Ziana
"Winner! Ziana Kingston! " Damon DeCharles announced as my partner dropped a unconscious Gloom Hollow onto the arena floor. My opponent Enji Denakabi lowered his head in defeat. "With this win Ziana Kingston advances to the final round."
"Good job!" Logan exclaimed with a slight smile. I blushed slightly and looked to my partner as she walked over.
"I won." She announced proudly.
"Very easily by the look of it." I said, flashing her a smile. My partner nodded her head and looked back towards the unconscious Gloom Hollow.
"Gloom Hollow's more brittle than Ogarai. Ogarai meant to take a beating." She said then cocked her head as she looked at me. "Not as brittle as your jewels it seems."
"Jewels?" I asked looking down at myself, I wasn't wearing any jewelry. Logan looked confused as well, not surprisingly.
"Yes. The ones that make you glow so." My partner said. Before I could ask more questions the announcer Damon DeCharles spoke up.
"I am told that we will have a small break before the final round. Contestants can leave the arena and wander the Sadamas center but please do not leave the center since it would become difficult to find before the final bout." Damon DeCharles announced.
"I must return…" My partner promptly announced and turned to head towards the evo entrance to the arena.
Admittedly I felt a little sad at seeing my partner walk away. Being the only normie child of my father I often watched with jealousy and longing whenever I saw him training my sisters. Commanding and talking with my partner in battle felt like a dream but like all dreams it was bound to end.
"Come on Ziana." Logan said, placing his hand on the small of my back and leading me towards the human arena entrance. As we walked I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. It was the fourth such wave since I started in the tournament. I put on a grave face and pretended everything was fine.
Once we exited the arena we were immediately swarmed by American soldiers who had come to congratulate Logan on making it to the finals. Naturally I felt a little annoyed by this since it was me entered into the tournament. Surprisingly Logan ignored all their praise and quickly guided me away from them and headed towards the Justice Technologies area. One would think that the men would take the hint and not follow after him but not everyone picks up on social cues.
"Sir? Are you not going to say anything? You've made it to the finals of the tournament and showed the splicers that we're not lesser than them!" A voice called out.
Logan stopped mid-step then took a loud, deep breath before letting it out and turning to the soldiers. He shot them a glare that made all of them take a half step back. I eyed the soldier that spoke, seeing that else was a private from the insignia on his chest.
"I had hoped you would get a clue Private that I was excusing myself before I lost my temper for the disrespect being shown to my wife but it seems you are as dense as you are low." Logan spat, his words cutting like a knife through the soldiers. "My wife is the one entered into the tournament, my wife is the one commanding the evo that all of you were too scared to even approach, and my wife is the who made it to the finals. I was just by her side making sure she was safe."
With that Logan held me closer to him and turned back to walk over to the Justice Technologies area. As we turned I saw a woman of the Folders Family walking slowly towards thd Sho'lajah Artifact Company area. At first this didn't really shock me until I saw a the heir of the DeCharles family being led away by a member of the French army.
'Strange…' I thought.
"Hmmm…." Logan mused softly, dragging me from my thoughts.
"What?" I asked.
As I looked forward I saw my father standing in front of the president and Logan's father. He was very animated with his body language and the way his face was flushed along with years of suffering from similar treatment told me he was complaining about some sort inadequacy.
"That doesn't look good…" Logan grumbled.
"My father is mad about something. He had that same look whenever he yelled at me…" I muttered. Logan came to a stop then frowned.
"This is probably to do with that operation…." He said softly then looked down to me. "Stay here for a moment."
Logan walked away, heading towards his father, the president and my father. I stood where I was like Logan told me, casually looking at the area around me. I was between the area for Justice Technologies and a few other smaller companies. There wasn't much traffic since most dignitaries and military representatives were over at Sho'lajah Artifact Company. Either trying to purchase a new enchanted item or evo that was presented during the tournament.
As usual I felt invisible, which for once was a blessing. Over the last couple days I have started to get used to being around Logan constantly. Being able to lean on him for support or at least a back to hide behind from my family. Contrary to how he outwardly projects he is a kind man just forced to play a cold character.
"Well, well, well…aren't you a rarity…" A voice whispered softly in my ear. I jerked around to look at the person who'd invaded my space and saw a cloaked figure standing much too close. I took several steps back and tried to keep my fear from showing on my face.
"Who…who are you?" I stuttered then cursed myself for it. The hooded figure cocked their head to the side, observing my reaction before replying.
"A causal observer…" The figure replied casually, then waved a hand towards my waist. As they did I noticed that the figure's hand was thin and delicate like a woman only having long nails that bordered on claws.
