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He’s driving me crazy. Not a single soul knows the result, not even Sara. Though she did ask before we left last night, to which Adrien simply told her to stay out of his business. I needed to talk to someone. I need this huge weight lifted off me. I need help. But no, after Gwen left, he whisked me away, straight back to our apartment. Not one loving word has come from his mouth. He’s treating me like I have some embarrassing dirty disease, and I’ve had nothing but his brooding sulks to contend with.
I open the fridge and slam it shut. Then I do it again. Still his head is fixed forward on the television that isn’t even on. So I turn my attention to the cutlery drawer, sliding it open, rifling through the silver knives and forks, clanging, and searching for a noise that will get him to react. Even that doesn’t work. I want to shout out, ‘why are you being such a dick with me?’ But I’m so angry right now, I know it will not just stop at that. Not when my hand is finding this rolling pin very comforting right now.
I pick up my glass of fresh orange and drink what remains, as I scowl at the back of his head. A heat soars beneath my skin. A fuming rage bubbling to bursting point. If this is how he’s going to be from here on in, he can go to hell. Taking a deep breath, I march behind the couch and toward the bedroom.
I want to run away, but I have nowhere to go. I can’t go to my mums and explain she’s going to be a Grandma to a dhampir child. And I certainly can’t tell her that my new husband is a vampire, and doesn’t give a toss about me right now. And Cate, she’ll never understand. She’s human and holds a cushion in front of her face when watching the most sedate paranormal TV shows. The people I trust the most, I will never be able to confide in again. I may never even see them again because of this. This has to be the lowest I have ever been.
My phone vibrates on the bedside table. It’s Sara. Why the hell is she calling me? I sweep my finger across the green tab to answer.
“Sara.”
“Liz, where is Adrien?” she barks. “His phone is off, and he’s not responding to texts or emails.”
She waits for an explanation, but I don’t make a noise. What am I supposed to say? Adrien is too busy being a selfish dick to do anything right now.
“Liz, will you put him on the phone,” she snaps. “Leanna’s been calling me.”
My legs bob madly and I feel a mild panic attack coming on. She’s yelling at me down the receiver, and I’m too choked up to say a word.
“Liz, why won’t you answer me. What the hell is going on now?”
“Sara...” I sniffle.
“This is about last night isn’t it; why wouldn’t he tell me?”
“I don’t know what to do.” Tears stream down my face. “We’re in big trouble, Sara.”
“I’m coming over.”
“No!”
“Adrien, is he there now?”
“Yes, but if you come over it will just make things worse,” I insist.
I want to tell her. I need to scream it at someone. To have a shoulder to cry on, is right now all I require. A kind word to tell me everything will be okay.
“I need to get out of London,” I utter.
“Right. Give me ten minutes.” She hangs up.
Maybe it was the wrong thing to do. But I can’t wait around for him to take charge. If Sara can get me somewhere safe, then I have no other option but to trust her. I will have to find another vampire to get this child out of me.
I snivel, wiping my face, then hurry into my closet. I empty one shelf into my small suitcase, oblivious to what I’m actually packing. I’m determined to get out of this apartment as soon as I can. I zip it up quickly, pull up the handle, and tug it behind me.
My eyes land on the couch, but he’s not there. He’s in the kitchen, drinking whiskey again. I push down the handle of my case, trying not to look at him. He bangs his glass down on the worktop, and I can hear his furious approach.
“What are you doing?” he asks in an irate tone.
I inhale, forcing myself to look at him. “I’m leaving. It’s not safe for us here.”
His eyes pierce right through me and his jaw pulsates. I keep my view set solid on his. He has to know I’m not going to wait around to die, because he’s got issues about turning me. He wants me to remain human for his own needs. Like I’m some goddamn vampire trophy.
“Don’t you think I know that?” he yells. “You’re staying here. You are my responsibility.”
