Defender's Blood The Birth and The Battle (Urban Fantasy)

by A. K. Michaels

  “I certainly hope it stays down, I want to go home, Zach. If I have to lie down in a bed I want it to be our bed, it’s a hell of a lot more comfy than this one.” She slapped the bed to make her point.

  “I know, but we need to make sure you’re okay before we go home. How are you feeling about the babies?” he queried.

  She looked contemplative as she replied “Well that’s not something I thought I would ever hear you say to me!”

  “I know – it’s crazy, isn’t it?” Zach was trying to process all of this but was failing.

  He was scared something would go wrong and he didn’t want to get his hopes up.

  “Yes honey – that’s exactly how I’m feeling,” Alex replied to his unspoken thoughts.

  “I think we can only take it one day at a time for now. See what the Doc says and I’m going to make sure you rest and take care of you.” Zach was looking at her with pure love in his eyes.

  “I hope I can give you this, Zach – a child, no bugger, it’s children, plural – something we thought could never happen.” She sniffled as she suddenly had tears in her eyes.

  He once more laid down on the small bed with her and cradled her in his arms. “It’s going to be okay,” he reassured her, or tried to.

  David, the doctor, came back and forth throughout the day. Every time he came in he had a look of wonderment on his face. It was obvious he still couldn’t believe this and he was the doctor who was going to be taking care of Alex and the babies. He couldn’t hide the fact that he was very excited as he popped in and out.

  Chapter 2

  When Tatiana came back with her remedy for the sickness, Alex was sound asleep. It was late afternoon and Zach was getting antsy, he wanted to take her home.

  David had said they could go shortly, so long as Alex wasn’t sick again. He had removed the drip so he was waiting to see if she started to vomit again after removing the medicine.

  Tatiana held the bag of what looked like herbs out to Zach. “She needs to put a teaspoonful of this in hot water morning and night. In normal circumstances that would ensure no more sickness. However, this is far from normal so we can just wait and see.”

  Zach opened the bag and sniffed. There was nothing there that would harm Alex, so he closed it again and placed it on the cabinet.

  “I would never give her anything that could harm her!” Tatiana sounded more than a little annoyed.

  “I was just checking, Tatiana. I had to make sure, someone else could have added something to it. You never know.”

  He was not in the least worried about offending the Fairy, his job was to keep Alexina safe and healthy. Tatiana made a noise which obviously portrayed her irritation but Zach ignored it.

  Alex murmured in her sleep and Zach was beside her in a flash, stroking her face gently. She opened her eyes and smiled sleepily up at him. It melted his heart. She was so small and delicate, it hurt him to see her weak and ill.

  “Zach ...” Alex spoke but the words died in her mouth as she saw the Angel Michael standing behind him.

  Her eyes widened and Zach whirled round, almost face to the face with the large being.

  “Hello Alex, how are you feeling?” Michael smiled, his perfect features once more taking Alex’s breath away.

  Michael ignored Zach and spoke directly to Alex. Tatiana gasped when she saw him, she hadn’t seen him in a few months and hadn’t been sure if they would ever meet again.

  “I’m a lot better than I was earlier,” Alex responded, raising her arms and having a long stretch. Zach didn’t move so Michael did, he went to the end of the bed and was watching Alex closely.

  “I see you’ve found out about you carrying twins. It must have come as a bit of a surprise?” He ended the sentence with a question that sounded more like a statement.

  “Uhm, you could say that.” She smiled at Zach and reached for his hand.

  “Michael, can you shed any light on what’s happened?” Tatiana asked, hoping that the Angel could give them some information on how this had came to be.

  “Not a lot. All I can say is that it is divine intervention. Your journey is just starting, Alex,” he said cryptically.

  “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Zach growled.

  “I am not permitted to say, Vampire.” Michael used the same tone on the word ‘Vampire’ than he had the last time they had met and it irked Zach no end.

