Sekhmet's Curse (Pearl Vampire Chronicles)

by Dara Nelson

  “This morning,” I whispered.

  “Wow. This just keeps getting weirder and weirder, doesn’t it?”

  I nodded as I drained one more pint then the three of us headed to the newly expanded kitchen, with the two newly hired chefs. We found Jason and Mona in there enjoying spaghetti and meatballs. Matt did a double-take when Carlos said, “Hello, Jason, Mona.”

  “Mona? Not Mississippi Mona?” he gasped.

  She grinned at him in his wheelchair, “The one and only. Nice to see you again Matthew.”

  “But, but, but, how? You’re a seraphim, a pregnant seraphim no less. How is that possible?” he gasped.

  “Shapeshifting,” she said.

  Matt shook his head as I wheeled him up to the table, “Unbelievable,” he muttered under his breath.

  We spent the next several days helping Matt heal and enjoying being a threesome again. By the end of the third day, Matt was walking on his own again. We fed like crazy and we ate like pigs. And we were all adapting to forgotten bathroom habits again. “It’s a good thing we never disconnected the toilets in this place, isn’t it?” Carlos said as he emerged from the bathroom once again.

  “I suppose, but I hope you lit a match in there,” Matt said, grinning.

  “Ha ha. I’ve got a few things to deal with in the office. Will you guys be okay for a bit?” he said.

  “We’ll be fine,” Matt said, glancing at me from the corner of his eye. I knew what he was thinking and I was thinking the same thing too. My period had finished, Matt was stronger and it had been too long, way too long, for us. Carlos headed out the door and we were on each other before it clicked shut.

  Carlos woke me from my nap with a kiss a few hours later. “Where’s Matt?” he whispered.

  “At the clinic. Physical therapy until six,” I said, yawning as I stretched.

  “Thank God. I can’t hold out anymore,” he said as his mouth crushed down on mine.

  Hours later he handed me the box of tissues from the nightstand. “It’s so weird to have to clean up wet spots again, Sarah.”

  “Tell me about it,” I said as I tossed the tissues in the trash then headed in to the shower.

  * * * * * * * *

  One week later, I knew. In the middle of the night, I crawled over Carlos and ran into the bathroom at full speed, barely making it to the toilet in time to heave. They both woke up and followed me in. Carlos rubbed my back while Matt put cold water on a wash cloth and put it on my forehead. Both of them were so worried. “Is it something you ate, Sarah? Or is this it? Mine didn’t start with nausea but maybe it’s different with you. We need to get you to the clinic right now,” Matt said.

  I patted his arm, “Matt, stop worrying. I know what this is and I’m not sick and it’s not something that I ate.”

  “Then what is it?” he said.

  “No way,” Carlos gasped.

  “No way, what?” Matt said.

  I smiled at Carlos, “Yep. I’m pregnant.”

  “No way,” Matt gasped.

  “Way,” I said.

  “But Sarah, what is it going to be? Vampire, seraphim, what?” Matt said.

  “I don’t know, Matt. But whatever it is, it’s important. It’s meant to be. And it’s ours.” I said.

  “Whose?” Carlos whispered.

  “Does it matter?” I said.

  Carlos looked from me to Matt and back again, “No, I guess it doesn’t. But holy shit.”

  “Well, said, Carlos, well said,” I whispered.

  We spent the next month helping Mona with her pregnancy. Putting up with witches and voodoo priestesses casting different protection spells over me and asking me to drink numerous disgusting tasting potions. Taking care of sick vampires (ten more had fallen ill, two more had died). Dealing with my much worse than normal morning sickness, and anxiously awaiting the appointment for my first ultrasound. That day was finally here, and I lay on the table, with Carlos and Matt on both sides of me, all of us intently watching Cameron as he moved the ultrasound over my growing belly. “Well, I think I know why you’re much bigger than you should be,” he said.

  “Why? Is it Seraphim?” I said.

  “It doesn’t appear to be. But it is definitely an accelerated pregnancy. I’d say that you’re already beginning your second trimester, by the development. And there are two of them.”

  “Two? You mean twins?” I said.

