Chapter Thirteen

"No," Miranda begged, tears blurring her vision. "Not again." As if triggered by her words, a pain shot through her. She doubled.

Mick held her up as Michael waved to someone.

Right on cue, Jonathan appeared. He was dressed for the party but the concern on his face showed that the festivities were the last thing on his mind. "We need to get her to lie down."

In a whirl, Michael had them all in a study. Miranda was laying on a couch with Jonathan examining her. His expression was surprising blank. Mick, Josef and Aubrey hovered around. Michael and Jean-Claude were standing only a short distance father away. When Jonathan straitened everyone watched him expectantly.

"I can't explain it," he said, "She's bigger now than she was two days ago." He looked at Miranda, addressing her. "The baby has grown more in the last two days that most do in two weeks."

"What's that mean?" Miranda asked her voice scared. Mick grabbed her hand.

"I don't know," Jonathan said. "I think this child isn't just human. I don't think this is just a normal pregnant. I think, this baby is a vampire too." He looked at Miranda as if just remembering something. "Have you been thirsty lately?"

"What?" Miranda looked at him. "I've been eating and drinking normally."

"No, Miranda," Jonathan's gaze intensified. "Have you been thirsty?"

Her eyes widened. "No-" She cut off at a strange thought that had crossed her mind the night before when she had grabbed Mick's glass. "Yes," She looked at him, explaining. "I wanted to drink Mick's glass last night."

Jonathan smiled. "I think the child is human enough to grow, to mature and to turn you back but its vampire enough to crave blood and grow far to fast for normal."

"That's a lot of assumption," Michael whispered.

"I've never encountered one such as Miranda or her child before," Jonathan defended.

"Enough," Miranda growled. "What does this all mean for me?"

"The child will kill you," Jonathan said. "A human cannot undergo such strain."

"There is no chance?"

Jonathan was kneeling before her. "Miranda," he shook her shoulders. "This creature will kill you. It will either rupture your internal organs or snap you spine!"

Only Miranda and Aubrey flinched. "Jonathan, I have to take the chance that you're wrong."

"For god's sake woman!" Jonathan snarled, his vampire side closer to the surface than he would have liked. "I've been practicing medicine for over 200 years. If there is one thing I know it's the human body. This. child. will. kill. you."

"Jonathan-"

"Can't you be happy with the girl, Zoe? Why do you need this?"

"Because it's MINE!" Miranda cried. "You weren't turned on accident before you knew that feeling! This is my only chance! Damn it, Jonathan, can't you understand that."

"Miranda," Mick said, calmly from behind her. "You have to think for your own health."

"Mick, don't," Miranda started.

"Miranda," Michael whispered, command all there attention. "We all care about you, in some way or another. I care about you because they do. They care about you because you are a friend or lover or sister. Let us take a vote, if we win, you allow us to do what is best for you. If you win, you may do whatever you wish."

Miranda shook her head. "No."

"The woman is not thinking clearly," Jean-Claude said, "I vote for her life."

"I must agree, Miranda," Jonathan whispered.

Miranda shook her head, looking around at Aubrey, Mick and Josef.

Aubrey looked down at the ground then up at her sister. "Miranda, I'm sorry. But I need you and Zoe needs you. I vote, for what my vote may mean, for you."

"Aubrey-"

"Miranda, you have to understand we care about you, and want what's best for you," Josef said. "I would love to have a little niece or nephew but I don't want one at the cost of your life. I will not have another grave I have to visit. I vote for your life."

"Josef, please," Miranda sobbed, her frantic eyes landing on Mick. "Mick."

"I love you, Miranda," Mick said. "I love you more than life itself. I can't lose you. I want this child too but I can't lose you. I can't raise Zoe on my own."

Miranda sobbed, "NO!"

Michael nodded. "The votes have been cast Miranda."

"You can't do this!"

"I'm afraid we can," Michael said. He walked closer, which caused her to draw away. "What is the best way?"

"A normal abortion could cause problems for Miranda," Jonathan said, his eyes calculating as he watched her draw herself away from everyone. "I would say…turn her back"

"Please! Please, don't do this," Miranda begged. "Don't kill my child!"

"Mick, will you?" Michael asked.

Miranda's large eyes turned towards him. They begged him for mercy, not on her but on their child. He circled the couch. "I'm sorry, Miranda." Disbelief shined in her eyes as his vampire features took over and he reached for her.

"Mick, NO!" Miranda's human arms were little defense, as Micheal grabbed her thin arms and held them in a useless position as Mick went for her jugular vein. As he bite down, she whimpered, something that sounded vaguely like a prayer.

The vampire's watched him closely, some feeling sad, some merely feeling sorry for the woman. Aubrey couldn't watch and turned, barring her face in Josef's chest. Josef could feel her body as the sobs racked her thin frame. He felt sick.

At the last second, Mick pulled back. Miranda was limp in his arms. Tears pricked his eyes as he slit his wrist, dripping the blood down Miranda's throat. Josef walked forward, taking the still shaking Aubrey with him. He slit his wrist, dropping a few drops into Miranda's mouth, whispering, "For control."

It took only moments before Miranda's eyes snapped open. They were silver. A moment later she was up and on the far side of the room. The other vampire's could feel the waves of pain, hurt and sorrow pouring off the re-turn.

"How could you!" Her voice rang loud and cold. "How could you make such a decision so coldly?" Shaking, she fled the room.

"What have we done?" Aubrey whispered.

"Saved her life," Michael offered.

"And created an enemy," Josef whispered. "She'll never forgive this".

"She will with time," Jean-Claude said.

"You don't know Miranda," Mick whispered. "She could hate us forever."

"Even you?" Michael asked.

"Especially me," Mick said, he looked down at his hands. "I promised I'd never hurt her again."

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