Rush Of Blood

Oh Brother

     First thing in the morning, we’d all woken up, packed our stuff, and checked out. I had contacted Walter, having him take the bottle manually to Crystal Springs, our home, considering glass wasn’t allowed on a plane. It took a little convincing, but considering the baby, he did it. After boarding the plane, we all decided sat around the same spots again, talking and laughing the whole ride back home. Everyone was supposed to go home and settle in first, then the next day, which was thursday, we we’re to all meet up at Colten’s house again. 

     I fell back on my bed, this odd heavy feeling plaguing my chest. It almost felt like I was going to cry, but I couldn’t. I sat up, resting my head in my hands. A knock came at my window, causing me to jump. I looked over, noticing Colten was hanging at my window, waving. I chuckled, walking over and lifting the window open, inviting him in. “What’s up?” I asked, picked up my suitcase and tossing on my bed, beginning to empty most of the clothes into my laundry basket. “I talked to Bella...she said she...killed James? By herself?” I froze, frowning. “Yes...we lied but...she did good!” I turned quickly, straining a fake smile. He shook his head, “That’s not my concern. I know she’s strong. Why did she have to kill him by herself?” I sighed, “It’s nothing. He wasn’t aiming at her, so don’t worry. She did it...to avenge.” Avenge?! Dammit! “Avenge who?” He eyed me, crossing his arms. “Me...” I whispered, sitting down beside the half empty suitcase. “What the hell happened last night?” He asked, confused. “Nothing!” Of course that was my first instinct. He grabbed me by my shoulders, hard, pulling me up and staring straight into my eyes. “What else did you lie about?” “He kissed me!” I shouted, my eyes getting watery. He quickly stepped back, looking even more confused and slightly disgusted. Then he noticed I had started to slightly cry. “Oh. No. Please. Don’t...don’t do that.” His shoulders dropped, and he reached out, grabbing my arms again. I shook my head, wiping the water from my eyes. “Sorry...” He chuckled, “You are one weird mortal.” “Shut it, vampire.” He started walking towards the window, “Well, I need to go check up on Bella. Are you gonna be alright?” I nodded, “Yeah. I’ll be fine.” I moved back to the suitcase, tossing clothes in the basket. When I glanced back, he was gone.

     I laid down on my bed, staring up at my white popcorn ceiling. I had my hand on my stomach, as usual. I sighed, closing my eyes, hoping for a little rest. Eventually I fell asleep and was enveloped in my dreams.

     The hospital bed was depressingly uncomfortable, but it wasn’t my priority at the moment. What was my priority was the horrifying pain that was radiating from my uterus. Damien had insisted on getting a half face cover to not get me sick, claiming he felt bad. Of course it was just to try and block out the smell of my blood. He was at my side, holding my hand as I groaned in pain, sitting half up as my legs were positioned awkwardly, up and open. The doctor continued to urge me to push, and push, and push. And I did. Soon enough, there was a high pitched cry echoing in the room. I smiled in relief, sighing from exhaustion. When I looked to my right, Damien had vanished. I was startled, looking around trying desperately to find him. But my eyes were stuck on the doctor. He was holding my child, rocking it back and forth in his arms, the child still bloody. The doctor looked up at me, his eyes a shocking red. It was Walter, holding my baby, smiling his wicked grin. He threw his head back, extending his jaw, his fangs growing out from his regular canine teeth. He swung his head down into the child’s stomach, allowing it to emit a horrifyingly painful scream, looking directly at me as he drank. And drank. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t do anything to stop him. I couldn’t even look away. He slowly withdrew from the child, letting his arms fall, letting her fall. 