  Tatiana noticed the huge wings fluttering a bit which usually was a sign of annoyance or inner turmoil. She intervened diplomatically. “Michael, if you can give us any assistance in this matter it would be much appreciated.”

  “Ahh Tatiana, ever the peacemaker and protector of our Alex.” Michael smiled down at the tiny Fairy. “To answer your query, as you have found out, Alex, you are carrying twins. Your pregnancy is not going to be easy. A human has never carried the progeny of a Vampire before, and children such as these have never been born before. They each have a destiny to fulfil – if they survive.”

  Alex gasped and Zach froze, Tatiana just stared at the Angel.

  “What do you mean, Angel – if they survive?” Zach’s growl was low and menacing and once more Alex held his hand in a vice-like grip, to stop him doing something stupid.

  She had no doubt that Michael could destroy Zach in the blink of an eye. And she loved him more than life itself, so she held onto him, tightly.

  “I have said too much already. I have been told in no uncertain terms that I am not to interfere. However, the minute the eggs were fertilised I felt a pull towards them and it has taken a lot of willpower on my part to stay away. I thought it only fair, Vampire, that you were advised that there is still danger. Danger for Alex and for these unborn children. I give you this warning in the hopes that you can avert that danger.”

  “What …” was all Alex got out as Michael did what he did best – disappear.

  “What the fuck was that all about?! Why come and give us some cryptic message? He could have given us some more information to go on.” Zach was fuming and his eyes were slowly turning red. Something that only happened if he was extremely angry.

  Tatiana looked at Zach and took a step back, even though the bed and Alex were between her and Zach. “Zach, calm down! You’re scaring Tatiana,” Alex scolded him.

  “I can’t calm down. What did he mean, danger? What did he mean ‘if’ they were born? Why say anything at all if that was all he was going to give us? That fucking Angel needs a good kick up the ass!”

  Zach was beside himself.

  Until he had met and fallen in love with Alex he rarely, if ever, lost his temper. Now though, the mere mention of danger and Alex in the same sentence sent him over the edge. He knew he had to calm down and think logically. Knowing it and doing it, well, they were two entirely different things.

  He turned away, moved to the wall and pulled back his arm, his hand made into a fist, then he punched the wall. His arm went straight through up to his elbow, plasterboard scattered around and fell to the floor. He removed his arm from the wall and returned to his place beside Alex.

  “Do you feel better now?” she asked him with an eyebrow raised. He was sure if she hadn’t been lying in bed she would have had a hand on one hip and a foot tapping.

  “Yes my little one, I do. Now let’s try and figure out what he meant. Tatiana, do you have anything to input?” He turned and the little Fairy visibly relaxed when she saw he no longer had red orbs at his eyes.

  “Well I’m not sure, it could mean many things. I think we should have a meeting tomorrow with Thadius and Vlad and go over it. See if any of us can come up with anything? What do you think?” she asked Zach who was now once more Mr Cool, Calm and Collected.

  “I think that’s a good idea. Why don’t you all come about eleven?” Alex said.

  Alex turned her eyes to her mate. “Now Zach – you go and check with David if I can go home. It’s dark and I want to be in my own house.”

&nbs
p; Zach nodded his head and left the room. Before he went looking for the doctor, however, he made a phone call. “Vlad – Michael just showed up. Yeah, that Michael ... he left some cryptic messages and promptly left again. Yeah I know … yeah. Upshot is – can you put a couple of men on my place? Security around Alex needs to be re-established. She doesn’t know I’m phoning so tell them to be low key. We should be going home in the next few minutes. Okay … thanks. There’s a meeting at ours tomorrow at eleven – you’re invited. See you then.” He hung up the phone and went to find David.

  Zach found him in the lab, once more going over Alex’s blood work, and he didn’t lift his head when Zach entered. “David, I’m taking Alex home now – is that okay?” The doctor only nodded his head and continued what he was doing.

