Ch.48 Nura

Chapter 48

"Nine pounds in one week," Rye said with a deep frown.

"Fuck," both Heyder and Exton mumbled under their breath.

"Is the baby fine?" Maya tried to lift her head off the pillow.

Heyder watched her struggle as his anxiety grew in him like a raging fire.

"Yes, the baby is fine," he tried to not snap. "But you're not. Losing nine pounds in one week can't be good.....for anyone!"

"I feel fine," Maya lied.

She gave up trying to move and laid back against the pillow. Her skin was pale and lifeless. The golden shine from her hair had disappeared two days ago, which also happened to be the last time she ate anything solid. Gemma did all that she could to replenish her, but no amount of medicine or magic helped.

The only thing that seemed to help, Maya didn't want....

"Please, just let me heal you," Heyder begged as he took her hand and sat down beside her.

"You've been healing me all night," Maya frowned. "You're drained too."

"Maya, I don't give a fuck," Heyder shook his head. "I told you already. I don't need any of this if I don't have you or Heyden."

Maya opened her mouth to refuse his offer to heal her when Exton spoke up.

"Heyder," he said calmly. "Go see Gemma. You healing her 24/7 can't possibly be good for you either."

"Yeah?" Heyder looked over his shoulder. "Since when do you care about what's good for me?"

"Since you became the only thing keeping my daughter and grandson alive," Exton's eyes darkened. "Don't drain all of your energy now. Who knows how much more Heyden will need in the upcoming months."

"You know," Rye said slowly as she gathered her things. "We had all assumed Mavi was a boy when I was pregnant."

"I remember," Exton said.

"What makes you all so sure the baby is a boy?" Rye raised a brow. "It's too early to tell. Heyden can be Heather."

Heyder groaned. A small weak smile appeared on Maya's lips as she touched her belly.

"Or twins like Ada and I," she said.

"Jesus Christ, no," Heyder rolled his eyes. "Just one is killing you. I don't want two."

"He's not killing me!" Maya frowned.

"No, of course not," Heyder said. "You're the picture of health. The poster child for pregnancy."

"Has there ever been fey and jinn hybrids?" Rye asked curiously. "If there were, we can learn a lot about what to expect. Right now we're just fishing in the dark."

"If there were, I didn't know about it," Heyder said. He laced his fingers with Maya and slowly, very slowly, started to push his magic into her. He did as much as he could before she noticed.

"Is there any record of them?" Exton asked.

"There might be. In the Tyveer court."

Maya's hand tightened around Heyder. She hated the idea of him going back to the place. Especially in his condition. No one was talking about it because they were all so focused on her, but Heyder looked like shit too. His dark hair was a mess. His eyes were red and tiredness swam in them like the sea. Maya didn't know how it was possible, but his already sharp features seem to have become sharper from all the energy he was losing. His cheekbones stuck out like mountain tops and his jawline looked sharp as a dagger.

"I'll send in some food," Rye got up from the edge of the bed. "Make sure you both eat."

Heyder nodded.

"Where's Paws?" Maya asked.

"He's been helping Caspian and Adam with the aphros," Exton said. "He called Basil in to help too."

"Basil is here?" Maya asked.

"Yeah," Exton nodded. "I'll tell him you want to see him."

"Thank you," Maya held out her hand. "Help me sit up, please."

Exton and Heyder took hold of each of her hands and slowly pulled her upright. Heyder leaned her against himself as Exton fixed the pillows behind her.

"Is there anything you want to eat?" He asked, pressing a kiss on her forehead.

"Pickles," Maya said. "And like a really juicy burger. And curly fries with mustard."

"I can have that arranged," Exton smiled. He looked at Heyder who beamed down at the girl. "Same order for you too?"

"Nah, I'm good," heyder shook his head.

"You need to eat too," Exton sighed. "I'll send in some."

__________________

Heyder waited until Maya was completely asleep to push as much of his magic as he could into her. Her skin had begun to come to life a bit and the dark circles under her eyes decreased. But the hollowness in her cheeks were still evident and every time he looked at them, his chest hurt.

"Give her a break," he whispered, rubbing Maya's belly. "And don't you dare push up that burger."

"Or dad will spank you," Ali's voice spoke up from the doorway. "Or do what your grandma used to do. Hang you upside down."

"I think Maya will murder me if I go the traditional jinn route," Heyder laughed, shaking his head.

