by K. A. Poe
“The only fights now are personal ones. Any vampire who was unwillingly under Malik’s control has been released,” he explained. “Now, if you will allow me, I would like to take you someplace a little less…messy.”
I glanced at Salem and he nodded at me. “Okay…” I agreed reluctantly and allowed the man to pull me up into his arms and out of the mansion.
The contractions continued, growing stronger as time passed, and I was positive that I wasn’t going to make it to whatever destination Cassius had in mind. Fortunately I was mistaken. He wasn’t taking us far, merely away from the brutal scene, insisting that he wouldn’t want the baby’s first vision to be that of dead bodies. He laid me gently upon a patch of yellowing grass outside the mansion, several yards away from where the fighting had begun.
A blood soaked Ezra showed up abruptly, explaining that he had been upstairs assisting Mikael until they finished off the group of undead occupying the balcony. Hannah had texted him along the way out of the mansion and alerted him of my labor.
“Remus…” he said suddenly, Mikael and Nicolai following behind him. “He did not make it out alive.”
“That is unfortunate,” Cassius replied. “However, our focus must be on Alexis right now.”
While I felt comforted knowing that Cassius seemed to care about my well-being, I also felt angry with his lack of concern for the loss of one of my friends. If I could even consider Remus a ‘friend’.
A hospital would have been far preferred over a small patch of grass outside the mansion of a Vampire Lord, yet knowing that I was surrounded by loved ones was comforting enough to help distract me from the pains of labor. None of them knew how to deliver a baby, but the absence of a doctor was something I was going to have to deal with. The contractions were becoming closer and closer together, and I could barely feel my own hand as it grew numb from clasping onto Salem’s so tightly.
“She is going to be just fine,” Cassius said reassuringly as he supervised the situation.
“Have you…have you seen any visions,” I blurted out between contractions, “about the outcome?”
He nodded and smiled widely. For the first time I saw the briefest hint of his white fangs and felt afraid, but I shook my head, knowing as I always had that I could trust him. “Everything turns out just fine, Alexis, don’t worry.”
There were few words to describe how uncomfortable I felt, exposed to the people surrounding me when Hannah instructed me to uncover my bottom half—which I unfortunately needed assistance with due to my injured arm. Cassius was kind enough to drape his blood-stained trench coat over my lower half. Salem looked faint and uneasy when Hannah announced that I was crowning. I could hear her constant demands that I push, but the thoughts racing through my head were overpowering in comparison.
This was not ideal in any way—my pregnancy wasn’t at full term yet and I had not prepared for any of this. I never had a mother or a close female relative to comfort me or terrify me with stories of their deliveries—I felt completely and utterly alone despite the small crowd around me.
“Come on, Alex!” Hannah yelled, breaking me through to reality. “Push! The baby is almost out! Get him out!”
I laid my eyes on Salem, his expression was full of fear and worry as he continued to hold my hand, but then he smiled. At first, I was delirious as to what might be causing the sudden change, then the sound reached my ears. Crying. The baby—my baby—was out and alive.
“It’s a girl,” Hannah whispered, exasperated. I peeked up and saw her holding onto a dark, bloodied mess that I couldn’t believe had come out of my body. “Summon a blanket, Salem.”
Salem’s eyes flickered and a pale pink blanket appeared in his hands. He must have been far too focused on me to have even considered summoning anything beforehand. Hannah wiped down my daughter before slowly passing her over to her father. The smile on his face was priceless and I imagine my face reflected the same expression as I looked her over. A thin layer of dark hair ran over her small head, and two pale blue eyes looked up at us. A tiny finger wound around Salem’s finger and he let out a laugh of pure happiness. The moment felt perfect and endless until I felt an unexpected pain in my stomach.
“No…” I gasped and a sudden scream tore through my lips.
“What’s happening?” Salem asked in horror.
“I-I don’t believe this,” Hannah mumbled and looked up at us in fear. “There’s another baby.”
“What? No. That’s impossible!” I shrieked, but the contractions disagreed with me and told me that I was wrong.
“It’s time to push again, Alex…” Hannah instructed, and I knew what she was thinking—she thought we had been saved from the horrors foreseen in her visions when she unveiled the gender of the baby, but now her hopes had all vanished.
I didn’t even get a chance to attempt at pushing the baby out when a swarm of vampires exited through the mansion doors and sprung an attack on us. Salem bolted upright and gathered his crossbow, then said two simple words that would change my life forever. He looked at Ezra, and the sorrow in his eyes was overwhelming. “Take her.”
“What?” Ezra stared down at my daughter and then back up at Salem.
“Take the baby. Take her somewhere safe—just get her away from here.”
“No!” I screamed.
Mikael prepared his weapon and shot down one of the oncoming undead spawn. “If you want your child to be safe, I would listen to your husband. You will be back with her before you know it. You and I both know what can and will happen if a vampire gets hold of such young blood.”
“He’s right. We wouldn’t want another Malik to deal with now would we?” Cassius said.
I watched in horror as my sister-in-law betrayed my protests. She stood from the ground, handed Ezra the bundled up child in the pink blanket and commanded him to retreat.
