+Senka.+

I was grinning ear to ear as I watched Daciana reform Hadrian mind. The witch had been paid already, so I know she’ll do a good job mixing his memories around. She had both hand on each side of his hand, speaking her native indigenous language. Hadrian was sweating from his forehead and moaning in pain in his sleep.

I brought the glass of hot blood up to my mouth and took a sip. It was a long night, a night that went to plan as I hoped. The game wasn’t over, it was just beginning and getting so much more fun. Hadrian being here in my control means a strong body guard, but like I need one though. Once the child is born, I’m going to need someone here to blackmail the thing into doing as I say and I’ve been in the child head to know he loves his parents very much.

Hadrian will do everything I command now. For now on, he’ll only know that he was assigned to make Nevaeh fall in love with him, impregnate her, and bring her to me. He will now be forced to believe it was all fake and none of it was real, just a mission. Their relationship was never real. He’ll believe that he’s been in my court for the last couple of decades and I’ve trusted him with this assignment.

I heard a knock on my door so I straighten my back in the red leather chair, “Come in.” I said.

The door opened and Rien walked in. He looked like how he did for the last thousand year. Pushed back dark hair, russet color skin, and always dressed like his brother. Proper. He looked at the sofa bench where Hadrian was laying before he looked at me, “And Leilah?” he said, his voice still heavy and deep as ever from his ancient Bulgarian vessel tongue.

“Trying to get rid of a headache.” I said. “It was hard to find you, Rien. I didn’t expect to find you in South Africa as a fishermen.”

He walked over to the chair in front of my desk and crossed his legs, leaning down against the arm, “That is the point of staying hidden, old friend. Be something people less expect you to be.”

I chuckled, “It is.”

“So why was I called here?” he asked. He turned his head to look at his little brother, “It can’t be for a family reunion, I have not seen him since he came into this world.”

“I thought it would be nice to have the three of you together. A new family member will be joining the family.” he said and he gave me a confused look. “His little Nephilim girlfriend,”

He chuckled, “Nephilim?”

“Yes, Nephilim.” I said. “Our Hadrian been busy, Leilah will explain later but the Nephilim is pregnant and you’re to be an uncle finally.”

“An uncle?” he asked, amused. “What is that thing?”

I sat back against the seat, “A unique special child, one that is soon going to be mine. I’m going to be the most powerful Demon on Earth, Rien. I want you three in my court.”

“I noticed some of your court has been killed.” he said. “Been attacked?”

“Apart of the plan.” I said. “They know where I am and tonight was just a little easy example of what’s to come. More Hunters will come and I will kill them. I want to get rid of them—all of them.”

“You can’t completely get rid of them.” he said. “More will train.”

“And I will kill them to, but I will be taking out a large group of Hunter.” I said. “I’m offering glory, fame, and riches Rien. I will make you a Lord in my new kingdom once I also get rid of the other kings.”

“You want me to go against Berko?” he questioned.

I nodded, “I’ve had Nephilim blood and that can last me awhile. Berko is no match against me now, you know this. You seen me, what I can do once I get some Nephilim blood. I’ll be like that again. Only difference from them is this time, none of the others will get their hands on those Nephilims this time. What do you say?”

“I say,” he said as he sat up in his chair, “I’m in.”

+Nevaeh.+

“She hasn’t left her room in two weeks.” I heard my mom arguing downstairs with Uncle Carter. “And she isn’t eating very well. She wouldn’t even leave the house to go to Gavin funeral.”

“I know but what can I do?” Uncle Carter asked coldly. “I’ve been trying to help with Courtney, I can’t take care of them both Sierra. Courtney first full moon tonight, it’s going to be hard to have her chained but Leo promised these chains will help. She hasn’t eaten in two days, it’s should make her weaker to not attack.”

“God, my poor babies.” my mom sighed. “I can’t believe this is happening, they used to be such happy girls.”

“They aren’t children anymore, Sierra.” Uncle Carter said. “Nevaeh doesn’t do well with death, you remember she didn’t talk for a month when Eric passed. Now something might be happening to Hadrian and Gavin death is allot on her. Nevaeh just needs—time to be alone. She wants that, she should pressure her. It’s how she is cooping.”

