Mythos Roleplay
Beware this Siren's song, for she isn't afraid to use every trick in her book to get what she wants.
Born February 14, 1966
This is a roleplay blog. I am not affiliated with Hayden Panettiere, and take no credit for any graphics seen here unless otherwise noted.
It has been over a year since I lost you, and many things have changed since then. The baby, Gabriel, had his first birthday last week. You never met him, but I think the two of you would have gotten along very well. He had a party and you would have recognized every face there. Of course there were faces missing, yours being one of them, but those couldn’t be helped. Gabriel is very loved, and he grows bigger every day. I don’t know what I’m going to do when he starts walking soon. Hopefully flying will come quickly after that.
I know that this letter sounds very much unlike me, but then again I’m not quite the woman you knew. I’ve grown, and motherhood has changed me -but for the better I hope. It has taken me a long time, but I think that despite your absence I’m finally ready to in some form tell you how much you meant to me.
In a world where I was looked down on for being the bitch, the slut, the whore, and even before that when I was admired for my beauty, I never knew quite how to feel about myself. I always thought I was this amazing creature, a gift for the world to behold. Many people agreed with me, and yet it wasn’t until you that I realized just how wrong I was. You loved me, I always knew you did, but I couldn’t fathom why. I didn’t deserve the love of a man as kind, compassionate, and wonderful as you. Furthermore, you were damaged enough and didn’t need the extra stress and bullshit that I heaped onto you. I was horrible to you. I used you. I needed you. I would never admit any of that before now, but it was all true. How did you love me? How could you have loved the me that I was?
Through the past year and a half I have tried to become a woman that would make my son proud. I’ve also tried to become a woman who might one day be worth the love that I lost when I lost you. My dear friend, I see your face everywhere I look, and it brings tears to my eyes. Yes, this once ice cold bitch now tears up at the thought of you. I show emotion now, you’d be impressed.
The hardest part of all of this, though, is that I never realized how I felt about you. I always knew you loved me, or you thought you did, but I couldn’t understand just what that meant until you were gone and I had a child. The unconditional love from Gabriel and the love I give him in return has taught me what I lost with you.
Matei, I will never get to say this to you, but I love you. I have always loved you. You were there for me when I thought no one could be, and for that I thank you. You were everything to me, and I took that for granted. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for everything. If I could give my life to bring you back, I would.
I love you Matei. I only wish I could have told you.
Morning After →Constance & Eva (& Gabriel) - Sunday, April 27th
Constance actually managed to sleep through most of the night for a change. Her hands were almost completely healed after Talos had helped her and were now just itching like crazy. But that was a small price to pay. She had only woken up once from nightmares and hoped that she had not woken her guests with screaming. The nightmare had dampened her mood lightly but she was still in high spirits when she knocked at the guest bedroom door with some breakfast for the new mother. “Good morning,” she said smiling after Eva had answered and she set the tray down on the bedside table. “How are you feeling this morning?” she asked gently her eyes sweeping over the woman to look for any signs of discomfort. “I thought you might want some coffee now that you can drink it again. In moderation of course.” He glance wandered over to the little baby boy her smile widening at once.
The night after her son's birth Eva had slept like a rock. Luckily for her both mother and child were exhausted, and neither of them woke until early the next morning. The Siren awoke near six to the startling sound of her son screaming in hunger. Her senses and memory had taken a moment to return to her, but once they did she had flown from the bed to the plastic container they'd filled with blankets and used as a makeshift crib. Once the small bundle was in her arms she felt a momentary panic before realizing that he needed to be fed. The temptation to wake the human and ask for help had been strong, but she had resisted and nursed him back to sleep. Once he was again snoozing Eva had found herself slipping back into a peaceful slumber. It was mere hours later when she heard a knock on the door and knew it was time to wake up. After placing the baby back in the bin, she opened the door and smile sleepily at the doctor. "Oh, that looks amazing. Coffee!" Her joy at the thought of caffeine was unsurpassed until she realized she could once again have alcohol. "This day is looking to be quite pleasant. I'm just exhausted, still, but glad that so far he's slept pretty well." She glanced over at the sleeping boy and felt herself smiling. An odd feeling came over her, unfamiliar to the woman, and she found herself beaming up at the human with genuine gratitude. "Thank you again for your help. I don't know what I would have done if I'd been at home."
It had been two nights since her little fireball had entered the world. Two nights since she had unexpectedly gone into labor. As Eva held her son she could still hardly believe that he was finally here. It seemed as if she had been waiting on his arrival for ages, and at the same time it felt like he had come too quickly. Constance had gone to the Siren's house to retrieve the basics since she wouldn't let them leave. Now, almost two full days later, she had changed him, dressed him, packed up their things, and put him in his stroller. She had adamantly refused the human's offer to drive them home. She needed the exercise, the air, and the time inside her head. Her house wasn't far, and as she pushed him along she found herself smiling down at his little face. Sticking out her tongue, she made faces at him as he giggled at her. She was so caught up in her child that she forgot to pay attention to where she was going and knocked into someone with the stroller. "Oh, I'm sorry. This is really my first time driving this thing."
Phoebe chuckled and shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean how many times have you thought your mother was crazy?” Giving the Siren a pointed look as if that proved her theory, she smiled lightly. The last time she’d seen Eva was probably when she she met her parents and that in of itself was an awkward situation. Phoebe snorted, “You’re a balloon,” she said simply, shrugging. “But once that kid’s out, you’ll be back. Speaking of which, when are you popping?”
The thought was staggering, and she sincerely hoped that she wouldn't someday turn into her mother. No matter how hard she tried, Eva couldn't picture herself as the chipper woman who had raised her. She also could picture her mother carrying her attitude. At the mention of the older Siren she was reminded that the last time they'd seen one another was when her parents had been in town. It seemed like a lifetime ago, and had been incredibly awkward. "You've met my mother. I don't think I'm going to turn into that any time soon." Glancing down at her belly, she figured that balloon was putting it mildly. "Please, I'm a fucking planet. Jonah says June seventh, so I should have a little bit of time left before I have to start toting around a mini."
Desmond and Marilyn St. James would like to formally announce the birth of their grandson, Gabriel Riley St. James.
The boy was born on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 8:37 pm.
He is a healthy Phoenix weighing in at 8 pounds and 4 ounces and measuring 21 inches long in his human form. His wing span reaches 36 inches and his feathers are beautifully golden with orange and deep red accents. Remarkably, he has a set of tail feathers that match the coloring of his Siren mother. Both child and mother are resting and doing well.
There will be a dinner party to celebrate this new life in such a troubled time. Invitations will be sent out once mother and son are settled and feeling up to company.
Who: Eva St. James, Dr. Constance Macklin, and Fiona Shea
When: Saturday, April 26, 2014
Where: The home of Constance Macklin
Cut for: Length, mention of drugs, and mildly graphic description of child birth
Eva sighed and checked her watch. She was a few minutes early, but she didn't really care. She'd left early so that she would have enough time to walk down the street in her enlarged state. A swift knock on the door was all she could manage before leaning against the wall next to her. She focused on her breathing as she waited for the human woman to open the door.
