With an evil aunt set on taking what is owed to her and a prophecy telling of the Original family's downfall, Ellie, Hayley, and the siblings must fight for their family and their lives. See how it all goes down in book five of 'The Original' series...
As soon as those two words left my mouth, Nik froze. Moving his hands away from my pants, he pushed himself up, hovering over me. "You're what?"
"I'm pregnant," I repeated quietly, my body filling with fear. He continued to stare at me, eyebrows furrowed. "Nik?"
"You're pregnant?" I nodded slowly. Before I knew what had happened, he leaned in, pressing his lips to mine. He pulled away shortly after, moving down my body to press his lips to my stomach.
"So, you're not mad?" I asked, both of us sitting up.
"No, of course not!" He declared, wrapping his hands around mine. "Ellie, this is something you've wanted for over a thousand years; ever since you were a human the first time. Now, you finally have it. And I get the pleasure of being the father of the child you carry inside you. The woman I love more than life itself is having my child; so, no, I'm not mad." Nik put a hand on the side of my face, wiping a tear away with his thumb.
"God, I love you so much."
*6 Months Later*
Shifting uncomfortably in bed, I let out a groan, hearing Hope start to cry. I rolled over, throwing the blankets off of me and slowly sitting up. Hope's crying had stopped but was now replaced with grunts. Going out to the landing, I could see Nik, Freya, and Jackson in the courtyard below. Freya had Hope in her arms, while Nik stood behind a chained-up Jackson. "What the hell is going on?" I asked, all three heads snapping up to me.
"We're attempting to locate Hayley," Freya replied and I moved toward the staircase.
"And Jackson decided to start shifting at an inopportune time, so he's being punished," Nik joked and I rolled my eyes, coming to a stop next to Freya.
"It wasn't my decision," Jackson retorted.
"Wait, so how are you human? I thought you change when Hayley changes?"
"I do."
"So, Hayley's human right now?"
"Or she's dead," Nik shrugged and I shot him a glare.
"Don't say that!" Jackson exclaimed, looking over his shoulder at Nik. "She's not dead."
"And if she is?"
"She's not."
"That's enough!" I cut in. "Until we have a body, Hayley is alive. Got it?" Nik hesitated slightly before agreeing. "Now, what do you think you're doing, waking Hope in the middle of the night? She is a baby, she needs her sleep."
"As do you, my love. You are, after all, only eight weeks away from your due date," Nik commented, moving over to me and placing a gentle hand on my protruding belly.
"And once I put Hope back to bed, I, too, will go back to sleep. It would be nice if you could join me. After standing here talking to you lot, my feet are going to need a massage." Taking Hope from Freya's arms, I went back upstairs.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"What are you two doing?" I heard Nik ask and I opened my eyes, looking up at him as I sat on the floor.
"Yoga. Freya says it'll help with the pain in my back and hips," I replied.
"I hadn't realized you were back from wherever it is you go to when you leave," Nik commented, now talking to Freya. She stood from the ground, reaching her hands out to help me up as we took up a new position. "Perhaps I was thrown off by the lack of strange gentlemen callers perusing the contents of the refrigerator this morning."
"It would be nice not to constantly run into half-naked frat boys," I commented.
"Your concern for my whereabouts is touching."
"I simply want to know who is here at any given moment. I hardly think that's too much to ask," he stated as Freya and I switched our positions.
"Well, as long as we're taking attendance," Hayley commented, walking into the room with Elijah following behind her.
"Oh, good. It's my not-so-loving elder brother and my former one-night stand. What a nice, normal family gathering."
"Charming. Elijah was just catching me up on how you have no clue which one of your long lost buddies you can trust and which one is trying to kill you," Hayley declared.
"Well, clearly what the situation needs is more opinions. I assume you told her about the blood prophecy?" Nik asked Elijah.
"I was just getting to that," Elijah remarked.
"Now would be good," Hayley suggested.
"Well, it appears my old mate, Lucien, has acquired a genuine seer, and in an effort to prove his good intentions, he got her to show us some rather dire visions of future doom. It's grim stuff, really. Not for the faint of heart."
"Whose doom are we talking about? Because if it's yours, then, I think we're all okay with that."
"I'm not," I piped up. "I'd rather have the father of my child around."
"Sadly, we're all on the chopping block. But chin up. This witch claims her visions are constantly evolving. So, you may just get your wish."
"Well, I want to meet this psychic witch," Hayley looked over her shoulder at Elijah, "tonight."
***
"I'm sorry. I hoped I was wrong, Lucien. I really did," the seer stated as she sat next to Lucien. The rest of us had gathered around them. Nik sat in a chair, Freya and I standing next to him while Hayley and Elijah stood on the other side of the coffee table. "I saw him die." Reaching a hand down, I placed it on Nik's shoulder, giving it a squeeze.
"Did you see the weapon?" Lucien asked her and she nodded. "What is it?"
"To understand, it must be seen." The seer lifted her arm out toward Hayley, causing surprised looks to cross her and Elijah's face. Lucien stood from his seat, allowing Elijah to sit as Hayley sat on the other side of the girl. They each took an arm, sinking their teeth into her flesh. Blood started to drip from her nose. Elijah and Hayley quickly moved away from her, coughing violently.
"Something's wrong," Hayley announced.
"It's poison," Elijah added. The seer started puking blood, the poison taking effect.
***
"So, what do we do now? How are we supposed to find out what's going to happen? And when? And who?" I asked as Nik walked into the room.
"Calm down, kitten. Don't stress about this too much. It's not good for the baby," Nik reassured, taking a seat next to me on the couch.
"I know, but still! If someone is going to kill you, don't you think we need this information so we can stop it?"
"Yes, and we will. Just try not to worry."
I let out a sigh, "okay." Leaning my head against the back of the couch, I rubbed a hand gently over my overgrown stomach.
"How is our little one today?"
"He's very active; been kicking all day. Here, feel." Grabbing Nik's hand, I placed it on the side of my stomach, where I had been feeling the little thumps. A few seconds later, there was a thump. Nik's eyebrows shot up, a smile making its way onto his face as there was another thump.
"He really is active." I let out a chuckle, feeling another thump. "I can't wait to meet you, little one," he whispered, pressing his lips to my stomach.
Lots of stuff happening!
Hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of summer break. I just started mine and I'm kinda bored.
My character and her story are of my own imagination. They belong to me and nobody else. Please do not steal. Copyright 2018.
