The third short story in The Spectral Chronicles, following up The Heralds of False Light. It's September of 2141, eight months since The Illuminati have been defeated. Anne-Marie and Lynessa have been excitedly looking forward to this, as they're expecting their new baby any day now. As they prepare for the long-awaited birth, however, an enemy of the past has returned: Kurt, Demetrios's former friend and secret soldier of Mephistopheles. He seeks to kill Lynessa and her unborn baby, claiming "this world has enough heroes." Anne-Marie valiantly steps in defeat him and protect her family.
Tropes:
- 11th-Hour Superpower: Similar to Anne-Marie's phoenix and Ashur's wolf, Anne-Marie gains a new spell. In her case, it's a Winged Unicorn made of arcane magic.
- Diabolus ex Nihilo: Partially subverted, since Kurt does have a backstory, but he still comes out of nowhere.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: After Kurt is finally defeated, Lynessa gives birth to her and Anne-Marie's new son, Julian.
- Evil Makes You Ugly: Gaining demonic powers has made Kurt more feral in appearance, complete with a Slasher Smile. And that's even before he assumes his One-Winged Angel form.
- Light Is Good: As Lynessa explains when her friends are helping her prepare for the birth, she wants her and Anne-Marie's baby to be born in the light of the Sun of the planet the Stone Cutters have come to call their home.
- Mama Bear: Anne-Marie in this story, protecting both her lover Lynessa and their children. Lynessa herself does as well; despite being laid down for her inevitable delivery, she still casts the Exorcism spell that destroys Kurt's hellfire ball that would have destroyed Anne-Marie's mask.
- One-Winged Angel: Kurt turns into a giant demonic owl/vulture-like creature to accomplish his insidious mission.
- The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: Played with. Demetrios warns Kurt "Your fight is with me," but Anne-Marie steps in to fight him. Demetrios congratulates her on her amazing victory, saying she even did better than he did the first time around.
- Would Hit a Girl: At one point, Kurt strongly elbows Anne-Marie in the stomach Dragon Ball Z-style. Her onlooking friends hold their midsections in pain and sympathy.
