She gazed out her bedroom window, reflecting on her most recent dream. It was familiar, yet also foreign. A forest, for which she journeyed through, hearing far off into the distance screams of innocent victims. She would run toward the direction of their calls, never having been able to find them. It was always the notion that it was her beloved friends in danger and yet their names always escaped her within the confines of the dream. It was not uncommon, she was sure, though she was intrigued with the familiarity factor of the dream. She knew that forest... a memory, perhaps?
The doorknob to the room jiggled, allowing for the door to be opened. Her face brightened as she found her visitor was Raige, coming to sit beside her on the bed she now lied upon. His beautiful eyes glistened joyously and a warm smile adorned his flawless face. He moved a lock of her hair to behind her ear and she tenderly held his hand with her own.
"How do you feel?" he asked, placing a hand on her enlarged belly. She chuckled as the baby moved beneath the warmth of his hand.
"Wonderful," she replied. Although ominously, the nagging thought of the dream suddenly drawing concern to her, though she attempted to mask it. Raige wouldn't know what the dream meant... right?
Raige looked into the wonderful depths of Alice's eyes. He leaned in placing a loving kiss upon her lips. It was supposed to be a quick kiss, just one that would get him through the day, but he found Alice wanted a little more. Her lips parted as she brought her hand to tangle in his hair. He drew back slightly, a breathy laugh left him.
ReplyDelete"Alice, my love, I brought you something." He reached behind him and revealed a small basket of peaches. Her laughter filled the room as she reached over and took the basket.
"Raige my darling, you are starting to catch on." He could not help but smile as she carefully picked one from the basket. So picky, he thought.
She bit eagerly into the peach, relishing in its taste. As she continued eating, she felt the babe shift inside and she would smile every time it did so. Her eyes remained on Raige, her smiles indicating to him when to feel the babe's movements. Even within these moments of what seemed like endless happiness, Alice's mind wandered every once in a while to the peculiarities she felt lately... Of course, she felt completely horrible having nearly forgotten Dusk's name the other day... Could it be true she was beginning to lose her grip? She shook her head, distasteful of the idea.
ReplyDeleteShe bit the last bite of the peach and her entire body shivered. She wondered if it was a sign of an ominous presence, until she felt a small sting of pain. She moaned as it increased and gasped as it's sudden growth overwhelmed her.
"R-Raige," she whimpered, trying to answer his concerned expression and finding herself unable to do so without yelping in pain.
Her small startled cries is what spurred Raige to motion. Instantly he was beside her, lending any and all support he could, but alas, child birth was a foreign experience to him. He was not present during the birth of his son, nor his precious daughter. This was his third child yet it was as if it were his first.
ReplyDeleteAlice clung tightly to his hand as she struggled to remain calm. "Alice darling, what do you want me to do?" He cursed himself for his ignorance in the matter. He should have prepared more thoroughly yet he found himself too preoccupied with another matter. Recently he had become more blood thirsty. Drinking more than normal. When he shifted to hunt he found himself enjoying the sweet bitter taste of the kills blood. It made him nervous, the last time he lost control he bit Alice and she nearly died. . .he prayed he had enough control to avoid it happening once more.
"F-find... someone," Alice gasped, the rest of her breath exhausted in her screams. She had a specific person in mind, but at the moment the name escaped her. She could easily picture her long flowing hair of orange, but the world be damned before she could conjure her name before the babe's arrival. Instead, she recalled the person who was more easily identifiable and tried to convey her to Raige.
ReplyDelete"Sakura!!" Alice finally bellowed, the intensity of her contractions worsening.
He could not bear her screams. He took out his cell phone and proceeded to call Sakura. She answered in a sweet happy tone. He heard her giggle a couple of times and heard the deep voice of his brother in the background. Raige rolled his eyes. His brother truly amazed him.
ReplyDelete"Sakura, Alice is in labor! Come quick!" He didn't mean to sound commanding but he could not bear Alice in pain.
The phone grew quiet and Raige thought she had hung up.
