by I D Johnson
“Plenty. I’m not ill—I’m carrying a child,” she explained, her smile even wider now.
Aaron could hardly believe what he was hearing. “What’s that?” he asked. “A child?”
“Yes, our child,” she said. Taking his hand, she placed it on her abdomen. “I know you can’t feel anything yet, but soon enough you’ll see. I’ll have a nice bump right here, and wee little legs kicking, in a rush to get out into the world and meet the most wonderful da a babe could ever have.”
“You’re going to have a baby?” The information still hadn’t settled in. Aislyn had leaned her head back into his chest so that his arms were around her. He sat there holding her, contemplating her message, wondering how it was possible that he was going to be someone’s da.
“Isn’t it wonderful?” she asked, her voice sounding sleepy.
Despite the lack of food, the failing potatoes, the Vampires, the uncertainty of who he was and what he was destined to become, Aaron agreed that Aislyn’s news was wonderful indeed. “Yes,” he replied. “It’s the most wonderful thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life.” He leaned back on the bed, pulling her into his arms and held her, marveling about how fortunate he was. He was married to the most beautiful woman in the world, who was carrying his child. How could life be any better than this?
The next morning, Kian was out in the field waiting for him, a concerned look on his face. Aaron could not put away his smile, and he was sure he looked like a fool as he approached his friend. He didn’t care. He was going to be a father.
“Aaron, something’s wrong. I just know it,” Kian said, his voice hardly above a whisper, no regard whatsoever for the ridiculous smirk on his friend’s face.
“Good morning, Kian,” Aaron replied as if he hadn’t understood the statement. “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s not,” Kian assured him. “Aaron, something is wrong with Shannon. And I fear the worst.”
Disregarding Kian’s negativity, Aaron went about the first task he needed to complete that day. There was a rather large boulder in the middle of his field that he’d been working around. Today was the day this boulder would meet its demise.
“Aaron, she’s been completely non-responsive for three days. Then, this morning, she’s up out of bed, chipper as all get out, telling me how I’m a wonderful, loving husband, and making me fresh eggs.”
“That’s lovely,” Aaron replied, taking the hoe to the rock and striking it along the edge, intending to break it into smaller pieces. The rock broke into two halves, and he realized he could likely pick each of them up now and toss them out of his acreage.
“We don’t even have chickens,” Kian reminded him. “Where the hell did she get eggs?”
Picking up the first half, the larger of the two, Aaron lifted it up over his shoulder and swung it around, sending it sailing off into the woods on the edge of his rented property. It crashed into the top of a few of the larger pines, snapping them and tumbling out of sight. “Maybe she got some the last time she was in town.”
“That was months ago,” Kian argued.
The second half was even lighter and ended up clearing the tops of the trees, disappearing over the horizon. Aaron was proud of himself for finding a constructive way to use his newfound strength. “I don’t know, Kian. Maybe a visitor brought them to her while you were in the field.”
With that, Kian relaxed a little bit. Running his hand through his hair, he muttered, “Maybe. I don’t know. I just don’t feel she’s quite herself.”
“Keep an eye on her,” Aaron recommended, wondering what he might do with the rest of his morning now that the boulder was cleared, “and see how she acts. Kian, you always suspect the worst. It’s likely nothing.”
Though Kian’s expression didn’t show that he completely believed his friend, he nodded and went back to his own field to start his day. Meanwhile, having nothing else to do until later that afternoon, Aaron returned home eager to kiss his perfect wife and remind her of how much he loved her.
A few days later, Kian was back. This time, he swore he’d seen Shannon sneaking in late at night, though he wasn’t positive he wasn’t dreaming. Once again, Aaron calmed his fears and sent him home, hopeful that there truly was no need for alarm.
