by J. E Hanson
Alexander peers over at me, “Our goal is to keep your heart beating at all costs. This is extremely important. We may have to deliver your daughter at any time, so we want you to be prepared for both outcomes.”
Christian never bothers to look at me, and he left the room quickly. He is still upset. Ian keeps his head down. I can see his shoulders trembling.
I begin to panic. Alexander sits to the left of me, “Jeannie, you cannot stress out. We will do everything we can. I want to prepare you in case the worst scenario happens. You may have to turn to our side to preserve what is left.”
Alexander holds me next to him, as I cry in his arms. Ian has to leave the room, because he is unable to take it anymore. I notice that before he left, he has tears of blood streaming down his cheeks. They are giving me a death sentence. Christian is now aghast and angry. I need him now.
Joey walks in, and he takes one quick glance at me, “Your grandfather would like to see this for himself.”
I give him the okay, and Grandpa Oberon enters the room, “May I review her ultrasounds for myself? I am an obstetrician to mortals too.”
“I don’t know how to respond, but yes.”
He takes over the ultrasound, and he places more hot liquid on my stomach, “I fail to see what you guys are seeing. This is not true!”
Zane, Alexander, and Dr. Li show him where the problem is. My grandfather curses under his breath, “I want to be there during her caesarian section, please. I am pretty successful when it comes to high risk pregnancies.”
Dr. Li stares at me, “There is no way you will be able to have a natural delivery at this time. You have to stay in bed at all costs, Princess. One wrong move and it could kill you both.”
My grandfather lights up the screen, and he points, “I know I can save her. This is not the end of the world people. Let me take charge over her case.”
Zane peers over, “Which will be really difficult without a lot of blood loss. I believe it might be in our best interest to let you perform the surgery, since the rest of us are vampires. One wrong spray and it could be damaging for both of them. Can you spare her bladder?”
My grandpa stares at me, “I refuse to let my granddaughter die. I know I can do this. I will lead the surgery, for when the need arises. I will put in a large order for everything that I will need now. I am unable to snap the shit here. They will pull my medical license, if I snap it here. The best time I can offer, would be a week. Even with our top-of-the-line postal service. This will take approval and time. In the meantime, I suggest keeping her calm, and keep the news about Ava far away. I will need to go ahead, and order steroid injections for her. Even with a supernatural, this could still be deadly for the baby. We will need to do an amniocentesis to see the lung function of her baby. As much as I hate to admit, I really hope she takes after her father. If that is the case, I will pull this baby out as soon as the stuff arrives.”
Rosalie comforts me, “Is there any way it will heal on its own?”
My grandfather frowns, “No, her placenta has attached itself too deep inside her uterus. She has Placenta Accreta. Which is a very grim diagnosis. We are looking at blood transfusions, coma, and a difficult surgery. I know I can perform this surgery, but even with my hands, it can still have a deadly outcome for Jeannie.”
Ember turns to Alexander, “What if something goes wrong? Will you be able to turn Jeannie in time? What will happen, after she is turned? Will she be the same—or will she be like Ava?”
Alexander studies the floor, “Chris will have to be present, during the surgery. If her heart rate plummets, we only have a few short seconds to turn her. Christian will drain her blood out, and he will replace it with his. Jeannie has showed us promising results. But, at the same time, she nearly attacked Rosalie. I cannot disclose how she will be as a vampire, because newborn vampires have impulse control issues. They only see blood, and crave blood. They will kill anything in its path to quench the thirst. Newborn vampires drink tons of blood, and they do not have control over their minds for the first year. After she transforms, we will then transfer her to our Newborn Vampire Care Center. They will work with her to help her animalistic frenzy. Please keep in mind that it does take a year. She will be unrecognizable to all of us. This also depends on her humanity. She may have it, and then again, she may not. It is hard to tell which direction a newborn vampire will take. Some adjust to the changes well, and some do not.”
Rosalie gasps in horror, “What happens to the ones, who never adjust to the changes?”
Alexander refuses to answer her question.
Zane flinches, “They are instantly terminated, if they show signs of non-conformity.”
