Chapter 35: Her heart....
"Ryan, please come fast. It's urgent."
"Is there any problem?"
Ryan had never heard Raphael speaking so breathlessly. And that was a bad sign. Something terrible has happened. The worst scenarios passed through his mind in a flash.
"There is a problem. And I don't know how to deal with it alone. Please be fast, Ryan."
Raphael was almost pleading, and he didn't have to say twice, as Ryan was already slamming his foot on the accelerator.
"Is Lillian okay?"
"I am afraid she's not."
It was like the air got sucked out of Ryan's lungs. The call ended because of poor signal strength and Ryan prayed to almost every God in the Universe to let his favourite people be safe.
Within forty-five minutes, which was record-breaking, Ryan parked the car and got out, marching towards the front door only to see a tensed Cole. From the look on his face and shirtless body, Ryan guessed that he had come here in his wolf form.
Before knocking, a smiling Raphael opened the door as if he was waiting for them. Of course he was.
"Took you long enough." He said, still maintaining the posture.
"What happened to Lillian?"
"Is Lillian safe?"
Ryan and Cole asked at the same time.
Raphale moved a little, allowing them to enter.
"Why don't you see for yourself?"
Both the boys were confused. Either Raphael has gone mad or he is digging his own grave by pulling a prank.
Cole went in first, glaring at Raphael.
"I'll deal with you later."
Ryan did the glaring thing but said nothing.
Lillian was sitting on the couch, playing with her fingers nervously. Her eyes lighted up seeing the two familiar, yet worried faces.
She got up before Cole pulled her into a tight hug.
"What the heck happened?"
She looked at Cole and then back at Ryan.
"I fainted, and we went to see a doctor as my energy has kept draining a lot lately."
Lillian glanced at Raphael, who was smiling from ear to ear now. He mouthed a 'go on', encouraging Lillian to continue. She nodded a little, then looked at her now confused brothers.
A chuckle escaped her lips.
"And he said that we are soon going to welcome a new family member."
Seconds passed and still both of them remained still.
Lillian's smile slowly started to fade. But before it could vanish, a sturdy pair of arms lifted her from the floor, making her float in the air. All she could hear was yelling and screaming and "Yess".
The two boys, for the first time, acted their age. It was a child, for heaven's sake. Ryan frowned and motioned Cole to place her down, fearing that she might get hurt.
It was the best day of their lives. The baby was going to seal their relationship. Now no one will be able to separate them.
But after the excitement, fear crawled into everyone's mind. What if the child is indeed dangerous to the world? What type of creature will it be? What if others find out about it?
Hundreds of questions were unanswered, and they kept it that way. It's better, right?
Nine months passed in a blur with all the flickering emotions of Lillian and an exhausted Raphael looking after her. Mood swings were the worst.
The pregnancy period was as normal, igniting a ray of hope that the child born would also be normal. It was said that the previous cross-bred child was born within three months. So it's obviously better.
On the day of delivery, everyone, including Sid and Adrian, was present. Helena sent her wishes, apologizing for her busy schedule. But the real reason was transparent as water. Sid...
After lots of screaming and sweating, a soothing cry surrounded the place. A beautiful Barbie doll was taken outside the theatre by Raphael. At least that's what Sid said.
Raphael looked shaken, and amusement filled in his eyes. He couldn't believe that he was a father now. And that, too, with the woman whom he loved more than his life. Everyone was more than happy, and Cole soon got assigned as her elder brother.
But happiness was a small word compared to what Ryan felt. Those hazel eyes unlocked something in his heart. Yet it was indescribable.
Sparks erupted when he touched her small hands, which soon engulfed his pinky finger, holding them tightly. He thought everyone felt the same as he had never ever met a baby before, not even Marg, as he went to boarding school that time. (Yup, vampires do have boarding schools....)
Ryan also had the urge to lock her up in a room so that nothing could hurt her. And he was determined to be a guardian, protecting her from outside evil. In short, that pretty little thing had already stolen Ryan's heart.
"Did you name her?"
Asked a chuckling Cole as he watched her sneeze and turn her face into a red tomato.
"Yes.... Atarah.."
"Atarah." Ryan repeated the name like a chant. His tongue melted while calling her name.
"Yes. It means Ruler."
