Please be aware this chapter has violent/abusive content and is intended for MATURE AUDIENCES.
"What should I do with you?" Alexandre snarled at Luc, who was still struggling to stand. Suddenly Luc flung himself at Alexandre and knocked him to the ground. Alexandre's growl reverberated around the room as he sunk his teeth into his brother's throat. They fought for control, then abruptly Alexandre gripped Luc's body to him, hugging his spine. Luc screamed and Alexandre snarled louder, squeezing tighter. Luc began to struggle and I heard a loud snap, then he abruptly went still and his screaming stopped. Alexandre snarled, tossing Luc off of him with disgust, Luc's body rolled like a limp rag-doll. I sighed with relief as Alexandre stood, mostly unharmed. He would be fine. My eyes began to close and I smiled slightly as I heard Alexandre calling my name.
"It's ok, I'm here, I'm just tired." I tried to tell him, but I don't think he heard me.
Cold jelly and pressure on my abdomen pulled me into a semi-conscious state.
"No the baby appears fine. I think she just entered a sleep state like our kind do when deprived of blood. Her heart rate is a little slow, but seems to be picking up since we've been plying Carys with so much blood..." Cornelius' soft voice faded into the background again.
The next time I woke up someone was torturing me.
"I'm sorry Carys, I'm so sorry. We had to rebreak the bones to reset them." Alexandre's voice was strangled with tears as I screamed in misery until I lost my voice.
Alexandre murmured something to me and I tried to answer him, but I was too tired. He kissed my forehead and I sighed.
Cornelius' cool hands feeling my ribs. I sucked in a breath and he apologized.
"Are you awake Carys?" He asked softly and I nodded slightly. "Do you want anything?" His hand brushed my face.
"Thirsty." I said, prying my dry lips apart. I heard the patter of blood and then he smeared two fingers across my lips that I greedily sucked at before hearing him chuckle.
"Not too fast...it's been a while, take it slow." Cornelius soothed and then withdrew the fingers way too quickly. I pouted and he chuckled.
"How are you feeling Carys?" He murmured smoothing my hair.
"Tired." I sighed. "So tired."
"Then go back to sleep." He whispered and kissed me lightly on the forehead. I found myself drifting off, thinking how much like Alexandre the gesture was.
The sound of a familiar heartbeat and slow, steady breathing. I opened my eyes slowly, searching for him. Alexandre was asleep in the chair beside the bed. I noted I was in the medical room. I smiled lightly and watched him sleep for a moment or two. He looked tired, dark circles under his eyes, a little thinner. I wanted to reach out to him, but my arms were strapped down. I looked at my arms and saw multiple tubes running out of them, several bags of blood and fluids lead into my veins. I shivered and closed my eyes, desperately taking a deep breath to steady myself.
"You kept pulling them out." Came Alexandre's voice and I looked at him with relief, welcoming the distraction. He stood up and leaned over me, kissing my forehead gently.
"How are you?" He asked me with worry. I nodded.
"I'mok." I croaked, running the words together, then grimaced and cleared my throat. "A little thirsty." I said apologetically. Alexandre nodded and left the room swiftly, returning with a cup with a straw. He offered the straw to me and I drank gratefully, moaning with relief. I felt the baby move and suddenly my eyes flew wide as everything crashed back into my brain. I spat the straw out and looked at Alexandre in horror.
"The baby? Luc?" I choked out, my hands clenched into fists. My right hand ached where Luc had crushed it and Alexandre and Cornelius had rebroken it.
"The baby is fine." Alexandre soothed. "Luc's...not." He clenched his jaw.
"I'm sorry." I whispered, tears running down my face.
"Don't be Carys. It's not your fault." He sighed and sat back in the chair beside me, one hand still clutching my arm gently. I closed my eyes again, tears still spilling from the corners.
"Hey Carys, Carys no honey." Alexandre was there, kissing away the tears in an instant.
"Can, can you let me up?" I asked quietly and Alexandre shook his head, leaning his forehead on mine, his hands on either side of my face.