However, as the days passed, he began to realize something wasn’t quite right with Aislyn either. At first, he had thought it was just the pregnancy. She was becoming more and more lethargic. Her skin was even more pale than usual, and her eyes had dark rings beneath them. He insisted she spend her days in bed, even though she argued, saying she was fine and had much to do around the house. He won out, however, and she continued to rest. Even with more sleep, she didn’t improve, and when she broke into a fever, Aaron panicked. He checked her entire body for any signs of infection. She insisted she was fine—that she had not interacted with any of the Dark Ones. She would recover fully with more rest.
Aaron ran into town to find a midwife. By the time he returned, Aislyn was hardly even lucid. The woman checked her over and assured him that if she drank an herbal remedy, she would be fine in a day or two. She believed it was only the pregnancy wearing her down.
The next morning, he was greeted by her sparkling green eyes. The herbs seemed to have done the trick, but though she appeared to be on the mend, Aaron insisted she stay in bed. He had lost much time in the field and went out to see what he could get accomplished that morning, knowing he’d return to her side just as soon as possible.
Not five minutes after he began to work on the trench he was digging, Kian was at his side. “Aaron, I’ve been needing to talk to you,” he said, the concern in his voice causing it to shake. “It’s Shannon. It’s bad, Aaron.”
“I’m sorry, Kian,” Aaron replied, stopping his work to give his full attention to his friend. Kian had approached him, concerned about his wife, and Aaron had ignored him, so wound up in his own happiness he hadn’t bothered to take any interest at all in his friend’s situation. “How is she?”
“I wasn’t certain at first, Aaron, but now I am. She’s definitely turned.”
Aaron was shocked. He dropped the hoe. “What do you mean? How do you know?”
“Last night, I caught her creeping back in. She’s not herself. Not at all. She doesn’t eat. She looks—different. Her eyes are… gray. With black circles beneath them. Her skin is cold. I… I know it’s not my Shannon, Aaron. And I fear she must be going out at night to feed, that she’s killing other villagers.”
“My God,” Aaron mumbled, unable to think about how his friend must feel. “I’m so sorry, Kian.”
“That’s not all. Whenever I’m around her, I have this feeling in my stomach, like it’s full of butterflies. I think that’s my way of reacting to her… as a Hunter. It’s an internal warning of sorts, I think.”
Aaron nodded. He imagined there must be some sort of a reaction whenever the enemy was nearby. “What are you planning to do?” he asked.
Clearing his throat, Kian reached into the back of his trousers and produced a wooden stake, shaped like a cross, about two feet by one foot. The tip appeared to be cast in silver. “I believe I have no choice but to use this.”
“A wooden stake?” Aaron questioned. “Where did you get that?”
“Doesn’t matter. I’ve heard it’s the most humane way to end them, that they hardly feel it. I believe it would be easiest if it were done while she is sleeping, before she wakes to feed.”
Nodding, Aaron said, “This cannot have been an easy decision for you, my friend.”
“No, it hasn’t been,” Kian agreed.
“You know I will support you however I can,” Aaron assured him.
“Good,” Kian replied. “Because I need you to do it for me.”
“Do it for you?” Aaron echoed. “What is that? You want me to drive a stake through your wife’s heart?”
“Yes,” Kian said. “There’s no way I can do it myself.”
“What makes you think I can?” Aaron asked. “I�
�ve known Shannon for years. What if you’re wrong?”
“I’m not wrong,” Kian replied. “You have to trust me. Please, Aaron. There’s no one else I trust to do this. You have to.”
“Listen, Kian, I haven’t told you this, but Aislyn is with child,” Aaron began, cautiously. “She hasn’t been feeling well lately. I’m not sure I’m up to this right now.”
“Aaron,” Kian said, placing his hand on Aaron’s shoulder, “if you were in my position, what would you do?”
Aaron refused to even consider the possibility of changing places with Kian. Discovering that Aislyn had been turned, contemplating destroying her? He could never…. He could never.
“Please? Come over tonight, around midnight. She should be sleeping by then, and she won’t be up and ready to feed for a few more hours. I need you to do this for me.”
