Chapter Seven

 

 

It was a whimper of pure fear that had him opening his eyes. Jessie was sound asleep. It came again. He got out the bed and went into Mia’s room. She was standing on the bed her hands clutching the railings a look of fear in her eyes.

“Dada.” Her arms went straight up waiting for him to pick her up.

“Why are you crying, Casca?” She didn’t say anything just buried her head in his shoulder as he held her.

He walked around the room holding her until her whimpers of fear calmed. Then he took her to his bedroom and sat on the loveseat. She sat on his lap looking at her mother.

“Mama.” She began to cry again fear making her body shake.

“Mia, how am I supposed to figure out what’s wrong?”

She climbed to his chest and shut her eyes as he wrapped her in his arms. Her head rubbed against him, and he shut his eyes.

There was fear it was all he could feel. He looked around preparing himself for an attack, but none came. He felt a little hand take his, she pointed in front of them. The fog that was there rolled away.

He looked down to see Mia holding his hand, she was showing him what frightened her. There were two men holding her roughly making her cry while her mother was slumped on the ground. Dead or alive he wasn’t sure.

One man hit her because she struggled her little body went limp causing him to swap forms.

He opened his eyes to look at Mia who was looking up at him. She had a small flame burning in her eyes.

Mia was Kur’ik. How was this possible?

 

Jessie woke up and stretched feeling disappointed that Cole wasn’t lying next to her. She sat up to see him sprawled out on the little love seat with Mia on his chest. The smile that curled her lips went straight to her belly as the butterflies made her feel strange, jumping up she grabbed her phone and started taking pictures.

She never saw anything as adorable or as sweet as this. Her baby was stealing her male.

Wait, he’s not mine, and Mia’s not stealing him.

He could be yours.

He likes what he sees.

And he wants you.

He protects your honor.

He could belong to both of you Like Deja belongs to Enzo and Ven.

He could be mine? No, she needed to leave before she brought trouble to his doorstep. She didn’t know how or when but it was coming, and most likely it was bringing guns. She couldn’t risk Cole or the other people here.

Not people, aliens.

Are we still having this discussion?

So what if they’re aliens, they treat us right.

What if they want to eat us?

Cole’s head between her legs. She was already growing wet. That was not the eating fear was talking about, the thought of her becoming dinner was so laughable she couldn’t entertain it.

Leaning over she kissed Mia before she looked at Cole who was staring at her, she leaned over more and kissed him.

“You look uncomfortable.”

“Mia started whimpering last night.”

“Sorry, I usually hear her.”

“You needed your rest, trasire.”

He gave us a nickname.

I knew he liked us!

She didn’t know what the name meant, but she held it close to her heart.

“Give me Mia and that way you can get up.”

He handed her off. “I’ll take a shower and meet you in the kitchen.”

She nodded and walked out the room trying to control the joy that was threatening to overtake her.

“Mama.”

“Good morning, Sweetie.” She brought her up for a kiss then held her in the air until she started to laugh.

“Let’s see what we can find for you to wear today.”

She went to a drawer to see what was in it. Mia crossed the room and picked up a gray alien.

“Dada,” she said hugging it close.

“Honey that’s not Cole.”

“Potty Mama.”

She stood there staring at her daughter until she realized she was bouncing up and down, picking her up she rushed to the bathroom.

Mia was at the right age to be potty trained, but she refused no matter how often she tried to get her on the potty. Now she was sitting there like a big girl with the proudest smile on her face. When Mia was finished, she took care of her and watched as she lifted her hands to be washed.

When the door was opened, she left the room and ran down the hall going back to her room.

She likes it here.

If we're not careful, she’ll think this is home.

Would that be so bad?

Yes, because we are leaving.

There was a low growl that disturbed the voices in her head. “I’m not leaving.

They huddled together in a corner and shut up.

She followed Mia down the hall not sure what was happening. Something had changed in Mia and was slowly changing in herself. Should she rejoice or be afraid?

“I love you, Mama.” She picked her up and sat on the floor combing her hair.

Mia hadn’t spoken this many words in two weeks, and now she was talking. The doctor said when she started she wouldn’t stop, but it had been so long in coming. How could one day of being away from that house make such a difference?

“We better find you some clothes before Cole starts wondering where we are.”

“Dada.” She ran over and picked up her stuffed alien.

Jessie pulled out her duffle bag looking for pull-ups. Mia came over to look in the bag and picked up an unopened package of panties.

“Big girl panties?”

She looked at the pullups and then at the big girl panties. “You have to tell me when you have to go to the bathroom, Mia.”

She grinned and nodded her head. Jessie swallowed because her teeth were a shade too sharp and her eyes looked different. It’s nothing; just a phase children go through.

She dressed her and took her to brush her teeth before taking her into the kitchen.

Cole was there in nothing but a pair of jeans frowning as he read the direction of the package he was holding.

“Dada.” Mia ran to him lifting her hands for him to pick her up.

“Mia no.” Her face was red as she looked at Cole with sorrowful eyes.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t tell her to do that.”

“It’s alright, Jessie.”

“Cole.” She waved the stuffed alien around.

“I think he looks like a Cole, Casca. Aren’t you the smartest Casca ever.”

She grinned at him while she nodded and once again Jessie noted the changes in her.

“Today we eat Cream of Wheat and applesauce along with sausage. Tomorrow you get to cook so I know what else little mouths like to eat.”

