A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews! They really do make me more motivated! Though I really am sorry that I didn't get this updated sooner. I told myself that I was going to get this updated on Valentine's Day but I didn't. If it's any excuse, I had practice that day (which takes forever) and then on Friday I had a bunch of reports and then Saturday a competition. And then I was just too lazy. So, yeah. Please forgive me!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN VAMPIRE KISSES!
It was only an hour after I called that Sebastian showed up at the hospital. Raven was only allowed one visitor tonight so I reluctantly agreed to meet him in the lobby.
When I got down there I spotted my friend instantly. He really stood out in the grand room with his gothic clothing and blond dreadlocks.
He let out an unamused snort as I silently approached him. "You look about twenty years older, mate. What's going on?"
I sighed. "I feel twenty years older. Raven is up in a room in the ICU."
"The ICU? Is she going to be okay? What about the baby?"
We sat down in two armchairs that were on either side of a coffee table scattered with meaningless magazines. I explained to Sebastian everything that Dr. Zaharu told me. His expression grew more and more angry throughout my explanation. He viewed Raven as a sister so I knew this was hard on him as well.
"So you think Luna is the one that poisoned Raven with the Black Iris?"
"Yes. And you go the tap water because it's possible she infiltrated their water system. Black Iris takes several doses to take effect and it's completely harmless to humans and vampires so no one would notice the change."
Sebastian nodded in agreement but then looked at me questioningly. "Do you think Luna is that smart?"
"I've learned not to underestimate her."
After Sebastian left the hospital I made my way back up to the ICU. I'd only been gone for about twenty minutes but that was twenty minutes too long for me. After this happening when I was away from her for a week, I didn't want to be away from her for even a second. If I was, who knows what would happen.
I entered the hospital room to see her in the same state as I'd left her in. The clock on her nightstand read 5:00 AM so I knew the sun would be coming up in a bout a half an hour. Dr. Zaharu had previously explained to me that this hospital room was designed for a vampire patient. There were no windows or mirrors and the only light that could come in to the room was easily turned on and off by a switch. She also said that there was a coffin for me in the walk-in closet.
The coffin was exactly where she'd told me where it would be and I dragged it out, setting it at the side of the bed where Raven lay.
Before I retired I leaned down to gently kiss my pale beauty's forehead with a soft whisper of "Goodnight, love." then, I climbed into the box designed for the dead, like the under worldly monster I was.
Raven's POV
I couldn't tell whether I was conscious or not. My surroundings were unfamiliar to me, yet they felt as real as anything. There was healthy, dark green grass under my bare feet that stretched as far as I could see in all directions. The grass contrasted with the cloudy, milky-white sky that also extended forever.
When I lay down in the lush greenness, the ground began sinking into itself beneath me. I was swallowed into the deepest hole imagined. It seemed everything in this world was never-ending.
Now, surrounded by darkness, I was scared out of my mind. What was going on? How did I get here? Why was I here?
My body didn't feel like mine anymore. It was shriveling up like a flower dying before the arrival of winter. I was slowly dissolving into thin air, my limbs disappearing first until only my core was left. I was an invisible spirit floating above what was left of my body. Suddenly, my core began dissolving, revealing what was inside.
Lying on the ground, at the bottom of the pit, was a tiny infant curled up into the cold dirt.
Alexander's POV
After hours and hours of horrible insomnia I finally sensed the setting of the sun. The lid of the coffin creaked as I pushed it open. Everything was dark except for the lit up buttons and monitors around the bed.
I climbed out of the casket and ruffled my long hair o put it back in place. Even without the ability to see my reflection I know that there were dark purple shadows under my eyes. None of that mattered, however, because I was finally able to watch over Raven. Even though my coffin was set right next to her, I felt like I'd been far away for all those daytime hours.
I reoccupied the chair by her head where I began running my fingers through her silky locks.
The door clicked as someone entered the dark room behind me. They switched the lights on. My eyes adjusted quickly.
"Hello Alexander," Dr. Zaharu greeted me.
I turned around to see her examining her clipboard. "Hello."
She glanced up at me and smiled solemnly. "It seems you got about as much sleep as I did. You look terrible."
I turned back to my girlfriend and scoffed. "Same goes for you." I normally was never rude like that, but in this stressful situation, I didn't really care.
The doctor chuckled humorlessly and flipped through the papers on her clipboard. She checked the two heart monitors, adjusting the one for the baby, and took a few notes.