"I think borderline child abuse worked out perfectly fine for us," Ali shrugged. "What didn't kill us made us stronger."

"Or gave us PTSD, it's debatable," Heyder shrugged.

Ali laughed. He closed the door quietly behind himself and walked farther into the room. Heyder felt the fey magic vibrate under Maya's skin, but as Ali stood a few feet away from the bed with a look of worry in his eyes, the currents died down and laid low.

"She looks awful," Ali frowned.

"Gee, thanks," Heyder rolled his eyes.

"What is the kid doing to her?"

"From what Gemma and I gathered.......his fey side is fighting his jinn side. And his witch side is just caught in the middle," Heyder sighed.

"Fuck," Ali's eyes widened. "How do you even stop that? I mean if he was fighting his brothers or classmates you could just separate them.....but this?"

"We're trying to give him as much magic as he needs to heal himself," Heyder picked up Maya's hand and placed a kiss upon it. "The fey almost killed him twice."

"Shit," Ali's breath caught.

"I stayed up pushing my magic into him to keep him going."

"But I thought you said the Fey is protecting them," Ali asked in confusion.

"Maya's fey magic is protecting them," Heyder clarified. "But Heyden's attacking himself."

Ali was speechless. He stared at his friend as he held his wife's sleeping hand. The long of longing in Heyder's eyes and the fear underneath left Ali feeling unsettled. He had never seen the man like that before. And it was a side he never wished to see ever again.

"Heyder," Ali spoke up after a while. "I can do it too."

"Do what?" Heyder looked up in confusion.

"We can take turns," Ali said. "I can heal Heyden while you take a break."

Heyder's eyes softened, "You realize what you are offering right?"

"I would imagine you would have done the same for Margo and I."

"Would I?"

"Well, maybe not the dick Heyder before," Ali rolled his eyes. "But I think the Heyder now......I think you would have."

"I could never ask you to heal them," Heyder said, looking back at Maya. "Gods forbid Margo ends up in her situation."

"I doubt our mermaid and jinn child will try to kill itself," Ali laughed. "Only your child would be so dramatic."

"I need to speak to Maaz," Heyder sighed. "I need to know if there's ever been fey and jinn children."

"You know the court would never let a offspring like that live," Ali frowned. "And they would have erased all records of it."

"I refuse to believe there has never been a fey jinn child before," Heyder moved a little closer to Maya. "There has to be something."

"And you think Maaz will help you?"

"I have to try," Heyder took in a deep breath.

"And give away your secret in the process," Ali grew anxious. "As soon as the court finds out about Heyden, they will come for him."

"They already know about him, remember?" Heyder snapped. "The shit show of a wedding."

"He was a theory," Ali reminded his friend. "Now he is a reality."

"Then what am I supposed to do?" Heyder said with frustration. "I need to know what to expect with Heyden. Maaz is the only one I can go to at court."

"I'm telling you, as soon as he finds out, they will send hundreds after the poor kid," Ali shook his head.

"Or I can just erase his memories."

Both the jinns jumped as Clare's voice spoke up from behind. Ali's eyes grew wide as his face drained of all color. Heyder could tell Clare had lowered her veil and his poor friend was feeling the true strength of her magic for the first time.

"Holy shit," Ali's voice cracked. "What the fuck are you?"

"I don't think there's a word," Clare gave a shy smile.

"You want to help us?" Heyder slowly put down Maya's hand and stood up.

"Yes," Clare took in a deep breath.

"Why?"

"I tried to stay out and let destiny take its course, but of course all that went to shit," Clare's eyes landed on Maya's sleeping body behind Heyder. "I realize now that letting the water flow freely isn't always the best course of action. Sometimes you need to forge a path for it."

"Took you long enough, Einstein," Heyder sassed.

"I'm only fifteen," Clare said in her defense. "Give me a break. I'm trying."

"So you need the ophiotaurus," Ali said in disbelief.

"Yes," Clare turned her eyes to the stunned jinn.

"Why on God's green Earth does a fifteen year old need a god killing creature?" Ali turned to Heyder. "Please......explain."

"We don't have time for that," Clare said. "Call your friend. Tell him to meet us at some place of your choosing."

_______________________

The hot desert sun rages across the sky like an angry bull. The giant date trees were still as statues. If it weren't for the hustle and bustle of the bazaar, Clare could have easily imagined she was in a different world.

"Try and keep up," Heyder said as he grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her along with him through the crowd.