She nodded biting her bottom lip so she wouldn’t laugh at the seriousness on his face. Later she would tease Deja about that little mouths comment that she was sure she would hear for a long time to come. Her joy left when she realized she wouldn’t be here much longer.

Cole fixed breakfast, and she got Mia into her highchair. She could tell by the way he was holding himself that he was proud.

After mixing Mia’s food so it wouldn’t be too hot, she gave her a spoon and let her eat.

She took a bite of her own food and gave a soft moan of pleasure. The look on his face made it worthwhile.

“This is good.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” Her heart beat faster, and the emotions she listened to but tried to ignore on a daily basis were making themselves known. He mattered to her, what he thought mattered and it made her feel good to have another person in her life that she cared about. She looked from Cole to Mia and back again. Did she imagine things? She gave a shake of her head.

“Jessie, I thought it might be a good idea if you and Mia got checked out by the healer. I called him, he can see you both today if you’re willing.”

Her spoon stopped in the air halfway to her mouth. Why did he think they needed to see a doctor? Her eyes looked back at Mia who was happily feeding herself and making a mess. Her blue eyes looked at her, the eyes that shined at night even though she knew it was impossible. Blue eyes that looked so much like the green eyes staring at her.

“Jessie is due for an appointment soon and since I don’t think we’re going to make it. Seeing the doctor here would be a good idea.”

“Thank you.”

They ate in silence when they were finished she cleaned the kitchen while Cole took Mia to the living room. Turning off the water she listened to Mia call Cole Dada, she wished it could be true, but it wasn’t, and they would have to leave soon.

She dressed in a pair of jeans and a tee that fit. She would have to tell Deja how much she appreciated her generosity tonight.

“I’m ready.”

He had cleaned Mia up, and she stood there ready to go for a walk. She took one of her hands while Cole took the other. They looked like the perfect family, and her heart broke as she longed for something she would never have.

“Swing.” They lifted her between them swinging her as she laughed.

“Where are you going?” Xander was standing on his porch watching them.

“To see Tristan.” He fell in line with them.

“Xander where’s Caden. I never see one without the other.”

“We’re…twins?”

“You were born at the same time?”

“Yes, that.”

“You must be fraternal.”

“Fraternal?”

“You’re twins but you don’t look alike. Although to be honest all of you resemble each other.”

“It is how things are where we come from.”

And where is that?

We’re not asking that because we like our happy pretend bubble.

It doesn’t matter because we are leaving tomorrow or the next day. Wait maybe it’s that day after that.

Leave me alone. You are all right, I like my bubble, but I know it can’t last.

They walked further down the street. The houses continued to be big. They owned more land than she realized. In the distance, there was a slight impression of trees.

“What’s that?”

“It’s the one place you and Mia cannot go. We keep wild animals there. They can’t get out, but it’s like a zoo with no gates. If you walk in, they will try to kill you.”

“Cole doesn’t want to scare you. They will kill you stay away.”

“I will.” Because I am leaving. Knowing they had an animal preserve here made her think they loved the community but at the same time, it was a dangerous thing to have so close to children.

“This is where Tristan takes care of the patients able to come see him.”

They walked up the steps to a smaller building and went in.

“Hi, I’m Tristan.” He was standing in the middle of the room. He was as tall as both Cole and Caden. He had green eyes. The more she thought about it, she realized they all had green eyes. It was one more thing to add to the list of things that didn’t make sense to her.

“Hi, I’m Jessie, and this is Mia. Thanks for seeing the two of us.”

The door opened, and a female walked in. She didn’t see a lot of females in the club, so she held her attention.

“Sorry, I’m late. I’m Cait.”

“Hi, Cait.”

“I’m a doctor, and I’ll be helping Tristan if that’s okay with you?”

“That’s fine. I’m Jessie, and this is Mia.”

“I got to meet Mia yesterday.” She waved at her. Mia smiled and hid her face in Cole’s leg before she laughed.

“She’s beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“Why don’t we start with some paperwork. These are questions that will ask you about your mother and your father's history as well as any issues you have been diagnosed with. I will also be asking you about any medicine you are taking. Then there is the same set of information for Mia. If you follow me, I have a place you can sit and fill out the forms. We won’t start without you.”

“Cole, do you mind?”

“We’ll be sitting out here waiting for you.” He took a seat and picked Mia up.

“Do you like Cole?”

“I do.” They walked into a smaller room with a desk and a view out the window to a nice grassy area.

“He’s a good male.”

Why is she talking about him like that?

Like what? She just making small talk.

I think she wants him.

No, she doesn’t.

“He has been helping Mia and me, something he didn’t have to do. I wouldn’t want his girlfriend to get the wrong impression.”

You slept in the bed with him last night!

What impression do you think she will get?

All of you are funny. The alien voice in her head laughed.

“Girlfriend?”

“The person he is dating. He takes her out buys her food takes care of her.”

“His mate. Cole does not have a mate. Who knows what the future will bring.”

“What about you?”

So much for being subtle.

“My mate is home doing whatever he does during the day. He calls it important work.”

“Oh, I better fill out this paperwork.”

She has a mate.

I told you so.

You didn’t say she had a mate.

I told you she didn’t want Cole.

That’s good. It saved her life.

She shivered because for the second time in her life she wanted to kill.