"…I just couldn't help but get closer to one so blessed by magicka."
That word made me pause and then narrowed my eyes at the hooded figure. Magicka, it was a old-world word for mana that hasn't been used in thousands of years. It was more common to unearth a functioning enchanted item from ancient splicer society than to year that word.
"Magicka…I'm a normie. I don't have magicka. I mean mana!" I exclaimed softly but firmly. The figure opened their mouth speak but then suddenly looked off into the distance blankly. Their hood fluttered slightly off their face. The figure quickly corrected their hood but not before I caught a look at their face. This figure was not human, they were in fact a evo and one that belonged to Chase Kingston.
"My master calls…take care of yourself… and the rare jewels yet bloomed…"
I blinked out of astonishment and in that moment the figure disappeared as if they were never there at all. I spun around looking for them and ended up tripping over my dress and nearly falling over. Thankfully Logan caught me before I fell, appearing out of nowhere seemingly.
"Watch it!" Logan barked, however there was no steel in his voice. He set me right side up and looked at me with a slightly concerned face.
"Did you see that cloaked figure?" I asked. Logan narrowed his eyes, his concern becoming more apparent.
"No. There was no figure." Logan said. I frowned and looked around the area.
"But I just…." I started then shut up. Logan sighed and placed a hand on my waist and pulled me close to him.
"You weren't out of my sight while I talked. I didn't see anyone get close to you to talk. However it did look like you were talking to air for a few moments." Logan said.
"So that's it…" I muttered. 'Some sort of ability to hide itself from those it doesn't want to see it.'
"Ziana…" Logan said, concern in his voice again.
"Its nothing…I'm fine…" I said with a soft shake of my head. My hand absentmindedly touching my belly. 'How long has it been…' Logan stared at me for a brief moment then shook his head.
"If you say so. Either way I'm going to need you to follow me real quick." Logan said, leading me away from the Justice Technologies area as well as the Sho'lajah Artifact Company area.
"Where are we…" I started to ask but Logan quickly silenced me woth a finger to my lips.
"I know that announcer guy said that we shouldn't leave the center but I'm sure ten minutes in that forest nearby wouldn't be too much." There was a lecherous twinge in his voice that made me groan inwardly.
I said nothing however as I was lead outside the center by Logan. As we stepped outside the doors I was caught off guard by the fact that it was night. Above thousands of stars blinked and dazzled above, creating a breathtaking view.
Logan than lead me down the steps away from the center and towards the forest nearby. While the forest was nearby relative to the next closest forest it was still a walk. I mentally prepared myself to sate Logan's needs as we stepped through a pair of bushes and were surprised to see Logan's father along with Six soldiers.
Dozens of thoughts started flying through my mind at light speed. Logan however silenced all those thoughts by the serious look he gave his father and soldiers.
"You think you were followed?" One of the soldiers asked.
"Won't matter really." Logan's father spoke up then looked towards the Sadamas center. "Chase has a enhanced Liger Shark on his side, those things can see for over two miles away. There is no telling what that freakishly of nature can see."
"So it could see us now?" Logan asked. His father nodded then looked to me.
"All the more reason for us to leave now." He said.
"Leave?" I muttered then turned Logan. "What is going on?"
Logan grabbed my shoulders and looked at me sternly.
"There is no time to explain but I need you to follow my dad and these soldiers. They are going to get you off this island. Luck willing, I will follow after you soon." Logan said.
"Logan…" I started. But was cut off by Logan.
"Ziana there is no time. I will be needed pretty soon but I need to make sure that you are safe. If nothing else my wife will get off this island." Logan said. As he spoke the words of that hooded evo flashed in my mind.
'Rare jewels…blessed Magicka…' I thought then my eyes widened as realization hit. 'My nausea, the evos taking to me even though I'm a normie, my lack of a time of the month…'
"I hear you when you say there is no time Logan but I need you to hear this before you run off and do what you need to." I said seriously then stood on my toes and leaned close to his ears and whispered my next words so only he could hear. "…I think I might be pregnant…so you have to come back to me."
Logan looked dumbfounded as I took a step back. He stared off into the distance for several seconds before he finally snapped out of it then looked at me. Instead of talking he pointed at me. I nodded confirming what I said. He then pointed to himself as if asking if it was his. I nodded again allowing a little annoyance to show on my face, though I tempered my anger a bit as I reminded myself of the hooded evo's words.
'Rare jewels and blessed Magicka…our child or children might be splicers…' I thought, admitting the terrifying truth to myself.
"That's not fair Ziana…" Logan said with a chuckle that almost sounded manic. He shook his head and stepped closer, placing a kiss on the top of my head."...how could I not come back to you after that…"