Rose's POV:
I eyed over my stomach in the mirror and pursed my lips as I searched for any hint of a bump showing. I know I've got a little guy in there somewhere.... All the tests came back positive. Somehow, I've managed to keep this a secret from my family. What if Richard and Paris try to convince me to get rid of it because the world is unsafe for him? My child... I rubbed my stomach before sighing and pushed my t-shirt down all the way and slid on my pajama shorts. I walked over to the cup of tea waiting on the coffee table and started to drink it as I started for bed- eyeing over the book waiting for me to come read it. Victor said he would come sleep with me tonight if he wasn't too busy with his plans for his new palace in his country. But just in case he doesn't show up, I made plans to read myself to sleep. Of course... Victor is the father... but I don't know how I'll tell him he's going to be expecting his first son this year. Maybe I'll have a daughter.... A daughter would be nice. She could be friends with Myra one day... they'll be the same age after all. They could paint each other's nails.
I let out a yawn and gave a smile as I crawled into bed. "Oh well, he must be busy tonight," I mumbled to myself and picked up the book. If I'm going to be a mother, then I'll have to practice reading out loud soon... So that way I won't mess up in the future when I try to read this little guy to sleep. I felt the bed shift next to me as Victor's familiar scent filled the room.
"Busy?" He asked and purred as he crawled up to me and kissed my shoulder. "I'll always make time for you. You act like you think that I wouldn't really come~"
"Well you're so drunk now days I sometimes think you forget me," I told him before smacking him in the chest with the book gently. "Read to me." He frowned and looked at the book then at me.
"What language is it?" He asked and took it from me, starting to flip through it.
"French, I think," I told him and shrugged. He tensed as he looked at the French words in utter confusion and blushed. I puffed out my cheeks a little. Of course... I flipped over to face away from him and curled up to the pillow and placed my hand on my stomach as I shut my eyes. After a few seconds, I heard him trying out a few of the French words, butchering them as he tried to read them to me. I could hear the nervousness in his voice as he worked his way through a sentence about a girl trying to get a cat off a bookshelf.
"Victor, that's enough," I told him and laughed. "I'll have to teach you to read French tomorrow," I told him.
"I'm sorry I don't know how to read it," he mumbled and closed the book. "I can read English though. Do you want me to find one in English?"
"I want you to get some shut eye with me," I told him and yawned as I took another sip of the tea before settling back down in my bed. "Stick around tomorrow so I can teach you." I heard him purr as he laid down beside me and pulled me into his arms.
"I took tomorrow off," he told me lovingly and kissed my cheek. "I set everything up already, so I don't have to go back to Russia. I wanted to spend time with you." I turned back to face him then.
"Do you think Heinrich will be okay?" I asked softly. "I did my best." He nodded then wrapped his arms around my waist.
"Of course... but if he isn't, then fate has something planned for Dante soon," he told me and gave me a sweet look. "Your best is enough, Rose." He gave me a kiss then paused as his arm brushed over my stomach. I felt his body tense slightly as his eyes wandered down to my stomach curiously. "When did you put on a little weight?" I heard him murmur before he pulled back the blanket and looked at me closely. "Did you stop kicking butts, Rose?" I gasped and sat up a little and smacked him.
"Don't you know not to call a girl fat?" I asked him and frowned. "I'm still kicking butts," I grumbled. I looked down at my stomach then quickly. So... Someone can tell... No- he can tell.
"I wasn't calling you fat," he said and rubbed his cheek as he watched me and frowned. "I was just asking what you've been up to, doc. You put that on quickly. I was concerned...."
"Well I haven't been eating a lot of cake," I told him before smiling a little. "I'm expecting." His eyes widened before he looked at my stomach quickly in shock.
"P-pregnant?" He asked then laughed. "Is it mine?" He asked in excitement and sat up, looking at me before he purred and kissed my stomach in delight.
"Wow, what am I to you?" I asked him curiously. "It's not like I have more than one sleeping partner. I know better. You'd kill him." He smirked and looked at me.
"You're right. I would," he told me then gave a playful growl as he stole a kiss from me then pulled back and looked at my stomach again. "Wow... I'm going to be a father," he whispered and chuckled. "I wonder if he's going to take after me~"
"Victor," I mumbled. "I'm a little worried..." I trailed off then. "I don't know if I want Paris to know." His face fell as he heard me then frowned.
"You're right.... He did make Richard give up his baby recently...." He looked my stomach over thoughtfully then looked at me. "How about you come home with me? We'll tell Paris that you wanted a vacation, and we'll keep you with me for a year at least. Just tell him that you wanted to be closer to me and that you wanted a break from the same sights everyday... or that I lined up a tutor for you in Russia to learn from. Make some sort of excuse to come stay with me for a long time. He won't see you there, and you can hide the baby with me till he's more relaxed. When he's ready, we can show him his nephew."
"Do you think he'll be mad at me for keeping it from him?" I asked and blushed. He thought it over then nodded slightly.
"He'll take it out on me though because I'm the one who got you pregnant, and I'm the one who suggested it," he told me and gave me a kiss, purring. "It'll be okay. I want you to have your baby- not have Paris pressure you into giving it up. I want our baby." He pulled me into his arms and smirked. "I can protect you and our baby just fine. You'll be safe with me." I nodded before giving him a sweet smile.
"You're not going to trap me in your castle all year though... right? I'll want to go out," I told him.
"You can go visit Val from time to time," he told me and purred. "She has Alex who can protect you too. Remember? He never loses a battle." He smirked and gave a playful growl. "I wouldn't mind you visiting Val. She would be so pleased about this."
"Thank you," I purred out and moved into his arms and closed my eyes. "We'll leave tomorrow." He nodded and rubbed my head then laid down, pulling me to his side.
"Write him the letter in the morning that you're coming with me so he doesn't worry when he doesn't find you here," he told me and started to play with my hair as he got us under the covers. "Get some rest, Rose~ You're going to need it." I nodded in agreement.
"You're right," I whispered to him before shutting my eyes. "I'll get a letter out to him." I heard him purr to me softly, kissing my cheek as we started to drift off to sleep together.
~Hours Later~
I felt Victor shift by me before his fangs entered my neck quickly with a hungry growl, sounding half asleep as his hands tightened on my shirt. My heart pounded in my chest from the memories of the dream I just had, and I felt a scream rise in me as I sat up quickly in panic and glanced around as my body ached. I groaned and climbed out of the bed quickly as panic rose up in me. The bed is soaking wet... I glanced down at it and widened my eyes as I saw blood everywhere. "V-Victor," I whispered and fell to my knees as I looked down at my soaked shorts. I started to cry then as I eyed over the bloody mess. Oh no.... No.... "No," I mumbled. He opened his eyes and sat up a little as he blinked a few times then looked at the sheets before his eyes widened and he looked towards me.
"Rose?" I could hear the worry in his voice before I felt him by my side, having teleported over to me. "Hey, you need to sit," he told me quickly and led me over to a chair, setting me down in it. He looked towards the blood worriedly, his breath shaky. "W-what happened?" He asked and then looked up at me. "Are you hurt? Did someone hurt you?" He grabbed my shoulders and looked me in the eyes, kneeling in front of me.
"I don't know," I mumbled and shook my head as I rubbed my eyes. "I had a bad dream and woke up like this," I told him. "You were biting me in your sleep..." He frowned and looked towards my legs then up at me.
"Do you mind?" He asked and started to push my shorts up, examining my legs. "Well... I didn't get you there," he muttered, furrowing his eyebrows in concern. "There aren't any wounds on your legs." I nodded before looking away quickly and eyed over the blood on the bed before looking at Victor and then leaned back in the chair and stared off across the room. There's too much blood.... He moved away from my legs after a few minutes and stared at the bed hard before he looked back at me then leaned in and sniffed my breath. He tensed then eyed me over before he went over to the cup of tea I was drinking and sniffed it. "Do you put things in your tea, Rose?" He asked and glanced my way. "It smells off."
"What?" I asked softly. "No... Not that I know of. I don't make my tea," I told him. "The servants do...." I trailed off before getting up a little before sitting back down and gave a small huff. He looked at me then frowned.
"It smells like herbs my mother used to put in her drinks," he told me. "She used them to keep from getting pregnant again after my younger brother was born. Rose...." His eyes glanced towards my stomach as they filled with grief, slowly setting the teacup back down. I could see the gears turning in his head as everything started to click for him, and his jaw tightened in anger. I looked away quickly before glancing down at my stomach and placed a hand on it.
