I glanced at Tallis who was lost in thought, an intense expression on his face as he studied the vacant air in front of him. Did he just sniff the air?
He looked toward Ayla. "Do you smell that?"
I almost got sick to my stomach. Another breath sucker? I couldn't smell anything out of the ordinary, but that didn't mean anything because his sense of smell was stronger than mine.
"Is it a dramian?" I asked, wishing my voice hadn't cracked.
Ayla stood to her feet, her eyes closing as she inhaled deeply.
"No it's an essence—a faint one. It's almost masked," she said distractedly.
Her eyes opened and she looked around the room, as Tallis cocked his head to the side and smiled.
"It’s a seer," he said with a large smile.
"Oh, Mom is downstairs," Aster replied casually.
Tallis continued smiling at her, intriguing me. Now Ayla was staring at Aster, too.
"Yes, it is a seer. A seer who will have a problem being sniffed out."
"What are you two talking about?"
Aster was getting uncomfortable from their intense stares. I found it amusing to watch her squirm for a change.
"Your little girl is going to be a seer," Tallis said with his growing grin.
Aster hadn't been able to go to the doctor. It's apparently too dangerous with her body being invincible and all. If they tried to give her a shot, the needle would bend. If they wanted to check her reflexes, then she might just kick them through a wall. So she had been unable to find out the gender of her baby.
None of the chanters—magical doctors—had been able to see her. They wouldn't have been much help with the baby anyhow. They could mostly just perform procedures to help change the body in some way, and they were there to deliver the babies. They were part of a village called the charmers, and they masked magical babies when they were first born.
Sonograms didn't work on pregnant witches either. Because our bodies course with so much magic, the sonogram machine would short circuit, or possibly blow up before she could see the baby. No one was willing to find out the consequences.
"A little girl? How do you know?" she asked with a rasp voice full of shock.
Tears swelled in her eyes as she grabbed the hand of a stunned and somewhat tearful Chris.
"I can smell it through her essence. His is different, though. I haven't ever smelled one like his. He'll have a new power."
Alya's smile widened as she nodded to confirm her brother's words. But everyone else was confused, not following their silent conversation or cryptic comments.
"He?" Aster squeaked.
"Twins?" Chris said, sounding suddenly excited and terrified at the same time.
"Yes. Twins. Something I've never heard of in the magical world," Tallis confirmed.
Aster half smiled, but then she frowned as she replied, "That means I'm going to get twice as big."
Chris leaned over and kissed her stomach and then kissed her. Aster wiped away her tears before she attempted to speak again.
"Thank you, Tallis." She hugged him, snapping him forward so unexpectedly and forcefully that it knocked the breath out of him. Tallis just laughed softly when he drew in a harsh breath.
Aster wiped another tear as she added, "I guess I will tell you thank you tonight after all."
I hugged her again and Ash joined us.
Ash rubbed Aster's belly. "A seer and an unknown. Welcome to the family, little ones."