by C. L. Quinn
Nodding, Sarah patted the place beside her. “Thanks. Listen, we need to talk. I need to clarify something.”
“I like that idea. I have a few things I’d like to clarify as well.”
“Perhaps they are the same thing.”
Once he dropped down beside her, his gaze wandered to the full cleavage now displayed, then back to her eyes, as he ran his tongue around his lips. “Sarah…”
She’d decided to take the leap and see if they had any chance of getting this wreck of a relationship back on track. Sliding forward, she kissed him gently on the lips, then moved closer and went for a deeper kiss. Within seconds, his arms went around her and he pulled her tight enough to squeeze the air molecules between them.
The kiss was warm and encouraging, his scent pleasant. While it had yet to arouse her, Sarah allowed that it would take time to move past Mies’s lovemaking.
Leo was definitely aroused.
A gentle chime interrupted them, and they pulled apart. Leo blew a long breath and stood. His penis had filled and he was grateful that his lab jacket covered him. When he reached for the coffee pot, he paused.
“Yes, they were the same thing. I hope that was my answer?”
“It is if you want it to be. I’m sorry, Leo, things got kind of crazy after my friend arrived from Russia. I had some things to sort out, something that he needed my help with, and it was impossible to try to maintain a normal relationship with that going on, let alone start a new one. But I want you to know that I am interested. Could we reschedule that date?”
“How about this Sunday night? I’m off and after the past five days on, I can’t imagine that you aren’t too.”
“I am. Saturday is another long one, but I’m home for two days after that.”
“Then we’re on. Sarah, I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to this. I’ve been really attracted to you from the beginning, but these past few weeks, it’s been almost impossible to keep my hands off you. I feel like a rutting bull.”
What the hell? Leo too?
“I’m the same old dull Sarah I’ve always been. But this time, we’ll make that date and see how it goes.”
Sarah stood and joined him, sliding her lab coat back over cold arms. “I better get back out there. Tracy mentioned that she needed to get something to eat while it was slow, so I’ll give her a break. Leo, Sunday night, I’ll put on my prettiest dress.”
“I’ll take you somewhere fitting, then. I’m excited, Sarah.”
Her eyes dropped to the bulge in his pants, revealed now that he’d put his hands into his pockets and the jacket had pulled back. When he saw where her eyes went, he let the coat drop back into place and gave her a boyish grin as he shrugged his shoulders.
“Um, hum,” she said as she hurried out.
IN SOUTHERN FRANCE
Eillia had the kids washed and ready for bed. Lately, she and Tamesine had been trading off the task because her son and Tamesine’s twins, a boy and a girl, insisted on bathing together. Pre-bedtime cleaning was always tough enough before they were old enough to declare preferences, but she’d learned centuries ago that you had to choose your battles. The important ones, you never give in on, but when it came to bath time for three tykes, let the children have their say.
Tamesine poked her head in. “Spit-shined and polished?”
Caedmon giggled. Tamesine chased him around the large bathroom with tell-tale bubbles all over the floor and walls, and caught him easily. “Not yet? I guess you still need some spit!”
The little boy shrieked and giggled so hard he went into a coughing fit.
“Calm down, little guy. Let’s take a walk to the balcony for some fresh air.”
Tamesine led him out of the bathroom and onto the huge balcony suspended out over the sea from Eillia and Daniel’s bedroom suite. “Can you breathe better now?”
With a small gulp of air, the curly-headed boy nodded.
“Uh, huh.”
“Good. You’re all right, sweetheart.”
They’d been watching Eillia’s son closely. For some reason, he seemed to have developed a slight medical problem…and that was not normal for a first blood child.
The children of first bloods grew up like any fully human child until they reached adult maturity. At that point, the vampire genome would take over and the body would continue the change to become a first blood.
But although the children were mostly just like ordinary human children, one thing was certain...first bloods, children or not, did not get sick. The only exception that they had ever found was a recent virus that had the ability to kill vampires. With much focus and a lot of ancient universal luck and aid, Park’s medical lab and staff had managed to purge that virus and create a vaccine and cure.
But Caedmon should not sneeze or wheeze, or lose his breath after running in a small circle.
Tamesine watched him with concern, but he seemed to be fine now. The symptoms were slight and had only started two nights ago. Eillia and Daniel were holding it together, but every vampire in both households here in the Orientales was on alert. The virus earlier this year had been deadly, and the idea that they might be facing something else that targeted their children was by far their worst-case-scenario.
They were using Park’s lab to monitor Caedmon and the other four children in the two villas. Just the idea that one or more of their children could have an unprecedented illness was terrifying.
“He’s calmed down?” Eillia inquired from behind Tamesine.
Turning, Tamesine clasped Eillia’s upper arm. “He’s fine. It’s his wonderfully silly sense of humor. He cracks up at his own jokes!”
“I love that about him.”
“He’s all right, Eillia. We have to trust that. Don’t forget how powerful we are.”
“I know, it’s just the ever-changing tide of fortunes lately in our communities. What if this is another test?”
“You think the events we’ve been experiencing are tests?”
