Almost simultaneously, every door in the hallway flew open with a thunderous slam. Ehimus, Miján, Katherine, and Heroclades must have sprung from their beds the instant the scream rang out because, in less than a breath, they were sprinting through the dining hall with agility and precision.
"I have never heard my sister scream like that!" Katherine said, her voice laced with concern. "Prepare to face the unexpected." She spoke these words just as she passed right by the little boy no one could see, mere moments before bounding up the stairs.
With a single leap, the runners seemed to fly through the air, reaching the second floor without even touching the steps. Rey shook off his shock and decided to hurry, but no matter how fast he tried to run, he heard the master bedroom door being kicked down before he even reached the second stair. Still, he continued as swiftly as his knees, elbows, and fingers would allow him to scramble up the gigantic steps.
Finishing the climb, Rey entered the room only to find a scene that made him freeze. None of the adults were moving; they weren't speaking, barely even breathing. Slack-jawed, their faces betrayed a loss for words in the face of a situation so urgent that there was no room to worry about covering their bodies or hiding their nakedness from one another.
Those present—formidable fighters prepared to face any threat—were staring at the vampiress as if turned to stone.
Miján broke the silence. "Are you alright?! How do you feel, Maryam? Not that I want to scare you, but… it is my understanding that a vampiress's gestation period should last at least two thousand four hundred and seventy-eight days, or even up to three thousand."
Maryam, clutching her belly with trembling hands, snapped back, "Do I look alright?! Of course not!" She sounded rattled, as if she couldn't accept what had happened to her practically overnight.
Rey could sense his mother struggling for air as she spoke. He didn't know much about numbers, but he could imagine it was a lot, judging by the stress Miján put on the words when he spoke about the length of the pregnancy. He also understood that a night was simply when the lights went out and you couldn't see anything.
"Impossible!" Katherine exclaimed in unison with Heroclades. "But how?"
"What does this mean?" Wulfgang asked, bewildered. "I'm not understanding. Katherine, isn't this how her previous pregnancies went?"
"I don't think so," Miján interjected on behalf of the muscular vampiress.
"No one in the entire lineage is capable of creating life this fast," the muscular vampiress replied seriously amidst the murmur of whispers.
Ehimus, observant and indiscreet as ever, commented, "I can't stop staring at your tits. They look like they're about to…"
The pale, inverted nipples began to leak.
"Oops! Maryam, you're dripping milk. I knew it! I had a feeling they were going to burst! Woooo! Take cover!"
Following Ehimus's comment, Maryam took a deep breath, expanding her collapsed lungs as much as she could, and screamed:
"Shut up, all of you, and let me think, damn it!!!"
Silence fell over the room. The vampiress used her hands to straighten her torso and continued speaking in a polite, courteous tone. Rey also kept quiet, practically standing on tiptoe at the sound of his irritated mother's scolding voice.
"Maryam, you cannot lose your glamour. Calm, Maryam, calm down. Think. My breasts are full, I just woke up, and it is natural for the milk supply to be at its peak. But this isn't milk, it's colostrum, and it doesn't necessarily mean I am about to give birth. On the other hand, the size of my belly says otherwise. Compared to what I remember, it is almost twice as big, perhaps because it isn't just one baby… Ehimus, come here. You'll have to drink my milk to relieve the pressure I'm feeling. Fang, you too."
"With your permission, I have to step out," Heroclades said, looking a bit flushed.
Pausing for a moment, Rey watched as his master, after speaking, placed his hands between his legs and quickly exited the room. Miján turned around and stared at the floor, while Wulfgang and Ehimus suckled at Maryam's breasts.
Her belly is so big she surely can't see her feet or move like before. I hope my poor mother doesn't explode, thought Rey, who, despite hearing the vampiress's babbling, still understood nothing of what was happening.
"Waak. Bitter… I don't like it," Ehimus said after swallowing.
Rey, unable to sit still, paced the room trying to deduce the situation. His mother made a grimace. The expression did not go unnoticed by the muscular vampiress.
"Sister… what's with that face?" Katherine asked.
Maryam, astonished and unable to believe it herself, gasped, "Ugh… My water just broke!"
At this news, Wulfgang made a choking sound, half-swallowing, only to ask loudly, "What?!"
Maryam replied, "I am about to give birth. Kat, start filling the jacuzzi. Uuuow. We'll need hot water… Aah."
The muscular vampiress proceeded to carry out the order with speed and efficiency.
Miján seemed to snap back to reality and, clapping his hands twice, summoned a floating machine above him. "XWZ, scan and display results…"
The machine requested a second. Immediately after, it proceeded to execute the user's orders, moving precisely to hover over the vampiress. A light beamed from inside the flying device. The ray projected images that appeared to show Maryam's insides. The wolf and the elf stopped their task to watch as a large screen displayed the interior of the vampiress's belly. Inside an eight-cornered frame, three distinct bulges could be seen floating in something that looked like red water.
Miján requested better resolution along with a verbal report. Following the voice command, the faces of the three babies became visible, along with their sexes, while a detailed description played:
"Scan and analysis complete. Aging body hovering approximately at eighteen human years. Gender: Female. Species: Vampire. Age: Unknown. Pregnancy development: Last stage of gestation. Blood pressure, respiration, pulse, and other vital signs: within normal parameters. No urgent medical or physical conditions detected. Approximate duration of pregnancy: seven years and fifteen human days. Size of babies: normal. Size of belly and placenta: normal. Mother's diet and nutrition: normal. Warning: intensification of frequency and duration of contractions, four to seven contractions every ten minutes."
