“Manda, love, are you hungry?”
Manda groans and nods. Aidan transmanifests out again and is back in seconds with a human. Manda tries to leap at him but Lily is firmly holding her.
“Manda, honey. We have to do this with care, remember? No tearing into him and only enough to fill you but not harm him. You’ll still feel hungry but your body will have had enough until this evening. Then we will get you another. Do you understand me?” Lily asks her.
“Y-yes,” Manda answers.
“Let’s go then. I’m going to be behind you to help you quit when you need to.”
Lily maneuvers them into position and Manda strikes. Manda is making pleasurable sounds while she eats, like she did when she was human. Lily gently nudges her to see if she will quit on her own and Manda hesitantly relinquishes her lunch.
“Very good, Manda!” Lily says. I also tell her she did a good job and she smiles a small smile. It is the first we’ve seen.
“Manda, my love, may I hug you?” Aidan asks, looking unsure of himself.
Manda blows out a breath she didn’t need but at the same time I know it comforted her.
“Yes, A-aidan.”
The smile that breaks out on Aidan’s face is remarkable as he hugs Manda. She even tries awkwardly to hug him back. Lily is shedding more tears. I forgot to ask Dr. Hildebrand about that. I will make it a priority for his visit this afternoon.
“Manda, can I help you dress?” Aidan asks.
Manda smiles the sweetest smile at him and nods. Lily and I take our cue to leave. We go back to our bedroom. I pick her up before she has a chance to jump up on the bed. I pull her onto my chest as we wait for Aidan and Manda. I’m starting to feel some hope there. Manda is doing exceptionally well. I think it helped that she had been around us prior to her turning.
Aidan and Manda knock on our open door and come in. Manda is wearing couture and heels. She has on pearls and her hair is piled on top of her head. They are holding hands and Manda seems a bit more relaxed.
“I think we should do something about this house, Lilith,” Aidan says. “What do you say, Manda? Want to see me do some magick?”
Manda cautiously nods her head and looks at Lily for approval. Lily jumps up, smiles and claps her hands.
“Yes please, Aidan. Oh Manda, this is going to be so much fun. You let us know when you are hungry again, okay?”
Manda nods again. I don’t think she feels as comfortable around us all as she does with just Lily.
If those vampires weren’t already dead, I would kill them again. I pick Lily up off the bed and carry her to her next adventure, decorating.
FIFTEEN / LILITH
We walk into a huge foyer, from there the rest of the house opens up. The air is stale and musty. First thing I need to do is air it out. The floor plan is open and I like it that way. Everything is on one floor. As we go from room to room we notice little things the house offers like original art deco fixtures and stained glass windows in small alcoves and above the door. I open windows as we go. We make our way to the indoor pool. The room has beautiful mosaics in a Mediterranean style. Everything is in blues and white. Except for the pulsing portal to Hell. It shines bright with its copper hues. After that we go to the master bedroom. The bedroom has an actual Tiffany window in it. The wine cellar already has our wine we sent back with Aidan in it. Our Persian rugs have arrived and all the other purchases we made on the cruise.
I will have to do some major shopping to fill it up. I am ready to start doing that today or to get Aidan to help me.
I take Manda by the hand and run with her into the main living room. She lets out a small giggle. I point to the chairs Aidan set up temporarily for the company this afternoon and he gets my point, making them disappear.
“Aidan can you bring over all the rugs I bought? I want to start with them and then will build the rooms around them.”
“Done,” Aidan says. He snaps his fingers and twelve rugs lay on the floor.
“Let’s unroll the edges of them and see what we have to work with,” I say. “Manda, can you help me with that?”
Manda looks panicked at first but she slowly moves toward the edge of one of the rugs and gently rolls it open about a foot. She looks mesmerized by the colors and smoothes her hand across the soft Persian rug. All her senses are on overdrive, the softness of the rug, the colors, even the smells still attached to them of the foreign countries are stimulating her.
“Manda, what do you smell? Close your eyes, sweetheart, and take a deep breath,” I ask her.
