BLOODLINES: ANGELO MARKADO

VAHITNA

15 Anno Bhiasti. Vahitna is salivating as she watches her sleeping husband. Alert, she listens to what's happening outside. It is safe for now but until when? She will protect her husband no matter what it takes, but the konxeladas or demons, as humans call them, have already discovered their appetite for human blood and flesh.  

She also has the same hunger for James, but her love for him strengthens her somehow. She can curb her desire to eat her husband, but she has no control of the chaos happening outside. She can't risk exposing her husband to those who want to eat him.

James moved. Vahitna steeled herself, not wanting to wake her husband. She is sitting a few meters away from the bed they share when she can still sleep. She’s guarding her husband while keeping her distance. She has forbidden herself to touch him nor get too near in fear of smelling how delicious he is.

For some konxeladas, it took a while before they realized what they'd become. They didn’t initially develop a hunger for human blood and meat unless exposed to them, mostly during s****l contact. There were unreported ‘accidents’ where konxeladas harmed or even killed their human s*x partners.  Then demons discovered the bloody s*x rituals of eating and killing each other and relieving the experience repeatedly as an enjoyable indulgence.

When Kein officially declared himself as god of the world and reset the dating system according to his will, konxeladas fully grasp their transformation’s true power. They did not only developed an addiction to bloody s*x, but they also realized that they can eat humans at will.  This led to extreme violence and attacks against humans and the circulation of rumors about an impending world war.

Unlike other konxeladas, Vahitna knew that something was wrong with her because she couldn’t give birth to her baby girl, Dinah. She was nine months pregnant when she got infected with the RPTR21 virus. Dying, she accepted her situation and said goodbye to James on her hospital deathbed.

"I'll be with Jordan soon honey. See you on the other side, my love," Vahitna said, holding on to her last breath to kiss her crying husband. Jordan, their eldest two-year-old son, died several months back.

"Hold on, please baby...the vaccine will be here soon. D-don't leave me please," James held Vahitna’s hand, begging her to fight, but she just closed her eyes, glad that her husband wasn’t infected.

When Vahitna woke up, James told her that everything was fine. Yet a month after recovering from the virus, she's still pregnant. Her case wasn't isolated. She met other pregnant women not experiencing growth of their fetus inside them, though the babies' sonogram showed them to be in perfect health.

James blamed himself for giving consent in vaccinating Vahitna, but she knew his husband was just desperate.

Kein Serpens industries provided a facility for them. Vahitna went to an emergency Caesarian delivery and was very happy to hear her baby Dinah cry. James was there, kissing her lovingly while sobbing like a baby, but as soon as her placenta died and James cut the baby’s umbilical cord, Dinah stopped crying -- dead. Vahitna’s belly closed and healed on its own, making her 9-month pregnant again with a kicking baby inside.

"I-i don't understand? What's wrong?" Vahitna could hear her husband's choked voice in the other room, talking to the doctors.

"KSi is doing everything to know what’s happening to your wife and the others.  This can be the effect of vaccines that we..."

Vahitna stopped listening, tired of hearing her husband’s controlled sobbing and the doctors’ stupid explanations. She just cradled her dead baby in her arms, kissing her, crying silently, and not wanting to let her go. She held her tightly, thinking that if they forced her to give her up, she’d…

"V-vahitna!" James cried, shocked.

She broke out of her trance and saw her husband standing at the door with a horrified expression. The doctors were also looking at her, appalled. The nurses and other hospital attendants were suddenly upon her.

"W-what? What's happening?" Vahitna saw that she's soaked with blood, and in her mouth, she's chewing what remains to be baby Dinah's hand. That's when she screamed and wished that she could sleep and never wake up ever again.

    As to how James could still love her for fifteen more years despite the monster she has become, she couldn't understand. KSi gave them financial assistance to live comfortably without working as online educators, their profession during the pandemic. Yet, no amount of money could make them happy with their current situation.

"For as long as we have each other everything will be alright." James, who fifteen years later is a man in his late thirties, would still assure his young wife while showing the ultrasound screen. They bought one, so they could see Dinah inside her belly. Vahitna found herself emotionally detached from the baby since she had already eaten the real one.   

Most surviving humans resisted Kein’s leadership. It wasn’t easy to digest his claim that he was the promised Messiah to save humankind, that his blood was the vaccine’s main ingredient, making the konxeladas his children, and that he was uniting the world as one. 

On the other hand, most konxeladas immediately worship Kein for giving them eternal youth, beauty, and immortality.  Not in the case of babies who will never grow up, pregnant women like Vahitna who will never give birth, and sick, old, and disabled people who remained frozen in their condition.  The vaccine only treated the virus, but all underlying conditions and diseases remained.

The resistance continued for years that hate crimes became rampant against humans who openly loathed the existence of konseladas.

“Humans started this, we are just defending ourselves,” said a konxelada when a news anchor asked him about hate crime toward humans.

"Self-defense!?! We don't die, what are they talking about?" Vahitna was screaming at the screen as she kept tabs on what’s happening in the world. She is sympathetic to humans because of James. 