Give birth, water broke, gestation, parameter, years, nutrition, gender, jacuzzi, contractions. Many new and confusing words for the ears of the little boy no one could see. The floating device, which had transformed into a hologram of a light elf with features similar to the user and used complicated terms, didn't help him understand the situation much either, even though it was explained in detail to the others. However, the image of three little bundles floating in the air gave him an idea of what was happening. Even so, not wanting to jump to his own conclusions, Rey remained silent, watching, listening, and paying close attention to the strange hologram Miján had summoned, hard as it was to believe.
XWZ continued:
"Three babies positioned head-down are on the way. Fetus #1. Gender: Male. Predominant genes: Werewolf. Physical condition and vital signs within normal parameters. Asleep. Fetus #2. Gender: Male. Predominant genes: Vampire. No irregularities. Asleep. Fetus #3. Gender: Male. Genes: two of equal quantity and nomination; hybrid. No irregularities. Awake and appears to be tracking the vibrations of the scan."
Upon hearing the word "hybrid," Rey shifted his gaze back to the screen and recognized himself inside his mother's belly—not by his facial features, but by his eyes. Two luminous white spheres that gave the impression of piercing through whatever they looked at; they inspired fear in allies and enemies alike, and even in himself. The others looked impressed as well, but they were paying particular attention to the time that had passed and the imminent birth.
"That much time has passed?! It can't be! We couldn't have slept that long, could we?" Ehimus added, almost frantic, continuing, "Seven years asleep! Seven years without eating, without going to the bathroom, without moving… How is it possible that I'm still small and flat-chested? How is it possible that Heroclades is still alive?!"1
"The old man mentioned something about the night2," Katherine said, trying to jog her memory. "Maybe this is what he was referring to… By the way, where is he?"
The vampiress's breathing grew ragged. Maryam squeezed her sister's hand tighter and asked if the tub was full. Suddenly, the charismatic voice of a scrawny, elderly man drifted in through the door that was still lying on the floor.
"Hello, hello in here! Sorry for the delay. Let me introduce you to Ana, 'The Old Woman of the Forest,' and Clara, 'The Old Woman of the Lake.' They are going to assist in the tenant's delivery."
Katherine, looking as if she were seeing a demon that had been summoned, added with concern, "She doesn't need help. We are more than enough… We just want to know what is happening."
Rey turned his head and saw Wulfgang rest his forehead against his beloved's, then pull back slightly to look into her eyes. Ehimus's eyes went wide as saucers as she looked from one to the other. But the vampiress's gaze said it all; still, she had to speak, and those present had to listen.
"I think it is better to follow the Great Wise Mage's advice. Don't take it the wrong way, but I didn't expect there to be three, and I don't feel I have the strength to regenerate the wound if they have to cut my belly open."
She took a breath, as deep as she could to maintain her calm and hide the pain.
"On the other hand, it would be a good opportunity for you all to have a conversation and receive the explanation you deserve about this place," the vampiress said, controlling her demeanor even as the pain intensified with every passing moment.
Wulfgang, Ehimus, Miján, and Katherine focused even more intently on the vampiress. Rey could see they were worried and didn't know what to do or say, as if they were weighing the situation. The Great Wise Mage turned and left the room. immediately after, the little old ladies, relying on the charisma and assurance emanating from their presence, managed to usher everyone out of the room, even the husband. Silvia entered discreetly and, as soon as everyone had been expelled, fixed the door and closed it with a smile on her face, projecting calm and assuring that everything would be fine.
Rey was the only one left inside the room. He swallowed hard, checking to make sure no one could see him yet. Even so, being there, where none of the adults could remain, made him feel nervous. Even more nervous than when he saw his mother and father acting strangely with each other. Watching with curiosity, he moved closer to the bed and saw the three women helping his mother to her feet. Clumsy and exhausted, the vampiress with the prominent belly moved across the room and, little by little, lowered herself gently into the tub of water with the help of those present.
Maryam seemed troubled by everything around her. From one moment to the next, if she wasn't moaning or gritting her teeth, she was frantically organizing the items beside her. But a sudden mood swing would manifest on her face, and with a backhanded sweep, she would knock over everything she had just arranged. Rey could detect fear in his mother. The anxiety in her fingers grew so acute that she needed to bite them until they bled just to silence her doubts.
In a low, discreet voice, the vampiress looked at the two elderly women present and asked:
"If it comes to it, could you ignore the deformity of any of my children and let me, my husband, or one of the boys take care of the rest?"
"Our job is to guarantee your safety and that of the babies," Clara said.
"From that point on, it will be your responsibility," Ana finished the sentence.
Calm now, and with the ghost of a smile on her face, Maryam returned to the present—only to scream as if she could no longer endure the pain. Rey still didn't understand what was worrying his mother. Why does she allow the others to be expelled? he wondered. Drawing closer, as if wanting to make her pain his own, he saw something he shouldn't have when Maryam clutched her belly, leaned back, and lifted her legs wide open.
I suppose that is an open belly and that is the exit, the little boy thought, his eyes locked on the space between his mother's legs.
The opening was considerable; there was blood and fluids all around it, and it was stretching wider. The skin in the area was taut, looking as if it wanted to give way entirely because what was coming was larger than the hole itself.
