The Goblin Warrior (Beneath Sands Book 2) by Emma Hamm (100 books to read txt) 📕

“I’m afraid we’re going to have to do this the old fashioned way. The better machines are upstairs and… well.” Catherine stood slowly and walked towards Jane. “You’re to remain here for your own safety.”

Jane allowed herself to be shifted until she was lying down. “Somehow I doubt it’s for my own safety.”

“And that of the child.”

Jane’s head was already starting to ache. It seemed as though every word Catherine said held a hidden meaning within it that she should be paying attention to.

Catherine wheeled over another machine that seemed to be held together by a few fused pieces and a prayer.

“I’m going to need to have access to your stomach.”

At least the other woman had the decency to blush.

Jane said nothing other than arching an eyebrow, but she drew the cloth of the hospital gown up to expose her midriff. They had at least been kind enough to supply her with underwear. After living in the caves with so little clothing covering her, Jane found her sense of embarrassment over her own body had lessened.

There was the smallest bump on her stomach. The raise was barely enough to notice but there none the less. As Catherine covered her legs with a thin paper sheet, Jane’s hand smoothed down her belly.

“I’m sure it’s doing fine.”

The reassurance was unexpected but welcome as the two women looked at each other.

“I didn’t even know about it until you told me.”

“I had gathered that much.” Catherine’s expression changed into one that could only be described as wistful. “It’s quite a miracle that you’ve managed to carry it.”

“Is it?”

“I was studying the specimen that you attempted to steal. Our genetics are quite close, but I hadn’t thought that cross species breeding would have been possible.”

“Goblin.”

Catherine paused in her mechanical movements and looked at Jane. “Excuse me?”

“Goblin. They prefer to be called goblins.”

The words seemed to stump Catherine for a moment before she slowly nodded. “Of course. I hadn’t realized how cold that might sound.”

“They’re people, just like us.”

Jane’s eyes tracked the other woman’s movements as she started to smooth cold liquid gel onto her belly. Catherine appeared to be truly uncomfortable now.

Slowly, Catherine settled herself onto a chair near the table. She leaned closer and the lapel of her jacket pressed hard against the metal table.

“The goblin boy always seemed more than just an animal to me.” She murmured quietly. “He was far too aware for an animal.”

But then she leaned away again. Jane realized she had been muffling the sounds of her words so that whomever was listening to them wouldn’t be able to make out the sounds.

“I’m going to use this machine to check on the health of your child.” Catherine then said, her words clipped and impersonal.

“You said before I was a month along, but that’s not possible. I would need to be at least 3 months.”

Catherine’s brows furrowed as she pressed the machine against Jane’s stomach.

“That’s odd. Let me look again.”

Both women then fell silent and stared at the screen that flickered on and off as Catherine continued to move the metal head that seemed to blink light against her stomach.

“There we go.”

This time, Jane made sure she looked at the image that continued to blink on and off of the screen. It didn’t look like much really, just a shadow on an image that looked foreign to her. But when Catherine pointed a lean finger against the screen, she could make out the bean that was her child.

“That’s her?”

Jane’s voice was filled with awe.

“Yes. Although I can’t tell you if it’s a girl yet.”

“It is.”

Catherine stared at the hard line of Jane’s jaw since the other woman’s eyes were locked on the screen.

“How are you so sure?”

“I just am.”

The image stayed on the screen for as long as Catherine dared before she took the instrument off of Jane’s stomach. Jane didn’t need it on the screen any longer. She knew what her child looked like. Her heart was singing.

“Is it hot in here?” Catherine asked while fanning herself. “Excuse me for a moment, I think I’m feeling ill.”

She took off her lab jacket and tossed it onto the floor, while sagging slowly until her head was nearly pressed against her knees.

Jane leaned forward to help her and swung her legs off of the table. It was then that she saw Catherine’s fingers moving once more.

“Don’t move, just sit there and let me talk. We don’t have long.”

She forced her face to be still and not show any surprise. Jane hadn’t thought that Catherine would help them. She understood that Catherine made the choices that would keep her alive. This was the exact opposite of that.

“The guards will be here soon, please just sit still and make it seem as though I’m not speaking.”

Jane remained as still as possible.

“I don’t know how to help you, but I’m doing my best right now. The goblin boy who was here, Juo I think you called him, has been transferred to my care. I’m being as gentle as possible. I can’t do anything for the other goblin. They have him locked up tight. I’m working on a plan to get you and Luther out. Now lean forward and put your hand on my shoulder as though you’re asking how I am. Keep your face away from the camera on the right wall and tell me how to help.”

Jane leaned forward then, her hand sliding along the other woman’s back. She could feel her ribs through the cloth. “There are more goblins. Two, named Shusar and Illyrin. Tell my sister to go find them outside the walls, she’ll be the best at it. They might be able to help us.”

“That’s your plan?” Catherine hissed. “That’s a horrible plan.”

“I don’t have anything else to offer.” Jane said.

They both froze when they heard the hard cracks of the guard’s boots against the floor.

“I’ll do what I can.” Catherine whispered before she fell forward and completely onto the floor.

The door burst open just as Jane leaned backwards. She