  Zach didn’t waste time, he didn’t want David to change his mind. He returned to Alex’s room and gently picked her up. “I can walk!” Alex protested.

  “Nope, not going to happen, so just relax,” he told her.

  “Alex, here, you’ve forgotten the herbs for the sickness.” Tatiana held out the bag and Alex took it.

  “Thanks Tatiana, I’ll have some when I get home, does Zach know what I’m to do with it?”

  “I do Alex, I’ll get you some before bed,” he said as he walked out of the room and down the hallway to the front door. It was automatic and opened in front of them, so he continued and placed her in the jeep.

  It was still abandoned in front of the building, the way he had left it when he had brought Alex in. “Bye, see you tomorrow,” Alex shouted to Tatiana as Zach drove off.

  Alex was quiet in the jeep, trying to sort through everything that had happened since she awoke that morning. She smiled to herself wondering what Zach had been going to do with the honey.

  “Now now, get those kind of thoughts out of your head, little one! I’m driving, do you want me to crash?”

  She smirked and glanced at him, his eyes were on the road but one of his hands sneaked over and held hers, his thumb gently rubbing the top.

  As they neared their home he put a very gentle block on, one that Alex wouldn’t feel but would hide from her the fact that he was looking for Vlad’s Guards. He was pleased to see two out front, just walking and looking as if they were ‘shooting the breeze’. Casually wandering up the street with not a care in the world. Alex would not notice them or if she did, think nothing of it. He knew there would be some to the rear of the property but those would be well out of sight.

  He parked and went round and started to pick Alex up. “For goodness’ sake, Zach – I’m pregnant not ill.” Her tone was playful, not irritated, and he just continued and carried her into the house.

  He lay her on one of the sofas and moved towards the kitchen. “I’m going to make up some of this herb stuff that Tatiana gave us – see if it works,” he told her.

  “I certainly hope it does – I’m starving!” she whined.

  “Okay I’ll make some toast and scrambled egg, how does that sound? Or do you want soup?” Zach asked

  Alex replied straight away, “I think I’ll have toast without the eggs – I’m not sure my stomach could take them. I’ll be okay just with toast.”

  Zach nodded and headed onwards to put the kettle on.

  He got Alex’s favourite mug, it was a promotional one for a Dracula movie that had been out some years ago. She had found it in a charity shop while they had been on a shopping trip to Tucson and she thought it was hilarious. She had laughed until she had tears in her eyes in the shop and they got some very funny looks from the other customers.

  She used it all the time so he made up the water with the herbs in it and took it through to her. She sipped at it slowly – commenting that it didn’t taste too bad.

  Zach went back to the kitchen, made her some toast and brought it back, but she nibbled at it slowly. “I’m so hungry, but I’m scared it’s going to come back up!”

  “Just take it slow and if you start to feel sick, let me know,” Zach said and she nodded.

  She managed to get two slices down and then stopped. She lay her head back and motioned for Zach to come sit next to her. He moved her head up and sat down, bringing her head back to lay on his lap. Zach slowly ran his hand through her hair, he loved the unruly curls she had, and placed the other hand on her tummy.

  It was so hard to believe that his children were growing inside of her.

  “I know, it’s so weird isn’t it?” she replied to his unspoken thoughts.

  “Yes, I must admit I’m excited – and a bit scared. We’re going to be parents, Alexina! It’s so astonishing that it’s just beginning to sink in.” His voice was full of awe.

  “I know Zach, I’m scared too – I mean we don’t even know what they’ll be?” she frowned.

  Zach was confused. “What do you mean? They’ll be babies.”

  She smiled up at his confused face. “I mean, Zach – will they be human? Or will they be the first ever Vampires born from a womb?”

  He hadn’t even thought of that, surely they would be human?

  “Michael’s words keep going through my head he spoke of ‘the progeny of a Vampire’ and ‘children such as these have never been born before’. Don’t you think that hints that they may not be a hundred per cent human?” Alex asked.