“Are you telling me that you will have to put her down? We are talking about Jeannie here! She is not some fucking rogue! She will never be one of them, and I will never allow it!” Rosalie stays by my side, holding my hand.
“So Ava has no impulse control correct? So maybe she is really not this evil!” Ember tries to keep our hope in her alive.
Zane shakes his head, “It has been over a year now. That is her true personality. She actually has control over her body, and if you watched the video that also means she is in full control over her actions. She is acting nothing like a newborn vampire. Newborn vampires are like these rogues we kill all the time. They are mindless killing machines. They will never stop until they quench their thirst. There is nothing mindless about Ava.”
Rosalie shook her head, “So much for that idea. That was a great question, Ember.”
Ember begins to cry first, with Rosalie and I following suit. We hold each other sobbing uncontrollably. Alexander has to leave the room to regain his composure.
Grandpa Oberon sits on the bed beside me, “I believe I can save your life, Jeannie. I promise not to let you die. I just found you, and I will not lose you now.”
He holds me tightly, and I hug him. The strange scent my dad had all these years, smells exactly like him. I have love for him, which I never thought I would have. He allows me to cry in his arms.
My bedroom doors bust open. Papa stands there with rusty stains on his face.
He gawks at me with horror, “So is it true? This cannot be, and not now! I will go ahead, and sign this order immediately. I was hoping this would be a lie! I just met you, Jeannie! I love you, as if you are my own child!”
Papa takes over the right side of my bed. He takes me from Grandpa Oberon, to hold me close to his lukewarm chest, “I love you, Jeannie. You are special to me, and I am so proud of you. Please know that I will always love you.”
He takes out a scroll from his velvet jacket. Christian returns to our bedroom. He has tears of blood streaming from his face. All the BIB members join him in our room to see what is going on. The rumors spread rampantly. All of them stare at me, as if I am on my deathbed.
Papa unrolls the scroll, “I give full authority for any Enforcer to turn Princess Jeanne shall her death become eminent. I prefer Chris to be the one who turns her, but just in case, something happens to Chris. All of you are granted access to turn her at will.”
Papa signs his name to this important decree. He hands me the scroll to sign, “You must sign this to ensure the Courts of Meropis to which you willingly want to become one of us.”
I take his gold pen. Rosalie has to leave the room in tears.
“I would sign it. Now that I am immortal, I love it. Trust me… once your heart stops beating, the world will drastically change for the better,” Ember persuades me to sign the decree.
I give her a small chuckle, and sign my name to the document. Willow enters the room, and she has been crying.
Papa hands the scroll to Christian, and he finally peers at me, “I know my wife will take her humanity with her, when she turns. I am so sorry, and I blame myself for all of this. I should have known better. I will keep you around, as a vampire, but I will never kill you either. I will turn in my Enforcer badge, if that day ever comes. You are my wife, and the mother o
f my daughter. I will never in a million years, end your existence.”
He signs the scroll along with Willow. Papa hands the document to Erik, “I trust you to speed this important decree along. You know how to get things approved quickly through the Courts of Meropis. Erik, please save my granddaughter.”
Erik glances at me, “I will leave immediately, your grace. We refuse to allow her to die. I will also turn in my Enforcer badge, if it means to protect her. I love her, as if she were my own daughter too.”
Erik finally breaks down, and he shows his emotions. He was once the stern and prideful vampire, but now he finally cracks. I went from fearing him, to loving him as a father figure.
Tommy on the other hand, kneels down, and prays over us.
I came into all their existences, and proved to them that I am nothing like my wretched sister. I love them, and they love me too.
Ian stands next to the double doors sobbing with Louie. Those two are like my brothers, and I love them as such. The realization to which I have a huge family finally sets in. I glance at all the men. I know that I’m in the best hands. No amount of money in the world could ever buy friendship.
Chapter 23
After the smoke clears, and tears shed, they no longer allow me to leave this bed. I can go to the bathroom and shower, but that is about it. I can work on my college assignments, and my tests. Sam walks on eggshells around me. He makes sure I understand everything. My daughter continues to kick the living crap out of me today. The last kick steals my breath away.
Sam stops what he is doing, “Are you feeling okay, Jean? Do I need to yell for Alex?”