“I-I smell an old woman, spices and animals. Is that okay?” she asks. My heart melts for her. She is so nervous. I see Aidan frown behind her. I know he is thinking the same thing.
“Of course that’s okay and it’s all right on the money too. You’re very good at this for being so young. Come and help me open the rest of the rugs so I can decide which one goes in this room.” I hold my hand out to her to encourage her. She takes it with a huge smile on her face. They shattered this poor woman and I’ll be damned if I don’t try my best to help put her back together.
We unroll each of the rugs and stand back while we look at them. I decide on two with blues and creams in them for the front rooms. Aidan is kind enough to place them for me.
“Manda, which would you like in your bedroom? If you like one of the ones we already used, Aidan can make a copy.”
“Anything you want, love.”
Manda looks at me and Aidan with a hesitant look. I encourage her to pick by smiling and gesturing to the rugs. I want her to build her self-confidence. She walks towards the selection and runs her hands across a couple but when she gets to the rug with red, black and ochre in it she stops.
“This one,” she whispers. “It reminds me of Aidan.” She lowers her head immediately, shy and scared.
Aidan pops into the air right in front of her because he can’t wait to walk. He takes her face in hands and lifts it until she is looking into his eyes. He runs his fingers down her face and she sighs. He lowers his lips and kisses quickly before she can get scared. She sighs again and rests a hand on his chest.
I clap my hands breaking their moment.
“Let’s get you two love birds settled in your room, lay all the carpets down, get the doctor’s room ready and some seating in the living room before we take a break. I want to make sure everyone can sit down when they come over and we need Dr. Hildebrand’s equipment ready.”
“As much as I don’t want to, I do agree with you. Except let me and Manda decorate the room ourselves. I can change it back when we leave if you don’t like it.”
“Sounds like a great idea. I’ll also need a bunch of magazines to go through for ideas for odds and ends.”
“I like to work with pictures. It’s easier if I’ve seen the object before,” Aidan says and winks at Manda who actually lets out a laugh that is dry and rusty but it is a start. Aidan squeezes her hand. He waves his hand and a pile of interior design magazines land in my arms. I hand some to Manda and we start going through them. Ripping out pages of things we like.
Sebastian has entered the room and is looking at Manda like he can’t believe she laughed so soon. I take his hand and give a reassuring nudge on the arm via a punch. He swats me away and says something about mosquitoes. The nerve.
“Well, I will let you three have fun. I’m going to go into the club. I have over a month’s worth of work to catch up on. Remember we are going out tonight. I will be back in time for the doctor’s appointment at four,” he says as he kisses my head.
We spend all afternoon going through magazines and then going around the house so I can decide what I want where. Aidan summons so much he has to go next door and feed off their energies to replenish. Manda and I join him and have some coffee. Then we go back to work. By the time Bast comes at four for the doctor’s appointment, we have the entire house furnished, except for his and Manda’s room and the room we designated for examinations. Aidan had to leave to get Ma
nda some food.
I guide Sebastian around.
“Cherie, you have outdone yourself. I can’t believe this is the same house! You and Aidan did all this afternoon?”
“Aidan had to replenish twice, but he didn’t complain a bit. I think he had as much fun as I did. Manda helped as much as Aidan. She has a wicked sense of style. Come look in the bedroom.”
Sebastian and I go into the bedroom. Aidan got me the one thing Sebastian requested, a stool. Sebastian promptly picks me up and tosses me onto the bed.
I can’t help but laugh and he starts pulling my shirt over my head. I quickly help him and then start unbuttoning his shirt stopping, to lick his nipple. He gasps and I languish in it. I move my hand to his throbbing hardness and rub. Sebastian starts to slowly thrust his body into me. It is time to get those jeans off him! I struggle with his buttons and then tear them off. He is having as many problems with mine. Soon we are naked together on the bed.
We make it quick and it’s a good thing. Aidan knocks on the door and says the doctor is here. Shit! I totally forgot. How could I forget? It’s Sebastian’s fault. He starts kissing me and I forget everything else.
