by Dara Nelson
Mona looked Jason up and down, “So, the readings I’ve been getting are true.”
“What other readings have you been getting, Mona?”
“We can talk about that later. First, come inside. Relax. Eat. I stocked up on blood when I knew you were coming.”
Jason tucked in his wings and ducked his head to get through the door. He managed to sit in the oversized easy chair in the corner, but not without a little effort. “Don’t really fit too well in this world, do you?” she smiled.
“We manage,” he said, blushing. He kept shifting in his chair, trying to prevent himself from becoming aroused. Mona’s beauty was undeniable, her thin silk nightgown clinging to her curves and not leaving much of anything to the imagination. And his attraction to her was unlike anything he’d ever felt. But the oversized sweatpants that he was wearing would hide nothing if he got an erection. Carlos walked into her kitchen, pulled four pints out of her ancient icebox and tossed them into the microwave. “How have you been, Mona?”
“You mean since you walked out of my life four years ago? I’ve been fine. Great actually. You leaving gave me the opportunity to further my training into some really heavy magic: shape shifting and what not, very intense stuff that has made for an equally intense sex life. More importantly, though, what happened to you? I mean, you used to come and go all the time. But something happened to you four years ago that made you stop coming back.”
The microwave dinged, “Yes, something happened. But we can talk about that later,” he said as he headed back to the living room to give Jason his meal. They made small talk for a little while. “What else have you heard, Mona.”
“That the legend is here among us.”
“The legend?” Carlos said.
“The changeling. Legend has it that your species survives this disease because one among you is different. They change. Physically change your characteristics. It’s almost like their sacrifice helps you evolve past the disease. Do you know one like this? One who is different in how they feed. One who has changed how they do things. One who has the ability to change those around them. One who is a reluctant but natural leader?” Mona said.
Carlos stared at her for a moment with his mouth open. Then his emotions got the better of him. He silently stood up, walked outside and leaned against the railing on her porch balcony.
Mona turned and looked at Jason, who spoke for Carlos. “He does know someone like that. She is my mother. And she is his wife.”
Mona’s head whipped toward the door. She stared at Carlos through window. “That’s why he left and never came back. He met his soul mate. But, wait, how is she your mother? She’s a vampire, right? I thought they never survived the birth.”
“The strongest do. That’s why father picked her.”
“And she agreed to do it even though she knew she might die? Carlos allowed her to do that?”
“Father chose for her.”
“Oh. You mean she wasn’t given a choice. And Carlos is okay with that?”
“He is now,” Jason said then he shifted in his chair again. He was losing his fight with controlling himself because she was sitting so close to him, and he knew it. He stood suddenly, “I’m sorry, but I need to go stretch my wings for a bit. Then I’m going to find a tree to sleep in.”
Mona smiled to herself. She knew he’d be back, she planned it that way. She was tempted to stop him now, but she knew he had to get to that point where he desired her so much that he couldn’t stop. And he wasn’t quite there yet, almost, but not quite. She walked out to the porch and gave Carlos a little hug. “She sacrifices herself, Mona? Are you sure? That’s my wife you’re talking about. I don’t know if I can survive without her. Is that really what the legend says?”
“Wow. She must be incredible Carlos. I always thought that maybe, someday, you might fall in love. But marriage? You? That is something that even I couldn’t have predicted.”
“Mona.”
“Okay. You should know as well as I that legends are not exact history. They are always somewhat unpredictable.”
“Well, can’t you work some of your magic to protect her? Please? And you can’t tell anyone else. This can’t get back to her, ‘cause she’d sacrifice herself in a second if it would save us. I can’t let her find out about this.”
“Us?”
Carlos smiled, “Me and Matt. Yes, we’re both married to her. And, no, don’t ask.”
Mona raised her eyebrows and just stared. “Do you both know that you’re married to her?”
“Yes.”
“Do you share the same bed?”
