Taken in the Night

by Tara Fox Hall

  Danial kissed my hand fiercely, murmuring words I didn’t understand.

  “Was that Spanish,” I asked later, as Terian was driving us home.

  “Yes,” Danial said, gripping my hand. “I was saying a prayer to God for your safety and giving thanks.”

  “You once told me you didn’t believe in God.”

  “You’ve made me believe in many things I’d lost faith in,” Danial said lovingly. He gave me a soft kiss.

  That night, I lay on my side in bed, propped up on pillows. Danial lay behind me, spooning against me, one arm under my head, and the other resting possessively on my belly. Sometimes the baby kicked for him, and he would stop all movement, waiting again to feel it reaching out, the expression on his face pure joy.

  “You’re sure of the name? I thought once it was a boy, you’d want to call him Danial Jr.”

  “No,” he said. “We’ll call him Theoron after my uncle. We’ll call him Theo for short.”

  Chapter Ten

  Despite Stephen’s predictions about an early delivery, March passed and became April. As the weeks passed, I grew absolutely miserable. I was too hot, too big, my back too uncomfortable.

  I saw Stephen the last week in April.

  “Is everything still okay?” Danial asked.

  “Yes.”

  “No, the answer is that everything isn’t okay,” I said irritably. “It won’t be okay until I deliver. Can’t you induce labor?”

  “Sarelle, most women feel this way, but we don’t induce labor unless there’s a problem.”

  “There is a problem,” I said crossly. “I need this baby out of me. Now.”

  “Sorry. The baby isn’t ready yet to come out of you yet. Come back in a week for your checkup.”

  I glared at him and left with Danial.

  “We’ll stop for Chinese food,” Danial said soothingly as we drove home. “You’ll like that.”

  “What I want is some space to myself,” I said crankily.

  Danial did not leave my side now, afraid he would somehow leave me, and come back to find out he had missed the birth or something had happened to me. This of course had caused some tension.

  “You can rest when we get home,” he said pleasantly.

  “I don’t want to rest! I need to go for a walk, Danial.”

  “Then we’ll go for a short walk when we get home,” he said stubbornly.

  “No,” I said, just as stubbornly. “I’m going with Terian.”

  “No,” he said. “You’re going with me and Terian.”

  Nothing I could do would persuade him to give me some time alone. I couldn’t sneak out past him in the daytime, either. He woke up once when I’d nearly made it to the front door and brought me back to bed.

  “You are staying here,” he said with mild anger. “Don’t try that again, Sar. I worry too much about you.”

  “I’m okay,” I replied, getting up again. “I just want to sit on the front porch in the sun. I have my cell. I promise I’ll call at the first sign of trouble.”

  “You are staying here if I have to tie you to the bed,” he replied angrily. “Now lie down and rest, please.”

  “I need some time to myself. Alone.”

  “Too bad, Sar. You gave me your word, and I’m holding you to it. Now lay down.”

  I lay down fuming and didn’t speak to him the rest of the day.

  * * * *

  A few more days passed this way. Then one evening, I awoke in terrible pain.

  “Danial” I gasped. “Something’s wrong.”

  He was awake immediately. “You’re ready to deliver. Hold still.” He picked me up in his arms, carrying me towards the door. “Terian.”

  Terian ran up. “What is it?”

  “Call Dr. Camlyn and tell him the baby’s coming early. I’ll get her shoes and coat. Meet me outside in one minute.”

  Terian dashed for the front door, dialing his cell phone. Cia came from the kitchen as we entered the mudroom.

  “Danial, is everything okay?”

  Danial slipped on my shoes and put my coat on. “Yes. Watch over Elle. We’ll be back soon.”

  “Good luck,” Cia said, squeezing my hand.

  Danial carried me out the front door. The Expedition roared up, Terian braking hard, the wheels sliding on the wet pavement to a screeching stop. Danial got into the back seat with me.

  “Go.”

  Terian hit the gas. Danial clutched me tightly as the SUV lurched forward.