This caused another split between the already divided world that Kein was trying to unite. Konxeladas worldwide with human families allied together to protect their loved ones against radical konxeladas who looked at humans as food.

"Let's not meddle with politics," James would dismiss the issue, turning off what Vahitna was watching.

"Well they better stay away from you or I will eat those motherf*ckers!" Vahitna was fuming as she paced the room back and forth.

"I love you too," James hugged her, but Vahitna pushed him away.

"D-don't, you are too...you smell good," Vahitna stepped back and stopped breathing.

"I-i'm sorry. I just miss you," James was adamant about letting her go.

"I know, I miss you too," Vahitna bit her lip, trying to control her transformation. She’s embarrassed when James sees her monstrous form.

 ******

    "The committee has decided, we will implement the new ordinance immediately,” though Vahitna couldn’t see from where she was hiding meters away from the town hall; she knew the homeowners association president was the one talking. All human residents were called in for an emergency meeting, though Vahitna couldn’t attend, konxeladas can hear very well even from afar.

“Wait a minute, shouldn’t we discuss this first? I don’t want to be away from my wife,” Vahitna recognized James' voice.

“I’m sorry James, I don’t want to be away with my son too but he almost...ea...he attacked his mother last night and it came very close...I can’t…” another man spoke. Vahitna couldn’t identify him.

“Well, my wife is different. She will never hurt even a fly!” Vahitna smiled upon hearing the confidence in her husband’s voice.

“Still, humans are staying in the homes inside the village while our konxelada family members will be housed along the perimeters to guard us against demons’ attack. It’s that or go live elsewhere,” Vahitna wanted to cut the throat of the one who just spoke.  

She almost stormed the meeting and killed every human present when she heard about the ordinance separating konxeladas from their human families.  She cannot be away from James! He has to be by her side to keep him safe. She doesn’t care about the other humans.

"It’s okay, we can manage anyway. Maybe my wife doesn’t have the urge because she’s pregnant,” she heard James say in a firm voice.

“That’s my man!” Vahitna smiled, listening to her husband's decision.

She was waiting in their kitchen when James came back from the town hall meeting.

"You heard," James knew her wife would be listening. He doubted if she could hear that far, but she nodded, her worried expression visible on her creased forehead.

"I can't live without you," Vahitna burst into tears. James walked to where his wife was seated and hugged her.

"That will not happen. We will do whatever it takes," James assured her. 

Vahitna pulled away from James; he is mouthwatering. James lied to their neighbors; she hungers for human blood and flesh. She went for the butcher's knife and handed it to James.

"Whatever it takes," Vahitna said, looking at James gravely. James sighed and took the knife.

Vahitna laid down on the kitchen floor and exposed her belly. Then, with tears flowing from James' eyes, she saw him knelt before her and cut open her stomach.

She stifled her scream as James took out the crying baby. Vahitna held her and motioned for James to leave. As he did, Vahitna felt her body healing. Then, with the baby dead in her arms, she started eating.

This was how Vahitna and James survived when they left the safety of their village together. Vahitna discovered an endless food supply that prevented her from craving James' blood and flesh, but her husband is still in danger from other konxelada demons. There were also times when the dead baby was not enough to satisfy her. She may be full, but James smells fresh and more delicious than her dead baby.

******

    Now, watching her sleeping husband, she thought about what he told her before he went to bed.

"What if I drink your blood? Maybe I can be immortal too. The vaccine has Kein's blood on it that caused your mutation. Maybe I can..." James said after he tried to kiss her goodnight, but Vahitna stopped him.

"No! What if you die?" Vahitna couldn’t believe her ears, but James looked serious, and this bothered her.

"Let me taste a drop," James walked toward her.

"Nope, I can't risk it," this time, Vahitna stepped back and avoided her husband’s begging eyes.

"Whatever it takes," James reminded her but didn’t pursue the discussion further.

Vahitna couldn't answer back.

"I'm dead either way," her husband said after settling himself on the bed to sleep. This shook Vahitna to the core.

They heard the news that both races officially declared war against each other. Konxeladas would have a feast. Humans were out of their minds thinking they had a chance while betting their lives on the love of their konxelada families, who were supposed to protect them. Now the fight maybe even, but humans would still be casualties of this war.

    James moved again; Vahitna approached the bed this time.  

"What's wrong?" James sat up when Vahitna stroked his hair and cheek lovingly.

"Are you hungry again?" James' voice was thick with sleep.

Vahitna shook her head. The baby she ate last night could sustain her for three more days.

"Let's do it, whatever it takes," using her sharp nail, Vahitna cut her wrist and offered it to James who didn't hesitate and licked his wife's wound before it healed.

"Anything?" Vahitna checked after several minutes of waiting. She’s not only scared of konxeladas targeting James but she’s also scared of him getting old and dying, leaving her all alone for eternity.

"Nothing, I feel the same except I’m no longer sleepy," James actually wanted more of Vahitna’s blood. Initially, it tasted weird but upon acquiring its distinct taste, he liked it.

Vahitna sighed, disappointed but also glad that nothing bad happened to James.

"Come here. Lie with me," James eased sideward to give Vahitna space on their bed.