Constance had cursed a lot that day. Sure she needed to talk to the siren, but who did have the bright idea to invite her into her house? She had spent the whole day cleaning, since she had really let that slide in the last few weeks and she couldn’t have someone come over into such a mess. But she had actually pulled it off. The house was clean, she had taken a shower and made herself presentable. There was food in the fridge, actual food, and she had things to drink that were non-alcoholic. When there was a knock at the front door she took a last look around and then one in the mirror before opening. “Hello Eva. Thank you for coming over. I really appreciate it. Please come on in.”
Eva stepped over the threshold and forced a tight smile to her lips. "Sure, no problem." It was over eighty degrees outside, and it had been a poor idea to walk over here in the heat despite how close it was. A line of sweat had formed on her brow and she reached up in disgust to wipe it away. Glancing around, she wondered if the human woman always kept her house so pristine. It was like she could eat off of the floor and not have to worry about it. The thought made her stomach rumble and her hand immediately found its natural position on her swollen belly. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
Constance could see that the heat was getting to the siren and opened the door wider to let her step inside. “Just straight through. Please sit. Can I get you anything? You look like you could use something cold to drink,” she said quietly feeling bad for having invited the siren over now even more. She smiled when the woman’s stomach rumbled. “And maybe a snack? I have some cookies,” she offered walking over to the living room so the woman could get off her feet.
Eva followed the directions and found a comfy couch waiting for her. Slowly and with the utmost care she lowered herself into the cushions and sighed with relief. The coolness of the air conditioning was refreshing on her skin, and her legs seemed to sing in thanks to her for sitting. "Ice water and cookies sounds absolutely amazing. I don't drink milk, the taste disgusts me." She waited for the human doctor to return, having noticed that she avoided the question. "Why do I feel like this may be uncomfortable?"
Constance nodded at the woman’s request and left her alone for a minute to get the things she wanted from the kitchen, adding a cup of coffee for herself to the tray. Returning to the living room she put the glass and the cookies within the siren’s reach before sitting down herself across from the siren. Holding the cup of coffee between her hands she wondered how to begin. “Well, I have a few questions that are siren related and I think those questions are kind of personal. And I know I’m a human so I don’t … you don’t have to answer any of them. I totally understand.” She took a sip of her coffee and looked at Eva again. The siren was huge and looked like she was about to pop. “I ran into another siren and … well she was IN the camp, so you can probably imagine that she’s not a fan.”
Eva raised an eyebrow as a tray was placed in front of her. It seemed a bit old fashioned and proper, but she wasn't about to complain. Reaching out a hand she snatched up a cookie and took a bite before picking up the glass of water and gulping half of its contents in one go. Her other eyebrow joined its twin as Constance revealed her motives for inviting the pregnant Siren to her home. "Well considering that most of us, and I mean Mythics in general, aren't exactly fans of humans to begin with I could see why one from inside that awful place could be a bit tetchy. What do you want to know?"
Constance nodded and shrugged. “Well she is aware that I am actually on your side. She somehow figured it out. But that’s beside the point.” She took a sip of her coffee, flinching when it was still a little too hot. “Well what I want to know is if there’s any way to protect myself from her powers? I know some stuff about mythics, but there are a lot of things mythics don’t tell humans and how to protect themselves against mythic powers is probably one of those things. Understandably so as I might add. But … well I know you sang to me at the hospital and made me feel … better. But what else is a siren capable off?”
Eva chuckled, amused that somehow someone had decided that she was the best choice for information on protection. Her mind flitted back to that night so many years ago when she'd had to drop form just to save herself from those icy eyes. "Ear plugs. If you can't hear us, you can't be swayed. Tt would take an extreme amount of willpower for you to resist the Siren's song on your own, and most humans aren't capable of it. Of course, that's only the case when a Siren is in her human form. In my true form I could hum a few notes and you'd bow to my will no matter what. I could also control larger groups in Siren form." She realized she may be revealing too much, but honestly she didn't care. She hadn't met another Siren in the city in months, and now she was curious about just whom the human had encountered. Just as a safety measure, though, she kept the tidbit about her enhanced hearing to herself.
Constance listened carefully to what Eva told her and nodded. “So what you’re saying is that as long as she is in her human form it might be possible to resist?” she asked. “I can be pretty stubborn when I set my mind on something,” she added with a grin. She didn’t care much for her own safety, that wasn’t what worried her. It was her friends, she was worried that the siren could make her betray her friends in any way. “Could she get me to do something I am completely opposed against? Like say kill someone?” she asked. ‘I wonder if that would be admissible at court. Oh the siren made me do it your Honor.’
Eva "Possible, but not probable. You'd have to have a very good reason for resisting, and you would need to keep that reason present in your mind for as long as her song continued. That's the only way you'd have a chance. Honestly, I'd carry ear plugs around if I were you." From what she knew about the doctor it didn't seem entirely out of the question that she'd be able to resist. It was just a matter of how hard the other Siren was trying to invade her thoughts. Just as she was about to answer the second question a sharp pain filled her and she fell forward in her seat, gripping her belly with all of her might. A deep gasp of breath and a shrill shriek took over her lungs. It was everything she could do to keep breathing. The pain lasted a moment and then began to subside, but her breaths remained ragged and she looked at the human with wide eyes. Fear clutched her throat and she knew that it shone in her expression. This was nothing like the small contractions she'd felt before, and without a doubt she knew what was happening. "It's too soon. He's not due until June!"
Constance nodded. Better safe than sorry. “I guess ear plugs might be a good idea,” she said grinning before she froze in shock when the siren doubled over in pain. But she recovered quickly her medical training kicking in on instinct. She put her cup down and moved over to the siren smiling gently at her. “Now take some deep breaths and try to stay calm. When exactly are you due?” she asked in her best doctor voice and sat down beside Eva. “There’s no need to panic sweetie. As long as the lungs are developed the baby is ready to come out. And mythic babies are strong so no need to worry right now, okay? I’m a doctor remember. You are in good hands. I promise.” She tried to calm the woman down while her mind was racing, trying to remember everything she had learned about mythic pregnancies during her time in the camp. At least now she could put the knowledge to good use.
Eva 's brain went blank. Due? What did she mean? Her arms wrapped around her belly quickly sent a jolt of recognition through her and she answered automatically. "June 7." The questions had been thrown at her so many times that it was almost instinct to answer now. I'm a doctor remember. Doctor. Jonah. "We have to call Jonah. Do you know Jonah? He's my doctor. His number is in my phone. He'll know what to - did you say ready to come out? I can't have a baby right now! I'm not ready!" Her mind was running away from her, spinning so quickly that she didn't know if she could hold on. Gabriel was coming. Gabriel was coming NOW. There were three things that she could pull out of the rushing haze of her brain. She was about to have a baby. She was about to find out who had fathered her child. Jonah wasn't here. "Alex. We need to call Alex."
