Raven's Blood

by Cassandra Lawson

Chapter Twenty-Six

  Something about the attack sat wrong with Raven. She hadn’t been here long, but she got the impression attacks by turned vampires were rare and usually disorganized. While they tended to band together in small groups, she’d never heard of large groups of them working together. The attacks along the roads and in the woods could easily be explained, but an attack on the settlement seemed like something that required planning. Also, the turned vampires generally targeted humans, not born vampires. She wasn’t sure if it was the difference in the taste of the blood, or just the fact that humans were easier prey.

  Muriel’s moan interrupted Raven’s thoughts. She sure hoped they had someone who had delivered a baby before. She knew the logistics of it, but she’d never even witnessed a birth.

  “Just breathe sweetie,” Jack coaxed as he took Muriel’s hand.

  “Don’t tell me what to do!” Muriel snarled at him.

  Jack practically recoiled from the venom in his normally sweet-tempered wife’s voice. “You’re doing fine, Jack,” Raven assured him. “Try not to take anything she says too personally.”

  “Can you deliver the baby?” Jack asked.

  “Don’t be a moron,” Muriel snapped.

  “Let’s get her into the bedroom,” Raven suggested. “I hope you have a waterproof mattress pad.”

  Jack paled visibly as he helped Muriel to the bedroom.

  Carla raced up the stairs with a female vampire Raven didn’t recognize. The woman had shoulder-length brown hair, brown eyes, and a slight build.

  “I remembered Norah’s delivered a baby before,” Carla explained before turning to leave. “I’m going to help with the fighting. I’m sure it’ll be less gory.”

  Muriel started to moan, and Raven immediately moved to her side, speaking in a soothing voice. “Just relax.”

  “Oh, Raven,” Muriel moaned pitifully. “They were all right. I should have stayed away from those stupid bloodsuckers. Jack did this to me.” She glared at him, and Jack flinched.

  Norah hit him on the back of the head. “Man up, Jackie, and take care of your wife.” Then she smiled at Raven. “I can’t believe I’m finally getting to meet you. I’m Norah. We are definitely going to talk later.”

  “I’m going to kill him, Norah,” Muriel whimpered from the bed.

  “Get some towels, Raven,” Norah ordered. “Jack, you get a nightgown or a really large shirt for Muriel.”

  Raven ran out of the room and started ransacking every closet for towels, wondering why she hadn’t thought to ask where they were first. She finally returned with a huge stack of towels, which Norah had her arrange on the bed. “It’ll keep the bed from getting totally destroyed,” she explained.

  “I’ll just wait outside of the room,” Raven offered.

  Norah caught her arm. “Stay. I might need help.”

  She’d had Muriel strip out of her wet clothes and put on a nursing gown.

  Raven gave a hesitant nod and moved to Muriel’s side. Jack was on the opposite side stroking Muriel’s hair and trying to remain calm.

  “Do you feel up to walking around some?” Norah asked Muriel with a reassuring smile.

  Muriel nodded. “Is it okay?”

  Norah took her arm to help her up. “As long as you feel comfortable with it. It’ll actually help things move along.”

  “What now?” Jack asked. “They said they would check her at the hospital to see how far along she is.”

  “You’re sure the baby is in the right position?” Norah asked.

  “Yes,” Muriel replied. “My doctor told me the baby is head down.”

  “Then we’ll wait until your body tells you it’s time to push,” Norah told her. “I don’t have the training to check your cervix, and your body will tell you when it’s time.”

  The next hour was stressful. First, Raven was worried about Connor and the others. She was also worried about Muriel, who sounded like she was in terrible pain every time she had a contraction. She had no idea how Muriel could have gone from feeling a little achy to having pain so bad she was ready to kill someone in just over an hour. Actually, Raven realized Muriel only seemed interested in killing Jack.

  “I can’t walk anymore, and I think I’m ready to push,” Muriel insisted.

  “What does it feel like?” Norah asked.

  “Like I have to push. I feel like there’s no choice,” Muriel explained.

  “Then I think it’s time,” Norah agreed. She got Muriel positioned on the bed with her knees up and went to the foot the bed. “If your bath tub was clean, we could have done this in there.”

  “She’s not having a fish!” Jack gasped.

  “Shut the fuck up, Jack, or so help me God, I will castrate you,” Muriel hissed at him.

  Jack paled.

  Norah ignored them and continued to talk in her calm authoritative voice. “When you feel your next contraction, I want you to push as hard as you can.”

  Muriel nodded and did as she was told. Raven had no idea why it took so long. Muriel pushed for nearly thirty minutes before Norah called her over. “Raven, bring some receiving blankets.”

  Raven saw the back of the baby’s head resting in Norah’s hands. Within a few minutes, the baby was completely out, and Norah was clearing the fluid from his mouth. “Congratulations, Muriel and Jack!” Norah announced. “You have a very big son.”

  Norah carefully wrapped the baby in a receiving blanket and did the same to the placenta before laying both on Muriel’s chest.

  “Aren’t you going to cut the cord?” Raven asked.

  Norah shook her head. “Once the skirmish is over, they can have it done at the hospital.”

  “Oh Jack,” Muriel said through her tears. “He’s so beautiful. I love you.”

  Jack leaned over to kiss Muriel and touch his new son. In that moment, Raven felt a tug at her heart. This was something she’d always known she would never have. As happy as she was for her friend, she was more than a little envious.

  On impulse, Raven turned and hugged Norah. Norah seemed a little awkward at first and then she hugged her back. “Thank you so much for helping my friend.”

  “You’re welcome,” Norah replied, and Raven didn’t miss the sadness in her voice.

  “Are you okay?” Raven asked.

  Norah nodded and swallowed hard before speaking. “I guess I’m a little jealous. My husband and I were talking about having a baby before he . . .” Norah’s voice trailed off.

  Raven took her hand and squeezed it. “Let’s leave them alone and go downstairs to talk.”

  Norah smiled and nodded before taking one last look at the new family.