  As fast as Terian drove, I was sure I’d deliver before we made it there. Every moment was pain and pressure.

  “Hold on, we’re almost there,” Danial said excitedly.

  Terian stopped before the door, and Danial helped me out, quickly carrying me inside. Stephen was there waiting for us. He helped me up on the table, put my feet in the stirrups, and checked me over.

  “The baby is coming,” he said, preparing instruments. “Sar, just breathe and lie still.”

  “Give me some drugs and give me them now,” I said loudly.

  “Here,” Stephen said, giving me an injection. “Breathe.”

  Although the pain didn’t go away completely, it was now bearable.

  “How far apart are your contractions?”

  “They’re contracting over and over again, trying to push the baby out, but nothing’s happening,” I said in frustration. “Why isn’t anything happening?”

  “Don’t worry,” Stephen soothed. “This is normal. Try to relax.”

  Angrily, I lay there for a while, feeling my muscles moving, but waiting for something to happen. Danial was on one side of me, and Terian was on the other, looking so excited I wanted to strangle both of them.

  “I’m glad we hurried to get here,” I said nastily. “Since—”

  The first real contraction hit me, and I screamed, feeling as if I was being torn open. Terian and Danial moved as one, grasping my hands. Another one hit, making me gasp.

  My water broke and came out of me in a drenching wave. Terian’s eyes were huge. Danial was anxious, but calm. Something suddenly moved inside me, raking my insides with what felt like knives.

  “Get it out of me!” I screamed.

  “Push, Sar,” Danial said, stroking my forehead.

  “Bear down and push,” Stephen said.

  “I am pushing,” I yelled at them. I bore down and pushed as hard as I could.

  “I see the head,” Stephen cried out.

  “Push again, Sar,” Danial said, excited.

  I pushed again and felt something tear. I screamed again. “Something is clawing me.”

  “Once more,” Stephen said with trepidation.

  I stopped pushing, the note in his voice scaring me deeply.

  “Once more, Sar,” Danial said urgently, squeezing my hand.

  I pushed and something slid out of me. I went limp with relief.

  A soft, unnatural noise filled the air, somewhere between a reptile’s hiss and a creaking door.

  Stephen cut the cord and wrapped the baby in a blanket. “He’s okay. Danial, I need you over here.”

  Again, there was something wrong with his voice. What sort of monster had I given birth to would make him sound like that?

  Danial kissed me joyfully and let go of my hand. “Terian, watch over her.” He went over to see his son, stepping close to look at him on the table where Stephen was cleaning him off.

  He took a sharp intake of breath. “Is Sar okay?” he said at last.

  “We have to stop the bleeding,” Stephen replied. “Take over for me here. Sar should be fine if we—”

  “Why the hell is it you think I can’t hear you both,” I yelled at them. “What did it do to me? What’s wrong? I felt it claw me up”

  “I’ve got this,” Danial said, nodding. “Take care of Sar.”

  Stephen moved back between my legs and began to clean me up. “Hold still, Sar. I need to see where the blood’s coming from.”

  Danial handed him to Terian. “Watch over
him.”

  Terian recoiled a little, but took Theoron over to stand in the corner.

  Danial went to Stephen. “Do you need some of my blood?”

  “No, the bleeding is slowing. Sar, don’t move until I tell you to.”

  “Tell me please,” I half screamed, half pleaded.

  Danial came over and took my hand. “Theo is fine, but he was born with his vampire-half present, not the human-half. He has inch long claws, red eyes, and fangs like mine.”

  “How am I supposed to nurse him?” I said, upset.

  “You can’t nurse him,” Stephen said. “In fact, you shouldn’t even hold him.”

  I looked down at him, aghast. “Not hold my own child?”

  “He’s tasted your blood, Sar. It’s obvious he wants more. He was trying to bite me as I cleaned him.”

  “How long until I can?” I whispered.

  “Until he’s old enough not to attack you. In his current state, he’ll need blood, not milk anyway.”

  I cried then, great racking sobs. Danial held me the best he could while Stephen continued to check me over.

