Nessa pouted. “Spoilsport."
"I do not drink human drinks,” Slazzamar said.
"What do you drink, then?"
"My half-demon side requires small amounts of blood on occasion."
Both Darren and Vanessa stared at him. Darren touched the bruise on his neck.
"That was for a bonding,” Slazzamar said in a low tone to Darren. “So any creature will know to whom you belong."
Darren smiled at him.
Nessa was glad Neman wasn't the only possessive being around, and Darren looked happy Slazzamar claimed him.
"Good to know."
"I'll try one. What do you like?” he asked Darren.
Nessa turned her attention to the desk and array of computers on one side of the room. She picked up a sheet of paper, curiously reading its contents.
Moon Shadow Agency was written in bold typeface on the letterhead. It seemed to be reports on different demon activities around the globe. Her gaze scanned over a list of people, equipment, houses and places around the globe. It looked like a whole network was operating under this name.
"What's Moon Shadow Agency?” She looked up at Slazzamar.
"That is Mark's area. He takes care of all agency business. You can't be a formidable demon hunter for thousands of years and not have followers,” Slazzamar said.
"This is quite a setup. Is it only humans on the payroll?” Nessa asked.
Slazzamar shook his head. “A few other non-human creatures, as well."
"Like you?"
"No, I guess I'm the newest addition. I'm not going to get a tattoo, though."
Darren came over, handing him a drink.
Nessa smiled at the fondness in Slazzamar's eyes. She looked back at the papers while setting them down.
"Tattoo?"
"Check out Mark's right forearm the next time you see him,” Slazzamar said, looking directly at her.
She nodded, turning back to the papers for a moment.
"Anything like the one you've got, Nessa?"
"You have one?” Slazzamar asked.
"According to Neman, I was marked with it when I was born, and it showed up when Neman and I got together the first time.” She felt her face heating.
"You're so cute when you blush like that,” Darren teased.
Slazzamar looked at her curiously, but said nothing.
Nessa sucked in a long, tired breath. The couch across the room started to look inviting as she yawned. Her body ached and she felt weary to the bone. She had no idea what the time was. Her stomach started to bloat more than she expected it to—everything felt tight in her lower abdomen. As she walked across the room, a sudden, mild cramp made her pause. She took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly, guessing it was probably normal pregnancy symptoms. At least she didn't have any morning sickness.
"Is there anything else important I should know about you, lover?” Darren asked Slazzamar. “I mean, it's not every day I meet and fall in love with someone as magical as you. What kind of powers do you have?"
"Hey, I've got magic powers. I can do the Vulcan hand salute,” said Nessa, raising her hand to demonstrate. “Vanish a whole bar of chocolate and do the splits. Just don't ask me to do the splits for a while, until...” A stronger cramp hit, and she sucked in a sharp breath and clutched her stomach.
"Nessa, honey, are you all right?” Darren walked out from behind the bar holding a drink.
The pain eased and she smiled at Darren. “Yeah, peachy. Uuggh...” A strong, sharp pain ripped through Nessa's stomach.
Darren dropped the drink and darted forward, but Slazzamar was quicker than Darren, catching her before she fell. She panted, trying to cope with the pain as Slazzamar lifted her up and carried her to a sofa, then laying her down. It eased for a few seconds before hitting harder again, bringing tears to her eyes. It was as if her body was being torn apart from the inside out. Perspiration broke out all over her and she started to shake.
"Talk to me, honey—what are your symptoms?” Darren switched into nurse mode.
"Pain, severe, stomach, baby,” Nessa managed to gasped. “Help me."
"We should call Neman,” Slazzamar said, stepping back to let Darren run one hand over her stomach and another on her forehead.
"She's burning up. We need to get her to a hospital—she could be having a miscarriage.” Darren pushed up her skirt to look between her thighs.
"At least you're not bleeding, honey."
"I promised to guard her."
"Well, you can guard her at a hospital. Do that flashy thing you do and get her to a hospital, right now."