"I wil be there in 5 minutes. Elevate her back with pillows. I want you to have towels and hot water by the time I get there ok?"
"Right" He hung up and moved to carry out the instructions. He settled back next to Alice who's screams had become excruciating.
Then he smelled it. The sweet smell of blood. He hissed jumping back from Alice. No... no! Control yourself Raige! He tried his hardest to contain the vampire within but he was losing. . .
Her voice quivered in her screams as she felt the head start pushing its way through the opening. The urge to push was overwhelming and Alice couldn't be sure Sakura would make it in time. The agony grew the more she resisted pushing and she let out the most terrifying scream yet. It was enough to awaken Raige from his trance, and he shook his head before going to gather the supplies.
ReplyDeleteIt was incredible how much she had forgotten about the horrors of childbirth. The contractions were fierce and grew more frequent, setting her lower back aflame. It felt as though she were dying, her body being ripped apart from the inside. She couldn't hold back anymore. She had to start pushing.
The scent filled the air. He bared his fangs at it. He couldn't contain it much longer.
ReplyDelete"Alice. . . I. . . can't be with you. . . right no. . . I. . can't control. . . myself" Yet even as he said this he found himself moving closer. Each step was a crack in his self control until he was beside her. Alice let out a star led cry as his fangs met the sweet flesh of her throat. His wolf fought hard for control. Growling, snarling as its mate was drained of life, yet Raige was powerless over the vampire within him.
She tried calling out his name, but between the excruciating pain and the cold of death consuming her body, it was all she could do to gasp for air. No, Raige... Stop... the baby could... I could... Her thoughts grew muddled, no longer comprehending what she saw, felt, or heard. The pain was slowly leaving her, but she knew the babe still lied within. Her vision grew hazy and keeping them open became a challenge. Everything was cold...
ReplyDeleteRaige...
so tired...
Stop...
Off in the distance she heard a muddled sound of the door banging open and muffled screams of a female. It was the last discernible thing Alice could sense before falling below the curtain of darkness.
Sakura pulled Raige off, slamming him against the wall. He snapped at her, the blood thirst consuming him.
ReplyDelete"You fucker control yourself!" She yelled at him as her great strength held him in place. The wolf within him yielded to her command but the vampire relished the fight for control.
"Sasuke! Hold him!" And soon he was in a choke hold as Sakura moved to Alice. Raige bellowed in anger as he realized his Alice was dying. . . and he was the cause.
"Damn it, she needs blood!" He saw her move over to Alice and slit her wrist, putting it to her mouth and forcing her to drink. The scent came over Raige once more but he was restrained. He welcomed Sasuke's growing pressure for it drew back the vampire.
"A-Alice." Darling live. . . please live!
Sakura breathed a sigh of relief as she felt with her other hand Alice's pulse return, but she knew it was not enough. Come on, Alice, she thought. Wake up! She knew these hopes were in vain unless Alice was given more blood, a risk she was not willing to take with Raige still so close... Sakura continued extracting her blood through her wrist, knowing within the back of her mind that if Alice did not awaken in time she would have to perform a sea section to save the baby. Wake up, Alice! Please!
ReplyDeleteDamn it! Alice was not waking! Sakura became more frantic with her efforts to save her dying friend. Raige watched helplessly form the side.
ReplyDelete"Alice wake up!" He shouted, his voice full of desperation and sorrow.
"I. . . i have to save the child." Sakura's words made the blood in Raige's veins freeze.
Sakura moved to Alice's stomach and produced a small scalpel from a pouch on her hip. She took as shaky breath as she cut into her dear Alice, small tears forming in her eyes as she became increasingly aware that Alice might not make it. . . that Alice could die.
And Raige watched in horror and despair as Sakura pulled the babe through the incision and, though he thought it impossible, more of Alice's blood stained the sheets of the bed. She was dead; he was sure of it. She couldn't have survived the blood loss. Alice was gone.
ReplyDelete"Noo!!!" screamed Raige, fighting against Sasuke's grip. What was the point of holding him back? He couldn't hurt her if she was dead. He struggled with all his might to reach her bedside.
