Standing before the two rebels was a young, tall, slender woman wearing the uniform of a palace cook. Her red hair was tied back in a braid, but of attention was the enormous pregnant belly she had.
“I thought I saw…” said one rebel, lowering his sword. He shook his head. “Never mind. I guess we’ll need to keep searching for the prince.”
“In the meantime, you’ll be coming with us,” said the other rebel. He grabbed the young woman, which Jasper had become, by the arm. The other rebel grabbed her by the shoulder. Panicking, Jasper touched the locket.
“Protect me,” she whispered. There was a flash of light. When the light had cleared, Jasper gaped. The rebels were gone, but her already large baby bump had become even larger. Her stomach churned. The rebels had been transformed into fetuses and placed within her uterus.
In all likelihood, she hadn’t actually been pregnant initially. It was likely just part of her disguise. At least, that was what she concluded, based upon the fact that she had felt no movement before using the amulet the second time. Now, however, she felt much of it.
She was pregnant with twins.
Being heavily pregnant with twins slowed Jasper down significantly. By the time she managed to escape the palace and entered the nearby city, the city’s gates had been closed. She would not be able to find Anya’s family that night. And depending upon how long the rebel forces kept the city closed, she might not be rid of this horrid transformation for quite some time.
Trying to ignore the squirming of her unwanted, unborn twin sons, Jasper walked the streets, searching for a place that she might be able to stay.