"I'm sorry," I whispered to him. He stayed silent for a few minutes before I heard him walk over to me. He tilted my chin to look at him and met my eyes before he kissed me.
"It wasn't your fault," he told me softly and then leaned his forehead against mine. "Someone did this to you. Someone who knew you were trying to get pregnant...." He pulled back and looked at the teacup before he looked towards the door, narrowing his eyes as he started for it. I frowned and went after him quickly.
"Victor," I called out. "Don't hurt my servants," I begged. "They probably didn't know any better." He whirled around to face me and hissed.
"One of them wanted to hurt the baby," he told me and exposed his fangs. "One of them did it on purpose, and I want them to look you in the eyes and know what the hell they did to you!"
"Victor," I said quickly and shook my head. "Don't hurt them," I whispered. "You can find out who and why it happened but don't hurt them." He frowned as he watched me then reached for me, grabbing my hands. He pulled me towards him then gave my hands a squeeze.
"Rose... that was our baby," he whispered. "We were going to be parents. Whoever did this to you is not your friend."
"W-what if it was an accident," I whispered to him and looked away quickly and started to cry. He tensed and pulled me into his arms quickly, kissing the top of my head.
"Rose, people don't put herbs like that in someone's tea on accident," he murmured to me. He wiped my tears away and made me look up at him, giving me a kiss. I nodded and looked away quickly.
"I just... don't want to believe someone would," I whispered. He nodded slowly then rubbed my cheek.
"Rose, not every human is a good human," he told me and then frowned before he held my hands in his. "I'm so sorry.... I should've been watching since we had sex. I should've been here more to watch over you. This was more important than my castle."
"N-no, it's not our fault," I promised before getting up and started for the bathroom. "It's just something that wasn't meant to happen," I mumbled. "Not now." He frowned and followed me.
"What?" He asked. "I wanted this with you. Rose...." I heard him hesitate as I entered the bathroom, but he walked up before I could get too far in and grabbed my wrist, looking at me worriedly. "We can try again," he said quickly. "I want this. I want you." He frowned and looked towards my stomach then at me. "I got so excited last night. Don't say that it just wasn't meant to happen. We can do something about it. I don't want to give up."
"V-Victor I have to recover first," I told him softly. "I can't just go and have another so soon." He frowned and pulled me to him, kissing me.
"I don't want this to be the end," he muttered under his breath, leaning his head against my shoulder as he held me close.
"Maybe we'll have another one later," I whispered. He gripped my shirt, burying his face into my neck.
"Rose...." I rubbed at my eyes before leaning up against him for support.
"I just wanted a baby," I whispered to him before trembling a little. "Look at what happened to me."
"It wasn't us," he told me sharply, pulling back from my neck to look at me. "We'll be careful next time. I'll make sure nothing is in your food and in your drinks." I nodded and stepped away from him to turn on the water for a shower.
"Victor, inform the servants my bed needs to be changed out," I whispered. He nodded slightly and frowned before he disappeared, teleporting away to do as I asked. I heard someone snooping around in my room just as I was about to slip into the shower before a man's voice tsked.
"Damn... what the hell happened to this bed? I wonder if she was eaten...." It took a minute, but I soon recognized Alex's voice- Val's newborn. "Hmph, Val is not going to be pleased when I go back and tell her about this. She's going to kill someone."
"Alex?" I asked and blushed before grabbing a robe to try to cover myself up and walked out to him in it. "I'm sorry about the mess... but it's your own fault for coming into my private quarters," I told him and whipped away a few tears. He looked towards me in shock then smirked.
"Rose?" He asked and came up to me before he snatched my hand. "You're very much not like a lady right now," he teased me. "I'm surprised you would come out here in your ro-"
"Get your fucking hands off Rose, da?" I heard Victor hiss out suddenly, appearing back in the room. "She's not a model for you to look at. Get out, Alex, or I'll eat you."
"You couldn't eat me if you tried," Alex said and looked back at him with a playful look. "You sound like you're after Rose again. What would you do if I stole her away, hmm? She is rather beautiful." Victor's eyes darkened as he watched Alex before he muttered something under his breath and had tackled him away from me in an instant, having pinned him on the bed and was about to stab him with a knife he had pulled out of his pockets.
"Victor!" I shouted and widened my eyes. "Alex doesn't mean any harm. Don't stab our friends," I warned him and tsked a bit. "Alex, does Val mind if I come stay with her for a little while?" I asked curiously. Alex frowned as he threw up his hand to stop Victor, making Victor struggle as he held Victor's hand in the air.
"No, she sent me to come check on you," he said calmly. "She's rather lonesome for you lately. It's almost every damn morning that she complains to me about you not being around. Get your ass dressed and pack your bags."
"DON'T TALK TO MY MATE LIKE THAT, YOU ROTTEN BASTARD!" Victor hissed sharply.
"You can tell her I'll be there later today," I told Alex sweetly. Victor looked back at me quickly, the struggle in his arms stopping as he got distracted.
"No, I don't want-" Alex smirked and kneed him between the legs before he shoved him off and walked over to me.
"Let's get you ready to go Rose and ditch this drunk here."
"I have to take a shower, wait in my tearoom," I told him before starting back to the bathroom but felt my knees buckle and I fell down quickly. Victor gasped and ran over to me, pulling me into his arms.
"Rose?" He whispered, brushing my hair out of my face as he held me close, getting me back to my feet. "Maybe I should help you bathe. You don't seem to be doing too good. ALEX! GET THE HELL OUT OF HER ROOM!" Alex grumbled and started for the door in a sour mood.
"Great... I have to wait. Val better pay up when I get back to her." I purred a little and wrapped my arms around Victor and leaned my head against his chest as I used him for support. Victor waited for him to be gone then sighed, kissing the top of my head.
"Damn Alexander," he mumbled. "He knows better than to come into a lady's room without permission." He scooped me up and took me to the bathroom, taking it easy with me. "Come on, let's get you ready to go see Val."
Dante's POV:
"Dante," Laurence's voice said softly as I felt soft hands rub my cheeks to try to ease me awake. "You got drunk and you've been sleeping in my garden all night. You're freezing." I grunted and turned over onto my stomach, nuzzling my head into the dirt as my head pounded.
"Go away," I growled lowly, keeping my eyes shut. "My head hurts...."
"But I've got a mission for you," he told me and then poked my cheek. "Wake up." I hissed and curled up.
"Go. Away," I hissed, opening my eyes slightly as I looked towards him. What the hell is Laurence doing near me? "I don't want anything from you."
"Well... let's go have some fun," he suggested. "If you don't want to do the mission." I snatched his wrist and bit down into it hungrily, starting to drink from him as I closed my eyes again. Screw it. If he's going to keep pestering me, I'll drain him till he barely wants to move.
"Be fair," he told me and pulled his wrist back. "I'm a good old friend. I want to help you feel better." I frowned and opened my eyes a little, peering up at him.
"What do you want?" I asked, laying back against the ground. Where the hell am I again?
"Come on," he told me and started to walk away. "We're going to go have some fun."
"Laurence, I'm not moving till you tell me what you want," I grumbled, going to go back to sleep. My head hurts too much for this.
"Your friendship," he told me simply. "Now come on."
"You never just want friendship. You do things for reasons because you see the damn future.... Now what's so important that you're trying to keep me near you?" I asked, opening my eyes to look his way. He wants something more than friendship.
"I know your next soul mate," he told me in amusement.
"Hmph," I huffed at him then sat up slowly. "Soul mates don't matter. Nothing matters anymore." Heinrich is dead. My only true soul mate died too, but he never loved me like Heinrich or that other sweet boy I liked.
"Well this one matters... He's going to be the rebirth of you."
"Maybe I don't want that," I hissed at him sharply. "I want Heinrich. I want my lovers to quit dying. I never asked for anything more than that. I leave other vampires alone and keep to myself. I rule my country the best I can to keep out damn hunters and keep my lovers safe- but what fucking happens? They always die-" Not Raven... I frowned and looked towards my hands as it clicked. Raven never once almost died. Where is she?
"No, don't go thinking about her," Laurence said. "We're going to be together now, so get up." I looked at him and exposed my fangs.
