Poltergeists & Change of Life (Mystical Midlife in Maine #15)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

" T hree!" I shouted as all hell broke loose. I thrust my hands forward and channeled my pregnancy-enhanced magic into a blazing fireball. It streaked towards the nearest cluster of Tainted witches. The shower of sparks as it exploded was stunning. Literally. It sent them flying like bowling pins. "Strike!" I crowed as I conjured a protective barrier around our group.

To my left, Stella was a whirlwind of motion. She flung spell after spell, each one was more creative than the last. "Hey, Tainted creeps!" she yelled, hurling what looked suspiciously like a glowing rubber chicken. "Catch this!" The chicken exploded mid-air, showering the witches with a sticky, neon-green goo that seemed to nullify their magic on contact.

Nana, bless her crafty soul, was pulling vials from who-knows-where in her cardigan. "Eat this," she cackled as she lobbed a potion that erupted into a cloud of shimmering purple smoke. The smoke coalesced around a group of witches and hardened into crystal-like structures that trapped them mid-stride.

Persephone was a vision of divine fury. Her eyes glowed with celestial fire as she raised her hands. Suddenly, the ground beneath the Tainted witches' feet erupted into a tangle of vines and roots. "You dare challenge the Queen of the Underworld?" she thundered, her voice echoing with mystical power. The plants writhed and constricted, binding our foes tight.

And Aidon? My grumpy god of a mate was in his element. His sword flashed like lightning, cleaving through dark magic as if it were tissue paper. He moved with inhuman grace. For one second, I marveled at the whirlwind of destruction he became. He left a wake of disarmed and very confused Tainted witches in his path. "Is this the best Lyra could do?" he growled and deflected a curse with a casual flick of his blade.

Feeling something come at me, I spun on my heel. My pregnant belly made the move slightly less graceful than I'd hoped, but didn’t stop me from flinging out my hand. A wave of force rippled through the air and sent a line of advancing witches tumbling head over heels. "Sorry, not sorry," I called out. "I'd say it's not personal. Let's face it. At this point it kind of is!"

A Tainted witch who crackled with dark energy managed to break through our defenses and lunged at me. Without missing a beat, I ducked (thank you, constant evil fighting). I swept my leg out and channeled a burst of magic through my foot as it connected with her ankle. She went down hard. My eyes flew open when I noticed she was encased in a cocoon of glowing energy.

"Nice moves, preggo!" Stella shouted as she tossed me a vial of something that smelled suspiciously like week-old gym socks and rotten eggs. "Use this! It'll make them think twice about messing with a hormonal witch!"

Leaving thoughts of my babies’ growing powers, I caught the vial and immediately lobbed it at the largest cluster of witches. It shattered at their feet, releasing a cloud of the most noxious gas I'd ever had the misfortune of smelling. The Tainted witches dropped like flies. They were gagging and clutching their throats. "Oh god," I choked out, waving a hand in front of my face. "I think that violates the Geneva Convention!"

Nana cackled from somewhere to my right. "That's my secret recipe! Works every time!"

The battle raged on, a chaotic symphony of spells, curses, and the occasional snappy one-liner. We were outnumbered, sure. What we lacked in numbers, we made up for in sheer, stubborn determination. And, let's face it, a hefty dose of divine backup.

As I faced down yet another wave of Tainted witches, I grinned. This wasn't how I'd planned to spend my day, but damn if it wasn't exhilarating. I ducked under a crackling bolt of dark energy and retaliated with a rapid-fire series of magical projectiles that looked suspiciously like glowing rubber ducks. They homed in on their targets with unerring accuracy and exploded in bursts of blinding light. They left the Tainted witches stumbling and disoriented.

"Duck and cover!" I yelled, unable to resist the pun.

Stella groaned even as she pirouetted away from a grasping tendril of shadow. Her spell turned the ground beneath the witch's feet into what appeared to be lime Jell-O. Nearby, Aidon was a whirlwind of celestial fury. His sword left trails of light as it cleaved through dark magic. A Tainted witch made the mistake of lunging at him, only to find herself on the receiving end of a godly roundhouse kick that sent her flying into three of her comrades.

Not to be outdone, Persephone raised her arms to the swirling, otherworldly sky. The fabric of Lyra's pocket dimension seemed to ripple in response. Fissures opened in the ground, disgorging spirits that swarmed around the Tainted witches. Their ethereal forms sapped away dark magic like supernatural leaches.

"That's cheating!" one of the witches had the audacity to complain.

"Honey," Persephone replied in a voice dripping with disdain, "I'm the Queen of the Underworld. I don't cheat. I rewrite the rules."

