Hey guys, I'm back! So hopefully now that summer is here, I will be able to upload every couple of weeks now. Don't forget to review!
Aleera at first had a wave of shock come over her face, but it quickly went away and was replaced by a smile of pure joy.
"That is wonderful! When should we expect to see the little one running along the halls?" This question was more hurtful to both Marishka and Verona than Aleera could have ever imagine.
They both looked at each other. Tears started to form in Verona's eyes. She then sat down and started to weep into her hands. Marishka sat next to her and placed an arm around her to comfort her. She then started to cry on Marishka's shoulder. Aleera had never expected to see such emotions from her eldest sister who was always so reserved and rarely showed emotion.
"There is something we have to tell you, Aleera," Marishka said in a choked voice.
Verona was still crying, but it started to lessen as time wore on. Aleera looked curiously at the both of them.
"This is not the first time that she is going to have children. We have both had our share over the years. The thought of having children is something that we both hold dearly to our hearts." Marishka then got up, still comforting Verona, who had started to regain her composure.
"There is something we need to show you." They then lead Aleera out of Marishka's room to the grand hall where they stopped in the middle of the floor.
"What is down here?"
"Look above you," Marishka said as she pointed to the ceiling.
Aleera looked above her and saw the thousands of slime covered sacks that hung on the ceiling. There were so many, that some were hanging off or the pillars that lined the hall. She at first was repulsed by them, but when she looked back to her sisters, she noticed that they weren't there and that they were on the ceiling next to the sacks. Aleera flew up after them and stood next to them.
"What are in these?"
"Our children. They are born dead and it not only pains us but also the master."
"That is why he is always in his study. He is trying to find a way to bring them to life."
Aleera then kneeled next to one of the sacks and placed her hand on it. She could feel no heart beat coming from inside it. She then turned to Verona, who was looking at her and Marishka's children. Aleera then wrapped her arms around her eldest sister, who did not expect this. Verona at first was bewildered at the reaction of Aleera, but soon hugged her back.
The weeks passed and Verona had her children, who were still born just like the rest had been. Verona went into a deep depression that Marishka and Aleera could not get her out of alone. It took the combined forces of the two of them to have her regain her normal characteristics. It took her a while to be able to talk to anyone, but when she came around, she was even closer to her sisters.
One night Aleera noticed that she was feeling stranger than she had in the past. She thought about talking to Marishka about it, for Verona and Dracula were out hunting. She was sitting at her window one night when Marishka entered her room.
"I am so bored. Do you want to go for a midnight flight Aleera?"
"I'm not in the mood."
Marishka was confused because she had never refused that offer before. She then sat down next to her and took her hand.
"What is wrong Aleera?"
"It is nothing."
"There is something troubling you. I know you all too well. Tell me what the matter is."
"I haven't been feeling myself lately. I just feel strange, that's all."
"Your body is finally getting used to this new lifestyle, that's all it is."
"It's not that at all. I have been having weird dreams."
"What of?"
"I can never remember them."
Marishka then looked sternly at her. She then took her face in her hands and turned it towards her.
"Do you feel cravings at all? A certain need to kill or a constant thirst?"
"How did you know? Did this happen to you after your change?"
"Yes, and many times after it."
Aleera looked at her with a puzzled look on her face.
Marishka looked at her bewildered, "You seriously don't know what is happening to you?"
"No I don't, honestly."
Marishka then took a deep breath and placed her hand on Aleera' shoulder.
"You're pregnant."
"What? How?"
"I don't think I need to go into details about the how part of your question, but yes it is true."
Aleera started beaming. She then hugged Marishka, almost making her fall backwards.
"Oh I never thought this day would come. I am going to be a mother!"
Marishka said nothing; she only looked down at the floor. Aleera then looked at her.
"Why are you not celebrating with me?"
"You are right, we should be happy. We will tell the Master as soon as he gets home."
Aleera could not stop smiling till Dracula and Verona got back. When they did, Dracula noticed his bride's unusual behavior.
"Why so happy, Aleera?" Verona asked her.
"She has something…" but Marishka was cut off when Aleera started talking.
"I'm pregnant!"
Verona took a step back while Dracula had a surprised look on his face that soon became a joyous one. Verona then stepped over towards Marishka and the two started talking quietly among themselves.
Dracula took Aleera in his arms and then embraced her tightly. He then kissed her and smiled down at her. She could not help but smile back up at him.
"This is wonderful news my dear. Why did you not tell me earlier?"
"I didn't know until just now."
Aleera then looked over and her sisters and noticed how they both had a worried look on their faces. They saw that she was looking at them, and they turned and went back into their conversation.
"What's wrong with them, master?"
Dracula looked over at them and saw the knowledge of the pain to come for their younger sister in their eyes. He then looked down at his youngest bride. He did not want to cause her any worry while she was so happy.
"It is nothing my dear, and now you must be off to bed."
"Why do you treat me like a child?"
"It is because you are still so fragile and innocent. Plus you are the youngest, so it almost comes natural, but no need to worry; you will soon have your own children."
He then kissed her again and looked over at his other brides.
"Marishka, would you make sure that your sister gets to her room safely and without and delays?"
"Of course, master."
She then took Aleera by the arm and the two of them left Verona and Dracula in the room.
As soon as she left, Dracula immediately lost the previous expression on his face and replaced it with one of worry. He then turned to Verona, who noticed this change. He then started pacing the floor, not making a sound.
"Why did you not tell her?" Verona asked after a period of silence.
"Did you not see the joy in her? Would you have been able to tell her of the heart ache that was yet to come to her?"
Verona lowered her head, knowing that what he was saying was true.
"When will we tell her?"
"Don't tell her, it will only make it all the more painful for her."
"But my lord, she has to know at some point in time."