"I don't have to listen to you," I told him sharply then got to my feet. "Don't tell me what to do. You got my Heinrich killed, didn't you? Making that fake letter to have me see Paris again and leading me over to Maine with him?" I narrowed my eyes and glared him down. It's his fucking fault. "You knew Heinrich would die. You bastard!"
"Oh yeah, blame it on me," he said before laughing and coming back towards me. "That's what I do... play you all like pawns. Now get up. Get sober. Come with me or you'll find yourself waking up in a new place. I know a really hot place I could put you." I tsked, stepping back from him. Is he seriously threatening me?
"Screw you," I grumbled, looking away. Threatening to kill me.... How dare he? He smirked a little before reaching out for my hand.
"Dante," he said calmly. "I can take your mind off of him." I looked towards his hand and frowned.
"You just threatened me.... You really think I want your hand?" I asked him and tsked as I took it anyways. Maybe blaming him was a little too far.... He did say that not everything happens according to plan. He might not have seen Heinrich getting killed until it was already too late.
"Everything is a possibility," he told me. "But I want this for us. You need me."
"Why?" I whispered, frowning as I held his hand in mine. "You didn't know... did you? About Heinrich?" He wouldn't do that to me....
"I wouldn't do that," he told me and squeezed my hand. "We're friends." I nodded then felt my eyes sting a little, so I looked away from him again to hide it.
"A-alright... I'll go with you," I mumbled.
"What do you want most?" He asked me curiously. "To see vengeance. A place of sanctuary to grief your loss?"
"I want him back," I whispered, rubbing at my eyes quickly as I took my hand away from him. "I want to quit losing my lovers. I'm so tired of getting the short end of the stick just when things get good for me. I want Heinrich. I want the hunter's dead, so they can't hurt him."
"I know," He told me and frowned. "I can show you something that's going to happen soon to the Ainsworths." I frowned and looked back at him. To happen?
"What?" I asked and grabbed his hand again.
"Want to see it?" He asked curiously.
"Is this what you want from me?" I asked and looked him over. "You said you had a mission for me. You want something."
"Your mission is to start healing," he told me and gave a sweet smile.
"Cheezy." I shook my head at him and frowned. "You haven't ever really lost anyone like I have though. You never had a mate- well, you have that demon you've been cuddling up with lately."
"No, I don't have a demon," he said quickly. "If it makes you feel any better, I don't have a soul mate." I tsked and pulled away from him. Damn Laurence.
"Yes, you do. I know what you're up to." I started to stumble off then widened my eyes as I lost my balance from my head pounding and fell over into Laurence's roses with a yelp.
"What am I up to?" He asked in amusement. I hissed as I scrambled to get out of his bushes, feeling the thorns getting stuck in me before I finally made it out.
"You just offered to lie to me about a damn demon that way you could try to be on my fucking level, but maybe that's not what I want, Laurence. I don't want that. I could care less. Fine, you have a love life. Don't lose it," I hissed, starting to yank out the thorns in my arms. "I'm not interested in seeing what the hell is going to happen to the Ainsworths. If something happens, something happens. It's not going to bring my Heinrich back to me. It's not going to repay all my fucking loses from the damn hunters."
"Okay," he sighed out and started to walk away. "Don't hang out with me then," he said and sounded disappointed. I widened my eyes. Wait... what? I teleported in front of him then snatched his shoulders.
"Hey, where are you doing?" I asked and frowned. "Fine, let's go see what's going to happen to the Ainsworths." He's being pouty.... Seeing is better than lying around in a garden drunk. "Come on." I yanked him up into my arms and started to walk to his castle doors. "I'm going to hang out with you so much you'll be so sick of me by the end of it," I grumbled.
"Good," he said in excitement. "We're going to have lots of fun and culture change." I looked at him and sighed, rubbing his head. He's still so much like a child even if he is sometimes a plotting devil. "I got binoculars, some comfortable lawn chairs, and a cooler," he told me in excitement. "We'll have front row seats."
"So, what's going to happen to the Ainsworths?" I asked and frowned, looking at him then tsked. "Remind me to always be useful so you won't wind up killing me. I don't feel like fucking dying."
"That's a spoiler," he told me and smirked. "It's not fun if you know."
"Well, alright," I hummed out then rubbed Laurence's head some more before I smirked, getting an idea. I started to rock him in my arms slowly, settling into a soothing rhythm as I got us into his castle. Heh, bet he passes out. He gave a small purr as he laid his head down on my shoulder and wrapped his arms around my neck. I chuckled and purred back lowly at him as I held him closer to my chest to help. I felt his purrs start to trail off then like he was falling asleep as I suspected. I smirked at him and kept rocking him for a few minutes. Heh, he is just a child sometimes. I teleported up to his bedroom then slowly put him in the bed, tucking him in then playfully kissed his forehead like a parent to screw with him. He opened his eyes a little and looked up in confusion at me as he gave a tired look. "Get some sleep sweetie. You have a playdate tomorrow, remember?" I whispered to him and held back a smirk as I rubbed his head.
"Okay," he mumbled before closing his eyes and looked at peace as he knocked out on me. I held back a laugh then purred slightly. I wonder if this is what parenting is like.... It's kind of nice. I sat down on a chair by his bed and watched him, propping my head up on my hand as I hummed a sweet song his way to help keep him knocked out.
"What are you doing?" I heard Baleen ask me as he appeared with a cup of tea on a tray. "Are you abusing my young master's childish vulnerability?"
"Yes," I told him, giving him my most innocent look. "Why?"
"That's too bad," he said before walking up to the side of the bed and sat the tea down before going to wake up Laurence by shaking him. I hissed and jumped up, grabbing his arm quickly.
"Don't you wake him up," I told him sharply. He looked at me then.
"Why? Give me a good reason."
"Laurence wouldn't have let me hold him if he wasn't fine with this," I said and shrugged.
"You didn't put him to bed to avoid something, did you?" He asked me.
"Nope, I just was wondering if he'd fall asleep from normal things parents do to kids," I said and smirked. "Now quit messing with my experiments."
"He's a kid.... An eternal kid. You have to remember he never grows up despite how old he really is. It's hard to take care of him because of that. He throws fits like a kid."
"Mhmm, but I think it's funny," I told him then looked down at Laurence, kissing his forehead again with a loud purr.
"He's not going to like it that you made him fall asleep," he told me and smirked.
"We'll cross that bridge when he wakes up," I hummed out, watching Laurence closely. "He was going to take me to watch the doom of some family, but he's all knocked out now~" Laurence curled up suddenly and wrapped up in his blankets tightly. Oh? I looked at him then purred lightly before I crawled into bed with him and pulled him up against my chest. "I won't let the nightmares catch you~" He let out a quiet whine as his fingers ran over the soft blankets. I frowned then rubbed his back. Eh... babysitting isn't my forte. I got up out of the bed and whistled, starting for the door. "Enjoy taking care of Laurence, Baleen."
"Where are you going?" Baleen asked and frowned. "He's going to be upset with you. He's not even sleeping well right now."
"Well I don't know how to fix that," I said and turned around to face him. "I'm not a parent."
"You got into this mess, stay," he told me. I frowned at him then looked towards Laurence before I walked back over to him and slowly scooped him out of the bed and sat down. Placing him in my lap, I looked towards Baleen with a tsk and took Laurence's tea, waving it under his nose to see if he'd wake for it. He opened his eyes a little and glanced at the tea. I smirked and kissed his cheek.
"Hey cutie, drink up," I told him. He purred lightly and sat up quickly and started to drink it down before looking at me and paused.
"Dante!" He yelled out and blushed. "You- you!" I smirked at him then and laughed.
"What?" I teased him, putting the cup in his hands. "Gotcha."
"How dare you," he said and pouted. I purred and rubbed his head.
"What's that supposed to mean? I didn't do anything to you."
"Yes, you did... I wasn't ready for a nap!" He told me and puffed out his cheeks.
"But you have to admit, it was fun," I teased him. "I think you were so sleepy that you actually thought I was your parent."
"N-no," he said and blushed. "I don't even remember them," he mumbled.
"Well, you were so cute," I purred then playfully exposed my fangs at him. "You're lucky no one has scooped you up yet and went to baby you for centuries- except for Baleen over there."
"I simply serve him," Baleen said sternly. "It's run in my family for generations."
"It's stopped at you too," Laurence grumbled. I smirked as I watched the two then rubbed Laurence's back.
"Hurry up and finish your tea, you little Brit. We have places to be," I reminded him.
