Pokémon: Vampire Princess*

Chapter 26: Secrets*

I stood away from the crowd when Hunters and crafters surrounded the Parfum Palace under investigation. Being told to stay away from the other hunters, I hid behind a tree with a maid that will have to meet with Augustine about a exorcism.

"To think you've stayed here against your will just so you can protect your family" I said without looking at the girl. She didn't respond to me while I stared at the hundreds of hunters everywhere "It's illegal to have human servants working under a vampire. Even if that's the case, there may be more places where people just can't help their conditions and stay with abusive employers just to protect someone else. I knew someone like that" I closed my eyes.

"Her name was Layla, and she served in the League Castle before she was killed" I felt the girl looking at me now "she was like many girls in the castle. She spoke mean things about the vampires of the caste when she got the chance, but did everything she was told. Something happened that wasn't her fault and they punished her" I looked down "She didn't blame anyone, but she was very sweet to me"

"You worked at the League Castle?" She asked me, surprised. I turned to look at her frowning, holding her stomach "You've must've been in the worse state than any of us were. Nothing can be worse than working for the main monsters of the vampire world"

"I beg to differ. You were forced against your will and was taken advantage of by a man who turned out to be a vampire" she gulped and looked down, shaking "the League Castle may be horrible, but what matters now is you" I looked back at the palace "What you experienced was horrible enough. I don't want to scare you any more than you already are, so I'll spare you some relief. What you're holding is still growing and will not be a vampire"

"What? How can you be so sure?" Much of my knowledge comes from my tutors, but the rest is in my blood. I don't have all of my mom's blood in my system, but I know enough to make this right. I also know enough to block them out from my memory so they won't interfere with my mental health or confuse me "Please... I don't want to give birth to a monster"

"We do not want to give you that experience. Since you are very early, the baby doesn't have a heart yet. A exorcism will take place far away from this place. Once the investigation is done, you'll be taken to where you will be treated. But. It's always up to you if you want to keep the child either way" her eyes widened and looked at her stomach.

"What will my family think..? They will know about what happened here from the news. They'll question where I'm going... If they find out I was impregnated with a monster, or get rid of a life growing in me, they'll shame me either way!" She cupped her face "They'll think I'm cursed"

"There's no such thing as a curse" I said. She was about to say something before I interrupted "I can't tell you what the corporation will do about your story, but they are always open to help you" I took her shoulders to look at her in the eyes "You're going to be fine..." I smiled and held her stomach.

"What you hold is beautiful either way. A mother will do anything to keep her child safe. She will go lengths to keep them happy, no matter how different they are. A mother's job is to see her child grow healthy and be happy together until they can make a family they can be happy with" I looked down "I may not know what it's like to be a mother, but I'm pretty happy that my mom kept me... even if I was a disgrace. She didn't care about what made me different. She just loved me for me. I know you may be scared to birth a monster or even a human, but keep in mind that even humans can be monsters. It takes a big one to raise someone to be kind and gentle..." I felt my friends coming up to me with Rogue.

"Hey Y, how are you feeling?" Tierno asked.

"I'm fine" I looked over at a random tree, unable to talk to everyone right now. They heard things they weren't meant to hear, and I bet are very concerned about how I was feeling. I didn't have words, and I can't look at them in the face "What did you hear about taking this girl to Augustine?" I asked, still turned away.