Ariella
“So, you said you can't get pregnant while you're human, so does that mean you can only when you're a wolf?”
I look at Davonyé across the island. It's two in the mornin’. He's gonna be tired tomorrow, but that's his choice. We’ve spoken about all kindsa things; I even told him about the kratius, and that I visited there.
“Yeah…” I pop another piece of moose. “…so we'll need to be careful not to get excited and make each other change.”
“But things ain’t gonna be so crazy between us once I change, will it?”
I laugh. “Baby, why would you think that?”
“I’on know. Maybe because there ain't no way things between us could get any more intense?”
I laugh again. “We're mates, Davonyé. Our connection will be strongest when we're both the same.”
He shakes his head. “Then we're fucked.”
I laugh harder. I can't help it.
His eyes narrow. “You done?”
“I'm sorry.” I'm still chuckling. “Don't worry about that. You'll see.”
He rolls his eyes. “So when you biting me?”
That wipes the smile off my face.
“Ah, that ain't funny, huh?”
I sigh. “I'm nervous. I don't wanna hurt you, but there's no way around it. Mom and dad will be clearing the house by tomorrow evening, so I'm thinking, then. You'll wake up in time for school, if you need to go.”
“Aight.”
“There’s something I need to tell you…”
“Go on…”
“Well, Aura kinda told me I can’t die.”
“Right…”
“But you could.”
He blinks and stops eating.
“But she’s gifted me a way to bring you back if anything happened to you, so don’t worry, okay? You ain’t goin’ anywhere.”
He relaxes at that. “That’s good to know, Shawty.”
I watch as he finishes his food, looking deep in thought. I love him so much.
He suddenly looks up at me. “I said I’d let my mom and sisters know if I decided to change.”
“That’s cool. So I just need to sort out work for you—” A surge of tingling inside me suddenly makes me gasp.
My brother.
It’s the strangest feeling, but I swear he's calling out for me.
“Bae.” Davonyé reaches over the island to hold my hand. “What's wrong?”
“I need to go to Mom. I think my brother’s about to be born.”
“Oh, shit.” He stands up. “You want me to come with you?”
“Dad ain't gonna let you watch, so you can stay here if you want. It's up to you. Ware births are quick, though. If I'm right, he'll be here within the hour.”
That’s shocked him. “Damn. Okay, I'm coming.”
I change from my shorts and tank to a tracksuit and Davonyé grabs his coat to wear over his sweats before we make our way over to the main house. The seven are in the garden playing music and talking, so I take Davonyé outside and introduce him to them.
“Do you mind waiting here? I won't be long.”
He shivers, so I insulate his coat so that he can’t feel the cold. The look he gives me tells me that he knows what I’ve done. He doesn’t say anything about it, though, he kisses my forehead instead. “Take your time.”
I nod and then leave him in the garden to make my way up to mom and dad's room. I remember the memory of my birth and watch it as I make my way up the stairs.
I knock on the door of my parents’ room and after a minute, dad appears at the door in grey sweatpants. “Baby, you alright?”
“Yeah. Is Mom?”
“Uh, huh. She's asleep.” He opens the door wider and she begins to stir.
I step inside and close the door behind me. I see all the towels and flannels ready for my brother’s arrival, all neatly folded on the dresser. “Is this everything for the baby?”
“Yeah,” he answers slowly. “Why?”
“Sweetheart?” Mom says, sitting up in bed. “What's wrong?”
“Nothing. I think I was summoned.”
She frowns. “Summoned?”
“Yeah. I think the baby's coming.”
She looks fully awake now. “Oh, God. Really?”
I smile excitedly. “Yeah. I've watched my birth so I know what to do. I won't get involved too much, but I need you to stay as calm as possible.”
She nods. “I remember. So no Aura this time?”
“I don't know.” Something tells me she'll be making an appearance, though.
Mom suddenly gasps and I definitely feel my brother call out to me.
I go over to mom and rest a hand on her belly. “It's okay. I'm here.”
I look up at mom to see her looking anxiously at me. “Okay?”
“The baby's fine.”
“Good. Baby, text the family group,” she says to dad.
I see him reach for his phone but I turn my attention back to mom. “Hands and knees?”
She nods and begins to reposition herself on the bed. She’s soon humming loudly, though, and Dad brings the baby bits over to start laying down the towels.
Dad rubs her back. “I’m here, Baby. I’m gonna block you now, but I’m right here.”
“Okay.” She moans.
I can tell she’s trying her hardest not to scream, but it’s clear to see how much pain she’s in.
Dad lifts her thighs wider apart and then I see bloody, jet black hair between them. “The head is coming,” he tells her. “Breathe, baby.”
She moans and then I hear the sound of her pushing. More of the baby’s head appears and I stare, transfixed at the sight before me.
Shit… that is incredible.
She lets out a sharp squeal as the head almost appears fully, and dad quickly reassures and consoles her again. Watching the way he is with her makes me feel emotional. He just loves her so much.
She pushes again and my brother’s head arrives into the world. I think this is the most exciting thing I’ve ever witnessed.
“Almost there, Mom,” I say, stepping around dad so I can still see, but then I feel Aura appear beside me.
‘You heard him calling, Ariella. I am impressed.’
I tell her ‘thank you’ inside my head.