"Fine," he sighed out and took a sip of the tea. "I've been there a million times though."
"You're the one who wanted me to go watch what happens to the Ainsworths," I said and sighed as I reached into my pocket and pulled out a flask, taking a swig of my drink.
"That's right, we will," he said and finished the tea before standing up. "Let's go have fun." I eyed him over then got to my feet, taking another sip of it before I stashed it away.
"Great, I hope this is worth it," I grumbled, grabbing his hand into mine. He nodded then.
"It'll be exciting," he told me and tapped my nose before shadows started for us from the corners of the room. I yelped at the sight and squeezed his hand tightly.
"Whoa, do you have to make them creep up on us like that?! Holy hell, I hate your shadows!"
"I love them," he told me and smirked. "They're fun to use to mess with people." I tsked at him then sighed.
"Bad boy," I muttered under my breath.
"I'm older than you," he gasped out and squeezed my hands.
"You're shorter than me," I pointed out to him.
"S-so?" He asked and gasped. "That's so unfair to do..."
"It's completely fair. You could have tried sticking your stone in someone older." I smirked at him then and exposed my fangs. "Then you'd be their age."
"You.... think it would work?" He asked softly.
"I don't know. You haven't tried. Purebloods take the gender of whoever they are stuck in. Why can't they steal height too in your case?"
"Because I never trusted anyone to take care of my stone," he said softly.
"What about Baleen?" I raised an eyebrow at him then looked towards Baleen. "I don't see him wanting to crush your stone- except for maybe to help him move on to the afterlife."
"N-no, no one is touching me," he said quickly and shivered at the thought. I grinned wickedly then and playfully moved one of my hands towards his chest like I was going to take his stone from him. He smacked my hand quickly before using the shadows to engulf us. When they evaporated, we were standing next to some lawn chairs near the edge of some woods near the Ainsworth manor. A cooler and binoculars was sitting in-between the chairs. I laughed at the sight and took a seat in one of them, getting out a drink from the cooler.
"Well you prepared, didn't you?" I asked and smirked playfully.
Charlie's POV:
"Shhhh," I whispered to Riley and giggled as I pulled him into a hall closet. "Let's hide here," I giggled out and then shook my head. No... he'll find us here. "Never mind, come on," I giggled out and dragged him back out of it and down to father's study not too far away and looked at one of the tables with a cloth over it. There~! "Let's hide there," I told him and giggled again as I slipped under it. He followed me quickly and giggled as we managed to fit under it together. I could hear my brother's voice yelling he was coming to find us now. I giggled a little and got quiet then as Riley shushed me.
A gunshot suddenly went off, making both of us jump, but it wasn't soon after that I heard the entire house filled with what sounded like a war. I could hear my father's yelling downstairs before he fell silent. I gasped and widened my eyes. "Dad," I said quickly but Riley's hand went around my mouth and shushed me.
"Stay quiet," he told me softly and wrapped his arms around me. "Don't talk." The gunshots started to fade out as he held me. I suddenly heard Dylan's screams like he had been caught by whoever was in the house. His screams sent a shiver through my spine as my heart pounded, and suddenly the door was thrown open.
"Rick, we've got them," I heard a woman purr out- vampire.
"Oh, come on, what's the arm in taking a few things," a man hummed out. "Boss won't mind. We just want a little something to line our pockets."
"Greedy bastard," the woman teased him. "Don't say I didn't warn you." I widened my eyes and tensed up. I felt Riley's grip on me tighten protectively as we watched the floor- our breathing starting to quicken in fear, but we kept quiet. I felt tears running down my cheeks then. "I'm going to go join the others, okay Rick?" The door suddenly shut, and the man's shoes started to move towards my father's desk as he hummed.
"I love a good murder," he said and laughed. "Watching those fifthly hunters' blood spill all over the floor was worth it~ Soon that brat of theirs will be the same way." I heard him sit down in my father's chair before the drawers started to slide open. I heard the door open again as footsteps walked in.
"That was a tasty treat," I heard a vampire's voice purring out. "The lady was amazing~ Her blood-" I heard him stop talking then as I let out a whimper. My momma? T-they killed my mom? The man behind my father's desk jumped up before the table was suddenly flipped from over us, his eyes looking down at us sharply. He grinned wickedly then at us and leaned over, running his fingers along my cheek.
"Hey, look at this, twins~" He purred out then snatched me by my throat, yanking me away from Riley's arms. He held me up in the air and leaned in, sniffing me as his fingers tightened around my windpipe and my feet dangling in the air.
"Leave him alone," Riley said as he got to his feet quickly and looked at me worriedly.
"R-Riley," I whined out in pain.
"Leave my brother alone!" Riley said again and gave an angry look. The man looked towards Riley sharply then hissed, dropping me to the ground before he backhanded him. My poor twin's head snapped to the side as he lost his balance and fell. I heard a crack as he hit the leg of the overturned table, his body falling limp by me.
"Little brat," the man hissed, going to kick him. I grabbed my neck as I fell to the ground before crawling for Riley and brought his head into my lap.
"R-Riley?" I asked softly and eyed him over in panic. The man paused then smirked.
"We should eat 'em," he suggested to the other, looking at him.
"What? They're not even good enough for a snack," he scoffed out. "Besides.... I don't drink little kids. The thought is disgusting." I looked up at the men and trembled a little as I eyed them over.
"M-mercy?" I asked softly. The first man looked at us then smirked, squatting down to be on our level.
"You know... you're right about not eating them. They aren't a good snack now. We should raise them- maybe make them into little blood whores."
"Whatever you want," the other said. "If you like whores," he said in amusement. I eyed the man over before feeling my eyes water with tears.
"Well think of the money we'd get off of it. We'd sell them for a night and get them back in the morning~" The first purred out then reached out, wiping away my tears with his thumb. "Quit that, or I'll give you something to cry at." I tensed up and moved away from his touch as fear made me tremble.
"What? Sell? Do you know how rare it is to find twins as close looking and human as these two?" The other asked in amusement. "Why sell them... they wouldn't be as good tasting then."
"Hmph," the first grumbled. "Fine, you're right about that too. I'd get tired of finding fang marks on them in places that I hadn't explored yet."
"Exactly," the other said and chuckled. "Who knew we would find a pot of gold tonight?" I looked down at Riley quickly as I saw a bruise forming over his eye. R-Riley...
"Oh, I bruised one," the first said sharply. "Look. His eye is going to be no good," he hissed. "That sucks." He went to rip Riley out of my arms, yanking him into his as he examined the bruised eye. "Well I'm not going to taint his blood with mine. It won't be as pure anymore." I widened my eyes as I eyed them over and went to try to get Riley away from him. He smacked my hand harshly and exposed his fangs my way, but as soon as he did, I saw blood start to run down his chin as a dark-haired man stood behind him, his eyes gleaming with rage. The dark-haired man opened his hand and revealed the vampire's missing fangs, watching as they hit the floor and the vampire broke out into a shriek of pain and dropped Riley. I grabbed Riley quickly and yanked him away from the man quickly and brought him to me to protect him.
"Who're you!?" I heard the other vampire hiss out and start for him. "This is our prize!" The dark-haired man looked at him then narrowed his eyes.
"Why don't you get the fuck out, ja?" He shoved the other vampire back and narrowed his eyes. "I'll kill you both."
"Like hell you will," he growled out before frowning a little like he was already thinking he should leave. He suddenly disappeared from the room then. I trembled a little and felt tears rushing down my cheeks. The dark-haired man turned his attention to the vampire that was frantically trying to pick his fangs up before he tsked.
"Disgusting," he muttered then grabbed the vampire by the hair before he nicked his free hand with his teeth and rubbed his blood against the vampire's lips. I heard the vampire give a slight moan as he relaxed and drank it greedily, but as soon as he got a good swallow, the man shoved him away and smirked. "Go outside and rip your heart out," he said sharply, watching as the vampire's eyes glazed over and he got to his feet slowly, starting to walk out. The man turned his attention back towards me then frowned as he looked me and Riley over. "Damn Laurence," he grumbled then reached down, pulling me to my feet before he picked up Riley into his arms. "I'm going to have to take you both somewhere safe since he knew I'd stop this." I eyed him over before blushing a little and started to bust out into tears as I quickly wrapped my arms around him and buried my face into his stomach. I felt him tense at my touch before he slowly started to push me back from him with an uncertain look. "Hey...." I whimpered a little and rubbed at my eyes as I eyed him over.
