Cyrosphere 8: Lives Uneasily Affected Read online

  Sometimes like this, it made education seem like a waste. Giving an A for standard form over creativity was what academia liked, but not Ginger’s own personal viewpoint of learning. A whole hour went by, she was it was almost 11:20 so she stuffed everything in her bag and headed for the door.

  Walking across campus at midnight was nice. It brought a sense of closeness to nature and cleared her mind of all the clutter. She switched her phone back on and waited for the outside world to bombard her. Somehow she felt it, a change in the air or maybe it was her intuition but something was definitely off.

  Chapter 7:

  Closing her eyes and clearing her mind, Ginger didn’t know what it was right off the bat but something was up. Someone had did something, so she used her mind to do a telepathic check of the nearby area.

  She felt it, a small glimmer of another mind and then it vanished before she could try and read it. Ginger tried again and the mind was gone, but she knew for sure it was an indigo. Why was an indigo targeting her?

  The rest if the way home, Ginger was on high alert. Something was definitely up and she just couldn’t put her finger on what it was.

  Taking a moment before she walked back to the hotel; Ginger kept expecting someone or something to attack her. Her mom instincts were on high alert as well her flight settings if something happened. Not a lot of people could avoid a mind probing and yet somehow this indigo did it and barely got detected.

  That is what worried Ginger the most. Over the years, she developed a system to deal with threats. Something about this time was different. It was like the rules were changed and no one told her.

  Things were going so well that is had to be too good to be true. Tomorrow she’d tell Mark and Penny, see what they could uncover. With Mark’s connections and Penny’s magic, whoever had decided to target her will soon regret it. From here on out, Ginger had to protect her fetus and that meant at all cost.

  Trying to go to bed with the worry someone had followed her home. She knew that was irrational and this anxiety was always there, but somewhere in the back of her head. All the damn hormones from baby made her mind feel cluttered and chaotic.

  The fact that Lucas was acting normal didn’t help. He didn’t stay up to see she got home safely. Sure he had work early and Ginger got home at a quarter after midnight. Finally after anxiously tossing and turning for twenty minutes, Ginger crashed hard.

  Chapter 8:

  Waking groggily the next morning was the worse. It was like she got no sleep at all. Seven thirty arrived a little too quickly for her. Ginger sat up and saw a gift on Lucas’ side of the bed.

  The tiny red jewelry box was wrapped in a bow. Ginger picked it up and slipped off the bow. Placing the lid to the side, she saw a pair of silver caret earrings with small green emeralds. It was the most amazing thing she saw, oh wait.

  What is this for? Had Lucas finally realized that she told him she was carrying their child, or had she forgotten some anniversary? Shit! This was not good. She needed to calm down. There was no way all this pressure probably wasn’t good for the baby.

  Before she could think a moment longer, Lucas came in carrying a tray of fresh fruit, tea and a hot stake of French toast. Man she loved him, her fiancée. Sure he had proposed and she accepted, but Lucas had yet to buy her an engagement ring.

  The jewelry she got this morning more then made up for that and besides she had the man. To hell with the jewelry, but these earrings were divine. They ate together and he informed her, the anniversary of when they first met five years ago.

  Holy crap, it had been that long and she totally forgot. All that mattered that she loved him. Ginger met this great guy and she couldn’t be happier.

  Okay, bite the bullet and tell him again. Ginger smiled, rubbed her arm and states, “Sweetie, do you remember what I told you yesterday?”

  She watched and he smiles. He states, “You are having our baby. I heard you, I just needed time process. The jewelry I had already.” He went to the closet and pulled out a package.

  Lucas lays it on the bed beside Ginger. She looked at him, smiled and jumped at him for a hug. This allowed Ginger to finally celebrate as she pulled back to drink her tea. He pulled out a file of OBGYM doctors and had already schedule her appointment.

  As much as Ginger appreciated that; she didn’t like the fact he was being controlling and trying to dictate which doctor she saw. It was sweet in which case, she tried to calm down and be thankful Lucas was so willing to be involved.

  The next couple of days went by in a flash and before she knew it, it was time to see the OBYGYN for her first sonogram.

  Chapter 9:

  Of course Lucas insisted he escort her. He went from removed to totally attach to her hip. It was like he wanted to experience each moment with her.

  Ginger was getting annoyed with him. If not for her conversation with Stacey, she might have strangled him. Men like Peter and Lucas had very limited rules besides to be supportive so they went overboard. That was an understatement, but at least Ginger understand his motivation which lowered her reaction to less violent means.

  The wait seemed to take forever, but one she heard it. Ginger as forever changed when she heard that heartbeat. That baby was still small but her child was very much loved by a whole army of people.

  Leaving the doctor office with the picture, all she wanted to do was give birth and meet this little person. Her littler person was the most precious cargo she owned, so she had told Penny and Mark about the run in the other night.

  No more incidents had taken place. Something felt like it was watching her and bidding its time. That is what scared her the most at present, not enough time to figure out what was going on before the baby was born.