Constance did the math quickly in her head. “That’s 6 weeks sweetie. That’s perfectly fine for the baby. Apparently he’s ready even if you’re not.” She took one of the siren’s hands in hers and squeezed lightly. “Eva, look at me. You need to calm down. Yes, I know Jonah. I have his number and I will call him. But I want to do something else first, okay? Why don’t we go upstairs and you can lie down in my guest bedroom. I can take a quick look if it’s really the baby coming or if it’s maybe a colic type intestinal cramp or something like that. You will be more comfortable and we can make all calls from there if it’s really the baby coming. How’s that sound?”
Eva felt as if she would faint. Six weeks early. Well, she had known from the beginning that he would be a strong willed little thing. As her hand was squeezed she turned wide eyes on the doctor. Her head nodded automatically, not asking permission from her brain to move. Lying down sounded heavenly, and maybe that would make the baby change his mind. "Lying down sounds great. Lead the way doc." Her mind was starting to come back to her in small bits. She was having a baby. Somehow until now she had been able to convince herself that it was all a bad dream. No matter how much she thought she'd accepted her fate she was now coming to see that it shocked her that it was all true. She stood shakily, leaning on the doctor heavily for support, and turned towards where she'd seen a staircase.
Constance was extremely relieved that Eva seemed to calm down and actually accepted her suggestion without any resistance. She stood and helped her stand up too, putting an arm around her waist for support while she walked them slowly over to the staircase to the second floor. She was suspecting that it was really the baby coming right now, but she wanted to be certain. Leading them up the starts and towards the guest bedroom took a little time but eventually they managed and she helped the siren sit down on the bed. “Okay sweetie. Now lay back and try to relax. Is it okay if I take a look? I need to see it the cervix is dilated already.”
Eva followed willingly, working on getting her breathing back to normal now that the pain was gone. It took more effort than she would ever admit to get up the stairs and into the bedroom, but once Constance told her to lie back she did so without a second thought. A chorus of words was repeating itself in her head, reminding her that she was strong and so was her son. They could make it through this. She just hoped that it would be a quick later. "Yeah yeah, do whatever you need. Just make sure that this is for real and not some stupid joke being played on me by my own kid. That's a trait he'd get from Jamie, and I'll be damned if that kid actually managed to come out on top as the father of my child."
Constance smiled gently down at the woman glad that she was getting her attitude back. “Okay, I will just be across the hall in the bathroom and wash my hands real quick, get some gloves. You just stay put and breathe. I’ll be back in a minute,” she said and waited for Eva to acknowledge what she’d said. Then she hurried over to the bathroom and did what she had told the siren before hurrying back to her side. She put on a pair of latex gloves and started to hitch up the siren’s dress. “You’re not allergic to latex, are you?” she asked before proceeding. Maybe such an allergy was the reason for her pregnancy after all; but of course she would never say that out loud.
Eva "Y'know Doc, I think I'll just go run a marathon. Really, I feel great. There's no reason I should stay right here where my body has collapsed and I'm not sure I could even lift my arms right now. You go ahead and do that and I'll just do a few laps around the house before you get back." The snark in her voice was thinly covering her fear. Child birth hurt. This was not a secret from anyone. She had never been fond of pain. Even her kinkiest moments had been on the borderline of pain, nothing like this. She closed her eyes and thought back to her last extended bout of pain. Cale's smile filled her mind and she could almost feel him squeezing her hand in encouragement. A small tear escaped her eyes as she thought of how desperately she wished her friend were here right now. "Mythics don't have human allergies. It's very rare, at least. So, no." The tear was quickly swept away by small fingers, but then replaced just as swiftly when another jolting pain shot through her belly. Her breath hissed as she sucked in through her teeth and worked to keep from screaming.
Constance nodded. “Of course,” she said calmly. She didn’t take anything Eva said personally right now. She had taken on her professional persona and her personal feelings were completely pushed aside. There was no room for emotions right now. And it felt amazing. She had not felt this free and focused in months. When the siren hissed in pain again she checked her watch to see how far the contractions were apart, if this was what it was. “It’s okay to scream and it’s okay to cry Eva. Just try to relax. It will be over in a moment. Just breathe.” She knew the siren would have a comment for that as soon as the pain lessened but she didn’t care. If her snarky comments helped her get through this so be it. As soon as the pain was gone she returned to the task at hand. Raising the dress she slid her gloved fingers under the hem of the woman’s panties, pulled them down swiftly and threw them to the side. “Now let’s have a look, okay?” she said cheerfully before she lifted the dress further so she could take a closer look at the siren’s cervix. “And next time we’ll do this for fun. I promise,” she said jokingly to lighten the mood. “Added bonus: no risk of a pregnancy.”
Eva nearly lashed out at the human, but held back by sheer force of will. It was never ok to scream or cry, not in her book. She was too strong for this. Her eyes formed slits of anger as she glared at the human. Soon the pain had subsided and her head fell back into the bed. After a moment taken to retrieve her breath Eva pulled her knees up to the position she'd taken often over the past months. It was a bit unusual for a human to be removing her panties, but she forced herself to keep any comments along those lines to herself. "It wouldn't be the first time, and I'm sure not the last. Though, I'm pretty sure I'll be much less appealing with a baby on my hip." She considered making a comment about buying her dinner first, but that had never really been a consideration in her standards.
Constance Constance had no plans whatsoever to sleep with the siren, or with any mythic ever again for that matter. The two mythics she actually did have sex with were both dead now, and while Constance was not superstitious she was not in any kind of mood to take that risk. Sex was in fact very far from her mind in general at the moment. But if she could humor the siren and get her mind of the pain talking about it didn’t hurt. “Oh babies don’t bother me. And just because you’re going to be a mother that doesn’t mean your life is over. You are a beautiful woman Eva, a pregnancy doesn’t change that. And after all a lot of people have more than one child,” she said grinning. She found the woman’s cervix dilated for about an inch and a half and pulled back sitting down on the bed beside the woman. “Well, ready or not, this is it. The baby’s coming now. Let me call Jonah and you can call Alex, okay?”
Eva "Of course I'm beautiful, it's in my nature. It's also in my nature to be damn good in bed." She ignored the rest of the woman's sex talk and wrote it off as trying to make her more comfortable. She appreciated the effort whether she would admit it or not. At the next words, though, she shot up into a sitting position with a speed she didn't realize she still possessed. The baby was coming. This was real. This wasn't a false alarm or a practical joke. She was having a baby. The rest of the words came pelting at her ears and before she knew it her phone was in her hand and dialing. She hadn't even given sign to Constance that she'd heard her before the voicemail picked up and Alex's sexy voice told her she'd missed him. "Alex, it's Eva. It's here. It's time. I mean. Gabriel. He's coming. Now. I'm at Constance's house." Not knowing what else to say, she hung up without another word. It was pretty obvious she was freaking out, but at this point she didn't even care. She could hardly even form a full sentence, much less put effort into worrying about doing so. "He didn't answer. I left a message."