“So you can pretend none of this is happening.” My eyes release the anger. “You’ve not spoken to me all day, Adrien. Tell me what to fuckin do!” His face hardens as I wait for him to open up, but he won’t. “Yeah, well, I would rather take my chances elsewhere. I’ll get another vampire to turn me. To suck the blood from my neck!”
I want to hurt him the way I hurt. Giving him the image of another touching me, turning me, is callous, and I know I couldn’t do it to him. But I have to make him see how cruel he’s being. I need answers, a way out of this mess. I don’t need to see this whole self-loathing thing he’s got going on right now.
He moves to tower over me, his pupils latching onto mine as his lips press together. I want to back away from him, but the wall behind me prevents me going anywhere. His fingers travel up the side of my neck to hold me affectionately, and he leans down to my face.
“I will do anything to protect you. But if I drink from your veins, like I did the night Laurie attacked you, I won’t come back from that again. I just need time.”
“Our baby.” I bravely take his hand and lie it on my stomach. “Is in here, and didn’t ask to be born,” I cry. “But it’s done, and believe me, I’m as screwed-up as you are right now.”
His head lowers. “When I told you after our wedding my terms, I was lying. I was never going to do it. I can’t change you, Elizabeth.” His words splinter. “It will destroy me. I’ll despise myself because I love you, this way, so fuckin much. You have to understand, I’ve done bad things, and all that will come back to me.” His burdened eyes desperately plead with me.
I angle up on my toes and softly place my lips on his. He kisses me with emotion as I trail my fingers around his neck, to pull away from him.
“I know. But we have no choice, Adrien. This baby needs to come out of me, regardless of what it will do to us both.”
“I’ll be hell bent on vengeance.” He gulps down. “You have no idea how far I will go for you.”
I run my hand over his cheek. “I don’t care. I will still love you. I will always love you.”
A knock on the door breaks our sensitive contact. Shit, it has to be Sara. I gaze with guilt in my eyes. He tilts his head, knowing I’ve done something to screw things up more.
“It’s Sara.” I cringe. “You weren’t answering your phone, so she called me.”
Sara bangs on the door again.
“You told her?” he asks.
I was expecting him to fly off the handle, but he seems relatively calm about it.
“No, but I was kind of crying on the phone.”
He rolls his eyes as he goes to let Sara in. As soon as the door opens, she flashes through the room in a temper. She’s dressed in black jeans, knee length boots, and a black vest, with her long hair pleated. She looks different, like she’s come prepared for a fight.
“Where’s the fire.” She looks down at my suitcase then to me. “Liz, are you okay?”
I don’t answer. I turn my back and drop down into one of the chairs around the dining table. To go over the whole thing again, will send me over the edge.
Adrien closes the door. “Sara, you better take a seat,” he says.
Her frown deepens, not liking his tone. “Dom and Ben are out in the hall.”
Adrien opens the door again and invites them all in. Dom greets me with a huge bear hug as Ben sits down on the couch.
“So, are you going to tell us what happened last night with Gwen, or let us figure it out for ourselves?” Sara asks with her hands on her hips.
Adrien swallows down the nerves. “The reason Selene is still here, is because she’s waiting,” he says. “Elizabeth... Elizabeth is pregnant.”
Nothing. Not a murmur occurs. Just a long pause of apprehensive gobsmacked silence.
The awkward atmosphere is suddenly broken by Dom. He jumps up from the couch, smiling and clapping his hands. You’d think the Seattle Seahawks had won the super ball the way he’s carrying on.
“Congratulations. Never knew the dead could have kids,” he cheers. “What’s up with you all? It’s good news.”
Ben hits Dom’s arm, hard. “You’re a dumbass. Sit the fuck down. It’s... it’s impossible.” Ben gawps at me for a second.
“Apparently not if I’m drugged with the blood of Meredith.” He smirks angrily. “It seems the task of producing a child was once yours and Laurie’s responsibility,” Adrien explains to Sara. “Until I found you.” He’s regretting bringing Sara back. He’d rather it be her in this mess than me.