  “Yep. Fraternal. Two placentas. Two separate fetus’. With your permission I’d like to extract DNA from both of the cords to study.”

  “Will that harm them?”

  “Not at all. It’s a very safe procedure that you can be awake for and watch.”

  “When do you want to do it?”

  “Before the babies get too big. How about next week? Monday morning okay for you?”

  “That works for me. I’ll be here at eight, okay?”

  “Sounds good.”

  The following Wednesday, the three of us sat in Cameron’s office, waiting for the test results. My hands were clamped tightly in Matt and Carlos’ as Cameron read through the file. “I’ll be damned,” he said.

  “What Cameron? Tell me,” I said.

  “Relax, Sarah. The babies are fine. They’re growing at a rapid rate, which tells me that after they’re born, their growth will be accelerated too, just like a Seraphim. But they show none of the physical characteristics of Seraphims. The thing that surprises me is that they have two different fathers.”

  “Excuse me? Two fathers? Is that really possible?”

  “It is, if you had sex with both of them very close together when you conceived.”

  “What are you saying, doc? Are you saying that one of them is Matt’s and one is mine? I’m, I’m going to be a father?” Carlos whispered as he started taking deep breaths.

  I squeezed his hand as Matt and I smiled at each other, “You’ll be fine, Carlos. You’ll be a great father,” I said.

  “But, Sarah. I don’t know the first thing about being a father. My father died when I was a little kid,” he whispered, with the panic clear in his voice.

  “Oh Carlos, you are so wrong. Look at how you are with Juan and Sophia. My niece and nephew think you are the best thing to walk this earth.”

  “She’s right Carlos. They adore you. And your own child will adore you too.”

  “Shit. I am not ready for this,” he groaned as he sank into one of the chairs by the wall.

  “Carlos. You’re over two hundred and seventy years old. When the hell do you think you will be ready for it?” I snapped.

  “I don’t know,” he whispered.

  “Well, you’ve got about three or four months to figure that out.”

  Suddenly Jason came running past Cameron’s window and burst through the door, “Guys! Come quick. It’s Mona.”

  We all ran through the halls to Jason’s room. I could hear Mona screaming the entire way. We ran through the door and into his bedroom. “It hurts!” she screamed as she fought the vibrations in her body as it tried to change back. “It’s hurting me too much to hold the shape.”

  I threw off the blankets and pulled up her nightgown, exposing her huge belly. I gently placed my hand on her belly and began rubbing as I spoke. “Hello baby. It’s your Grandma Sarah. I’m really looking forward to meeting you and so is your mommy. She loves you so much and she’s strong, baby. She’s strong enough to do this. But she needs your help too. She needs you to relax and stop moving so much. Can you do that for her? Can you help her stay strong, baby?”

  Mona’s vibrations stopped and she relaxed. She took some deep breaths. After a few more seconds she opened her eyes and looked at me. She smiled slightly. “Thanks,” she whispered.

  “Talk to him. Reassure him. Let him know that you love him. You’ll be fine,” I said.

  “I will.”

  Suddenly Aquila poked his head in the door, “Everything okay in here?” he said.

  I nodded.

  “Well, I hate to interrupt but it�
��s Bahiti. It’s time.”

  Cameron and I looked at each other. “Get David,” he said, “And Sarah, you should go to. None of us have done this before. You have. He’s going to need your help.”

  I nodded, “Okay. Matt, can you show Aquila and Bahiti where the hot springs are? I’ll get David and bring him up there.”

  “The hot springs?” Matt said.

  I smiled, “Trust me. She’s going to need it.”

  Matt nodded then he and Aquila headed out the door.

  I started to follow but Cameron stopped me, “You’re not getting in the water are you Sarah?”

  “Why not, Cameron? I did with Jason and I’m a friggin’ vampire.”

  “I know you did when you were pregnant with a seraphim, but they are much stronger. This time it’s different, Sarah, and I don’t want to take any chances. This time you’re pregnant with twins, yes they’re twin vampires, but you and they are also exhibiting some human qualities as well, so I don’t know what the hot water would do this early in the pregnancy.”

  “Alright, I’ll stay out of the water. I’ll coach from the side, okay?” I said.

