in which we have purpose that can help the ones who flushed out the tunda in the first place."
It wasn't long until we changed the first two after they had their breakfast. With the other ones fed, they were later changed and put back in their bassinets as they were also content with what they ate earlier. As for the Draaza boy, however, he was worried about his mother as she was also grieving while being a wetnurse to the quadruplets, for he was aware of it after losing his father and unborn sister. Still, he had to remain strong as he was staring at the quadruplets that I bore, for they resembled my genetics and the ones from their late mothers after all.
"They look like Miss Aloysia and Miss Te'Katri back in the day," he said.
"They're Terran, but they also happen to be Cetra," said Reiko. "Their mothers gave their lives to stop the Blues from causing havoc on Skald Island in which they're also legacies that have been blessed with a loving family." She looks at one of them as she notices him gripping her finger with his tiny hand. "You're in good hands, my little one. I know that you will be loved by your brothers and sisters, for I will be with you."
It wasn't long until we left the baby room as we had to let the newborns get their nap until their next feeding. When Reiko went outside, she saw the spirits of their mothers watching in the Grey Havens as they were glad that they were born and safe. It was at that moment that she prayed for them as she had to do her part in protecting them, for they were part of our family so far…
Drusus was still in the sitting room as he was wanting to check up on me after I gave birth earlier. His concerns and worries were the tip of the iceberg as he was eager to go towards the infirmary wing and find out how I was doing. When he left the sitting room, he saw Hugh standing near the window as he was worried about the burden he would bear. The weight of being forced to become Emperor of Alecrast was heavy on him as he also dreaded the presence of the Four Steward houses watching him like a hawk. He had to come clean and return to Alecrast as he also had to take the throne before the planet would be shrouded in eternal winter, for it was a cold fate worse than death.
"You're bothered by something," said Drusus.
"The power of the Stewards is slipping," said Hugh. "I know of this because I keep getting updates from Shigeru about the situation. It should've been Dean's job to take the throne, not me. Also, Sam's out of the running because he's become the god of the Ashizoka System in which he's also being pursued by those who would abuse what he has."
"Dean has his unit in the Hunter Corps. Reuben has his work in the Medical Corps. As for your brothers who stayed behind, I hope that they're okay…"
"The three who stayed behind report to Shigeru in which they also have to steer clear of Desdemona Arkhelios, who is far worse than her brother. She's dangerous, but determined to keep everyone in her family tethered in which she helped Beryl Beauchamp to pull some strings and get Iago out of jail by using blackmail against the Dowager Empress Sayaka."
"From what I heard, she's in jail for killing her husband and raping her son, which is very low. As for Sam's predicament, I hope to the Matriarch that he—"
Without warning, Drusus heard a high-pitched sound filling the room as he had a feeling that his pursuers could find him to the point of taking away. He didn't want that to happen as he put his foot down in which he didn't want to go anywhere else today. When he tapped his foot, the high-pitched ringing stopped as he didn't want his pursuers to chase him anymore, for he was getting fed up with them stalking him on the sly.
"Enough, already!" he yelled. "This is getting really old!"
It wasn't long until Zaphariel and Alcmene appeared out of nowhere as they were ready to take Drusus away. Both angels were not about to budge as they had their reasons to steal him from the villa in which they also wanted him to go towards the desert, for it was their perceived duty as a prophet of the Lord. Even Hugh noticed them as he had to be cautious in which he also didn't want to get his eyes melted form his skull, for this encounter was more of a wake-up call for him to stand firm and take responsibility.
"You've stalled long enough, Drusus," said Zaphariel. "It's time for you to go."
"No…," he said as he remained defiant. "I'm not going anywhere in which I would do my duty into looking for knowledge instead of sitting on my ass playing video games."
"You crossed the line, Drusus!" yelled Alcmene. "No matter how many times you throw us off the trail, we'll always find you!"
"Don't you have anything better to do than just chase me all the live long?"
"What about your duty or does that matter to you?!"
"What duty? By vegging out like some fat slob at his computer doing online gaming? No… I was raised to know the galaxy and seeing new horizons in which there's more to life than just spending the rest of your days under a rock. There is beauty among the chaos and I will always look into it instead of wearing rose-colored glasses all the time."
"He's right," said Hugh. "He's doing a lot more in which my half-brother even saved his ass from being plant food. As for what happens next, there are much bigger threats than your petty chase in which we're fighting against both the Zenith Vectors and the Four Stewards. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have new arrivals to take care of."
"What new arrivals?" asked Zaphariel.
It wasn't long until the sound of babies crying was heard in which Drusus rushed towards the infirmary wing. When he got to the baby room, he saw the quadruplets in their bassinets after a diaper change in which they were content after being born. All four were safe and sound as Hugh later arrived and saw them for the first time, for they were part of our family after all. Duty and responsibility were the very things that had us hardwired to our familial ties as both Drusus and Hugh had to learn the hard way, for they had their work cut out for them in this ongoing mess…
To be continued...