by P. Mattern
I laughed inwardly to think how naive I had been. I had thought my missed period was due to stress, my belly to overeating and drinking, my tender breasts to the passionate attentions of the two males that had been taking turns making love to me.
At least Oliver had known that he’d been sharing me with the Prince. The Prince had no clue, as he pounded his cock into the tender insides of the Prima Nocte peasant brides , that Oliver was pounding himself into me.
TURNING TABLES
The announcement of the second celebratory feast in two days caused quite a stir in the Silo. My maidservants had been sworn to secrecy, along with the medical staff. No one outside of a very small circle knew of my pregnancy.
I had made it a point to mention the Dr. Renault’s questionable behavior to the Prince. At first I could tell that he wasn’t taking me seriously, but when I took his hand and showed him how the doctor had handled me, he was no longer amused.
“I will have him executed ,if that is what you want” he told me seriously. Even behind his silver mask I could see the anger flashing in his eyes.
“No,” I said, shaking my head at his suggestion, ”But I wouldn’t mind if he were flogged. And I never want to see him again. Surely there is someone just as qualified that can take his place!”
It was the Prince’s turn to shake his head.
“He is the Royal Physician,” he told me, ”He has been delivering royals for centuries. However I can have the Magiska follow your pregnancy if you would prefer my love.”
“Magiska?” I echoed, not understanding. It was a term I had never heard since I arrived at the Silo.
“Yes, the Magiska Barnmorsica—the Witch Midwife. She delivers most of the wives of our nobles, and is a perfectly acceptable alternative choice to follow your pregnancy Tristina. I will arrange it at once if it pleases you. And as for Dr. Renauld, I will reprimand him myself. There is no need to go into detail—I will simply tell him that his manner displeased you to the extent that you have requested he be removed from overseeing your care. It will be a public humiliation for him to have been replaced. How does that sound?”
I was so relieved that I threw my arms around him. I never wanted to see the perverted physician again. I was sure that I hadn’t been his only victim, and I would have wished that he had been banished from the Silo entirely, so that he never pleasured himself at the expense of a vulnerable woman again.
But never having him touch me again would have to do.
“Thank you,” I answered, feeling vindicated. I had begun to see that my pregnancy was causing the Prince and I to grow closer. He was more attentive since we had this child in common. For the moment I was carried away on a cloud of happiness. The love between us was a palpable thing, it lived and breathed and cause us to feel more connected to each other. It made me love my life at the Silo and appreciate and cherish all the things I had taken for granted.
At the edges of my consciousness, wisps of doubt lingered but I brushed them away. I refused to entertain the thought that Oliver might be the father of the baby I was carrying. Nothing was going to take away from my connection with the Prince.
That is what I hoped. But, as in all things that have to do with life and love, my feelings were more complicated than I imagined.
The servants were showing fatigue as they carried in tray after heavy silver tray of steaming meats, vegetables and puddings. My favorite steamed lingonberry trifle was featured in a giant glass compote. It was obvious that all my favorites had been included at the Prince’s insistence, and the crab cakes that I loved as well as the lobster soufflé, full of sweet, delicious fresh lobster were included. Ears of hydroponically grown corn and tiny fingerling potatoes and green beans and Swiss chard were also served. This feast was more a ladies feast, with less red meat, and more to my liking since I favored seafood and vegetables.
Finally, as the desserts were brought in , the Prince stood and an immediate hush fell over the entire chamber as the eager guests waited for him to speak. I noticed that everyone there seemed to be in a celebratory mood, with the possible exception of Oliver. He was seated on the opposite side of the Prince, with Deborah his bride to be on his right.
I could feel his eyes on me at intervals but I purposely ignored him. I was starting to feel pangs of guilt, probably long overdue, and very uncomfortable. I had been so sure that I was meant to love two men…almost as if it was part of my twisted destiny, like finding out my mother wasn’t my mother and being abducted by Seth to the Svalbard Silo. I had come to accept that my life would be unusual, and no longer craved the so called ‘normal’ existence I’d been snatched out of. It seemed like a distant dream that had happened to someone else…a boring dream to boot.
Was it possible I had made a mistake by being intimate with Oliver? Had my feelings changed because of the baby? Or had they changed because I finally felt the closeness with the Prince that had eluded me. I had more questions than answers and because I couldn’t be sure of anything I just kept shoving all those unanswered questions and feelings back down.
Servants hustled to provide glasses of champagne to all the guests so that they might toast to the Prince’s announcement.
The Prince tapped on the side of a crystal goblet with a silver spoon, the tone ringing out high sweet and clear and echoing off the stone walls surrounding the assembled guests.
“I have an announcement that overshadows my joyful announcement of the previous evening,” he said. His voice, though deeply resonant and authoritative had a gentle quality to it I had never heard before.
Was all this because I was having his baby?
“I wish to announce that Tristina, my Vampire Princess and Royal Concubine, is great with child. For this reason we will be married within a fortnight, as I recognize this child as a successor to the throne. So I ask you to raise your glasses along with us, as we thank the gods of Ice, Stone and Sky for this immense blessing and I recognize Tristina as my bride to be!”
