"Carys love, you need to let her go." Came Alexandre's voice along with a soft chuckle. "She needs a change."
"Mmm." I replied and released the tiny warm bundle from my arms reluctantly. She hand't even begun to cry yet, Alexandre must have been awake and noticed the change in her scent. I rolled over and was asleep again before he returned, though I heard him murmuring and singing to the baby at the changing table across the room. I smiled as I drifted off. Could I possibly be more in love with this man?
I heard the baby wailing and immediately sat up.
"It's ok, we're going to momma right now." Alexandre crooned and then smiled at me as he noticed I was awake. "Good afternoon beautiful, it's time for the midnight feeding." Alexandre joked and I looked around to see it was daytime again.
"How long was I asleep?" I asked blearily.
"Oh a few hours. Since she was quiet, I decided I'd take her and let you sleep. You want something to eat?" Alexandre leaned over and kissed me while handing me the baby. I nodded gratefully.
"Yes please." I replied.
"Be right back." He murmured and kissed my forehead as I adjusted the child in my arms. She greedily latched on and began to nurse.
"Slow down, greedy pig." I laughed. "Have you gained weight already?" I frowned and adjusted her in my arms.
"No, she is actually quite heavy." Cornelius' voice came from the door.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked shortly.
"It means that tiny twenty-two inch bundle in your arms there that should weigh, and looks like she weighs between seven and eight pounds, actually weighs closer to fifteen." Cornelius remarked.
"What? She's so tiny!" I blurted.
"I know. Some of the myths said vampire children were heavier than normal children. Perhaps they were right." Cornelius replied.
"But she's alright?" I asked with worry.
"Well yes, more than alright. Alexandre and I ran cultures. She has the virus, but it's even more mutated than yours or his. She stands somewhere between the human and vampire world at present. We tried feeding her blood earlier..." Cornelius was saying.
"You did WHAT?!" I screamed over him, making the baby jerk and start to cry.
"Carys, calm down. She digests it just as well as breast milk. She even can digest formula, though apparently she prefers momma's homemade. I would like a sample later if you'll allow me.." Cornelius continued and I shot daggers at him with my eyes. "Or not..."
"I cannot believe you two have been experimenting on my baby!" I hissed as Mina calmed back down after finding my breast again.
"Look, it wasn't all my idea..." Cornelius made excuses as Alexandre walked in and immediately sensed the atmosphere in the room had turned dangerous.
"Warmed this up for you." He said sweetly, kissing the top of my head as he placed a mug on the bedside table. In an instant I reached out and grabbed him by the inner thigh. Alexandre sucked in a breath.
"Let me find out you're messing around with Mina again without my permission and you won't have to worry about whether or not this child is a one of a kind miracle. Do you understand?" I snarled. Alexandre froze and looked at Cornelius.
"What did you say?" He mouthed to Cornelius.
"Nothing." He whispered back.
"Dudes! I'm right here, and Cornelius, if this child wasn't in my arms right now, I would have you by your manhood too." I growled. Cornelius sucked in his waist slightly and took two steps backwards towards the door.
"What exactly is going on?" Alexandre asked cautiously.
"Carys is upset we experiment with the baby's diet." Cornelius said from halfway behind the door frame. I let loose a rippling snarl and Cornelius ducked out of the room.
"Carys, your grip is rather tight." Alexandre said calmly. I growled at him. "We needed to know what she could stomach..." Another growl from me. "I won't do it again without consulting you." He offered and I released my grip on him.
"Good." I growled. "No more experiments unless you discuss it with me first, until she's old enough to make decisions for herself."
"Is it safe to come back in yet?" Cornelius asked from the hall and I growled.
"You're on your own Xan, it was nice knowing you!" Cornelius' footsteps faded down the stairs along with his chuckle. Alexandre sat next to me on the bed and cupped the baby's head in his hand.
"But you do understand why we did it?" Alexandre asked softly. I growled, but then sighed and nodded. "Carys, look at me." Alexandre lifted my face with a finger. "I would never hurt our daughter. NEVER. But we needed to know how to care for her." Alexandre's eyes blazed with concern. I sighed again.
"Just don't do it again without discussing it with me first." I warned again and Alexandre agreed, kissing me on the forehead. "Ah, I think she fell asleep... I hate to wake her, but she should probably be burped..."
"I'll do it." Said Alexandre, taking Mina from me and placing her on his shoulder gently. He patted her back softly as I buttoned my shirt until she let out several protesting burps, which he chuckled at. I watched him with her and realized that yes, I could love this man more. It was obvious that there was almost no one in this world he loved more than his daughter. In fact, I would probably run a close tie. He glanced at me over his shoulder as if feeling me watching him and smiled at me. His eyes were full of that heartbreaking loving look.
"Let's get you back to momma. I think she might be jealous of our alone time." Alexandre cooed with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Actually, you might have to help me to the bathroom. I'm not really sure how quickly I've healed, but I'm still feeling a little wobbly and achy." I replied.
"Drink your blood." Alexandre instructed. "It'll help." I picked up the mug obediently and gulped some down. The aroma was human, Alexandre and Cornelius, combined with something else. I grimaced.
"What's in this?" I stuck out my tongue and Alexandre laughed.
"Protein powder. Cornelius says while you're breastfeeding we should supplement your diet." Alexandre replied.
"Yuck." I responded. "Make him drink some next time." I made another face but finished off the cup. Alexandre put the baby in the crib and came over to help me up. Walking was a tender endeavor and using the bathroom burned. Nevertheless, I was grateful to him for his aid, and the vampirism for the quick healing, because I knew it would be over soon. As we walked out of the bathroom and back into the study, a familiar scent hit me. Alexandre snarled and I tensed, pain forgotten. The baby began to cry and I stumbled several steps forward desperately.
"Don't come any closer." Came Luc's harsh command. I stopped dead in my tracks. Part of my mind was going wild with rage, the other part was terrified, so very terrified.
"How...how did you...? Please don't hurt her." I begged. My legs were still wobbly, but I was determined to fight for my daughter. Alexandre grabbed me to support my weight as Cornelius appeared beside me. Luc was standing over the crib, blood still dripping down his chest, and I could see he had done more damage to himself by ripping himself free of his chains. His hair was a string, bloody mess, hanging in his face and his teeth were bared at us, posture defensive.
"Turns out your blood gave me enough of a boost to pull an arm free." Luc laughed. "One arm was all it took. Plus what was left of my own blood in that plastic pool." He shrugged. Cornelius stepped forward. "I said don't come any closer!" Luc roared and the baby wailed louder. My heart ached like it was being torn to shreds by her cries.
"Please, Mina-the baby, your niece, let me.." I held out my arms and Luc snarled, slashing a hand in my direction.
"One more move like that from any of you, and I'll slash her tiny throat and drain her dry." Luc roared. He ripped the mobile from the crib and threw it at us. The crib jolted, making Mina wail even harder. Alexandre caught the mobile with ease, growling as it sped towards our small group, then looked at Cornelius. I clutched at my chest and stomach uselessly, the desire to kill and desire to comfort at war with each other within me.
"What do you want Luc?" Came Alexandre's cold voice. Luc laughed again.
"What have I always wanted, brother? It's time to end what I began." He turned to the crib, and several things happened at once