Nessa panted. The pain was so intense, she couldn't seem to focus on anything.
"Neman's not going to like this."
"He's going to like it even less if she dies.” Darren's tone was deadly serious.
Slazzamar grumbled something she didn't quite catch. Watching through half-closed eyes as Slazzamar picked her up in his arms then put a hand on Darren's shoulder, she could feel the power, even through the pain racking her body. The confines of the Zigg disappeared.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 13
They materialized down a side alley around the corner from the only hospital Slazzamar knew—he'd once visited it, while tracking a fey princess for her suspicious husband.
"I'm going to get spotted out here.” Slazzamar didn't like being out in broad daylight with his elf features and white hair.
"You need a hat and dark glasses,” Darren said. “It's a modern world, Slazz baby, no one is going to care what you look like. They'll probably think you're some eccentric punk."
Slazzamar glanced around at the people passing them in the streets. Spotting a man wearing dark glasses across the road, he teleported the glasses off the man's face and onto his own. He did the same with a boy's baseball cap.
"I'll ask you how you did that later,” Darren said, following closely as he carried Nessa around to the entrance of the hospital. Barely conscious now, she moaned in pain, her skin glistening with sweat.
"Good lord, we're in London!” Darren exclaimed, looking about as they walked into the building. “I'm not sure I'll get used to the flashy thing you do."
"You said hospital. This is the only one I know.” Slazzamar hung back while Darren raced up to a counter with a tall blonde woman sitting behind it. She pointed in a direction.
Darren returned, urging Slazzamar to follow with Nessa. “This way, quickly."
Nessa clutched at Slazzamar's shirt. Her eyes were closed and her head lay against his chest, her face distorted in pain. He hurried after Darren, making twists and turns in the corridors. They came into a large, open room with people walking about.
Darren grabbed a man with a white coat and a stethoscope hanging around his neck. “I've got a pregnant woman with severe abdominal pains. There's no sign of bleeding, her temp has spiked in the last few minutes, and her body is convulsing, possible internal hemorrhaging."
Slazzamar knew Darren nursed humans, but seeing him talk to a doctor in his professional language was rather impressive. Everything about his human he adored.
"Are you a doctor?” the dark-skinned man asked Darren, but he was looking past him to where Slazzamar held Nessa.
"ER nurse at Mercy Hospital in Sydney; please help my friend."
Darren waved at him, and Slazzamar brought Nessa forward.
The doctor glanced at her ashen face. “This way.” He led the way to a small cubicle with a white bed. Human medical instruments littered the wall behind it. “How far along is she? Are you the father?"
Darren hesitated answering; Slazzamar assumed it was less than a week since Neman had impregnated the Chosen One, so the humans wouldn't understand the rapid onset of a Nephilim child. The doctor picked up a stethoscope and placed them in his ear. He listened to her heart and lungs.
"I'm not the father; we're friends,” Darren said. “As for how far along..."
"She's about three months,” Slazza
mar answered, calculating the time and understanding a human woman was normally pregnant for nine months. Darren looked at him, somewhat puzzled. Slazzamar knew there would be questions later.
"We're going to need to get her down to Radiology for a scan right way.” The doctor hurried off.
"I must contact Neman,” Slazzamar said in a low voice to Darren.
Nessa moaned in pain, doubling over on the small white bed.
"Go do what you must. I'll stay with Nessa."
Slazzamar hesitated, he didn't want to lose sight of his charge or Darren. “I shall stay.” A host of men and women came charging in, snapping orders and pushing Slazzamar out of the cubicle. Darren was in his element with the group. They pushed sharp needles into Nessa's arms, and Slazzamar smelled the sharp odor of blood as it was drawn from her body. They placed a mask over her mouth and nose before they wheeled her out and down the corridor.
"The doc is going to do an ultrasound on Nessa's abdomen to see what's going on inside,” Darren explained, Slazzamar following close behind.
Slazzamar felt helpless to do anything but follow and stand guard over Nessa and Darren. He would rather bear Neman's anger than have him kill him outright, if anything were to happen to her.