I turned in my bed and brought my blanket up further up on me. I closed my eyes and placed my hand over my bump. I rubbed my belly and I felt flutters in my stomach. Mostly this was impossible but my baby was unique and he liked to move in my belly even at this far along. It’s like he knows when I’m sad and knows me feeling him in my belly made me feel at least a little happy.

My heart still felt empty though. When most expecting mothers would have the baby father here to cuddle with them and talk about their future, I was here wondering what I was going to do. Hadrian. . .Hadrian hasn’t made any sorta of contact with me. He hasn’t come to me in my dreams, I had no idea if he was okay or not.

Two weeks ago back in Nayarit I was forced to leave. I didn’t want to go, I was tied up and forced into the car. We found a bigger problem though, it was trying to get Courtney across the border. Dante made a smartass comment about her having to sneak over like the others. She kind of had to, we had to put her in the trunk as we crossed.

Then Aracelia had to have Gavin be brought back to America for his wife to plan his funeral. I was thinking of going, but it was so painful. I didn’t want to see him looking like a dead man. I remember my father clearly. I remember my heart racing as I looked at him in the coffin, I could hear it in my ears and I wanted to faint.

I twirled the rose gold engagement ring around my finger and sighed heavily.

A few hours passed before someone came to check up on me. Dante sat on Courtney bed and he looked at the photo of me and Courtney at the park when we were children and he chuckled, “You look adorable in pigtails.”

“I thought you would be going back by now.” I said. “Back to your uncle.”

He grinned, “I need to make sure you don’t kill yourself.” He stood up and walked over to me. He reached down and pulled the blankets off me quickly before I could stop him. I gave him a confused look, “Up.”

“Huh?” I questioned. “No, I’m not getting out of bed so forget it.” I said as I sat up and grabbed the blanket but when I went to lay back, he took the blankets from me. I groaned and reached for it, but he pulled it away, “Dante!”

“We’re going out.” he said and I gave him a confused look. “You need fresh air, to see what the sun looks like again. Tonight is your sister big night and she doesn’t need you to sulking around. No one going to be this hard on you but me so get it. It’s time.”

“Go screw yourself.” I said as I laid down and turned, my back facing him. I was grumbling how awful he was and that he wouldn’t understand. He grabbed my arm and lifted me out of bed, “No! No! No!” I fought as I thrashed around angrily.

“Hey!” he yelled and I stopped, glaring coldly at him. He gave me a hard look back, “It’s time to stop acting like the depressed teenager you are and figure out to move on. You’re scaring everyone, you need to be strong about this, not be a weak. I’m sure Hadrian wouldn’t want you like this, don’t you agree? He would want you to be strong about this.”

I hit his chest and he let go of me, “You don’t know anything about Hadrian.” I said coldly.

“You know I’m right though.” he said. “Look at yourself, Nevaeh. When’s the last time you brushed you teeth anyways?”

I breathed out, “Enjoy that, jerk. I’m not leaving and you can’t make me.”

“That’s not really a challenge for me.” he said.

+

“You really drove all the way out to the beach?” I coldly asked as we walked towards the water. I had my arms crossed my chest, “I’m not in the mood for swimming.”

“The beach is peaceful.” he said. “And no one barley around.”

I stared out into the water coldly and shook my head, “No, I shouldn’t have left the house. This was a bad idea.”

“Why’s that?” he asked.

“Because I rather be in bed then here.” I said. “This was stupid, Dante. I rather be in bed until Courtney turns at midnight. God, my life falling apart.” I said as I brought rubbed my arms since it was a little chilly. “I promised Courtney everything will be alright but she just gotten worse. She’s scared and I hate seeing her so scared.”

“Well you haven’t been very helpful.” he said and I scoffed, looking up at him. He shrugged, “What? It’s true. You’ve been moping around in your bed the last two weeks about Hadrian you weren’t there to comfort your sister who’s going threw something horrible.”

I scoffed, “Oh thanks for making me feel so much better.” I said sarcastically.

“Just do it, Nevaeh.” he said and I gave him a confused look. “Cry, yell, scream about how unfair this all is.”

“No.” I said as I looked back out into the water. “I’m sick of crying. I want to do something but you all wont let me do it. I couldn’t even sneak out the other night without Leo finding me.”

“It’s for the best.” he said and I snorted. “I know what it’s like to lose something important Nevaeh.

