The Forbidden Trilogy(143)

Luke and Lucy were on assignment. How I wished Lucy were here. "Someone, help! Please. I'm having my baby."

Susie burst through the door to my bedroom and surveyed the scene. We both looked down toward what must be the stain of fluid between my legs, but my expanded stomach blocked my view.

Tears fell down my cheeks as I locked eyes with her. "My water broke?"

She nodded. "Looks like Ana is coming early."

I shook my head and closed my legs tight, as if I could keep her safe in my belly by force of will alone. "Lucy needs to be here. And... and Drake."

Her blue eyes widened in sympathy. "I know you're scared, honey, but I'll be with you the whole time. I promise."

A flush of calm flowed through me. The scent of snicker doodles baking filled the air, and I surrendered to feelings of safety and happiness.

Father Patrick had brought Susie to us when we first moved into the Washington mansion and started a new school for kids with para-powers. Susie, a former nun and a doctor, had her own para-powers, though she didn't call them that.

I clutched the peace she brought and held it close to me. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. It's important to stay calm, for you and the baby. Okay?"

I nodded.

"I'm going to get some help and get you to the clinic so we can see how you're both doing. I'll be back in just a second."

She left me alone with my thoughts, and memories of my dreams. My powers had grown since our rescue and escape from Rent-A-Kid. Whatever the Seeker had done to me or given to me before he died, I could now sense other paranormals and locate them—sort of.

I wasn't very good yet, and we'd only found two kids in the last few months using my gifts, but those gifts were growing. Mostly, it happened by accident—in dreams, like the one I'd just had.

Another contraction rocked my body. I practiced my breathing and rode it out, like a wave, as Drake would say.

Drake.

I couldn't bear to think of him, and I couldn't bear not to think of him. Carrying his child created a bond between us. He'd become a part of me in a very visceral way, sharing his thoughts and memories, talking to him through my mind, then finally touching him, kissing him, feeling him in my arms. In trying to save Mary, I'd destroyed his powers and destroyed us. His presence once filled something inside me, but now a giant hole pierced my heart—and not in some poetic, metaphorical way. The pain ate through me like hungry piranhas; it kept me up at night, and made caring about anything a chore beyond my ability to complete.

For all that, it hadn't made a damn bit of difference. Mary had still died.

I'd forced myself through the motions for what seemed an eternity, but time marched on whether I wanted it to or not, and I found myself smiling again, laughing again, enjoying my art again. I'd even applied to a local college for the fall. It had been almost three months since the night Drake left, and my heart had started to heal, but going into labor cracked open that freshly healed wound in my soul.

I existed within myself alone. I thought Poe wrote that in something, but maybe not.

Whoever wrote it, they nailed my feelings exactly. Before, I existed within myself, but never alone. Now, despite the thoughts of others swirling around my head, nothing ever penetrated into me.

I was alone.

***

Susie waited for me in my room, as I came out dressed in clean pajamas and feeling much better. Sometimes a good cry helped ease the heaviness. Now that my mind had cleared of sleep, and my emotions settled from the dream of Serena, it seemed I could do this, even alone. And really, I wasn't so alone. Many people had stepped up to help me prepare for school and motherhood—more support than most mothers would ever have, for which I was grateful.

She draped a blue robe over my shoulders. "Ready?"

"Yes." No. Maybe. How about terrified? A human being was about to push herself out of me. How ready could I possibly be for that?

But the baby didn't care if I was ready or not. She was ready, and nothing else mattered.

We walked down the halls of our new home. It was early still, and the other students and staff woke up slowly, reluctantly greeting a new day. They stumbled out of their rooms to use the bathroom and get ready for classes.

Greg and Gary were the first to see me and make the connection. Gary smiled and squeezed my hand. "We'll come by soon and check on you."

Their new puppy, an Italian Greyhound named Eddie who liked watermelon and was a huge hit with everyone, ran playfully between their legs. He nipped at my heels, begging for a rub, but I couldn't bend down to accommodate. Greg noticed my discomfort and lifted the pup to me.

I rubbed the little guy's belly. "He's adorable. Can I keep him?" Everybody asked them the same question, and they always laughed and shook their heads. I handed Eddie back and picked up on thoughts from Gary that worried me. "Is Mr. Jock still giving you a hard time, Greg?"