Meanwhile, Nana proved that treachery will always overcome youth and skill. She hobbled between groups of witches, looking for all the world like a confused old lady who'd wandered into the wrong dimension. But every 'accidental' bump and stumble left another witch incapacitated, either from a surreptitiously placed hex bag or a surprisingly strong whack from her cane.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry," she cackled after she clothes-lined a particularly nasty-looking witch with her cane. "These old eyes aren't what they used to be. Here, let me help you up." The witch made the mistake of accepting the offered hand, only to find herself suddenly transformed into a rather confused-looking flamingo.

I was running on pure adrenaline and pregnancy-enhanced magic. My spells were wilder and more unpredictable than ever before. One moment, I was conjuring shields of pure force. The next, I was turning Tainted magic back on its casters with a flick of my wrist.

"Is it too late to file a complaint with Lyra's customer service?" I shouted as I dodged another blast of dark energy. "The hospitality here leaves a lot to be desired."

Just as it seemed we might be gaining the upper hand, a bone-chilling screech filled the air. The remaining Tainted witches fell back and formed a circle around us. A figure emerged from the swirling miasma at the edge of the battlefield. It was tall and gaunt with eyes that burned with brown fire. Lyra herself had decided to join the party.

"Well, hello." Her voice slithered through the air like oil on water. "The Dieudonne family, in my humble abode. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

I stepped forward, ignoring Aidon's protective arm. "Cut the crap, Lyra. We know what you're planning with Hattie and that amulet. It's never going to work."

Lyra's laughter was like broken glass in my ears. "Oh, you foolish girl. It's already done. Hattie's essence is bound, and her power is mine to command. She will take what belongs to her, and I will have your power, too. You've played right into my hands."

She gestured with one hand, and the air around us began to crystallize. It was going to form a cage around us. My magic was being suppressed, and my heart began to race. She could not win. Yet, I was powerless to do anything about it. Everything I tried bounced back at me.

"Now," Lyra purred, "shall we negotiate the terms of your surrender?"

I locked eyes with Aidon and saw the fury and fear warring in his gaze. I had to move my gaze to Stella, Nana, and Persephone. Each of them nodded. It was almost imperceptible.

I turned back to Lyra, a smirk playing on my lips. "How about we negotiate the terms of your go-fuck-yourself instead?"

With that, we unleashed every ounce of power we had left. The combined force of our magic with Aidon and Persephone's divine energy-including whatever the hell Nana had up her sleeve-shattered Lyra's cage like glass. The backlash sent everyone flying. Aidon caught me, steadying Stella, and raced toward the exit. "The portal! Now!" His voice cut through the mayhem.

Persephone held Nana, and we ran. Lyra's furious shout followed us as we dodged debris and stray spells. We practically dove through the shimmering tear in reality that led back to our basement. I heard Lyra's enraged scream just as the portal snapped shut behind us. Persephone did something, and the crack vanished. “She won’t be coming through there.”

Nana nodded once and headed for the stairs. "I was going to do that," she said, brushing off her cardigan as if we'd just returned from a slightly rowdy bingo night, "That was invigorating. Who's up for dinner?"

I let out a laugh that was half hysteria, half relief. "Dinner sounds great, Nana. But first, I think I need to sit down before I fall down."

Aidon carried me in his strong arms. "You've overdone it," he murmured. I looked up to the concern etched on his face. "You and the babies need rest and nourishment."

I wanted to argue and insist I was okay. The room chose that moment to start spinning rather alarmingly. "Alright," I conceded, "maybe a little rest wouldn't hurt."

The next few hours passed in a blur. I vaguely remember him carrying me upstairs. Mom helped clean me up while Aidon insisted that I settle onto the couch. The others bustled around, preparing food. By the time I felt somewhat human again, the house was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of chilaquiles and the chatter of familiar voices.

Our dining room had never been so crowded. Aidon, Mom, Nina, Mythia, Layla, Selene, Murtagh, and Tsekani had all returned. Likely drawn by the news of our impromptu dimensional field trip. The table groaned under the weight of enough food to feed a small army. Or one very hungry pregnant witch and her equally famished family.

The story of our adventure unfolded as we ate. Persephone watched us silently with an indecipherable look on her face. I couldn’t tell if she was bemused or horrified. And I didn’t care. I loved my family exactly like they were.

Stella regaled everyone with tales of our magical prowess with her usual flair for the dramatic. Nana added colorful commentary, most of which I was pretty sure she was embellishing. "And then I said to the witch, 'My dear, your dark magic is showing. You might want to touch that up.'"