The shield and sword were safely hidden within the lower bowels of his Ziggurat, so Neman flashed up to the library. Only the hum of the electricity, which turned his Ziggurat into a modern living space could be heard. Instantly, he knew Vanessa was not in the safety of his home. Neman's blood boiled with rage. He was going to gut Slazzamar from throat to navel. Walking into the library, he saw a broken glass on the floor. Something happened. Footsteps sounded, and Neman swiveled, seeing Mark walking in carrying a large box.
"Hey, boss, I have that Thomas guy. The man is nuts. He's in the courtyard going crazy over the artwork on the walls. We've got a ton of... Uh, what's up?” Mark set down the box, noticing Neman's current state of rage.
"Where is Vanessa?” His voice held a deadly calm.
Mark backed up three feet.
"I've no idea. I've only now arrived back, and there's a shitload of stuff to bring in."
"I am going to kill Slazzamar,” he growled.
"I always told you that you can't trust a demon, even a half-demon."
"Call our contacts. I want every eye open for her. How did she get away from me, twice! I swear I'm going to chain her up in the dungeon!” Neman thundered.
"We don't have one,” Mark pointed out unhelpfully, pulling out his phone. “We'll find her."
Darren sat by Nessa's bed, holding her hand. The doctor left after telling Darren some rather puzzling news about the Chosen One.
Slazzamar watched Darren tenderly care for her, sparking a hint of jealousy inside him. It was another feeling he was unfamiliar with. “She'll be all right now?"
Darren nodded.
"You love her,” Slazzamar said quietly while Nessa appeared to be sleeping peacefully.
"Of course I love her, she's my best friend. We're like family, but I don't love her in the same way I love you, Slazz baby.” Darren's hazel eyes regarded him. “Have you never had a friend you can rely on?"
Slazzamar shook his head. “This is all still very new to me, these feelings and being the good guy.” Slazzamar stood up from the chair in the corner of the room. He moved around the bed. Feeling the need to touch Darren, he ran his hand though his hair. Darren closed his eyes, as if savoring his touch. “You're a beautiful boy, Darren. Maybe you deserve someone better than me."
Darren's eyes opened and he quickly pushed to his feet, grabbing onto Slazzamar's shoulders, and staring into his eyes. “Don't you even dare think that! You're stuck with me, elf, whether you like it or not.” Darren pulled him down to gently brush his lips across his. “Looks like I have my work cut out for me with you."
Slazzamar pulled him closer to kiss him deeper.
"Typical. When I said get a room, I didn't mean mine,” a soft-voiced Nessa said.
Darren pulled away from Slazzamar, turning to smile down at her. “Hi, honey, how are you feeling?” He leaned over her, smoothing the hair from her face.
"I need to tell Neman. I'll be as quick as possible. Do not leave or let anyone in the room, apart from those doctors."
"I won't,” Darren promised, turning back to Nessa. “Honey, do I have some news for you."
"Everyone kissed and made up, and there are no more evil fiends after me?"
Slazzamar charged his power, focusing on where he wanted to materialize. There was a quick black flash before he reappeared in Neman's Zigg library. But before he could draw a breath, he was pinned against a wall with a blade at his throat, Neman's livid face hovering over him.
"You have two seconds to tell me where she is, demon spawn!” he growled viciously.
"Central London Hospital—she became ill."
Neman pulled his blade back.
"I couldn't come until now. I stayed to guard her."
"Haven't you ever heard of cell phones, Slazzamar?” Mark said from behind him.
"Take me to her."
Slazzamar gripped Neman's arms, taking him back to the hospital room.
Vanessa's pale blue eyes stood out and she smiled weakly. Her face looked almost as white as the thin sheet covering the lower half of her body. A opaque tube had been inserted in the back of her hand. Even when ill, she was still beautiful to him.
Slazzamar quickly explained Nessa's sudden stomach pains and Darren insisting on bringing her to a hospital.
Guilt consumed Neman for not being there to take care of her. He was grateful Darren and Slazzamar had been there.