I feel like a spare part sitting here. Like some problematic topic to be discussed. I’ve heard enough over the last twenty-four hours, and I’m so tired of it all.
“Oh shit,” Ben gasps. “I’ve heard the old stories. She’s carrying a dhampir.”
“Yes,” I add, boldly. “But irrespective of names, he’s just a baby.”
“Cool, a boy.” Dom offers me an understanding grin. “Liz, I totally agree with you.”
Ben rubs his jaw. “You know this is likely to bring on a war. If Selene wants that baby, she isn’t short of willing vampires that will do what she wants. And if the order find out, we really are screwed this time. This will rip through all the codes and treaties, ever agreed on.”
“That’s why we’re leaving. Right after.” His back arches a little, the thought of turning me is destroying him inside. “Elizabeth becomes a part of our coven.”
Dom’s eyebrows nearly touch his hairline. “Well, I knew it was coming.”
“The child will kill Elizabeth if I don’t do this.” Adrien’s voice pangs with grief.
“Adrien,” Sara utters. “I’m so sorry.”
“What’s the plan?” Ben asks, like he probably once did over a century ago, when serving under Adrien’s command.
“I don’t expect any of you to stay with us,” Adrien states. “This is our problem, and I won’t see you fight and die for it. I’m relinquishing you all from this coven.”
Sara smirks. “So, when Liz goes into labour, you know what you’re doing?” she asks. “No. So it looks like I’m stuck on this shit train also.” She offers me a caring smile.
“Yeah, and me,” Dom pipes up. “I’m not going to be one of Selene’s bitches.”
“And you’re going to need a wing man, like always,” Ben adds.
Adrien drops down onto the arm of the couch, his burden too heavy to carry.
“Look Adrien,” Ben says. “We want to be here, and wouldn’t have it any other way. Besides, you know I’ve been preparing for this. I’ve never trusted Selene.” He pats Adrien’s back. “We need somewhere safe, after, well, you know.” Ben gestures his head at me, referring to the upcoming childbirth horror I have to go through.
They’ve gone into military mode. I can see them thinking hard. Both Ben and Adrien have strategies, locations, and war tactics whizzing around in their heads.
“I have it all in hand,” Adrien replies. “Fake papers, passports, money, travel. It’s all been taken care of.”
Fake papers. What does he mean; different identities. How far do we have to go to get away from this?
“What about Demetrius, and the other members of the order?” Ben asks.
“Selene is our enemy right now,” Adrien replies with piqued lines forming around his eyes.
With my elbows on the table, I circle my fingers on my temple. My brain cannot possibly take in any more information right now.
“Where we going?” Dom asks.
“Canada,” Adrien replies. “I have a house. Secluded. Bought for cash. No one will know who we are. No one will find us,” he insists. “We go separately. No flights to within a two hundred mile radius. Come by donkey if you have to. I don’t care, as long as there are no paper trails to follow,” he warns. “When the baby is born, Sara, you will take it, and meet us there.”
I jump up to my feet. I will not allow anyone to touch our child. Is he fucking insane? No way am I going to stand back while he takes control of everything.
He turns to look at me. “We have no choice, Elizabeth. Selene will expect the child to be with you. They may follow us, and you’re going to be in no fit state to protect it, or yourself.”
I growl out in anger. “First off, our son is not an it!” I yell. “Secondly, no one is taking him away.”
“Liz, please be rational,” Sara appeals. “You’re going to be awakening. You saw Nathan going through it. Would you have trusted him with a tiny baby?”
No, I wouldn’t, but that’s not the point. I can’t just let him go.
Adrien comes to stand before me. He takes my arms and gazes down into my teary eyes.
“You’re going to be going through enough, Elizabeth. The baby has protection, and Sara will keep him safe. If Selene is following anyone, it will be us.”
I take several steps away from him and turn. I head back into the bedroom, unable to be in the same room as any of them.