The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Jacob had spent a restless night, his mind plagued by the weight of the mission ahead. There was no room for hesitation or doubt, not when so much was at stake. As he stood under the hot torrent of water, he could feel the tension slowly ebbing away. It was a moment of solace amidst the chaos, a brief respite before plunging back into the fray.

He let the steam envelop him, drawing a deep breath as if to cleanse his very soul. With each passing second, he felt more centered, more prepared for the challenges that awaited. The battle against Blackwell loomed like a storm on the horizon, but in this instant, Jacob found his resolve hardening.

The water cascading down his body seemed to wash away the remnants of his doubts, renewing his spirits. Today would be a turning point, he was sure of it.

Jacob stepped out of the steaming shower, it felt good to be clean. A fresh start to a new day.

As he shaved off the three day stubble that he had be ignoring he could hear Shannon talking softly to Katie as she readied her for her appointment. It felt good knowing that people with such kind hearts where there to help take care of her physical body while such strong warrior women where helping him to regain her soul.

As he finished shaving, Jacob caught his reflection in the mirror. He didn't just see his face; he saw a man filled with determination and hope. He knew that the coming hours would test their limits, yet he felt bolstered by the strength of his companions. Hazel’s resolve and Shannon’s compassion were like twin pillars, supporting their collective effort.

The battle ahead was daunting, but they were not alone. They had each other, a tight-knit group bound by a shared mission and the unyielding desire to protect those they loved. As Jacob moved through the house, checking in with each member of their makeshift family, he felt a growing sense of unity. Every step they took, every plan they made, brought them closer to confronting Blackwell and reclaiming Katie's soul.

They were ready. Today would indeed be a turning point.

Jacob peeked into Katie’s room. Shannon had meticulously bathed Katie, dried and braided her hair in two soft French braids, and then dressed her in a clean cotton pink nightgown. Katie resembled a delicate porcelain doll with perfect skin and delicate features.

Jacob felt a pang of sorrow mixed with hope as he gazed at Katie. Her fragility was a stark reminder of their mission's urgency. He stepped into the room, his presence gentle and reassuring. Shannon looked up, a soft smile playing on her lips. "She’s ready," she whispered, her voice filled with quiet strength.

Katie’s eyes fluttered open, and for a brief moment, a spark of recognition lit up her gaze, then fell vacant again. Jacob's heart swelled with determination. He knelt beside the bed, taking Katie’s small hand in his. "We’re going to bring you back," he vowed softly, his voice steady and resolute.

“Thank you for taking such good care of her,” Jacob gave Shannon a small smile just as he heard an authoritative knock at the door.

Jacob opened the door and greeted the woman. Dr. Ursine was a slight woman, no more than five foot tall and couldn’t be 100 lbs. dripping wet, but she bore an air of quiet authority that came with knowledge and experience.

Her eyes, sharp and discerning, took in the scene with a quick sweep before settling on Jacob. She extended a hand, her grip firm yet gentle. “Good morning, Jacob. I’ve heard a lot about your dedication to Katie’s recovery and the health of her baby,” she said, her voice calm and reassuring.

“Thank you, Dr. Ursine,” Jacob replied, stepping aside to let her in. He led her towards Katie's room, the walls of the hallway lined with framed photographs of happier times.

As they entered, Shannon rose, giving the doctor a respectful nod. “Dr. Ursine, thank you for coming.”

Dr. Ursine approached Katie’s bedside, her presence bringing a sense of calm and steadiness. She gently touched Katie’s forehead, her experienced eyes assessing the women’s condition. “Katie, my dear, we’re going to take good care of you,” she murmured softly.

“I’ve taken the time to review her chart, I was glad to see that her health is very stable.” The doctor glanced around the room and smiled. “I’m please to see you received all the equipment and supplies I sent ahead. Now before we take a peek at this baby I want to give you a little heads up.” The doctor paused and took a deep breath, “Her hCG levels were very high. This indicates that she’s either further along in her pregnancy than we think or twins.”

Jacob jaw dropped; he knew that identical twins ran in his family, but it had been almost three generations since they had had a set.

“That would be… awesome!” Jacob finally stammered out.

The doctor leaned down and whispered to Katie. “Dear I’m going to tell you everything we’re going to do before we do it. Feel free to wake up and tell me to stop at any time. I promise we are not trying to hurt you or your baby. OK? First, I’m just going to take your vitals. This will give us a baseline of how you’re doing. Then we are going to slip a wedge pillow under your hips to lift you up a little, it shouldn’t be uncomfortable just a little awkward for you. Once we have you in a safe position I’m going to do an internal ultrasound. It’s the best was to get the most detailed and accurate information. It should only take a few minutes.

Jacob and Shannon assisted the doctor in positioning Katie, keeping the blanket draped over her bent knees for privacy. Then proceeded with the ultrasound.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The doctor smiled, “two babies with strong heartbeats, two sacks, and two healthy looking placentas. Congrats Daddy! Right now they are measuring at 16 weeks.”

Pride filled Jacob’s heart as he looked at the two little blob shapes on the monitor. He couldn’t tell what was what, but he knew they were his babies.

“I’ve already consulted with her nutritionist, and we agreed on some changes to her diet if this turned out to be the case. I’ll send the new prescription to the DME company. You should have the new formula tomorrow. It’s just a more calorie dense formula. Two babies mean twice the need. I’m also increasing her vitamin C, D, and iron. I’m also increasing her water intake; she looks a little dehydrated.”

Jacob smiled and nodded, he would do anything or pay for anything just to keep all three of them healthy.

"Thank you, doctor," he said earnestly. "We'll make sure she gets everything she needs."