Constance took off the gloves and dialed Jonah’s cell, but like Eva she only got his voice mail. Jonah had been pretty busy lately, a lot of those that had been in the camp needed medical attention and there were not a lot of options for them. Turning away from Eva for a moment so the siren wouldn’t see the panic in her own eyes. She was certain that she could do it, that she could deliver a mythic baby. After all there had been a couple of experiments at the camp with pregnancies, but that didn’t mean it was wise to try it all on her own now. She took a few deep breaths and wondered what to do now. Did she know anyone who might have experience with this kind of thing? There had been other people on the medical team during the raid and Fiona had been one of them. She would try and call her, maybe she had delivered a baby or two in her God knows how many years. Turning back around to Eva she kept her face calm. “I can’t get a hold of Jonah either, but … I will call someone else and see if they can assist. I can do it Eva, you don’t need to worry. But I’d like another mythic here, plus another set of hands will be good, okay?”
Eva felt panic strike again as Constance revealed her failure to contact Jonah. Not only was the possible father of her child not going to be present for his birth, but her doctor was a no-show as well. Her eyes grew wider than ever before as another realization dawned. A human was going to deliver her baby. "You're a doctor. You can do it. You're sure. You can do it. Help, yes get help. Another mythic? Whom?" The words tumbled out, spilling over each other like toddlers playing tag. This was happening too quickly, and not at all according to plan. What was going to happen to her and her baby? She sent up a silent prayer, something she hadn't done in a very long time, in the hopes that something out there would keep them safe. "Do it."
Constance took one of the siren’s hand in hers again and smiled warmly at her. “It will be okay. I promise. But you need to stay calm. I will call Fiona. She was with the medical team during the attack and has to have some experience. Just give me a second. Lay down I will make the call.” She scrolled through her contacts until she came to the shop’s number and called waiting for the mythic to pick up.
Fíona was having a very difficult time managing life without Paul in it. She was distracted and if work were any busier they might have a real problem on their hands. She found herself lost in her thoughts once more when she heard the phone ring. She went over to the counter and picked up the receiver and then realized that it wasn't her business phone, but her cellphone that was ringing. When she saw who was calling she was both intrigued and worried. "Constance?"
Constance was relieved when she eventually managed to get someone on the phone. “Hello Fiona. I know this is somewhat out of the blue, but … have you ever delivered a mythic baby? I can’t reach Jonah and I know I can do it myself but I would be really more comfortable if there was another mythic around in case there are any questions or something,” she explained calmly more in Eva’s favor than anything else, because Constance herself wasn’t as calm as she pretended to be. She had still been in school when she had delivered her last baby, and that had been human of course.
Fíona "Um…yes…I mean it's been awhile…years…" She suddenly began to panic remembering that the last time she had even seen a pregnant mythic was over thirty years ago. Then she realized that severity of the situation. If Constance were calling her and Jonah wasn't around she had to be the last resort. "What do you need? Where are you? How is Eva doing?" She realized that she was asking a lot of questions, but they needed to be answered.
Eva felt like the world was taking far too long to spin. Time was slowing down and she did not approve. Even when the contractions weren't tearing her body in two she still felt the discomfort of Gabriel preparing to enter the world. It was torture waiting on him, and she desperately hoped for a speedy labor and delivery. Horror stories of women in labor for days floated through her mind and she heard her voice speaking before even realizing that she was talking to her baby. "Kid if you take forever we're going to have serious problems when you get here. Fiona! Get here NOW!" The last part was spoken loudly enough that the Leshy should have been able to hear her on the other end of the line.
Constance felt another wave of relief flood through her, even if it had been years Fiona HAD delivered a baby before. “Doesn’t matter how long it’s been you have done it and I could use some help. We are at my place due to lucky circumstances I guess. I have all medical supplies human medicine has to offer, I just need the mythic knowledge. And as you can hear Eva is perfectly fine. Contractions are about 7 minutes apart and she is dilated about 2 inches now. But the baby is six weeks early. So, there’s still time. Can you come?”
Fíona heard Eva clearly through the phone. That was a good thing at least. The woman was lucky that they had Constance there, even if she were a human. "I don't have much here, only some things for pain. I have more tinctures at home. Even things for pregnancy, but I'm at the shop now and I would have to leave and go home and then come meet you. Do I have time?"
Eva rolled her eyes dramatically. "Yeah, perfectly fine except that there's a BABY about to RIP HIS WAY OUT OF MY CURRENTLY HUMAN VAGINA. No big deal or anything." As the words left her another rippling contraction seized her belly and she screamed out in pain. There were plenty of words she would have liked to use to exclaim just how much it hurt, but none of them could get past the mind-numbing pain that was taking over. It was gone quickly, but the memory of it was forever burned into her mind.
Constance nodded and then spoke up realizing that Fiona couldn’t see her. “Yes, we should have at least three to four hours,” she said into the phone and then turned towards Eva when she cried out in pain. “You are perfectly fine for a woman about to give birth. And the way I see it this will be relatively quick all things considered. Do you want something for the pain? If you want something we have to do it now or it will be too late,” she asked gently and then turned back around to continue her conversation with Fiona. “I have stuff for the pain, I just have to up the dosage, but I know by how much from my work at …,” she hesitated for a moment, but it was a fact that couldn’t be changed. “From my work in the camp,” she finished quietly.
Fíona "Alright." She replied promptly and then listened as Constance addressed Eva. It was obvious that she was trying to comfort the woman and Fíona could understand why Eva would be concerned. She was going into premature labor in the bedroom of a human without her doctor and her only comfort was knowing that there was a mythic she barely knew on her way. "Right." She wasn't going to comment on Constance's experience, but in this case they seemed once more to be in luck that the human doctor was around. "Ok. I have a few things specifically for birthing. I'll have to evaluate exactly what to use when I get there based on what's going on, but I'll bring whatever I have. I'll leave here in a minute and put together a kit when I get home and then I'll head straight over to you. Do you need anything else? I'm assuming you have towels and sheets and all of that." She thought for a moment trying to figure out how long it would take her. "Constance it could take me two hours to get there, but I'll be there as soon as I possibly can."
Eva "YES!" The word burst from her like an avalanche, filling the room with her loud voice. The possibilities for this day were nearly endless, and suddenly the most prevalent thought in her mind was the father of her child. This was it. This was the day that she would discover who had placed a son in her belly. Silent prayers continued in her mind, hoping against all hope that Alex was the father. He was the best man of the three, the best she'd ever known, and the only one who would actually be around to help raise the child if it were his. A new thought occurred to her and she struggled up into a sitting position once more. "Constance. This baby could have hooves and horns, scales gills and a tail, or wings made of fire. None of those sounds particularly pleasant to be coming out of me. Also, I'm not sure how that would affect my body. What the hell am I going to do?!" Her mind whirred and she felt dizzy, though the pain had dissipated once more. With any luck she'd have a few more minutes before it returned, but she'd never been incredibly lucky without Colin around. Damn that Leprechaun for going and getting himself killed before her baby came. The thought brought instant guilt, and suddenly she was missing him all over again. Tears welled in her eyes uninvited and she felt like she was on an emotional roller coaster speeding down hormone fueled tracks.