It looks like hair, yes… the head of someone seems to be coming out between her legs. But it's struggling. Maybe I'll also see her belly continue to tear open… But if what I'm looking for is information, I think it will be more productive to go to the other adults, the boy told himself. He turned his back on the grotesque situation and passed through the door as fast as he could.
Upon passing through the wood, Rey ran into his father, who was standing right in front of the entrance. Wulfgang wore the look of someone struggling to trust. Rey understood that his father felt responsible, that perhaps he was nervous, worried, and a little disheartened.
Adults can't know everything, he told himself.
The little one didn't just look at the Lycanthrope; he looked at the others as well. They looked equally anxious. None of them had had time to reflect on the situation or think clearly.
Rey heard screams of pain behind him, heard Heroclades demanding explanations from the Great Wise Mage, heard Katherine pacing from one side to the other, heard Ehimus shifting on the largest piece of furniture in the living room, and heard his father's deep, heavy breathing.
Since everything on the first floor was more active, and that was where the Great Wise Mage was located, Rey decided to keep walking and peer over the railing to look down into the center of the foyer. There, beneath the stairs where the rest of the pack was gathered, the faces were no different from Wulfgang's. They didn't understand what had happened either; they looked as if they needed an explanation before they exploded or attacked someone.
The Great Wise Mage, as if suggesting a truce, conjured a chair and sat down calmly. Remaining in a neutral position, hands on his thighs, back straight, and head held high, the old man kept silent and offered only a discreet smile to everyone present.
Rey understood the body language; the old man, with his calm and neutral gestures, was implying that the conversation would take time, and that he had no intention of fighting or raising his voice to be heard. After descending the first step, Rey also took a seat. Resting his elbows on his knees, he leaned forward and let his chin rest in his hands. Rey looked up, and with his white eyes on the verge of boredom, watched as the others took their seats almost grudgingly.
Once everyone was comfortable and there was barely a sound, the Great Wise Mage began to speak in a low, affable voice:
"Do not misunderstand me; like Silvia, I will not interfere with your lives and decisions. Even if you decide to kill the possible reincarnation of the previous reformer of hell. But I do want to explain the currents of time to you; they are responsible for making everyone's stay more pleasant."
Doubts were reflected on the faces of those listening.
Rey, a bit puzzled, thought: Is it me they are talking about? Honestly, I don't feel like a 'reincarnation,' so that must not be the case.
The Great Wise Mage continued:
"An example is that, despite being different species and needing different amounts of time to satisfy the weariness of your bodies, none of you woke up feeling tired or sleepy. Is that not so?... This is because, for some, time stopped in their rooms, and for others, it did not."
Opening his eyes, the old man seemed to realize that uncertainty reigned on the faces of his listeners.
"Time in this place has lost all logic as you know it. It is not linear, much less constant. Just because the lights fade or brighten does not necessarily mean the sand in the hourglass is falling, but neither does it mean it is stopped. Furthermore, the power we are speaking of rejects and nullifies any event or phenomenon that is undesirable for this place, such as aging. Therefore, you do not get older. Although your bodies do develop hunger and other physiological needs while you are awake…"
Sighs and moans from Maryam became audible behind the door to the master bedroom—the same door the Lycanthrope was guarding.
Miján, ignoring the sounds and taking advantage of the pause the Great Wise Mage had made, asked:
"Then why did we all wake up at the same time?"
The Great Wise Mage raised a finger in the air and opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, the energetic cry of a child rang out. Once the crying subsided, the old man proceeded to answer the Light Elf's question:
"The currents of time. When the lights go out and darkness comes, the individual who needs the most time to replenish their strength, body, and mind is placed last; those who need less rest are positioned first. If you are the first and you have already slept what you needed, your time will stop until the last individual is also satisfied. When everyone is ready, the flow of time triggers, and the light returns, allowing you to have a synchronized awakening."
Rey turned his head, sensing that behind the door, the sighs and moans had turned into something else—sounds so familiar that he came to ask himself: Does it feel just as painful as when she is alone with my father?
Yes, Maryam was no longer sighing and moaning as before; now she was sobbing and screaming just like she had when having sex with Wulfgang in the jacuzzi. It was true that the vampiress's sobs and screams were more intense now, but what was the difference to the little one or the adults?
Finally, a second cry was heard. To Rey, the wails sounded different from the first. A little less energetic, yet longer. Undeniably, it belonged to a second baby who had just arrived in the house. Rey knew there were three babies to come, and with the second cry, when he turned his head back, he saw everyone in the living room smile. That the majority of the vampiress's labor was ending was a cause for joy. But as the silence intensified, the tension rose among the pack members.
Rey could swear that none of those present seemed to have any intention of asking another question. They were breathing faster, their faces gradually flushing, and they shifted in their seats in a funny way. They weren't acting as they normally did—except for the Great Wise Mage. It was as if, instead of waiting for the third baby to burst into tears, they were imagining something else and trying to hide it.
Yes, if Rey closed his eyes, he could imagine it. A room in which the vampiress twisted, screamed, and moaned from deep within her gut. Guttural screams that, mixed with the moans and sighs, expressed pain because her belly was being opened—and a belly opening had to be painful. However, the adults present didn't seem to be imagining the same thing. They were imagining an erotic scene behind that door, perhaps because, for them, giving life sounded the same as making it.
Rey connected the expressions on their faces now to the faces they made when they were naked and alone, and finally reached a conclusion: Maybe that's why they try to hide what they are thinking, the little boy thought, because showing that you feel pleasure at someone else's suffering is not considerate.