Mom alternated between looking proud and terrified while Nina peppered us with questions about Lyra's realm. Mythia and Layla were already discussing magical countermeasures. Selene listened intently, occasionally offering insights from her vast knowledge of magical lore.

Murtagh and Tsekani, for their part, seemed to be having a silent competition to see who could pile more food onto my plate without me noticing. Tseki added to Nana’s plate as well. He’d taken a shine to her. I thought she reminded him of Hattie who was the closest thing he’d ever had to a mother. The gesture touched me, even if my stomach threatened to secede from the union.

As the meal wound down and the conversation turned to strategy and next steps, I found myself fighting to keep my eyes open. Aidon noticed immediately and announced, "I think it's time we called it a night." Without waiting for comment, he rose and gently helped me to my feet. "Phoebe and the little ones need rest."

There was a chorus of goodnights and well-wishes as Aidon guided me towards the stairs. I managed a tired wave before letting him lead me up to our bedroom. As I sank gratefully onto our bed, Aidon's strong hands already working to massage the tension from my shoulders. Today had been insane, even by our standards. We'd faced down Tainted witches, escaped a pocket dimension, and come home to a family dinner that put the "fun" in "dysfunctional."

After the chaos of the day, the quiet of our bedroom felt like a sanctuary. Aidon's arms around me were an anchor, grounding me in the here and now. It was nice to be away from the lingering shadows of our underground adventure. "You're thinking too loud," Aidon murmured, his breath warm against my neck. "Want to share with the class?"

I turned in his embrace. My very pregnant belly made the maneuver less graceful than I'd like. “Just contemplating how I went from supernatural troubleshooter to human incubator for a soccer team.”

Aidon's laugh rumbled through his chest. “A soccer team, huh? And here I thought we were going for a basketball trio.”

His hand found my stomach, and as if on cue, one of the triplets kicked. “See? Melaina is already practicing her jump shot. Or maybe that’s Thaniel."

I couldn't help but smile, placing my hand over his. "Your kids are overachievers. Clearly, they get that from you."

"Oh no," Aidon grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief and love. "The stubborn determination to do the impossible? That's all you, babe."

His lips found mine, and for a moment, the world fell away. There was no looming supernatural threat, no pregnancy discomfort, just us. Aidoneus pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth. His lips were warm and reassuring, but there was an intensity behind it that sent a shiver down my spine. His touch became deliberate, slow, and almost reverent as his hands slid over my arms then up to my neck. Every kiss seemed to whisper promises of comfort and desire. Everything we were building together despite the chaos surrounding us.

His hand brushed over my belly, resting there as though grounding both of us in this moment. I relished this quiet, stolen moment away from the madness. The heat of his touch sank into me. Like usual, it stirred emotions I’d thought were buried beneath the weight of my heavily pregnant body.

I breathed out a soft sigh, feeling the familiar warmth pool in my belly. It mixed with the ever-present fluttering of our unborn children. Despite everything—the scars that crisscrossed my body, the extra weight I carried, and the exhaustion that seemed to press down on me like a constant reminder of how fragile I was—his touch made me feel whole. He made me feel like I was still myself. He still desired me, even though I wasn’t the woman I was when we met.

“That’s funny,” I murmured, my breath catching as he kissed the line of my jaw, slow and deliberate. “I was just thinking the same thing.” Yeah, I was stubborn and willful. It was hard to track our conversation when he was doing that so I gave up.

His lips curved into a smile against my skin, and his hands began to trace the lines of my body. His fingers slid over the soft fabric of my shirt. He made it seem so effortless and natural, that I forgot for a moment about the stretch marks and the swelling and the way my body felt foreign to me. His hands found the buttons of my top and began working their way down, each one coming undone with that same languid, patient care.

But as his hands neared the scar on my chest, my pulse quickened. It wasn’t my old injury that had me pausing—it was everything that it represented. Everything I’d survived. I found myself hesitating, suddenly self-conscious about my body in a way that had nothing to do with magic or strength and everything to do with the physical marks left behind.

Aidon noticed the shift. He stopped with a small frown of concern before lifting his head to meet my gaze. He didn’t say anything, didn’t push for words I couldn’t find. He just looked at me. His deep sapphire eyes filled with a tenderness that made my breath catch. It was like he was reminding me, with every glance, that he saw all of me—scars, curves, and everything in between—and still wanted me. No. He didn’t just want me. He cherished me.

"You’re perfect," he murmured, his voice soft but carrying the weight of certainty. "Every part of you."

