𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬

𝟹

The next morning, Aeliana and Hayley were happily munching on an array of food in the courtyard. The former suddenly looked like her belly grew rapidly overnight, however she paid no mind given she is a vampire and didn't understand how vampire pregnancies worked.

"It's like whoever made this knew exactly what I wanted!" Aeliana continued to shove food into her mouth. "It's insane, the amount of cravings I get. Bless the compelled chef."

As she said that, Nik came downstairs and joined the two.

"So, which restaurant's missing a compelled chef?" Hayley joked, but Nik just looked confused.

"It's certainly a card I've played in the past, but I had no hand in this."

Aeliana was still eating as Hayley chuckled at her. "Well, then, I guess we have Elijah to thank?"

Upon hearing his name, Elijah joined them in the courtyard, also looking confused at the food laid out. "This wasn't my doing."

Aeliana stopped chewing, looking scared. "Then, where did this all come from?"

The silver lid on the platter began to rattle, startling everyone and making them jump. Nik looked nervously at the platter, slowly opening the lid which revealed two starlings to fly up toward the ceiling, making everyone duck.

Both girls looked around in confusion as Nik reached for a paper on the tray. "What the hell was that?"

"An invitation from our mother."

Elijah and Nik stared at each other in concern as Aeliana chucked a muffin across the courtyard and stormed upstairs, Hayley immediately following her.

"What did the muffin do to you?" Hayley tried to joke, but saw that Aeliana was crying and became concerned. "Oh, Ana."

She wrapped her arms around the tearful, pregnant vampire who could barely speak. "God, I don't even know why I'm crying. I just felt so angry and didn't know how else to let it out!"

"It's the hormones," Hayley started, bringing her into the closest room, which happened to be Nik's. "Come on, lay down."

Aeliana looked around the room, tears immediately going away. "Ew, we're in Nik's room."

Hayley rolled her eyes playfully and pushed her onto the bed. "Oh, shut up and lay down."

Nik came into the room, staring at the two laid on his bed with a weird look but just shook his head.

"It is times like this I'm really glad I never knew my mother." Hayley was holding onto Aeliana who just laughed.

"We have enough enemies here. And now, the war for our home is to be fought against my own family."

"Your wretched mother and her disciples tried to put a carving knife through our baby's heart. I will happily add to the body count."

"I'll happily join you. She isn't harming anyone in this family."

Nik smiled at the girls as Elijah entered the room.

"You will do no such thing. Esther's a master in the art of possession. We know whose body she currently inhabits. We must decipher her intentions before she finds a new host."

Aeliana groaned in annoyance. "Last time she came back from the dead, she tried to kill the entire vampire race."

Nik nodded in agreement. "I think we can assume her intentions are decidedly foul."

Elijah just shrugged. "Well, then. We have this afternoon to prepare for the worst. Would you like to join me, my sweet?"

Aeliana nodded with enthusiasm, skipping up from the bed after giving Hayley a kiss on her cheek. She went towards Nik and gave him a hug before leaving the room with a smile on her face.