Cured By Blood: A Vampire Pregnancy Romance (12 page)

CHAPTER 14

Cyndi stared at the images with her jaw dropped. If finding out her friend was a vampire and pregnant was strange, discovering she was pregnant with identical twins that grew at the twice the rate of normal babies was icing on the cake. Salvador had also had the lab work available, which verified Tara’s body was running 100% vampire and the babies were forming and reacting as a natural vampire would.

This meant that the babies would be naturally born vampires, growing and then ceasing aging at a certain point of their adult lives. Salvador and Ardo also explained previous cases of natural vampires and their birth and how the numbers were getting smaller each century. Back when Dru had been born, there was an average of two vampire births every five years. Now the numbers were much worse averaging one every twenty-five years. Tara having twins changed this percentage and was an astounding fact.

On top of the rarity, the fact that many vampires coveted natural vampire babies was a new concern. Sometimes it was a power trip, raising a vampire from the earliest age to follow in their parent’s footsteps.

For others it was the ability to do one of the few things that vampires could not enjoy, having family. This thought had put Dru on edge. As well as his issues with Blaine Connie and her apparent connection to the anti-vampire group W.A.V.E. His lawyer had come back with the information after discovering connections between Blaine and two of the members.

The lawyer told him that the good news was, the group tended to keep a somewhat level head in many of the issues, aiming for judicial and political changes rather than taking matters into their own hands. The problem was that the two men she was associating with didn’t have such a stellar reputation. Mark was older and a bit more cool-headed than Jared, but both had possible connections to assaults against vampires and their places of businesses.

Dru didn’t tell Tara about the issue with Blaine, W.A.V.E., and the two men, but he had mentioned it to Ardo and Salvador. Both were willing to do whatever was necessary to help Dru and to protect Tara and the babies. Natural vampire babies were sacred as much as they were rare.

As badly as some would want to take them, others would want to protect them. With the possible involvement of W.A.V.E. and the government, they wouldn’t have too much difficulty finding vampires to help them, as long as they were wary of those who would want them for themselves. .

“So the babies will be forming at the twice the rate of a human child?” Cyndi looked between the two elder vampires.

“Yes, she will be giving birth in about two to three months, depending on the development of the fetuses.”

“And how can she help them gain weight when all she needs now is blood?”

“Actually, she doesn’t have to just live on blood, and they require her to eat more. She will have to consume meat, red meat, on a daily basis. The meat will be rare, cooked enough to prevent any bacteria from effecting the babies, but rare enough that the large quantities of nutrients will be important for the growth.” Salvador looked to Tara as he spoke, making sure she got the hint.

“And that won’t hurt me?”

“No, if anything you will have to continue to deal with human waste issues that a vampire can usually forego.” When Ardo spoke, Cyndi jumped. Tara almost wanted to giggle as her friend sat perfectly still listening to the whispering words of the elder.

“I have talked to Katia, we will make sure the kitchen stays stocked and that there is always some on hand for her to eat. She will have to eat at least half a pound worth every day to make sure both of them are healthy.”

Cyndi shook her head in wonderment.

“I’m really excited about being a part of this. I can’t wait until they are born!” She smiled at Tara with anticipation, “I wish I could be here around the clock, help you out and be here if you need me.”

“Actually, I was thinking about that,” Dru glanced at Tara before continuing, “If you would like, I could pay you to make up for your loss from work if you would like to help and be a full time nurse for Tara and the babies.”

“Really? I mean, I love my job most of the time, but I want to be here for Tara. I don’t know, I mean after the babies are born, I will have to find employment again.”

“Nonsense, unless you want to. I can pay twice what you make now. The children will need you for a time, Tara may need some relief at times. Vampire children grow quickly, develop fast. Within a few months they will crawl and then walk and by the time they are one year old, it will be the equivalent of them being closer to three in human years. The task is daunting. Salvador has offered to take you under his wing as a protégé.”

“Yes, Cyndi, I have been doing this for a long time. I am both a doctor and a scientist, but often find my bedside manner lacking. I would be honored to teach a human medical professional about the medical aspects of vampires. I think it could be a great benefit for us both.”

“Wow, I have to say yes! That would be an amazing opportunity and something that could help out in the future. Especially if I am able to get a position later that would need someone with both sets of knowledge.”

“So you will accept then?” Tara couldn’t help but sound eager, the idea of having her friend around and there for her often, was something she could only dream of having at this point. Even with Dru, she still found herself wanting company, someone who knew her, who could be her confidant.

“Of course.”

“Would you live here or would you rather stay in your home?”

“Give me a few days, I would much rather be in this magnificent castle than my shitty run-down apartment!” Cyndi’s smile couldn’t get wider, “I’m so excited! Thank you so much, Druian. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“I am sure it means a lot, and not to be discourteous, but I really want to do this for Tara. I want her happy, comfortable, and safe. I think having you here with her is the best way to accomplish that.”

Tara nodded. The two elder vampires sat quietly watching the exchange, saying nothing good or bad about the situation. Cyndi and Tara’s only hesitance was the elders and how they would feel. Ardo would be witnessing much of the pregnancy and birth as well as the children for the historical archives.

Salvador was the most trusted medically knowledgeable person that Dru had to help with the pregnancy and birth. Cyndi would help with Tara’s anxiety or emotional outbursts as well as happiness and health, but she was human, and that came with its own issues in a house of vampires.

Of course, the only one she really needed to be wary of would be Tara herself, who had the least amount of experience controlling her needs and feelings, especially with the toll of the babies.

