Birth
#29 of the 100 Writing Prompts
Disclaimer: I do not own "Vampire Knight"
Warning: This might be spoilers for Chapter 29? Maybe?
"She's going to have a baby."
The servant was solemn, his voice monotonous, as though he announced news such as this every day. The message filled the room, an expansive sitting lounge splattered with futons, thick rugs and books, all dwarfed by the monstrous fireplace on the eastern wall. It was followed by a deafening and frigid silence from the room's only occupant, who sat lazily in a tall, high-back chair in front of the fire.
The servant kept his eyes lowered, his back bent, and his hands at his sides. He could not leave until the pureblood acknowledged his message and indicated whether he wanted to send a reply.
Rido said nothing. In his hand, he continued to play with the black pawn, rolling it around and around between his fingers.
So she was going to have a baby... his baby. No. He couldn't think of it like that. The child was only another tool, another pawn in this endless game. It had a role, a purpose, a duty to fulfill the moment it had been conceived. Affection, love; it was all pointless.
He began to laugh, a cruel, dry chuckle that shattered the silence. Forcefully, he placed the pawn back on the chess board in front of him, all but slamming onto a square far from the king.
"Is that so? She's really going to have a baby?" He cocked his head toward the door, although he already knew the answer. The servant nodded once.
"Well..." he said slowly, drawing out each syllable. "Please congratulate the Shiki family on their new addition for me." He didn't pretend to be happy at the news. Everyone knew that this was a political move, a strategic effort by the already powerful Shiki family to solidify their connection with those of pure blood. He'd play along, of course, and give the council what they wanted, cater to their petty whims.
It did wonders for ruining the boredom of this ceaseless life.
Satisfied with the news and his own response, he snarled at the servant to leave, an action the younger vampire quickly took. Now alone once again, Rido's mind wandered. His thoughts probed into the deeper, darker, unexplored corners of his head.
Would the child look like him? Or would it be more like its lovely mother? How long would it take for it's family to wrap it up in petty vampire power struggles, vendettas and feuds? How long would it take Rido to find some purpose for this child, something to undoubtedly suit his owns needs?
He stared at the chess set, but made no more moves.
His brother and sister already had a child. He couldn't stand the way they fluttered about the boy, and he hated the way they looked so joyful and proud. Rido's long, spidery fingers twitched at his side.
Haruka and Juuri were going to try and shelter the child, keep him out of the playground so-to-speak. He thought that this was quite an admirable goal, if an impossible one. No pureblood would be forgotten by the council, try as his siblings might.
He couldn't stop the image of Juuri's glowing face from coming to his mind. She had been so happy when she had become a mother...
Two eyes, one crimson and one sapphire, were burning. This part of the game had come to an end. The Shiki's got what they wanted and he would wait for the next scheme the council hatched.
"That's all he said, Master" the servant repeated dutifully back to the elder aristocrat. His report had gone well; he'd be rewarded later tonight.
She sat on a plush chair in the corner, out of the way. Her hands rested on her lower abdomen, bunching the purple wool of her hand knit sweater in her tightened grasp. Desperately she tried not to let her despair show through. It had been a foolish notion, but she had dared to hope that Rido might... care about his offspring, at least a small tiny bit. But, she had been a fool.
She wouldn't ever say it, but she felt sorry for her unborn baby, to be born into such a world.
A/N: Now that I think I've completely twisted their personalities...
The last drabble gave me a whole bunch of bunnies for Shiki-centric angst drabbles, so from that, came this. I spent a while wondering if Rido every truely felt any sort of fatherly emotion towards Senri. It makes me sad, but somehow, I doubt he did...
Quick side note: "Breaking Dawn" is coming out tonight - don't expect any updates until Sunday night at the latest.
Next Prompt: Death