     I jolted awake, tears already down the sides of my face. I must have cried in my sleep, and why wouldn’t I? My heart was pounding, and I felt sick to my stomach. Or was that the baby? Suddenly, I panicked. I sat up, dizzy, and stumbled off the bed, holding myself up on my side table. I shoved my hand in my pocket, pulling out my phone, quickly scrolling through contacts, and called Damien. It rung once before he answered, “Lilly?” I felt a heaviness in my throat, and couldn’t speak. “Hello? Did you butt dial me?” “Mhmm mm!” I tried to say no, but settled for simply grunting a response. “Honey, are you alright?” I grunted again, falling to my knees from my dizziness. “I’ll be right there.” He quickly said, and I could hear him opening and closing doors, picking up and dropping keys, “I’ll run. Stay on the phone with me okay? Are you at your house?” “Mhmm” I mumbled, agreeing. “Good, I’m on my way.” There was a quick and rapid knock at the door, and I could hear from both the phone and through the floor, “Evening, Miss Vista. May I see your daughter? She said she doesn’t feel well and I just wanted to check up on her.” My mother allowed him in, “Of course, Damien!” Then he was at my door, the door swinging open just before a blackness began to envelop my vision. He had swept me up, placed me on the bed, and had his hands on my neck and forehead. “You’re heart beat is too fast, you need to calm down sweetheart.” He moved the hand on my neck to my stomach. “For me and our daughter.” His words struck me, and my heart did calm, but now I was silently sobbing. I sat up quickly, throwing myself into his arms. He cradled me, moving us so he could sit against my headboard. He ran his fingers through my hair, rubbing my arm with his other hand. “I can’t do this...” I whispered, shoving my face into his chest. He shook his head, “Yes you can, Lilly. You’re strong.” He held me up a bit higher, hugging me tighter. “No...I...I can’t...” “I’ll ask Bella to study the potion, she’s actually pretty good with alchemy. If she can redo the potion, she can give us a second chance at having one of our own.” I looked up excitedly, tears already blurring my eyes, “Really?!” He smiled widely, “Hell yeah! I never thought, in all my years of being eighteen, I’d ever really want a child.” I laughed, “Well now you’re...” I tried to do the math in my head, as quick as possible. “two hundred and fifty seven, don’t you think it’s time to settle down?” I teased. “Why do you think I’m marrying you?” He kissed me softly, laughing. “Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.” He quickly flipped me, hovering over me as he pinned my arms above my head. “Hey!” “You don’t believe me?” I laughed, writhing under him. “Stop!” “Miss Lillian Vista, soon to be Mrs Lillian Walker, I am marrying you because I love you.” I giggled, “Yeah I know! Now get off me!” He chuckled, “No.” I struggled under his grip, “Come on! Get off!” “Nope.” He grinned. “Baby on board!” I shouted, laughing. His eyes widened, quickly moving off me and standing at the edge of the bed as I sat up. I giggled, but he had a growing frown, his chest beginning to heave with his heavy breathing. I looked at him confused, but as soon as he glanced at the door, I knew what he feared. Now I was hyperventilating. We both tried to be as quiet as possible, listening for any sign of my mother. Nothing. Now I was really worried. “Where’s my mom?” I quickly jumped off the bed, throwing the door open and rushing downstairs. “Mom!” I followed the noise in the kitchen, only to find my brother was digging through the fridge. “Where’s mom?” I asked, trying to catch my breath. “Uhh, she went to the store I think.” He said, shutting the refrigerator door. “Oh...okay.” I laughed lightly, turning to the stairs. “Hey, can you guys take it to his place?” I froze, then quickly turned around, “We weren’t doing anything!” I waved his hands, “No no no! Nothing like that, I’m just having some friends over.” I pouted, “And you have a problem with me being here? Afraid your little college friends will pick a crush on your senior sister?” He laughed. Hard. “No of course not! Just that I don’t want to deal with my little sister.” He patted my head as he turned past me to the living room. “Yeah, we’ll go. What friends anyway? I didn’t know you had friends.” I giggled, walking towards him and leaning on the wall. “None of your con-” A knock at the door stopped him, and he groaned. “Go out the window or something, they’re here.” I giggled, “I think I’ll meet them.” I walked along his side to the front door. He glared at me once before he opened the door. “Hey guys. This is my stubborn, annoying as all hell, little sister, Lilly. Lilly, meet Walter, Elliot, and Mark.” I froze, completely terrified. It was Walter. The three of them smiled at me, “Hello.” I did a quick nod, and turned to Tucker, “I’ll be leaving soon.” I nodded to them again before walking upstairs, feeling so much more than terrified.

     “Walter...he’s...here...” I said, walking into the room, feeling dizzy. Damien was standing in front of me now, one hand on my chin. “What do you mean he’s here?” I sighed, “Just help me get dressed, let’s go to your house.” I walked blankly past him, pulling off my sweater and putting on a tank top and shorts, slipping on my converse. We walked downstairs, walking to the front door. “Hold on.” I walked over to where Tucker and his friends all sat around the television. “Walter? That’s your name right? Can I talk to you for a second?” He nodded, “I guess.” He stood, walking over to me. “I don’t know what you’re up to, but if you hurt my brother, I will find and kill your Luna.” He simply smiled, “I won’t hurt him.” I poked his chest as hard as I could, “None of you will.” He shrugged, “If they get hungry...” “You find something else to feed them!” “Alright alright...I’m shocked you haven’t asked how I know your brother.” I shook my head, “I really don’t want to know.” He shrugged, “Alright, love. I’ll see you soon.” I sighed, turning on my heels and walking towards Damien. “Let’s go. Please.” He nodded, walking out the door, and heading towards my car, my keys in his hand. 

     I sat down on the couch, staring intensely at the glass of water in my hand. “Are you okay?” Damien asked, sitting beside me. “Yes. I...I’m fine.” I lowered the glass, spreading a failure of a smile across my face. “What’s wrong?” I sighed, “Really?” He shrugged, “Yeah really.” I glared at him, “What the hell do you think?!” He shrugged again, “I think I’m engaged to this beautiful girl, and I think she’s carrying my child. I think my friends are all alive, and I think you and I need a little vacation.” I sighed, “We just came back from vacation, Damien.” He lifted his own glass, filled nearly to the brim with blood, and took a sip. “So?” I sighed again, slumping into the couch. “I just want one normal week. That’d be nice...” He leaned over, kissed my nose, and poked my stomach, making me giggle. “There is no way we could ever have a normal week.” I looked down at my stomach, “I guess you’re right...” He smiled widely, poking my stomach again. “Change of topic! How about a name?” I looked at him, one eyebrow raised. “Name?” “Well, it all depends. If it’s a boy I think-” I pressed my finger on his lips, “Please don’t...” “Why not?” I dropped my hand, placing it on my stomach. “Because we’re not keeping he- it.” “But the next one we will.” I smiled softly, “True...” “So, for a boy, how about Alexander?” I smiled, “I like it. And a girl?” He pursed his lips, deep in thought. He glanced around the room, looking for inspiration. His eyes fell on a single rose that sat in a vase. “Rose.” I giggled, “How about, Rosalinda?” He smiled, “Yes! Rosalinda!” He leaned down, coming close to my stomach. “Do you like that name? Rosalinda?” I laughed now, “She’s a cell right now, Damien.” He looked at me, glaring. “She has feelings you know!” I laughed louder. He put his glass down before grabbing my face with both his hands and kissing me. I half giggled in the kiss, wrapping my arms around him and throwing myself on him so we we’re laying down. I propped myself up with my arms on his chest. “You’re something, you know that?” He laughed, “You’re something better.” He leaned up, kissing me again. I laid down on his chest after the kiss, feeling exhausted from the day. “Can I just sleep here?” He chuckled, “Of course.” I smiled, snuggling into his chest before falling asleep. Rosalinda...