Bast helps me down from the bed and into my closet and he races to his. I put on a soft sundress that is a periwinkle blue and some silver flats. I want to be comfortable.
SIXTEEN / LILITH
Aidan has his orders to collect everyone at five-thirty.
Sebastian and I go to the atrium to meet Dr. Hildebrand. He is prompt and just as genial as the last time we saw him at Hannah’s delivery.
“Dr. Hildebrand, thank you for coming to our home. Aidan is here to get all of the equipment that you need. We have one of the bedrooms dedicated to your use so please let us know if there is anything that you would like,” Sebastian says as we walk through the house.
“Dr. Hildebrand, can I get you anything to drink?” I ask.
“No, thank you, Mrs. St. John. I’m fine. How are you feeling?”
“Ecstatic. But I can cry. When I did it was awesome but terrifying too.”
“We’ll determine how pregnant you are and an approximate due date today,” he says. “That will give us an idea if you are already having symptoms or if we should be worried about something else. I have to be honest with you both. This pregnancy will be one for the record books. I don’t know what to expect but I am well versed in the unexpected so I feel confident that I can care for you during this time and ensure a healthy pregnancy.”
“Here is the room. It has carpet. I’m assuming you will want something else in here,” Sebastian says sweeping his arm across the room. We had only added a bed. Aidan joins us just as we all enter the room.
“Mr. Aidan, I hear you are responsible for this and that you look forward to the same situation in the near future,” Dr. Hildebrand says gesturing at my stomach.
Aidan starts laughing at the faux pas.
“All I did was a little magick. Sebastian and Lilith did the real work,” he says still laughing. Typical Djinn. Always finding the humor and mischief in a situation. Poor Dr. Hildebrand turns beet red.
“I… I mean of course Mr. and Mrs. St. John are the responsible ones. I knew it was going to be sticky working with a Djinn,” he says in jest, a look of defeat on his face.
“I’ll try and behave myself. What can I get you to make this a suitable office and delivery room?”
“First the floors. They have to be linoleum or laminate floors. No tile. I need an even surface and something that can be replaced easily afterwards.” He pulls out a list of equipment and hands it to Aidan as the carpet disappears and is replaced by an intricately patterned laminate parquet floor. Aidan never does plain.
Soon he is waving his hands and pointing in every direction of the room. Two ultrasounds pop up. A regular one and a 3D one along with everything that you could imagine. The bed transforms into a deluxe hospital bed with a drop-down bottom. Lights appear in the ceiling and an oxygen tank and apparatus are attached to the bed. When he is done the room is completely transformed.
I turn around looking at everything. Wanting to make it a bit more homey and less sterile.
“Aidan can you put the same comforter on the bed, just the right size. Add a loveseat under the window with pillows. Leather, I think, so it can be cleaned. Some mother and child art on the walls.” A few original Matisse’s show up. The good doctor gasps. “I’d also like a recliner to match the loveseat. That’s beautiful. The butter cream leather is a nice touch. I like the color.”
When Aidan and I are done it is a room that is functional yet inviting for the two mothers who would give birth here. Me being one. How lucky we are to have such joy blessing our home.
“I think I’ve done enough damage here. I’m going to my fiancée. We’ll see you at five thirty.”
“Bye, Aidan, and thank you.” I give him a kiss on the cheek and he fades out.
“I’m not sure I have ever seen so much magick in my entire life put together. Let’s get started, Mrs. St. John. I want you to change into this gown and I’ll put this pad on the bed. If you would lie on the bed when you are ready. I’ll just stand in the hall.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” I say.
“Let me help you change and get situated, cherie.”
“Thanks, Bast.”
Once the door closes I start undressing. I leave my bra on. I never know what I’m supposed to take off and leave on. I figure panties are a no go today. Bast fastens the softest hospital gown ever. Aidan thinks of everything. There is also a throw on the bed to cover up with. Dr. Hildebrand knocks on the door.
