The First Spell Weaver of Airendell: Book Two of the Airendell Chronicles (27 page)

Kyle clears his throat, “Uh Mom, no offense intended to anyone here, but I already know who I want to be my guide.  Is there any rule against my Dad being my guide?  I really want Luca to do it.”

Elias chuckles and says, “Good choice kid.  But traditionally speaking, a lore parent and ascension guide is usually a First Order Weaver.”

“True,” says Brian thoughtfully.  “But as you said, that is tradition, not a rule.  And those of us who were alive when Luca ascended know that Magdrid and the Elders held him to Second Order out of prejudice because he was an outsider, not because of his abilities or his pureness of spirit.  I can’t think of anyone who would be better to lead this boy in our ways.”

Kyle looks at Luca, “Dad, do you want to do it?”

“Son, I would be honored, if the quorum permits.”  Luca says with a big smile on his face.

Morna smiles and says, “Shall we vote?  All in favor of Luca being Kyle’s lore parent and ascension guide please say Aye.  Any opposed, please say Nay.”  Everyone says, “Aye.” 

Morna looks at her son and her mate proudly, “Well, that’s settled.  Do we need to address anything else tonight as a quorum or can I go keep my appointment with my OB/GYN?”               

Everyone laughs at that, and Fionn says, “Please, go check out our newest member.  I want to make sure Mama and the little bugger is okay.  I’ve been worried ever since I heard you were pregnant.”

“Good!” laughs Morna.  “Heimdall, Gullveig, and my Father all just arrived, I guess it’s that time.”  Morna turns and hugs Elias and few other Guild members standing near her.  “Thank you all for your love and support.  I am so glad to be back with all of you.”

Micah comes up and says, “Let’s go, Pretty Morna.  I have set up an exam room in one of your guest rooms.  Gullveig is here to consult with me.  I guess Heimdall and your father are here for moral support.”  Micah turns to Breena, “I guess it may be too early to examine you, but we can if you want.”

Breena blushes and then shrugs, “I don’t know…” 

Damian had joined them by now and says, “I wish you would.  Just to be careful, you know?”

“Damian are you going to be overprotective?”  Breena asks with a laugh.

“Hell yeah, Babe!”  Damian concedes.  He looks into her eyes and brushes his knuckles gently from her cheek to her chin; “Babe, if you are carrying my child, it’s serious business.  I know it could be dangerous to you.  I will be very protective, just get ready for it.”

Morna laughs, and says, “Well Micah, you have your work cut out for you.”  Morna follows Micah to an empty guest room and is surprised that it is filled with all the trappings of an OB/GYN exam room.  “How did you transport all this here?”

“Heimdall did it.  He wants Luca to be assured that you and the baby are healthy.  I brought the ultrasound, but honestly, I doubt it will penetrate the amniotic sac after the discussion I had with Gullveig, but I still want to try it.” Micah informs the mother to be.  “I will leave you to get undressed for the exam.”

While Morna is changing into the exam gown, Luca, Gullveig, Heimdall, Valliant, Breena and Damian are waiting in the hall.  Micah looks at Gullveig thoughtfully, “I have been meaning to ask you Gullveig; how do you know so much about vampires impregnating human women?  I wasn’t even certain that it was possible myself.”

“I used to live in Midgard.  I love it there.  That’s where I developed my fondness for vampires as lovers.” Gullveig adds with a chuckle.  “But I heard rumors of a vampire that was going around romancing human women and engaging in intercourse with them.  Unfortunately, not all of them survived the encounters.   Anyway, I trailed this monster across Europe.  I came across a young girl who had survived the encounter and was with child.  The pregnancy progressed at an alarming speed.  It damn near killed her.  It took all my talent as a healer and hunter to keep her alive.  I finally fed her blood, it kept her going until she was able to deliver.  I guess I should have already warned you, Morna will not be able to get enough nutrition from food, and will probably start craving blood any day now.  She should hunt with you, Luca.  It will keep her stronger and keep the baby strong.”

“Does that mean the baby will be a vampire like me?” Luca asks, his voice heavy with sadness.

