Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 33~

The next day, the afternoon sun streamed through the window, casting long, distorted shadows across the room. My eyes snapped open, a deep sense of wrongness clawing at my insides.

I bolted upright, my heart pounding like a drumbeat in my ears. A wave of nausea washed over me, so intense it made me light-headed. With no time to spare, I stumbled to the bathroom, the taste of iron heavy on my tongue.

As I heaved, the sickening sound echoed off the cold tiles, a stark reminder of my half-vampire nature's betrayal. The room spun, and I clutched the porcelain edge, my knuckles turning white as I peered down at a red substance in the toilet.

"What the hell is happening?" I gasped, my voice barely a whisper.

My phone's shrill ring cut through the retching, and I reached for it with a trembling hand. "Kat," the screen flashed. Panic set in as I swiped to answer.

"Raelyn, what's wrong? You sound awful," Katrina's voice was laced with immediate worry.

I tried to speak, but another wave of sickness overtook me, the sound of my distress transmitting over the phone line.

"Rae, hold on, we're coming over—Devyn, Tara, and I," Katrina's voice was firm, her decision made.

"No, don't... you guys have work," I managed between gasps, her voice barely a whisper.

Katrina was insistent, "Work can wait, Rae, Something's not right. We're on our way." My protest was lost in the void as my body convulsed once more, fear and the unknown gripping me.

~

After the symptoms subsided for the time being, I went to lay down on my sofa. A little while later, they all arrived at my house. I rolled over on my back to look at them.

Devyn rushed over to me as she rubbed my cheek and brushed my hair back. "Oh, baby, what's wrong?"

I sat up, leaning back against my couch arm, clutching my stomach. "I think I have the stomach flu; it's been going around a lot. Probably got it from the carnival yesterday." Kat nodded.

"When was your last period, could it be that? Do you ever get nauseous?" My eyes widened. "January."

Wait, what month is it... It's March... Shit...

I quickly got out of bed and went to my bathroom. I fell to my knees as I ransacked my cabinets, finding all my unused period supplies. I panicked.

I put my hand over my mouth and fell back against the wall. A tear fell from my eye as I looked through my drawers and pulled out a pregnancy test.

I kept one on me for emergencies. I never thought I would have to use this. I guess that's what happens when you have unprotected sex constantly.

There's no way I could be pregnant, I can't be.

After what felt like forever, I looked at the pregnancy test to see the results. I took a large, deep breath. I flipped it over and saw the impossible...two pink lines.

I felt the world crumble around me. "No-no-no!" I screamed, my voice echoing in the small bathroom. The girls came rushing in quickly when they heard me fall against the wall.

"What is it?" Devyn knelt to me as I cried into her chest. "Emily? What is it?" Kat asked, her voice filled with concern.
"I'm pregnant," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"How is that even possible?" Katrina asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

I rolled my eyes, my voice muffled by sobs. "We're adults. We have sex more often than not. I just didn't think I could get pregnant because I'm half-vampire. It's literally impossible."