  Zach thought over the words the Angel had used. “I don’t know, his play on words could just be to confuse us, he likes confusing us! Then again, it may mean that they would be something other than full human. I just don’t know. What I do know – we will love them whatever happens. If they are fully human or some kind of hybrid, they are ours, Alexina. We will love and protect them no matter what.”

  He sounded so sure that it calmed her down a bit. What could happen with such a strong Vampire looking after her and her children? Nothing – he would keep them safe.

  “Play for me?” she asked him. His piano was in the next room and he was very good, but he didn’t play nearly as often as she would have liked. The first time she had heard him she had been surprised, truth be told she hadn’t expected him to be as good at it as he was.

  She could listen to him play for hours and right now she couldn’t think of anything she would rather do but lie here and relax while he played. “Okay, not for long though. You, my little lady, are having an early night.”

  “I won’t argue with you on that, Mr Vampire.” She raised an eyebrow at him.

  “No no no – you have to rest,” he retorted.

  “We’ll see,” she answered.

  He moved her so he could get up and went to the piano. She couldn’t see him from where she lay but she could hear him just fine.

  “Any requests?” he asked.

  “Something slow and soothing, maestro, I’ll leave it up to you.”

  He began to play and she hadn’t heard this piece before. It was slow and haunting and he played it impeccably. She loved it and reminded herself to ask him what it was. “It’s something I made up myself,” he answered her thought.

  Even after the past few months when they had honed their skills at this mind reading malarkey, she still sometimes forgot. She laughed and told him she loved it.

  She fell asleep listening to the music. A little while later, Zach stopped playing and walked through. He stood watching her, she was perfect in his eyes. He never tired of looking at her. He moved a few strands of hair that had fallen across her face and gently ran his fingers along the side of her neck.

  His need to keep her safe was so strong in him, it took his breath away. After what that bloody Angel said, he was scared for her.

  He bent down, very easily picked her up and took her to bed. She was still sleeping so he very carefully laid her down and pulled the comforter up to keep her warm.

  He wished there was someone he could talk to about the pregnancy, but as it had never happened before, nobody would have any answers for him. He stopped himself from sending a prayer up, to keep her from h
arm and healthy. No, that was his job and he was going to do it. No matter what.

  Although he didn’t need any rest he laid down beside her and cradled her in his arms. She would always be safe in his arms.

  Chapter 3

  Alex woke the next morning, alone in their large four poster bed. She stretched and then settled back into the comfy pillows, she loved this bed.

  She could hear Zach in the kitchen, probably making breakfast, she thought. Alex thought back to the day before when he had brought her breakfast in bed. She hadn’t got a chance to eat it, what with her throwing up and all. She realised she was hungry and was not feeling sick this morning. Thank goodness ... she didn’t want to go through that again.

  She did still feel a little tired but that was to be expected with the news they had received yesterday. She was pregnant. She was still having a hard time believing it.

  She thought about Zach and realised that she would dearly like to know what he had planned to do with the honey yesterday. She sent a thought out to him, ‘Zach I need you’ – and no sooner had it left her mind than Zach appeared at the bedroom door.

  He had used his super-fast speed and slowed as he entered the bedroom.

  “What’s wrong, Alexina? Are you feeling sick again?” He sounded so alarmed that Alex felt a little guilty about sending that thought to him.

  “No my Vampire, I’m feeling lonely, I’m here all by myself in this big bed of ours. I think you should join me,” she raised an eyebrow at him and smiled.

  “My my – you’re lonely are you? Well I’ll just have to see what I can do to remedy that.” He spoke with a tone that left Alex in no doubt that he knew what she was after.

  He moved slowly forward – taking his t-shirt and jeans off on the way. She noted he had gone commando and there was nothing under his jeans. “Oh,” she got out as his arousal was revealed to her.