"She will know when the time is right." He then turned around and looked at her. Even though his face showed no emotion, Verona could see that there was discomfort in his eyes.
"Vladislaus…"
Dracula then had a small smile come across his face.
"It has been ages since I last heard that." He then walked up to her and took her hands in his. His face became serious again.
"You and Marishka will tell her when the time is right. Be careful though, I know the two of you didn't take it well, so there is no telling what she will do."
"Yes, she is as wild as a stallion. Hopefully that will mellow as time wears on."
"It is almost sunrise."
"Yes, I should be going. Until tomorrow, my lord." She then kissed his cheek and walked out of the room.
The next few weeks passed and Aleera was still joyous over the fact that she would be a mother. Verona was unsure of when to tell her about what was to come, while Marishka was not sure of how to tell her. They stayed at her side, tending to her every need. Aleera started to like the idea of them acting like servants to her. She was at first grateful of the help, but quickly started to abuse her power. Verona noticed as soon as it started. Marishka was not as observant and continued to perform Aleera's every wish.
As it grew closer and closer to the time for Aleera to have her children, Marishka sat Aleera down next to her one night, and decided that she needed to tell her.
"Aleera, we need to talk."
"What is the matter Marishka? You and Verona have both been acting rather odd lately."
"It's because of you."
"What? I have done nothing wrong to cause either of you pain."
"You have done nothing wrong, other than abuse our help, but we are just worried about how you will deal with this?"
"What do you mean?"
Marishka then took a deep breath.
"Guess how many times Verona and I have had children."
Aleera pondered this question for a minute. She then gave up on the whole idea and simply replied back with, "I have no idea. Please, do tell me," even though she was not very interested in that at the moment.
"Over the years, the both of us combined have given birth over a hundred times, and every time, they are born dead."
Aleera then put her hand over her dead heart. She started to feel sympathy for her sister, but then she started to worry that the same fate would be in store for her children. The reality of the matter then hit her. The tears then started to fall from her eyes, slowly at first but gradually faster. She then cupped her face in her hands and started weeping heavily.
Marishka wrapped her arm around her to comfort her. Aleera then looked up, tears still falling, and hugged her sister. Marishka was taken aback a little, but then started trying to calm her down by stroking her hair.
The door then opened and Marishka looked up and saw Verona. One look let her know that Marishka had already told her. Verona then sat on Aleera's other side and laid a hand on her shoulder. Verona knew that she would take the news hard, and figured that the best thing to do was to comfort her. The door then opened again. This time it was Dracula who walked into the room.
"What has her upset? Verona? Marishka?"
"We have told her of what is to come."
Dracula's eyes then turned their icy blue.
"I told you to tell her when the time was right!"
"Yes my lord, but she needed to know the truth before it happened."
Dracula then hit his fist against the door so hard that it almost came off of its hinges, which took a lot of force considering that the door was very thick and the hinges were made out of iron. Aleera then looked up at him, her eyes red from all the crying. Marishka and Verona started to become worried, for they had seen before what Dracula's rage could do to someone. Vlad then looked at his brides and noticed how Marishka's eyes had turned their golden yellow, Verona's were her pale green, and, even though they were red, Aleera's had changed to their deep pink.
Vlad then started to calm himself down and regained his composure.
"Come, my brides." They all then got up and glided over to him and started to kiss him. Marishka and Verona each took one side of his face, while Aleera kissed his mouth. He returned their kisses with as much sincerity as they had passion for him.
As the week progressed, Aleera started to grow worried about the fate of her children. The others would notice her occasionally looking down at her stomach and smiling. When she noticed that they were watching her, she would look up at them and felt embarrassed. She would start to feel her cheeks flush and would look at the ground. Dracula was now spending more time in his study, looking for ways to bring his children to life. Verona was busying herself with reading in the library. Marishka was keeping her youngest sister company and starting to prepare for the day of Aleera's delivery.
Towards the end of the week the day came. As soon as Aleera started to give birth, Marishka and Verona sensed it and quickly went to her. Dracula also sensed the excitement in his brides. He quickly walked to where his brides were. When he got there, it was over, which secretly he was thankful for because he really didn't want to witness the whole ordeal. As he walked up to them, he could tell Aleera was trying to hold back tears. When she looked up at him, she ran to him and buried her face into his chest and started to cry. Marishka and Verona them came up and started to comfort her.
"I h-hoped that t-t-this wouldn't h-happen," she said in between sobs.
"As did the rest of us, my dear, but we will bring them to life, some day." Dracula then softly caressed her cheek. He then looked at his other brides and noticed that they too were in a deep pit of emotional despair as well.
"Do not worry, I will find a way to bring our children to life. Now let us leave, the time has come for us to feed," and with that Dracula leapt off the ceiling and flew out the window. Verona was the first to follow, closely trailed by Marishka, who then turned and looked at Aleera, who was still on the ceiling.
"Are you coming Aleera?"
"I don't know. I feel completely drained."
"I am sure that if you kill a few peasants you will start to feel like your old self. Besides, I am sure there are humans in the village who have children, and why should they have something that we can not?"
A fire suddenly grew in Aleera's eyes at the mention of children. She then flew next to her sister.
"We should not let the humans have something that we are not able to have, and who knows, maybe some young blood will bring my joy," and with that, the two quickly caught up to their sister and master. When Dracula looked back at Aleera, he saw that she had a wild look in her eyes and that she had a smirk on her face.
They will rue the day that they gave birth to their children, Aleera thought to herself. She then let out a shrill laugh that pierced the night sky.
I hope that you liked it! Please, please, please, please, PLEASE review! If there are any ideas that you have for this story for future chapters, or to make it better don't hesitate to voice your opinions (honestly they really help). Until next time!