The Blood Heiress

Gone Awry

Adella

A sharp ringing rudely cut through my sleep. I searched around for my phone in the darkness and found it easily on the nightstand. Looking at the number I recognized it as the mansion phone number.

"He... hello?" I yawned into the phone. "Ben?"

"Addie, sorry to bother you at this hour but I think you may want to return home tonight." Ben's words dripped with anxiety.

"Why...what happened?" I was awake and sitting up now.

"Miss Verity's pregnancy is not..." He paused, someone murmuring in the background.

"Ben, you can not stop there and leave me waiting" My stress was rising by the second.

"I think it best you get ready to return home tonight. I am coming with the car." Ben then hung up not giving me a chance to respond either way. My hands were shaking as I changed into something other than pajamas. I was running through ways to tell Evander, I had never visited the part of the penthouse where his suite was. Figured it would have been an intrusion, rude of his guest to assume that privilege. I certainly did not want him to get the wrong idea.There was no getting it around now though.

I had fleeting second thoughts as my hand came down on his bedroom door to loudly knock. I knew he didn't sleep, usually, but I wanted to make sure if it was the odd occasion he was sleeping I could wake him.

"Evander?" My voice sounded loudly off the walls in the quiet of the dark hall.

I was rewarded when the door handle turned and it opened to reveal his inquiring expression. He wore silk pants and nothing else. His muscled chest and arms on full display. My eyes may have gazed for a moment longer than they should have but I could do little to appreciate his exposed torso. I had more important things to worry about.

"Adella, what is it you require?"

"I...I mean Verity...." I was bumbling through this my nerves finally working all the way through me. My vision began to swim as I pleaded with him to just read my thoughts. But he just stood there bewildered. "Verity is... she needs me I think. I need to go home now."

He retreated back into his room and I moved to follow but stopped myself. He reemerged with a robe and beckoned me in.

"Please, take a seat here," He gestured at a cozy looking couch, I gratefully sat. "I will be a moment." He disappeared through a doorway. I spent a minute regulating my breathing and letting my mind settle.

"I am sorry to bother you. Ben is coming to pick me up. I just wanted to let you know." I got up and moved closer to the doorway to increase the chances that he could hear me. I couldn't see beyond it as it was pitch black.

"What if I desired to accompany you?" He reemerged dressed casually in a tee and some different designer joggers.

"I don't want to take you away from what you have going on here." I gestured rather wildly around me. He bent down in front of where I sat on the couch and put a cool hand on each of my arms. I snapped my attention to him, his touch heating me from the inside out.

"All this," He took his hands off and copied my wild gesturing. "will be fine." He gave me a reassuring smile and stood.

"I don't know how long I will be needed there."

"Let's worry about one thing at a time."

"Alright, thank you." I had no other objections and gratefully followed him out to the elevator and the front of the building.

We met Ben not long after. Seeing him again after so long felt surreal. I gave him a solid hug, much to his surprise though he did hug me back. I noticed that I could feel his heartbeat. Something that never was a second thought before stood out in my consciousness for a moment and then passed to give way to the more pressing matter at hand. Evander and I slid into the back of the car. Once seated together in the back, Ben wasted no time in returning the way he came.

"Ben what is wrong with Verity?" My voice was higher than usual and I didn't care to adjust it.

"Well, suffice to say her pregnancy is not agreeing with her." So helpful.

"Does she have an acute case of morning sickness? Has she seen a doctor?" Why did every person in my life right now, have to be so evasive?

"Addie, this is not morning sickness." I rolled my eyes and sighed. I figured as much.

Evander snorted his distaste at Ben's use of my nickname. I shot him a look.

"So what is wrong? What did the doctors say?" Our eyes met in the rearview mirror.

"It is best if you just see for yourself Miss Russo." It was that serious then.

"Ben, I told you call me Addie please." I made sure to reiterate that my wishes still stood. He was my butler after all.

"Right, I apologize Addie."

"When did this happen?" Maybe I could get more information approaching it from a different direction.

"She started to feel poorly this morning but went to her classes anyway..." I interrupted him as Verity and my previous conversation played through my memory.

"Classes? Oh. right her classes started." I mentally did the calculation. "This is only her third day."

"Yes, she has been feeling fatigued. It began to worsen at school and she had me come pick her up early. She attempted to have some dinner this evening, but then, well...it worsened futher. It is to the point that I am not certain how to proceed so I thought it best for you to see and decide."

"Ben you are scaring me." My voice broke and I felt Evander's hand grasp mine. I startled at the intimate gesture but appreciated his support.

"I have summoned my personal physician to meet us at your estate." Evander's news soothes me and again I feel thankful. We ride in silence for the remainder. My mind running over scenarios.

I jumped out of the car the minute it stopped in front of the entrance. I didn't wait for Ben or Evander to open it and I ran up the stairs to be greeted by Maria. She gave me a hug this time as I come in the door. Her eyes were misty I noticed as I pulled back. Thay alone caused my heart to sink.

"Where is Verity?" I demanded.

"In her suite, dear." Maria motioned towards the second story.