Lillian said, getting emotional at seeing the protective men around her child.
"Then she's going to make an adorable ruler." Cooed Adrian.
Sid must also have been happy, but only Ryan could say that. Since he had acquired special powers from the witches, he became immune to their curses and their effects.
Time fled as if it needed to catch a train. Soon Ryan was getting ready to attend Atty's first birthday.
Atarah was raised like a normal human child. She hasn't shown a single trait of a vampire or werewolf yet. Raphael guessed maybe she was none. Just a simple girl. And it was good that way.
Lillian crossed each column on her list as she checked the dishes on the table. It was like a feast, though only a handful were invited. Raphael decorated the entire place like a Barbie house, with balloons and snow flakes and everything pink.
"Are you done, Raphi?"
"Yes honey. Just a little touch here and there."
A small yet grand party was what Raphael wanted for his little princess. Ryan, Adrian, Helena, Sid and a few of their neighbours were the only guests invited.
Cole couldn't make it that day, as he was under major transition. But he had already sent his wishes and birthday gift, which was a beautiful white frock.
The door bell rang, and Raphael headed to the door, expecting no one at that hour. The party started at 8 o'clock and it was only six. But soon he regretted his actions as the devil himself stood at the doorstep.
"Asmodeus."
Raphael tried to hide his surprise and anger, but it was a failure. Asmodeus is bad news. Raphaël only saw him a couple of times, during council meetings or so. It is said that he played a huge role in provoking the noble to kill his wife and newborn centuries ago.
Raphael's eyes widened like a ball, knowing exactly why Asmodeus was there.
To take their daughter.
But that will never be possible. As long as he lives, he will not allow Asmodeus to kill his precious girl.
Asmodeus, along with his minions, entered the house and soon dominated the kitchen area.
When Lillian finally registered who the guest was, a bowl of hot soup shattered on the floor, making her feet imbalanced.
Everyone was dreading this day.
"Hmmm.... delicious." Asmodeus purred like a cat, smelling the wasted soup.
"What are you doing here?"
Raphaël asked, throwing a protective hand around Lillian's shoulder to steady her.
"Is this how you treat your guests? I thought better of you, Raphael."
Asmodeus sighed and shook his head, showing how disappointed he was.
"I guess I will have to make myself comfortable."
With that, he moved to the couch. But before sitting, Raphael interrupted.
"That won't be necessary. We are quite busy. So it would be great if you left us now."
Raphael was gritting through his teeth.
"Rude much. I am honestly sad about your hospitality, but I will pass it this time. Okay then, let us come to the point. I want Atarah. You know the reason and further consequences of denial."
It was damn to the point which silenced the couple.
Lillian, after a long time, yelled "Nooo".
"I won't take 'no' for an answer, Marleigh, and you know it. Marcus!"
One among his members walked straight up to the nursery. How the hell do they know?
Raphael tried to stop him, but it only led to a big fight. In the middle, Raphael took Lillian to the room where Atarah was crying and closed the door, protecting it with a shield.
Bangs and curses erupted around the house. If it wasn't for his power, they would have been dead already. Though they are soon going to be.
Raphael was pacing back and forth like hell while Lillian sobbed, hugging her little girl.
Seeing this made his heart break into a million pieces.
They didn't want to die. They didn't want to end their lives when it had just started.
Determined not to give up, Raphael took out his phone and called Ryan.
Ryan answered the phone while he was packing a beautiful gift for the beautiful baby. After half listening and half shouting, Ryan literally snatched the gift box and rushed to the house.
Meantime, Asmodeus broke the spell and entered the room, still maintaining a cool posture. His lips tugged up into an evil smirk upon seeing Atarah.
He moved towards Lillian to get the baby, but Raphael held both his legs, pleading to spare his daughter's and wife's lives.
Lillian thought that the walls were closing in on her when she saw the bravest person she had ever seen begging shamelessly at the devil's feet and that too for them. She had the urge to bury Asmodeus alive, but knew very well that it was never possible.
"Please don't kill our daughter. You can take my life instead. I swear to God that she is of no threat to any living form. She's a poor soul. Please. She's innocent, unlike the previous monster."
Raphael didn't know what wrong he said as Asmodeus became red and started to tremble with anger.
"MY SON IS NOT A MONSTER."
...........................
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