“Please come in,” I say.
“Okay, Mrs. St. John…”
“Please call me Lily. We are going to get much closer soon.”
“Yes and call me Sebastian, Dr. Hildebrand.”
“Thank you, Lily and Sebastian. Now Lily, I want to take a blood sample and have it analyzed in the lab. It will tell me if you are anemic, which I doubt, how much of the pregnancy hormone is in your blood and countless other things.”
He takes a couple of vials and a rubber tourniquet out. The doctor quickly and painlessly gets my sample.
“Now I need you to lie down with your knees up. This first ultrasound is transvaginal. It’s the only way we can see the baby. Depending on your gestation period we might see a heartbeat. Humans don’t until they are about six weeks along.”
He inserts the intimidating probe once the machine is on. There is a lot of static and then we see a little white bean and hear “a thump a thump.” The baby’s heartbeat. I start crying and Sebastian’s mouth hangs open. Dr. Hildebrand smiles and prints a picture for us. Sebastian is still in awe and speechless.
“The baby appears to be six weeks old. When did you conceive it?”
“No longer than five days ago,” I say because Bast has still not connected to the world around him. He is just staring at the print-out that the doctor handed him.
“Then I’m estimating a seven-week gestation for you. That puts your due date six weeks from now. September first.”
He removes the probe and cleans up and hands me a wash cloth to go to the bathroom and clean up. I take my clothes with me so I can change without making him leave the room. When I come back out, Sebastian is still mumbling and looks completely dazed. The doctor is laughing and patting him on the back.
“Will he be okay?” I ask.
“Yes, I get this a lot,” he says as he points to Bast.
I giggle. I want to see the picture too so I gently take it from him. That seems to snap him out of it.
“Lily, the heartbeat. The baby has a heartbeat. Did you hear it?”
“Yes, Bast. I was here next to you. Sweetheart, why don’t you sit down a minute.” I lead him over to the loveseat and Dr. Hildebrand takes a seat on the edge of the recliner. He pulls out a few pieces of paper and a book from his bag.
“Lily, these are your dos and don’ts and a copy of a popular pregnancy book. I think you should get the
father’s version for Sebastian,” he says as he eyes Bast with humor. “I need to see you every week for the next couple of weeks and then more often as you near term. What questions do you have for me?”
“At the moment I don’t have any. I’m going to read the book and then can I call you with questions?”
“Yes, here is my card and the card of my nurse who will most likely talk to you the most for questions this early on. You can call either of us whenever you need to. I’ll call you with the results of the bloodwork in a day or two as soon as they are ready.”
“Thank you for coming, Dr. Hildebrand. We’ll walk with you to the portal,” Sebastian says after shaking the doctor’s hand.
“Yes, thank you. I’ll call and make those appointments tomorrow,” I tell him.
“Good. Thank you both for calling me. This is going to be one for the record books.” He smiles and then gives a little salute before he dives into the portal.
I look at Bast’s watch and see we only have fifteen minutes before the family comes over. I’ve got champagne and sparkling cider chilling, a plate of cheese and crackers for Diel, and a nice steak for Hades. I had Aidan summon me some baby toys this afternoon for when the twins visit. Everything is ready. I turn to walk to the foyer and am swooped up in Sebastian’s arms.
He nuzzles my neck and kisses me behind the ear.
“Lily, I love you so much. I can’t believe the gift you’re giving me,” he says as he covers my belly with his large hand. I place my smaller one on top of his and grin.
“Bast, I love you too, my darling. You helped make this gift, remember?”
“Yes, but you will carry and nurture our child for the first part of their life. Allowing him or her to grow and thrive. I just can’t believe it. That heartbeat was the sweetest heartbeat I have ever heard,” he says, his voicing cracking at the end.
I take his face in my hands to kiss him but he gets on his knees and leans his head against my belly to listen. I try to stay quiet and still and then I see it. Sebastian’s awe. He can hear the heartbeat. So unfair, but I’m happy for him because he will have a way to participate in the pregnancy.
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