  Thankfully Ginger took separate car from Lucas so he went back to work. She took the day off to just go to the doctor’s office. Now she needed to head to the Darkholme mansion.

  Lupio, Mark and Penny were there to discuss what happened. Mark was barbequing which was great because Ginger was famished. She craved food all the time and only ten weeks with child. It felt like her body was no longer under her control.

  It was both terrifying and exciting at the same time. First Ginger would want food and then she’ll be filled, then crave something else. Luckily her pregnancy was nothing like Stacey’s due to Ginger had absolutely no morning sickness. So she counted her blessings were she could fine them. Thankfully she hadn’t gained any weight, much.

  That was a total lie. She gained muscle and her pants were filling out but none were exactly snug yet, so she had time into she needed to go maternity shopping. Ginger just hoped she wouldn’t pop up like a blimp. That was all she could think about as she pulled up to the house.

  Chapter 10:

  Seeing everyone inside sitting around enjoying a beer like Lupio has while he flipped the burgers. Penny and Stacey were talking, while the kids played and ran around. Mark was in a lawn chair reading a book from the library. This was her family and she’d do everything in her power to protect them and she knew they’d do the same.

  Smiling and eating, life was good in that moment. Black out all the bad to enjoy the time they had together. Since she was hormonal, Ginger decided to be sentimental and take a few photos. How she missed all those that she lost over the years.

  Can’t dwell on the past and have to celebrate life. That made her smile, it sounded like something her dad would say. When they were through eating, she had lemonade out by the pool. Penny put the kids down for a nap. Mark started with he had nothing from contacts and he didn’t need to touch Ginger to know she was shaken about something.

  When Penny returned, she really didn’t have much to add. The tracking spells she tried came back invalid. None of her magic were able to detect the indigo that was watching Ginger. That is what really freaked Ginger out. Was someone after her unborn child?

  This baby would be something special and that frighten her more then life itself.

  Ginger looked at Penny be
fore asking, “What about asking the dead?”

  That took Penny by surprise as she was going to dismiss the idea completely. The look on Ginger’s face mad her respond, “Okay. I’ll ask them but this is an emergency. I don’t like messing with the natural order of things.”

  That was reasonable, it was the same with the misuse of her time abilities. Now with Spider gone, she was only one with complete control over time. It seems Oscar had lost all his indigo powers over time. He had magic to rely on.

  When asked Malcolm, his only explanation was Oscar didn’t exist yet so time was rewriting itself. Next Aiden had not made an reappearance since the incident at Piper’s mansion.

  Of course that didn’t stop Piper from rebuilding or hiring more goons to do anything she damn well pleased. There were more indigos out there beside Aiden and this unknown possible threat.

  Lupio wanted to go after MaryAnne and Piper, no matter what he didn’t thrust them. Piper hadn’t changed so much as made a truce which was the only reason they hadn’t brought he down. It was not like she was drug trafficking or money laundering. There was more to the story, but for now Ginger was not concerned about Piper Sharp-Granes.

  Chapter 11:

  Ginger and Stacey cleaned up after everyone left. Stacey was super excited and couldn’t wait to throw her a baby shower. They finished cleaning up and Stacey went to check on the baby. Judy was getting so big, and Ginger decides to go dip her feet in the pool for a littler while.

  Man, Ginger could really go for a drink; maybe something sweet and oh so delicious. She soaked a little longer before she decided to go home. Maybe she’d make stuffed mushrooms and a pie. To use cherry or peach fillings that was the major question. This felt good to be merry sunshine and her only major concern was what kind of pie she wanted to make.

  Ginger decides on a peach pie as she made the stuffed mushrooms and cooked up a can of green beans. The peach pie took longer to make as she finished up while the pie was baking, Ginger tidied up the place.

  Once she was finished, she would take a nap when the timer went off. Ginger finished dusting off the counter, before she went to the back for that nap.

  Waking up two hours later, refreshed Ginger graded the last of her papers. She filled them in to her grade book before checking her work email for Lore Inc. Keith sent her a notice that the hotel’s last months figures were sixty percent over expected budget.

  That made her proud as she signed into her school account. Inputting the grades and spending the next thirty minutes reading over emails. Most pretty straight forward and busy work. Once she was through, it was close to six twenty and Lucas would be home soon.

  Taking this alone time to read a baby prep book. Sitting down in her study, she got so engrossed that didn’t notice that Lucas came home. Time seemed to slip by faster and faster, almost as if this was all a dream. They ate and discussed baby names.

  About the time they got in bed, she was to exhausted to have sex or read recreational. Ginger drifted off to sleep as soon as her head hit the bed. The next day, she had a full schedule. She needed to attend meetings and be at the hotel into six. Luckily Ginger emailed her students to come ten minutes later and that way she could teach as well.

  The day flew by in a rush of activities and meetings. When she got to the campus, her students were all there waiting for her to being the class. Instead of writing, she had them watch a film by Howard Hughes. Take his work and apply to one of Shakespeare’s plays in a modern day remake.

