Sorry, Randi-Pandi

Elicia:

Groaning out against the thumping behind my eyelids, hearing rushed foot falls approach as cool hands slid across my face in a loving embrace.

“Elicia, sweetheart. Open you eyes for me.” Izzy’s soft voice spoke gently above me, groaning in protest as my eyelids lifted in shaky flutters, blinking away the blurry kaleidoscope of colors and dark shadows. Looking around the grand room of deep burgundy and black with gold accents along the detailed sculpting in the granite embellishments.

Shifting to my elbows as her panicked expression halted my movements.

“I’m okay, just have a headache.” Laughing softly as her cool hands assisted in helping me up against the black lacquered headboard, fluffing up the black and red silk wrapped pillows behind my back.

“You scared Randi and Bailey. The boys almost burned down the house with your spiritual outburst.” Smiling weakly at her smiling face as she placed a gentle kiss to my forehead, rubbing your thumbs along my cheeks as she sat gracefully along the edge of the bed. Her hands smoothing out her black velvet dress with emerald and gold embroidery along the neck-line and sleeves.

“Where are they?” Accepting the glass of water as the cool liquid soothed the scratchy sensation along my throat, swirling softly in my stomach as my shocked expression surprised Izzy. Placing my hand along my stomach as my dream replayed, feeling the jittery sensation of my nerves as it all came back in a rolling rush of panic.

“Easy, sweetheart. They’re with Desmond in his office. Some things happened while you were sick, and they needed to be addressed immediately before it gets out of hand or misinterpreted.” Nodding to her explanation as a soft knocking sounded from around the grand wall sculpted in Dante’s Inferno. Smirking at the gothic display of the circles of Hell as Bailey peeked around the wall, waving gently as she rushed over to the bed.

“Girl, you scared the shit out of me and Randi.” She whispered in my ear, embracing her tight hug as she laid next to me with her head resting on my shoulder.

“I’m fine, just had a very in-depth chat with the Goddess about my true-self, and these.” Placing my hand to my stomach, laughing at them both as they jumped up in shock.

“You’re not! You are! OMG!” They shouted in excitement, waving for them to settle down as Bailey jumped to the floor dancing around in circles with Izzy. Shaking my head at their similar personalities as they turned to me with bright smiles.

“I need to tell the Desmond and the boys. They’ll be over the moon with the news.” Izzy clapped her hands excitedly as Bailey climbed back into the massive bed, laying her head gently on my lap.

“Hang-on, hang-on. Let me get my bearings about this because it’s…complicated.” Laughing lightly as Bailey purred into my fingers brushing through her dark locks.

“Understandable. So, you have to be hungry. I’ll go grab something from the kitchen, not too heavy, but enough to get you started. This is so EXCITING!” She squealed across the room, clapping her hands like a little girl as the heavy door clicked closed, leaving me and Bailey alone in this massive bedroom.

“Where are we?” Leaning my head back, looking up into the wooden Gothic revival canopy bed with red and gold embroidered drapes hanging down the sides. The black marble flooring glistening beautifully against the hanging chandeliers and wall sconces as Bailey rolled to her side, looking up at my inquisitive expression.

“The Vampire Kingdom. This is Nightshade Castle, and this my lovely, is the brothers bedroom, well, your bedroom now.” Flicking her nose, swatting away her attempt to tickle my side as she exhaled in soft laughter. Remembering all the partying, strenuous activities, and other stressors these past couple months, feeling a nervous flutter in my stomach.

“Hey, it’ll be okay. You and the guys have been getting acquainted these past few months, so this pregnancy was expected eventually.” Shaking my head at her smiling face as she noticed my silent concern, sitting up with a puzzled expression.

“The test wasn’t wrong last time. I’ve been pregnant this whole time, since the Equinox party.” Looking down at my hands picking at the black velvet along the heavy duvet draped over my stomach.

“But Amelia?” Nodding my head before she even finished that statement as her hands cupped mine, flopping around Indian style with a soft smile.

“You’re concerned about the partying and other activities, aren’t ya?” Leave it to her to hit the nail on the head first swing, nodding as the tears slid down my cheeks, wiping them away between the shuttering inhales of breath.