“No, damn it!” I shrieked but was again overcome with pain as the second baby made its way out of my body.
Cassius collected the newborn child in his arms, an enormous grin forming on his face. “Ah, there you are.” He looked up at me. “A son.”
Salem spared a moment to look down at the child and his jaw fell in shock as two small, un-crying red eyes looked upon the world for the first time. Before making her leave, Hannah returned and glanced down at the boy. I knew at once that she had been right.
“You are going to hate me for this,” Hannah began as Salem shot an arrow at an approaching vampire. “But I would advise killing that thing now…before all Hell breaks loose.”
“How can you even say that?!” I yelled at her as she backed away and began to run toward the Sion with Ezra and my daughter.
Mikael and Nicolai focused on the last three vampires while Salem came to my side to comfort me. The hunters were out of earshot, halfway between us and the mansion now—chasing down the last of the horde.
“How could you let them take her…?” I sobbed.
“Alex, it was the best decision to keep her safe. We will be reunited with her in just a few minutes,” he said comfortingly. “Now that the hunters have them pushed back, we need to take our son and meet Hannah, then get you and our babies to a hospital.”
“I’m afraid that I cannot allow that,” Cassius said suddenly, then stood up from my side.
“Excuse me?” Salem laughed half-heartedly, helping me dress and stand up on wobbling legs.
“Don’t you realize?” the vampire, whom I had trusted, said and stepped back. “He is more than just a human boy. Somehow, the cleansing waters you consumed did not completely remove the vampirism from your body and it transferred over to your offspring. Since the first day I met you I have had so many visions of what this boy is and will be capable of. He and I will rule this world.”
“He is our child!” Salem shouted and released me. I struggled to stand on my own, wavering not only from the recent labor but also the unbelievable scene that was happening right before me. “If you want him, you will have to get through
me first.”
Cassius shrugged.
“Very well.”
Salem went to collect his crossbow and found it crushed beneath Cassius’s boot. He was faster than Salem had anticipated, possibly even faster than Malik…if that was possible. Even if Salem had been able to retrieve a weapon, there was little that we could do without hurting the child cradled in the vampire’s arms. There was so much happening at once, and I was completely helpless in my weakened state. I fell onto the ground, unable to keep my balance and everything flashed before my eyes so quickly…
“Just stand aside, Salem,” Cassius said firmly, “I have no problem with you, but I am taking the boy.”
“Cassius…” I groaned and made a failed attempt at trying to stand. “I trusted…I trusted you.”
“I know, that was the easiest part. Malik trusted me too, you know? But even he became suspicious toward the end. It’s like I told you, Alexis, the future is already written.”
“N-no…” I managed to say.
“Oh, but it is. From the first day I met your dear old dad I knew it would end this way. I was originally supposed to bring him in as a slave…did you know? Never mind, of course not…you are so gullible and trusting.”
While Cassius was focusing on me, and the squirming baby in his arms, Salem withdrew a dagger and slashed the blade across the vampire’s side. It was the best he could do without endangering the child. The man I had thought was my friend turned angrily toward Salem and thrust his free elbow straight into his ribcage. Salem immediately fell to the ground. His outcry of pain was enough to trigger me to once again get on my feet, careless of the discomfort that riddled through my body. I tried as hard as I could in my current state to alter shapes, but it was hopeless.
Cassius kicked Salem hard in the ribs and I heard a sickening crunch amidst his screams. The vampire smiled, sickly satisfied, then turned to walk away, leaving Salem lying on the ground and on the verge of unconsciousness.
“Please…” I begged, staring longingly at my son. “Don’t do this…”
The vampire turned long enough to shake his head, his evil grin ever present, then sped away. I scarcely had time to grieve the loss of my child when I heard Salem coughing and moaning a few feet away from where I stood. I collapsed beside him, laying my unbroken hand against his face and wiping away a gentle tear that slid slowly across his paling cheek.
“A-Alexis…” he coughed, a line of blood trailing down the corner of his mouth as he grasped my hand in his. “Don’t let him…don’t let him become a monster like me.”
I shook my head, fighting the urge to begin bawling endlessly. “You were never a monster and we’ll both make sure that he grows to become a brave, caring man just like you. Cassius…Hannah…they are both wrong. The future is not written…there is no such thing as destiny. I see that now.”
He smiled weakly and stared up into my eyes. “My twin soul…I will always, always love you…even in death.”
“No…” I said faintly as I noticed a large pool of blood forming beneath my love’s body. I gripped tighter onto his hand, as if that would keep him with me longer. “Salem…no! You’re not going to die…you’re barely hurt…you’ll be fine. We’re going to go home to Willowshire, Hannah and Ezra will be there waiting for us with our daughter…with Lenore, and we will fight together to get our son back!”
“Shh,” he whispered and smiled up at me again before wincing in pain. “You helped me…achieve everything I ever wanted in life…”
“And I’ll continue to do so, damn it! You’re not dying!” I shouted, visibly shaking from frustration. “This is all my fault. I should never have trusted Cassius. Why didn’t I listen to you?”