Time passed and kept passing. No one spoke. He tried not to move, until from behind the door, not a single other moan was heard from the vampiress.
At that moment, several opinions were tossed around the room, and among them was one that caught the attention of the boy no one could see. Ehimus said in a very low voice:
"Maybe the third baby… came out dead. Tell us, Wise Mage: does death exist in Paradise?"
Rey lifted his head. The green elf couldn't be right if the third baby was him, and he was here, alive, watching what was happening. However, the adults considered the possibility. They brought their hands to their faces at such an unpleasant comment—especially Katherine, to hide a smirk—and although it looked like they wanted to give their opinions, no one spoke again. They acted as if all that was left was to wait for an answer from the old man.
The Great Wise Mage replied:
"Yes, she wears black wherever life goes…"
Ehimus, with the characteristic weariness of someone seeking a different answer, had to formulate her question better:
"I asked if dying is possible…"
Rey, resisting the words he had heard, ignored the other comments and said to himself: Why not check what is happening on the other side of the door if no one sees me?
With a solution in mind, the nameless little boy stood up and, taking short steps, returned to the front of the room he had left. His father was still standing there with his eyes closed, like someone who could visualize the other side of the door just by concentrating. Wulfgang was worried.
Leaning forward, Rey limited himself to sticking his head through the door.
Oh… it's true. Now I can remember what I felt and saw the moment I arrived in this world, right before Silvia held me in her arms.
Rey saw her again, the one the Great Wise Mage had described. It was only for an instant, and no one else seemed to notice her, but death was there to watch her come. She truly wears black… small, with violet eyes…
Despite leaving his body on the other side, with his curious eyes wide open, Rey watched as Silvia proceeded to carry a bundle wrapped in sheets back and forth, pressing it against her lap. He also saw that his mother did not have her belly sliced open as he had imagined; instead, she was laughing, a bit breathless, while holding two babies of pink flesh against her breasts.
Something else caught his attention. Silvia, trying not to get in the way of the old women cleaning the place, said:
"No sign of deformity or mental defect in his little body or head. Except for his white eyes, he doesn't seem defective. His gaze is active. He also reacts to sound and sucks my finger. He doesn't look discolored, and he is breathing well. Healing aids have no effect. He is as healthy as his brothers…"
"Yes, but he isn't crying. Is the creature mute?"
Rey heard Clara's somewhat worried comment. And the one Ana made as she finished emptying the bathtub:
"I have never had a newborn who didn't cry after coming into the world, unless they were in very delicate health. Keep checking him carefully; it is better to be cautious. On the other hand…"
The old woman looked toward the vampiress, who was already semi-reclined on the bed.
"Since we didn't have to make any incisions, there were no tears, and the placenta has already been delivered, you should continue nursing the creatures until the bleeding stops. Mother, I recommend you rest as much as you can."
After hearing so many people's comments, Rey wondered if it was normal that he hadn't cried like his brothers did when they were born. He also realized that as soon as his mother finished holding his brothers, she directed her gaze to Silvia as if asking permission to see the baby.
The maid, with a smile on her face, gave the bundle she was carrying to Maryam, who placed his mouth on one of her breasts so he could suckle just as the first ones to come out had done. Rey made the same expression the elf had made upon seeing his past self sucking on his mother's tit.
Once the other two babies were detached from the warmth of the vampiress's body, they began to cry again. The crying was their way of asking to return to that comfortable place they had been, but they were taken to a small bed that had appeared out of nowhere in the opposite corner of the room. With this, the little boy no one could see pulled his head out of the room and returned to where his father was.
As soon as Rey stepped back and returned to his upright position, he glanced at Wulfgang, whose eyes were now open. Silvia opened the door, ushering in the moment most awaited by those still outside, amidst fading babbling and the cries of two babies.
"Congratulations to the new father!" said the maid in Wulfgang's direction, extending her open palm as if inviting him to enter.
The Lycanthrope barely reacted to the news, limiting himself to a frown. In contrast, those at the bottom of the stairs celebrated wildly—so much so that Rey could hear them jumping up with such force that they knocked their chairs to the floor.
"You may enter, Mister Wulfgang," suggested the maid again, using words and a gesture of her open hand toward the one who looked the most worried.
"Our modest efforts are required elsewhere," Clara said. "The work is finished."
"Time to go," said Ana.
"Do we owe you anything?" the Lycanthrope asked.
One of the little old ladies raised a hand and made a gesture indicating the man present need not worry. Upon the exit of the two old women, Ehimus, Miján, and Katherine seemed not to have heard correctly; practically running up the stairs, they fixed their gazes on the door, intending to barge in behind the newly proclaimed father to see the babies.
Rey moved aside quickly. If he could have been touched, he would have been run over by the three energetic sprinters in that moment, but Silvia stopped them by raising her hand in the air in a signal to "Halt."
Pausing to clear her throat, the maid commanded attention and corrected herself.
"Lady Maryam only permitted entry to the father of the creatures. Please, would you be so kind as to wait a little longer?"
The little boy no one could see realized that, despite the door being open and all the commotion the others were making to see the babies, Wulfgang was reluctant to take another step. The wolf's eyes were wide, his brow furrowed deeper than before, happiness and sadness warring on his face. Rey noticed his nervousness, his hesitation to enter. He saw him as someone who wanted to turn and run, which stirred feelings in Rey for his father. From his point of view, someone so strong, who faced everything head-on, seemed not to know how to be a father.
