Not exactly an exciting chapter, but plenty of fluffy between Helen and Nikola, and Helen and Henry. And it explains a few things that might come in handy later. Next chapter we dive right back into the plot.
A darkness swirled in her conscious, building up around her to form a more solid structure. One of the hallways of the sanctuary came into view and Helen found herself standing in the middle of it. She blinked, startled by the sudden change, aware she had just collapsed what felt like moments ago. What on earth . . . ? Helen turned left and right, looking up and down the hallway, but saw nothing. Everything was in it's place, but the deathly quiet that had settled over seemed like a dark presence – normally she could constantly hear some sort of noise. The sanctuary was never this quiet.
Giggling caught her attention and Helen frowned. She turned again just to see a small figure dash around the corner. Curious, she followed. The giggling was already fading away so she hurried to catch up at a brisk walk, surprised that when she turned the corner the tiny figure was already turning another corner. Helen broke into a fast-paced jog to keep up now, wondering just what this little figure was doing wandering the halls of her dream. As she turned the third corner, the little figure had disappeared all together.
"Hello?"
Her voice echoed oddly along the hallway, almost like a cavern. Her brow furrowed as she slowed to a stop halfway down the hall, glancing behind her. No sign of the little figure. What was going on? Perhaps it was all just a vivid dream, brought to life after she'd passed out in the library. Her hand drifted to her abdomen as she remembered distinctly the pain that had flared to life suddenly with no explanation, though it appeared she wasn't pregnant in this particular dream. Again, odd.
A scream startled her out of her thoughts, and she realized it was that of a small child. Male or female, she couldn't tell. But it was loud, shrill, and one of fear and pain – she'd heard that scream very few times from Ashley, and this child almost seemed as if it were being tortured. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized she couldn't move from her spot, however, as if her feet were rooted to the floor. Everything felt odd again, vision tunneling to the point she had began to sink to her knees again. The carpet of the sanctuary hallway pressed against her face and she toppled sideways, trying to breathe, trying to remain conscious . . . .
On the other side, Helen jerked awake screaming, the machines she was connected to going haywire the minute her eyes snapped open. Hands pressed down on either side of her, soothing voices barking out her name in an effort to get her calm down. It took her a moment to realize she was in the infirmary, the very real infirmary, clearly where she'd been taken when she'd passed out. Breathing heavily, Helen calmed herself, and blinked, taking in the faces of Will and Nikola on either side of her.
"Magnus, calm down and lie back." Will ordered and she obeyed with little hesitation.
"Sorry . . . nightmare." She murmured, bringing her hand to her temple. At least, she attempted to until she realized it was restricted by an IV line.
"Helen, look at me." Nikola said suddenly and she did so, frowning as he did.
"Nikola, what's going on? What happened?" She inquired, attempting to sit up, but he shoved her back down as Will moved away to do something on the other end of the room. She couldn't see quite what. She was distracted more so by Nikola as he continued to examine her eyes, tilting her head this way and that in order to get a better look at them. Helen furrowed her brows and attempted to pull away.
"What's wrong?"
"You're sick, Helen." He said slowly. "Demon spawn is already taking it's toll on your body. That pain you felt? Claws scratching down the inside of your body. You freaked out, so the baby freaked out. It responds to you, and apparently myself." He explained carefully. Her hands came to rest across her abdomen and she could feel a faint flutter as she felt something shift. A baby that small didn't normally move, but apparently demon spawn was having none of that.
"So that classifies me as sick?"
"You also passed out because your blood pressure bottomed out, then shot up to hell." Will replied as he came back to her side, a bag of what appeared to be blood in his hand. "Because your little demon baby likes blood just as much as Vlad here. It was taking yours. You've been losing it as fast as we can keep it in you."
"If you think I'm going to start drinking blood as a diet, you've got another thing coming." Helen muttered as she shifted into a more comfortable position, allowing Will to hook up the transplant of blood, letting it flow down her IV line and into her blood stream. Helen sighed.
