"Hey beautiful." Alexandre woke me with a grin from his hospital bed. "See, I remembered it this time." He remarked and I rolled my eyes at him. He held out his hand to me and my mind flashed back to Cornelius doing the same and I shivered. However, I gratefully stepped into Alexandre's arms for a hug.
"Are you ok Carys?" He murmured against my ear and I nodded then shook my head. He chuckled, then groaned uncomfortably. "Outside may look good, inside's still a mess." He reported grimly. I wanted to melt into his arms, so I just kept my position, half leaning over him until my back screamed at me to stand up. Alexandre searched my face with worry.
"Cornelius?" He asked and I nodded. His face set in a grim expression. "I asked him to be more gentle with you, that you were still very raw from your human life." He frowned as if determined to say something else.
"Alexandre, don't... I'm afraid you might make it worse. I think he enjoys toying with me and it'll be more fun if he knows he's getting a rise out of you. Or me." I objected to whatever was in his head.
"I seem to remember a similar argument being raised for your father." Alexandre remarked. I blushed.
"Cornelius scares me about the same." I whispered. Alexandre pulled me back down into his arms.
"Carys, I'm sorry I'm not able to protect you." His voice was soft and quiet. My breathing hitched.
"Well it's my own damn fault." I replied and burst into tears again. Alexandre stroked my hair and murmured to me quietly.
"Hey, how's our little girl doing? Corenlius said he gave you an ultrasound." Alexandre sounded excited. I bumped his shoulder with my forehead.
"Nice attempt to distract me. But she's doing really well. You should have seen her Alexandre, she's so amazing! So tiny and perfect and human...looking..." I shrugged and Alexandre chuckled.
"Didn't I tell you before you were being silly? But you know what I really love?" Alexandre asked and I pulled away from him slightly to look at him and shook my head. "It's hearing you refer to her as 'her' and sound so excited about her finally." Alexandre smiled gently at me. "I don't like to see you worry so much." I blushed and hid my face on his chest, inhaling his floral parchment scent, only now there was a little bit of rotten raspberry tainting it. Goddamn Cornelius.
"Why don't you go get some sleep?" Alexandre asked. "You look like you could use it and I definitely could too."
"It won't feel right without you there." I mumbled as Alexandre continued to stroke my hair. He chuckled.
"Trust me, I can't wait to get back in bed with you too." He teased and I smacked his shoulder gently. "But I sadly still have some healing to do, and I'm not sure it's safe yet for me to be up and walking around, even if it's just to go to bed." I nodded against his bandages.
"I guess you're right." I sighed and raised my head to kiss him gently. He eagerly kissed back, but hissed when he moved too far forward too quickly. I pushed him back down softly and reluctantly whispered "I love you. See you later." To him and left the room.
I heard him softly reply 'Eternally' behind me as I went.
Cornelius made me paranoid. I checked everywhere in our room for him before locking the bedroom door, for the first time ever. I changed into pajamas (Alexandre's) and crawled into the big empty bed. It had been so long since I'd gone to sleep without Alexandre's arms wrapped around me, I wasn't sure I could even fall asleep without him. But, before I knew it, my eyes drifted shut and I was lost in a deep sleep. My dreams were haunted by the smell of rotting raspberry tea and the uncomfortable sensation of being watched.
"Alexandre would like to see you." Cornelius' cold voice announced from the other side of the door. I jerked awake, scaring the baby and making her move restlessly. Immediately jumping up, I raced from the bedroom to Alexandre's, terrified something had happened. He was sitting and looked up surprised, and then laughed lightly. Cornelius gave me a cold look and left the room.
"What's the matter? Are you ok?" I grabbed his hand, checking him for signs of danger.
"I'm fine, you didn't have to rush, though you do look adorable with your messy hair and my pajamas. Mind you, I think that top is a little revealing for company." He eyed my chest. I looked down and realized one of the buttons had come undone on my chest. I blushed and swiftly buttoned it back, then combed my fingers through my hair. Alexandre tugged me down and kissed me soundly. "Mmm, still warm from sleep. I missed that." He murmured against my lips. I sighed and leaned my head against his chest, hearing his steady heartbeat pounding in my ears.
"You look better." I said, not moving from my position.
"I feel a lot better. It's all thanks to Cornelius, he keeps forcing his blood on me." Alexandre laughed. I sighed.
"Yeah, you kinda smell like him a bit." I complained. "I miss the books and flowers. Now they're spoiled with sour raspberry tea." Alexandre chuckled.
"You know, at one point, Alexandre appreciated my scent." Cornelius' voice came from the door.
"Damn Dracula vamp." I griped, still huddled against Alexandre's chest. He chuckled lightly again and ran a hand down my hair.