Although he couldn't interfere in that world, Rey felt a desire to reach out and support this person who needed supporting. The little boy raised his hand slowly, but Wulfgang, right at the level of the face of the son he couldn't see, manifested his right claw. A claw composed of five nails as long and sharp as daggers. Rey froze. He was petrified, even shocked. He interpreted that his father had transformed his hand into a shape whose specific purpose was to inflict damage.
Wulfgang spoke to himself in a low voice, but not so low that the little one couldn't hear him:
"Maryam is weak. She is weak, and you have to take responsibility. As a leader and as a father, you must bear the result of your decisions, take responsibility for your beliefs. It is better to die knowing nothing than to live a life of misery and want for fear of dying knowing you did nothing. All the work it has taken to keep me breathing, the sacrifices, the actions, and the effort required to almost achieve what I never could… All that I have left behind are reasons enough not to be like that man who didn't ask if I wanted to be born and threw me into abandonment. If I take responsibility and move forward without looking back… everything will be better."
Rey could hear his father's words, but he couldn't understand what they meant. Nor what they referred to. Wulfgang entered the room like a predator. His eyes found the vampiress, then turned to the babies, and from among the brood, he raised his hand over one. For the wolf, it didn't matter if he was right or wrong; he had already made a decision.
Rey let his arm drop and his mouth turned down in a grimace. Inside him surged the urge to do something—scream, run, maybe smash the door. From outside the moment, he watched as his father prepared to bring his claw down and deliver death upon the newborn who did not cry. At the same time, rage flared as he remembered something fundamental. The reason I always saw that man as a stranger and not a father, he told himself. From another angle, Rey was witnessing the moment in the past when Wulfgang became someone he did not recognize as a father—by raising a hand with the intention to kill him. The idea of a male figure protecting the family had shattered into pieces from that moment on for the baby who understood that someone wanted to harm him.
Rage, disappointment, and anger crossed the small face. But one thing was certain: Rey was no longer so happy about the gift of knowledge, nor did he look with such curiosity or seek to learn everything. In that moment, he realized that being able to see into the past had the purpose of teaching him the true nature of the adults, enabling him to distinguish between allies and enemies. But that kind of knowledge carried a heavy weight, and rather than smoothing the path, it would hinder his steps.
Before the wolf brought his hand down, Maryam rose from the bed, leaving a trail of blood on the floor beneath her feet, and cried out:
"My beloved?!"
Along with the vampiress's words, her fine, delicate hand reached out as if wanting to grasp her beloved in every way possible.
"Easy, my love, easy. Listen to my voice, it's me…"
With caresses, she soothed her husband's violent demeanor. The two stood before the baby who did not cry. Wulfgang breathed. He returned his transformed hand to normal, and gripping the familiar hand that caressed him, he looked away, fell silent, and then spoke in a faltering tone.
"Regardless of who my father was, of how I was treated in the past, and of all my failures, I feel that the 'me' of the present should assume responsibility and cause harm to prevent a greater evil."
Maryam, tightening her embrace, said:
"Ending the life you gave 'as an act of kindness' will not make you a better father. Just as ending the life of the one who gave you yours 'for vengeance' did not make you a better son."
"The more time passes, the harder it will be, Maryam," Wulfgang said. "Living is eventually tied to dying, even if one is immortal and death itself is a sad event that will happen. If I don't kill him, I'll simply be delaying the inevitable."
"Killing is not the solution. Especially if you are judging a creature as if his only crime were being born."
"As a father, knowing what I know, there is no greater gesture of kindness than preventing him from living a whole life of suffering."
"Fang, you know that in such a short time I have come to know you like no one else," Maryam said. "Listen to my words. If you murder or witness the death of another family member, that event will end up becoming a painful burden to bear for the rest of your life. That will be the beginning of the process where you go mad and die, or you meet your death before ending up insane."
"Look at his eyes, Maryam! He will never be able to live normally. If he gets out of hand, it could be detrimental to everyone. In the worst case, he'll end up killing his brothers, you, the others, and me… Kat knows better than anyone."
Rey shook his head. He wanted to speak, to defend himself against those accusations, but no one was going to listen. He took a deep breath and took a step back while looking at his hands. Grinding his teeth, he knew he would never be capable of killing someone in the pack, not as he was accused. Looking up, he opened his mouth only to close it again and bite his tongue until it bled. To die without having lived would be a true pity, he said to himself.
Maryam, adopting a serious tone, seemed to speak her mind:
"I will handle my sister." Changing her voice to a softer one, the vampiress continued, "Neither the pain of your past nor the words of others should make this decision. Let us let him grow, and when he commits a fault that must be punished with death…" She sighed and lowered her head. "You can sentence him without feeling so guilty, my beloved. Besides, who's to say someone else won't be the one to end his life?"
Rey watched out of the corner of his eye; even with his head turned, he wanted to see his mother's face, but not his father's. The words she used to convince the wolf not to do what he was thinking of doing ran down his spine like a blast of cold air. Maybe she doesn't say what she thinks? wondered Rey, his legs almost trembling.
Maryam, naked and still bleeding, rested her forehead against the Lycanthrope's back. She waited in silence; she knew the room was empty. Silvia was still outside preventing the others from entering; the two old women had left. It was her, her husband, and the children. No one else. Perhaps that was why she slowly widened the corners of her mouth and revealed her fangs. There, where she couldn't be seen, she wore a wide, capricious smile—one that, according to Rey, people who are not good give when they get what they want.
