46 The Test

Reyon sat back down on the couch, showing the test to Leon. He spat up his tea and jumped forward.

"Another child?!" he managed to scream.

"N-no! Not ours! This... has to be... Amora's."

"Well maybe she just... maybe..."

They were both lost for words when Amora entered the house with Cole. She seemed happier than ever. Her fears and worries, her anger and sadness, all of it seemingly vanished for now. Shogeki had left, and the terror was over.

Reyon stuffed the Pregnancy test into the couch cushion and stood up quickly alongside Leon, who both awkwardly greeted her.

"Hey mom, hey dad. How has today been for you?" Amora asked, more cheerfully.

"It's been... great actually! Your father and I were just going to go out for some groceries and we'll be back soon!" Reyon ran out of the house, whereas Leon stood waiting, he then stumbling and ran out of the house as well.

"They were acting a little... weird," Cole said, putting his hand on Amora's shoulder.

"Yeah... I guess they must have been talking about something weird..."

"Like making you a brother?" Cole asked, smiling.

"Ew! No!" Amora said, beginning to smile and laugh at the comment.

"Well... let's get everything we got to put up and prepare for a new-looking room!" Cole said, smiling and moving to Amora's room.

***

"We have to... set up some kind of test. Let's see how long it takes until she tells us." Leon suggested.

"That'll take too long. We need to ask her about it now. No need to be awkward... she's our daughter and she's 18." Reyon said, trying to keep her composure.

"We are going to be grandparents already! We are only in our twenties!" Leon said, wiping a tear away.

"Plus... we still have other matters to worry about. Shogeki hasn't shown himself and I assume he's keeping himself hidden. He must be planning something against us again. We have no choice but to... kill." Reyon said, her eyes dimming, losing their color.

"Alexia... it's happening again. Your eyes. They're... dark again."

"Yeah. It's all part of being part of my family. You've known that for a long time now. It's just when... when I feel that the things I love are in danger... this happens and my strength seems to increase exponentially."

"You have to control yourself. He's not nearby... we need to save that for when he does show again." Leon suggested, leaning toward Reyon, giving her a small peck on the cheek, and putting his hands back on the steering wheel. "We better get back home. Amora will wonder what is taking so long."

***

Cole and Amora had completely rearranged her room, which got rid of the constant memories of Aya and made Amora feel much better about her whole living condition. Her friends were gone, but she had to keep herself sane. Her medications... her family... she needed to keep herself with them.

Deep inside... Amora knew that if Shogeki came back... and took more people away... she knew it was the last straw. She knew she wouldn't be able to stop herself from fighting, from risking her own life. She knew she had to fight, but she was hoping he didn't come back.

"Anyway, it's getting late. Drink some water and make sure to get to sleep. Okay?" Cole asked, locking her window, and latching her twenty-five padlocks. He knew her paranoia wouldn't get better for some time, but he was hoping that it was helping her sleep better since she was more protected.

He pressed the button, which closed the thick metal shutters to the windows, blocking any entrance or exit.

***

"I'm sure you'll recover it soon." A voice echoed in a cave. "That brat... she doesn't deserve to live. Not anymore. She was a mistake waiting to happen." The voice continued.

"Now now... no need Xol... we must respect our enemy... especially since she did this much damage to me... so much so it's still healing," Shogeki spoke, craning his neck and listening to a few cracking noises.

He sat upward and removed the eyepatch covering his right eye. He looked over at Xol for affirmation.

"I'd say... you definitely need a couple more months... the damage is... terrible," Xol answered, looking away from the puffy, scratched, and white-layered eye.

"I've waited so long... but if I must wait longer... if I must wait longer to... gain strength and... kill her. I will. First... her parents... next... her." He began laughing, to which Xol smiled.

"That's the spirit... that's the spirit... now... please lay back down..."

"Master."