"No!" Vahitna turned around to go back to her seat.

"Come on, if I'm to be eaten, I want it to be you," James grabbed her hand.

Vahitna looked at her husband, eyes blazing and ready to give him an earful, but James' face was not joking. Then he yanked her to bed and kissed her passionately as she fell on top of him. Vahitna's heart danced with so much joy. 

There's a new hunger building inside her, awakened by her husband’s kisses. How long has it been? They had not been intimate with each other, especially during the last quarter of her pregnancy. In her first pregnancy with Jordan, they didn't even have s*x for over a year. Now that she’s a konxelada, it’s impossible.

This time though...hmmm...It has been years. Vahitna found herself kissing James back.

"J-James..." Vahitna came back to her senses and tried to stop James from trying to feel her swollen body.

"Shhh..." James tightened his embrace and deepened his kiss.

Lying on the bed and kissing each other passionately, Vahitna felt human again, and her husband on top of her was the most natural thing in the world.

"Ouch!" Vahitna tasted her blood

James bit her lips hard.

"W-what are you doing?" she looked at her husband’s face.

"I want to taste your blood again, it's sweet," James acted like a child asking his mom for food. Vahitna laughed heartily despite herself, the first since she became a konxelada.

They looked at each other's eyes for a while until Vahitna opened her blouse showing her swollen breasts. She's already milking.

“Bite me,” she whispered. James dived in and bit her. 

"Aaahhhhh," she moaned softly, feeling her breasts grow lighter as milk and blood flowed out of her to James' mouth. Then she felt James' hand stroking her bloated body and squeezing her butt cheeks hard. James was strangely strong; this surprised both of them. She then felt his hand inside her maternity skirt. She’s not wearing panties nowadays; they’re too tight against her bulging belly.

His finger slid smoothly inside her wetness. The sensation sent shockwaves up her womb that throbbed wildly with the baby kicking inside her. James sucked both her n*****s left and right as he pushed three more fingers in and out of the gushing hole between her legs. James’ every touch and squeeze are painful, but she likes the sensation nonetheless.

She touched him and found him already hard. She pushed him on his back and removed all his clothes in one go. Then she put his erection in her mouth, careful not to squeeze too hard or bite him accidentally.

"Ohhhhhh," James moaned, stretching his legs and twisting his ankles in ecstasy. Vahitna massaged the fullness of his stiff shaft with the coldness of her tongue. Despite it, James felt his body was on fire.  

She drained him dry when he released inside her mouth. Vahitna felt triumphant, he tasted and smelled so good, yet it never crossed her mind to eat her husband all the while that she was sucking him. His scent is different somehow, not that of food but of something else.

In return, James pinned her to bed and removed all her clothes. Ugh! Vahitna wanted to hide her massive body. She is bloated, and it’s not a sexy sight to see, yet James looked at her with so much desire and hunger in his eyes.

Then he spread her legs wide open and buried his face on her vertical lips. Vahitna was delirious as James licked her like she's melting ice cream in his mouth. The ecstasy was driving her mad.

"Ohhh...Ouch!" Vahitna moaned and gasped at the same time.

James bit her again then sucked her blood before inserting his tongue inside her. Vahitna's body is twisting and turning with so much pain and pleasure. The baby is also moving wildly inside her womb, feeling her excitement and lust.

“Ouch!” James cried softly.

"W-what?" alarmed, Vahitna saw James' mouth bleeding.

"You squeezed me hard in there," James' tongue felt funny.

"Sorry," Vahitna forgot. She pulled her husband up to face her and kissed him on the mouth.

It’s too late; she already tasted his blood and changed form into an ugly monster. Green scales came out of her skin, and her eyes turned bloody red. Yet James didn't flinch even when he heard her growling. Instead, he bit Vahitna's lips and was able to cut through the hard scales to suck her blood.

They both moaned despite the cuts and bites they've given each other. Their blood numbs them from the pain somehow.  

When James entered her and pushed his hardness inside, deeply and violently, Vahitna never felt such pleasure. Even the baby inside her seemed to understand what's happening. Vahitna made sure not to squeeze too hard, but she couldn't control drinking James' blood, and so was James. 

He made love to her all night. They both knew something was different with James. He became more assertive, tossing her to any position he pleases as if she is not pregnant.

"Ohhhh!"

"Aaahhh!"

James took her from the back while biting her neck. Her bulging belly was hanging low while she was on four, panting and exploding multiple times. They were both bleeding, soaking the bed, yet James didn’t seem to tire. It's like there's a hunger within him too. 

Then as soon as the first sign of daylight appeared, they both exploded again while James was sucking her breast and she was biting his arm. Finally, they both laid down on the bed, spent. 

James was snoring after two seconds. Vahitna couldn't believe what just happened. She looked at her sleeping husband and checked on his wounds, assessing the damage. Her eyes grew wide when she saw him healing. It worked! Her husband is safe. 

Vahitna let James sleep the whole day. She cleaned him and their bedroom, then waited for him to wake up. Vahitna was looking at the full moon outside their bedroom window when James’ snoring stopped. She smiled and turned around, only to see a wild beast went for her belly and cut the baby out of her.