Clare covered her ear with her free hand and bit down on her tongue. She felt her chest tighten as a thousand memories, hopes, thoughts, and faiths came crashing down on her. Her steps slowed and Heyder looked over his shoulder.

"Do you want to go back?" He asked, frowning.

"No," Clare shook her head.

"I don't think this was the best place to bring her," Ali said watching the girl.

"Hold on," Heyder took a step closer. He raised his hand and a bubble like shield appeared around the two. Clare opened her eyes slowly and looked at the jinn.

"Better?" Heyder asked.

Clare nodded. She could still feel every emotion running through the bazaar and see flashes of hundreds of lives, but standing under Heyder's shield was like being underwater. The sounds were muffled and the visions were blurry.

"Can you walk?" Heyder asked.

"Of course, I can walk," Clare let go of his hand and straightened up. "Lead the way."

"I used to think you were more like your father," Heyder smirked. "But I think you have a lot more bossy Dorin in you."

"You're married to one," Clare reminded him. "Be careful of what you say."

Heyder gave a careless laugh. He shook his head before looking over his shoulder to the small cafe across the street.

"I met your grandma there once," he pointed out to the girl. "Manya, not Rye."

"You did?" Clare raised a brow.

"We changed your parents' destinies on that table by the door."

"Oh," Clare took a small curious step forward. "So that's where everything went downhill."

"You're welcome," Heyder said. "You're here because of that agreement."

Clare looked at the jinn with an unreadable expression in her eyes. Heyder had never seen anything like it in all the years that he had been alive. It was too quick for him to decode and too unsettling for him to even want to know.

"There's Maaz," Ali said, lifting his chin to one of the tables on the other side of the cafe. "You ready, your highness?"

"My mother is her highness, I'm your grace," Clare corrected him.

"He doesn't care," Heyder said, taking Clare's hand once more. He began to lead the girl across the street as Ali followed behind. The shield around them shimmer in the sunlight as they weaved in and out of the crowd.

"Don't worry," Ali said. "They can't see it."

"I know," Clare said. "I'm not an idiot."

"I'm just trying to help!" Ali said defensively.

"I'm sorry," Clare frowned. "Someone here is very mad and I can't help take that in quicker then all the other emotions."

"Must be Maaz," Ali eyed the large man. "He might kill us with his bare hands."

"Let's all be civil, alright?" Heyder spoke to the two.

"Look at you," Clare smirked. "Already talking like a dad."

"Will I be in timeout if I don't behave?" Ali laughed.

"Or will we be grounded?" Clare joined in. "Are you going to take our phones away?"

"Ali, stay close to her," Heyder pointed to his friend.

"Why?" Ali asked in confusion.

"Annoying Clare is better than scary Clare," Heyder said, turning back to look at Maaz. "Let your stupidity seep into her."

"You let him talk to you like that?" Clare looked at the jinn.

"He has a good heart," Ali smiled.

"Toxic relationship 101," Clare looked away.

"You're 15, what do you know!"

"I swear to the gods, shut up!" Heyder snapped. "Both of you."

"I never felt this stupid before," Clare said. "I don't like it. Tell him to move away from me."

"Ali, move away from the Princess."

"Hey!" Ali protested.

"It's okay, Margo still likes you," Clare smiled.

Heyder pinched the bridge of his nose. He wondered why he had even bothered to bring the two along as he stepped onto the sidewalk and approached Maaz.

"Maaz," Heyder cleared his throat.

The large man looked up. His old face, wise beyond its years looked up as the group approached him. His eyes immediately took in Heyder's shield and then the little girl behind him. He raised a brow as they all took a seat.

"Did Maya reincarnate herself already?" He asked, looking at Clare.

"Ew, no," Clare shifted in her chair.

"This is C..... a friend of mine," Heyder introduced. "She's helping me with some research."

"Does your friend have a name?"

Heyder quickly opened his link to Clare, Don't tell him your name.

"It's Christmas," Clare sat up right. "My name is Christmas."

"Nice to meet you, Christmas," Maaz said, a bit wary. "What an interesting name?"

"I like strange names," Clare said.

"Did you name yourself?"

"In a way...." Clare smiled.

"Maaz," Heyder directed the jinn's attention away. "I need to ask you something."

"Of course you do," Maaz laughed, shaking his head. He picked up the cup of tea in front of him and took a long sip.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Heyder, you're a selfish child," Maaz said, calmly. "You only seek me out when you need something."