“Sometimes, but not for sex. We have separate bedrooms for that, but every other part of our lives we share.”
“And Jason’s father? When did he come into the picture?”
“He didn’t come into the picture,” he said bitterly, “he forced himself into the picture about a year ago.”
“So he raped her? Why wasn’t an abortion performed when you knew her life was in danger?”
“Because he kidnapped her too. I couldn’t find her. I tried Mona, but I couldn’t find her.”
“How long did he have her?”
“A little over sixty days.”
“Sixty days? That’s all the gestation takes is sixty days?” she said, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
Carlos squinted at her, “Mona? Why all the questions about the seraphim’s gestation? What are you planning?”
“It’s probably better if you don’t know. You might want to go inside and get some sleep. There’s still a cot in that little room off the kitchen. Go, pass out for a few hours. And just ignore the sounds that you hear outside.”
“Jesus, Mona. You’re not planning on seducing him are you? He’s never mated before. And you could get hurt. He’s huge Mona. And I don’t just mean his body. Most of the time he and his father are naked. Believe me, I’ve seen. And he’s huge. He could rip you apart. And you can’t hope to get pregnant. Even if you did, it would kill you.”
“Not if I’m not human.”
“Not human? Mona, what the hell are you planning?”
She smiled. “Take a few steps back and I’ll show you.”
He did and he watched as she closed her eyes. This weird vibration and hum began emitting from her. The vibrations got faster and faster and the hum got louder and louder. Carlos took another few steps away from her. The vibrations were so fast that even he couldn’t see them anymore. Suddenly she threw her head back and let out a scream that soon turned into the cry of an eagle. She dropped to the floor in a crouch and Carlos gasped as he saw wings grow out of her back. Her dress tore and fell to the ground as her body got larger. Her bare feet changed into talons. Suddenly the vibrations stopped, she grunted a few times and then slowly stood up. She turned and smiled at Carlos. “Still think I won’t survive?” she said then she stretched her wings out, testing them. “He’s ready now,” she said then she threw her head back and let out an eagle’s cry again that echoed through the trees. It was closely followed by an answer as Jason swooped down from a nearby tree. He was no longer wearing his sweatpants, and he was obviously more than ready. Mona jumped into his arms, took him inside her then he jumped up into the night sky. Carlos just shook his head as he turned and walked inside, mumbling, “I hope you know what you’re doing, girl.”
Carlos tossed the pillow off of his head, “I give up,” he groaned as he sat up. Another eagle cry from the dawn sky mocked him. “I said I give up,” he yelled to no one in particular. He stumbled into the kitchen and angrily tossed a few pints into the microwave. Then he went and flopped into the easy chair and closed his eyes. The two thuds on the porch told him they had returned. He kept his eyes closed as they walked inside, giggling. “Shhh, don’t wake him,” Mona whispered.
“Like I was able to get an ounce of sleep with you two screeching all night,” Carlos mumbled.
Mona blushed, “Sorry. But that was unlike anything I’ve tried before. I’v
e shape shifted into many different species, male and female. But that was the most intense, satisfying experience I’ve ever had. That was truly amazing.”
“Well, while you were having amazing sex, I was trying not to worry about losing my wife, thank you very much.”
Mona sat in the chair next to him and placed her hand on his, “I’m sorry Carlos. What can I do?”
“Help protect her. And help me find a cure for this disease. She’s already killing herself by feeding on Jason’s father.”
“Wait, what did you just say? She’s feeding on Jason’s father? You mean she can feed and stop?”
“Yes but it causes her horrible pain and then she passes out. And then she throws up. And she’s doing this several times a day.”
“Why?”
“Because her blood is different. Her blood has some seraphim blood in it from carrying Jason. And her blood mixed with seraphim blood is having some success with killing the bacteria or whatever the hell this disease is.”
“So what you’re telling me is, what did you say her name is again?”