Without another word, Aaron slowly nodded his head. The thought of driving a wooden stake through the heart of a woman he’d known longer than he could remember, especially when he had no firsthand knowledge that she was anything other than the Shannon he’d always known, was more than he cared to think about, and as Kian patted him on the shoulder and turned to go, he determined to concentrate on the field and put Shannon out of his mind.
“Oh, and Aaron?” Kian called as he crossed onto his land. “Congratulations. That’s wonderful news.”
Aaron called out his thanks, but he could tell by the tone of Kian’s voice his words were just an effort to be polite. How could he blame his friend for feeling anything but morose on such a day? Perhaps he would find love and joy again someday, though Aaron couldn’t imagine how that would be possible. If anything ever happened to Aislyn, he wouldn’t ever be able to go on. He’d already decided that when she was old and gray, and left this world for the next, he’d ask Kian to finish him as well. If Aislyn were not in this world, he would not want to be either.
Aislyn’s color had still looked good when Aaron returned from the field. She had wanted to get up and fix dinner, but he insisted she stay in bed and rest. He’d managed to catch a rabbit that afternoon, so he threw together a stew which wasn’t half bad.
He’d gone about his evening routine as normal so that Aislyn wouldn’t suspect anything, but his mind kept returning to what Kian was asking him to do. By the time midnight rolled around, his stomach was cramping and his palms were sweaty. With another glance at the sleeping face of his own angelic wife, he slipped out of bed and got dressed, praying that, by the time he reached the O’Braonain residence, Kian would have changed his mind.
Kian was standing outside in the moonlight when Aaron approached, the cross clutched in his hand. “You came,” he exclaimed, a look of relief washing over his face. “Thank you, Aaron. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you are willing to go through with this.”
Without being too dismissive of his feelings, Aaron nodded and asked, “Are you certain you want me to do this, Kian?”
“Yes,” he replied. “I know it is what must be done.”
“What if… what if you’re wrong?”
“I’m not. Don’t you feel it, Aaron? That anxious feeling, like your skin is on fire from the inside?”
He did feel it. In fact, as he had made his way over, the closer he got to the house, the more he began to feel the exact same reaction Kian had described earlier. With a nod, he said, “It’s just… there’s no going back.”
Kian looked him in the eye and said, “I know this is what we need to do.”
Aaron took the cross out of his friend’s hand and approached the front door. He was familiar with the home and not only knew where the bed was located but he knew that Shannon slept on the left side of the cot she shared with her husband. This would be the last time she ever lay her head to rest there.
All day, he’d been thinking about where to place the stake, how hard to press, whether he should raise it above his head or position it first. In the end, he hoped his instincts would take over and he would end her as painlessly as possible.
He opened the door, careful not to make it creak, and looking over his shoulder, he realized from the way he lingered in the yard Kian wasn’t even coming in. He had tears streaming down his cheeks, and Aaron knew this couldn’t be easy for him.
The sound of Shannon’s breathing filled the small space. The closer he got to the bed, the more he felt it in his gut. One look at her now not-so-familiar face let him know for certain this was not the Shannon they had known before.
She lay on her back, which made it much easier. Her arms were folded across her midsection, as if she were already in a coffin. With one last glance over his shoulder at Kian, whose frame filled the doorway, he placed the cross just over her chest, near where her heart would be, and with a silent prayer, plunged the wooden stake down into her chest.
As soon as the silver hit her flesh, Shannon’s eyes flew open. She inhaled deeply, and her arms shot straight out, as if she was falling and trying to catch herself. With the weight of Aaron on the cross, she couldn’t move, and as the silver drew the energy from her body, she let out a bloodcurdling scream, far more powerful and high-pitched than the previous ones they had heard. This one was heart-wrenching as well; unlike the filthy monsters on the ridge, this woman had been his friend.
A few moments later, the shriek died away, and Aaron found himself still holding the wooden stake, but it was positioned over a pile of ashes. Shannon was gone.