  “Good girl,” he said as he went back to tending to Mona.

  An hour later, up by the hot springs, Bahiti screamed. “It’s too big. It won’t fit. It’s going to tear me open!”

  “Bahiti,” I calmly said, “look at me. Open your eyes and look at me.” She did and I continued, “It’s not too big. His wings are caught. Reach down with your hands. That’s it. Now push gently as you pull up on him slightly. Good but push a little harder. Harder Bahiti. I see him. He’s coming. One good push and he’s out. Come on! Push!”

  Bahiti cradled her son in her arms and smiled at me, “Thank you, Sarah,” she said.

  “Thank me? You did all the hard work, Bahiti. I just talked.”

  “Yeah, but you said all the right things, so thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  ********

  The next month and a half flew by. Mona struggled, but still held her changed form as she prepared for her imminent labor that was just days away. And my ever expanding belly continued to both frighten and fascinate Matt and Carlos. They both lay on either side of me with a cheek resting on the side of my belly. “Whoa. I felt that. He kicked me,” Carlos said.

  “How do you know it’s a he?” I said.

  “I just do,” he said.

  “Mine too. He’s kicking like a soccer star,” Matt said as he grinned at me.

  Rapid knocking at our door brought us out of our baby joy. Carlos jumped up, ran through the living room and opened the door. It was Jason, “I’m taking Mona to the hot springs. Please tell Sarah that it’s time,” he said, clearly worried and out of breath.

  Up at the hot springs much later the tension was clear as I said, “Damn it. She’s losing it. I need to be in there. Cameron? Can I get in the water for a minute without harming the babies?”

  Cameron looked at me for a second then nodded, “Yes. This water isn’t too hot. Just don’t stay in too long.”

  I jumped in and moved in front of Mona. Jason was behind her with his hands massaging her huge belly. His panicked eyes locked on mine. I smiled slightly then concentrated on Mona. Her head was lolling to the side. “Mona, MONA!”

  Her eyes rolled then finally tried to focus on me. “Feel with your hands, Mona. Do you feel me holding your hands?” She nodded slightly. I guided her hands down between her legs. “Do you feel that? That is your son, Mona. That’s his head. He wants to come out and meet you. All he needs is one more good push. I’m going to help you. I’m going to pull your legs up and hold them. You use them to push against me as you push down with your hands. Push your son into your arms Mona. You can do this.”

  “But, but I’m so tired,” she whispered as her body began to vibrate.

  “I know you are, Mona. All he needs is one more push and then you don’t have to hold your shape anymore. Here comes another contraction. Come on, Mona. PUSH!” I said as I pulled her legs up and braced her feet against my shoulders. She screamed and grunted as she gave one final push. The baby slid out just as her body changed back into her human form. She passed out and lost her hold on the baby so I quickly dropped her legs and grabbed him. I pulled his head out of the water and rested him on his mother’s chest as Jason moved to scoop them both into his arms. Cameron went to work then, “Sarah, get out of the water. Jason, bring her back to the clinic quickly. I need to get the placenta out and then stitch her up.”

  Cameron flew down the mountain then Jason spread his eight foot wings and took flight. I climbed out of the water took one step then the dizziness hit. I went down into the grass on my hands and knees, and that’s the last thing I remember.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Carlos and Matt walked up to Mona’s bedside. “How are you feeling, Mona?” Carlos said.

  “Better, thanks.”

  “Well, I gotta say that you look better now,” he said, winking.

  “Funny,” Jason said, smiling down at his son cradled in his arms.

  Matt suddenly looked around the clinic, “Hey. Where’s Sarah?”

  “What do you mean? Isn’t she with you?” Jason said.

  “No. We haven’t seen her since she left to help Mona.” Carlos said as he too began looking around the room. He spotted Cameron tending to another patient on the far side of the room so he ran over to him. “Cameron? Did you see Sarah come down off the mountain?”

  “Come to think of it, no I didn’t.”

  Carlos turned around, caught Matt’s eye, nodded his head toward the door then ran. Matt caught up with him as they leapt over the wall. They ran together up the hill and found me curled up in a ball in the grass next to the hot springs. “Sarah!” they both shouted as they slid to the ground next to me.