‘It is time for me to release your next set of abilities.’
I look at her. ‘Now?’
‘Yes. Now.’
I suddenly hear my brother becoming distressed, so I urge mom to push harder. I feel worried, but I keep calm.
Mom growls as she pushes this time, and slowly, my brother is born into dad’s hands.
“We have a son, Baby,” Dad gushes, wiping my brother with a towel, but then I see sheer panic on dad’s face.
My brother doesn’t cry, and I can feel, deep inside, that something is wrong with him. I go to dad and see the cord around my brother’s neck so quickly remove it, but he still doesn't make a sound.
Not even his heart beats.
I suddenly feel overwhelmed with worry, but it’s not just mine that I’m feeling…
“What's wrong?” Mom asks, suddenly panicking, too.
Dad sucks the mucus from my brother’s nose and terror rushes through me. “Breathe, little brother,” I plead, just as dad holds him against his bare chest to rub his back.
He cries.
I briefly close my eyes as the relief I feel from all of us overwhelms me.
Oh, thank God.
‘The power to heal…’ I hear Aura inside my mind. ‘…and the ability to feel the emotions of those around you.’
I turn to look at her and frown because I forgot all about her being here in amongst the panic.
‘You were more than capable of managing the situation, Ariella.’ She turns to face my parents. “Congratulations on the birth of your son.”
“Thank you, Aura,” they both reply, but then mom whimpers as she pushes again to pass the placenta.
“Take your brother,” Dad says, passing him to me.
I admire the tiny bundle in my arms. He’s wrapped in a towel and has his eyes closed. I can feel that he’s hungry. “It won't be long, then mommy will feed you,” I tell him. He tries to open his eyes but has blood in all his little creases, so I clean him up and it’s as if he’s just been bathed.
‘You are grasping your magic at a rapid pace, Ariella. It is most pleasing.’
‘I'm trying.’
Mom soon heals, so while dad cleans up, I pass my brother to our mom. She smiles down at him in awe, but then she frowns. “He's clean?”
“I did it.” I hold my hand up quickly as I sit at the end of the bed. “I hope you don't mind but he looked uncomfortable with all that blood and vernix in his eyes.”
She smiles. “I don't think I'll ever get used to you having magic.” She looks back down at my brother and gushes over him.
Me either.
“Have you decided on a name?” Aura asks.
Dad sits beside mom as she latches my brother onto her right breast. I can feel how happy they are, and it warms my heart.
“Yep,” Dad says, keeping his eyes down. “Amarey Victorio James.”
Wow. Grandad is gonna be so moved by that when he finds out…
She smiles. “Very well. I will leave you to enjoy your son.” She turns to me. ‘I know you wished to ask me something. I have made it so. You will bite Davonyé tomorrow?’
Ugh, Aura is just amazing. ‘Thank you, and yes. That’s the plan.’
‘Good. Once he changes, he will sleep for the same length of time you did. If you give him your blood afterwards, the effects of it will trigger once he awakens.’
‘Okay. I understand.’
‘I will see you soon.’
I nod, and then she disappears.
I turn back to look at mom and dad. They’re getting Amarey changed into a yellow baby grow.
“He looks like you, Mom.”
“He does,” Dad agrees. He’s so happy, but I know how special it must feel for him to have a son, especially as he’s been convinced the baby would be another girl.
“I was right,” Mom says, smiling to herself.
I laugh because dad rolls his eyes.
“Do you want to introduce him to the seven?” Dad asks her.
“Yeah. Let me just have a shower.”
I clean her, dress her in a yellow maxi dress, and then change the sheets on the bed, too. “There you go.”
They both stare at me.
“Too much?”
“Just how much magic do you have now?” Dad asks, shaking his head in amazement.
“A bit. I've just gained the ability to heal, and to feel people's emotions.”
Mom looks at me. “Your brother…”
I look down at him as she picks him up. “I was just doing my jobs. Being an Elder and looking after my baby brother. Always.”
I can see and feel her getting emotional. I feel her gratitude, too. “Sweetheart. Thank you.”
Dad shuffles over the bed to hug me before kissing my forehead. “We love you.”
“I know. And I love you both, too.”
“Can't hear thoughts yet, no?” he asks, moving back to sit beside mom.
“Not yet.” I’ve got a feeling that I'll gain that skill soon, though.
“What did Aura say?” Dad asks.
“Just that Davonyé will sleep for the same amount of time I did, and that I should give him my blood straight after he changes so that he's stronger for when he wakes up. She also sorted out Davonyé’s work situation for us.”
“That's good,” Mom says. “When’s his last shift?”
“I think tomorrow. I'm not sure now. I thought I’d do the whole bite thing tomorrow after he gets home from work.”
“Alright. Now Amarey is here, the seven will be leaving for their continents. The rest of the family will be at Uncle Quis’, after tomorrow, and won't be back until Friday.”
“That’s cool.”
We hear cars at the front of the house; the rest of the family are here.
“Your Aunt Asha is gonna be gutted she popped home,” Mom says.
“And that’s my queue to leave. I know how much emotion is gonna be in this room in the next ten seconds, and I don’t need that kind of torture right now.”
Mom and Dad both laugh.
I get up to leave, and after kissing Amarey and mom on the head, I leave them to find Davonyé.