Page 31 of Pregnancy Pains & Mystic Chains
"I don't know what happened!" Melody cried when she spotted us. Her brown curls were frizzed with static electricity, her own anxiety adding to the manifestations. "One minute I was doing my rounds, trying to comfort a scared patient before their surgery. The next, my chest got really warm and... a glowing blue bear appeared. I called my mom who told me about my great-grandmother's power and that’s when I knew I was making their emotions manifest."
"Did your mother tell you that this was a normal empathic manifestation?" Nana asked. "Usually projection powers just let you sense emotions, not turn them into giant glowing spirit animals."
"No, she just said I was an empath like her!" Melody's voice cracked with panic. Her curls practically crackled with static as another spectral creature - this one looking suspiciously like an anxious raccoon - materialized near the nurses' station. "She didn't mention anything about power manifestations! I was just trying to help Mrs. Henderson calm down before her surgery and suddenly - BAM! - that appeared!" She pointed at the massive blue tiger. As it got closer to the cardiac monitor, it went haywire. "This isn't supposed to happen! Mom just gets migraines and has to avoid crowds!"
Before anyone could respond, a nurse rounded the corner. She moved with an otherworldly grace that immediately set off warning bells. Her nametag read "Cassandra" but the way the emotional manifestations recoiled from her presence told me she was something far more ancient than a hospital employee.
"The Old Ones did warn us this would happen," she said softly, her voice carrying despite the chaos. "When the thrice-blessed ones draw near, the veils between worlds grow thin.Ancient powers stir, and those meant to guard them awaken before their time."
I shared a look with Stella. "You're one of them. A Keeper."
"Of course she is,” Nana barked as she lifted her cane. “Did you follow the energy of my mark here?"
Cassandra shook her head as something like fascination crossed her features. "The mark went dark for us last night. Many assume you are holed up at your house. I can see that, in fact, we can no longer sense the mark as we once could. I don’t know how you managed to sever that connection. I felt the power fluctuations at the hospital. I hoped..." She paused, her ancient eyes showing a weariness that made me think of centuries rather than decades. "I hoped I might be able to help resolve the chaos here. There should be peace in a place of healing. Not all of us seek to control or destroy. Some of us remember our true purpose. We were tasked with guiding and protecting those touched by old magic." Her gaze shifted to Melody.
"Her unborn babies did this?" Melody squeaked.
"Indirectly. Their presence accelerates what was meant to be," Cassandra explained. "Your power would have manifested eventually, but the ancient powers flowing through those children are like a catalyst. They're waking things that have slept for centuries."
"That's fascinating," I said, "but can we focus on containing this situation before someone starts recording these spirit animals for TikTok?"
Cassandra's lips curved in a slight smile. "Of course. The binding is simple, once you understand what you're dealing with. Melody, come here."
I took a defensive stance as Mom, Stella, Nina, and Nana moved into position around us. Protective magic shimmered in the air as we all cast an enchantment at the same time. Themultiple spells wove together. Mom's was a shield spell. Stella had cast a barrier of light. Nina surprised me with a deflection web. Nana and I were on the same wavelength as we both did a protection circle that encompassed us all. The hospital hallway practically vibrated with layered magical defenses.
Cassandra observed our sudden defensive formation with what looked like approval. "Wise precautions," she said, making no move to proceed. "I cannot help guide the young one's power unless you allow me to help her. The choice is yours."
I shared quick glances with my family. Mom gave a slight nod, while Stella's fingers remained poised to strengthen her barrier if needed. Nana studied Cassandra intently before slowly dropping just enough of her protection spell to let her help Melody.
After that Cassandra got right to work, telling Melody how to block the influence from the ancient magic my babies apparently woke up. Ancient words in a language I barely recognized flowed from Cassandra as she guided Melody through what looked like a grounding ritual. Golden light spiraled around the young woman's hands as she learned to channel and control her wild empathic projections.
One by one, the glowing spirit animals began to fade. First to go was the massive tiger, then the wolves. Finally, the anxious raccoon disappeared as Melody mastered the art of containing her power rather than letting it manifest everyone's emotions into physical form.
Melody was smiling widely when Cassandra issued a warning. "There will be more," she said as the last of the chaos settled. "The children's power will grow. Old guardians will wake. Ancient bindings will break. The world is changing, whether we're ready or not."
"Wait," I called as she turned to leave. "What do you know about the prophecy? About what these babies are meant to do?"I needed more than the cryptic information we’d gotten thus far. Her help was great, but it didn’t tell me how to stop this shit.
Cassandra paused, her form seeming to flicker like a candle flame. "The prophecy is written in many places, in many forms. Your son has already found one such place, though he doesn't yet realize what he's discovered."
My hand went to my belly as the babies stirred. She wasn’t referring to Thaniel. "Jean-Marc? What are you talking about?"
"The healing temple," she said. "Hidden beneath modern streets, preserved by those who remember. Seek it, and you'll find more answers. But be warned – you're not the only ones looking."
She vanished before I could ask more questions, literally fading from sight like morning mist. I turned to Stella, who looked as stunned as I felt. "Did she just?—"
"Yep," Stella cut me off.
I swallowed hard and tried to wrap my brain around everything. "And we should probably?—"
"Call Jean-Marc? Nina has already sent him a message," Stella said as she gestured to my daughter whose fingers were flying over her phone.
“He isn’t sure what Cassandra was referring to, but he will have answers by the time we get home,” Nina said as she turned for the elevator. The trip to the first floor was much less tense than when we arrived, as was the ride home. My back was killing me, the babies were doing gymnastics, and my mind was racing with questions as I drove through the bustling streets.
Jean-Marc was waiting when we arrived. He was surrounded by papers. My heart constricted when I noticed he looked like he hadn't slept in days. "I think I found it," he said before I could ask how he was really doing. "I should have seen that it was a temple. I’m getting better at decoding the cryptic shit in the magical world.”
“At least one of us is. I feel like I’m getting worse,” I replied as I waddled over to the fridge and grabbed a ginger ale to settle the nausea.
His chuckle was warm and perked him up. “Are you kidding? You usually come up with the answers. You need to give yourself a break. You’re like a million years pregnant and worried about keeping them and the rest of us safe. Anyway, the temple is under the old Mason building downtown."
