Fire

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

I took a deep breath.

"Pregnant. Are you sure?" I asked quietly.

"Yes. 3 tests, 3 hours, all positive." She said, equally quietly.

I took another deep breath.

"I'm coming home. I need to know first hand." I said and cut the call, knowing she'd protest.

I jumped into the truck and drove home as fast as I could. It was 3, Charlie would come home by 5. I couldn't just leave him a note, I had to explain this in person, how long I would be gone and whatnot. 2 hours to kill.

I packed my clothes, realized I didn't need to and unpacked them. This took only half an hour. I cleaned all my weapons and sharpened them, which didn't need any time as I had cleaned and sharpened them before I came here and didn't use them. I tried to watch tv but my mind was too scattered.

I finally decided to meditate. I told myself, if he didn't show in half an hour, I'd leave a message and go. I told myself that for an hour, by which time I heard Charlie's car.

I jumped up and rushed to the door, waiting for him to open it so I wouldn't shock him.

He opened the door and jumped at seeing me there. I ignored it.

"Charlie. I need to leave for a couple days, a week maybe. I'm going back to New York, an emergency came up. I'll be back. I'm leaving my stuff here. If anyone asks, tell them I missed Renee and went back for a couple days. Ok? Ok. Good." I rushed through my words.

He stared at me for a second, taking it in. I waited impatiently. He finally nodded.

"Ok. Be careful." He said softly.

"Yes Charlie. Call me if you need me." I said, looking at him for a second longer.

I slashed the rune that held me in Bella's form and rose into my height. Charlie paled. I drew a portalling rune and imagined the living room at the institute. I jumped through.

And appeared right in front of Daddy who was watching tv.

"Where's Mom?" I asked sharply.

"In the kitchen." He didn't even budge. I nodded and swept away.

Mom was baking something.

"Mom." I stood behind her.

She gasped and dropped the spatula.

"Jesus Bella, you scared me. You COULD make a sound you know." She shook her head.

"Mom. You said you are pregnant."

She hesitated. "Yes."

I held out my hand. She looked at it, then at my face, then grabbed. I concentrated, and closed my eyes, forcing my hearing to better.

I heard the water rushing through the pipes in the sink, the oven heating up, the dough rising, Daddy coming in the kitchen, Mom's heartbeat. Everyone's breathing suddenly became uncomfortably loud, like someone went from volume 20 to 100 in one go. I could hear Mom's bodily sounds, and something that sounded like another presence in her, but it could also be other things. It wasn't enough.

I huffed, releasing her hand. I put my hands on her waist so my thumbs overlapped and concentrated again.

I pushed against the walls on my mind, feeling for large collections of angelic blood. Then I felt it, a small collection, steadily becoming larger. Another presence. The baby was pulling all the power to it, something I yet hadn't figured out why. I released Mom's waist.