"Stop, Raige!" commanded Sakura through a river of tears. He slightly faltered as his wolf obeyed. "Until I know for certain she is beyond our help, I will act under the notion that Alice can be saved! Is that clear?"
He blankly nodded at her. She turned her full attention to Alice. She summoned all her power within. Her inner goddess lending her her strength. She formed a small orb within her hand and placed it in the incision. It immediately began to heal. Come on Alice. . . come on! She increased the power until it was fully healed. Alice's breaths were low and very quiet but she was still alive. . . barely. Sakura moved once more to Alice's side and cut her wrist once more, this time the biggest vein she could find.
ReplyDeleteRaige struggled harder against Sasuke. "I want to get to her! Please let me be by her side!" But his pleas were heard by deaf ears. His brother was not letting him go anytime soon.
He watched as Sakura worked frantically to save his beloved Alice.
Empty. The world was empty and dark and cold. Perhaps death would have been sweeter, calmer, more pleasant and yet something nagged her mind as these thoughts floated through limbo.
ReplyDelete"Wake!" they said, different tones and voices echoing the same word over thousands of times. She would wonder why, and then wonder where they were coming from. Yet they would not answer, simply repeating the word as though it would convince her to obey. Why should I waken when I am dead? she argued.
At once, the voices abruptly halted. Alice found that strange, but was grateful for the silence all the same. She wished to remain in her state of bliss forever and she would have done so had not a particular voice called out to her.
"Alice!" it rang and the veil of illusion and death was momentarily lifted at the sound of his voice.
Raige? she thought and in response, the voice of her beloved summoned her once more. Where was he? Why can't I see him?
"Wake!" chimed the other voice, to which she now recognized as Sakura's. How? Alice thought, suddenly determined. How do I wake up? Please! Help me! Raige! Sakura!
He saw faint movement from Alice. But his heart tore as he heard Sakura say, "Shes going into cardiac arrest!" Her glowing hand moved over to Alice's chest as she attempted to revive her.
ReplyDelete"Alice.. please love... live.. live!" He yelled as if willing her to breathe. And then. . . a miracle happened. Alice's eyes flew open as she yelped softly. Relief washed over Raige as Alice began to cough and moan. She's alive... alive! He struggled against Sasuke's grip once more but he did not let go. "Release me brother! I want to be with Alice!" Sasuke cast a glance at Sakura who answered him with a shake of her head. "We can't be sure if he is in control and i am NOT risking it."
She turned to Alice as she checked over her vitals. making sure that she was going to be ok.
"No. . . Sakura. . .let him. . go. . ." Alice said weakly but Sakura merely shook her head, tears of relief pouring down her chin.
Alice's face was showered with Sakura's tears and wanted so desperately to comfort her, to wipe away those tears. She tried moving her arm, but the difficulty and strain brought forth from doing so convinced her otherwise; a small moan had escaped her in her attempts to move her body.
ReplyDelete"Please... S-Sakura... let... let him g-" Then suddenly Alice realized an emptiness within her and at once her heart rate spiked in panic.
"Alice! Alice, calm down!" demanded Sakura, but her words could not be processed as Alice hyperventilated. The baby. What happened? Where was it? Could it be...? Alice gasped for breath, endless possibilities of the baby's fate running through her head.
"Let me go!" Raige shouted at his brother who merely glanced at him. Raige snapped. With a vicious growl he hit Sasuke's stomach with him elbow. Sasuke's grip loosened and Raige pulled against it. Once free Raige turned to his brother who was already crouched and poised for strike. He was tackled to the ground and the two males tumbled, fighting for dominance.
ReplyDelete"Enough!"Sakura's voice commanded and Sasuke ground to a halt. Riage's wolf obeyed, leaving him lying on the ground heavy breaths escaping him.
Sakura walked over to him and placed a powerful hand on his chest.
"Alice needs you now. If you so much as even think about biting her i will kill you. Understood?" He nodded and rushed to Alice's side.
