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To those of us blessed (or cursed, depending on the day) with magical sight, it was a technicolor nightmare of supernatural commerce.

You want potions that'll make your Monday actually bearable?

Sweet Pea's Elixirs had you covered. It was run by a no-nonsense witch who had perfected the art of bottling good luck and caffeine into the same shot glass.

My pregnant ass was making a beeline for Greg's Metaphysical Munchies, because apparently carrying divine triplets meant craving snacks that defied several laws of physics.

"The usual?" Greg, the troll, asked. He was reaching for his famous blue chips. I have no idea what they were made from, but I couldn’t get enough lately.

"Better make it two," I replied as Tarja perched next to my feet. "These kids are hungry today."

As Greg rang me up, Nana and Nina were busy debating the merits of his newest creations at the sample counter. Nina held up something that looked like a rainbow had mated with an apple.

"What about these? They're supposed to make you feel like you just had the best nap of your life," Nina asked Nana.

"Honey, the last time I tried one of his relaxation snacks, I got so zen I spent three hours petting a garden gnome thinking it was Tarja," Nana replied as she eyed a bag that sparkled.

"Though these mood-lifting chips look interesting. We could use something to counteract the next time you don’t want to go to school. "

"Just don't get the ones that boost your energy," I warned, remembering last month's incident. "We're still cleaning glitter off the ceiling from the last time Stella had one."

I left them to decide and looked around while enjoying my snack.

The market bustled around us with its usual chaotic energy.

A group of brownies argued about proper duster length at their cleaning supply stall while Sweet Pea hollered about a two-for-one special on her Monday Morning Miracle Elixir.

" Phoebe. " Tarja's mental voice cut through my thoughts. It was sharp with warning. " By the herb stall. Don't turn around suddenly. "

After she pointed it out, I felt something.

It was a presence that made the symbol on my belly prickle with awareness.

Tilting my head, I caught a glimpse of a cloaked figure standing unnaturally still amid the market's chaos.

Their hooded face turned directly toward me. The air around them bent and distorted.

" They're focused on your belly, " Tarja projected. " And their power is ancient. "

The symbol flared with sudden heat as the figure started crossing the space between us. "Oh, hell no," I blurted. "Not during snack time."

The figure moved impossibly fast, materializing before Aidon and me. "You bear the mark. The children are claimed."

Aidon shoved the figure back with enough force to shatter concrete.

His eyes blazed with fire. "The only thing being claimed here is your death warrant.

No one threatens my family." The air around him crackled with his power.

The market's magical wards flared in response to his anger.

Somewhere in the distance, I heard thunder.

"You aren't touching them," I snapped as my magic surged. "You need to tell whoever sent you that we aren’t in the mood for this cryptic bullshit."

Power crackled through the air as the guy smiled at me with teeth. "For what it's worth, this isn't personal."

"Neither is this," Aidon growled. The ground beneath our feet trembled as he moved with inhuman speed. His dark energy wreathed his hands as he engaged the figure in combat. The air between them warped and twisted as their power clashed.

Before I could blink, Mom, Nina, Nana, and Selene formed a protective circle around Tarja and me.

Their combined magical barriers shimmered like an aurora borealis.

Nana's walking stick blazed as she deflected a stray bolt of energy meant for me.

We were all torn between watching the fight and looking for other dangers.

Aidon and the figure traded blows that sent shockwaves through the market. Each impact felt like a miniature earthquake. Aidon was careful to direct the force away from where we stood. He fought with the fury of an ancient god protecting his unborn children. Each strike was precise and devastating.

"You cannot stop what is coming," the figure hissed as he barely dodged one of Aidon's attacks that left a crater in the ground.

"Watch me," Aidon snarled. His next blow caught the figure square in the chest. The impact sent them flying through several stalls. He recovered impossibly fast.

Selene and Layla worked to evacuate the shoppers who hadn’t already run while maintaining shields around the combat zone.

When they got close, Greg joined in and began launching chips at the figure.

My magic merged with the babies' energy and flowed around me in a miniature bubble.

Their power resonated with Aidon's as they protected us.

Worry for Aidon had me pacing a tight circle.

When I couldn’t take it anymore, I shouted, "Enough!" The symbol's power exploded outward then and joined with Aidon's next attack. The combined force sent our attacker crashing through a display of enchanted wind chimes.

Their hood fell back, revealing a face marked with symbols that matched my belly's mark.

"The time approaches. The ancient ones rise.

The children must--" A bag of extra-spicy chips exploded against his face. This one was courtesy of Nana. She’d managed to interrupt whatever ominous prophecy they were about to deliver.

"Nobody threatens my great-grandbabies," she declared, brandishing another bag. "Now get out before I show you what else I can do with snack food."

The figure actually hesitated and looked from Aidon's gathering power to Nana's deadly snack arsenal. A second later he vanished, leaving only the scent of ancient power and spicy chips. The dark light around Aidon slowly faded. Though, he maintained a protective stance near us.

Greg surveyed the destruction before grinning.

"Best entertainment since the mer-people tried to unionize the food vendors.

" He handed me a fresh bag of chips. "On the house.

Anyone who can channel that much power while pregnant deserves free snacks.

And hey," he added to Aidon, "nice work with the whole wrathful god thing.

It really added atmosphere to the place. "