“I don’t know. What I do know is that if any of our children get sick, I’ll rain hell up into the spirit realm.”
“You’ll have help. For now, though, Caedmon is okay. I’ll take him to Park tomorrow night for his next check-up if you’d like.”
“No, Daniel and I will take him. Thank you, though.”
Eillia scooped up her naked giggling son and carried him back to the bathroom to slip him into his Star Wars pajamas. He would join in a brief playtime with the others before they went to their rooms to sleep.
Two hours later, just before dawn, back in her own suite, her babies finally in bed, Tamesine leaned on the railing of her own balcony and let her mind wander. There were times when channeling such strong magics wasn’t easy.
Her connection to the spiritual realm had remained open since she’d used the combined power of five vampire first bloods to change the course of history.
They’d eradicated a virus meant to kill vampires using forces borrowed from the universe. Whether it was sanctioned or not, she did not know, nor did she care. What mattered was that she had protected her family and race, and possibly all human life on this world. So if the universe was pissed at her, too fucking bad.
Now, though, a new concern, a possible threat to the most precious things in their lives, the first blood children, their own blood, their babies…what was happening? She’d tried to put a positive spin on it for Eillia, who didn’t need the constant worry, but the truth was, she had no idea what to expect.
Caedmon should not be sick. At all. His vampire blood and power, the heritage of first blood magic, protected its vampire progeny. Why, then, was he showing these symptoms?
Warm hands slid around her neck, massaging tight muscles.
“Ready to turn in?” Marc asked.
“Yes. I can’t let my mind rest though.”
“The children,” he said simply.
“It won’t be only Caedmon, not that that matters. We cannot lose him any more than any other. But I f
eel something black in the pit of my stomach. Another egregious thing. Something else to break us into pieces and force us to find a way to go on. I can’t get it off my mind, Marc. We all know that these children have a destiny vital to the world someday, but what the hell do we have to endure to get there?”
“You told me once, fix the things you can, and have faith for those you can’t. When something happens that needs fixing, you always rise to it. Every first blood that walks this earth knows that if something comes for our children, nothing will stop us from stopping it.”
“My hero, once again. You’re right, of course. I wonder, though, if this has anything to do with the virus we destroyed this winter. Or if it has something to do with that odd event involving the ancient vampire in Siberia. I believe coincidences happen, but I suspect it too.”
“As of now, there’s nothing to fix. And even if there were, you need your rest. The sun will peek in soon.”
“Okay. Help me with the barrier.”
Saturday morning, Sarah threw up, the nausea hitting its stride and knocking her way off balance. Even some weak coffee didn’t stay down. Regretfully, she called in and let them know that she was too sick to work.
For Sarah, this was a new experience. Through her entire life, there had been no aches or pains or illness. Now, she felt sick inside of every cell in her body. Even though the temperature in her apartment was seventy-eight degrees, she had chills. She still had trouble imagining herself lying in bed unable to do normal things.
This moment, being human, really sucked.
She had one more text to send, her fingers paused over her cell phone, but she forced herself to push the keys. Breaking this date with Leo had been incredibly hard, but if she was this sick, she was likely contagious. Considering what they’d done a few days ago in his office, Sarah just hoped she hadn’t already given whatever this was to him.
Lying flat on her bed, two sheets and a blanket covering her but her feet hanging out, she groaned.
“Holy shit, is this what humans go through when they’re sick? Often, over a lifetime? Ugh. Xavier, blood please!”
Leo sent back a text and let her know that he felt for her, that he understood, and was there anything she needed? Kind man. She sent a brief text, thanks, no, call soon, and dropped back onto her bed.
When she woke some time later, she threw up again just before she collapsed immediately back into bed.
Hours later yet, Sarah rose to get some water, she knew that she was dehydrated, and stopped when a text arrived from Tamesine:
Sarah, it seems like you are picking back up and
moving forward. I am proud of you. Please encourage
Nikolai to stop in soon to let us check his stats and
take some samples. Best to you, call if you need help.
Staring at the text for several long moments, Sarah processed the message. Help? Boy, did she need help, but humans didn’t have that kind of help available.
Thanks, Tam. Sick right now, puking up my guts. Wish
I had some of Xavier’s blood. I’ll talk to Nik.
Another text arrived seconds later.
Cherise and David are in NYC. Do you want them to
come?
The text message lay there, Sarah staring at it unblinking. A first blood was just south of her, she could get well immediately.
God! Tempting, but no. Human now, guess I’ll adapt.
No problem if you want help. They can be there in no
time.
Thanks. Gonna try to do this right.
Only she felt sicker when evening came. Like her guts were being rearranged. After all that she’d been through, this felt like punishment. Was that possible? Could this be a little karmic payback for messing with fate? It felt much deeper than an ordinary illness, more invasive and systemic. If it were, then she would likely not heal on her own very easily.
First blood’s blood, immediate healing, damn it was tempting. No, beyond tempting. She’d had enough crap these past few weeks for a lifetime.
Tam, can you let them know I need their help? I can’t
do this anymore. Appreciated more than you know.