  Finally, Stephen stood. “The bleeding has stopped. You should stay in bed for the next week. Only get up to go to the bathroom. Call if you start bleeding again or have pain.”

  “I’ll make sure she does,” Danial said. “What about the baby? In your opinion should I arrange for donors, or buy fresh blood?”

  “Animal blood? I thought most vampires—”

  “Human blood,” Danial corrected. “I have some connections now I’m Lord.”

  Stephen turned to Danial. “Danial, the child is not going to know not to attack to get blood, and he’s too young to teach. Keep him away from humans, for now. Sar should not feed him, though she can watch from a safe distance. I can give you powdered blood to mix as a formula for him, we keep some on hand for badly injured vampires. That should feed him okay. I don’t want to know any more about your connections.”

  “Thank you, doctor,” Danial said cordially. “May I take her home?”

  “Yes. Have her come back in a week for me to check how she’s healing. Congratulations to you both.”

  Danial helped me out, as Terian came after us, carrying Theoron and the bags of powdered blood.

  Danial put me in the back and then took the formula from Terian, putting it in the back too.

  Terian yelped. “He bit me,” he said, sucking his finger.

  Danial shut the trunk, then took the baby back from Terian. “He bit you?” he said in surprise. “In that short amount of time?”

  “He’s hungry,” Terian said, laughing.

  “He won’t bite me,” Danial said confidently. “At least more than once,” he said a few seconds later.

  Terian drove us home. When we arrived, Danial took the baby and formula inside. “I’ll feed him. Please put Sar to bed, Terian. I’ll be in shortly, darling.”

  I nodded, exhausted.

  Terian carried me inside to the bed, laying me down gently. “Sar, I know it wasn’t easy, but believe me, Theoron is beautiful. He has Danial’s dark hair already.”

  “I’m glad,” I said, worn out and happy it was all over.

  He kissed me on the forehead. “Get some rest, Mom.”

  I gave him a tired smile. “Thanks.”

  Danial came in sometime later, waking me. “Sar, are you awake?”

  “Yes,” I said, yawning. “You knew I was. You’ve told me you can tell by my breathing when I’m asleep or not. How’s Theo?”

  “He’s so beautiful.” He held me gently and sighed. “I can’t believe how lucky I am, that after so many centuries, I finally fell in love again and have a son. After everything that’s happened between us, you were willing to do this for me, and by some miracle the potion worked for us.”

  “Are you happy, Danial?”

  “I couldn’t be happier. This is more than I hoped for.” He kissed me. “Cia is feeding him, Sar. I told her you can’t do it, and she volunteered to take care of him until he goes back to human form, if not longer. She wanted to take off time anyway to spend with Aran Jr. He’s about two now, in terms of maturity.”

  We had started talking “in terms of maturity” in the past year, because of Elle. What else was there to do when someone seemed nine years old, but was really barely two?

  Danial held me to hi. “Sar, I love you more than anything. If there comes a time when you want to give me your oath, or get married, or whatever, just say the word, and we’ll do it. I don’t ever want to be without you.”

  I lay in Danial’s arms, sighing inside. I wanted to say yes, because it would make him so happy. I wanted to tell him he wouldn’t ever be without me. Yet I didn’t know that, not for certain. Promising what I wasn’t sure I could give in the heat of the moment was the worst thing to do.

  “If I ever decide to, Danial, you’ll be the first to know,” I said, kissing him softly. “It’s enough to just be here with you, to know you love me, and that I love you. That we’ve made a child together. Tell me you love me again.”

  “I love you.”

  * * * *

  The next week passed slowly. It was icky, not being able to take a shower or bath. I cleaned myself as best I could and tried to sleep as much as possible. There was one good thing: I felt more comfortable already in my own skin. Some of the weight I’d gained was already coming off. I could tell by how my clothes fit.

  The bleeding didn’t start again, but my insides ached dully where I’d felt the claws rake me. As the days passed the discomfort persisted enough so I finally told Danial about the pain one night.

