Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

W e had been home for a few days now, the surreal adventure behind us feeling almost like a distant dream. The kitchen was filled with the comforting aroma of freshly baked bread and the familiar hum of everyday life brought a sense of peace. Nana sat on her usual stool on the island. She had a cup of tea in her hands as she regaled Nina, Mom, Selene, and Mythia with the harrowing tale of our rescue mission.

“So there we were, surrounded by sirens and their demonic monsters," Nana said dramatically. Her eyes twinkled with mischief. "Phoebe's magic lit up the cavern like the Fourth of July while Stella and I broke apart the ranks like bowling pins."

Nina leaned forward with wide eyes. "Really? How were you not frightened and going out of your mind?"

Nana scowled at Nina. “I was scared shitless, but that doesn’t mean I could sit there and suck my thumb. They would have all protected me, but they needed me. There will be situations where you have to set aside your fear and do the hard thing. ”

I chuckled, taking a sip of my own tea. “We had to use every bit of magic we possessed to break through the barrier. It was intense."

Mom looked from me to Stella and asked, “And what about Rosemary? Did Lyra do anything to her?” I knew what Mom was asking. She’d been turned into a tribred and was now part vampire and part shifter in addition to being a witch.

Stella paused in chopping vegetables nearby and turned to respond. “My mom seems to be fine. She was happy to be back in her room. So far, there is no indication Lyra did anything to her.”

Aidon nodded in agreement. “We will keep an eye out just to be safe. But they’ve left out a key piece of information about how Stella tapped into some ancient magic because she’s the chosen one of the prophecy.”

"Chosen one? Ancient magic?" Mythia echoed as she fluttered near Stella’s head. "Tell us more about that!"

Stella shrugged, trying to downplay her role. "It was... unexpected. I didn't know I had it in me. And when the time came, it just happened. I don’t know how to use it. I hope I can call on it when we face Lyra again. I lost control, and she got away.”

Nana nodded sagely. “That's the thing about prophecies. They reveal themselves in their own time. It will be there when you need it.”

As they continued discussing the details, I leaned back and took it all in. The kitchen was filled with laughter and chatter. The normalcy of the moment was a stark contrast to the chaos we'd faced. My gaze drifted to Aidon, who was grabbing something out of the pastry bin. A swell of gratitude filled my chest. Despite the danger and fear, we had come through it stronger and more connected than ever. My eyes wandered to Stella, who caught my gaze and smiled. She had grown so much during our adventure, and I was endlessly proud of her.

My hands rested on my growing belly. The triplets I was expecting kicked and squirmed in response. They were eager to be part of things already. The pregnancy had been a joyful journey so far, but it was also one filled with moments of anxiety. As I stood there, listening to the familiar voices of my family, a sharp pain suddenly shot through my abdomen. I gasped, clutching at my stomach, and the room fell silent.

"Phoebe?" Aidon was at my side in an instant. There was worry etched into his beautiful features. Another wave of pain hit me before I could respond, and my legs buckled. Aidon caught me just in time and carried me to the living room.

"Pheebs, what's wrong?" Stella's voice trembled as she knelt beside the sofa where Aidon had laid me. Her hand went to my shoulder.

"I... don't know," I managed to whisper. My vision blurred with tears. The pain wasn’t normal. I couldn’t help the deep, instinctual fear for the lives growing inside me.

Aidon didn't waste a moment. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number with shaky hands. “Mom, it's Phoebe. Something's wrong with the babies. We need you and Dad here, now.” This was bad if he was calling them. He knows Hades and Persephone are the last people I would want to see like this.

At the same time, my mother hurried to the other room to call Clio, the local healer. "Clio, we need you at the house immediately. It's Phoebe. She's in trouble."

I tried to speak, to tell them I would be alright, but the words wouldn't come. My breath hitched in my throat, and I felt a cold sweat break out across my forehead. Aidon held me tightly. He wasn’t able to hide the slight tremble in his arms .

"Stay with me, Pheebs," he murmured, brushing my hair back from my face. "Help is on the way. Just hold on."

Nana knelt by my head and placed a hand on my cheek. Her usually calm demeanor was replaced with a look of deep concern. "You're strong, Phoebe. You've got this. Hold onto those babies and breathe."

I nodded weakly, focusing on the steady rise and fall of Aidon's chest as he held me. But beneath the surface, a terrifying thought gnawed at me. What if I lost our babies? Fear gripped me and tightened its hold with each passing second.

Clio arrived swiftly. Her presence brought a measure of relief. She was a gifted healer. I hoped she could find out what was going on and fix it. I hadn’t done anything, so I wasn’t so sure it was something in her wheelhouse. She knelt beside me, and her hands moved over me. Her warmth bled into me as she assessed the situation.

“She's bleeding internally," Clio said, her voice calm but urgent. “We need to stabilize her and the babies. Aidon, keep talking to her.”

Aidon squeezed my hand, his voice gentle but firm. "Phoebe, you're going to be okay. We're right here with you. Just hold on."

I clung to his words, trying to steady my racing heart. But deep down, the fear persisted. A dark cloud overshadowed the love and support around me. I couldn't shake the worry that something might happen to our precious triplets. And that thought threatened to overwhelm me.

As Clio worked her healing magic, Aidon's parents appeared in a flash of light. The room was filled with a tense silence as Clio continued her work. Aidon's parents and the rest of our family gathered around the couch where I lay. Aidon's hand tightly gripped mine, offering silent support. Clio worked for several more seconds before she stopped and sat back on her heels. The fear and uncertainty from earlier still lingered. I had to steel myself for whatever she was about to say.

Clio’s face was etched with concern, her brows knit tightly together as she began to speak. "Phoebe, I need to be straightforward with you," she started, her voice steady but tinged with worry. "During my examination, I discovered an injury to your spleen. It was the source of the bleeding. I was able to stop the worst of the bleeding, but not all. It appears to be a result of the Dark magic you were exposed to during the battle with Lyra."

A chill ran down my spine. My mind raced back to the fierce confrontation and the searing pain that had followed one of Lyra's spells. Clio's expression softened slightly as she continued. "Like I said, I've managed to heal the physical damage to your spleen. However, there’s a lingering injury caused by Lyra’s Dark magic that I can’t completely mend. Her magic is deeply entwined with your tissues. And it’s resisting all conventional healing methods."

Aidon’s grip on my hand tightened. His concern was evident. “What does this mean for the babies?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the mounting fear.

Clio took a deep breath. Her eyes met mine with sympathy and understanding. “Carrying triplets is already a significant strain on your body. With this injury, it’s even more critical that you make substantial changes to ensure you carry them to full term. You’ll need to minimize stress, avoid any strenuous activities, and get plenty of rest. Any further complications could pose serious risks.”

The gravity of her words weighed heavily on me. My mind was a whirl of thoughts. It took about a millisecond for a fierce resolve to emerge. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” I said firmly. “I will protect my children, no matter what.”

Persephone, Aidon’s mother, stepped forward. Her presence was calm yet commanding. "Phoebe, there might be something I can do," she said. "But I must warn you, it carries significant risk."

Download the next book in the Mystical Midlife in Maine subseries, POLTERGEISTS & CHANGE OF LIFE HERE! Then turn the page for a preview.

Download the next book in the Midlife Magic & Mysteries series, SWEATY NIGHTS & GATOR BITES HERE. Then turn the page for a preview.