Nielu [The Ultima Manhunt B1]

Chapter 7 - Derek's 'Hope' Fails

"Very well, this way." Holly says, as she leads Aphmau and Melissa down a long white hallway and into a room with a bed and two chairs rested beside a desk with a computer sitting on it.

Aphmau hops onto the bed while Melissa took to one of the chairs.

"What are you hoping for?" Melissa suddenly asks.

"Honestly, I don't care. I'll love it no matter what." Aphmau replies.

Melissa hums. "Please tell me, you and Aaron have thought of names." Melissa says.

"We were thinking Alina for a girl and Blade for a boy." Aphmau tells her.

"I get Alina but Blade? How did you come up with that?" Melissa asks, confused.

"We wanted a unique name so when I saw Travis spare Katelyn with swords, it gave me the perfect name for a boy." Aphmau admits.

A knock interrupts the two as Holly walks in with clipboard in hand and some equipment being wheeled in front of her.

"Okay, ready, Aphmau?" she asks.

Aphmau lays back on the bed and gives a firm nod. "Ready." she responds.

()()()()

One hour later.

"Congratulations Ms.Phoenix, you're having a boy." Holly tells her.

Aphmau pales. 'A boy,' she thinks, 'Derek's worse hope and that could mean he'll kill him. He'll kill their Blade.' She shivers slightly as she hops off the bed and walks out of the room with a forced smile on her face.

She forces herself to wear a smile when in reality she's beyond happy but she also fears her son's life. Fear for her father-in-law who could potentially kill his own grandson.

"You okay, Aph?" Melissa asks.

She is pregnant also and is expecting a boy as well. But unlike Aphmau and Aaron's son, her's will be free from the curse and free from Derek's wrath.

"Yeah, I'm just worried. What if Derek finds out and he destroys the curse like he said he would." Aphmau panics, again.

"Calm down, Aphmau." Melissa tells her. "If you really fear his life then, keep him hidden from my Dad. Do that big plan you and Aaron explained months ago." she states.

"Yeah." Aphmau mumbles.

"Don't worry, Aphmau. I'm sure you'll be fine. He'll be fine because he'll have you and Aaron as his parents!" Melissa says, trying to be optimistic.

Aphmau nods. "True." she smiles.

The two walk out of the secret clinic and brace themselves for the insane measures of security around Starlight. They walk past a television screen as Aphmau puts her purple flamed hood up, over her head. On the screen was a picture of her behind Aaron, Rachel, Derek, and Melissa with the word 'wanted' stamped onto each picture.

"...if you have any information that will be useful, please feel free to contract your local Guardian Force officer. We hope to catch the Ultima so that you may resume your peaceful stay here at Starlight! Enjoy the rest of your insane stay!" the television announces, loudly.

Melissa and Aphmau share a look before they head down an alleyway with hood over their hair, shielding them from the public's eye. Melissa has a brown paper bag full of food in her arms as she follows Aphmau closely.

The petite woman knocks once, then twice, then one more time as the tiny slot slides open. A pale blue eye looks out the slot as Aphmau puts her hand down.

"Zane, let us in. Please." she says.

"You didn't do the knocks right." he complains.

"Not our fault everyone changes the knock each time they take watch." Melissa comments, rolling her golden eyes.

"Fine, come in." Zane opens the door for the two werewolves.

They walk in with Zane closing the door behind them as they walk up several flights of stairs to yet another set of French doors.

Melissa opens them as she and Aphmau walk inside. The minute they walk inside, Aaron looks up and gives Aphmau a smile.

"I take it you guys are okay?" Lucinda asks.

Aphmau hums. "Yeah, we're fine. The Guardian Force has your whole family on watch. They want you dead." she says.

"Yes, we know." Rachel spoke. "We are well aware of that." she adds.

"Changing the subject Aphmau, did you find out the gender?" Kim asks.

"Yeah..." she trails off.

"Here, uh, mom and dad, I heard there's a nice pool Zianna and Garte found." Melissa guides her parents to the door; the pool is in the same hotel they're staying at just on a few floors down.

"Oh, a pool, that sounds nice, doesn't it dear?" Rachel asks Derek.

"Hm? Oh, yes. Sure." he responds.

Melissa waits until they are gone to walk back into the room.

"Why'd you have Rachel and Derek leave?" Garroth asks Melissa.

She stays quiet and secretly gestures with her hand for Aphmau to tell them.

"So, what's the gender?" Kim asks.

"It's a boy." Aphmau states, proudly. "And Melissa's having a boy as well." she smirks.

"Wait, you're pregnant?" Aaron asks aloud.

"Aphmau! You weren't supposed to say anything!" Melissa yells.

"I wasn't going to let you keep it to yourself sis." Aphmau replies.

Melissa rolls her golden eyes. "Fine, yes, I'm pregnant and his father is Fenrir." she mutters.

"Fenrir? He did this?" Aaron questions.

Melissa nods. "Yeah, he did. Please don't kill him, I think between my son and yours, they'd do the honors." she laughs lightheartedly.

()()()()()

When Derek and Rachel get done with the pool, Rachel stays back to talk to Zianna and Garte about things while Derek decides to plan his next scheme.

That scheme being the fact that he, alone, wants to destroy the curse and what better to destroy it by playing a little game. A game he calls; the stabbing pain.

He takes a dagger, one specifically designed to destroy the Ultima's powers, and tucks the small purple blade into his pocket. Derek walks back into the room and waits until the time is right.

"Soon, the curse will be destroyed by yours truly." Derek smirks softly.