The Missing One // DL Fanfic

Life with a Side of Death

 Not one of his servants had ever seen the king so visibly anxious. His hair was tied in a bun at the nape of his neck, clothes wrinkled and, not so unusual, circles under his eyes.  Despite his status, Karlheinz was not allowed in the room where doctors tended to his mistress who was in labor. Though the walls he could hear her pained moans and whines. He paced back and forth, face blank but his mind racing. 

A maid with short, curly, forest green hair stepped forward and reached a hand out to stop him. "Your Highness..I think it would be best if you took a seat. You look as if you are about to faint..." 

He whipped around and snatched the maid's wrist, snapping the joint loudly, the bone protruding from her skin. The same expression remained on his face, but his eyes seethed. She gasped and whimpered, clenching her jaw, the king tossing her to the ground with ease.

"You have NO right to advise me," his eyes bore into the back of her skull, not daring to look up from the ground.  "I am YOUR king and if I wish to pace myself to death than I shall. Do you understand? Do all of you understand?" He looked at the others who had cowered to the farthest corners of the room. The nodded, eyes downcast. 

Karlheinz took a deep breath as he gathered himself. Damn fools... They didn't deserve his attention. The only one who did, he wasn't allowed to see.

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The nurses buzzed around the young, pregnant vampire, sweating and panting heavily in the mess of sheets that clung to her body. She could barely hold a breath in her lungs, despite being told over and over to do so. One woman wiped the rolling sweat from her forehead and neck with a damp cloth, offering her sips of water from time to time. Her legs trembled as she heaved, clutching the midwife's hand with a vice-like grip, ignoring the slight popping sounds and whimpers of pain coming from her. 

The doctor Karlheinz had called in was all prepared with the various tools and supplies and settled himself between her legs. Vampire birthings were never his favorite, the sheer intensity and the most common outcome put him at crossroads. He was bringing forth life while simultaneously, assisting in ending one...

His long bangs being held back by black iron pins, the elf looked up and gave her a gentle smile. 

"Alright, miss. I need you to take as deep of a breath as you can and hold it, okay," He rolled his shoulders and hunched over, focusing on the exit point of the baby. 

Adiva nodded shakily, closing her eyes and exhaling slowly before re-filling her lungs. She did as instructed and began pushing, the pain intensely demanding of her to do so. 

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Minutes felt like hours and hours days. Karlheinz had, on his own accord, certainly not that maid's, taken his nerves to his study, hoping that some work would make the time fly by faster, or at the very least, distract him. The fact that it was on the other side of the building helped as well.

He hadn't paid any attention to the changing sky, the heavy curtains closed and didn't notice the pained moans and screams had ceased. The white-haired vampire buried himself in books and papers, a heavy and loud knock caused his head to snap up. 

"What do you want?" He resumed writing with the large red quill.

"..Your Highness. The doctor sent me with..news."

The boy's tone was low and shy, almost nervous. Karlheinz pushed back his chair and went to the door opening it.  "News?"

He pushed past the servant and continued down the corridor, remembering just what he was waiting for. The bedroom door burst open, the scene bringing shock followed by relief to his face. 

Adiva, if he was bluntly honest, looked absolutely horrid. Her caramel complexion was dull despite the sheen of sweat that reflected in the firelight. Her eyes were sunken and exhausted, but a tiny, tired smile lay on her lips as she stared down at a bundle of cloth.  The doctor finished cleaning up his things and placed a hand on his shoulder. He sighed lightly, going to stand near him in the doorway. 

"My King, while there is reason for celebration, I don't think that we should do so just yet..." 

Karlheinz whisked past him and to her bedside, ignoring his statement. The elf stopped himself from asking him to step outside with him, allowing him to relish in the miracle of life.

"...It's a girl," Adiva's voice matched her appearance, strained and tired. 

His fingers pushed back to blanket slightly to get a view of his daughter. The baby's porcelain skin matched his own and contrasted with the deep purple fabric. The eyes mimicked her mother's, wide and bright orbs of shimmering amber gazed up at her while she tugged at her matted and tangled chocolate brown hair.  Her own head was blanketed with snowy white locks that fell into her eyes just slightly.  She gurgled and cooed cutely, their hearts swelling with adoration and love. 

His daughter...his little princess...he was a father. It would have been nice for his parents to be present, them passing some time ago, but then again, with Adiva not being his wife..he would rather not deal with them. Gently, he scooped her up into his arms, entranced with his baby. Her little eyelids fluttered and she let out a tiny yawn, balling up her fists. 

"Shhh, sleep, little one. My gods, she...she's beautiful. My daughter..." He spoke barely above a whisper, transfixed on the little vampire. 

Adiva watched her loves happily, suddenly overtaken by just how sleepy she was...  She yawned, following her baby girl's, and leaned her head back, closing her eyes. 

Karl saw this and pushed her bangs back, planting a soft kiss on her forehead and took his the baby to a corner of the room, taking a seat in an armchair. 

He sat with the new princess for who knows how long, brushing his thin fingers along her tiny features and whispering sweet words to deaf ears. 

When the doctor came back with a nurse by his side to check on the both of them, he decided to leave the child alone seeing as she was with her father and headed for Adiva. He unbuttoned the top of her nightgown, pressing his hands to her chest and throat. Vampires didn't have a heartbeat and therefore no pulse, so when he didn't feel either under his fingertips, it didn't arouse concern. Though, she wasn't breathing... He held her eyes open, inspecting them one at a time. Glossy, dull, empty pupils stared dauntingly at him, and he closed them with a deep sigh. 

"I know," Karlheinz spoke up before the other man could. He had heard Adiva's breathing halt not 2 hours ago. It was expected, really. He didn't feel the need to call for him, the serenity of the room was enjoyable.

"...I see. What would like us to do?" 

He sighed, closing his eyes. "I'll be leaving for Japan in a week. Bury her on the ground when I'm gone. Keep her here for now..."