"I suddenly feel very special, two of my lovers fighting over me." Alexandre laughed. I stood up and swatted his arm lightly.
"Rude." I sniffed and crossed my arms.
"Breakfast." Cornelius stated emotionlessly, handing over two mugs of blood. I could tell by the smell it was human, but there was also a slight raspberry tang to it.
"Are you trying to advance my pregnancy on purpose now?" I asked Cornelius with a look.
"On the contrary, I only put a drop or two in your cup, I'm just attempting to keep you healthy." Cornelius said witheringly. "Your lover's cup is more heavily mixed with my blood to help him heal." He crossed his arms and leaned on the door frame. Alexandre drained his mug in a few quick swallows and then raised his eyebrows at me motioning that I should follow suit. I stared at him like I didn't know what he meant. He sighed.
"Carys, Cornelius is simply trying to help us out. He wasn't obligated and is doing all of this out of the kindness of his heart." Alexandre told me with exasperation. I tilted my head as if listening.
"Oh my God, there IS a heart in there!" I gasped, looking at Cornelius' chest with shock. He growled and the very sound made my knees weak, but I steeled myself and held my ground. He stared pointedly at the cup and I tipped it back and drained it, then raised my eyebrows at it him as if to ask if he was satisfied. He sighed and left the room.
"Damn, what's up with him, crawl out of the wrong side of his coffin this morning?" I muttered and Alexandre laughed.
"You know he doesn't sleep in a coffin." He teased.
"I don't know... If he doesn't, he outta." I replied with a sigh and sat in the chair beside the bed, twisting the empty mug in my hands.
"Apparently, he's offended. He found our bedroom door locked when he came to wake you, so he feels you don't trust him. Follow that with your attitude today..." He waved a hand with a chuckle and I let out a wry laugh.
"I don't trust him. He terrifies me, it's like my past coming back to haunt me and it makes me defensive I guess." I answered bitterly. I heard the bed squeak and Alexandre grunted.
"Carys." He called softly, hand extended to me as he leaned towards me. I jumped up immediately, dropping the mug on the chair and pushed him back upright.
"Don't hurt yourself again you fool, especially over my silly emotions." I scolded him lightly. He gently turned my face to his with a finger.
"Carys, I won't let anything happen to you. I've promised. Cornelius is not likely to harm you under my roof, because he know if he does, injured or not, I will do my damnedest to kill him. He knows I protect what's mine. And you..." He kissed me hard. "...are most definitely mine."
"Nice and creepily possessive, thanks." I sighed against his lips and he chuckled.
"Just try to play nice. I don't know what his interests are concerning the baby, other than fascination, and I hope that's it. But he's been discussing ideas about the birth with me to help keep you both safe." Alexandre responded as he pulled away.
"Alive, you mean." I sniped, then exhaled slowly to settle myself. "I'm sorry, that came out harsher than it sounded in my head. I've been worried about the birth since day one."
"Well, Cornelius thinks it may go smoothly, since everything else has. He pointed out that the virus specialized in enhancing or evolving humans to a more advanced state, better health, senses, etc. So he theorizes it will do the same with the birth, since it's a necessary reproductive capability, he thinks everything might be...more efficient. But there's no harm in being prepared...just in case.." Alexandre said. A chill ran down my spine as he spoke.
"More efficient?" I latched on to the phrase with trepidation. Alexandre winced.
"Yes, possibly shorter, faster. Quicker healing after." Alexandre answered carefully.
"Why am I hearing 'this may be extremely painful'?" I asked him and he winced again.
"It's just one theory. Of several." He answered me cautiously.
"Oh God Alexandre, what else?" I grumbled, looking at him angrily and he blanched.
"It may be too quick for the baby to be born safely, so we may have to leave you in a weakened state to sort of...slow things down a bit." Alexandre grimaced at my look of fear.
"Weakened? You mean..?" I began.
"Drain you." He grimaced and I stepped back, clutching at my stomach in horror. "But it's only a theory, Carys, we won't know until the day arrives." He hurriedly explained holding out a hand to me. "Please don't be scared, it's only a theory, we're just trying to be prepared for everything." He cajoled, but all I could see was me on a table drained of blood, screaming in pain, too weak to even move.
"And Cornelius has offered to stay to help just in case, since he has more knowledge than I, and his blood is a better restorative." Alexandre was desperately reaching for me now as I backed up a step. I didn't know which was more horrifying, Cornelius being here or the other things Alexandre was telling me.
"I uh...need a minute," I murmured and turned and ran from the room. I felt like I couldn't breathe, like there wasn't enough air in the house, so I raced out of the doors to the garden and gasped for air out on the balcony, trembling. That was where Cornelius found me a few minutes later.