I sat on the plush sofa in my living room, looking out the frost-rimed window at the thick, white snow blankets coating the streets. In this world, the snowy season usually lasted for about three full months. Having lived in Andromeda for exactly eighteen years now… especially after celebrating my birthday just last month… I had the seasonal shifts down to a science. Back in the Philippines during my past life, it was nothing but brutal, sweating heat all year round, but I had completely adapted to the crisp, Mediterranean air of this continent. And right now, with the winter chill outside, staying indoors was the only logical play.
I let out a soft, relaxed hum, my fingers working with steady, domestic precision as I knitted a small, thick sweater. Yes, believe it or not, the legendary, blood-drinking Crimson Phantom actually knew how to knit. I carefully intertwined the soft blue yarn, looping the stitches with rhythmic ease. Because little Cliff was going to inherit my massive crimson blood wings, I made sure to custom-design the back, leaving two neat, reinforced holes so his wings could fit comfortably without bunching up the fabric.
My thoughts were interrupted by the savory, mouth-watering aroma of hot stew drifting from the kitchen. Moments later, Evelyn stepped into the living room, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. She walked over to the sofa, her eyes softening as she took in the sight of my absolutely massive, nine-month belly and the tiny, winged sweater in my lap.
"Big sister," Evelyn said softly, a warm smile tugging at her lips as she leaned over the back of the sofa. "Look at you, playing the cozy, domestic mother. If the hunters at the Bureau saw you right now, they'd think they were hallucinating."
I chuckled, not breaking my rhythm as the knitting needles clicked together. "Hey, even a pragmatic vanguard needs a hobby during a winter lockdown, Evelyn. Besides, little Cliff is due any day now, and I'll be damned if my boy catches a cold just because his mom was too lazy to prep his wardrobe."
Evelyn walked around the sofa and carefully set a steaming mug of hot herbal tea on the side table next to me. She sat down on the opposite cushion, pulling her knees up to her chest as she watched my fingers fly through the blue yarn.
"The kitchen smells amazing, by the way," I said, giving her a lazy, appreciative smirk. "If you keep cooking like that, I might actually let you run the entire tavern menu permanently while I'm on official diaper duty."
"Don't get ahead of yourself, big sister," Evelyn laughed softly, shaking her head. "I'm just making sure you and the baby are actually getting enough nutrients. Doctor Bob said that because Cliff is a hybrid, your body is burning through twice as much energy just to keep up with his growth."
As if on cue, a massive, dramatic bulge shifted across the front of my green kirtle. Little Cliff gave a heavy, forceful thud right against my lower ribs, making me catch my breath for a split second. I paused my knitting and rested my palm over the tight curve of my nine-month belly, letting out a low, amused groan.
"Jesus, kid, you're packing a punch today," I muttered, rubbing the spot gently. "He's definitely Cameron's kid with that kind of aggressive physical strength. The guy is practically trying to break my defenses from the inside."
Evelyn's smile turned a little more serious, her eyes tracking the movement under my dress. "Are you nervous? I mean... the snowy season is always the hardest time for deliveries, and with the baby coming any day now..."
"Nervous? Please," I shot back, dropping my voice into its usual flat, unbothered deadpan as my massive crimson blood wings gave a relaxed, slight flare beneath the blankets on the couch. "I've faced down demonic cults, blew the heads off elite commanders with my shotgun, and survived a literal resurrection. A little bit of labor isn't going to break me. Besides, we've got Doctor Bob on standby, and Tae-man promised he'd use his flashy new Capital Knight horse to fetch him the second my water breaks."
"Knowing Tae-man, he'll probably treat it like a high-stakes escort quest and completely freak out the entire neighborhood," Evelyn joked, her posture relaxing completely.
"Oh, absolutely," I cackled softly, picking the yarn back up and continuing the intricate stitches for the wing holes. "I told him if he messes up his fast-travel rotation when the time comes, I'm going to drag him back into the Bureau lobby and make his little vanguard weapon stand at attention in front of his new captain again."