“Sarah”
“So, you’re telling me that Sarah’s blood has mutated. It’s changed, and it’s still changing every time she mixes it with seraphim blood, and, unlike any other vampire, she can stop feeding before she kills whomever she is feeding on, and she survived the birth of a Seraphim?”
“And she survived the tomb,” Carlos mumbled.
Mona gasped and clasped her hand over her mouth. “Not Sekhmet’s?”
Carlos nodded.
“You mean Sekhmet is gone? And Sarah has taken her place?”
“Sarah and Jason. They survived together.”
“Carlos this changes everything.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s not only the legend, Carlos. She’s also the future, the past, the present. She has to survive or your species won’t survive. She needs every shaman, witch, magic man, voodoo queen you can think of around her, protecting her. She cannot die, Carlos. We can’t allow that.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, Mona.”
Mona stood up. “I’ll pack my things,” she said as she walked into her bedroom.
Carlos stared after her, “I thought you never left this place, Mona.”
“I haven’t had the need to for the last eighty years or so. Now I do. Besides, I’ll need Jason’s help when I give birth.”
“Mona? Are you going to maintain that shape until the baby is born?”
“I’m going to try. Nobody has ever held a shape shift for that long, but I think I’ve figured that out.”
“You think you’ve figured it out? What happens if you can’t? What happens if you’re almost at full term and you shift back to a human?”
Mona stuck her head out the bedroom door, carrying a suitcase. She smiled, “Don’t worry, Carlos. I’ll be fine,” she said. But he had known her long enough to know when she was lying, or at the very least, worried. And she was now.
“Where are we going now,” Jason said from the doorway.
Mona walked over and placed her hand on his forearm, “We aren’t going anywhere. You and I are going back to the fortress. Carlos is traveling by more conventional means to pick up some friends of mine.”
Jason’s face fell in disappointment, “But, but, but, why? We just left there. I was looking forward to some more adventure.”
“Because you need to go protect your mother. And you need to get everything ready for the birth of your child. And I need to do some protection spells around your mother too.”
Jason looked dejected, but he nodded his head, “I suppose you’re right.”
Mona sat down at the kitchen table and started writing. After a few minutes she handed the paper to Carlos, “These are names and addresses of people I want you to go see. Most will come, some will not. Don’t force them. The ones who do come will provide more than enough help.”
Carlos looked at the list, then he blew out from his lips, “It’s a good thing I brought my passport, but, damn, this is going to take a while if I’m traveling by plane.”
Mona stood up, “Carlos, it’s still dark so we’ll give you a lift to the airport. Then we’ll head south.”
Twenty minutes later they stood in the field at the edge of the airport. “You’ll let your wife know that I’m coming?” Mona said.
“Of course. And you’ll watch over her for me? I really can’t survive without her.”
“I will. God, Carlos, I still can’t believe that you got married. I am dying to meet the woman who tamed the untameable heart.”
Carlos smiled and kissed her on the cheek. “See you in a little while. Fly safe you two.”
Chapter Thirteen
Carlos tipped his head back on the plane and closed his eyes. He was exhausted and really wanted to sleep, but he had something he had to do first. His mind found mine eagerly waiting for his. ‘Well, hello beautiful,’ he thought.
‘You had me a little worried when I didn’t hear from you yesterday. Everything okay?’
‘Yes. Everything’s fine. We found Mona. She thinks she can help. She and Jason are on their way back. I’m travelling by plane to pick up a few of her friends.’
‘Why?’
‘Because she knows the importance of, of, of finding a cure.’
‘Why would she care so much about saving vampires if she isn’t one?’
‘Honey? Can’t I fill you in when I get back? I’m really exhausted. I didn’t get any sleep last night.’
‘Why not?’
‘Well, there’s something you should know about Mona. She gets her mind set on wanting something and there’s nothing that can stop her. She knew we were coming. She was waiting for us.’
I was silent for a moment. This is something that I knew could always be a possibility, but that didn’t make it any easier to hear it. ‘So, she seduced you.’