A lump formed in my throat, and I blinked back the unexpected sting of tears. He wasn’t just saying it to comfort me. He meant it. His hands were warm and gentle as they moved again. He undid the last button and slipped my shirt open. His lips followed the path of his fingers and brushed over my skin, paying special attention to the scar that ran down the center of my chest. A reminder of the battle I had survived. A reminder of my strength. His lips pressed softly against it, lingering and honoring everything I had been through.

I felt myself relaxing. The tension I hadn’t realized I was carrying melted away as his lips moved lower. His hand slid beneath my bra strap. I reached up to pull it down, exposing more of my skin to his kisses. But he didn’t rush. He didn’t tear at my clothes or devour me with urgency. No, Aidoneus was a god who knew how to savor the moment.

“I mean it,” he whispered as his fingers traced the edge of my bra, his lips brushing over the swell of my breast. "You're incredible."

The emotion behind his words hit me hard. My breath caught again as my body responded to his touch. My heart pounded, and the heat between us built with every kiss and caress. My hand trembled as I tugged one bra strap off my shoulder, giving him full access.

But instead of rushing, Aidoneus lowered his mouth to my breast, gently kissing and teasing my flesh. His hands worked the fabric away with a patience that both soothed and set my body on fire. It wasn’t just the physical need, though that was certainly there. It was the way he moved. The way he seemed to appreciate every inch of me like I was the most precious thing in the world. That feeling would never get old. I’d gone my whole life without knowing what that was like. I would never give it up or let anyone take it from me.

For the first time in a long while, I let go of everything. Instead, I focused on the way his touch ignited a fire in me. Before I could overthink it, I tugged my top the rest of the way off and tossed it aside. His eyes never left mine as he helped me out of the rest of my clothes, his touch was steady and sure. There was no hesitation in him, no uncertainty.

And when he knelt there, bare and beautiful before me, that familiar fire burned low in my belly. The connection between us only fanned the flames of my desire. His body, scarred and perfect, pressed to mine in a way that made every nerve in my body come alive. His erection slid through the wet heat between my legs, teasing me and sending sparks of electricity racing through my limbs.

“Come here,” I breathed, my voice trembling with need.

He didn’t hesitate. Aidon moved with fluid grace. His lips captured mine as he lowered himself to me. Every movement was designed to prolong the anticipation and keep me on that edge of pleasure until I thought I might come undone.

His mouth was on mine, and I lost myself in him. There was nothing but the feel of his body against mine. The way he moved was slow and deliberate. It built us both up to the brink. My hands tangled in his hair as I arched against him. My body was desperate for more, for the release that was already building.

When he finally slid into me, it was like coming home. The connection between us was so powerful, so deep, that it was almost overwhelming. His hands gripped my hips as he moved, slow and steady. His mouth left a trail of kisses along my neck and chest. My body responded to him like we’d been doing it for a thousand years. My hips moved with his, matching his rhythm. Every nerve was alive with the sensation of being filled, of being wanted, of being loved in a way that went beyond just the physical. This was about us—about everything we had built, everything we had survived, everything we were still fighting for.

As he moved inside me, his breath was hot against my skin. It took that slow burn of pleasure higher and higher until it threatened to consume me. Aidon was right there with me. His body was taut with restraint as he held himself back, letting the pleasure build between us until neither of us could take it anymore.

When the release finally came, it was like a tidal wave crashing over me. I cried out his name. My body shuddered as the orgasm tore through me. He followed a second later, his body trembling against mine as he found his own release. For a long moment, we stayed like that, tangled together. Aidon pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead and his hands brushed through my hair.

When we parted a few minutes later, I saw my own mix of fear and hope reflected in Aidon's eyes. Reality had a way of crashing back in like an unwanted guest at the worst times. "We're really doing this, huh?" I whispered. "Saving the world and raising three kids at the same time?"

Aidon's forehead rested against mine. "If anyone can do it, it's us. Besides, think of all the babysitters we know. I bet even Melino? would make a great aunt. And my parents will be happy to help any time."

The image of the divine Persephone changing diapers startled a laugh out of me. "I'd pay to see your mom changing diapers."

He made a face and said, “She’s got magic. They won’t go dirty.” That made me laugh.

As we lay there, tangled in each other's arms, I felt a peace I hadn't experienced in weeks. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, in this moment, we were just Phoebe and Aidon, soon-to-be parents, facing the future together.

"I love you," I murmured, sleep starting to claim me. "Even if your kids are using my bladder as a trampoline."

Aidon's chuckle was the last thing I heard as I drifted off. "I love you too. All four of you."