“Not exactly.  The child will be an Immortal like you, but he should be more like Morna is.  The three I have delivered have all been capable of surviving on human food, but did prefer to hunt animals, like you do, for their sustenance.  Males are venomous and females are not.  They reach adulthood in about six to eight years.”

“What about delivery?  Did you have to deliver the children by C-section?” asks Micah.

“Yes, I did.  I almost lost the first mother because I didn’t realize the baby’s instinct is to chew his way out of the amniotic sac and womb.  Morna’s child will have teeth like his parents, and we don’t want him chewing on Morna’s insides to get out.  The amniotic sac is like a vampire’s skin.  Nearly impervious to everything, except other vampire’s teeth.  But I found a Stone Breaker and had him bless a knife for me, it easily cut through the sac.  Maria or George could bless any scalpels that you might need Micah.” Gullveig informs Micah.

Morna opens the door and looks at Micah.  “Let’s get this exam done.  Now that I have heard you guys talking about hunting, I am eager to go do it.  I am craving something and have been so thirsty for days… maybe hunting will help.”

Micah looks at Luca and Gullveig, “If Morna doesn’t mind, I want you two in there with us.  Luca you will probably need to put a spell on her uterus like you did her brain.  I am worried that with her history of uterus ruptures, there may be a congenital defect of some sort.  Hopefully, the ultrasound will answer that question.  Gullveig, I want you there because of your experience with these kind of pregnancies.”

After the physical exam, measurements, and pelvic exam, Micah tries the ultra sound.  It will not penetrate the amniotic sac as he had feared, but it does give him a look at her uterus and confirms his fears.  “Okay, here’s what I know.  Morna you seem to be perfectly healthy right now.  The baby, from what I can tell is healthy.  His heart rate is really fast, but I guess you know that.  I am not surprised by that, because your heart rate is faster since you were exposed to the venom.  I guess it’s just the normal for this situation.  Going by measurements, I would say you are 13 to 16 weeks along.  Does that jive with date of conception?”

“Yes,” say Luca.  “It has been thirteen days since we left Chicago.”  He squeezes Morna’s hand and they share a smile. 

“Well, I would put your due date at… Let’s see today is March 17th, Okay, probably April 7th to April 13th.  Sorry that I can’t pin it down any closer than that.  The growth rate doesn’t seem to be set, so it is impossible for me to say exactly.  But if what Sammy said about the baby weighing 12 pounds is correct, we may have a hard time deciding when to take him by C-section.  I don‘t want him to start trying to gnaw his way out and on the other hand, I don‘t want to take him too early.  Any suggestions Gullveig?”

“I am empathic, I will know when he is ready to be born.  That’s what I did with the mortal females and they all survived.  Morna should be more than able to handle it.”  Gullveig says confidently.

“I do want to do some blood work though when we go to Chicago.  I guess we will do that tomorrow?”  Asks Micah as he looks at Luca.  Luca nods and then Micah says, “Well, Luca you and I need to discuss weaving a spell similar to the one that you wove around her brain when she was being attacked by the stone cannibal creature.  Her uterus needs to be reinforced.  There is a slight congenital defect, as the baby grows it will put more and more stress on it.  Besides, if she plans on training for battle, she needs protection for the baby anyway, above an iron-lion spell.” 

Morna and Luca look at each other and chuckle.  It is obvious to them that they both had been thinking the very same thing.  Luca takes Morna’s hand, and says, “I saw the defect, can you give me precise measurements of her uterus right now?  That way I can weave the spell into the uterus.  I will remain connected and expand it as the baby grows.”

“Sure I can.  Morna, please lie back again so we can get those measurements.  I would like to observe the uterus as he weaves the spell anyway.”  Micah says excitedly.  The two men spend several minutes discussing the condition of the uterus, its specific measurements, and the specific constructs of the spell, and how Luca will maintain it. 

Morna meets Gullveig’s eye over the pair and winks.  Gullveig smiles back and finally says, “Boys, she’s not an old Chevy.  Would you stop talking about her uterus like she’s not here?  Both men laugh and apologize to Morna.  Luca places his hands lightly on her belly, and smiles slightly when he hears her heart beat a little faster.  He looks into her eyes and gives her that lopsided grin she adores, and chuckles when her heart rate increases a little bit more.  He returns his concentration to the ultrasound screen and weaving the spell on her uterus. 