Darren moved away from Nessa's side to let him in. “Hey, here's the big guy."
Neman leaned over, kissed her forehead and gently brushed her hair back. “Getting into trouble again, sweetness?” he teased gently, trying not to let his worry show in front of her.
"You know me—can't keep away from it."
Even her voice was weak.
"Are you all right? What did the doctors find?” Neman glanced up at Darren, concern for Vanessa overwhelming him.
"It seems your little rug rats are growing more rapidly than expected. Nessa's body is struggling to keep up,” Darren explained.
"Rats?” Did he hear a plural in the sentence?
"Does this prophecy say anything about twins, Neman?” she asked.
"Twins?” Surprised by this sudden news, he blurted out, “Are you certain?"
"I was there during the ultrasound—definitely two heartbeats and two of everything else. Got twins in your family, Neman?” Darren asked.
"I am the older twin of my brother,” he confessed.
"Looks like you're keeping the tradition going then."
Two children. Maybe only one would be the prince. He focused back on Vanessa. “Was this the cause of her pain? Is she in any danger? What of the children?"
Darren shook his head. “The doctors are scratching their heads, but from what they can determine, the children are growing at an extreme rate, and Nessa's body is struggling to keep up. The twins are taking everything she has from her, draining her strength and energy. They gave her a shot of adrenaline which has calmed the process by speeding up her metabolism to allow her body to keep up. The fetuses are healthy and strong. She needs to take it easy and I mean easy, not to lift even a finger,” Darren said, with all seriousness. “You're going to need high-energy foods to keep up with the demands of your babies, honey.” Darren looked at her.
Neman took his words to heart. Once again he failed to properly care for her.
"Oh rubbish, I'm going to be just fine.” She struggled to sit up, and Neman pushed her gently back.
"Uh-huh, honey. Those babies are taking all you got—you need to focus on regaining your strength,” said Darren.
"I'll see to it,” Neman vowed.
Slazzamar stood up straight, his ears twitching. “Do you feel that?"
Neman was too absorbed with his concern over Vanessa
to notice his surroundings, but then he felt the energy in the air which meant only one thing.
"You've been here too long—they have found us,” Neman said. “We need to get her out of here, now. Can we move her?” he asked Darren.
"She's weak, but stable."
"Sorry, sweetness, but it will have to do."
"They'll trace us if we teleport back to the Zigg,” Slazzamar pointed out.
"I have a place here, outside London. We'll go there, then get far enough away to teleport in safety."
Darren was already unhooking Nessa from the machines.
Neman ripped off the bed sheet, gathered her up in his arms and held her close against his chest. Nessa glanced down at the sheet.
"Another bed sheet. Should I even bother with clothes anymore?” Nessa said, her ever-present humor showing through her unease.
"Sweetness, if we get out of this alive, I'm going to drape you in the finest silks on earth."
"I'd be happy with a pair of jeans and T-shirt at this moment.” She anchored her arm around his neck.
"Follow through my port,” he told Slazzamar, who was taking hold of Darren. A moment later they materialized in his mansion estate west of London at the base of a staircase.
"Goh blimey, you scared me, Neman!” Jonas, the middle-aged man who operated his London division exclaimed. He had a black metallic gun in the palm of his hand.
"Jonas, get everyone out now—we have incoming,” Neman snapped, before Jonas could start a round of questions, though he did look curiously at Nessa in his arms. Slazzamar appeared with Darren a moment later.
Jonas’ eyes widened and he turned, ran up the stairs and disappeared down the hall, yelling, “Code Red! Code Red!"
"This way.” Neman carried Nessa through the hall and under the stairs, heading to the back of the house where he kept a collection of cars.
"We have about three minutes, I'd say,” Slazzamar said.
"Three minutes for what?” Darren asked.
Neman studied the selection of keys hanging from a board on the wall as he came into the large garage. “Before those demons can track us to this location."
"They can do that?"
Moonlight Captivation [Moon Shadows Book 1] Page 11