"True," Heyder tasted the bitterness in his voice. "I like to believe I'm getting better."

"I have yet to see the change," Maaz said.

"Some day, I hope you do," Heyder said quietly. "But today, I really need your help."

"Ask away," Maaz sighed. "How can I be of service?"

"You were in court when the Fey's were around, correct?"

"Yes," Maaz nodded.

"Has there ever been.......a fey and jinn child?"

Maaz's hand froze on his tea cup. Through the shield Clare felt the man's calmness dissolve into worry.

"Why do you ask?" He inquired.

"I need to know," Heyder said.

"Is your wife expecting?"

Clare felt Heyder grow uncomfortable beside her.

"Yes," he said, after a pause.

Maaz took in a long deep breath. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his palms over his legs before scratching his thick beard and then rubbing the back of his neck.

"Do you have any idea what Zubair will do? He asked, trying to contain his shock and anger. "What Mirza will do?"

"Fuck that prick," Heyder said. "I have bigger shit to deal with right now. My son is killing himself along with his mother."

"That's nothing new!" Maaz put his hands down on the table in front of them. The half empty tea cup rattled. "Fey and jinn do not mix well together."

"So there have been others?" Ali asked.

"Yes, of course!" Maaz groaned.

"What happened to them?" Heyder inched closer.

"They went insane!" Maaz said. "What else do you think happened to them?"

Heyder paled, "What?"

"Fey and jinn children do not survive," Maaz said slowly. "The only one that ever survived long enough was only seven years old before the madness consumed them."

"No," Heyder shook his head in disbelief. "That can't be true."

"The child's name was Nura," Maaz said slowly. "Her mother was a Fey and her father was a jinn."

Clare felt fear slowly rise up inside of her. It began to choke her and her eyes watered. She looked over and realized Heyder's hands had begun to shake.

"In today's terms some may call it dissociative identity disorder or schizophrenia," Maaz's voice grew grim. "But it's really just one race trying to drown out the other for dominance."

"Heyder," Maaz, who seemed to have aged a thousand years in the last few minutes, lowered his voice. "Bringing the child into the world isn't the issue. Saving them from themselves is the real battle."

Unknowingly, Clare had taken Heyder's hand into her under the table. She held it firmly as she felt his pain soak into her mind.

"There must be some way to help," Ali said, when it was evident Heyder was incapable of speaking.

"I'm sorry," Maaz shook his head. "I wish there were."

"So what do we do now?" Ali turned to Heyder.

"You have two options," Maaz answered. "Abort the child or prepare to fight Zubair and the rest of the court."

Heyder's eyes snapped up. Clare dropped his hand as if he shocked her as anger, boiling anger like lava, rumbled in him.

"Fuck you," Heyder said through his teeth. "Fuck you if you think I would allow anything to hurt my child."

"He won't make it!" Maaz said in frustration. "Save Maya the grief of losing a child after she watches him grow up."

"You don't know that," Clare spoke up. "Heyden will have us. He will have all of us to help him."

"He will tear everything apart along with himself," Maaz said. "He will be a danger to all. The court won't turn a blind eye to that."

"The court will never know," Ali said.

Maaz turned to the jinn in confusion, "What?"

"The court will never know about my son until I want them to," Heyder rose from the table.

"You think I will just sit quietly on this inf-" Maaz looked baffled. He glared up at Heyder but before he could finish, Clare reached across the small table and placed her palm over the man's forehead.

Ali immediately scooted his chair back as Heyder looked away and scanned the bazaar. Clare flipped through the images in the jinn's head and erased their conversation from the last few minutes. When she was down, she pulled back slowly and sank back into her chair. Heyder looked down at her as Maaz cleared his voice.

"Well, it was very nice catching up with you all," he said, his voice cheerful. "What a pleasure to meet you, Christmas."

"Likewise," Clare gave a weak smile.

Maaz rose from his seat and looked at Heyder, "Keep in touch. Tell Maya I said hello."

Heyder nodded. He turned away from the jinn and focused back on the crowd. Ali and Maaz exchanged greetings before the jinn disappeared.

"Let's head back, guys," Ali said. His eyes moved from Heyder to Clare. "You okay, your grace?"

"Nura," Clare said.

Heyder slowly looked over his shoulder.

"What?" Ali asked, not sure he heard Clare.

"Nura," Clare said a little louder. "She.....she was Maaz's daughter."

Poor Heyder.....what do you think will happen to the baby?