Right away. They’ll be there tonight. Try to rest.
Oh, thank God and all that was holy in the vampire’s world. After David gave her his blood, she could get back to her life. More and more as the evening progressed, Sarah felt sure that this sickness was supernatural in nature and without first blood magics, she might never be well again.
She’d never met David or Cherise, but she was familiar with David’s history, a first blood who had been held and tortured for decades by the Supernatural Research Society. Cherise, his mate, was an empath who converted, making her the first vampire empath ever known. She’d heard that Cherise’s talents had been intensely strengthened by her vampire blood.
After convincing her stomach to accept a little organic tea, she fell back onto her bed and finally drifted into a fitful sleep.
“Sarah, wake up. Sarah?”
The soft musical voice filtered through Sarah’s sleep-infused, foggy mind. Who did she know with a French accent here in Boston? With great effort, she focused on the voice and tried to reach it. Eventually, when she opened her eyes, Sarah saw a sweet smile. Then she felt a hand on her forearm, immediately recognizing the sensation. Impression. The woman calmed Sarah’s confused mind.
“Hi,” Sarah said. “You’re Cherise.”
“I am. It is surprising that you could recall that so easily considering how sick you are.”
“Can you tell, is it supernatural?”
“I do not believe so.”
“Natural things can kick your ass too.” A deep masculine voice penetrated their conversation.
Sarah looked up to the huge man who’d come up behind Cherise. David was big all over, like most first blood males, and he emitted that same sexually stimulating pheromone, she could smell it, but it did not turn her on like Mies’s did. She recognized its purpose, but the biochemical makeup must have been all wrong for her. Or the pheromones were targeted to the one person meant to be mate to the vampire. Her mind went to Mies, and the sadness returned.
“Chérie, you are not doing well. I can feel the physical exhaustion and some type of virus invading you. Not to mention the emotional pain. You are grieving. David can make you feel much better. Do you want him to give you some blood now?”
“Yes, please, thank you,” Sarah said weakly, the helplessness frustrating.
David slit his fingertip and dripped his blood into the mug that still held some of the organic tea, and handed it to her.
“Here you go,” he announced.
Sarah held the mug reverently, aware that this was a step back from her progress in becoming fully human, but she sipped it anyway, and even slid her tongue around the rim to get the last of it. Strange. She’d always expected that it would be nice someday to not drink blood, but this was satisfying, and she wanted to ask for more. Too much vampire blood, though, especially that of a first blood, would trigger conversion and that was something that she definitely didn’t want.
Setting the mug on the floor beside the bed, she swung her legs over the side and stood. The blood was working already, the queasiness gone, the pain easing.
She sighed and smiled at Cherise and David.
“I can never thank you enough. I haven’t the coping skills for this kind of illness I guess. I was blood-bonded for most of my life and this is the first time I’ve ever been sick like this.”
“It is dreadful.” Cherise looked up at David, her eyes wide.
He nodded.
After an obvious hesitation, Cherise caught Sarah’s attention again. “Sarah, do you know that you are pregnant?”
Sarah didn’t move. Her eyes moved from Cherise, landed on David, who looked amused, and then back to Cherise.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“You are with child, my dear. And the father is not your average guy, is he?”
; What? Pregnant? Not possible. Not possible! Was it?
The reality hit her suddenly, slamming into her consciousness.
“I’m Shoazan?” Then again, even more incredulous, believing it less, “I’m Shoazan? I can’t be!”
“Apparently you can. You carry a first blood child.”
“I…” Sarah was ready to repeat that she couldn’t be, but she knew different. There was a chance, and if she was, Mies had left something behind.
Her hands went to her belly where this shocking life grew inside her body without her knowledge until now.
“Why didn’t I know?”
“You are not in touch with your body or mind right now. The child senses that. She has remained quiet and unobtrusive until she believes you are ready for her.”
Oh God, oh God, oh God! There went normal forever.
“It was this ghost from the past, yes? Tamesine told me about his appearance. I find the whole thing fascinating.” Cherise watched her mate wander into the kitchen and pick up a kettle.
Sarah moved to the sofa almost trancelike. “I’m going to have Mies’s child.” Her eyes shot back to Cherise. “Uh, yeah, the ghost. His name is Mies. He lived with that first group of vampires whose graves were uncovered under Lake Baikal recently.” She winced. “You’re sure?”
Cherise nodded and joined her on the sofa. “Here. Remain calm.”
Placing her hands on Sarah’s belly, Cherise closed her eyes.
“Yes, it is a little girl who has dark hair and eyes like her father. And a heart as wide as the world.”
The empath touched Sarah’s cheek as she opened her eyes. “You can feel her if you are ready. Listen and see with your heart, not that brilliant mind you are so famous for.”
Quiet, trying to follow directions, Sarah forced herself to control her breathing, which was difficult considering she was freaking out. Thoughts and images pounded her and nearly overcame her when she felt another hand on her shoulder and looked up to see David behind her. All of the wild thoughts faded away and she was able to lower her respiration and focus on her own lifeforce.