What If I Fail

Elicia:

“You are going back to bed young lady.” was the last thing I remembered as Ben scooped me up into his strong warmth, floating through the air embraced by the cuddly softness of Christmas cottage.

The achy churning of my stomach halting my deep slumber as the door clicked closed, smelling fresh green tea with a slight undertone of ginger as Chris leaned on the bed, brushing back my sweaty locks stuck to my face.

“You rest Hummingbird, tea and crackers are on the stand when you’re ready.” His soft lips pressed gently to my cheek, nodding into the fluffy embrace as he slipped from the bed smoothly, leaving the room quietly.

Shivering under the covers as another wave of cramping nausea took ahold of my stomach, dry-heaving into my hand as my body flopped over the edge, reaching for the trash can as another round of cramping had me curling up in a tight ball.

“I hate the flu.” Groaning out under my draped arm, propping a pillow between my knees and stomach, trying to relieve the achy pain that rolled through my bones as sleep finally took over.

Floating through the warm darkness as a soft golden mist appeared, laying a gentle hand along my face as the silky darkness embraced me in a soothing calm of swirling warmth and compassion.

“You are so beautiful my child.” Her majestic voice lulled me further into the warmth as her soft hands brushed along my long locks draped across my chest, gently rubbing along my hips and stomach.

Gasping against the sudden swirling tingles in my stomach, feeling the nausea circling around the darkness as her hands rubbed in gentle strokes. Peeking up at the beautiful woman as the golden mist solidified into her gorgeous curves covered in a sheer gold silk gown.

“They’re strong.” Nodding in agreement to her statement about the guys being strong, feeling my heart flutter in an erratic rhythm as their handsome faces flashed through my thoughts.

“They are and I love them for that. I feel at peace when I’m with them.” Nuzzling into her gentle hand as she cupped my face with a gentle smile. Those majestic horns glistening gently against the soft red glow of the floating disk between them as she tilted her head in a soft nod.

“Yes, The Phoenix Guardians are very strong but I’m not talking about them.” Lifting my head in confusion as her gentle hands continued to sooth the swirling tingling. Squinting my eyes at her playful smile as she motioned for me to lay back into the soft cloud-like bubble that formed from the silky darkness.

“Phoenix Guardians? Aren’t they known as ‘The Watchmen’?” Breathing slowly as the swirling tingles spread throughout my body, feeling like my body was being slowly dipped into a pool of electrically charged needles.

“The Watchmen was a given name because of their status in human-form, but they are known to me as the Phoenix Guardians. Protectors of the Sun, of Life. It was always destined that my vessel would be protected by the Phoenix, but little did I know, they would be your mates in the human world. You have been blessed with a powerful gift only you can harness, with this.” Looking down at her pointed finger as she tapped my chest above my heart, jerking back as a rushing surge of static heat ripped through my body, curling my toes, causing the swirling tingles to sink heavily in my stomach.

“Shu… little ones. It’s time for your ‘mother’ to embrace her destiny.” Stunned into silence as she spoke to my swirling stomach, feeling the rapid shocks of fluttering settle down to a soft swirling tingle. Grasping her hand as it laid gently to my chest, while her other hand drew invisible symbols across my stomach.

“L-little ones?” Stuttering out in shock as she nodded to my confused and scared state of speechlessness.

“Yes, the next generation of Phoenix. These four precious creatures will grow and flourish, bringing the extinct species back from the brink of non-existence. The Watchmen were lucky that their true powers laid dormant, until you appeared, their destined mate. Only a true mate can unlock the Phoenix’s power, harnessing it to create life, happiness, but also, if placed in the wrong hands can bring great destruction and chaos. I embody the power of everything joyful in life, sexuality, love of alcohol, but I also can destroy it when provoked.” Laughing lightly remembering the Egyptian texts I had read. She is everything and more than those texts described, and she’s sitting here with me.

“Oh, child. Don’t cry, this is a blessing beyond words.” Wiping away the tears that leaked from my eyes, shaking my head. I wasn’t crying of sadness, but of great joy and elation that my destined path would create a new generation of an extinct species that up until now, was only myth.

“No, no. I’m truly happy, but I’m scared too. What if I fail as a mother, or a mate? I would be so heartbroken if I failed them, and you.” Cupping her hands in mine as she cupped my face with a loving smile.

“Motherhood is scary, especially when you have to carry them for long periods of time, but that is only because you are creating a powerful bond with them that no one can break.” Sitting up to hug her as her slender arms wrapped around me in a warm loving embrace as the tears slipped freely from my chin.

“How long is normal pregnancy?” Laughing lightly against her shoulder, realizing the golden mist had returned in a swirling vortex around us, feeling her chuckling against my body.

“Every seventh year, a set of quads will bless this earth. After two sets of Phoenix’s will come the blessing of the Raven’s. Girls born with the power of insight, prophecy. Your pregnancies will be long, temperamental, and unique because of the great spiritual power growing within you.” Leaning back in confusion as the swirling mist of golden dust, increased in intensity as her honey-ambered eyes blazed with a fiery excitement.

“How long will my pregnancies be?” Asking in a shaky voice as she slowly stood, guiding me up with her hands as my body erupted in a shivering rush of energy.

“About fourteen months after conception, birthing on the Paschal moon.” Hearing my heart ping-pong through my body, before coming to a rest in my toes as her smiling face held me in a gentle trance.

Oh, God! That test was right all along.

“B-but Amelia did an ultrasound after I was kidnapped, there was nothing there. That was in October.” Stepping back from her warm embrace as the swirling gold dust sliced and snapped through the silky darkness, her fiery orbs of honey ambers softened at my visible distress.

“The first six months of gestation go undetected by the naked eye, or in your case, machines designed to see them. The spiritual power generated by the babies; help camouflage them until six months after conception. Once this phase is complete the following eight months will progress normally. Great power takes time, you, however, are a different story.” Dropped to my knees as a rushing wave of napalm ripped through my body with a crying scream. Clenching to my stomach as the intense cramping returned with a vengeance.

“w-what do you mean…AH!” Falling to my hands as the silky darkness swirled and rippled under my palms as the golden mist spiked and snapped along my body, looking up through my blurry eyes as she kneeled with a soft smile.

“Your mother was a powerful witch, an oracle of Ancient magic. Her life was troubled, plagued with evil and darkness that she fought against up to her last breath. She knew that if her pregnancy became known to those who enslaved her, they would use the child for evil and personal greed. A mother protects her child, but she had only one solution in her situation. Death. However, she was unaware that you would become my chosen vessel and upon her death, her powers transferred to you, sealed away.” Gasping for breath as the achy cramping surged along my spine, wiping away the tears that plipped with a shaky hand, dropping to my side as a burst of static heat ripped through my body.

“w-who are m-my par-ENTS!” Tossed to my back as the cramping pain squeezed my insides, panting heavily to regain my breath as the silky darkness swirled violently together with the golden mist like black tentacles wrapping around its prey.

“I can’t disclose that, but I can tell you that doubt, and uncertainty will plague you from untruthful information. Trust in your heart and it will lead you ‘home’. Remember to always trust in yourself.” Her voice faded away with the swirling winds of golden-blackness, lifted up as the swirling winds licked along my body, plunged back into the darkness as a bright flash shot out like lightning as the growling roars of the guys sliced through the thick veil of darkness.

“Sleep my Children.” Her voice spoke with a calming hum as the swirling energy rippled away like soft waves of water, placed gently into the darkness as Christmas cottage embraced my trembling body.

Home.