Constance was facing away from Eva and thus she closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath trying to stay calm. “Two hours are perfectly fine,” she eventually said surely even though she wasn’t 100 % certain of that fact, but letting anyone know that she had doubts wouldn’t help anyone. “Just bring everything you think might help and …” she stopped when Eva started to ramble a little and tried to make sense of what she was saying. “Oh Fiona, anything against intense heat or fire would be appreciated. It seems there are … a few possibilities.” She turned back around to Eva and smiled at her. “Honey, if it was impossible mythics would be extinct now, your body is mythic and it will work perfectly fine. I’m not saying it will be a walk in the park, but if there was anything really risky Jonah would have told you before.” She smiled at the siren again, she needed to end this phone call so she could focus on the siren who was obviously starting to panic. “Fiona, just get here as quickly as possible, but don’t rush. Drive safe. I will be able to handle things here.” She ended the call and put the cell away. “Okay, I will get you something for the pain. Do you know if there are any drugs that work especially good or bad for you?”
Eva nearly screamed once more as she heard the time span that she'd have to deal with before another Mythic was present. That meant at least another two hours before she was going to give birth. She would have to endure this pain for several more hours. Drugs? Any drugs that worked especially well for her? "Heroin." The word came out at a regular speaking volume, but inside her brain it echoed. The siren's eyes fell slowly shut and she was transported back to all those years ago when she would party as Jessie Maxwell. "The feeling of it rushing through my veins, knowing that I had enough in me to kill three or more humans and still I was only buzzed, oh it was fantastic. Sometimes I still wake up tasting it, my mouth dry and aching for that feeling. Get me some heroin and everything will be fucking peachy." It didn't register in her mind that she'd said the words aloud. To her the sound had merely been her thoughts focusing on the rush of the drug as she'd slid the needle into her veins. As her eyes opened she saw Constance's face and realized that the words had been expelled from her mouth and not trapped in her mind. "Whoops, sorry, I had a moment of weakness. I don't care what you give me, just give me a lot of it and do it fast."
Fíona was nervous when Constance paused before answering, but it was really the only choice that she had. When the human hesitated once more her anxiety about the situation grew. Constance's response made her even more wary. Fire? Oh no. Phoenix births were complicated at best. Fíona could tell that she was doing her best to keep Eva calm, but it was obvious the human had no idea what she could be in for with a mythic birth. Nevertheless, she really had no choice and Constance was all that Eva had and she hoped that it would be enough. She knew she had to hurry and get out her questions before the human let her once more. "Constance, what are the possibilities? Is a Phoenix one of them?"
Constance sighed at Fiona’s question. “Yes, Phoenix or Satyr or something with gills.” She turned around to Eva when she spoke but didn’t comment right away. It wasn’t necessary that Fiona learned any of this too. “Fiona, I really have to take care of Eva now. Just bring what you think will help,” she said calmly but with an urgent undertone. She wasn’t thrilled by the prospect of helping giving birth to a ball of flames, but if this was what needed to be done so be it. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there and I’m sorry to rush this but she’s in pain and close to panic."
Fíona sighed and swallowed hard when Constance explained that they could be dealing with a Phoenix. She really hoped that that wasn't the case. 'Something with gills.' Didn't really help, but it was obvious that Constance didn't have time to talk. "I'm sorry I was just asking because it might change what I have to bring. Constance, whatever happens, it will be alright. You need to stay calm. If anything changes, call me. I'm leaving now and I'll be there as soon as I possibly can."
Constance chuckled lightly despite the urgency of the situation. “Fiona, believe it or not but I feel better now than I have in a long time. And I’m sober too. So don’t worry about me. I’m perfectly fine for a change. See you soon.” She ended the call and turned around to Eva. Walking over to her she sat down beside her and looked at her seriously. “Eva, why would I have Heroin in my house? But it’s good that you told me, because some drugs have similar effects or work differently on addicts.” Her voice was calm and professional without even a hint of judgment. Constance really wasn’t in any place to judge anyone else for whatever addiction they might entertain; she was all but hooked on alcohol and pills herself. “You didn’t use during the pregnancy though, right?” she asked out of concern for the baby. If Eva had used the child could have serious birth defects and the delivery could be even more complicated. “I will get some supplies. Are you okay by yourself for a few minutes?” she asked gently.
Fíona hadn't even considered the possibility that Constance wasn't sober and the thought terrified her. However, the human had assured her and she seemed to be aware of the situation. "Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can." The moment after she hung up the phone she went to Eireen and told her what was going on. If it were any other day of the week she would've taken her along, but she needed someone there on a Saturday. She had done quite enough damage to her business already and despite the emergency she just couldn't afford it. So, she left the store in her friend's hands and immediately went home.
Eva sighed and shook her head. "I was just being ridiculous. Of course you wouldn't have any. I'm not an addict any longer, it's been almost twenty years since I've touched the stuff." She nodded that she would be fine on her own for the time being, silently hoping that the human would be back before the next contraction. Nearly as soon as the human was out of reach, though, another one rippled through her and she found herself cursing once more. It wasn't long before the human returned and gave her something for the pain, and after that all they could do was wait. Time passed slowly, and the fact that the Siren was being forced to walk around inside and outside the house to supposedly move the labor along was like torture. It seemed to her like decades had gone by when they finally heard a car door shut in the driveway. As if on cue another contraction ripped through her belly and she screamed in pain at the top of the stairs.
Constance had almost everything she needed in the master bathroom right across the hall and was back with enough pain killers to knock out a medium sized elephant. “It’s quite alright Eva. I’m not judging. You’re pretty strong if you managed to kick that addiction. And don’t worry I won’t tell anyone, after all you’re my patient now, confidentiality and all that,” she said smiling. She wouldn’t have told anyone anyway. “As long as you won’t tell anyone that I’m sober right now,” she said smirking. “They wouldn’t believe you anyway.” After the meds had kicked in she started to walk Eva through the house picking up other things they would need along the way. She was trying to keep the mood light and reassure the woman the best she could, but time passed slowly. Every now and again she would check the dilation again and noticed that it was progressing slowly but surely, just like it should. She heard the car door the same time Eva did and was about to go and open the front door when another contraction ripped through the smaller woman.
Fíona: Thankfully traffic wasn't too bad and she got there in relatively good time. It took a little bit longer than she had anticipated to collect everything, but if she had known exactly what she was looking for it probably would've be quicker. Packing everything they could possibly need was quite a lot. She texted Constance to let her know she was leaving and to ask for the address. As soon as she heard back she set her course, but as she had expected it had taken her just under two hours to finally arrive. She heard the scream as she approached the door and placed her bundle on the floor and attempted to go on, but the door was locked. "I'm here!" She shouted hoping that someone would hear her.
Eva heard the Leshy call from the other side of the door. Her brain was so focused on the pain in her belly that she couldn't even sense the Mythic. Grabbing onto the railing, she turned her eyes on the human with a look that could kill. "Get that bitch in here now. If she has anything that can help then I WANT it." The contractions were coming quicker and lasting longer, and it took a moment after the human left her side before she could stand again. Not willing to walk any longer, she returned to the guest bedroom and sat down on the edge of the bed to wait for the other women to bring her whatever it was they had.
Constance only hesitated for a moment but then left Eva’s side to let the other mythic in, locking the door again after she had entered. “Thank you for coming. I think Eva will feel a lot better with another mythic here. Come on, we’re upstairs,” she said smiling and went ahead to the guest bedroom. “And don’t take anything she says personally but I’m sure you know how women can be when they’re in labor.” She stepped into the bedroom and saw Eva sitting on the bed already. “Okay, now that Fiona is here I can get the other things we need. It’s faster if I get them while Fiona stays here with you; I know the way around the house and it will be faster. That okay with you guys?”