Almost petrified by the revelation, the little boy realized the unconditional love his mother had for his father. That she wasn't defending him because he was her son, but because he was another tool to bind the Lycanthrope—who so cherished freedom and yearned to return to the world he had left—to the relationship and give him purpose.
Wulfgang turned to embrace the vampiress, who immediately wiped the smile from her face and showed a distressed expression. In the embrace, the gigantic body let all the air escape from his lungs.
Rey noticed the immense subject looking at the ceiling. But he looked with different eyes—eyes of intense red that seemed to gaze upon his fears once more, fears that in the future might become reality.
"Oh, yes!" Wulfgang said in a low voice. "This mind of mine carries many conflicts, but I don't think it is that weak. At least not enough to end up going mad. But…"
His eyes ignited, holding the tormented look of someone scanning from top to bottom, filled with defiant intentions. A pause in his words, a change in his expression…
"I don't want to make the same mistakes my father made in life."
Sadness finally showed on the wolf's face, though his presence resolved nothing.
"I believe my father didn't have the courage to kill me, and for that reason, he locked me away. I am being no different if I let him live. Maybe it won't be beneath a basement, behind bars, but he will remain locked under my control until he can escape," said the husband with a broken voice, the voice of someone weeping, burying his face in his beloved's lap just so she wouldn't see him cry.
Rey took a few steps into the room. As soon as his back touched the wall, he slid down to sit on the floor, hand over his open mouth. The idea that he was truly alone destroyed him inside. He wanted to scream, cry, roar because he understood that the answer was to escape; love was not an option. He had neither father nor mother.
Who would treat their son with love if deep down they know they shouldn't get attached because they might have to kill him? Rey asked himself. No one, he answered.
But he refused to stop believing in a possibility: that however slim the chance, if he loved them and gave his all, perhaps he would receive love like the "guardians of Paradise" did at the shore of the shining lake. Maybe I can make them change. At least my mother, who needs me. But if she wants to kill me, how could I love her? Why would she love me if I am different from my brothers?
Questions Rey felt the need to answer. Because I can make her happy. If I made her feel happy by not being murdered by my father, I have a chance.
But Maryam kept speaking:
"Love, listen to my voice… you must not drown. Much less in problems that are not yet clear. We are both in this situation, together. Let me be the pillar that supports you at all times so you do not crumble."
Rey covered his ears with his hands, squeezed his eyes shut, and let the darkness of the corner where he sat swallow him.
"That means, if the moment comes and you cannot do it, I will take responsibility and I shall be the one to kill him," the vampiress said while stroking her beloved's hair from top to bottom.
Rey shook his head as many times as he could. Still, it wasn't enough.
They spoke of humans, of the dangerous world that resides out there, isn't that right? Breaking the composure of his face, his thoughts raced on: But look at this world. Because my potential is so great and in my past incarnation I made everything chaotic, they are terrified of what might come to pass. Despite being so powerful, they feel helpless and afraid—of course, provided they have interests to preserve. The darkness could swallow them violently, the ground could split in two, the wind could turn into a storm, but of all the things that could happen… they decide to fear me. It is not fair.
Maryam said to the wolf in a cheerful tone:
"Leaving the future aside, let us better focus on the present. Before the rest of the pack enters, why don't we give them the names I have decided on!?" It was as if the previous discussion had never happened.
Impressive, the ability to change her attitude like that, thought the little boy no one could see. If I could do the same… If it were as easy for me as it is for her…
Wulfgang added:
"Names?" He didn't look like his attitude had changed, but at least he seemed to have something to occupy his mind.
Staying occupied. Rey clicked his tongue, still curled up with his hands and feet tucked in. Maybe that is the answer to casting emotions aside, the little one told himself.
Maryam, almost skipping like Ehimus did when she was happy, approached and pointed with her hand:
"The vampire will be called Jhades, and I will let him carry my lineage's surname. The Lycanthrope will be called David…"
Rey noticed how the second creature being pointed at, as soon as he heard the name he was to be given, showed sadness on his face and burst into tears. Maryam corrected herself after that reaction, apparently dissatisfied on behalf of the red-eyed baby.
"It seems he doesn't like it…"
Well, crying certainly has its conveniences. At least now I know who Mom's favorite son is, Rey said to himself in a depressed tone.
Wulfgang decided to speak:
"Better he be called Dante, and I will let him carry the surname of my lineage." And just like that, the boy stopped crying.
For the two parents, there remained one last creature unnamed—the one in the middle. The one who didn't react and only breathed while looking at everyone with active eyes.
Rey, head bowed, gave space for a sigh. He knew his name had no surname, and he was seeing firsthand what his brothers had been given, but he had not. He could perfectly well feel envy, doubt, and complain about being slighted. But he also knew that what made him different, in a certain way, made him unique.
Wulfgang continued:
"Maryam… Katherine will not be happy at all that we let him live, much less that we name him."
"I am certain that if we care for him, he could very well be different."
"Even so, he remains an 'unwanted.'"
Maryam added, leaving her happiness aside, almost on the verge of tears:
"Although he is different, we are the only ones who know about this because we were responsible. I know, I am sorry, I regret it… but I want to name him."
Fake tears from a face that not long ago was laughing, thought Rey without even having to lift his head to confirm.