"I want my mommy," I told him softly and sniffled as I felt more tears rushing down my cheeks. He frowned then shifted Riley in his arms before he grabbed my hands and pulled them away from my eyes. He watched for a second before he scooped me up into his arms too, holding me close to him.
"I know," he murmured to me softly, starting to purr. "She'd want you to be happy though. You have your twin. You two are both going to be just fine, alright little guy?" I nodded a little before rubbing my eyes a bit and eyed him over. He looked familiar... I eyed over his mouth a little before placing my head on his shoulder and sniffled.
"I want my mom," I mumbled softly and sniffled. "Why'd this happen?" I asked softly.
"I'm not sure, but I think it might be because your parents used to be hunters," he told me and sighed. "Hunters have a bad rep with vampires. You shouldn't ever become like your parents. It's dangerous, and vampires will want to kill you." We were suddenly standing outside by two lawn chairs- one of them occupied by an older white-haired boy. "Laurence, you bastard. You better help me find a damn good orphanage," the dark-haired man hissed towards him. "You knew I'd go in there!"
"Well I hoped so," Laurence said and chuckled. "Otherwise you would have lost something very important again."
"My soul? That's already gone," the man grumbled then eyed Laurence over. "Got a good orphanage lined up? I'm not keeping them. I have too much on my plate."
"Here you were thinking about wanting to keep me as your eternal child," Laurence tsked out. "That's fine though. You can drop them off at HAHQ. They'll do something with them." The man wrinkled up his nose then.
"Let them become hunters? Fuck no."
"Leave them here then," he suggested. "An orphanage will turn them into bad apples." I reached out and touched Riley's cheek as I eyed over his sore looking eye.
"Then they'll starve," the man grumbled as he watched me then looked towards Riley. "He needs someone to look at that eye of his. Fine~ We'll drop them off at the HAHQ. They have doctors there that can take care of them. Maybe they have relatives."
"Great idea," Laurence chuckled out darkly. I shivered at his voice and whined a little as I hid my face quickly. Riley's hurt bad and I can't run away with him because of it.
"It's not fun when you say it like that," the man told him. "I know what you're doing. Anyways, I'll see you back at your castle. I'll drop them off at the nearest HAHQ." I felt a breeze pick up a little as the air got slightly chiller. "Alright you two," the man whispered soothingly to us as we stepped into a building. He walked up to a desk in the room where a woman was sitting. "I think these two are yours. They're the little Ainsworth twins. Their family was wiped out." He sat us down on top of the desk quickly and smirked. "Take care of them?"
"Oh..." A woman eyed us over before giving a smile. "Are you hungry?" She asked me. "We'll take care of them," she told him. "Thank you for bringing them in." She gave a slight smirk before frowning and eyed over Riley's eye. "That's terrible," she muttered.
"He was backhanded and hit a table. You should get him a doctor," the man said calmly before he disappeared from sight, ditching us entirely. I tensed up a little and looked at her before feeling my breath catch. N-no... Strangers! She gave me a sweet smile before standing up and picked Riley up then grabbed my hand.
"Come on, we'll take you to the infirmary and have Dr. Cross look at you both before we get you in a proper home," she told me. I followed her and whipped at my eyes as I looked at Riley worriedly.
"Riley will be okay... right?" I asked softly. She looked at me before nodding.
Paris's POV:
Richard walked into my study with a newspaper in his hands, his face heavy with grief as he closed the door softly behind him. "Paris... the... Ainsworth family was killed yesterday," he told me softly as he reached my desk and sat the paper in front of me. The headlines read "Family Tragedy at Manor", and the picture underneath it accompanying the article was of the familiar Ainsworth gates, shut. I eyed it over before standing up quickly in shock.
"Richard," I said quickly in panic and picked up the newspaper before grabbing his hand and teleported to their gates to see for myself. "What happened?" I asked as I caught the faint scent of dry blood. I teleported us up to the manor's door and caught it wide open- blood staining the floors. Richard tensed as he saw it then gripped my hand tightly, his strength almost crushing it as his breath caught in his chest.
"V-vampires got them," he whispered, staring at the blood on the floor in horror. I heard a faint movement inside- alerting me. I rushed in quickly and found Blade standing over Caden's corpse.
"I can't find the children," he whispered. "All three are missing." Richard was by my side in a few seconds before he tensed as he looked the corpse over.
"They're missing?" Richard asked and looked towards Blade quickly. "What? Were they stolen? Are there signs of them being dead?" He widened his eyes and turned his head, sniffing the air like something caught his attention. Dylan. He ran over to a couch in the room and eyed over the blood on it before he leaned down and smelled it then put his hand over his mouth as his eyes watered. He was killed here.... This is his!
"Why would they move their bodies if they killed the kids?" I asked. "Who.... did it? Blade do you have any suspects?" I asked him.
"I don't know... vampires," he said and eyed over Caden and tightened his jaw.
"What if they're alive?" I asked softly. "It doesn't make sense for them to be missing and dead." Richard took in a deep breath then looked up from the couch, glancing around before he started for the stairs slowly. When he reached the top, he paused and looked down at his feet, seeing Caden's wife there before he closed his eyes and shook his head. He gripped the railing as he looked away, but as soon as he held it, it gave way and I watched as he fell from the staircase to the floor with a thud. I rushed over to him quickly and helped him up.
"Are you okay?" I asked in concern. He looked towards me shakily before he wrapped his arms around me and bit into my neck sharply. I suddenly felt him trembling in my arms as what felt like a tear hit my skin. I wrapped him up in my arms around started to rock him a bit in them.
"It's okay," I whispered to him. "We'll find them." He eased his fangs out of my neck, gripping my shirt tightly.
"The children," he murmured worriedly, shaking his head. I heard my shirt tear slightly from his nails as I felt his stone calling out for mine.
"I know, we'll find them... dead or alive," I promised. "We'll start with Dylan. He'll be easier to track down." He nodded and relaxed a little in my arms, rubbing his head against me as his mind eased. I let him go slowly then. "If we can track down his scent...." I trailed off then. Richard nodded and looked into my eyes then glanced towards the couch.
"I'll see what I can find," he murmured then teleported over to it, leaning over the couch again and sniffing the blood. "I'm better at this than you... with my blood binging...."
"Be careful," I warned. "We want to get the right scent." He nodded and closed his eyes, getting a little closer to it before he straightened up and opened his eyes again. He lingered by the couch then started to walk around, brushing his fingers over the coffee table as he smelled the air.
"His scent is off," he muttered under his breath after a few seconds. "It's... not human. He was turned... and he left. He's not dead. He was alone when he left." He stopped by the front door and peered outside with a frown. "He wasn't taken. He was ditched."
"Well, we better find him," I said quickly. "We don't want him to feel alone." He looked back at me then and purred slightly.
"No, we don't.... We're lucky we still have Dylan... and if Dylan is still alive, it means the twins might be too. Their attackers might not have been after the children," he told me and gave a relieved look.
"Let's search for the twins," I suggested before looking around us and started for their bedroom. Richard followed me quickly and grabbed my hand, kissing my cheek lightly as he went with me.
"I hope they're alright," he murmured as we walked. "They're too young...."
"I know, I can't agree more with you," I told him and frowned a bit. He rubbed my knuckles comfortingly as we got to their bedroom and opened the door for me. It looked rather untouched, but I could tell they weren't in here. The bed wasn't made, but everything was where it belonged. Only the twins were missing. I frowned slightly before starting for their father's study. Richard tsked and hurried to keep up with me, watching me closely till we got over there then went in- but this is where we found the mess. The desk drawers were open, and I could smell nasty lowlife newborns in here. One of the tables were overturned, and the both twin's scents reached me as I neared it. They were found in here....
"They were probably hiding under the table," I told Richard as I eyed it over. "Looks like they were found. Let's track the scents...." I trailed off as I caught Dante's scent. Richard looked the table over and frowned before he started to smell the air.
"Dante's been here," I told him before pulling out my phone and called him. My mate froze up as he caught the scent too and frowned.
"Hello?" I heard Dante answer his phone before he started to purr lightly.
"Whatcha been up to lately?" I asked him and eyed over the mess.
"Hanging out with Laurence, getting drunk, mourning my dead lover," he muttered the last two before he sighed. "What do you want?"
"Suspecting you of great evils," I told him.