I wasted no time, up the stairs. Down the hall. On the right, her open door. I waited, collecting myself before I entered. A gasp escaped my mouth when I saw her lying in bed, limp, ragged, pale.

"What happened?" I murmured as I approached her bed reverently, not wanting to disturb her.

"That is precisely what I am here for." An unfamiliar male voice came from behind me. It belonged to a slender young man with a shock of red hair. "You have healed nicely." He adderessed me with some familiarity and with a start I realized that he must have treated me. He wasted no time for a response, immediately approaching Verity and beginning to take her vital signs. His expression gave little away.

"She is in good hands" I felt Evander's presence come up behind me and his now familiar scent surrounded me. My anxiousness quieted.

An alarming thought crashes into my mind as I watched the doctor scarcely able to peel my eyes away. He was so focused, and his expression schooled. Verity would be fine for a few minutes. I grabbed Evander's hand, without a glance backwards I pulled him out into the hall. After peering around the corner to make sure that we will not be overheard, I brought it up to him.

"Evander, Verity is a human!"

"yes...."

"Your doctor is in there. Yours!"

"And..."

"Evander you are a vampire, Verity is not."

"Ah, I see now. Not to worry. He is capable of serving both. We have all the same anatomy. Some of it merely has modified functionality. Besides Adella, he treated you initially and got you stabilized."

"But what about diseases? Can you even get sick? Humans get sick."

"He is qualified. You will see."

I pulled my shoulders back and shuffled my feet quietly back to the room. His doctor was still hovering over Verity. I grasped onto the door frame finally leaning into. Evander followed behind. Despite my best efforts my eyes began to cross with exhaustion. I shook my head in a vain effort to rouse myself.

"Why don't you go lie down? I can watch over her and I will let you know right away what the physcian says."

"No, I should be here."

"Then why don't you have a seat in that chair over there. We will wake you should you fall asleep the moment we know something." There was nothing to argue with, with that logic. I moved to one of the overstuffed chairs and drowsily kept watch on the doctor and Verity. Evander took the chair opposite me and waited quietly. I could feel his porbing gaze on me from time to time. Soon my heavy eyelids were fighting with me. I nodded off while the doctor was drawing her blood.

***

Evander

Ian had finished running the tests and came back in the room with the expected results. I gently watched Adella's rhythmic breathing as she finally got some rest. I stay seated, waiting to hear what he has found.

"Is it as we thought?" I asked him taking my eyes off her when he doesn't say anything.

"I am afraid so Evander." I fought the urge to upend the furniture in the room as the rage surged and my internal flame flared.

"How did this happen?"

"I think you know exactly how this happened." He winked at me in an attempt at levity. It only brought a weary sigh from me.

"You know what I meant." I snapped at him.

"You can't control everyone Evan. Yes, some will willingly follow the rules for the sake of rules. Others will, once convinced that it is the best course. Others will do so after they decide they want to and it benefits them. But as for the rest... You know as well as I do, half think they are above the rules and the rest break them because they can." Ian forcefully handed me the results. "You have to tell her, Evander. She didn't ask for any of this and keeping it from her isn't going to go well for anyone."

My eyes cautiously glanced at Adella, still blissfully aware.

"No not her, Evan. But yes, she should know as well. I meant Verity." I put my head in my hands for a moment. Was this all starting up again? Had it never really ended? I felt Ian's hand lightly pat my shoulder. "I need to get back home. I will come check on her tonight. Please contact me if she hasn't improved in the meantime. I left instructions and medications for her to take. When I visit tonight, I will see if any need to be adjusted."

I stood up and nodded, following him to the front door.

"Thank you Ian. I know that this wasn't convenient for you. I appreciate your discretion. Have you heard of any more of these...events?"

He shook his head sadly and pulled the door open. "Nothing in our circles. Though I suspect, if there have been any, I wouldn't start looking there. You know I will be sure to let you know if I do." With that he got into his waiting car and went home. I crumpled the paper in my hand. This was becoming far too complicated.

Entering Verity's quiet room, I approached where Adella was napping. A small, tight smile graced my face. I was not at ease with what I am going to have to share with her once I wake her. Just a few more minutes will be alright. I sat back in my seat and let myself work over the results. This was probably a fluke, a one off. A mistake. There couldn't be much more to it than that. But what if there was? Is it any coincidence that the heir appeared finally and now there was a case of random interbreeding?

I knew for a fact, that she isn't involved directly. She had no idea about any of that. Her parents made sure of that. Regardless about how I felt on the matter, perhaps in this case, her ignorance could be benefit. A bittersweet one. She was free from any blame this way but shackled still by time lost.

I couldn't shake the unease this news brought. My mind was tumbling, whiring, lost in a dark forest of possibilities and unintended consequences. If this wasn't an isolated event. If this was part of a larger undetected pattern...

Adella brought me out of the darkness when she stirred in her sleep and let out a whimper. I shifted in my seat and laid a gentle hand on her face, cupping her cheek.