"Maryam, my beloved…" said Wulfgang. "For me, it is sad, but also real." Like someone yielding to pleas. "We cannot give him our surnames, but I am not opposed to giving him a name."
The Lycanthrope straightened up in front of the white-eyed baby.
"Little one, names mark the path to greatness, and yours shall be Rey. 'Unwanted' should be your surname, whether you are good or bad… but I cannot bring myself to brand you with such words because as soon as society knows your roots, you will be rejected. Rey De-Heaven is the name by which everyone will recognize you. I hope that one day you understand. As a father, I cannot do more for you."
The werewolf spoke like someone who was destroyed inside, someone for whom every word that escaped his mouth was accompanied by a tear falling to the floor. The sound of the Lycanthrope's tears made Rey pull his head out from between his legs. He didn't like the scene; everything sounded fake and nonsensical to him. The Lycanthrope kneeling on the floor reflected sadness on his face, as if he were going to die. On the other hand, the vampiress looked at the ceiling and laughed loudly, also as if she were going to die.
"Fang, even though I always laugh behind your back and wear this fake smile on my face… Far from being fine, I am destroyed inside… Taking ownership of your heart led me to the point of even having to curse one of my descendants for the rest of his life, and if you have to kill him, would I forgive you? Or would I forgive myself?... I do not know the answer. But, on the other hand, I am happy. Viewing life from another perspective, it would have gone the same for you; you would suffer the same at the hands of the one before me… of your first love. Just understand that the years do not change the heart, nor the need to want control," she said while watching her husband slowly collapse, staying by his side to help him.
Rey still didn't lift his head; the words and actions appeared as pathetic excuses to the ears of the little boy no one could see. After catching his breath and unable to tolerate that theatrical performance any longer, he stood up, turned his back, and moved closer to the exit of the room. Nothing those two did would change his perception that they were willing to kill him, and the question with which the little one would keep his head occupied for the moment was: Who else would propose to kill me?
In the living room, they were worried and, as usual, always making a confused noise of shouts and voices to demand explanations from the maid, who only smiled while blocking the stairs.
Rey could hear three words pronounced by the Great Wise Mage.
"Silvia, let them enter."
And he saw the maid stepping aside as if the comment were an indisputable order. For him, it was somewhat strange, as it was the first time the old man had spoken directly to Silvia. Rey also saw how those present ignored the maid's strict behavior at the scrawny man's words and, anxious, went up the stairs and invaded the master bedroom to find three living, energetic little ones. There, too, was the vampiress, returning to the bed and nursing two of them, while the father worried about holding the one he carried in his arms correctly, like someone who didn't want to break something delicate within his coarse embrace.
Those who had just arrived in the room inspected with their gazes, then looked the Lycanthrope or the vampiress in the face, only to immediately look back at the babies, as if trying to distinguish who looked more like the father or which one looked more like the mother. Katherine and Miján showed disapproval on their faces. The happiness of the rest lasted until Ehimus threw a question into the air:
"What are their names?"
Katherine, whose eyes were locked on the little one Wulfgang was holding, turned her face toward the elf as if she were committing a crime by speaking. The little boy no one could see understood that names were a delicate subject and shouldn't be touched with such triviality. Not long ago, his parents were almost on the verge of regret over such a question. In the crowded room, they could hear the delicate words Maryam used to answer the elf's question. Proud, the mother pointed to each of her sons present there.
"He is Rey, Dante Lobato, and Jhades Priovam."
Katherine asked when she heard that the creature Wulfgang was holding had a name:
"Sister?..."
"I don't know if I heard right, but one is missing a surname," interrupted Ehimus, who, like a child, didn't hesitate to ask whenever she felt curious, even if she had the burning gaze of the muscular vampiress on her shoulders.
At the comment, the majority of those present bowed their heads. They averted their gazes as if they didn't know how to begin an appropriate explanation. The atmosphere was tense. Rey circled the room like an attentive hunter. Casting his feelings aside, he knew this was the moment he could distinguish between enemies and those who were not. He wanted to see the expressions on the adults' faces in detail.
Miján was the first to break the silence and began:
"There is something you should know…"
Rey saw in his face the intention to explain as well as his capabilities allowed. Two claps of his hands made the floating machine appear and display changing images.
"The dark past of many species. When a child is not given a surname, he is an illegitimate child, a bastard, as when they are born as a product of incest between relatives or other relationships outside the matrimonial lineage…"
Ehimus, unable to stand staying quiet, interrupted the explanation with a shrill scream while waving her arms from side to side:
"But they are neither siblings nor do they share the same lineage, and they are married!"
Katherine, placing her hand on the Light Elf's shoulder to calm him, continued for him:
"The same happens in the case of reproduction between different lineages. A hybrid is not recognized as a legitimate child because he has a higher probability of becoming a De-Bastador and a stain on history. He must be eliminated without remorse at the moment of birth and not named, much less given a surname. De-Bastadores, in one way or another, always end up bringing death to their caretakers and those surrounding them."
Ehimus, confused, asked again:
"De-Bastadores, or Devastator?"
Heroclades, in a neutral tone, said:
"De-Bastadores, aberrations devoid of reason. Creatures deformed mentally or physically. Retarded monstrosities that do not discriminate in the use of their destructive powers. Many have been born and live protected under the mantle of the lineage that does not accept them as legitimate members, as they serve as vicious weapons that sink their teeth into those they do not recognize as masters. For centuries these creatures are abused, then discarded or simply offered as merchandise from one place to another."