"No, but perhaps it's time you had a taste of your own medicine and choked down some of my medication to see how it works." Nikola drawled and she rolled her eyes. Karma. Really. And it seemed he was going to rub it in her face. She would have smacked him if lifting her arm wasn't such an effort. Instead, she let her hands remain on the tiny swell of her abdomen, content for the moment as the baby settled.
"I'll go and fetch some, shall I?" Nikola grinned, clearly enjoying it far too much, but the hint of concern in his eyes was still there. He bent and pressed a kiss to her forehead before he left the room, leaving her alone with Will for the time being as he checked over the various monitors she had been hooked up to in her unconscious state.
"What the hell were you dreaming about, Magnus?" He asked. "You were freaking out in your sleep and started screaming . . . ."
"Just an old nightmare, is all." She replied calmly. While she'd never had that dream before, she couldn't understand why it had made her scream like that. Sure, she'd heard a child screaming – or perhaps she'd heard her own screams. Either way, she wasn't sure and thinking about it too in depth was giving her a headache. She shut her eyes a moment, finding it helped somewhat, but when she cracked them open again she found Will staring intently at her.
"What?"
"You look like hell."
"Oh, thanks." Helen nearly snorted.
"No, really Magnus. You're ridiculously pale because of how much life this thing is sucking out of you already. You expect to make it to full term?"
She frowned.
"Are you telling me to get rid of it, Will?" Helen inquired in a cautious, dangerously quiet tone that had Will back-pedaling the minute the words left her mouth. He opened and shut his several times before he managed to get his brain functioning enough to actually spit out words.
"No, I mean – Magnus, your eyes are black."
"What?"
"We don't know why. Henry and the Big Guy have been researching all they can about vampire pregnancies. They are few, very few, and even more so with hybrid ones. Something isn't right, and we can't figure out what it is." Will sighed.
"Then you'll keep pumping blood into my system to sustain it and myself, and we'll figure it out." Helen decreed calmly before letting her eyes slip shut again, hands resting protectively on her abdomen as a fresh blood supply carefully began to make it's way into her system, and effectively, to the child fluttering beneath her fingers. The sensation was odd, really, and one Helen would take some time to getting used to, especially if it reacted to her.
She'd understood it wouldn't be easy from the start, but had tried to push those thoughts aside and enjoy the days before it came to something like this. Clearly those were over, she realized with a soft sigh. Demon spawn would be springing up new problems right and left, even if it was only one quarter vampire. Hell, likely one half due to the amount of source blood in her own system. It was likely the only way she was even able to carry it to begin with, because of the source blood. Normal vampires were made of it. Seeing as she only had it mingled in her own blood, however, she'd expected sooner or later it would pose a problem.
Helen had shared much of it with Nikola, but he'd known. She'd seen the looks every other day, worried and concern that she tried to brush off countless time. So much for her argument in the library; after this, she'd be lucky to come out of her room at all, if Nikola had his way. The others were likely to take his side in it too, unfortunately for her. But after Nikola's little speech, Helen was more inclined to give in, for everyone's sake. Just this once.
Nikola returned with a glass of amber liquid and held it out to her, forcing her to open her eyes and sit up. Will had disappeared from her bedside again. She wrapped her fingers around the chilled glass and took a meager drink of it, surprised to find it tasted of apple juice. There was a bitter after-taste, though, that left a sour feeling in her mouth.
"All of it." He chided as she wrinkled her nose. Helen took another large drink of it, and continued until it was gone from the glass. He took it and set it on her bedside table as she fell back into her pillows. His hand came up to rest on her head, fingers gently massaging her scalp as he watched over her. She gave a half smile.
"I'm fine." She assured, reaching out to wrap her fingers around his. He shook his head.
"Only you, Helen." Nikola sighed. "You scared me. Please don't do that again."
"I will definitely try to control what my demon spawn does to me, then." She gave a nod and he gave a crooked grin. Helen adjusted and was rewarded with another shift of the four month old child growing inside of her. She'd come to the conclusion that most vampire mothers wouldn't feel the movement because of their skin, but to Helen it felt like a constant case of the butterflies had sprung to life.
