Ophelia, the vampire who had joined us, wife with a demon, had begun slowing down.
"Ophelia, are you okay?" Lyra asked.
"I don't know… I feel really sick."
She pressed a hand to her head and shook it as if trying to brush the feeling away. Still she continued helping Lyra walk. A moment later Ophelia gagged suddenly, covering her mouth.
Alphonso immediately sped up.
"I feel nauseous," she muttered.
Her face turned even paler before. Lyra watched her carefully, worry growing obvious.
"How long have you been feeling like this?" Sabrina asked.
There was something in Sabrina's eyes like she was already forming a theory.
"For a while now," Ophelia admitted. "I've been nauseous, wanting to vomit… and I feel exhausted all the time."
Sabrina studied her quietly.
"I-"
Ophelia suddenly ran ahead and bent over a bush, vomiting.
She wiped her mouth when she finished and slowly returned to Lyra, gripping her arm again.
"If you don't want to be near me that's okay." Ophelia whispered, clearly embarrassed.
"No, it's fine," Lyra reassured her.
Sabrina spoke again.
"When was your last period?"
Ophelia blinked, caught off guard.
"I… I'm not sure. Maybe four weeks ago? I know I had one because before the shadow attack I was with Riven."
Lyra's eyes widened slightly.
Ophelia froze.
"The way you're describing your symptoms… it's similar to how I felt when I was pregnant."
"Well, that's strange because-"
Ophelia suddenly stop speaking. Her face flushed pink as memories clearly surfaced.
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Well… you do have a husband."
"Y-yeah…" Ophelia said quietly. "I might be pregnant."
"This isn't good," I muttered.
"If she's pregnant then we-"
"Protect her," Sabrina interrupted firmly.
Everyone looked at her.
"If I were you, I would," Lyra added flatly. "She's Britney's sister-in-law."
Sabrina's eyes widened.
"What?"
Ophelia nodded.
Sabrina sighed heavily before forcing a smile.
"Well… I guess my brother and Alphonso will have to protect you."
She crossed her arms.
"Look, I may not like vampires. You may be our enemy. But no woman deserves to lose a baby to a miscarriage. If you're pregnant, you're vulnerable. So protection it is."
I stared at Sabrina, surprised by what she just said. She turned toward me.
"I think we can agree that protecting a pregnant woman is the right thing to do, regardless of race."
"Right," I said slowly, "but a few symptoms don't exactly prove she's pregnant."
Sabrina facepalmed.
"You really are an idiot sometimes."
"Hey-"
"Let me explain this clearly," she said.
"When a husband and wife are married they… consummate their marriage. Protection doesn't always work. And guess what that leads to?" She pointed a finger dramatically. "Conception. When I asked about her period, it's because women don't have periods when they're pregnant. So there's a strong chance she is." She sighed.
"Of course, we don't have a pregnancy test with us to know for sure."
"Is cramping normal?" Ophelia called nervously.
"Yes," Sabrina answered immediately before turning back to me.
"Clearly this is her first pregnancy. She's acting exactly like I did."
I stared blankly.
"Oh."
"You wouldn't know," Sabrina added. "You've never been in a relationship. You've never gotten a girl pregnant."
My face squinted in disgust.
"Ew. I'm nineteen."
"Oh please," Sabrina scoffed. "I was sixteen when I had my son. Jonah was sixteen too. I'm not proud of it."
Her voice softened.
"My son is two now… and the Shadows took him."
The air fell silent. Alphonso cleared his throat awkwardly.
"I hate to interrupt this… educational discussion… but thanks. I was completely confused before."
Sabrina snorted.
"Well, here's another fun fact. Women outside the wolf race except mermaids and sirens have periods every month. Wolves only have them during mating season."
"I don't understand women at all," I admitted.
"Not surprised," Sabrina said. "Boys never do."
"I am not a boy. I am a man."
"No. You're a boy," she replied. "Both of you are. Go back to sex ed."
She started walking again.
"At least I'm still a virgin," I muttered.
Sabrina rolled her eyes.
"Whatever."
Behind us, Ophelia spoke to Lyra.
"Well… if I am pregnant, you don't have to worry about me helping you walk."
"No," Ophelia said softly. "I'll still help you while I can. The baby would be really small right now. I actually feel better after vomiting."
She placed a hand gently over her stomach.
"I wouldn't mind being pregnant… but if it's true… why does it have to happen now?"
Her voice trembled.
"I wish Riven were here. He'd be so happy to hear he's going to be a father. He'd help me through everything."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"But now I might have this baby without him even knowing he exists."
Lyra squeezed her hand.
"It's okay, Ophelia. Sometimes unexpected pregnancies happen at the worst times."
Ophelia gave a weak smile.
"Thanks, Lyra… it just hurts not knowing if he's alive."
"The best thing you can do right now is protect yourself and the baby," Lyra said gently.
Ophelia nodded.
"What will you name the baby if it's a boy?" Lyra asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Jack."
"And if it's a girl?"
"Elara."
Lyra smiled softly.
I watched them quietly as we walked.
Let's see…
One of us has a concussion. One has a broken ankle. One has cracked ribs and can barely breathe without pain. And now we might have someone pregnant.
Could this journey get any worse? Honestly… I was afraid to find out.