I close my eyes for a brief moment, and I let out a small snicker, “I think she wants something to drink. She continues to gain strength, and her kicks steal my breath away at times. I never meant to frighten you.”
He closes his book, “I really feel uncomfortable teaching you lessons today. I know its February, and we are only in the fifth month. I am terrified for the both of you. I am so sorry, Jean.”
I remember my old principal from high school, and I have to ask him, “I know the contract I originally signed is null and void. But, I have to ask you a question.”
He pulls up a chair, and he reverses it, “You can ask me anything you want. What do you want to know?”
I have to know, “Did you have any children—or descendants?”
He smiles, “I had one son. My son had children, and so forth. I guess I owe you my story on how I was turned. I was a scholar in my days as well.”
Ian and Leo have to hear this too, since they are guarding me. They lean in, and show interest.
“I guess it is better to explain my entire story. I made foolish mistakes. But, this mistake I made as a mortal. I have been around for a long time. I am old. I was born June 18, 1525 in Cambridge, England. As a mortal, I was only twenty-eight years old. I had shorter hair, and you probably walked by my lovely attire I wore back then. I consider your generation extraordinary blessed by many standards. I have no clue what it was like to be an American, for you were only a colony. Not only was I a professor of literature, but a tutor for the aristocracy. I earned extra money on the side to tutor the privilege. I will tell you that I tried my best to stay pure, but at times, as a man, I did things by the standards of today, people would declare it downright criminal. I lost my wife to childbirth a year before I was turned. I had to tutor a very young girl, and her name was Elizabeth. She was not a pure girl either, and she was only fourteen years old. To convey in which she was promiscuous is a big understatement. I foolishly went ahead, and chose to take her as my understudy. Mind you at that time, I was still grieving the death of my wife, Anna. I turned to the devilish brew instead of turning to God. I should have used my head, but I was not exactly thinking clearly either. Elizabeth was a precocious teenager. She would drop little sexual innuendoes here and there. She would hike up her dress, and reveal her thigh to me. Which was a big no, no during my time. I ignored her attempts a few times. Her father was an extremely powerful man, and I was afraid of him. They come to call on me. I expected to find Elizabeth wearing clothes. Instead, she was laying naked in her bed. As a proper gentleman, I turned around, and walked out. For once in my life, I did the right thing. I felt uncomfortable around her. I tried to decline the offer, but he tripled my salary. He told me to keep his daughter ‘entertained.’ Elizabeth called me to her house the following week in September. I remember, because the leaves were turning apricot and claret. I walked inside the house, and Elizabeth was dressed this time, but she handed me a drink. This was her way of apologizing to me for her vulgar actions from the previous week. Since I am a gentleman, I politely took the drink from her. She was an exceptionally bright, and gifted young girl. To my stupidity, she poisoned my alcohol with some kind of drug. Not to mention, one drink led to a few more drinks. Before I even realized it, we were having sex in her bedroom. I never realized what we did until the following morning. She wanted me to stay with her, hoping I would marry her. When I refused to marry her that is when she told her parents, I raped her. I did the only thing I knew to do… I ran. I hid out in a tavern, and foolishly chose to drink myself blind. I stumbled out of the tavern after dark. I forgot what I did until a woman approached me. She appeared pale, and she asked me if I wanted to live forever. I remember tittering at her, and I walked away. All she had to do is glance at me once, and that is all it took. She turned me in an alleyway in England on September 20, 1553. She never bothered to stay with me either. She left me there alone to burn to death, after she turned me,” Sam told his story, and his story was an emotional one.
I peek at him, “How did you know you were a vampire?”
Sam never blinks, “We have heard tales of blood-drinking demons, but we told those tales to scare the kids. How was I supposed to know that the stories are true? Before you ask, Charlie saved me. He was the one who found me the next evening, and he knew what I was. I have been with Alexander, Christian, Erik, and Charlie ever since. We eventually found Leo, Tommy, Louie, Brennon, and Brannon. Majority of us are made by your Great-Grandmother Lilith.”
I feel extremely guilty, “I am so sorry for my great-grandmother, and I never had a clue.”
