My corset hugged my stomach tighter than before as I ran down the long hallway towards Abigale’s courters. Without knocking, I entered and seen her standing on the balcony smoking a cigarette, blowing the smoke out she ushered for me. She started his habit once we got here; Addison won’t even kiss her now.
“What did you need?” I asked, “I was in combat training with Matthew.”
She grinned “You have been spending more time with him since we have been here than anyone, even me. You’re making me jealous.” She pouted.
“I’m sorry, but as your body guard I must.” I lied. “He is the best trainer here; that I know of.”
“Well I suggest you take the day off tomorrow. You and I are going shopping tomorrow evening when the sun sets.” She smiled.
“Alright I will” I assured her.
Leaving her room I exhaled. We have been here for two and a half months and my stomach has been growing very slowly. I have not told anyone nor will I unless I have too. For now I wear my corsets as tight as I can until someone takes notice. During the day, while I lay there trying to sleep, I can feel it moving around inside me. A while ago it kicked me in the lungs and I thought I was going to pass out and with training it didn’t help either. I’m soon going to have to stop wearing these corsets. I gasped as someone pulled me aside in the hallway.
“There you are” He said “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“I’m sorry Matthew, Abigale summoned me and I had to leave. I forgot to tell you.”
“I was worried I thought someone stole you.” He laughed.
“They would have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming.” I laughed with him as he pulled my clippie from my hair. “Hey-
“I like it better when your hair is down.” He interrupted me. “Will you take a walk with me in the Gardens?”
“It’s cold outside.” I stopped him.
“I’m sure we can get coats.” He rolled his eyes, “Don’t see why we need them, being vampires and all.”
“You’re a pureblood, unlike me.”
Two of the maids brought us our coats while we stood by the back door that led outside. Over these two months I have grown quite attached to Matthew even though Addison has warned me to watch out for him, for a reason I don’t know he won’t seem to tell me. The snow has been falling since last week and we are waiting till we are snowed in. To a human these gardens would be dark as a blind fold but to Matthew and me, we could see every detail, every snow flake that fell from the sky and landed on the ground in front of us. He pulled me closer to him, draping his arms around my shoulders. I noticed he was staring at the bottom of my corset before I covered it up with my coat.
“Have you ever thought about becoming a pureblood?” He asked randomly running his bare hand through the snow.
“No I don’t want to become a pureblood. It would be nice to be more advanced and quick but I don’t think I could force myself into it.” I looked up at him.
“Well if you ever think about it, or want too just let me know. I’m sure Abigale would agree to it, since she is becoming, Lady of the Coven tomorrow along with Addison.”
This took me by surprise. “Why”
“Father and mother are tired their getting old. Geez father is turning fifteen hundred next week and mom is not far behind him. He is way older than Joviel, they want to retire and allow their oldest son to succeed them. Addison is going to be passed the crown tomorrow night at midnight.”
“Wow, but if you purebloods can stop aging, why don’t they just stop aging.”
“It’s not that easy.” He explained, “They would have had to stop aging years ago, like a few hundred years ago. As soon as I turned 30 in human years I stopped my aging process. Believe me it was a painful process and I wouldn’t want anyone to go through that.”
“Vladimir offered to allow me to change when I turned a hundred. I declined, only because I watched an old friend of Abigale go through it and I didn’t think she was going to make it.” I say touching my belly, I need to loosen the strings but not here.
“Has your stomach been bothering you again?” He asked which made me stop in my tracks. Does he know?
“No. Just a pain.”
“I know your secret.” He blabbed stopping a few steps in front of me.
“What secret.” I played dumb but he seen through my bluff.
“Don’t act dumb with me, Anne I have known for a few weeks now.” He said turning around to face me, “The way you hit you belly under those tight corsets, the strings are about to pop, you almost passed out during training earlier this evening, plus I have the ability to hear the thing.”
“You can hear it.” I ask touching my stomach.
“I have been for a week, that’s why I have been as aggressive with you during training. If I would have known you were pregnant I would have cancels our sessions before they were even started.” He said “Your or the baby could have been seriously hurt.”
“Or I would have of lost it.” I said
“That’s impossible.” He looked angry.
“Why are you so worked up?” I asked shoving my hands in my coat. “It’s not like you and I are together or anything. This baby and I have nothing to do with you or you to it.”
“I would like it to be.” He said
