AN Note: First I would like to give a huge thanks to WWEchica for editing this chapter for me. Secondly, I would thank you, the readers, for all of you reviews. Hope you all enjoy this chapter. :)
"A plane? In your condition?" Eric asked.
I let a chuckle escape my lips. "I'm pregnant, not breakable."
"You're still human." He smiled. "So to me, my dear, you are breakable. Fragile. Might as well be made of porcelain," he added as if to patronize me.
I walked over to the bed were Eric was sitting. I pushed him back a bit and managed to pull myself up and on to his lap. "Made of porcelain, huh?" I leaned in and kissed his forehead, starting a trail of kisses that ended at his mouth.
Deep in the kiss I was planting on him, he managed to mutter, "Mmmmhmmm."
He swung me to the side and laid me on the bed. He was on top of me in a split second. "We have a plane to catch, sir," I stated pushing him off of me. Normally – if I hadn't been right – there's no way that I would have been able to push him off of me so easily.
Godric appeared in the door. "I guess our plans are still on?"
Smiling, I sat up on one elbow and nodded in his direction.
His eyes fixed on me. Child you have to tell him what you want. My eyes shot up and over in his direction. Explain it to him. He'll understand.
I dropped my elbow and laid flat against the bed. Sure, that was easy for him to say (well, think). Here I am, pregnant, and a sick mess for the time being. And Godric wants me to tell Eric that I want Godric to be my maker… yeah, that should go over quite well. I felt Godric's eyes piercing my head. I leaned back further and looked at him. As much as I didn't want to admit it, he was right. Maybe Eric would understand. After all, I was going to be birthing his child. Eric finished packing, while Godric and I waited in the living room. Godric and I were talking about plans for when were returned to Shreveport . I was hoping Godric would stay with us. God knows there is plenty of room in that huge house of Eric's. We gathered the suitcases by the door, and I was warned that if I touched one, it would be the last thing I did. I laughed to myself.
We huddled into the elevator and headed for the loading area. The airport shuttle was idling near the front door. Eric lifted me into the coffin before climbing in himself. Godric then climbed into his coffin for our flight. I just prayed that I wouldn't get sick while we were in flight to our next destination. I laid my head on Eric's chest and slowed my breathing.
Once we had been loaded into the van, I opened my mouth. "Eric?" I questioned in the darkness.
"Yes, my love?" Eric asked as he stroked my back.
I took a deep breath and sighed. "We need to talk."
He shifted beneath me. "About?"
"My turning. I've been thinking about it a lot for the past day or two." I placed my hand on his cheek, using my thumb to caress his face.
"Yes, my love?" He egged me to continue.
Exasperating a deep breath, I began. "I want Godric to be my maker." Pausing, I felt tears well up in my eyes. "It's not that I don't love you or trust you. I just feel that with Godric as my maker, our relationship would be on even ground. It's only fair."
A few long minutes passed, and Eric still didn't move. The tears began freely coursing down my face. He reached down and cupped my face, using his thumbs to wipe my tears away. "If that's your wish, then so be it. You are after all pregnant with my child." I felt his face quickly turn into a smile.
I let out a sigh of relief. "I'm not gonna lie. I thought it'd be harder for you to accept."
He bent down and kissed me. "I'm more understanding than you could believe." He stroked my face. "Especially when it comes to you. Sleep now, my love. When you wake, we'll be at our last destination before we head home."
I slowly drifted into a coma-like state. Everything was rather peaceful and serene. That was until about three hours into the flight. My body began violently shaking, yet again. This time worse than before. I gasped for air as I felt like I was drowning. Eric was awakened by the commotion going on in our coffin. He quickly pulled his phone out his pocket to check the time. It was around five pm. He threw the lid off the coffin. He stepped out, then turned around and reached in for me. He gently placed me on the floor of the cargo bay, trying not to freak out. Quickly, he knocked on Godric's coffin, and was at my side seconds later. Godric flew out of his coffin and headed for the main cabin of the plane. He returned moments later with a doctor. My body was seizing. The doctor directed Eric and Godric to stand back. My eyes were rapidly moving around and I came face to face with this doctor.
It was Dr. Ludwig, a staple at Fangtasia. She was there whenever she was need to heal a fangbanger or vampire's pet . I'm guessing Eric had offered her a hefty payment to take care of me while I was pregnant. I blacked out awhile. When I came to it was sever-thirty, Dr. Ludwig had hooked me up to an IV.
"Am I gonna be okay, doc?" I choked out in a raspy low voice.
"Well, now, that depends," the dwarf-like doctor started, "How long you plan to carry this thing?"
I felt my stomach send sharp pains throughout my body. The baby wasn't happy and neither was I. I sat up, despite how excruciating it was, and found myself at eye level with Dr. Ludwig.
"I plan on carrying this CHILD until it is time for me to have it." I paused as tears rolled down my cheeks. The pains started to slowly decrease. "Do you understand?"
Before Dr. Ludwig could answer, Eric stepped in. "Giselle you can't put yourself in danger like this. I won't have it!"