“Did the Goddess indicate anything was wrong with them?” Shaking my head ‘no’ as she kissed my cheek, wiping away a tear that held on for life from my chin.

“Then don’t freak-out. From here on out, we do things right, Okay?” Nodding to her as soft knocking drew our attention to Izzy walking with a tray of steaming green tea with ginger, crackers, and OJ, smiling brightly as she placed the tray over my lap.

A quick snap of her fingers as the heavy drapes pulled back from the grand twenty-foot-tall windows. Another snap as the French styled doors opened to allow a gentle breeze to blow the golden sheers in a silky dance of fabric.

“So, I informed the men you are awake with strict instructions to give you some time before suffocating you with love. These Nightshade men can be so over-dramatic, but they have the biggest hearts.” Smiling brightly with a firm nod, sipping the hot tea with a slow exhale of warmth licking across my lips, grabbing a cracker with a quick wink.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, but Dominic’s mate, Atlas, she’s visiting today from the High Coven. Lady Morgan granted her permission to visit.” Chocking on my cracker, looking at Izzy as she patted my back gently to help dislodge the cracker fragments in my lungs, sipping the OJ to clear the runway before speaking.

“Aunt Morgan is Lady Morgan of the High Coven. Uncle Damian is Alpha Damian of Ghost Wolf, also close friends with the extended family.” Bailey beat me to the punch, motioning to Izzy nodding her head with a bright smile as knocking grabbed out attention.

Randi poked his head around the wall with that megawatt smile, motioning behind him as Desmond and the guys walked in, looking at our smiling faces as they walked over placing gentle kisses along my forehead and cheeks. Purring against the wall of Christmas cottage as it swirled with the fresh breeze blowing in from the balcony windows.

“You’re color looks better.” Ben trailed his finger along my cheek, stealing one of my crackers with a bright smile as he leaned against the hand-carved post holding up the canopy.

“Mine.” Growling out, covering my crackers with my hands as they all looked between themselves, roaring out in laughter as Randi leaned over to steal one, receiving a small lightning bolt to the hand.

Blowing against my finger like it was smoking gun-barrel as they all stood in shock with slacked jaws, except Izzy who dropped to the floor in laughter, wiping away the tears that leaked from her beautiful crimson-jade eyes.

“Well, I guess some explaining is in order. Yeah?” Desmond laughed lively as he picked up a laughing Izzy, sitting down with her on his knee.

“Yes, please explain. My poor hand needs it.” Randi shook his hand lazily, watching the scorched flesh heal with a small glistening of red sparks, pouting with a sad puppy face. Giggling, holding my hands out to him as he leaned down receiving a soft kiss to his ‘boo-boo’.

“Sorry, Randi-Pandi, but no one messes with my crackers, seeing that it’s the only thing I can stomach at the moment.” Tapping his face with a challenging glare.

“How are you feeling Kitten?” Elias looked over at Randi, flashing his fangs for getting extra attention.

“Better. How about you grab seats because I have some things to discuss.” Sipping my tea slowly as Bailey slid up next to me, resting her head on my shoulder as the guys kicked off their shoes, climbing into the bed to lay around my legs.

“What’s up Hummingbird?” Chris smirked up from my legs, resting his head gently along my thigh.

“Okay…so I had an unexpected visitor while sleeping.” Holding my hand up as they all opened their mouths to speak but stopped when they noticed my narrowed gaze. Giggling at the defeated exhales that rolled from their lips as Desmond and Izzy shared a snickering smile.

“The Goddess appeared speaking in a weird cryptic style, but do you remember that little pregnancy scare we had after the Equinox party and kidnapping, well, apparently I am and for the next fourteen months I will be a temperamental mess because these little ones are the new generation of Phoenix’s.” Placing my hands to my stomach, feeling Bailey vibrating along my side as Izzy nodded to Desmond’s confused expression.

His straight lips lifting up into the brightest smile, matching the megawatt smile that beamed from behind their sitting poses.

Let it Shine, Let it Shine, Let it Shine.