Just as the Grand Hall erupted into cheers, high fives and thunderous applause, the Prince pulled me up beside him and kissed me soundly in front of all assembled. I didn’t turn my head for fear of seeing Oliver’s face. I didn’t want to see his reaction: the look in his eyes, the expression on his face, or hear whatever polite platitude he had to offer me.
I knew it was cowardly of me, and I didn’t care. I retreated more deeply into the comforting arm the Prince had placed around me, holding up a tentative hand to wave appreciatively at those cheering us. That moment made everything worth it—the perverted Royal Ob gyn, the months of adjustment and uncertainty, running away and being punished, losing my parents and friends. My purpose for existing was crystallized in that one moment.
It was my destiny to be the Vampire Princess. I lifted up on my toes to whisper in the Prince’s ear.
“I want to live in your world of fire and ice forever,” I told him.
When I started to back he brought me up to him and covered my mouth with his. It was our second public kiss and it was intoxicating, not only to me but to the gathered crowd. They began cheering even more loudly.
When the Prince at last held up one hand to bid our guests to be seated again, and at last we took our seats, I saw Oliver lean over and exchange words with the Prince. The Prince laughed and embraced his oldest friend. I decided that he might come over to me next to offer his congratulations, so just as desserts were being placed in front of us, I whispered to the Prince I needed to be excused. I guessed that he probably thought I needed to pee again. It was a running joke between us that because of my condition I needed to use the bathroom more frequently, so he thought nothing of it.
I was halfway down one of the smaller corridors adjacent to the Grand Dining Chamber before I heard heavy boot clad steps behind me. They echoed loudly against the granite flooring and my entire body braced for what I knew was coming next.
Thank God he waited until he caught up with me to call out my name.
“Tristina!”<
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I whipped around, my long hair flying in an arc, determined to dismiss him. I wanted to live in my new world now, the one in which the Prince and I were the thoroughly in love Royal couple who were expecting an heir to the throne and there were no complications.
“Yes?” I asked in as icy a tone as I could muster. His face was flushed. I couldn’t tell if he were flustered or angry, but I held my body rigid—obviously he hadn’t flagged me down just to convey his heartfelt congratulations.
Then he did the last thing I was expecting. He reached down ever so gently and placed a trembling hand on my slightly swollen belly. I was so aghast at the familiarity of that gesture that I couldn’t move or even breathe for a long moment. When I found my voice again I asked in as even a tone as I could muster ,”Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”
With his hand still across my belly, he looked up at me and laughed shortly.
“Congratulations to Vampire Tristina, and to First Counselor Oliver Winston Barrett on the conception of their first child,” he said, biting off every word so that it stung,
”Tristina I know this child is mine!”
I shrank back from him, so that his hand was no longer on my abdomen.
“Why do you look so…so horrified?” Oliver asked me. The look on his face was puzzled, but his air was one of triumph, as if he were absolutely sure whose child I was carrying.
“You can’t know that,” I managed to hiss, barely opening my mouth,” And what you are speaking is treason, Oliver. If anyone overheard you saying that they would report it and the Prince would have absolutely no other choice than to have you killed! Don’t you care?”
“Not as much as you apparently do,” he said, a light going out in his eyes. I had always been slow on the uptake and I realized at that moment that he had expected me to fly into his arms at his assertion that the baby was his,” But I tell you Tristina…I KNOW this baby is mine…”his voice trailed off for a moment and his gaze dimmed as though he were reliving some long ago memory.
“There was a prophecy given long ago when I was born, that my mother told me. She said a Mage told her that my heir would someday ascend the throne of the Arctic Vampire Clan. She never told me of that prophecy until she lay dying, Tristina, but even though it sounded like the last words of a good woman just about to set foot in Valhalla, somehow they rang true and I never forgot them.
Now that you are with child I KNOW it to be true!”
I felt ice crawl up my spine and I began to tremble, feeling even stronger revulsion and an overwhelming sense of fear. I could lose everything if Oliver confessed our affair to the Prince.
He would no doubt kill us both.
“Oh my love, no no no,” Oliver said, as if he had been reading my thoughts,” Please do not worry, especially for the baby’s sake. I will not breathe a word, I wear to you Tristina. We need time to think of the best course of action, not just for ourselves but for the child.”
He came toward me. I had started crying from fear and sheer nerves. For one brief moment he clasped me to his broad chest, kissing the top of my head, then turned and walked in the opposite direction. I just stood looking after him, dazed and confused after the reality check he had given me.
What if he were right?
In the Silo version of the restroom I relieved my bladder, splashing cold water on my face to remove the tears that had escaped from my eyes. My cheeks were flushed, and I wondered if I would be able to return to the celebration and tolerate being in the same room with the man whose very existence threatened my upcoming marriage.
I know that you must think I am selfish, and you are right—selfish and sad and impetuous as hell. You must also be thinking that I deserve to reap what I have sown.
But consider this.
I never asked for this life, it was thrust upon me. My feelings have always been erratic. Even before all of this happened, there were times when I felt like a mere observer in my own life, disconnected from my family.
I think in some ways I have always been broken that way.
