"Here, drink so you can heal." I told Luc, placing my palm against his lips. He refused the offer, turning his head.
"Carys!" Alexandre scolded and I turned to look at him with confusion. Then there was pain in my palm as Luc sunk his teeth into the place I had previously bitten, glaring defiantly at his brother. Alexandre's snarl ripped across the room as I gasped, but held still, allowing him to pull the blood from the wound greedily.
"That's enough Luc!" Alexandre snapped and paced quickly back in our direction. I turned back to Luc to pull my palm away, but he growled and sunk his teeth in deeper, refusing to relinquish his hold. "I will. break. your. jaw." Alexandre threatened, gripping his brother's face at the hinge of his jaw. I squealed as the flesh began to tear free from my hand. Alexandre didn't hesitate, he slammed a fist into the side of his brother's face. Luc released my hand, grinning evilly, teeth coated in my blood. Alexandre scooped me up as I cradled my hand to my chest and he raced me out the door. He yelled for Cornelius as soon as we entered the house and made it to the med room before Cornelius did.
"What happened?" Cornelius asked, eyeing my bloody and torn palm.
"Carys tried to feed Luc." Alexandre growled.
"I knew this was going to happen eventually." Cornelius sighed as Alexandre set me on the table. "Can you move your thumb Carys?" I did, but panted with the effort. "I don't think there's too much damage she won't recover from, right now I'm just worried about the bleeding. Alexandre-can you-"
"On it.." Alexandre already had needle and thread in hand. I was starting to feel a little light-headed.
"Um, guys.. I think.. uh.." I felt my body tilting to the side as darkness raced in from the edges of my vision.
"Carys, Carys, drink now." Cornelius held his bleeding wrist to my mouth. I was dimly aware of it, and moved my mouth weakly. "She's not responding quickly enough, toss me that syringe Xan." It was the first time I'd ever heard the familiar nickname from him and wanted to comment on it, but I was just so tired. I felt the prick of a needle in the crook of my arm and the surge as something was forced into the vein. I struggled.
"No, no Carys. It's just Cornelius giving you some of his blood. It'll help you recover." Soothed Alexandre, and I stopped struggling and calmed down. My heart palpated wildly when the blood reached it and I bucked for a second as it tried to adjust. I heard Alexandre curse.
"What's the matter?" Cornelius asked, holding me down.
"She tore the stitching, now I'm going to have to try another way, there's so much blood." Alexandre replied.
"Want to trade places?" Cornelius shot at him.
"No, no... I got it." Alexandre sounded distracted. I felt Cornelius' blood crawling up my spinal column and as it reached my brain my head arched back. It burned like someone had lit all the neural pathways on fire and then everything went numb. I sighed in relief.
"Ok, I think she's through the worst of it. How's that hand coming?" Cornelius asked, letting me go. I opened my eyes slowly, my brain felt disconnected.
"Almost done here." Alexandre sounded relieved.
"Here, gauze." Cornelius handed a roll over to Alexandre, who wrapped my hand gently. I noted he was splattered with blood.
"You ok?' Alexandre asked, seeing me watching him. I nodded slowly, still feeling detached. The baby moved uncomfortably a couple of times. I grimaced. "What's wrong?" Alexandre asked immediately.
"Baby's moving." I responded. "Ugh, I think she might have smashed my bladder. Guys, I'm sorry, I think I just lost control." I grimaced again and tried to sit up. Alexandre's eyes went wide, his nostril's flaring.
"Carys, I uh, don't think that was urine." Alexandre whispered.
"Hmm?" I asked, clinging to Cornelius, who was suddenly at sharp attention. My lower abdomen squeezed and I sucked in a deep breath. "Oh my God." I whispered. "Now?"
"Birthing suite." Cornelius instructed and Alexandre nodded.
"Calm down guys, it's my first child, it could be days before this kid appears." I griped as they scooted me off the table.
"Carys, you're thinking of normal human births." Cornelius pointed out as another painful squeeze rocked my lower abdomen. "You may not have that much time." I gasped after the pain passed and nodded at him.
"You may be right." I said and Alexandre, seeing the panicked look on my face, scooped me up in his arms and raced to the birthing suite. He barely made it in the door before another contraction swept through my lower body. I groaned as he set me on the floor and clung to him desperately. He held onto me until it ended, and then had me grip the edge of the delivery bed while he and Cornelius ran around setting up. I crouched down, gripping my abdomen as the next contraction hit me.
"Guys." I called, panting. "I don't think we're going to have time for that." Cornelius raced over to me and pulled me into a more upright position.
"Do you mid if I remove your clothing and see how far along you are Carys?" He asked and I moaned while nodding as another contraction made me grip him tightly while it squeezed all around my lower torso. Alexandre raced over and gripped me under the arms while Cornelius removed my clothes from the waist down.