"Adella, it is time to wake." She leaned into my hand and smiled. My hand fell from her face. I knew who she thought it was and I would not suffer for the mix up when she opened her eyes. "Adella, wake up." I said a little harsher than I meant to but this time her eyes slowly opened.

"Evander?" She rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Then as if hit by lightning, her whole body jumped up out of the chair at once and she rushed over to Verity. She quickly looked over her vital signs and her pale, sleeping friend. Sapphire blue eyes locked onto me from across the room and I didn't dare look away. "Is she going to be alright?"

"With proper treatment, yes" I followed her to the bedside and also looked over Verity's current vitals. So far she was stable.

"What is wrong with her?" Adella studied the monitors watching their rhythmic measurements.

"Not here. Is there another place we could discuss this?" Adella stiffened. I knew she didn't want to leave Verity's side but this conversation was not one for prying ears to be privy to.

"What type of place would work?" I expected her to have a biting edge to her words. A sign of her displeasure with me for evading a clean answer. Just like every other time. But instead her question came out as an honest inquiry.

"Somewhere more secure than this room" I looked out the door at the waiting maids, pointedly drawing her attention to them. Her eyes lit up with understanding.

"Follow me."

***

Adella

I led Evander to my room across the hall without a second thought. If it hadn't been for the brief flash of fear I saw on his face back with Verity I would have been irritated at his sudden request. But if he was worried. even a little. If what was wrong with Verity was that bad. Moving somewhere private might be for the best.

I stood over by my windows, looking over the gardens in the almost dawn. Even in the dim lighting, it was apparent that unlike myself, the gardens had changed while I had been away. Spending a few minutes waiting for him to say something, I was rewarded with silence. When I look back at him he was scrutinizing my room and its decor.

"Evander?" I drew attention back to the task at hand. "What is wrong with Verity?"

"Forgive me, this room is..." He sheepishly smiled at me and shrugs. My heart did a strange little flip when I saw him being so unguarded, so natural.

A memory tugs at the corners of my mind at the same time. His disdain at my room and it's decor brings me back to Verity and her poking fun at it too. My heart stilled then and I moved to the chairs. Now seated, maybe he would be more forthcoming.

"Verity is..." He sighed heavily and levels a meaningful look at me. "pregnant. As you know."

"Yes, I do" We all knew that. Certainly we did not need a private place to talk over that old news.

"Right. That isn't the problem. The problem..." His leg began to tap softly. A telling sign for a man like him. "It is not a normal pregnancy, Adella. She is pregnant with a vampire child." His words ran right into each other and piled up right outside his mouth. Their meaning hit me before I could even untangle the mess. I felt the color drain from my face.

In response, he leaned towards me on the edge of his chair and tried to comfort me in what I assume is his idea of a soothing tone.

"Adella, Verity is in no immediate danger. She will survive. She is strong and we have the needed interventions to make sure both are healthy." His comforting words were all very much statements, I felt as though I was a soldier being heartened before battle by his general.

"A vampire child...a half blood?" I held his eyes with my own. Just what did this mean?

"Yes, unless Verity is a vampire spawn herself?" His own face looked pinched with this question. Apparently, this scenario would be an even worse.

"Absolutely not!" I said louder and more emphatically than I should have given our proximity.

"Good." The wheels in his head began to turn again. "We need to keep this news to ourselves."

"But we have to tell her. She needs to know."

"Of course we will tell her. Though, you need to be prepared for her to take longer to pull out of this. Longer than you would expect."

"How long exactly could it take?"

"It wouldn't be unheard of for someone in her state to stay unconcious until birth. Especially if we cannot find the sire."

A gasp left me faster than I could stop it. Verity unconcious until birth?

"Which brings me to me previous point we are in for an uphill battle. The supplies we have on hand will run out sooner than later. Do you trust your staff?"

"Ben and Maria. I am not close with many others."

"Adella, do you trust them? Not are you close with them?"

"I trust Ben and Maria."

"They will be the only ones allowed in that room then. Make sure of it. No one else is allowed in and no one needs to know her condition."

"We need to find the sire as soon as possible." Evander moved over to my windows, looking thoughtfully over the quiet predawn scene. I reseated myself in his former chair and watched him go over his thoughts until he felt ready to tell me.

"I am sure you have guessed this isn't unheard of. At least it wasn't. This sort of thing has been banned for quite a while. That is what makes Verity's pregnancy so tricky. While we have enough to treat her for the second trimester, she will need even more for the third."

"Do we not have enough?"

"As stated before, we need to locate the sire. His blood would solve the need for treatment."

My brows furrowed, blood...that word again. I supposed a vampire child would probably need blood. And where better than their living mother. Oh! That baby was going to drain her dry if we don't interevene. Did I do that to my mother as well?

"Do you have any idea where to find the sire?" He must have guessed that it was a dead end by the lack of hope in his question. I shook my head.

"Verity doesn't even remember him." Our previous conversation played through my mind. "But, she knows that she met him at..." I gauged his current mood and if it was worth it to mention the next portion now or wait. He raised a brow impaitiently. Timidly, I offered up the rest and waited for his reaction. "The Marksman."