“No more than I am to any of my clothes. They can be replaced.” Aerin turned to go, but stopped. “You okay with this?” She pointed to Tierra's middle.
“No.”
“There are ways to—”
“No.”
Aerin nodded. “Too early to talk about it and not the right time. Just know that we're here for you. I'm here for you.”
“Thanks, Aerin.”
“I'll see you downstairs.” She closed the door behind her.
Tierra turned to the full-length mirror standing in the corner. Multihued scarves were draped forgotten over the frame. She gathered them up and tossed them on the bed in order to see her reflection better.
She looked pale, but then she'd had a shock, one she didn't know how to deal with. She unbuttoned the vintage lace vest and discarded the smoky blue camisole underneath. Cupping her breasts, she was surprised how sensitive and full they felt. She moved her hands down to her stomach. It was concave, flat with a hint of underlying muscle. Not ripped, but not bad. She traced the belly-button ring.
An emerald, the sacred stone of Aphrodite infused with the powers of healing, love and luck. She'd have to go with unlucky in love right now. The stone was also supposed to be a symbol of fertility and she'd gone ahead and pierced it over her heart chakra. Years ago she'd chosen it because she liked the color, as it reminded her of the forests she loved and the stone embodied the energy of nature. But could it have had a part in the child growing inside her?
How did one explain conceiving a child with Death?
What would he say? What would he do?
“Tierra?” Claire yelled up the stairs. “You ready?”
“Coming!” She couldn’t deal with any of this now. She had time. Well, a little less than eight months thereabouts. She yanked her camisole back on and pulled over a long-sleeved sweater. Sliding her feet into another pair of hiking boots, she left on her cotton floral skirt knowing she'd move better in the loose comfortable fabric if she needed to. Jeans were just too restrictive for her.
She added bracelets of protection crystals against evil and black magic. Agate, garnet, and black tourmaline. Jinx meowed behind her where she'd curled up on the scarves. Tierra scooped up the cat's eye crystal, too, and then the jasper at the last minute. Jasper was protection during childbirth, but it should help while pregnant too, right? Wouldn't hurt.
She hurried and joined her sisters in the kitchen.
“Let's blow this crab shack,” Moira said, antsy in her flip-flops.
“Those are what you’re wearing to go hiking in the forest?” Aerin asked. “At night?”
“My thongs work fine for the bayou. Why would the forests 'round here be any more different? No gators.”
“Fine.” Aerin shook her head, but a smile teased her lips. “But grab a jacket, would you?”
“I got a hoodie.” Moira held up the thin jersey.
“I need to take you shopping,” Aerin mumbled.
“Why are you carryin' a broom? You plannin' on sweepin' some pine needles?”
“It's something I've been working on.” Aerin smiled. “You'll see.”
“All right, here we go,” Claire came into the room loaded for bear. “I converted these military vests. It'll make the guns easier to carry and there's room for a back-up weapon, or three or four, maybe more.” She pulled out a kitchen torch from the breast pocket of hers. “I'm still hit and miss on conjuring fire on command, but this way I have a flame to build on. Aerin you can blow my flame—”
“You got it.”
“—and increase whatever storm Moira can stir up.”
“Been workin' on that too.” Moira slipped on the vest, holstered her squirt gun, and picked up one of the water cannons and held it across her chest. “I feel like freakin' Rambo.”
“What about Grim?” Tierra asked. “Should we take the book? We might need the spells if we get into trouble.”
“We'd better leave it in case for that exact reason,” Claire said. “If the book falls into the wrong hands—”
“It'll be grim?” Tierra said sheepishly. “Sorry, getting a little nervous.”
“Grim's better protected here with the wards.” Claire looked at them all. “We ready?”
“Ready,” they said in unison.
Single-file they traipsed out of the kitchen. At the last minute, Tierra grabbed the scrying crystal, looped the chain over her neck, and tucked it under her sweater to rest between her breasts. She didn't take the map, and didn't question why she needed the crystal.
They ventured out into the night, the sky clear with a large solstice moon silhouetting the landscape.