Eva "Yes. Fine. Just get this kid out of me." She could feel him moving. Somehow she could instinctually tell that the time was drawing near. It wouldn't be too much longer and she'd be holding her son in her arms. It felt like her back was about to break into two, and she felt tears mingling with the sweat that covered her face. It was not a particularly attractive look for anyone, and she was disgusted that she was anything but beautiful at the moment. Turning to Fiona, she looked the woman over and hoped against hope that she knew what she was doing. "How long has it been since you've delivered a baby?"
Fíona quickly gathered her things and followed Constance inside. "Of course." As for her comment about Eva's behavior she just pushed it aside. Eva had always been kind to her, but she was a siren and anything could happen. However, none of that mattered now, all that mattered was delivering a healthy mythic into the world. When she saw Eva on the bed she rushed over and put her things down and nodded to Constance. She turned to the Siren, "It's been about thirty years, I'm not going to lie….but I've delivered quite a few and been present for many more. Either way, I know more than Constance ever could. She said it could be a Phoenix, what else?"
Eva had to admit that thirty years was longer than ideal, but at least it was less than one hundred. With a heavy sigh, she began to list off the possible species once more. "It's a boy, so either a Phoenix, a Satyr, or a Merrow. If you're a religious woman, start praying that Alex is the father and a hoofed and horned little boy pops out of this very human vagina. Any of the three choices, though, I'm not looking forward to." She glanced around the room for about the hundredth time, memorizing everything in it. This was where her son would be born. Somehow she'd never really considered the room in which she'd give birth. In the back of her mind she felt like she was forgetting things, but nothing seemed incredibly important right now. She'd tried calling Alex and Jonah about four more times each, but still neither man answered. A heavy sigh lifted her chest and she felt another contraction coming on. "Hold onto your hats ladies, this is going to be a big one." Her scream echoed through the house and she fell backwards onto the bed, cushioned by the soft comforter. "GET THIS LITTLE FUCKER OUT OF ME!"
Constance left the room as soon as the Fiona and Eva had acknowledged her. She got towels, clean sheets and a few large bowls for water, warm and cold. She also fetched a fire extinguisher and a pair of heavy leather gloves. They wouldn’t protect her completely from fire but they would give her some time to handle the baby without dropping it like a hot potato. She came by the bar and hesitated for a moment, she surely could use a drink right now. But she also knew that she needed to stay sober for this, she needed all her brainpower focused on this, so she turned her back and returned to the bed room with the things she had gathered. “Okay ladies, how are we doing?” she asked unloading all the stuff beside the bed when an especially hard contraction hit the siren.
Fíona tried her best to ignore the comment about Alex possibly being the father. She didn't need to cloud her judgment with emotional issues right then. When Eva said the word human it was as if a lightbulb went off. The Siren screamed and Fíona knew they didn't have much time. "Eva I have to check things, but I think you should change forms. If it is a Phoenix it could badly injure your human form." She carefully inspected to see how dilated Eva was and came back up nodding. "Yes. You need to change, but I need you to drink some things so would you to prefer to do that before or after?"
Eva stared blankly at the Leshy as soon as the contraction was over. Change forms? Why hadn't she thought of that before? Of course it would be easier to deliver a Mythic baby in her Siren form. She felt like a complete and utter moron, but there was no time for that now. "I'll drink whatever before. I guess you've never seen a Siren before. We don't exactly have hands." She grabbed hold of the bed frame and used it to haul herself back into a seated position while Fiona got whatever it was she had brought. Looking at Constance, she reached out a hand to signal that she needed help standing. "I'm going to need help getting this dress off since I keep crumbling into bouts of pain. I will not ruin one of my favorite summer outfits, even for my son."
Constance was a little terrified that Eva was going to change but she also knew that it made a lot of sense. She just hoped that this wouldn’t go sideways. After all Eva had just told her a few hours ago that she would be absolutely helpless against a siren in their mythic form. But this was not the time for doubts or hesitation and she simply nodded and helped Eva stand. “Of course,” she said. “Let me get this off you.” She was intrigued; she had seen sirens in their mythic form in the camp but none of those had been pregnant and the scientist part of her brain was curious how that would look. She was also curious to see how Eva’s form would differ from the ones she had seen.
Fíona helped Eva up and passed her on to Constance so she could help her undress before going over to her supplies. The Siren was much farther along than her usual patients so trying to figure out the dosing would be complicated. However, there was one thing that she would need regardless. She grabbed a large jar and passed it over to the pair. "Rub that cream over your back, belly, thighs and vaginal areas. It's a topical pain reliever and will help your muscles relax." After that she started pouring, measuring and stirring what she hoped would be the correct dosage.
Eva stripped off her dress with the human's help and let it fall to the floor. As the jar was handed to them she scooped some of the cream and began rubbing it on her belly as she'd done with cocoa butter lotion every night for months. She was about to reach for another scoop when yet another contraction ripped her in half and she bent over to catch hold of whatever was in front of her. The pain was intense and she couldn't hold herself up while it continued. "Hurry Fiona, I don't know how much more of this I can take." Once it subsided she grabbed some more of the cream and rubbed it into as much of her back as she could reach.
Constance helped Eva stay upright while she stripped and then started to rub the lotion onto her body. When another contraction hit she supported the siren as best as she could until the pain subsided and then helped her spread the lotion onto her back where she couldn’t reach. She too hoped that Fiona would hurry, there probably wasn’t much time left. “What is it you are giving to her?” she asked her curiosity getting the better of her. She was pretty sure that only very few other humans would ever witness what she was experiencing right now. “All done here,” she eventually stated. “Anywhere else you can’t reach and need help with?” she asked gently.
Fíona had just finished preparing the concoction when Eva had another contraction and she could tell that it was time. They were almost on top of one another now. "A combination of things. Black and blue cohosh, valerian, yarrow…we can talk about it later." She didn't have time to explain herself and neither did Eva. "Drink it quickly and change. Once you do I know we won't be able to communicate with you, so listen to what we say, but trust your body, it knows what to do. It might be easier if you stand because of your wings, but it's up to you."
Eva nearly snarled, the feeling of vulnerability at not being able to rub the cream over herself only serving to darken her mood. "I can't reach the vaginal areas. It's a dream come true for you, doc. You get to finger a Siren." She had no qualms about standing naked in front of the two women. If anything, it made her feel stronger to once again be in the state of dress she most loved. Nudity had always been her battle suit, and that hadn't changed when her belly had grown to the size of a watermelon. Reaching out, she took the drink that Fiona offered her and looked at it wearily before pinching her nose and chugging it before she could talk herself out of it. "Can't communicate my ass. Siren, remember? I sing. Back up if you don't want wings to hit you in the face." With that last bit of sass she dropped her form and stood before them in all of her Siren glory. The feeling was powerful, and though another contraction hit it didn't hurt quite as much. "He's coming. Let's do this." Her voice now had a melodic quality, somehow magic even though she didn't sing. She held her wings behind her and used them to prop herself up as she leaned against the bed, squatted, and closed her eyes against the pain.