Miján continued:
"As I was saying… If they do not share the same blood or lineage and have children, the elders forbid giving them the family surname, unless they share the characteristics of the lineage, which are eye color, body characteristics, or hair. In the event they are allowed to live, parents and guardians are recommended to pay special attention to the developmental process."
Ehimus asked again:
"Developmental process?"
"Yes," Miján replied. "As they grow, they exhibit violent outbursts, an abnormal amount of power or strength, dissociation from reality, distinct perception of sounds, learning difficulties, and a sense of superiority. These are the main indicators that will determine if the offspring might turn into a De-Bastador."
Rey watched Ehimus place her hands on her head. She had the look of someone staring across the room, listening without actually listening.
"I can't understand a thing you're telling me," the elf said.
The Light Elf looked straight at the images his machine was projecting and seemed to mentally review everything that had been said. Then, he put his hand on the little green elf's head and said:
"It took me all this time to realize. Mm, hmm! You are a lost cause. That strict vegetable diet has atrophied your brain."
Miján's last words didn't sound offensive to the white-eyed youth, but something inside him told him that the Light Elf was using a polite manner to be insulting. Rey turned his face, and the expression on Ehimus's face said it all. It was an insult, even if it didn't sound like one.
Just before the little green elf threw a full-blown tantrum, Heroclades intervened. He had the look of someone determined to try explaining the situation in his own way.
"If a human had green eyes or hair without carrying an elven surname, wouldn't that be strange?"
The elf, dissociating from the fury provoked by Miján's words, nodded her head and said:
"Any of the elven races would execute him. As queen, I had to give my consent for execution in those ceremonies. They were the product of violations against my species, and since they had almost the same abilities as us, they were used against us on the battlefield."
Heroclades continued:
"Now. Don't you think the same would happen in the case of someone who wasn't a carrier of blue or red eyes yet carried the surname of either of the two species?"
Rey nodded his head; although the explanation hadn't been directed at him, it was quite clear that, at the very least, not carrying a surname would save him from some enemies in the future.
"Hm-hm-hu-hu-hu-ha-ha! Now I understand… I knew it couldn't be that complicated. On the other hand, what you've just given me is great news. After all, it wasn't a mistake not to give the creature a surname. Heroclades, you may receive my praise… Miján, you aren't smart enough to explain difficult concepts in an easy way," said the elf, adopting a haughty tone totally opposite to the one she usually used.
Miján couldn't stand the accusation and, in a fit of anger, threw the first thing he had at hand at her. Ehimus, returning to her cheerful behavior, dodged the blow the Light Elf threw and then continued.
"So, the little one in the middle, if he doesn't become a De-Bastador, will he become a 'hunter' like the human hybrids who hunted my people?"
Wulfgang, sighing because the elf ended up hiding behind him, continued:
"That is another reason why there were vampires and Lycanthropes attacking us alongside the 'bounty hunters.'"
At the wolf's words, Rey remembered that the Great Wise Mage had mentioned vampires and Lycanthropes attacking the couple on their wedding day in his story. The little boy also noticed that, despite everyone knowing the truth, none of those present looked at him with fear.
Ehimus, still pensive, threw out whatever questions popped into her head:
"And what about the incarnation of that Leonel person?"
"Incarnations lose the memories of their past lives," said Maryam, "thus having to follow the natural course of their existence, even after dying again and again. This course makes them more dangerous and unpredictable. Remember that Leonel was a legitimate son. But in this case, a hybrid of two lineages has a greater tendency to be born defective in the face of a task he couldn't resolve or a power he cannot control. He remains a shell filled with rage, without rationality, tactics, or strategy. A creature kept alive only by the pleasure of satiating himself. A true De-Bastador capable of eliminating everything around him."
Once the murmurs and curiosities settled, Rey watched how Wulfgang still held him like a father trying to protect his son's life in case someone wanted to harm him for being different. The wolf turned his face toward Heroclades, also meeting the eyes of the others present.
The bronzed-skinned trainer gave a thumbs-up and flashed a carefree smile of relief, as if to encourage Wulfgang. In response, the Lycanthrope also tried to show a relieved face, the face of someone who didn't want to worry anyone present. The same people who, for the moment, according to the observation of the little boy no one could see, did not seem concerned about bad omens or the future of an illegitimate son.
Rey turned his head at the voice of Katherine, who spoke with a tone of discomfort that reminded him she was the only one in the group who had kept her eyes fixed on the baby the Lycanthrope was holding.
"I cannot understand the pain you two feel in this moment." Pausing, the muscular vampiress looked toward her sister. "Nor do I blame Fang for getting attached to the creature after giving him a name. But I do blame you, Maryam. You know that, by the rule of life, the mother has the duty to extinguish the light of the flame she brought into the world… Yet, you did not do it. Why?"
"I have my reasons… I plan to wait until the initiation. That will be the best time to decide whether to kill him or let him live."
"Then let it be me who does what you might not be capable of doing," Katherine said. "You don't necessarily have to wait; the moment your bastard son might represent a threat, one order will be enough to cut off his head…"
Rey looked up, swallowed hard, and ran his hand across his neck. The sharp edge of the muscular vampiress's words brought back the memory of the immense sword she carried, and consequently, he imagined said instrument cutting him down with a single stroke.
The little boy understood that, regardless of his father and mother, here was someone else he had to watch out for.