"We saw nothing." Alexandre sighed, as if explaining to a child for the thousandth time.
"Well sir, we don't happen to believe that, and while there is plenty of evidence, an eye witness will most definitely sway a jury a whole lot faster.. especially a survivor or her rescuer..." The cop answered. He was keeping his cool, but I could see his temper rising.
"My wife was heavily drugged and nearly drained of all blood, then left to die in an abandoned building. What part of that makes you think she would even want to remember? Even if the circumstances didn't make her medically or psychologically incapacitated?!" Alexandre yelled. The cop flinched and took a step back.
"Alexandre..I.." I began trying to soothe him, but he held up a hand to silence me. I blinked.
"We have issued multiple statements to you and your people about this matter. We cannot testify to something we did not see. Unless you are suggesting we lie under oath of course?" Alexandre's eyes looked dangerous. I saw the fiercely protective look mingling with his anger, and reached a hand towards him unconsciously. The cop's expression hardened and I dimly noted Cornelius entering the library on the second level, watching from the shadows in case things went wrong. I sent him an imperceptible nod.
"Excuse us if your stories seem a little too convenient and tidy." The older cop hissed. "Too many holes easily explained away with a casual 'I don't remember' or 'I didn't see' or 'how could I possibly?'." The young cop behind him cringed and backed up, looking at Alexandre with worry. "Some of us have been suspicious about you for a while Mr. Rivers, and now this. Oh, you may seem normal on the surface, but there is something wrong with you sir. Something evil. And I'm just sorry that this young lady got all mixed up in it." He spat and turned to leave.
"Oh and by the way, somebody leaked the info that you survived. That you were the only one that survived the attacks. The media will be all over you now, so watch yourselves." The cop put his hat back on and paced to the door briskly.
"I hope you have a nice day. It was good seeing you miss. Pregnancy suits you." The young man mumbled, blushing, then scrambled after his partner. Alexandre sighed and settled back in his chair in defeat. I heard Cornelius' gentle steps as he came down from the second story of the library.
"We'll have to start being careful again." Cornelius stated quietly.
"Yes, right when we have twice as many mouths to feed." I murmured, running a hand along my stomach and also thinking of Luc. I heard Alexandre exhale.
"I'm sorry Carys. I should have taken you away from here, given you a new identity, a new life somewhere else, somewhere.. away from me.." He said, leaning his head in his hands. I struggled upward, and walked around to him, drawing his head to my abdomen.
"Not a chance." I snarled. "I would not have missed this for the world." Alexandre looked up at me and then the tears began to flow. He leaned into me, wrapping his arms around my waist and crying like I had not seen him do in ages. The baby moved and kicked against his head which made him draw back with a gasp and chuckle slightly. He placed both hands on my stomach to feel the movement as the tears ran down his face and it was only later that I realized Cornelius had disappeared, giving us our space.
"Are you sure you don't regret staying with me?" Alexandre asked me quietly, holding me gently on the library floor later. He ran his fingers up my bare back and I shivered, but shook my head adamantly.
"Never. Not one single day. I replied.
"Maybe those cops and my brother were right. Maybe I truly am evil. Maybe I was wrong about this whole vampire thing all along." Alexandre brooded, rolling over onto his back. I turned to face him, chasing his warmth, and cuddled up against him.
"You're not evil Alexandre. You're probably one of the furthest things from it." I wrapped one of his arms around my waist. "Nothing as pure as this could come from evil." I leaned up on my elbow and kissed him gently. "Nothing as pure as this could either." I kissed him again. He growled softly and gripped me closer and I giggled.
"Ugh, baby sticking in my organs, readjustment necessary!" I whined, so Alexandre shifted me in his arms, until I was more comfortable and then grinned slightly at me. I snuggled into his warm chest.
"I don't know why you are so good to me Carys." Alexandre sighed. I ran my hands down his chest.
"I don't know why you are to me either." I answered and he pulled back to look at me and then chuckled lightly.
"I don't think the two compare at all, but I do love you. So very much. And I'm sorry I have not been reminding you of that as much recently." Alexandre responded, absently tracing his fingers up and down one of my arms.
"Eh, it's ok, Cornelius has been around to tell me." I shrugged and Alexandre flipped me over onto my back and growled while I giggled.