Sam shook his head, “I blame her, and not her descendants. I am glad Lilith is no longer with us anymore. We joined forces to take her out a few years ago.”
“There is one thing, which puzzles me. You said you had a son, but your wife died. Did she leave you with a son?”
“Elizabeth gave birth to my only son. He in turn, had eight children. They also had children, and so forth. My line continues, and it is still going strong. Elizabeth left her home, and she took my last name. She introduced herself as my wife. She told everyone I was deceased. I watched over them until they died. He never knew me—or of me.”
Sam cocks his head. I attempt to stand up, but Ian will not let me, “Unless you have to use the bathroom, I forbid you to walk around!”
I smack his hands away, and stand up anyway. I manage to open the top desk drawer. I keep all my pictures there.
“Chris will rip out my fangs for letting you up this long! Please hurry, chick!” Ian panics, and he worries too much about Christian. My husband will never do that to him.
Sam walks beside me, “What are you searching for, Jean?”
I flip through a stack of old pictures to see a familiar face. I hand the picture to Sam, “Are you related to him? His name happens to be Peter Jefferson, and he was my high school principal. He bears a strong resemblance to you, and he shares your last name. I know it’s a long shot, but you two appear so much alike.” Sam takes the picture, and his face changes.
Leo gazes at the picture, “Damn! He does look like you, bro! Did you mate with a mortal by chance?”
Sam gawks at us with shock, “I know I have never had sex with a mortal for that very reason. You said his name is Peter. I will have to double-check my records to see.”
“What do you mean by keeping yo
ur descendants on file?” I ask. This new revelation startles me.
“Vampires worry about having sex with their descendants, and so… we store our descendants on file. I thought you knew this, did Chris forget to tell you?” Sam escorts me back to bed.
I shake my head no in shock over this revelation. Ian appears upset, “I have no descendants. I had great-nieces and nephews, but nothing from my direct line. I guess I will never know what it feels like to have a descendant. Which is the only sucky part about being a vampire. You have to find a willing mortal—or a hybrid vamp. All the ones I have met are pretty ruthless—or taken.”
I wrote out the address to Principal Jefferson for Sam. Everyone knows his address. Sam takes the address from me, and smiles at me for once, “Thank you Jean, and I will check on Peter. We live in a small world after all.”
Leo grins, “You can say that again.”
“How were you turned, Leo?”
Leo looks around the room for a minute. Sam and Ian glance over at him, wondering how he will answer.
Leo pulls the blanket over me, “Alright my dear. Since Sam told you his story, I will tell you mine.”
Ian and Sam take their seats right beside me. Not so much as to watch over me, but they want to hear Leo’s story.
Leo begins, “I was born in Paris, France on November 27, 1529. My mortal death date was on Christmas Day, 1557. I have kept my name, Leonardo Durant for all these years. Unlike Sam, I have no descendants. I was the only child, and my parents died, when I was young. Anyway, I chose to be an inventor. Even though I was a sculptor, and a painter, I love to build things. I had an assistant by the name of Madeline. She had jet-black curly hair, and dark eyes. She had flawless skin. She was a very gorgeous girl. Except at that time, I, like Ian over here, became engrossed in my work to notice her. In my time, I built clocks back then. I made my money by making spring-driven clocks. I would work from sun up to sun down. Madeline would make me eat. She often worried about my diet, and sleep. She helped me make clocks, but she was my friend too. One day, in November, Madeline made her move on me. After making me eat, she kissed me. We had sex that night, and it was mind-blowing. I fell in love with her instantly. We started to have sex on a regular basis. One day, I wanted to surprise her, so I made her a jewelry box with a clock inside. I was going to give her this jewelry box as a present, and a token of my love. I finished working on the jewelry box for her, for which is known as Christmas Day. I left my workshop late at night. The time read one o’clock in the morning. I thought I could sneak over to her house to give her my gift. Instead, a woman dragged me into an abandoned house. I begged her to let me go. This woman had flaming red hair, red eyes, and pale skin. She plunged her fangs into me, and she drained me. I never thought vampires existed either until that night. The woman left me there to die. Lucky for me, Christian and Alexander found me. I met Sam shortly thereafter.”