"Like?" He hissed at me. "I've been with Laurence all day and apparently I was in his garden last night."
"Well I happen to be standing in a massacre with your scent dead in the middle," I told him.
"And that is where?" He asked calmly.
"A little manor home of the Ainsworth family... or was," I told him.
"Had nothing to do with it," he told me then huffed. "I can't believe you thought I had something to do with that, poodle."
"Why is your scent here?" I asked curiously. "In the room where the twins went missing."
"Because I was there," he said. I heard the creak of a chair then like he leaned back in it. "I chased off the two who were going to raise them as blood whores. Laurence took me there probably planning on me doing it."
"So.... this is something Laurence has conjured up... What happened to the twins?"
"Why should I answer that?" Dante hummed out. "Laurence told me where to put them. Don't you trust Laurence, Paris?"
"I trust I should reunite them with their family... The living half."
"You won't get them. We turned them over to the hunters," he told me. "Now, quit accusing me of doing horrible deeds like killing children. I just lost my fucking mate, Paris. I'm not in the mood."
"No, I'm not accusing you. I'm asking," I told him before hanging up and looked at Richard. "The twins are with the hunters." He nodded, his facial expression relaxing before he laughed as he picked up a fang and eyed it over.
"Well look at that," he said and showed me. "Somebody got defanged." I eyed it over and wrinkled up my nose.
"Let's find Dylan," I muttered. He nodded and tossed the fang.
"Yes, we'll need him if we want the twins back," he said and sighed. "Got any ideas where he'd go?"
"No, not really," I told him and chuckled. "Maybe to find our manor?" I asked curiously. Richard nodded at the thought then grabbed my hands.
"Let's go wait for him then. He'll probably come searching for us. We'll wait for him in our manor and have our newborns search for him in the streets," he told me and gave me a loving kiss. "As soon as we get him, we'll wrap him up in our loving arms and comfort him then help him get his little brothers back."
"We'll also reunite him with Blade's safe care," I told him. He nodded then kissed my neck, wrapping his arms around my body as he let go of my hands.
"Of course... I want what's best for all three of them," he murmured. He sighed softly then got quiet. I can't believe they're dead though.... Who would want to kill them? I know vampires did it, but this was a bit too organized for just an angry attack from vampires. Caden and his wife weren't even actual hunters anymore.
"I know... but they were obviously upset enough with them." He nodded and moved back from me slightly then kissed my lips lightly.
"We'll send some of our newborns over to help... help Blade clean up," he murmured. "I don't want Dylan to wander back home and find this."
"Good idea," I whispered. He nodded then rubbed my cheek.
"We'll set up a funeral too to honor them," he told me. "I don't want our friends to wind up without one."
"We'll give them a nice one," I suggested. He nodded and gave me another kiss before he held me close against him. I purred and teleported us home then. He gasped as he noticed the change then looked at me, purring quickly as he kissed my lips. I pulled back from the kiss and looked away and bit my bottom lip. He rubbed his head and frowned a little before he put his hands in his pockets.
"I want to write them a song for their funeral," he murmured. "Not many people get songs dedicated to them... but I want them to have one."
"Go ahead," I told him and motioned for him to run off to get it done. He nodded and reached out, rubbing my cheek.
"I love you," he told me sweetly. "You know, that right?"
"Yes," I told him and purred. "I love you too." He smiled then went to the door quickly, already humming out new tunes under his breath as he tried them. I eyed him over before purring a little. I teleported down to my newborns in their slumber chamber then to wake them up and get them out there...
Victor's POV:
"Daddy," my little fox boy said as I walked into his playroom. He got up from his blocks and stumbled for me in his cute little penguin onesie. He reached out for me then as he fell over and started to cry out in pain. "Owwww," he whined out. This is his first week in his human form and he's still getting used to it. I smirked slightly and knelt in front of the door, watching him.
"You're okay," I promised him. "Come to daddy~ I'll give you mushrooms." I pulled out one from inside my pocket and held it up to show him. I'm going to get him to master walking with the use of mushrooms! He's my sweet little boy. He giggled a little as he saw the mushrooms before starting to crawl towards me and licked his lips. I tsked at him then and stood up. "No, walk to me," I told him calmly, keeping the mushroom out of his tiny reach. "I know you can do it cutie." He whined before slowly getting to his feet and started to stumble to me again and reached for me. I watched him for a few minutes then scooped him up as soon as he was in my reach and purred at him. "That's a good boy~" I told him happily and gave him the mushroom. "I love you so much~" He ate the mushroom quickly and moaned at the taste before his ears twitched and he gave me a sweet look.
"Daddy," he mumbled and kissed my cheek. I smiled and kissed his cheek back, rubbing his ears gently.
"Did you miss me?" I murmured softly to him, taking him back over to his blocks that he had been playing with. I sat us down in front of them and reached for one, picking it up as I laughed and put it in his hands. "I've missed you~" He nodded quickly and giggled as he used it to make a tower with other blocks. He looked at me then and gave a huge smile. I smirked then and kissed the top of his head before I started to tickle his sides. "Gotcha~" He giggled again and crawled away from me as he squirmed to get away from my fingers. I chased after him, smirking as I got his foot and started to tickle it as I dragged it towards me. "Who's the best daddy in the world, Vlasi?" He yelped and eyed me over with wide eyes as he kicked at me then sat up and grabbed my hand before biting it gently and chewed on it. I gasped and tugged on my hand lightly. "That's not very nice, Vlasi. You should be kinder to me," I told him and frowned slightly. "I'll eat you up, little fox." He widened his eyes before getting up and stumbling away from me. His tail was wagging then as his ears twitched. He reached out towards a chair he was going for that had his blanket and his stuffed bear on it. I watched him then laughed a little. "Hey, what am I? Chopped liver?" I asked him then looked towards his tower of blocks as I got to my feet then sighed softly, rubbing my head. I need to see about his dinner.... I walked towards the door as I hummed, putting my hands in my pockets. "Stay in here, Vlasi." He reached the chair and crawled into it and hugged his bear before looking at me and frowned.
"Daddy," he whined out and watched me worriedly. I looked back at him and purred at him.
"I'm checking on your dinner," I told him then smiled. "I'm going to come back... unless you'd rather come with me. Wanna come with daddy? I'll carry you~" He reached out for me then and giggled as he waited for me to come pick him up. His fingers twitched a little impatiently. He's so adorable~ I smirked and walked over to him before I scooped him up into my arms and held him against my chest. I purred and nuzzled my head against his then bounced him a little as I carried him to the door. "Let's get something in that stomach of yours... and I'll let you sleep with me tonight, alright?" He nodded and placed his head up against my chest.
"I wove you daddy," he said softly and started to rub one of his ears. I chuckled in delight then started to shower his face in kisses as I growled at him playfully.
"I wove you too~" He gave me a loving look and twirled some of my hair in his fingers then. I smiled at him then rubbed his head gently. "Do you want to meet someone I like?" I whispered to him. "You've seen her before, but it's been awhile." He eyed me over before nodding a little and gave me a small smile. I nodded then teleported us downstairs into the kitchen and glanced around, seeing the chiefs were hard at work on his meal. "Let me know when it's done," I told them then teleported us to Italy in Val's home. "ROSE! I WANT YOU TO MEET SOMEONE!" I shouted and smirked. Hopefully she won't get too upset, but... seeing him might make her feel a little better. Besides, he's so darn adorable.
"Hey~ Victor," I heard Val say as she walked up and gave me a smile. "Rose is taking a nap in her room here. Oh, who's the little cutie?" She asked and eyed him over before smiling and reached out to take him from me. I let her and purred.
"Vlasi," I told her. "I adopted him back when Swan Lake was in the ballet studios near my castle. He's five."
"Aw, how adorable," she purred out and rubbed his head. "You've got another fox," she said and giggled as she looked at me. "I was wondering when you would." He eyed her over before looking at me and reached out for me expectantly. I took him back quickly and zipped him up into my coat with his head poking out.
"Well, I was lonely," I murmured. "I was hoping to show him to Rose. I thought he might cheer her up."
"She's really depressed," Val whispered to me and pouted. Vlasi started to suck on his thumb then as he placed his head on my chest. I nodded then frowned.
"Do you think taking care of him might help her?" I whispered back, rubbing Vlasi's ear gently. "I want her to be happy... and she wanted a baby so badly."