After about 30 seconds Micah lets out a low whistle.  “I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.  His spell corrected two minor problems with the condition of your uterus.  I have no doubt that Luca can maintain it, and make necessary adjustments as the pregnancy progresses.  You should do fine Morna.”  He says as he wipes the lubricant gel off of her belly and helps her to sit up.

“I knew he would be able to do it.”  Morna says rather smugly.  It is obvious that she is supremely confident in her mate’s abilities as a healer.  And then she turns her attention to her godson.  “Thank you Micah.” Morna reaches out to hug him but stiffens up slightly when she hugs him and turns her nose to his neck and inhales deeply.  She stands up so abruptly she almost knocks Micah down.  “Well, anything else we need to do here tonight?”  She asks in a stiff voice.

Micah is confused by her change in demeanor, but says quietly, “No, I think we are good to go for now.”

“Good, I need to get dressed and take care of something.”  Morna says quietly.  Micah seems a little confused by her abrupt change in mood, but gets up and leaves the room with Gullveig. 

Luca remains behind and meets the eyes of his mate.  “I am so sorry Luca!  I think I just got a taste of what you have been enduring for centuries just to be near me,” Morna says in a frightened whisper.

Luca comes to her quickly and takes her in his arms.  “Morna, I am so sorry I have done this to you!  Does your throat burn?”

“A little, it’s like I am intensely parched.  I have been dealing with this intense thirst and undefined craving for days.  Now I think I know what it is I have been craving.  When I hugged Micah, I could smell his blood, and hear his heart pushing the blood through his body and my craving intensified by a thousand fold.  I have to go hunt before I get anywhere near the children again, that’s for sure.” 

As Morna says this, she is bordering on tears.  Luca holds her more tightly and she gently pushes him away, “No big surprise here, but that craving also seems to be tied into my desire for you.  Oh God, I am a total mess!”  Then she pulls him back toward her and starts kissing him.  “What the hell!”  They both laugh and continue kissing and holding each other for a few more minutes before Morna says, “Oh crap!  I forgot Damian and Breena are out there.”  She laughs at herself and stands up to get dressed.

Damian looks at Morna with deep concern when she comes out of the bedroom and says.  “Baby, would you prefer we wait until we get to Chicago to do an exam?  It’s only been a few days after all.”

Breena is trying to process the very confusing emotions that have been coming from her sister, and decides that Damian probably has some insight into what is going on with her, and says.  “I would.”

Micah nods and says, “Cool!  I am going to go hang out with my brother and parents.  Goodnight all.”

Gullveig and Heimdall both have a good idea about the source of Morna’s confusing emotions and excuse themselves to go join their respective partners.

CHAPTER 8 - THE PASSION, THE HUNT, THE PASSION             

Damian watches Micah as he walks down the hall and says, “Gee, he didn’t have a clue did he?”

“I certainly hope not!” hisses Morna.  “It mortifies me that you do.”

“Why Morna? You are, in many ways, exactly like Luca and I.  You told me yourself, it’s just biology.  You aren’t above biology either it appears.”  Damian says tersely.

“Damian if you are thinking that I somehow thought I was better than you and Luca, well you are very wrong.  I don’t have the supreme self-control either of you do, and that scares the hell out of me now that I know what I am craving is blood.”  Morna takes a deep breath to collect herself.  “I sure as hell don’t think I am better than either of you.  You just don’t understand how much I have always admired both of you, and now more than ever that I have a little taste of what you two deal with on a daily basis.”

Damian hugs Morna and says, “I am sorry.  I jumped to the wrong conclusion.  I should have known better.  I guess I was feeling a little like a lesser being since you had been exposed to venom and weren’t controlled by a thirst for blood like I am.  I really am sorry for reacting that way.”

Morna hugs him back and kisses his forehead.  “Kiddo, I probably would have thought the same thing.  Don’t worry about it.”  Morna pulls out of his embrace and says, “Love you guys, but I gotta go!”  And then she is gone before anyone realizes she has left.