My feelings for the Prince grew slowly out of a strange respect for what he seemed to know about me, secrets that were inaccessible to me. It seemed he knew what I needed to be awakened, to finally feel alive. Whether it was the pleasure that he bestowed upon me or the pain, he cracked open the shell over my heart.
My feelings for Oliver grew over time, like the first green tendrils that probe and push through the warm soil after an early Spring rain. They were welcoming and familiar as if we’d know each other all our lives-- and completely unexpected.
But they were real, and true. Oliver was as uncomplicated as the Prince was complicated. He was my soft place to fall when the Prince seemed to be icy cold and inaccessible to me.
Youth is not an excuse I suppose—but I assure you that if I was still living my ‘normal’ life in the Earthbelly Realm I would never have been pregnant at 18. I just wasn’t on that kind of trajectory.
I was a virgin for god sakes!
I decided to return to the Great Dining Hall despite my misgivings. I took a deep breath and fluffed my dress. When I opened the door I was startled to see Candice and two Guards standing right outside the door.
She curtsied as the two Guards bowed low.
“Begging your pardon Princess, we didn’t see you leaving at first—the Prince was irate that we did not immediately follow you to assure your safety as you left the Great Hall. Please forgive our lapse in attending to you, and the safety of your child to be. I assure you that it will not happen again!”
I smiled and nearly giggled. Of course I wasn’t angry. I was immensely relieved that my exchange with Oliver hadn’t been observed or overheard.
“There is no offense taken, nor do I consider you derelict in your duties in any way. I did leave abruptly and in such a social gathering it is perfectly understandable that my leaving escaped your notice.”
All three bowed again and stepped back so that they might accompany me back to the celebration. As I walked up the hallway I rehearsed in my mind what I might say if Oliver spoke to me.
But when I returned I saw that both the chairs that Oliver and his betrothed Deborah had been sitting in were empty.
The Prince was in a fine mood, and greeted me with an embrace and a kiss as I returned and resumed my place by his side. He leaned down to whisper, ”Oliver was feeling unwell I’m afraid. I believe this is one too many celebrations for him as he has never been able to hold his liquor well and he over celebrated last night as it was. He extended his apologies to you Princess.”
So I was not the only coward, I thought to myself. It was comforting to know that he was as struggling and unsure as I was.
The rest of the feast, especially with the medieval musicians and series of Rock bands brought in to entertain us was so much fun I actually got distracted from my worry thoughts. One band, ‘Remedy’, was veterans of APO tours and the Prince had heard about them when they had done a gig in Thule, Greenland. They had become regulars at the Silo, the Prince using his private helicopters to have them brought in.
They were all human. I am sure they had no idea that they were surrounded by vampires. When I talked to one of them he remarked that it was ‘fun to play for billionaires’. He also referred to Svalbard as being ‘obviously the Dubai of the North’. He also thought that our feast was a costume party, and complimented me on my ornate Princess costume. It was so much fun interacting with the outsiders that I made the Prince promise me that he would have them back for my birthday, and of course he agreed.
There was a dance floor set up below the stage area and we danced until the wee hours of the morning. The Prince voiced his concern that I was overdoing it but I just laughed at him. I’d never felt better, and the more I danced the more my fears receded.
By the end of the night I was fine again. Better than fine. I had convinced myself that Oliver was deluding himself that I was carrying his child.
As it turned out, we would know
who the father was sooner than I anticipated. And the truth would become a catalyst that would alter the course of all our lives.
The Tongue Has the Power of Life and Death
When Dr. Renauld was announced at the door of my chambers several days later I assumed that he had been sent there by the Prince to apologize after his flogging.
“Princess and Bride-to-Be of the Prince,” he said, kneeling as soon as I told my servants to admit him. He seemed to have lost his formerly cocky demeanor and his posture was that of humility and contrition.
“Why have you come?” I queried, waving my hand in a gesture meant to bid him rise. I wasn’t one to enjoy groveling. I was uncomfortable with the practice.
Still on his knees and without even raising his head he made a strange request.
“Princess Tristina I ask that I may be granted a private audience, for I have information for you of a most sensitive nature.”
I didn’t know what to make of his request. It was highly unusual, but I could not consult with the Prince. I knew that he was on a scouting mission with many of his men and not available for consultation.
My curiosity finally won out over the fact that I had never trusted Dr. Renauld. I looked around at my servants.
“Wait outside of my chambers,” I instructed them, ”Within earshot, should I need you!”
My obedient servants did as they had been commanded, and at last Dr. Renauld and I were alone in my chambers.
Still he remained on his knees.
“Well you may rise, Dr. Renauld,” I told him. I was getting impatient, all my dislike rising to the surface. I hate that he had ever touched me, and I still felt violated. He was a creeper.
“Oh—may I Princess?” he asked, finally getting up, ”How very kind of you to permit it.”
Although his words were appropriate, there was something in his tone that sounded as if he were sneering at me, causing me to detest him all the more.
“You know they flogged me at your request,” he said tonelessly, ”I suppose I should thank you. The Prince told me that what you reported, your discomfort with my examination, could be validated in some way he would have had me put to death for offending you.”