Constance merely raised an eyebrow at the siren and chuckled. “You have no idea what I dream of honey.” But the siren was now changing forms anyway and Constance took a step back to observe the process closely. The coloring of her feathers was slightly different from the other sirens she had seen and of course her belly was a lot bigger. The contractions were now very close together and Constance put on a new pair of latex gloves. “Okay. There will be a lot of blood Eva, but that’s nothing to worry about okay. You just focus on your breathing and do whatever we tell you to do. Curse and scream as much as you want, but please … don’t sing. Can you lie down on the bed? Right at the edge? It will be easier for us that way.”
Eva did her best to nod her recognition of the human's words. Leaning back, she placed the rest of her body on the bed but let the scaled legs and talons hang over the edge. She was no taller in this form than when she appeared human, so her talons didn't quite reach the ground. "With all of this pain I'll probably kick. You might want to wrap my talons in something so that you don't get scratched. They're pretty sharp." Over and over in her head she reminded herself not to sing. It was difficult since her natural instinct in this form was to sing rather than even to speak. Another contraction rippled through her, lower this time, and she let out a piercing birdlike shriek while simultaneously doing her best not to make it musical at all. /In and out, in and out, slowly and carefully, inhale exhale./ It was a mantra that she repeated over and over again in her brain.
Fíona couldn't believe her stupidity. Of course Eva could talk. Siren's weren't full birds. "Right I'm sorry…" She muttered before moving back to allow her some space. Eva was absolutely beautiful. She missed seeing mythics in their true forms. They deserved to be able to be who the were without living in fear. So much had changed recently, but Fiona knew they were a long way from Eva being able to be her true self whenever she wanted. The Leshy didn't like how Constance was treating Eva. She wasn't some mythic experiment. She also didn't know how she felt about Constance being the one to deliver the baby, she obviously had no idea what she was doing. "Eva do what is best for you. The baby will find it's way." She stated with the hint of an edge, trying to stand up for the Siren and her desires.
Constance sent a pointed look at Fiona. If Eva started to sing she could compel her to do about everything, even to get her heroin. And Constance would do it, she wouldn’t have a chance. “Fiona, you really don’t want her to sing me into submission right now, believe me,” she said calmly. While she started to wrap the talons with gauze to protect all of them from the sharp weapons. But now was no time to fight with Fiona who was right or wrong. The next contraction was hitting. “You need to push now,” she said calmly while she had her gaze fixed between the siren’s legs to catch the first glimpse of the kid. Grabbing the leather gloves she put them on, the risk of an infection was luckily nearly nonexistent for the mythic. “Here he comes. Push.”
Fíona moved towards Eva and placed a hand on her thigh before turning to look at Constance. "The only singing she'll do would be for the help of her and her baby. In fact, it could be helpful if she could sing to the baby and help keep it calm. It can hear her and we might need its help." Constance might have delivered human babies before, but mythics were an entirely different story. However, she agreed with Eva about the talons. Even if she meant them no harm, she could badly injure them and they needed to be there for the baby. When the next contraction came she could tell that Constance was right and while she didn't feel right allowing her to step in, she wasn't going to fight with her. "Eva, she's right you have to push. I have to go get some supplies. Will you be alright with her?"
Eva screamed as she felt the baby crawl even lower. If this was how quickly things were going to move the whole time, she'd be finished with this damn labor before she knew it. Using every bit of instinct she possessed the Siren pushed as hard as she could at Constance's command. Briefly she wondered how she knew what muscles to use to push the baby out without ever doing this before, but the thought was banished from her mind as swiftly as it had appeared. The pain was too much for rational thought and a stream of curses came bellowing out of her throat. "IT BURNS! IT FUCKING BURNS!" Listening to Fiona, though, made sense to her addled mind. Forcing herself to be as calm as possible, she began to sing to her son. "Welcome my son, try to be calm as you enter this world. Your family loves you and you are safe. The community will protect you from any and all threat. You have no need to fear, so please be calm and get out here NOW."
Constance swallowed her pride at Fiona’s words. She would probably never get along with her because the mythic only ever saw her as a stupid human. But she would not betray Eva by giving away her secret or dividing her attention now. When the siren began to sing she was enthralled for a moment but the song wasn’t directed at her and so she was able to still focus on the baby due to sheer willpower even though the song was calling to her. If it helped: all the better. When the contraction subsided the singing served another purpose, singing kept the breathing even, it was perfect actually. And then the next contraction came. “Okay, push again now,” she commanded. “I can see him now. It’s a phoenix alright. Just one more push and he’ll be here.” Constance knew it would hurt, not right away but after a few seconds definitely. “Fiona I will give him to Eva as quickly and careful as possible and you can check him out while I take care of the placenta. Okay?”
Eva screamed loudly, rage fueling her second push enough to expel the small Phoenix from her body. As he entered the world and piercing shriek filled the house, and possibly the neighborhood, with only one word. "DEVLIN!" The Siren's body collapsed into a puddle as she finished her work and she lay back on the bed unmoving. Tears streamed down her face. Relief, joy, anger, and betrayal all rustled through her exhausted mind. Thank whatever higher power may exist that it had been a quick birth. All she could think was that Alex wasn't the father. What the hell was she going to do now?
Fíona found herself beautifully moved by Eva's song. She had never heard something so beautiful and she was sure that it would help the baby. She momentarily lost her focus but collected some towels, a bowl of water and grabbed a few more vials to make another drink for after the baby came out. She grabbed another bowl to make it knowing Eva would have difficulty with the cup. When she started screaming about burning Fiona knew she meant a Phoenix. "Constance do you want me to step in? Your going to get burned." Fíona realized her words were too late. Moments later a ball of flames came forth. "Give him to me. Quickly Constance!"
Constance had a hard time trying to not get lost in the song but somehow she managed and when the baby came out the singing stopped and her mind started to clear again. A little ball of living flames was lying in her badly protected hands and tears started to water her vision, yet not from pain. It was just … it was so beautiful and she knew she was truly blessed to be able to not only witness this but be a part of it too. “He is so beautiful,” she said awed and looked up at Eva from between her legs. The pain in her hands started to register shortly after and she gently handed the little wonder over to Fiona. “Eva, there will be another contraction soon and I need you to push again, as hard as you can.” Constance just hoped that the placenta would be as quick as the baby itself and that one more contraction would do the trick.
Eva heard Constance's words and a new form of tears spilled from her eyes. He was here. Gabriel Riley was here in the room with her and not in her belly. Just as she was about to sit up and reach for him another contraction, more painful than before, tore through her and she pushed as hard as she was able. A final scream filled the room as the placenta spilled from her and she shuddered as the pain subsided. "Please tell me that was it. I want to turn back so that I can hold him."