"It's bigger than normal. Will was saying it's development will be complete about a month and a half before a normal pregnancy, and I'm inclined to agree, judging by the photos." Nikola was saying as his free hand drifted over her abdomen. The minute his fingers touched her skin, the baby gave a pleasant movement that made Helen giggle a moment.
"Can you feel it?" Helen inquired and he nodded.
"Oh, yes. Active little one, isn't is? Going to give us a run for our money in attempting to keep up with it once it learns to crawl, no doubt." Nikola teased and Helen found it refreshing. She had never imagined hearing Nikola even mention a child, but here he was, talking about it plain as day. About their child, no less. It made her smile as she watched him trace patterns across her stomach, entranced by it a moment. Every time he made a pattern, demon spawn followed, creating the sensation of more butterflies than ever. Helen tilted her head back and closed her eyes again, enjoying it for the time being.
Two days and Helen was able to leave the infirmary. The medication she had originally adapted for Nikola was part of her new diet with small doses twice a day, curbing the appetite of the baby to the point that she could keep blood replenished in her system enough to function. As she'd expected, however, they'd thrown her on bed rest. It wasn't entirely bad, however, as she had her laptop and Will brought half her files up from her office. He was taking care of any conferences and relaying information back and forth to her regarding major things, as well as part of her paperwork. He hadn't expected to take over her duties just yet, but Helen had faith he'd be able to manage without her for a few days while she adjusted to her new requirements in order to be able to care for demon spawn properly.
In the meantime when she didn't have work, however, Henry had brought her several books from the library with bits and pieces marked about vampire and hybrid pregnancies. As Nikola had said, they were few and far between, as was the information on them. Gestation was generally seven to eight and a half months, depending, and the baby thrived on whatever blood the mother consumed in her daily routine of feeding – clearly Helen hadn't been eating enough rare steak and it'd turned to her for it's food source. Helen only hoped when it finally did arrive in the world, it's appetite switched to something more human.
She was halfway through a passage about the development of claws and fangs when there was a knock at her bedroom door. Marking her spot, she called for them to enter, smiling when she saw it was Henry.
"Hey,Doc, I brought you a few more books." He nodded to the stack of three or four in his hand, setting them on her nightstand with the others she had yet to skim yet. The ones she had were stacked on the floor beside her.
"Thank you, Henry." She smiled in return and he nodded, fidgeting slightly. She arched a brow. "Something wrong?"
"I just think it's awesome I'm getting a little sibling." He blurted and Helen chuckled.
"I suppose you'll be teaching it the ways of hacking computers and html coding and the like?" She inquired and Henry gave a crooked grin, nodding.
"Oh, of course. Totally. Only the awesome things, though." He clarified and Helen chuckled, which was cut off as she gave a minor hiss. That time when the baby had shifted, it felt as if a claw had caught her. They'd determined they'd been retracted on and off, but apparently demon spawn was on it again. Henry's brow furrowed.
"Are you all right?"
"Just fine. Still trying to get used to my baby with sharp claws it all." She said and resettled. Henry fidgeted again and she reached toward him. "Sit down and give me your hand." She asked of him. She shoved her book out of the way for the moment and he sat down, allowing her to take his hand. She placed his palm where hers had been moments later.
"What are you -?" He began, but she shook her head and rested her own hand just near Henry's, tracing a pattern across briefly. She smiled when she felt demon spawn move in response, and the mild surprise on Henry's face as it moved beneath her hand.
"That's the kid?"
"Yes. Does that quite often." Helen mused. "I'm still not used to it."
"It doesn't hurt?"
"Only when it decides to have claws for a few hours. Otherwise it's just like any other normal child." She shrugged lightly before releasing his hand. He let it linger a moment longer before pulling away with a goofy grin. Helen smiled.
"What?"
"Don't take this the wrong way or anything, but this is the happiest I've seen you in ages." He fidgeted again and Helen studied him a moment. "I mean -! It's good to see you, uh, smile. You're radiant. It's . . . nice?" He offered, continuing. Helen chuckled softly and rested a hand against his cheek.
"Thank you, Henry." She smiled. "I understand what you mean."