“Well, I guess Cyndi and I will go our own way for a bit and let you men talk.” Tara kissed Dru on the cheek as she walked by, “Thank you, love.”

“Of course,” he smiled as she walked out, his heart aching with how full she made him feel.

After both women were gone and the room was left to just Ardo, Salvador, and Dru, he pulled out a file with printouts on Blaine Connie, Jared, and Mark.

“So these are our current issue. I don’t know what they plan to do, or if they plan to do anything, I only know that she sent this to me,” he showed the picture of Tara attacking Blaine, “as part of a video one of the men took when we were out in the woods.”

“I’m impressed your woman was able to control her needs. This red head is lucky to be alive.” Ardo raised his brows slightly in appreciation, “she is a fierce creature, your Tara. She will make a great vampire and a good mother. I am happy for you Druian. I just wish it was all less complicated than all this.”

“So do I.”

“So what was her reasoning for all this, what exactly is she wanting from you?” Salvador looked at Dru questioningly.

“She wants to be turned, to be youthful forever, sort of crap.”

“I would never give in to that for something like this. I wish it was a different time. She would make a great sacrifice to the nutritional needs of the babies. Several liters of prime blood from the source would do Tara a lot of good.”

“I know how you feel, Ardo. I wish the same. And if the woman hadn’t already made problems and threats, gone to the courts, and then gotten W.A.V.E. involved, I would still consider it an option. I don’t need that kind of attention on Tara.”

“When do you plan to wed?”

“Soon, preferably. We are finishing up her documents for registration processing, so the sooner we are, the sooner I can make those adjustments and help the paperwork go through quicker.”

“I have the ability to file the papers, if you are interested. We can do this anytime, as long as she is not wanting some big human affair.”

“Thank you, Ardo. No, I don’t think she will. Her current situation is making her more cautious, and I don’t see her risking the babies about something frivolous. It was one of the many reasons I fell in love with her. She doesn’t want for much and isn’t a very materialistic person.”

“How about tomorrow night, in the outdoor gardens by the large fountain?”

“That would actually be amazing. I could see her going for that. Especially with her friend here. I will have my lawyer send over the paperwork and we can do this tomorrow and everything will be official by the end of the week.”

Dru couldn’t help but feel himself constantly smiling. Very little could take his happiness away, unless it consisted of something happening to Tara or the children. He kept pushing Blaine and her cohorts out of his mind. He didn’t want that kind of stress and didn’t need it. If he got too worked up about it, he could risk losing his temper and then things could go very wrong. Blaine really would become nothing but a blood bag for his beloved and their children.

*     *     *

Tara took Cyndi on a tour of the many rooms. She had to show her the library, the ballroom, and the museum room upstairs as well as the bedrooms in which she would choose the one she wanted to use. She showed the doors of Ardo and Salvador’s rooms, so that Cyndi knew not to go in those. As they walked around, both felt giddy with the future prospects.

“How does it feel knowing you’re going to be a mom, though?”

“Bizarre, especially since I am still trying to deal with the fact that I’m a vampire! And,” she held her left hand out to Cyndi, “I’m getting married!”

“Oh wow! That looks old, beautiful but something from a long time ago.”

“It was his mother’s.”

“He’s a natural vampire too, right?”

“Yes, he is. They think that is why I was able to conceive. Natural males are the only ones who seem to be able to have offspring. Females can be natural or made, though Ardo says he has only known of made females, turned by a natural, to have the ability to give birth. Salvador has only seen births between two natural parents.”

After Cyndi picked her room, Tara took her out to show her the grounds. She introduced some of the frequent guards to Cyndi as well. As they walked through the gardens, Tara inhaled the sweet fragrances. It was harder for Cyndi to enjoy, it being dark and the moon only a slice in the sky. The air was a bit cold for her too, making Cyndi hug her jacket close as they walked the grounds.

Tara realized her friend was having a difficult time trying to see the place during a late fall night, so she headed back toward the manor. As they approached the rear entry, Tara’s hearing picked up something coming from the front, down by the guardhouse.

“Cyndi, get inside and go get Dru and the others. Something is happening at the guard station.”

“No, you need to come in with me, if something happens to you and those babies, they will have my head.”

Tara debated before pushing her friend in the house and running with her new vampiric speed around the house. She hear Cyndi yell at her and then the back door banging, Dru must have heard or the guards alerted him. She was almost down the drive and could see the small brick building at the front gate and a red pickup truck idling in front of the gates. As she approached, she heard the sounds of gun fire and someone yelling. Tara sped up and ran faster toward the commotion. She heard Dru, and probably Salvador, not far behind her, but she still managed to make it to the scene before they did.

“Shots fired, we have a guard down and a civilian injured but armed. We need police backup and an ambulance.” Tara could hear one of the guards on the phone.

“Ma’am, please stay back!” Another guard yelled at her from the door way of the building, causing a head to pop up on the other side of the truck.

Tara had a moment to think, to dive sideways as a bullet whizzed by her. She didn’t know exactly how the healing for vampires worked, but she did know that Dru would kill her if she was badly injured for being headstrong. Her anger was peaking, though. Who was this and what were they doing?

“We gonna kill your little vamp whore, you rapist asshole!”

Tara shook her head in bafflement. What was going on?

“Blaine told us what you did to her! You can’t get away with that shit!”

Tara heard more shots firing off as she saw Dru and Salvador rush by her. There was the sound of the man grunting and a growling noise coming from the other side of the truck. Either Salvador or Dru had tackled the man.

“Dru, the police are coming! Don’t kill him!” Tara tried warning him.