"I don't know," she told me and shrugged. Vlasi tugged on my shirt then and started to chew on it hungrily. I gasped and looked at him then tried to get his jaws away from it.
"No," I murmured in his ear, trying to hold back a laugh. He whined and looked at me before trying to get to my pockets then in search for mushrooms. I tsked and smacked his hands away from them before I pulled one out and pushed it into his mouth. "I'm going to go check on her," I told Val then teleported into Rose's old room here. Glancing towards the bed, I purred and snuck up to it then leaned over and kissed her cheek lightly. "Rose," I whispered and moved Vlasi into the bed beside her. "Hey, I want you to meet someone." Rose opened her eyes a little and looked at me before glancing around with a tired look. She gave a small smile as her eyes landed on Vlasi.
"That's your little fox," she gasped out and touched one of his ears. Vlasi crawled up to me then- his eyes on my pocket. I tsked then pulled out a handful of mushrooms, slipping them into Rose's hands.
"I thought I would introduce you two again. He's finally able to transform," I told her sweetly. "He likes those~" She eyed over the mushrooms then gasped as Vlasi crawled onto her and looked at her expectantly. She fed him one quickly and almost lost a finger in the process. I smirked and rubbed his head. "Easy," I murmured to him. "Vlasi, don't take her finger with it. She won't want to hold and love you if you do."
"I'm hungry, daddy," he whined out to me.
"The chiefs are working on your dinner at home," I promised him and started to rub his ears soothingly. "Say hi to Rose~ She's the sweetest lady of my life."
"Hi," he whispered to her before looking at me and whined. "I'm still hungry," he mumbled.
"Oh alright," I sighed out and scooped him up. "We'll go make the chiefs rush," I purred into his ears then rubbed them as I looked towards Rose. "Rose, want to come with us?" I asked her sweetly. I don't want her to lay here depressed without me....
"I was taking a nap," she yawned out and looked us over. "But... I could use something to eat." She sat up then and got out of the bed and rubbed his ears. I leaned in and kissed her quickly, moving in close as I purred loudly. Great! I'll drag her little butt all the way to Russia with me. She kissed me back before grabbing my hand and squeezed it. There she is~ I teleported us into the kitchen and cleared my throat, looking at my cooks with a small smirk.
"I hope you cooked enough for three," I told them and heard one groan before he eyed over what he was doing carefully.
"Yes sir," he said and frowned. I nodded and looked at Vlasi then kissed his head as they got the plates together. I teleported Rose into my dining room then sat Vlasi down in his chair on my left side and got Rose's chair on my right side, pulling it out for her.
"Would you like to sit?" I asked her playfully, grinning as I looked her in the eyes. She sat down and gave me a thankful look before crossing her legs.
"Thank you," she said softly. Vlasi got on his knees in the chair and leaned over the table and eyed over the salt and pepper shakers left out and grabbed one quickly and started to pour salt out onto the table. I frowned at him then put my hands on my hips.
"You know, it's bad luck to pour salt like that. You better throw some of that over your shoulder or the ghosts will come and eat your toes in your sleep," I warned him. "The more salt, the more times they'll come for you." He eyed over the salt on the table before throwing the whole shaker behind his shoulder. I heard it smash on the floor then and pour out. My eyebrow twitched as I watched him before I teleported over and snatched him out of the chair, holding him away from my body as I looked him in the eyes. "Bad boy," I hissed lowly at him, giving him a stern look.
"You said to put some over my shoulder to make up for what I dumped out on the table," he told me cutely and gave an innocent smile. That's like the longest sentence he's ever said to me. Trickster. I tsked at him then put him down in his chair.
"You're cleaning it up," I warned him. "No love for you." He pouted and laid his ears back before crossing his arms and looked away from me. He did NOT just do that. I narrowed my eyes at him and growled at him warningly like Trick used to do at his kids. He looked at me and gasped before standing up in his chair and growled a little. I growled louder at him then hissed, exposing my fangs. "I'm your father," I told him sharply.
"Hmph," he said and sat down quickly and bit his bottom lip before getting out of the chair and started for the door, stumbling a bit as he done it. I tsked and went after him, snatching him up when I caught up to him. I pointed a finger at him and frowned.
"You knew not to throw the saltshaker," I told him firmly. "I know you did. Now quit throwing a temper tantrum. I love you, but you're cleaning up that salt."
"Nu-uh," he told me and shook his head.
"Why not?" I asked him and tapped his nose. "You make mess, you clean mess."
"Maid does," he told me and giggled.
"Aren't you spoiled?" I asked and frowned. "Alright, the maid will clean it up, but you won't get honey milk with your dinner. You'll get water." He frowned then.
"Daddy," he said innocently.
"Don't daddy me. Five seconds ago, you growled at me," I grumbled at him, rubbing his ears. "You don't get to daddy me right now. I'm mad." Of course, I can't be really mad, but he can't grow up to think he can spill salt everywhere. He snapped his jaws at me playfully then and bit my hand gently. I gasped slightly then pulled my hand back from his jaws. "Behave. I'm mad at you, remember?" I warned.
"I'm mad," he told me and squirmed to get down from my arms. I frowned then sat him down on the ground before I gave him a firm pat on the butt to get his attention.
"You don't get to be mad," I told him sharply. "Go sit or I'll get you again." He groaned and got back in his chair and crossed his arms as he stared down the salt. I watched him and sighed, rubbing my head. What am I going to do with him? He's probably just hungry and throwing a tantrum because of it. The doors opened and a few maids walked in, bringing us our dinners. They set his down in front of him and gave him his usual honey milk then gave Rose her dinner and set mine down in front of my chair. I almost told them to take his milk away, but... I'm not looking to see him cry. I sighed and sat down in my chair, picking up my glass of blood and sipping on it as I watched Vlasi closely then reached over and gently rubbed his head. "I love you," I murmured to him softly. "My sweet little baby~" He looked at his food before starting to eat it quickly- using his utensils like I taught him. He looked at me and gave a sweet look.
"I wove you too," he told me. I purred loudly at him and laughed.
"You're so cute~" I pushed his milk towards him and watched him lovingly before I started to eat and looked towards Rose. "He's not that mischievous all the time. I promise," I told her and gave a playful purr her way.
"If he's anything like Trick was," she said and laughed a little. "You're going to be in a lot of trouble."
"Yes, but this one isn't having kids," I told her and sighed. "All those foxes was too much.... I'm going to have him fixed when he's old enough to get interested in those things."
"Whaaat? What's that mean, daddy?" Vlasi asked.
"It means that you're going to stay my baby forever," I purred his way quickly. "You're not going to have any of your own babies that way my attention is always on you." He tilted his head a little before lowering his ears a bit as he tried to catch up to what I meant. "Don't worry about it, cutie," I told him and rubbed his cheek as I leaned over and kissed his head. "You're not going to even notice when you're older." He blushed a bit and nodded.
"Okay daddy," he whispered. I smiled at him then pulled him into my lap, moving his plate over to me then started to feed him myself as I rubbed his ears.
"My sweet Vlasi~ I wove you so much." He giggled a little and twitched his ears as he looked at my hand feeding him. I chuckled and gave him another bite of his food, rocking him a little in my arm as I hummed at him. He laid back against my chest and gave a huge smile towards his food. "You just love the food," I teased him as I gave him another bite. He nodded and licked his lips as he tried to take his fork from me. I let him and sighed softly, leaning back as I watched him. Silly fox. He's going to miss this when he's too big to fit in my lap. He fed me suddenly and giggled a little as he watched my reaction. I widened my eyes and slowly chewed it. The hell? I swallowed it and looked at him before I tapped his nose. "That's your food," I whispered to him and smirked. He giggled before starting to eat his food. I rubbed his ears gently and looked towards Rose lovingly, checking on her. She gave me a smile as she noticed me looking at her. "Want to help me put him to sleep afterwards?" I asked her and purred her way.
"Sure, I'd love to," she told me and purred lightly.
"We could even go to sleep with him in our arms," I suggested sweetly, leaning towards her encouragingly. She eyed him over before purring and gave a huge smile.
"Okay," she said softly. I smirked at her then reached out, grabbing her hand.
"I love you, Rose," I told her then kissed her cheek before I went back to eating.
"I love you too," she told me and started to eat.
