Chapter 18 - Complications

Nate

After Clara had left the clinic, I did not waste any time and called Dana as soon as I could using my phone. She needs to be aware of the recent and newly collected information from her latest checkup, and it is largely because of this reason that I have chosen to keep a close watch on Clara and have requested that she come into the clinic on a weekly basis. If it were up to me, I would have her confined at the institution for the time being so that we could be certain that her condition is always being monitored and that we don't overlook anything significant. However, Dana stated that it would be suspicious for Clara, and based on what she knows about Clara, she would most certainly inquire about the arrangement and most probably refuse.

"Clara, she is completely unaware of us... In this day and age, we have done an excellent job of concealing all our species and the fact that we are supernatural or paranormal beings." Dana once told me when I asked about it. "I'm trying to find a way to tell her without giving her a heart attack, you know, given that she is also carrying a royal Lycan pup, of all things." She let out a sigh.

I feel sorry for Dana, and I have to say that I sympathize with her. She was forced into a situation where she had to tell the truth in order to protect and make sure that Clara is okay, but it might mean that she has to sacrifice her friendship with Clara if, upon learning about us, Clara proves to be a threat that will lead to the discovery of our existence.

We have remained hidden from humans, including werewolves, Lycans, vampires, fairies, elves, dwarves, nymphs, mermaids, and witches, to name a few, and it has remained that way since the inception of time. This has happened primarily because humans have proven to be significantly more dangerous than they appear, despite the fact that they do not possess the power, strength, longevity, or abilities of a paranormal being.

It is extremely rare for any of the paranormal or supernatural species to have a human partner, despite the fact that this is not a definite rule as a way of forming a mating bond. As a result of the loyalty oaths that human and supernatural couples take to one another, human mates are counted among us as members of our own species.

The circumstances surrounding Clara's case are unique and have never been documented before. Clara was pregnant as a result of an artificial insemination procedure that involved the seed of a powerful Lycan prince. In all of recorded history, when it comes to paranormal and supernatural beings mating with regular, common human beings, this has never, ever occurred.

"Hello? Nate?"

When I heard Dana's voice coming from the other line, I snapped out of whatever train of thought I was on at the time.

Nate, let's take it one complication at a time.

"Dana, thank goodness you answered the phone!" I stated this as I attempted to project the ultrasound image that we obtained from Clara's prior check-up on my big screen. "Listen, did you get my email? I sent it about an hour ago."

"What exactly is this email?" Dana asked. I was able to make out the distinct sounds of her slurping soup, and that's when I realized that I had probably called her while she was in the middle of enjoying her meal.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you might be eating or occupied with some other activity. Please excuse my interruption. I should have sent you a text before picking up the phone and calling you." I apologized.

I was just about to hang up when she added, "Geez, Nate, ever so polite." She giggled to herself as she slurped some more soup and chewed on something before continuing, "Yeah, I'm having some wonton soup and some chao fan from this Chinese takeout, and it's just so good. Please accept my apologies in advance if you happen to overhear me chewing and slurping the food I'm eating." In addition to this, she stated, "I'm not doing anything else, and I promise that I'm all ears. We did come to an agreement that we would keep each other informed of any developments with Clara. If it weren't, you wouldn't have called, would you?"

"Yeah, well, that's the thing. She complied with our request and came in for her regular checkup as scheduled. I said.

"And?"

"I have now forwarded an email to you containing the images that have been taken from her ultrasound. Just to be on the safe side, I made sure that it was encrypted and secure."

"Wait just a second. I'm going to put you on speakerphone right now. You are free to speak about anything because I am working from home and Clara is sound asleep on her couch...or bed, depending on how you look at it."

"I'm sorry, but did you say couch? You're making her sleep on your couch while she's pregnant?!?"

"Hey, calm down. Geez. Don't blame me. I offered her a place to sleep on my bed, but she declined, even though she does occasionally use it. " That woman is one stubborn one, regardless of whether she's pregnant or not," was the response that she gave.

I overheard Dana use her computer, and I am going to guess that she brought up the images on her screen because I heard her chopsticks fall with a distinct sound in the background at the same time.

"W-What, exactly, am I looking at, Nate?" Dana asked with some uncertainty.

"The ultrasound was carried out with Clara this morning, and she is just three weeks pregnant at this point. You're looking at the images we took from that ultrasound." I gave my response.

"There's absolutely no way that's possible." She stated. "If I had to guess, it would appear that she's been roughly four months already in her pregnancy."

"I know. To be precise, fifteen weeks, considering that it has already reached the size of a baseball." I said.

"Nate, this is not a good sign. This is bad, Nate."

"There's no need for you to tell me that." I answered back. "The baby is developing far too quickly, and the rapid growth is not something that her body is capable of keeping up with. "Because she is a human being, you are aware of the repercussions of this fact, correct?"

As she spoke, I was able to hear her clearly swallow as she stated, "T-That can only mean one thing, that’s for sure. The baby is eating her from the inside out."