"Cornelius hmm? Well I am going to have to remind Cornelius of his place, but in the meantime, I'm going to have to make you forget all about him." Alexandre snarled lightly and nibbled at my neck. I gasped through my laughter.
"Oh but he was so kind.." I teased. Alexandre growled and pinched a little harder with his teeth, making me squeak "..and loving.." The snarl that rippled through his chest vibrated in mine and I laughed crazily as he used his mouth to torture me before asking for my consent again on the cold library floor.
"Ok, no offense, but I am not putting these clothes back on like this!" I said holding up a heavily stained shirt.
"Are you saying you find our post coital remnants distasteful dear?" Alexandre sneered, running his finger up my side from his lounging position on the floor.
"Umm, yes...it's a little gross, especially to be walking around with it plastering your clothes to your skin." I shuddered. Alexandre leaned closer and placed a kiss upon my thigh.
"But if it wasn't for this mess...then this little miracle would never exist." Alexandre teased, now running his finger from my pubic bone up over my stomach to my sternum and then tracing the same path back down. I captured his hand.
"Unless you intend to offer round three, you had better stop there young man." I warned and his eyes lit up.
"Are we having a hormonal swing?" He teased lightly and his hand dipped lower.
"Sir, I am warning you-this momma may attack without warning and with no excuses." I growled at him.
"Oh I'm counting on it." He grinned evilly and pinched my inner thigh. I squealed, then snarled at him and stood up with effort.
"I need a shower, you need to work." I instructed. He pouted.
"Aw, does that mean playtime's over?" His expression was ridiculous and I rolled my eyes. "This is a nice view though" He remarked laying on his back. I rolled my eyes at him and tucked the shirt around my body, wincing slightly but reassuring myself I would bathe soon and turned to leave. Alexandre's warm arms wrapped around me and pulled me back to the ground, cradling me to protect me, but it still startled the baby.
"Where are you going like that?" Alexandre laughed against my neck.
"To the shower." I reported "And now you'll have to help me up because it was hard enough the first time."
"Why are you still so shy in your own home?" Alexandre laughed and I blushed.
"Cornelius.." I began
"Has seen a lot more naked bodies than you or I ever will." Alexandre retorted kissing my neck. "Plus, as I recall, he was once invited into our bed."
"Consent." I growled the reminder to him. He sighed.
"You're such a beautiful woman Carys, I wish you didn't feel ashamed of it all the time." He kissed me again and then released me, helping me to stand. I snuck out of the library like a teenager sneaking back inside after curfew, much to Alexandre's amusement, who simply strolled through the house nude with his clothes slung over his shoulder as if to make a point. I bee-lined for the bathroom as he headed for the bedroom. I checked around the corners furtively as I started down the hall and then my worst fear was realized as Cornelius appeared in front of me. He looked at me curiously and chuckled.
"I have seen you naked before." He remarked and I blushed. He stepped forward and his nostrils flared slightly. I heard him moan under his breath. He licked his lips. "How long are you going to make me wait Carys?" He demanded, stepping closer. I took a step back.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, putting a hand out to hold him at bay as he slipped a finger under the shirt I had clutched to me and ran it down the length of the garment, eyeing me with open lust.
"You've only let me taste you once, and I can't bear it anymore. Being so close to you, the scent of you, especially now, when you're aroused, it's so.." He groaned and I backed up another step, running into the wall. Cornelius trapped me with an arm beside my head, his other hand still sliding up and down the shirt. I put my hand on his chest.
"Cornelius, calm down." I reprimanded him, shoving against his chest. I didn't budge him, but he did exhale slightly.
"I can't calm down, don't you see. With you two running around here like bunnies in heat all the time. The scent is everywhere and it's maddening. Even Alexandre has refused my advances, and since he's requested I stay for you, I can't exactly just leave to find another who can stand my strength." He slammed his fist against the wall. "And yet, you two continue with no thought of how your behavior is affecting others." He slammed the wall again and I dropped the shirt to hold both hands against his chest. He eyed me eagerly and I blushed angrily then slapped him.
"It's called consent. And if you want it, you need to ask for it." I snarled. "I'm sorry if our behavior bothers you, but you were the one who thought we were a fun experiment in the beginning." I said through gritted teeth.
"That's not the point!" He angrily swung his fist again, but Alexandre caught it before it hit the wall.