Chapter 25 – Medusa
MEDUSA
Six months later…
“Seriously, guys. I can’t eat any more.” I look down at our little table. There’s a half-eaten chocolate cake, ribs, mashed potatoes, pickles, a cherry pie, and salmon.
My big belly is bursting, and still, they’re trying to feed me more.
“Just another bite,” Harold pleads, holding up a fork full of pie.
I sigh, and eat it, just to make him feel better.
His entire face lights up, and I almost laugh. It isn’t hard making them happy nowadays.
“I’m getting fat,” I tell them, swallowing the pie.
Byron scowls. “You are not getting fat. You’re getting healthy.”
“I was healthy twenty pounds ago,” I say, and mean it.
Ever since I left the prisons, and they moved me into their home, I’ve been doing better. Instead of eating that nauseating crap they fed me at every meal, my gargoyles literally race out to get whatever I crave.
At first I couldn’t walk, but they carried me around the forest. They helped me bathe months’ worth of grime off my body and hair. They took me to visit the fairies, and to play with the magic fish. They’ve catered to my every whim—without comment or complaint.
I got stronger. I could walk again. I could eat more and more.
Now, I know I’m out-of-the-woods, and yet they continue to baby me.
“Guys, I’m huge. I haven’t been able to see my feet in weeks.”
Byron huffs. “That’s because our baby is growing big and strong.” He kneels down beside me, and places his head on my belly. After a second, he looks up, his expression very sincere. “The baby wants more food.”
I laugh and punch him playfully. “You stop that right now! I’m twice the size of the other women when they were pregnant! The last thing I need to do is to keep eating. This baby is already massive!”
All my men are grinning. Harold goes right back to fussing with the baby crib he built, making sure it’s securely next to our bed for the millionth time.
“It’s perfect,” I tell him, laughing.
He blushes. “The baby should be here any day. I just want everything to be perfect for him or her.”
I look at their home. It looks like a baby store threw up in it. “I think we’re good.”
Forrest walks by me and places a kiss on my cheek. “Just let him fuss, or he’ll go back to driving us all crazy with those damn baby books.”
“What?” he frowns at us. “We need to know not just what to do during the birthing, but when the baby is actually here. I bought a new book about gentle parenting, and I really like the idea of teaching instead of punishing—“
Forrest groans.
But Harold just continues. “No time outs, just time ins. We would talk them through challenges, rather than disciplining them.”
“I can’t listen to this anymore!” Forrest shouts, throwing his hands up.
I start to laugh again, but it cuts off as a pain shoots through my belly.
“Are you all right?” Marcus asks, and then they’re all at my side.
Marcus adjusts Athena’s massive necklace around my throat, then places a hand on my belly, as if he can tell what’s going on inside of me.
“I’m okay,” I tell them. “You just stuffed me. I think a walk might help.”
They immediately gather around me to push my big pregnant body out of my chair.
It’s almost comical, but the truth is, I’m not feeling great.
Forrest carries me down from the treehouse, and we go to the village. The five of us walk together, slowly. I keep hoping the pain will fade, but it only seems to intensify.
Damn that last bite of pie. I knew that I shouldn't have eaten it.
The female gargoyles sit on blankets in a grassy area in town. Two of the babes crawl around, while their protective fathers stand guard.
They wave when they spot us. We make our way towards them.
“How are the babies?” I ask, trying not to wince.
Ashundra answers without hesitation. “Still not sleeping through the night. Probably because certain men rock him every time he makes the slightest noise.”
I force a smile. “Damn those jerks.”
She laughs.
“Well,” Elery says. “Little Shawn is now getting into everything, so they’ve locked down our house with every baby proofing thing imaginable. I can’t even use the toilet without going through a dozen locks.”
Autumn grins and looks at my men. “Little Mitchell is the same way. You just wait!”
“We can’t wait!” Harold exclaims, making everybody laugh.
I hiss as pain shoots down through my belly.
“More pain?” Byron asks. “We should see the healer.”
“I’m fine,” I reassure him. “Just too much pie… and cake.”
Ashundra rises and comes over to study me. “You don’t look so good. Go check with Galena, just in case.”
I start to protest.
“What if the baby’s in trouble?” Harold asks.
His question makes me stiffen. They don’t need to remind me how many things can still go wrong.
“Maybe we will go see her… just to be sure,” I say.
We make our way to Galena’s. Even though they all want to carry me, I refuse. I can still walk, despite what they think. A few male gargoyles nod at me as I pass, but their gazes linger a little too long. I swear to god, my men all tense, like they’re about ready for an actual beat down.
I laugh. “You guys realize I’m like twenty months pregnant, right?”
“Nine months,” Harold says, sounding angry.
“But if they think you’ll be up for grabs once the baby comes, they’re going to get to experience my foot in their asses,” Forrest says, his voice loud enough for them to hear.
Geez. Like I’m a catch. Even here.
But I kind of like seeing them jealous.
“I thought that’s how things work here,” I say, innocently.
Byron sweeps me into his arms, and his mouth crushes mine.
I sigh and soften beneath his kiss. My lady-bits heat up, and I wonder if we have time to stop at our place for a quickie before we see Galena.
He pulls back from our kiss, leaving me panting. “Sorry, but we’ve decided we’re not going to share. You got a problem with that?”
I tap my chin, as if thinking. “Maybe you guys can remind me of your skills later, and I’ll—shit,” I gasp as another pain hits me.
It lasts for too long before I can draw in a breath.
For the first time, I’m a little worried. What if something is wrong?
They race to Galena’s house and push open the door.
She looks at us and rolls her eyes. “Again? Boys, I’m sure she’s fine.”
“Actually, there might be something wrong this time,” I say, trying not to sound nervous.
Her annoyance vanishes. All the many times they’ve dragged me in here, I’ve never been worried.
“Lay her on the table.”
They do, and she shoos them out of the room while she checks me.
At last, she smoothes down my dress, and her gaze meets mine. “It looks like you’re going into labor.”
My breath hitches. “Now?”
She nods. “It could last awhile. But you’re far enough along that I’m not worried.”
When she calls my men back in, they hover around me, looking anxious and excited.
Fearful, I lay back and wrap my arms around my chest. “I’m not ready for this.”
Harold pushes my hair back from my face. “It’s going to be okay.”
I shake my head.
Byron squeezes my knee. “You can handle anything. And besides, we’re right here. You’ll be okay. Just trust us.”
I look at each of my men, scared out of my mind. I guess if this is going to happen, at least I have them.
But I don’t tell them the truth—I’ve never been more terrified of anything in my life.