The sound of his wife's startled screams as he bit her still echoed within LaCroix's memories to this day and plagued him during his darkest of meditations.
Tonight was no exception. After arriving at his flat LaCroix ignited a fire in his seldom used fireplace then helped himself to a glass of one of his best vintages.
Yet as he gently swirled the glass' dark contents the vampire suddenly lost his appetite. LaCroix set his glass down and after fishing inside his jacket pocket pulled out a small folded handkerchief. Gently thumbing the delicate linen open revealed a small ornate tear drop shaped ruby and gold pendant attached to a matching gold chain.
LaCroix gingerly extracted the pendant from its nest and held it by its chain against the flickering flames. The blood red stone shimmered in the dim light just as it had over eight hundred years ago when LaCroix had first presented it to Magdalena.
~October 1192~
They were lying in front of the roaring fireplace stretched out on soft furs.
Magdalena was propped up by a mound of pillows and nibbling on chopped bits of asparagus.
"Must you chew so loudly, ma cherie? Cows are not nearly so loud." LaCroix remarked.
The patrician barely dodged a hurled chunk of vegetable aimed for his head.
"Quiet, Lucien, when you are six months with child then we shall discuss your table manners. Until then let me be. Besides my sister says that eating asparagus will give us a son." Magdalena stated matter of factly.
"Your sister also says that toadstools can predict the future." LaCroix muttered.
Before Magdalena could reply a surprised gasp escaped her throat followed by a pleasant smile.
"Did it move?" LaCroix asked.
Magdalena nodded, "He did indeed. Put your hand here." she instructed.
Taking her husband's hand in her own Magdalena placed it on her prominent belly. Just as LaCroix's hand rested on her belly the unborn child quickened once more lightly kicking against his father's hand.
"He has your strength, mon amour." Magdalena commented.
"How are you so certain the child is a boy?" LaCroix inquired.
"A mother's intuition. Besides I've eaten enough asparagus to throttle a horse." Magdalena replied.
"Magdalena, a thousand lifetimes could never give me the time to properly express my gratitude for what you've done. But I'm sure that this will be a step in the right direction." LaCroix whispered as he held out the ruby necklace.
Magdalena's eyes grew wide, "Lucien, I…" she stammered.
"Never asked for anything other than to bear our child. I know but you are my wife now, ma cherie, and I don't need an excuse to dote on you." LaCroix finished as he placed the necklace around her slender throat.
Magdalena smiled and pulled LaCroix into a deep passionate kiss.
A nostalgic sigh escaped LaCroix's throat such tender moments had been common during Magdalena's pregnancy. They had been a welcome relief between the bouts of morning sickness, mood swings, and strange cravings.
Before they had met Magdalena had lived a peasant's life dependent on what ever sustenance toiling in the earth and her skills as a wise woman could provide. After becoming the wife of a noble and pregnant Magdalena had become a complete carnivore eating only meats save for her regular doses of asparagus. She'd been especially fond of rare beef.
'Which could explain why Nicholas can drink cow's blood without vomiting.' LaCroix mused as he sipped his drink.
Though Nicholas had grown from a helpless infant to a fiercely independent man LaCroix couldn't bear the thought of letting Magdalena's child go. He'd been forced to give Nicholas up once and LaCroix had no intention of doing so ever again.