"Darling calm yourself, the babe is fine see?" Sakura brought the babe wrapped in a soft blanket. They stood by in anticipation as they waited for Alice to regain control.
"... Oh..." breathed Alice, the babe nestled snuggly in her arms. She caressed it's face lightly and it shifted at her touch.
ReplyDelete"Alice," a warm voice hummed and she looked over to Raige, who's eyes were nearly drowning in tears. Her heart ached to see him like this and she leaned toward him, claiming his lips.
"I'm here, Raige," she whispered as she would catch her breath. Each time she said it, the intensity and passion of the kiss grew stronger and Raige's tears mingled with it.
"Ahem!" Sakura warned, having noticed Raige's hand move down Alice's waist. They broke away, each of their faces slightly flushed.
Raige was ecstatic as Alice moved to feed the new child. He turned to Sakura thanking her immensely. She laughed and waved him away as she moved to Alice.
ReplyDelete"I am so glad you're ok Alice." She leaned in and hugged her friend tightly, she kissed the babe and bid farewell. She grabbed Sasuke's hand and just like that they were gone.
He turned his attention to his beloved Alice, laying there with their child within her arms.
He knelt beside her, looking at their new little miracle. He caressed its face softly and looked into Alice's eyes. He kissed her once more, taking care not to be carried away.
"What should we name it?" He whispered to her.
"Hmm. Let's see." Tenderly, she unraveled the blankets as the babe continued to eat. "It's a boy," she said, looking up at Raige's jubilant face. Once more, Raige stroked the babe's face.
ReplyDelete"Who do you see him as?" asked Raige, his entire focus now on his son. Alice smiled.
"Well... I am partial to Vincent," she said softly, also gazing at her little boy. "What about you?"
"I love it." He agreed completely. His son squirmed lightly before falling back to sleep. Raige smiled tenderly at his new son. He lay next to his precious Alice, placing a protective hand over his mate and son. He placed another kiss on Alice's lips, rejoicing in their soft welcome.
ReplyDelete"I love you Alice,"He whispered softly. As if in protest Vincent struggled against Raige's invasion of his space. Raige drew back laughing at his sons sudden anger. Alice chuckled as she said, "It seems Vincent will be much like you Raige."
"Yes, so it seems."
She rubbed on Vincent's belly, soothing him back into slumber. She carefully picked him up in her arms and carried him to the crib in the adjacent room. Placing him gently in his bed, she returned to Raige who stood to greet her with a warm hug. She nuzzled into his shoulder lovingly as he rubbed her back rhythmically, holding her snuggly within his grasp.
ReplyDelete"I love you, Raige," she whispered. He held her closer.
"I thought you were dead," he breathed, and Alice could hear in his voice that it truly devastated him.
She pulled away to look into his eyes, riddled deep with pain and sadness masked by the jubilance he felt now in her presence. She squirmed on the inside in knowledge that she caused such grievances. She could have fought, she could have awakened sooner... How weak she was to fall under the influence and bliss of death!
She kissed his lips, sensing the desperation and joy at her survival as he kissed back. Oh, Raige... Her fingers tangled themselves in his hair, he hesitated slightly as he searched quizzically in Alice's eyes.
"Come now, Raige," she said, her hot breath upon his neck. "Make me feel alive once more, my love."
Raige moaned as Alice began to caress him. He shouldn't. . . she had just given birth. She should be resting! Yet he found himself picking her up and placing her on the bed. He kissed her deeply, his tongue stroked hers, her lips, tasting her. He laughed quietly when he realized she tasted like peaches.
ReplyDeleteAlice's hand ran down his chest. He moaned in response as she unbutton his pants. Alice gasped as his ran down her waist, finding her core. He bagan to tease her, rubbing against her until she cried out his name.
"I don't ever want to lose you Alice." He whispered softly into her ear.
"You won't love. . you won't" Her breathy respond send a smile to his face.
He parted her legs and she sighed in anticipation, urging him to take her. And he did. They cried out at the pleasure. He moved gently, he didn't want to just take her. No, he wanted to make love to her. His Alice would know true pleasure today.