Dracula's Groom

CHAPTER FIFTY THREE: Ultrasound

Dracula

The office of Dr. Amanda Pierce, a world renowned pediatrician and surgeon, was located on the sixth floor of a high-rise that overlooked the water near the center of London. Our appointment had been scheduled as last minute given the secrecy of the situation and because of my royal status as King. When we arrived, the waiting room was practically vacant except for a young couple or two. Nathan approached the counter with the sliding glass window as he confirmed our appointment with the receptionist named Kate.

I sat in the middle of the room with my eyes glancing at the door every so often whenever a human walked by on their way elsewhere. These days I had to be careful with whoever I came in contact with on a daily basis. Given my most recent nightmare and drug-altering head trip in Las Vegas not too long ago; I was starting to put myself, body and mind, in defensive mode. And now with Nathan's pregnancy on the horizon things were starting to get much more serious.

As Nathan sat down beside me with a plastic clipboard in his hand, I watched as he filled in the space where it said FATHER'S NAME and wrote in Vlad.

"Vlad?" I asked quietly. "Why not just put in my real name."

Nathan gave me a dry look. "I'm not putting in Dracula. I mean, she's gonna think we're nuts."

"Hardly. I honestly believe that she knows exactly who I am."

Ten minutes went by before a nurse called out Nathan's name and took us in through the back where she properly measured his height and weight before placing us in examination room five. I sat in the chair, watching as the nurse wrapped a blood pressure cuff around Nathan's arm and squeezed the black rubber ball until she got an accurate reading. With a nod she confirmed the numbers and made a few little notes as well as asked Nathan a few personal health questions.

"Okay. So I will pass off your chart to Dr. Pierce and she'll be in to greet you both shortly."

"Thanks very much." I said.

The instant the door closed behind her, I was right beside Nathan as he took my hand in his and gave me a small smile.

"What's wrong?" He asked. "You seem like your on edge."

"Really? I didn't know I was."

"Dracula, tell me the truth."

I sighed. "Fine. I guess I'm just over thinking things. You know, what with my nightmare and our trip to Las Vegas. I feel like I might be losing it a little."

"But you're okay, right? I mean, you're not experiencing any murderous bloodlust are you?"

"No." I admitted. "I think I'm just being paranoid, that's all."

A knock at the door turned our attention towards the woman standing in the room. Her hair was dark as night and pulled back into a ponytail. Her eyes were green, the color of lime and her lips were red like blood. She wore a knee-high skirt with black pumps and a white buttoned down dress shirt. And her nails were neatly trimmed and professionally manicured as she approached us with a warm smile and a firm handshake.

"Good evening. My name is Dr. Pierce. It's a pleasure to meet you both. So I hear you two are soon to be the proud parents of a newborn. Congratulations. Now Nathan, can you tell me when you first experienced any symptoms associated with the pregnancy?"

"A couple of weeks ago. Uh, preferably three or four, I guess."

"Okay. Well, I want you to do for me now is just relax and lift up your shirt so I can examine your stomach."

With a shaky hand, Nathan slowly pulled back his shirt as Dr. Pierce washed her hands and snapped on a pair of rubber gloves. She stood across from me and carefully prodded around the edges of his stomach where from this angle or any other angle; you could see the flat surface start to take on a little bump. I couldn't believe it. Then she sat down on a stool and turned on the monitor to a machine on wheels with a keyboard and scanner.