"She's right Alexandre. This child is ready. Now. I don't even think we'll get her on the table before..." Cornelius said and I heard myself yell as the next contraction knocked the strength out of my knees. Alexandre supported my body as I went limp and panted.
"You're doing well Carys." Cornelius soothed and looked at Alexandre.
"What does that look mean?" I moaned and then screeched as the next contraction rocked me and Cornelius repositioned my feet slightly.
"Carys, about one good push and your baby's head will be delivered. Do you think you've got it in you?" Cornelius asked me. I nodded. "Ok, when I tell you." And with the next contraction he had me bear down and I felt the pressure as the baby's head began to slip out of my body. I could hear myself scream over Cornelius' soothing voice, giving instructions and Alexandre's frantic heartbeat and breathing behind me, and then, she was born. Alexandre allowed us to collapse, falling down onto the bathroom floor while cradling me as Cornelius held out our new baby girl. I don't know who was crying harder, but Alexandre was gripping me tightly as Cornelius cleared the baby's airways and she began to wail.
"Do you want to cut the cord Papa Xan?" Cornelius asked lovingly and Alexandre nodded, reaching around me with one arm to do so, while still holding me to his chest with the other. Cornelius washed her up and brought her back to us while Alexandre and I handled the placenta. That was worse in a way than the baby. The bleeding stopped pretty quickly, which was a relief to all of us, but what shocked me most was when Cornelius laid my baby on my chest and I noticed that she began nuzzling at my breasts.
"Does this mean I'm going to be able to breastfeed my baby?" I asked bewildered. "She's a vampire-I can smell it! But..." Cornelius chuckled.
"This is all brand new territory to me-the only thing I can tell you is to try. So momma-are you going to get those clothes out of the way and see if your baby wants some milk?" I pulled my shirt open and Alexandre-who had helped me get upstairs to the nursery after delivering the afterbirth, helped me pull off my bra. I noticed the inside of the cups were lightly dampened with a slightly yellowish pinkish liquid. I had expected a bloodyish discharge, I had not expected the baby to be able to digest it. I figured I'd just have to deal with it until it went away. I brought the baby back to my chest and watched as she moved her tiny head in search of a good latch. Her slight dark downy hair was covered in a small hat, but a lock or two escaped and I brushed them with a finger gently. Her mouth found its target and with a powerful pull I felt her begin to nurse. I sucked in a breath. Cornelius laughed with delight. I ran a finger down the baby's soft pale cheek. She had Alexandre's sophisticated nose and brow, but I hadn't yet seen her eyes. I was hoping they were closer to mine as she grew, to go with that dark hair. Alexandre crawled onto the bed beside me and stared in awe at the baby as well. Cornelius was still so tickled, I thought he'd never stop beaming. Alexandre cupped the baby's tiny head in his hand.
"She's so beautiful." He whispered. Cornelius sat on the foot of the bed.
"Just like her parents." He remarked. "But are you really going to call her Mina?" He asked with distaste. I laughed.
"Yes. Wilhelmina Rivers has a nice ring to it. She can always change it if she wants. After all, she'll have plenty of time for that." I replied. Alexandre's face momentarily froze. "Don't do that Alexandre-you're the one who continually told me she was going to be perfect and fine. Don't you start being the worry wart now." I accused and leaned in to kiss him to show him I wasn't trying to be rude.
"Don't steal my happiness." I said, leaning my forehead against his. He grinned slightly and nodded.
"Well, I think she should have a more unique name. Like Acantha or Artemis." Cornelius declared.
"Oh no." I groaned. "Didn't Acantha have a terrible ending? Like wasn't she turned into a tree or a bush or something? And Artemis Rivers? Oh God, poor child." I grimaced.
"Says the woman named Carys." He smirked.
"From a man named Cornelius." I retorted. Alexandre chuckled. "Hey mister French man, don't think you get a pass!' He kissed me soundly on the lips. The baby grunted and moved her head. I think she's done." I said softly. Cornelius stood and came to where I was seated.
"Why don't you get some rest? I'll bring you some blood later." He kissed my forehead softly. Alexandre murmured an agreement with his lips against my temple, pulling me gently into a more reclined position against him as I moved the baby to between my breasts. I patted her back lightly and she gave off a gentle burp. Alexandre began to rock us gently, humming a soft tune. I smiled and relaxed into his embrace.
"Are we a proud papa again?" I asked with a yawn.
"More than you could ever believe." Alexandre replied, kissing my hair.
"I love you Alexandre." I said, closing my eyes.
"Eternally." Alexandre replied, and I felt his hand supporting the baby's bottom as I drifted off to sleep, not that I would ever let her go.