Kian flew into the room, sobbing now, and kneeled next to the bed, crying out for his wife. “Shannon!” he yelled into the night. “Oh, God! Why?” Shannon!”
In an attempt to comfort his friend, Aaron placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder, but Kian knocked it away. “Leave,” he said, his eyes narrowed.
Aaron was shocked. While he’d expected Kian to be upset, he never thought he would direct his anger at his best friend. Kian had asked him to do this after all. But seeing that he meant the command, Aaron backed to the door, hopeful that he would come around the next day and forgive him. He made his way home, realizing he was still clutching the stake. Deciding it would be best to put it somewhere for safekeeping, in case Kian asked for it back, he placed it in a hole in a tree and stopped at the well to wash his hands before he made his way back inside.
Aislyn was still sleeping peacefully, and he was able to slip back into bed beside her, but he knew he would get no rest that night. He understood that what he had done needed to be executed, but it didn’t make it any easier. The thought of losing Kian over it was almost more than he could bear. How could he continue this journey without the only other person who knew what it felt like to realize you really don’t know yourself at all?
Chapter 6
Killarney, Ireland, 1847
The herbal remedy only lasted for so long, and before too many days, Aislyn was clearly ill again. This time, she was hardly conscious by the time the midwife got there, and though she checked her over thoroughly, she could not tell what was the matter. Without a diagnosis, she was unwilling or unable to make a recommendation and left, telling Aaron she was sorry, but his wife would likely die within a day or two.
This answer was not acceptable to him, and though he had to travel far to find a third midwife, he was able to do so. Leaving Aislyn alone was not ideal, but he was fearful to ask a family member to sit with her because he did not know if the illness was contagious. He’d called upon Kian to see if he might come over and sit with her while he traveled to town, despite the fact that he had yet to come by and assure Aaron he was not angry about the situation with Shannon, but Kian was nowhere to be found. Ultimately, Aaron had made the decision to leave her for the morning as he rushed off in search of help.
He was relieved to find Aislyn was in the same condition when he returned a few hours later, though the midwife was still making her way to the house, traveling much more slowly than he could. His relief was short-lived when she finally did arrive and gave him nearly the same answer as the last midwife. She also could fi
nd nothing specific that was wrong with Aislyn, but since she was unresponsive, feverish, and pale, she only gave her a few more hours before she passed on.
Unwilling and unable to accept her fate, Aaron tried the herbal remedy again. He retrieved her mother to see if she might have any suggestions. She wailed at the sight of her daughter’s condition and ultimately had to be escorted back home. When Aaron returned, he took up post right next to Aislyn’s bed, holding her hand and praying that God would restore the health of his beautiful wife and save their child.
Despite her condition, lying there on their marital bed, clammy and more pale than usual, she was still the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. He spent many hours reflecting on the time they had spent together. From the day he’d first set eyes on her, running through her uncle’s back yard, to the dance and their first kiss, to the day they’d declared their love in front of all of their friends and family, each memory was precious. She was more than his wife and the mother of his child; she was everything. He’d built his world around her, and the idea that he may have to continue on without her soon was unthinkable. Now that Kian was gone, he wouldn’t even have a Hunter nearby to end him. He thought, if Aislyn did pass, he’d soon be putting Ward’s theory that a Guardian could not be killed to the test.
Aislyn began to move, and with a new hope stirring in his chest, he sat down beside her on the bed. “Aislyn?” he said quietly. “Aislyn? Can you open your eyes?”
She moaned and turned her head to face away from him. Her breathing began to shallow, and her body became very still.
“Aislyn?” Aaron called. “Aislyn, please, stay with me, love. Please. I need you.” Tears were streaming down his face as he bent forward to place his ear on her chest. Not only could he detect no heartbeat, her breathing had stopped as well. His Aislyn was gone.
He continued to call her name for several minutes as he cried, his body spasming with each choked breath. Without her, there was no reason to continue to live. How could the world even keep spinning without her light?