“I didn’t lose Hadrian, he’s still alive.” I said stubbornly but I wasn’t very sure about that though but I refuse to believe it.

“Alright.” he said. He then took my hand and I looked up at him confused as he took the glove off my hand. He took my hand, entwining our fingers, and when I tried to pull away he held tightly until I was forced inside his head.

I’ve only been in someone memory twice before and it still felt so weird. It was like being inside a dream as I looked around. I saw we were at gas station and I knew which one. It was one we stopped at in Mexico as Dante looked to his right, I saw Hadrian and myself. Hadrian was leaning against the car, his arms around my waist as he held me close to him.

Hadrain smiled down at me and kissed my forehead. I gave him a small smile and pressed my cheek against his chest because he had told me about how he’ll teach Azariah how to play the piano and he will be a genius.

I felt everything Dante was feeling though. It was pure hated for Hadrian and jealously. He was jealous because of Hadrian, how he was holding me and Dante had to even look away. He hit Uncle Carter dashboard of his car. He wanted so badly to break us up with some snarky comment to make up stop looking so lovely dovey.

He then thought about his talk with Uncle Carter and they talked about me. And how Danted loved me.

Loves me.

I snaked my hand away and looked up at him confused. “What did you see?” he asked. I stepped back from him, “It must have been important, so what was it?”

“Get away from me.” I said.

He looked confused, “Nevaeh,” he said as he reached out but I pulled away.

“I’m pregnant!” I yelled at him. “With Hadrian child, because I love him. Not you.”

He continued to look confused until he realized it. He nodded and ran his hand threw his hair, “I understand now.”

“It isn’t true, right?” I asked. “You don’t…don’t love me right.”

“Well ‘love’ isn’t in my vocab, I like to use ‘strongly feel for’.” he said and I scoffed, walking passed him. He grabbed my arm and turned me to face him, “Okay, I’m sorry. That was a jerk move, but Nevaeh, lets not make such a big fuss about this. Have I tried stealing you away from Hadrian? No, I haven’t. I wasn’t going to humiliate myself because I knew in the end it wasn’t me you were going to choose but now. . .”

“But now what?” I asked, my eyebrows furrowing together. I snatched my arm back, “I’m pregnant, that’s far line to walk threw Dante you can’t get threw.”

“Someone going to need to be there for him.” he said and I scoffed, wondering if he was joking. “Hadrian, he isn’t going to come back. You have to face it—“ I cut himself off when I smacked him across the face with my hand.

“Don’t say that.” I coldly said as he brought his hand up to his red cheek. He looked at me, “Don’t do anything stupid, Dante.”

“Want me to say it, huh?” he coldly asked, confusing me. “I love you, Nevaeh. I may be an asshole, but it’s a wall to protect me. It protected me when Hadrian was around but now that he isn’t, it feels safe to take it down.”

“To bad.” I said. “Once Hadrian gets back, I’m with him.”

I turned but the damn bastard grabbed me again stubbornly me by the waist and I hit his chest as he pulled me close to him. He pressed his mouth against mine and I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing my hands against his chest hard to break free. Tears stung my ears and slipped threw my closed eyes, so much emotions running threw me.

I finally was able to push him away and I kneeled down, falling back onto my back. Tears rushed down my face as I brought my knees up to my chest. I crossed my arms over them and pressed my eyes against my arm, crying. Everything was so unfair.

I felt Dante sit next to me and his arm brushed against mine as he put his arm around me. I lifted my head and I ran my arm across my runny nose, “I feel so abandon, I feel like I’ve been left behind with a child. I know he didn’t abandon me though, but it still feels that way. I just don’t understand why he hasn’t came in my dreams yet to at least let me know he’s okay.” Dante rubbed my arm and I shook my head, “God, I feel so useless. I don’t want to believe something could have happened to him. He’s the father of my child, I shouldn’t be worried about this.”

“Just gotta take one day at a time.” he said.

I wiped across my wet cheek, “This doesn’t mean I love you back or anything. I probably wont ever love you. I just need someone to talk to, to get this off my chest. I don’t know if I’ll be able to love anyone again.”

“Don’t say that.” he said.

“It’s true, Hadrian was important to me if that surprises you so much.” I said.

“Oh no, I meant about never loving me.” he said and I groaned, bring my head up to my forehead and smacked it.