“Because you’re stubborn,” Salem laughed, regretting it almost immediately as his body convulsed violently then suddenly stopped. He inhaled slowly and relaxed against the dirt beneath him. “Lay with me, Alex, one more time…like by the lake.” He coughed and a small trickle of blood began to run from the corner of his mouth. “Do…do you remember?”
Obliging, I rested beside him and laid my head gently against his chest, listening to his labored breaths. “Of…of course I remember. Don’t leave me, Salem,” I whispered. “Not like everyone else…”
“I will never leave you, Alex,” he replied hoarsely and gave one final request. “Kiss me, my little raven…”
I lifted my head to look at him, noting the sweat and fatigue across his face and pressed my lips firmly against his, savoring the moment until I no longer felt him returning the gesture.
“S-Salem…?” He did not answer. “Salem, please. Not like this…not now. Please!” Tears began to run in torrents as it began to sink in just what had happened. My Salem was gone.
Suddenly something tugged at my unbroken arm and I half-expected to find Cassius ripping me away from the body of my husband. Instead, I found Hannah behind me, her face painted with anguish. She must have come back for us once she knew Ezra and Lenore were safe.
“Come on, Alex…” she said in a hushed tone. “He’s gone. Leave him, let’s g-go.”
My body collapsed in my sister-in-laws embrace and a shrill scream filled the air as I wept.
“Leave me! Let me die…”
“You don’t mean that.”
“Please…just let me die!” I screamed.
“You have a daughter to raise. You’re coming with me,” she said, picking me up against my will and slinging me over her shoulder. For a moment I fought to get free but it was no use, I was weak compared to her. As I stopped struggling I looked back at Salem’s body lying there motionless and fading off into the distance. The only thought that comforted me at all as the tears streamed down my face was that Salem had gotten what he wanted—to live and die a mortal life.
30. TWO YEARS LATER
That is all I remember, to the best of my ability. It has been almost two years since I lost Salem. Two years since I was admitted here to Littlehaven—the same place my grandpa Richard had been for years. It was ironic, really. He had been here because he refused to admit that vampires and all the monsters from his past were not real—I couldn’t admit that either. Jason said that he originally called them to get me ‘cause he feared for my life—feared that I would commit suicide.
It was true that I didn’t care much if I lived or not. Half of my soul was lost in Romania. I was careless in the things I said to the doctors and nurses at first…I didn’t care who knew. I told them of vampires…of my children. That was enough to ensure my stay. I am still less cautious than I should be, and I can only imagine they will read all this that I have written. It has taken a year to finish my story. The staff here tells me it is good for me to keep a journal. That recording all my thoughts and memories will help me recover and get over this fantasy.
I refused for a long time. That was until my aunt Kim visited last spring. She let me know that Richard had passed away. While she was here I begged her to let the doctor’s know I wasn’t crazy, and that it had all been real. She was very vague in her answers, but I assume she didn’t want thrown in here too…or thrown out for feeding my fantasy. After her visit I wondered about all that Richard had seen in his life. I wondered what wealth of information was lost when he left this world. I wished he too had kept a journal of his life, and so I began to write for anyone in the future who may care.
The visits from Jason and Eila have become less and less frequent, especially since their wedding last winter. I would have never thought Jason would be the type for a winter wedding; it must have been Eila’s idea. I hoped she was taking care of him. I could certainly tell by his appearance that he was enjoying her cooking.
They had adopted Lenore. I was thankful for that. I’m still not sure if I am crazy or if all that I have written happened, but either way she deserves a normal life. I’ve not seen her since the week I got back from Romania and miss her fiercely. Aside from Hannah, Lenore is the last thing in this world still connecting me to Salem. They tell me there was only one
baby, that I never had twins. My dreams over the years tell me differently. I still see them both every time I sleep. A beautiful little girl with dark hair and glistening violet eyes…a perfect little boy with jet black hair and fierce red eyes.
To my surprise Jason came by two weeks ago, he was alone. I always know there is something wrong when he doesn’t bring Eila. He let me know that they were moving away from Willowshire. Eila got accepted for some school there, and Jason had just heard word back about a store manager position he had applied for. He said there was nothing left for him here. His parents had ended up not being able to reconcile and went on to have a divorce. Mitchell had gone off to culinary school somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Karen was gone. I was gone too, he said.
“I just wanted to let you know. I mean…I know I haven’t had the chance to visit a lot lately, but after this…well…I don’t know when I will be back. Maybe never.”
I would have cried at the thought of never seeing my friend again, but the tears would not come. I felt more hollow and empty than sad. I felt alone.
“J-Jace…” I said as he turned to leave.
“Yeah, Alex?”
“Can…can I see her? Before you go?”
“Who? Eila? She is already packing and-”
“No…Lenore…my daughter.”
He shook his head. “I told you, we call her Madison now. And I don’t think it’s a good idea. The doctors don’t either. For you or our girl.”
“MY girl!” I snapped without meaning to. She was theirs now, in truth. “I’m sorry Jason, I didn’t mean to. Look…you don’t even have to tell her who I am, please just let me see her. Before she is gone.”
“Maybe when you are better. The doctors still say you need more time.”
“Do you think I’m crazy, Jason? You know I’m not, don’t you? You remember Salem…you remember what he and I were.”