‘What?! No! Hell, she didn’t even look at me funny, Sarah. No, she had her sights set on Jason, or actually what Jason could give her.’
‘What? What do you mean?’
‘She wants a child, Sarah.’
‘From a seraphim? She’d never survive the birth, or the pregnancy.’
‘Not as a human, no she wouldn’t. But she could, as a seraphim.’
‘But I thought you said she was a human witch?’
‘She is. But right now she’s a seraphim, a pregnant seraphim.’
‘She’s a what? Carlos. Did she drug you last night?’
Carlos laughed, startling his seat mate. Luckily he had earphones in from his mp3 player. He pointed to his ear and whispered, “Sorry,” then went back to his conversation with me. ‘No, she didn’t drug me. She’s perfected shape shifting.’
‘Shape shifting. Awesome. So she shifted into a seraphim, seduced my teenaged son and his now carrying my grandchild. Is that about it? Does that cover it?’
‘Almost. She plans on holding her shift until the baby is born. Holding a shift that long has never been done as far as we know.’
‘Super. This just gets better and better. So this woman is going to be struggling to hold this shift and she expects to help me how?’
‘I don’t know, Sarah. Just talk to her, please? She’s a good person. Don’t judge her until you meet her. Can you do that for me?’
‘I suppose.’
‘Thanks, hun. How’s Matt doing?’
‘Actually, a little better. The rash that covered his body is almost gone. But he’s still in a coma.’
‘And how are you doing? You’re not pushing yourself too hard are you? You sound tired.’
‘So do you. I’m not pushing myself any harder than you are. How much longer will you be gone?’
‘Not too sure. I called Marie and she and her mother will be on their way tonight (Musetta Glapion was a Haitian voodoo priestess who helped us uncover one of the clues to creating a vampire – her daughter, Marie, became our friend when we rescued Musetta after the Elders had kidn
apped her). I’m off to Louisiana, then Paris and Istanbul.’
‘Really? Don’t any of these people have phones?’
‘Apparently not. Mona doesn’t. But I’ll hurry, baby. I promise.’
‘I know you will. Be careful too. I have to go feed now. I’ll talk to you soon. I love you.’
‘I love you too. And you be careful too. Don’t overdo it, Sarah. Promise me you won’t overdo it.’
‘I promise. Bye sweetheart.’
Carlos quickly fell asleep as the plane cruised through the night sky.
****************
Matt’s eyes fluttered, once, then twice. I held my breath, hoping, praying that this time he would wake up. I balled up my fists so tight that I could feel blood dripping down my palms. His eyes fluttered one more time and then, thankfully, finally, they stayed open. He looked around the room. I saw the confusion, and the fear, as he tried to find something that he recognized. I tried to beg his eyes in my direction, hoping that seeing my face would help him relax. I exhaled when they finally, slowly made their way to my face. I smiled at him. He tentatively smiled back. I opened my mouth to say “I love you” but something stopped me. His eyes. His eyes were looking at me but they showed no recognition. “Hi,” I whispered.
“Hello,” he rasped, “Would you please tell me where I am?”
“You’re in the hospital,” I said, trying to prepare myself for what I now knew was coming next.
“Are, are you a nurse here?”
“No. I’m a friend.”
“Oh. A friend of mine? I’m sorry, but I don’t remember you. What did you say your name was?”
I choked back my sobs as I whispered, “Sarah. My name is Sarah.”
He nodded, “Sarah. That’s a nice name. I’m starving. Could I get something to eat, maybe? A sandwich or maybe even a burger?”
My mouth fell open as I stared at him. A burger? Not only does he not remember who he is. But he doesn’t even remember what he is.
“Ummmm, let me go check with the doctor, okay? I’ll be right back.”
He laced his fingers across his belly, and nodded his head as he lay back. I stared at him, dumbfounded, as I walked away.