  I kept my eyes closed as I answered them, “I’m okay, guys. Just got a little dizzy, had to lie down for a second.”

  “Ummm. You’ve been here for at least an hour, hun,” Carlos whispered.

  “No I haven’t.”

  “Yes, you have,”Matt replied.

  “Well. Then we might have a problem.” I whispered.

  Matt scooped me into his arms. Carlos grabbed the back of my head as it started to roll back, “Uh uh. No you don’t. Stay with me Sarah. Sarah! Look at me,” he said.

  My eyes started to roll back, but I clenched my jaw and forced them to focus. “I’m here,” I said as I tried to smile.

  He held my hand as he and Matt took to the air, “You’re here and you’re not going anywhere. Do not take your eyes off of me, Sarah. Do you hear me? Your eyes don’t leave mine, not even for a second, got it?”

  “Got it,” I mumbled. God, I was so tired. My eyelids felt like they weighed a hundred pounds.

  “Don’t, Sarah,” Carlos said as he tapped on my cheek, “Stay awake. Please stay awake.”

  Suddenly a voice that sounded exactly like Carlos’ said, “Sleep. It’s okay for you to sleep now. Everything’s okay. You can sleep now.”

  “Really? I can sleep now? It’s okay? Thanks, Carlos,” I mumbled.

  “Sarah! No! I didn’t tell you that it’s okay to sleep. That wasn’t me. Stay awake, honey.”

  “I’m confused. Why are you telling me to sleep and stay awake at the same time?”

  Matt touched down on the ground inside the compound. He stopped for a moment and lifted my chin, “Sarah, honey? Look at me. Carlos isn’t telling you to sleep. That thing is. The curse. It’s trying to get you to sleep because you are weaker when you sleep. I know. It lulls you into a false sense of security. You think everything’s okay so you don’t even try to wake up, but then you get weaker and weaker as it gets stronger and stronger. Don’t listen to it honey. No matter who it sounds like, don’t listen. Fight back.”

  My eyes rolled back once, twice then finally found his. I smiled. “That’s my girl,” he whispered as he pressed his forehead into mine. Carlos pulled the door open, “Let’s get her to the
clinic, Matt.”

  Matt dashed down the hall. Cameron was waiting for us outside the clinic doors, “I’ve got a room set up for her. This way,” he said as he ran down the hall ahead of us. He held open the door then followed us inside the room. “I’ve already called Aquila,” he said.

  “What? Why? You don’t expect her to feed on him and stop do you? Doc, you know how hard that is on her. She’s too weak.” Carlos said.

  “No. You’re wrong. She needs this. His blood makes her stronger.”

  “But not when she has to stop. Can’t you just drain a few pints from him and have her drink it that way?”

  Cameron shook his head, “It won’t help her that way, Matt.”

  Suddenly they all jumped when I spoke, “It’s okay. The babies will help me. They will keep me strong,” I said.

  Carlos walked over and held my hand while Matt caressed my forehead and hair, “Honey. The babies aren’t born yet. They’re still inside you,” Matt whispered.

  “I know that,” I smiled as I placed my other hand on my belly, “but they were talking to me when I was up on the mountain. They know what this thing is and they’re not afraid of it. In fact, it’s afraid of them.”

  “Why would it be afraid of them?” Matt said.

  “Because it can’t infect them. It keeps trying but it can’t get inside them.”

  “Is that because they’re inside you? Or is it just something about them?” Carlos said.

  “I’m not sure. I, I, I,” suddenly the room was spinning again, “Oh shit, its back. Save my babies,” I mumbled just before I passed out.

  The wind rustled through the trees as I walked down the beach. When had I come to the island and where was everyone? Oh well, it felt good to feel the sand between my toes again, I would remember how I got here soon enough. I was so mesmerized by the sun sinking below the horizon that I didn’t hear the footsteps behind me. “Sarah, it’s time to go home. You don’t belong here,” Jonas said behind me.

  I spun around, squealed then threw my arms around his neck, “Jonas! I can see you and I can hug you!”

  He squeezed me tight, “I know you can. But you don’t belong here. You have to leave.”