Dr. Ursine nodded approvingly. "It's clear she has a strong support system," she remarked. "Katie is very lucky to have you." She turned to Shannon, "And you too, Shannon. Your help is invaluable."

Shannon smiled slightly, "Anything for Katie and those babies," she replied.

The doctor gathered her equipment, preparing to leave. "I'll be back to check on her in two weeks. If anything changes, don't hesitate to call me." She handed Jacob a business card with her private cell phone number on the back.

Jacob escorted Dr. Ursine to the door, gratitude evident in his every step. As he returned to Katie's side, he took her hand in his, gently squeezing it. "We're going to get through this together," he whispered, his voice filled with unwavering determination and love.

Thirty minutes later Jacob pulled up to the old shabby house that Shalya Wells called home. Anxiety built up so heavy in his stomach it took almost five full minutes to steady his nerves enough to exit the once pristine truck.

He took a deep breath and finally stepped out, the gravel crunching under his boots as he made his way to the front door. The house, with its peeling paint and overgrown yard, seemed to loom over him, a stark contrast to the sterile mansion he had grown up in.

Jacob hesitated for a moment, his hand poised to knock. He glanced back at the truck, considering the urge to leave, but shook his head, dismissing the thought. He needed to do this for Katie and their unborn twins.

With renewed resolve, he rapped on the door, the sound echoing in the quiet afternoon. Seconds felt like hours as he waited, each one dragging him deeper into a pool of uncertainty. Finally, the door creaked open to reveal Shalya, her eyes shining with anticipation.

"Jacob," she said, her voice a mix of anxious concern, joy, and caution. "What took you so long to get here?"

Jacob forced a smile, though his nerves threatened to betray him. "I needed to be there for the appointment with the OB, Shalya. For Katie... and the babies."

“Babies!” Cheri piped in from somewhere behind Shayla.

Shayla stepped back and ushered Jacob into the living room where the four other women where lounging around in the over stuffed chairs sipping iced tea. The room was a blend of comforting chaos, filled with soft murmurs and the clinking of ice against glass. Jacob took in the scene, his mind racing to find the right words. The women greeted him with a mixture of anxiety and friendliness, their eyes reflecting both welcome and unasked questions.

As Jacob settled into a vacant seat, Shayla brought him a glass of iced tea. "Here, have something to drink. You look like you could use it," she said with a small, reassuring smile. Jacob accepted the glass, the cold condensation soothing his clammy hands.

"So, Jacob," Tracy began, her voice warm and inviting, "how is Katie holding up?" Her question carried a weight of genuine concern, and Jacob felt a momentary relief at the empathy in the room.

"She's strong, the ultrasound confirmed we’re having twins." Jacob replied, his voice was steady as he spoke. "The doctor says they have strong heartbeats, but it's gonna be a challenging few months."

Shayla nodded; her expression thoughtful. "We're here to support you both. We are going to break her out of this coma, this curse. I’ve already put together most of the ritual we need. The biggest issue we are going to face is power. The Black Dove Coven were extremely powerful, and they made mistakes. All of us have let our family’s magic fall to the side for more modern endeavors."

The conversation flowed naturally from there, questions and reassurances bouncing back and forth. Jacob felt the tension in his shoulders ease slightly, grateful for the solidarity these women offered. As the afternoon wore on, the initial anxiety that had gripped him slowly unraveled, replaced by a cautious optimism.

As the bright sun began to fall past the horizon, the day turned into night, it became obvious that Shayla had grown tired.

“The full moon is in two nights. That is when we’ll all be at our strongest. We should be here by noon to give us enough time to set everything up. Please remember, all of you wear your pentacle amulets close to your skin.

As the group quietly said their goodbyes and headed for the door, Jacob lingered for a moment, taking in the last remnants of daylight streaming through the windows. He felt a strange sense of calm wash over him, a rare feeling considering the turmoil that had consumed his life recently.

Shayla walked him to the door, her presence a reassuring anchor in the swirling sea of uncertainty. "We'll see you soon, Jacob," she said softly, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Remember, you're not alone in this."

Jacob nodded, his gratitude evident in his eyes. "Thank you, Shayla. For everything."

As he stepped out into the cool evening air, the weight of the coming days settled on his shoulders, yet he stood a little taller. He knew the road ahead would be tough, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope. With the collective strength and support surrounding him, he was more determined than ever to face the challenges head-on, for Katie, for their unborn twins, and for the future they were all fighting for.

Tracy was leaning against the battered truck waiting for him.

“I told Jasmine I was going to ride home with you so we could talk.”

Jacob nodded and slid into the truck’s driver seat.

Tracy climbed in beside him, closing the door with a soft click. The silence between them was comfortable, a testament to the years of friendship and shared experiences. Jacob turned the key in the ignition, and the truck roared to life, its headlights cutting through the encroaching darkness.

As they pulled away from Shayla’s house, Tracy glanced at Jacob, her expression a mix of concern and determination. "Jacob, did you know? Did you know that fraternal twins run in our family?."

Jacob nodded, keeping his eyes on the road. “We had talked about having kids, but she never mentioned it. I just figured it was from my side, we have a history of identical twins."

Tracy reached over and squeezed his hand briefly. "Well then I guess the surprise is going to be identical or fraternal.” She let out a full belly laugh. “I was a twin, but my brother passed away when he was three. Not sure I ever got over it."

Jacob smiled, a small but genuine gesture. "I’m so sorry to hear that, Tracy."

The rest of the drive was filled with quiet conversation, the kind that only close friends can share. By the time they reached Jacob’s home, he felt a newfound resolve.