Fíona worried as the human hesitated knowing that very soon she would be covered in burns, but she was right he was beautiful and a glorious sight to see. She had worried whether she would ever see another mythic baby again and here he was. She carefully took the little flaming bird and placed him in the water hoping that he would extinguish himself. They didn't need the little guy setting the place on fire. He shrieked when he met the cool water and she tried to reassure him, "It's alright honey…" Moments later he had calmed down and there was just a tiny little bird there. She grabbed a towel and dried him and then wrapped him in a new towel. He looked so small buried inside the cloth, Fiona couldn't help but smile. "He's alright Eva. He just nervous. Hello Gabriel." She stroked his head softly trying to calm his fears. Then she turned him towards Eva so she could see her child. "Mommy's right there."
Constance knew that real soon the pain in her hands would be really bad and she needed to hurry. The placenta came out and she caught it and put it in bowl so she could examine it if it was complete or if there were still pieces inside the siren. “Just one minute Eva, I need to see if it’s complete.” It didn’t take long until she could look up at Eva and smiled at her despite the pain in her hands. “You can change back now. It will be easier to get you cleaned up and examined that way too,” she said cheerfully. “Congratulations.” She peeled the burned gloves off her hands and pulled the gauze off the talons while she waited for Eva to change back.
Eva sighed with relief and quickly changed back into her human form. As carefully as possible she scooted herself back to sit and lean against the pillows at the head of the bed. Once she was positioned properly she reached out without a word and waited for Fiona to place the small bird in her arms. She wanted to hold him in his true form before he turned into that of a human. This was the first time a Mythic baby had been born into a world where no human sacrifice would be required to give it a human form. She beamed at the child as he was placed into her arms. "Hello Gabriel. Welcome to the world. Your father may be dead, but don't worry because there are plenty of people here who will love you and take care of you." As she spoke he looked up at her with eyes of flame. The ice queen's heart began to melt, and she knew that everyone had been right. The moment her baby was placed into her arms she felt true and perfect love. After a few blinks of his eyes he rustled in the towel and began to change. His feathers retreated into his skin and his features slowly melted from bird to human. This form was just as beautiful as his Mythic appearance, and Eva laughed through her tears as joy filled her. "I'm a mommy."
Fíona could barely take her eyes off of the baby bird. He was mesmerizing. He had the most beautiful eyes and she watched as he took in the world. She held him close trying to keep him warm as Constance finished with Eva. As soon as the Siren had changed and was ready Fiona walked over and placed the baby in her arms. Tears gently fell down her cheeks, but these were tears of joy. She nodded as Eva explained to him that he would be loved an cared for. There was more to be done, but she wanted to just savor this moment. She smiled at Eva's words and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yes."
During the process of her transformation, Eva’s golden hair seems to fall away as feathers of shimmering purples, greens, and blues sprout from her head. Short human legs become almost scaly at the bottom with feathers growing from her knees up and around her belly to reach her neck and head. The feathers shadow her belly and breasts, leaving seemingly human skin to peek out and seduce. Green eyes grow larger, their pupils dilating and overshadowing the irises that have turned from sea foam to emerald. Small feet grow and transform to talons, resembling those of a great eagle. Were she to glance over her shoulder she would see a long feathered tail that is as wide as her hips and hangs nearly to the ground.
It felt stuffy in her apartment and she needed some air. Phoebe had given Angel the space she needed just like she’d done for her months ago. Now, she found herself walking around Freedom Park. She should really socialize more, get out but that was hard when more than half of the people around her made her want to bash her - or their- head into a wall. Sensing the siren before hearing her laugh, she looked over at her. Eva looked huge but even she knew it wasn’t something you tell a pregnant woman. Phoebe cocked an eyebrow looking at the siren, a small smile playing on her lips. “Nah, I’m going with that baby making you go crazy.”
Eva sensed the Harpy right after she spoke, her extra special reaction times having slowed due to pregnancy hormones. Uncertain of whether she was glad to see the woman or not, she decided to play along with the small joke. "That's always a possibility, though I'm hoping it's only a temporary affliction." It had been months since the two has spoken or even seen one another. The Siren tried to remember if they'd had any contact since Phoebe had convinced her not to nix the pregnancy in the bud. Her mind was too clouded, though, and so she gave up in favor of speaking again. She hadn't missed the other woman's attention to her belly, and it didn't seem as if she wanted to touch it. From what she knew of the Harpy she took a stab in the dark. "It's alright, you can tell me I'm huge. You look like you want to. Trust me, I'm aware of it."
Alex smiled over at Eva, a sympathetic look on his face. She had to be miserable in this heat. “Logos isn’t too far away. Come back with me and get something cold to drink. I can give you a lift to your car or home, whichever you want.” He knew there was a chance the child she was carrying was his, and he was damn sure going to take care of him if that was the case. The last thing he wanted was Eva melting in the heat. “Whoever thought it was a good idea,” Alex said, going back to their earlier conversation, “needs to be drawn and quartered. Come on. Let’s go. The only time a Satyr and a Siren should be sweating is in the bedroom.”
Their playful banter brought a genuine smile to Eva's face, the first to grace her lips in what seemed like an eternity. "Free drinks? Hell yeah I'm in." As much as she wished that free drink was whiskey or coffee she knew that Alex would have the child in mind and there was no chance she could sneak one past him. In just a little over a month Gabriel would be here, and then she could go on a drinking binge to enjoy all of the delectable flavors she'd so missed since she'd discovered that he was coming. His comment brought forth an unladylike snort and she gave him a pointed look. "We've already covered that one Alex, and look where we wound up." She gestured grandly to the basketball underneath her shirt with a grin. "No more sweating for the two of us for a while. Let's go get that drink."
Alex loved the spring and summer in Atlanta. The heat, so strong in the south that it was almost palatable, was cleansing. The sweat rolling off his brow washed away sins and past transgressions almost as much as holy water at a communion. It was…spiritual in a way. It certainly felt that way as he jogged around the trail of Freedom Park after taking an early day from Logos. Since the breakout and subsequent unveiling of Mythics, Alex had taken a different approach to life. He held close those he cared about - closer than usual - and he tried to live. Those that they lost would expect nothing less of him, after all. He laughed, even when he didn’t feel like it. He spoke, even when he wanted to stare mutely at the wall. He socialized, even when he wanted to hide away from the world. And he moved… Where before he was content to spend lazy afternoons lounging poolside, the Alex of today needed to be in constant motion. Hence his afternoon jog around the track. He came to a stop, huffing and puffing, near a familiar figure. Smiling up with his characteristic smirk, the blue-eyed Satyr chuckled. “They say this exercise shit is good for you. I’m not a believer yet.”
Eva had finally convinced herself that moving to a standing position and walking back home was a good idea. After spending longer than she realized sitting on the bench in the sunlight she'd finally tuned into the world around her enough to see that the sun was beginning its retreat from the sky. Forcing her feet to return to the ground and support her, she headed away from her bench and towards the other side of the park. It wasn't a far walk to her house, but with the weight of her belly everything seemed a chore these days. Her small frame was not used to supporting more than ninety pounds. With the baby and the weight he added, she was having to take a break every few feet just to catch her breath. "This sucks." Just as she spoke she simultaneously sensed and heard one of her favorite people. Smiling, she shook her head at his joke. "Tell me about it. I can hardly make it from the bench to my car without passing out. Who the hell thought this exercise bullshit was a good idea?"