After we finished eating, I stood up with Vlasi and rubbed his back soothingly as I looked towards her and grabbed her hand. I teleported us up to my bedroom and slipped him into her arms gently, laughing slightly. This is what she needs. Someone to take care of. She wrapped him up in her arms and started to bounce him a little as she eyed him over. She gave him a motherly look suddenly and purred. That's what I wanted. I purred as I watched her then laid down in the bed, holding the blankets up for them. "Come lay down with me," I told her and smirked. "You can tell him a story too if you'd like." She nodded before carrying him over and got in the bed and put him between us. He curled up quickly and gave a small yawn. She eyed him over before giving a smile and looked at me.
"You tell one," she suggested. I nodded then looked down at him, starting to rub his ears as I kissed the top of his head.
"If you'd like," I murmured to her then propped my head up with my hand as I laid on my side. Hmm, what should I tell? I smirked as I suddenly got an idea and laughed. "Once upon a time, there was a prince who was going to rule the world one day. He would sit and play music all day and would drink blood whenever he pleased even though his father would get angry at how much he consumed. His younger brother, however, was a goody two shoes, and his birthday was coming up, so their father sent out invitations to everyone to come celebrate his youngest son's birthday... and one of those invitations went to a special someone."
"What special someone?" He asked me softly as he listened to me. I smiled and rubbed his cheek.
"The eldest prince's soul mate- the prince of France. Now the prince of France was a goody two shoes too. He was sheltered by his parents who raised him in a strict manner. His name was Paris and little did he know that the invitation was going to change his life. As soon as he got there and laid eyes on the eldest prince Richardo, he and Richardo were so attracted to each other that Paris barely could pay the youngest brother any attention. He went to search for Richardo frequently during his stay, but the first time they were alone in Richardo's music room, something magical happened- but I'm going to save that for when you're older. Anyways, the two love birds were eventually found out, and they ran away together so that way they wouldn't be separated. They traveled on horseback through Europe with only a letter to guide them and found their way to another prince's castle. I happened to be at the castle myself at the time, and I was with them when they ran to England."
"This is a true story?" He asked me and gasped a little.
"Oh yes, Paris is Rose's older brother," I whispered at him and winked. "Isn't that right, Rose? See, she wasn't born yet. She was born because of all this."
"Wow," he yawned out and looked at her in awe. I smiled and rubbed his head before I laid my head against my pillow, watching him.
"Mhmm. Anyways, when they got to England, they traveled to meet the person who sent them the letter, offering them help, and it was none other than Laurence who could see the future. He knew they would need his help if they wanted to stay together, and Laurence saw a better future for everyone if he helped the young couple. We all trained together and prepared for war, and when we were ready, we fought our parents so that way anyone could love freely and bite anyone they wanted," I told him and smiled a little. "When the two went after Paris's parents, they found little Rose who thought she was an only child and that she didn't have an older brother. Paris took her though and raised her from a small child to a young lady, and it turns out that Paris had been lied to when he was younger too. He thought that his twin had died in childbirth, but his twin was still alive, and his twin's name was Louis who was now prince of Wales. The whole family was reunited, Vlasi. Isn't that wonderful? All the children of the king of France found each other in the end. They just don't live together now though. Richardo and Paris had their own child too years ago. Everyone has been happy since, including me." I tapped his nose. "I got you, and I wouldn't have been able to have you really if my parents were still alive." He nodded and let out a small yawn as he was already drifting to sleep. He moved closer to me then and grabbed my shirt-- moving his face up against my chest.
"Uh-huh daddy," he mumbled. I sighed softly and rubbed his head, purring into his ear as I curled him up to me.
"I love you, little Vlasi. One day you're going to find someone you'll love so much," I murmured to him and rubbed his ear comfortingly. Depending on who it is, I'll have him fixed though. He nodded a little.
"I wove you too," he mumbled. I looked towards Rose and leaned over, kissing her as I pulled her closer to us. Taking her hand, I placed it on top of his tiny body and looked her in the eyes. Maybe she'll help me raise him.... She seems to like him. She eyed him over before looking at me as her eyes started to water up a little. I frowned slightly and wiped at her eyes, giving her another kiss quickly. Shit... maybe this is too much for her. She closed her eyes then and curled up to her pillow and pulled the covers closer to her.
"I love you Rose," I murmured to her and rubbed her cheek before I pulled my hand away from her. I hope I didn't screw up by inviting her here to see him. I wasn't meaning to make her cry. I was hoping to make her happier by giving her someone to care for even if she only wanted to for a little while. She looked at me then.
"I know, I love you too," she whispered. I nodded then grabbed her hand, holding it as I closed my eyes. I'll know if she tries to take off before I wake up. She's not getting away from me that easily. I smirked slightly and sighed as I started to drift off to sleep myself.
I opened my eyes slowly as I squeezed her hand, finding it still there then relaxed as I looked her way. I purred loudly then looked down at Vlasi before I kissed the top of his head and sat up, stretching. This is going to be a great day! I reached over to my nightstand and grabbed out a bottle of vodka then took a swig of it as I got out of bed and headed for my bathroom. Heh, I have Rose still. She didn't go back to Val yet. Wonderful~! Wait a minute.... that vodka tasted like water. I spat it out and frowned, looking towards the bottle before I sniffed it in disgust. The hell? I glanced back towards the bed then hissed. Rose. She got after my stash last night while I slept! I dropped the bottle and narrowed my eyes, going back for the bed then crawled into it and bit down into her shoulder. She yelped and tensed under me quickly.
"V-Victor, owe!" She yelped out. I grabbed her sides then and closed my eyes as I dug my fangs in a little deeper, drinking greedily. If I can't have vodka, I'll have blood. "Victor," she groaned out and shoved me away from her. "That's a bad way to wake someone up." I licked my lips as I was pushed back then looked down at her, smirking.
"You dumped all my vodka out while I slept, didn't you?" I asked her calmly, eyeing her over as my eyes lingered on her neck.
"No," she told me and eyed me over before smirking a bit.
"Oh? You're lucky there's a child in here," I teased her then gave a playful growl, crawling back up her slowly like a predator.
"Daddy?" I heard the child whine out from next to us. I tensed and looked towards Vlasi, seeing him looking at us. Shiiiiiz. I sat up quickly and picked him up into my arms.
"Hey cutie," I purred at him then kissed the top of his head. "Want pancakes for breakfast?" Distract!
"Uh-huh," he said and sat up quickly and rubbed his eyes. "I want strawberries too," he told me. I nodded then looked towards Rose, giving her a small smirk.
"Bet you didn't find the ones in the basement," I whispered at her then winked, getting out of the bed. I'll have myself a bottle of vodka this morning. I don't start my days sober.
"I took care of those," she assured me. "Today you're sober for me."
"What?! You dumped those out too?" I asked and frowned at the thought. The hell?! I want vodka! "I want my vodka!"
"Sober up," she whined out at me.
"Daddy," Vlasi whined out and reached out for me. I held him closer to me and kissed the top of his head.
"Fine... no vodka this morning," I grumbled and tsked. I like my vodka.... Vodka makes me feel better.
"Good. You should try to be your best for Vlasi," she told me and gave a smile. Vlasi giggled and reached out for me expectantly.
"Daddy," he giggled out in a bubbly tone. I sighed and kissed the top of his head.
"You're just egging Rose on," I told him as I cuddled him to my chest. He nodded and giggled a little.
"I'm on her side," he told me. "She's pretty." He bit his bottom lip then and held back a big smile as he blushed and glanced at her. "She's my mommy, right?"
"Uh-ummmm." Rose blushed as she looked at us. "I- I guess," she whispered to him.
"Of course, she's your mommy," I told him and smirked Rose's way. "I picked her out for you, Vlasi." Rose gasped a little before smirking.
"Picked?" She asked and raised an eyebrow. "I thought it was different from that."
"You're my chosen lover," I told her and winked. "I wasn't even searching for one, but we snatched each other up the night I got him. I want you to be his mommy."
"Of course, I am," she said softly and eyed him over before looking at me. "I'll be his mom." I purred and walked up then slowly slipped him into her arms.
"Then you better shower him in love because he's been mommy deprived since he was born," I told her playfully. "All he's had is his daddy." She wrapped him up in her arms before bouncing him and started to carry him out of the room then- whispering a sweet lullaby to him. I chuckled and followed her, watching her then teleported down into the kitchen and gave out the orders for breakfast. When I was through with that, I teleported back to where she was and walked by her side, purring slightly. Rose is so sweet. I bet she's happy to have something small in her arms that is willing to adore her entirely...