"No love, I'm sorry, I can't. Not until your spine heals." Alexandre murmured. I squeezed my eyes closed again and tried to control my breathing.
"I'm feeling a little trapped right now Alexandre." I said, struggling to stay calm. "Can you at least free my arms?" Alexandre pulled back. I could tell he sensed my anxiety.
"Cornelius." He called softly while he gently rubbed my cheek with his thumb. Cornelius walked into the room swiftly and rushed to the back. He returned with a syringe.
"No, no, don't do that. Guys, don't knock me out again. How much time have I missed already? Please don't..." I begged, my panic rising. Cornelius looked at Alexandre who nodded to him with a pained look. Cornelius stuck the needle in my leg quickly and efficiently and was done, and I desperately tried to slow my heart rate to give myself more time. "Please.." I cried and saw a tear slide down Alexandre's face before the world disappeared around me.
The sedative kept me under for a while, oblivious to the world, and when I finally started to wake up, it was with a dizzying sense of disorientation, like my head wasn't attached properly anymore. Cornelius and Alexandre were talking in quiet voices, but I couldn't understand them, then time jumped and the room was silent again. I closed my eyes and another time jump and Alexandre was holding my hand. Another jump and Cornelius was asking me something I couldn't remember. I answered, but I wasn't sure what I was saying or if it even made sense. He patted my hand, and then time started to stick together a little more cohesively and things sped back up.
Head still feeling woozy and spacey I turned to look around the empty room.
"Alexandre?" I whispered and he came dashing in through the door, a look of worry on his face. I had tears in my eyes as I looked at him. "Don't you ever do that again you jerk." I demanded and he broke down, coming over to stand next to me, clutching my hand, crying openly.
"I won't, I won't." He promised.
"What's going on?" I asked him after a few moments. I was still trying to get my brain functioning right again. Alexandre sat in the chair next to me, brushing the tears from his face with his right hand, still clutching my hand with his left.
"Where would you like me to start?" He kept his head down.
"The baby..." I began.
"Is fine." He stated "Growing steadily, no signs of damage or injury. Your body seems to have diverted most of its resources to keeping her alive first and foremost." Alexandre's hand clenched tighter on mine.
"Good." I said with a nod. Alexandre's face turned to mine, his expression filled with a feverish intensity I had never seen.
"Carys, you could have died! If Cornelius wasn't here..." He began and I shushed him.
"But he was, and everything turned out just fine."
"No Carys, you don't understand. I tried to convince him to deliver the baby early to give you a better chance. To terminate the pregnancy. If he hadn't been here to convince me that wouldn't be what you wanted..." Alexandre hung his head. I looked at him in horror.
"You fought so hard to keep this child!" I whispered, appalled.
"Yes, but I told you before, I will not lose you. Even if I had to make that sacrifice. Another child is possible, whether it is ours or not. You are irreplaceable." He looked at me with wild eyes, his voice harsh.
"Alexandre, release my arms." I demanded.
"Why?" He asked warily.
"Because I asked you to." I replied.
"No." He answered.
"Cornelius." I called, knowing he wasn't far away. Sure enough, he stepped around the door frame swiftly and came to my side. I motioned with my head and he nodded once, beginning to unstrap my arms.
"Be careful Carys. I don't know how extensive the damage still is. We haven't x-rayed you in about a week." Cornelius told me softly.
"A week?" I began but then shook my head. I reached a hesitant hand out and laid it on Alexandre's head. Encouraged, since my hand and ribs didn't immediately begin to scream in pain, I shifted towards him slightly so I could drop my arm around his shoulders. I wanted to tug him to me, but I didn't have the strength, so I just squeezed the back of his neck comfortingly and ran my fingers through the curls at the base of his skull. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes.
"I'm not mad." I whispered. "I understand it was a tough choice, and I don't know how I would have felt in your position. I'm glad you chose the way you did. I love you Alexandre. And I love this baby." I said gently and the tears broke free from his eyes.