  “The cuts are shallow according to my sense of smell,” he said, “Lie back and hold still.”

  I did as he asked. He spread my legs, bit into his finger, then gently inserted it into my vagina. He moved his finger slowly a few times. The aching disappeared.

  “Thanks,” I said awkwardly.

  He slipped his finger out. “Don’t be embarrassed. Is the pain gone?”

  “Yes,” I said, relieved.

  “That’s what matters,” he said, hugging me. “I just hope Camlyn tells you tomorrow you’re able to get out of bed. Everyone wants to see you.”

  “And I want to see them,” I said happily. “It will be good to rejoin the world.”

  * * * *

  The next evening, I waited grumpily in the stirrups as Dr. Camlyn checked me over.

  “Did Danial give you his blood to heal, Sarelle?” he said, strangely upset.

  “Yes,” I said defensively. “I’m glad he did.”

  He looked grim, but didn’t say whatever was on his mind.

  “Are we done?” Danial said impatiently. “Sar hasn’t seen Theoron all week. I’d really like to get her home.”

  “Theoron had claws when he was born,” Stephen said. “I think he may have clawed you up inside, Sarelle. I need to look. There may be some pain.”

  “Go ahead,” I said grumpily. “You already took five vials of blood. How much worse could whatever you’re going to do be?”

  “Do you want Danial to be here when I do the procedure?” he said.

  Danial gave him an odd look, his eyes tinting red momentarily.

  “Of course,” I said quickly.

  Danial took my hand. “What is bothering you? Is she okay?”

  “Let me look, and I’ll tell you,” Stephen said coolly. “You’ll be able to see everything I see on the monitor to your right.”

  He slowly inserted the device inside me. I flinched, feeling a little pain. Danial held my hand, telling me it would be over soon.

  Stephen turned on the monitor, focused the lens and gasped.

  I tried to get up immediately.

  Danial held me there. “Stephen, what’s wrong?”

  Stephen didn’t answer, panning the lens around at the walls of my uterus. Watching the monitor, I thought they looked okay, but never having seen them before, who was I to know?

  “Stephen, speak,” Danial said. Anger w
as heavy in his tone mixed with a little fear.

  Stephen looked at us and pursed his lips. “Danial, I need a sample of your blood.”

  Danial began rolling up his shirtsleeve. Stephen quickly took the blood sample and then set it near one of mine. “I need to check a few things. You two sit tight.” He left, taking our two samples with him.

  “What is it?” I looked at Danial. “I’m afraid.”

  “Don’t worry,” he soothed me. “Theoron and you are healthy and that’s all that matters. The worst thing I can surmise is you’re anemic, from losing so much blood during the delivery.”

  “What if it’s something worse?”

  “Then I’ll help you through it,” he said staunchly, kissing my hand. “You’re going to be fine.”

  The minutes passed, but Stephen didn’t return.

  “What is taking him so long?” I said angrily. “This is unbelievable!”

  “He wants to be sure of something,” Danial said calmly. “We want him to be sure, Sar, especially if it’s something important. It’s only been a half hour. Have patience.”

  I was not five years old and resented his talking down to me. “Easy for you to say.”

  “On the contrary, it’s not easy at all,” Danial said flatly. “Us bickering won’t help.”

  I looked away, knowing he was right.

  After a few more minutes, Stephen finally came back and sat down heavily in front of us. “I’m sorry, but I have bad news for you both.”

  “Tell us,” Danial said, his hand squeezing mine.

  “Sar, you were badly clawed up by Theoron. There are scars running all across the inside of your uterus.”

  “What’s that mean?” I said.

  Danial echoed my question.

  “It’s unlikely you’ll ever have another child,” Stephen said. “I’m sorry.”

  I took a shaky breath, and Danial hugged me.

  “Why?” I managed.

  “There is too much scar tissue on the sides of your womb. A baby won’t be able to adhere so it can grow. If you get pregnant, you’ll most likely lose the baby, probably before you even know you’re pregnant.”