Evelyn shook her head, a mix of fondness and utter disbelief on her face. "You really are an unrepentant pervert, big sister. Even at nine months pregnant, you never change."
As I was laughing, the amusement instantly died in my throat. A strange, heavy sensation of pressure bloomed deep inside my lower abdomen, followed by a sudden, hot rush of fluid. It wasn't just a slow trickle; it felt like a dam completely bursting inside my womb. The warm, amniotic fluid soaked rapidly through my undergarments, heavily staining the fabric of my green kirtle and spilling down my legs in a heavy wave, pooling right onto the sofa cushions beneath me.
My breathing hitched, and my single jade-green eye went wide. Little Cliff gave one final, massive, frantic kick against my ribs, as if screaming that his cozy apartment had officially been evicted.
"Oh... shit," I gasped, my knuckles turning white as I gripped the edges of the sofa, completely dropping the blue yarn. "Evelyn... my water just broke. The passenger is making his final push."
Evelyn jumped up from her seat, her face draining of all color as she stared at the wet puddle on the couch. "Right now?! Oh my gods, okay! Stay calm, big sister! Don't push yet!"
"I'm not pushing, I'm adapting," I wheezed, a sharp, heavy contraction instantly tightening across my stomach, making my massive crimson blood wings flare out in a rigid, tense line behind me. The pain was real, but my vanguard instincts immediately kicked into high gear, prioritizing the fastest route to survival. "Get my cloak. We need to get to Doctor Bob's clinic right now before the heavy contractions completely lock up my mobility."
Evelyn scrambled across the room, grabbing my heavy, dark winter cloak. Despite the intense, rolling wave of pain tightening my abdomen, I forced myself to stand up, my legs feeling heavy and unstable as the fluid continued to soak through my clothes. I threw the dark cloak over my shoulders, pulling the thick hood low over my face to ensure total protection against any stray sunlight outside.
Leaning heavily on Evelyn for support, I gripped the doorway, took a deep, steadying breath, and we pushed open the front door, stepping out into the freezing snow to make our desperate trek toward Doctor Bob's clinic.
We were practically power-walking through the freezing, snowy streets, with each step sending a heavy, aching throb right through my pelvis. The warm amniotic fluid was still freezing against my legs under my wet dress, and my contractions were starting to sync up into a brutal, rhythmic countdown.
As we neared the heavy iron arches dividing the sectors, we spotted the 3rd District gatekeeper, Renny. He was casually strolling near the gates, adjusting his heavy winter coat, completely oblivious to the emergency. The moment his eyes caught my cloaked figure and the way I was heavily leaning on Evelyn, his official bureaucratic instincts kicked in.
"Hey, Eirene! Toll and sta… "
Renny was instantly cut off as I let out a low, terrifyingly sharp-fanged hiss from beneath my dark hood. My massive crimson blood wings gave a violent, rigid twitch under my cloak, completely signaling that I was a ticking time bomb.
"Renny, shut up!" Evelyn yelled over the whistling winter wind, her face pale with absolute panic. "Her water broke! The baby is coming right now! We don't have time for district checkpoints or paperwork!"
Renny's jaw dropped, his official gatekeeper demeanor instantly evaporating as he looked down at my soaked kirtle and my massive nine-month belly. "Oh, holy gods..
wait, right now?! Look, forget the protocol, let's go!"
Without a second thought, Renny bolted over to his patrol mount tied near the guard post. With high-speed efficiency, he ripped the leash off the hitching post and hauled the powerful horse right over to us. "Climb on! Fast!"
Evelyn and Renny practically hoisted my heavy, pregnant frame onto the sturdy saddle, making sure my giant wings weren't crushed. Evelyn hopped on right behind me to keep me steady, while Renny took the lead reins on foot, sprinting alongside us as he guided the horse at a full, aggressive gallop straight through the open gates of the 3rd district.
"Hold on, big sister!" Evelyn cried out, gripping my waist as another heavy, crushing contraction ripped through my abdomen.
"I am... holding!"