Swallowing a few more tears, I whispered, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I can't give up on our child. There's no telling if or when I could get pregnant again, and once I'm turned, it will never happen."
Godric's eyes were intently fixed on me. He placed his hand on Eric's shoulder – without words telling Eric that he had to accept this.
"Well then… there's no telling if you'll be okay or not. But I'll do my best to keep you alive," Dr. Ludwig stated as she started to gather the tools that were spread around me on the floor. Once she had her bag together, she reached out and checked my vitals. "I'm gonna remove the IV now. You should be okay for the time being."
She slowly removed the IV, and then covered the punctured spot with a bandage before the blood could show. Eric picked me up and carried me to the cabin of the plane. He laid me on a seat by a window. I looked out and below us saw a sprawling countryside cloaked in darkness. Even then, it still looked gorgeous.
Eric, taking his rightful place next to me, leaned in and whispered in my ear, "This is where it all began." We sat in silence for a few moments with our fingers laced together, when I felt the sudden urge to hit the bathroom. I quickly rose to my feet and shuffled toward the bathroom. Once inside with the door locked, I hunched over the toilet and began throwing up. Once the fit stopped, I sat down on the floor with my back against the wall and started rubbing my stomach.
"Baby," I started in low soothing voice, "This has got to stop." I paused for a moment. I felt a movement, as if I had the baby's attention. "You're killing me," I continued, tears freely flowing, "I love you more than anything, but I need you to stop the sickness. If not, they'll try and take you away from me. And I don't want that." I felt a little fist run the length of the bump that had started showing. I whispered, "Thank you." I gripped the edge of the sink and pulled myself to my feet.
Managing to fix myself a little in the mirror, I gave a smile. I wiggled my way back to the aisle in which Godric and Eric sat gracefully. The plane ride only lasted about another hour or two. Touching down on the tarmac of yet another foreign country, I grinned to myself. I had become more traveled in the past few weeks than I had been in my 23 years on this planet. A group of very intriguing vampires greeted us once we were off of the plane.
Standing sandwiched between Godric and Eric, I looked up at the elder vampire in question. Godric whispered, "These are some of the oldest vampires in the world. Though none are nearly as old as I." He smiled down at me, before adding, "You'll be safe. I swear it."
"Godric! Eric! It's been many centuries," said the thick-accented, short, stocky brunette woman at the center of the gathering. She turned her sights on me and asked, "Hmmm who do we have here?"
"Aradea. Still beautiful after all these years," Eric cordially responded, "This here is Giselle. My…" He paused, looking for the right wording for what we were, "She's to be my wife." Breathing deeply, he was thinking about whether or not to tell them about my pregnancy. He decided he better before they found on their own. "She's also the mother of my child," he added placing his hand over my stomach.
Aradea, who was the clear leader and authority of this nest, stared in amazement. Godric broke the few moments of silence, "Atheos." He nodded towards the tallest, scariest one of the bunch. "It's been too long."
"A lifetime, brother," the vamp now known as Atheos responded.
"Come. We have a lot to catch up on. First, we'll get you situated," Aradea stated moving swiftly towards a fleet of cars. There were enough to accommodate the fleet of vampires she had in tow.
We joined Aradea in her vehicle. The silence didn't last too long.
"How are you adapting to this… way of life?" Aradea asked, trying not to sound as judgmental as she was. This air breather, Eric's? It's hard to believe that the ancient Viking who had once killed entire villages of people, before my very eyes, could be in love. Especially with someone like that.
I tensed a bit; Godric sensed it, placing his hand over mine. "Very easily. I've spent a number of years living with Godric." I smiled. "Never really had a problem with it." I was hoping my answer would satisfy Aradea.
"If Godric cares for you, then you must be something extraordinary." Her picturesque face shone in the moonlight.
"She is. You could say I've taken her in as my own," he grinned through the tension.
"I see," she added. She really must be something.
After a lengthy casual conversation – at least, as casual as conversation was between vampires – we arrived at what could only be described as a castle. Stepping out of the car with Eric's assistance, he whispered in my ear, "This was the first nest Godric and I were a part of after my turning." I was learning more about both of them as we went along.
As gracefully as I could, I strode into the castle by Eric's side. Money and wealth were not shy in this place. Stone archways lined the stairs up to an elaborate wooden door. To say I was in awe would have been an understatement. I picked my jaw up off of the floor and moved swiftly by Eric's side. We entered a grand foyer, windows draped with rich panels, chairs covered in ancient yet pristine fabrics, and antique wood from one end of the "house" to the other.
Godric nudged me a little to snap me out a state of amazement. Shaking my head, I fell right in tow with the group that was moving quickly throughout the house. We came to stop at what could have passed as a gallery. And there, on the wall, was a painting of Eric and me (in our past life, of course). I choked up a bit, swallowing back the tears that began welling up. At that moment, Aradea snapped her neck towards me, eyes wide in shock. It hit her that that was me in the painting with Eric. She floated effortlessly over to me.
"That's why I recognized you," she said eyeing me up and down, "You're Josephine. I wonder…do you posses the talent you had then?"
I looked stunned. She may not be leaving here. Aradea was a strong transmitter.