  They loved that. She ended class once the assignment was given. She sat at her desk, read through her emails into her next class started. When they all filed in she was ready to begin her weekend. It was surprising that Vincent came late. Vince is a very studious student, but who could be upset for a ten minute delay.

  Once class was over, he stayed behind. Jessica and Belinda asked a few review questions on my notes. Vincent told me that his fairy magic detected a rift in the environment. It was like gaps in the universe and that was exactly what she felt but couldn’t describe.

  That was a very discouraging idea, but at least someone else felt it. She wasn’t alone and that meant someone was doing surveillance on her.

  Chapter 12:

  That weekend she went maternity shopping with Stacey and Penny. They made a day of it with lunch and movies. Penny wanted to get Jurnee as early birthday gift. Sure she still had three weeks but why wait. While they were out, Stacey and Ginger also found something.

  Stacey brought it them and there so incase inventory ran out, that would not be an issue. Ginger wasn’t in a rush so much and left with the online information from Forever 21. Next Ginger went to Victoria Secrets; she needed a few new bras. After that they went to the Target in the Culver City mall.

  She got great clothes at reasonable prices. That took up must of their Friday. They went and saw Mad Max next, it was a nice change from all the romance Ginger had been infuriated with.

  The action pack movie was a mirror to most of Ginger’s crazy, intense and vibrant life. When they left it was time for her to take her prenatal vitamin. Once at the apartment, Penny waited into Stacey left to inform her that she contacted the dead.

  It seems the dead wanted Ginger to know that PHD was still thriving and it hadn’t ended yet. That was not good news and here she was thinking, they were finally out of the woods. This was not good news, but at least explained where the missing Aiden went. It also connected it to the unknown indigo tailing her.

  Ginger thanked Penny and went side to take a nap. Later that night, Lucas woke her up to a plate of enchiladas with rice and beans. Taking the tray, Ginger devoured the meal before moving on to Lucas. After a few hours of romantic, passionate hormonal filled sex, she was ready to write late into the night.

  The next few hours, Ginger sat in her study and typed out a mystery book. After going to bed, Ginger sat in wonder if MaryAnne had truly changed. She didn’t want to doubt her, but could MaryAnne be that great an actress. This thought plagued her mind when finally sleep took over.

  Waking up early, Ginger went to the kitchen to make breakfast for Lucas. It was Saturday, so they both had the day off. They go walk around the park, perhaps go to a museum or some other adventure. Once home after a long day, they say eating Chinese food while Lucas rubbed her feet.

  Ginger was so into the foot rub, she didn’t hear her phone go off. It was a text from Mark asking her to call him ASAP. She told Lucas she’d be up soon, as she called Mark. He answered and explained he needed her help. Somebody had threaten Destiny, left a note which is why he needed her and Guadalupe’s to help.

  It was the last thing Ginger wanted to deal with, but agreed to meet him tomorrow. On Sunday, she would be protecting a shallow witch queen who couldn’t b bothered to lift a finger to save her own life. Ginger sighed as she went up to bed.

  Chapter 13:

  The next day, Ginger got up and made breakfast for Lucas who promised to have a hot meal ready for her when she came home. That sounded wonderful as Ginger got ready and waited for Lupio to drop by. Lucas liked to catch up on paperwork on Sundays.

  It wasn’t a big deal for Ginger who usually prepared her lesson plans, graded everything she forgot and worked on her short stories. Today was an exception, so when Lupio arrived it was time to go. She still couldn’t believe Mark was the head of Destiny’s security team.

  The witches have a strange loyalty. Demons she understood since growing up with them, but witches were another story. Ginger had no drama following Shadey. Shadey had a good head on her shoulders, but Destiny was another story all together.

  True Ginger didn’t know her well, so she shouldn’t judge but her personality was too difficult to ignore. Ginger pushed her own feelings down, summoned a portal to Tamroot Magi Temples, which is hidden in Paris.

  Ginger wished she could go shopping or go eat the wonderful food her man prepared. Maybe after, that would be the motivation she needed to stomach Destiny. Lupio and she were escorted directly to M
ark. Mark’s office had changed a ton since the last time she came her. First he actually had an office.

  When she came about four years ago, he was always moving and Destiny remarked what does a worker bee need with personal space. The only reason Ginger had gone was because Penny asked her to. Penny was like the unofficial third witch queen. Shadey was her friend, but the relationship with Destiny was closer to a frienemy.

  Ginger still could not figure out how Penny tolerated her. Luckily she only had to deal with her in small doses, like today for instances. They were in a private room that looked like a conference room for meetings. Mark told them that was no threat on Destiny which totally pissed off Ginger.

  Lupio asked, “So why are we here?”

  “To help me,” stated Destiny.

  Ginger didn’t bother to look at the shallow woman. Somehow she knew she had something skimpy on to show off her body and her hair was probably just done. Destiny Lenore Sewyer always looked flawed, ready to step off a magazine cover. And today was no different when Ginger turned to answer her.