She had noticed in herself, briefly, in her reflection the other day. She was practically glowing with a new sort of happiness that she'd associated with her pregnancy. Helen had seen it during her time carrying Ashley, and this time was no different. Perhaps she was simply fit to be a mother, it seemed. Then again, weren't all women? But she wasn't just 'all women'. She was a decades old scientist with a vampire as a lover and a half-breed child currently growing inside of her. Not that it mattered. Every life was sacred, abnormal or not.
"I'll let you read, then. I'll be back with more if we find anything." Henry assured after clearing his throat almost awkward. Helen pulled herself from her thoughts and managed a smile toward him before he slipped out of the room. Helen cast another glance toward the door before she settled back into her pillows, pulling her book back toward her. She paused, however, as she felt demon spawn come to life again with the same butterfly sensation she'd been feeling the past several days.
"You're going to keep us busy. I can already tell." She mused softly, tracing her fingers across the small bump that had somehow grown a bit in the past two days. Now that it was getting what it needed, she'd been warned the development would be a bit faster.
"But I promise we'll keep you safe." Helen continued suddenly, voice serious. "You have parents that love you and a family around you that will make sure you're taken care of should anything happen to me or your dad. Don't forget that." She soothed lightly and it's movements stilled. "We may not be perfect, but I think we can give it a shot. You'll have to ignore your dad sometimes though. He's crazy." She continued, smiling.
"He cares, though. He'll teach you everything you could want to know about inventions before you're six and you might get annoyed with him sometimes, but that's okay. I do too. He's worth keeping around though. He's never been a dad before, so you'll have to forgive him." Helen said, speaking in a tone as if she were speaking to a child right in front of her. Of course, she didn't expect demon spawn to hear or understand, but Helen had spoken to Ashley while she'd been a fetus, and she didn't want to neglect this little one either.
"And I care too. I'll be overprotective and neurotic and I'll love you far too much. You may hate me for it when you get older, but you'll understand why when you hear the stories of your older sister." Helen spoke. "And your older brother is just as excited. Play nicely with him, and no claws. That's not fair." She teased. "And you have Will and Kate and the Big Guy – all of us love you very much already. You're going to grow up in a very different world than what other children get to, but see it as an adventure. You'll be different, yes, but you get to experience things that not many others get the chance to see. I'll take you across the world and be back before bedtime when you're old enough. You'll experience our world, and others – you'll see the most beautiful museums and art galleries and stage shows – everything."
She heard the creak of a floorboard and looked up, surprised to see Nikola lingering in the doorway. She turned a faint shade of red.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to know you think I'm crazy." He teased, pushing off the doorway to come toward her. He circled the bed and perched on the other side near her.
"I'm only teasing."
"Don't listen to your mother, demon spawn. She's a bad influence." Nikola said, gaze straying to her belly. Helen laughed and whacked him with a pillow.
"I'm trying to research, you know." She said and sat up a bit straighter, surprised at how still demon spawn had gotten. In the silence that stretched between them, however, it began to move again. Helen chuckled.
"I think it likes the sound of our voices. Recognizes us." Helen said. Nikola rested his hand against her abdomen without invitation – like he needed one as it stilled again. As the silence stretched on once more, it once more began to move. Nikola smirked.
"Good, demon spawn." He sat back and Helen adjusted again to find a more comfortable position. Nikola shifted with her, kicking off his shoes and climbing on top of the blankets to stretch out, hands tucked behind his head as he reclined against the pillow.
"We should start coming up with names, soon." Helen murmured as she pulled open the book she'd been on and found her marked place. "I've had a few run through my head, but not many." She added. "It would be nice for some input."
"Are we going old fashioned or no?"
"Depends on the name. I despise half the names from our era, so choose wisely." Helen replied, flipping the page as she scanned the text. Nikola glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, but shrugged.
"We can discuss it later. We have a while."
"What? After it's born? Try that stunt and I'll name it Thomas Edison."
He gasped. "You wouldn't!"
Helen smirked.
"Try me, Dracula." She teased, and barely caught the pillow that came flying at her face.