"It seems there has been some improvement," she stated.
This caught my attention being that it was the only positive I'd heard in a while. "really?"
"Yes, some of the day nurses reported that Raven was saying your name in her sleep- which means she hasn't slipped into a coma and will most likely wake up soon. Also, the baby's heartbeat is slightly stronger."
A small wave of relief washed over me. Or more like a ripple in my personal sea of despair. This meant she was slowly progressing. There was a better chance our child would live.
Raven calling my name puzzled me. Was it in anger? Was she having nightmares of me here? It seemed she was upset with me even when unconscious. I didn't blame her. I was naturally a monster. Something that people feared. Aft the end of the day (or night) I was just an evil, greatly-feared creature that found love, and ruined her life. But I was too selfish to say that I would ever change a thing.
The doctor informed me that Raven's family was coming to see her soon and it would be best if I gave them some privacy. Soon enough, after the doctor left, her family was knocking at the door.
I let them in with some half-hearted greetings. They all appeared just as exhausted and worn-out as I was.
Leaving them to their still-unconscious daughter and sister, I traveled down to the lobby, calling Sebastian on the way. He agreed to meet me there in ten minutes.
When he did he informed me that he found something on Luna.
"Here," he said, placing a small object in my hand. It was a tiny charm of a little pink sparkly bear. I recognized it as one of the charms Luna wore on her boots.
"Where did you find it?"
"When I went to Raven's house a second time I saw it on her dresser. It's obvious that it's not Raven's."
My fist clenched around the little smiling charm. "She's toying with us."
I hadn't realized I was trembling in anger until Sebastian put his hand on my shoulder.
"Whoa, man. Calm down. Your eyes are turning red. We'll figure this out okay?"
I took a deep breath and brushed his hand off my shoulder.
"I have to catch Luna, but I can't leave Raven alone here. If only it were possible to be in two places at once."
Sebastian smiled crookedly. "That's why I'm here. I'm doing my best looking for Luna, I'll find her. You just focus on Raven and your kid. They need you more."
I could never express how grateful I was to have him here. Or even just to have him as a friend. He never asked questions; he already knew what was wrong before you told him. He was a reliable person. He was the most trustworthy person I knew.
We discussed the situation more. Despite us being so different, we thought alike. Sending him out to find Luna was almost like me being out there myself. The only difference was I-unfortunately- had more experience with the pink-hair, conniving vampiress.
Eventually he set back out to continue his investigation, leaving me to find my way back upstairs to Raven's room.
M hear all but jumped into my throat when I got there. Mr. and Mrs. Madison and Billy were standing outside the door and there were nurses going in and out of the hospital rom.
Billy turned around spotting me, and approached me. He looked older than I thought he was.
"Alexander, it's good you're here. She's been asking for you," Billy informed me. Both of his parents approached us when they heard their son speak.
"Who? Dr. Zaharu?" That didn't really explain why there were nurses rushing through the door.
"No, Raven. She woke up and has been asking for you ever since."
This time my heart felt like it really had jumped into my throat.
Conveniently, one of the nurses came over and told us that she ws now stable and one of us could see her.
The Madison's all looked at me expectantly, reminding me of when I brought Raven here yesterday.
I smiled gratefully and quickly made my way to the hospital room.
Quietly, I walked in, the only sound being the soft click of the door behind me.
Raven was lying on the bed still, but now the back was inclined a little so she was half sitting up. She looked up when she heard my entrance.
All I wanted to do was run up to her and hold her in my arms like a little kid seeing his mother after a long time. But, somehow, I refrained myself. Instead I walked hesitantly over and sat down in the chair next to her, all while still keeping eye contact.
We gazed at each other in agonizing silence for what felt like forever, but in reality it was only seconds. It was broken when a lone, glistening tear slid down her cheek.
Before I could even react, I found myself in her embrace. Her frail arms were wrapped around my neck with what seemed to be all of her strength. She was shaking slightly and after a moment I returned the embrace, pulling her closer towards me.
Raven began crying softly into my shoulder which I responded to by stroking her hair gently. Running my fingers through her dark locks, I started to whisper in her ear.
"Shh, I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. Please…" I felt a tear start to slide down my own cheek. My fear and sadness was finally catching up to me but I couldn't let her see. I had to be strong for the both of them.
A/N: I can honestly say that I'm not very happy with this chapter. But now that she's FINALLY awake we can get some more Mommy/Daddy/Baby fluff. Oh how I love that!
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