Page 21 of Pregnancy Pains & Mystic Chains
One particularly large shadow tried to dive-bomb us from above. I reinforced my shield just as Aidon spun, grabbed it mid-air, and crushed it in his fist. The remaining shadows scattered into the darkness where they belonged.
"Are you both alright?" Aidon asked. His eyes gradually returned to normal as he pulled his power retreated.
My phone rang before I could answer. It was Selene. "Get back here," she said without preamble. "I found something. The magical disturbances we've been tracking? They're connected to buildings disguised as mundane businesses. Just like that antique shop. It's a network."
"We'll be there in ten," I told her. My hand was still shaking slightly as I ended the call.
I filled them in while Aidon drove. None of us mentioned the fact that those shadows had seemed almost afraid of Aidon. Or that his display of power had probably just announced his presence to whatever was hunting us.
Back home, we found everyone gathered in the living room. Papers and maps covered every surface. Selene stood at the center of the chaos. Her hair was a mess and she had a manic look in her eyes.
"Look at this," she said, pointing to a map marked with glowing dots. "Every major magical disturbance in the pastmonth corresponds to a location hidden by powerful glamours. We had no idea before, but we began looking deeper."
"It forms a ritual circle," Nina said from where she next to Charlie and Reece. I hadn’t realized they’d come over.
"And that's not all,” Charlie pointed out. “Remember that history project we were working on? The one about local architecture? We found these." She held up several yellowed papers covered in what looked like architectural drawings.
"They were hidden in the library's archives," Nina continued. “But look what happens when you apply a reveal spell."
The three of them muttered a quick incantation. The seemingly innocent drawings transformed. They revealed complex magical formulas and notes about something called ‘The Awakening’. "They're coded documents about magical pregnancies," Nina explained.
"They date back centuries and describe babies with unusual powers," Tarja added. She was sitting regally on an end table near the girls.
I opened my mouth and jumped when thunder crackled outside. What the hell? The sky had been clear all day. "That's not natural," Nana said as she moved to the window. Dark clouds had appeared from nowhere and were roiling in with unnatural speed.
Wind howled around the house as the sudden storm intensified. Lightning flashed, and shadows danced across the lawn with military precision.
"Do you see that?" Nina asked, pressing her face against the glass.
"Only those with magic can," Aidon replied, his own power crackling in response. "But these aren't like the ones that attacked us. Look at how they move."
I placed my hand against the cool glass, watching the shadows patrol. The symbol on my belly pulsed steadily. "They're protective," I realized. "Like guards."
"Keeping something out," Stella confirmed grimly.
The storm raged for hours. We gathered what information we could, comparing Nina's discovered documents to Selene's map and Nana’s information about pregnancies. We then factored in our encounter at the antique shop. A picture was emerging, and it wasn't exactly comforting.
"So let me get this straight," I said as midnight approached and the shadows continued their vigilant dance. "There's a network of magically hidden locations, Mrs. Stavros was killed after discovering something about them. Her death triggered shadow creatures to attack us, and now we've got these guardians."
"That about sums it up," Stella agreed with a yawn. "The question is, what do we do about it?"
"We keep digging," Selene said firmly. "None of this is coincidence. Everything points to these babies being important enough that forces we don't understand yet are either trying to protect or harm them."
I rubbed my belly as the triplets shifted restlessly. "Well," I said, trying to lighten the mood, "at least we know one thing for sure."
"What's that?" Nina asked.
"These babies are definitely going to keep us on our toes." I managed a smile. "Though I really wish they'd come with an instruction manual." The weak joke earned a few chuckles, but we all knew the situation was deadly serious. Mrs. Stavros had died trying to understand what was happening.
"We should try to get some rest," Mom suggested. "We can't figure this out if we're exhausted."
She was right, but I stayed by the window watching our shadowy protectors. The storm showed no signs of letting up. Our guardian’s movements were oddly comforting. Whatever was coming, at least we weren't facing it alone.
CHAPTER 8
Sleep proved elusive as I watched our shadowy guardians patrol the property. The storm raged on through the night. I swear it was mocking my discomfort. Each thunderclap was perfectly timed with the triplets' synchronized kicks to my ribs. Nature had a sick sense of humor. My swollen ankles throbbed as I shifted on the window seat for the hundredth time, trying to find a position—any position—that didn't make me feel like a beached whale. I must have finally dozed off because the next thing I knew, sunlight was streaming through the windows. The smell of coffee pulled me from the last dregs of sleep and my makeshift nest.
"You know," Nana said as she handed me a steaming mug, "normal people don't fall asleep watching magical shadow creatures do security sweeps."
