Second Nature

Beep. Beep. Beep.
“Shut up shut up shut!” I croaked out as I opened my eyes slowly, the bright white lights of a hospital coming into my view. Strangely there was no strong smell of blood like there usually is. I looked over to the door and noticed that there was a figure standing outside, my senses telling me he was pacing past the door. I looked down at my wrists and noticed nothing keeping me attached to the extremely comfortable bed. I tried to sit up but that only resulted in me knocking something off of the bed causing the figure to stop their pacing and open the door slowly.
“Ahh you’re awake.” The unfamiliar young vampire spoke out, he was dressed in a smart suit with a pleasant smile. “I’ll fetch elder Iero.” He smiled again before closing the door and walking off.
“I’ll fetch elder Iero. No fetch me a coffee and some cake and I’ll be fantastic.” I mumbled out as I struggled to sit up again, succeeding just as Frank came rushing through the door.
“Your awake” He breathed an unnecessary breath out.
“Yes, why is everyone pointing that out to me?” I laughed instantly regretting it.
“You’re dismissed.” Frank looked at the young lad who smiled at me and nodded.
“Why’s he smiling at me? I thought council workers hated me? The last lot did.” I mumbled watching him perch on the side of my bed.
“That was before you sacrificed yourself for me.” He whispered leaning down to kiss me softly, as I smiled a little.
“I made a promise to your mother.” I shrugged looking away. “Frank what happened?” I looked up at him as he just stared back, hurt on his face. “I remember Edith shooting me.” I whispered as he grabbed my hand.
“That Dorian turned up.” He looked at me slowly, “Blake there’s no easy way for me to tell you any of this.” He bit his lip nervously.
“So don’t make it easy and just tell me.” I mumbled out staring at him.
“He was angry they’d hurt you. I thought I had read him right but it turns out that I hadn’t. Edith, Zach and Dorian they all had an agreement. It seems Edith was dating Dorian and he bit you. She said he wasn’t the same after that and that she did her research and found you. She followed you and noticed you worked for Zach. She had a meeting with him and they made a deal, he would have you killed in exchange for me. She already worked for me and she knew a lot about me. They set the whole plan up that you would work this case and they would both get what they wanted, both of us dead. The day I brought you to my home, she tipped me off, I hadn’t noticed anything but she said she had and she had not provided me any reason to not trust her. They fell for each other’s twisted ways and they ditched Dorian. The night of the gala I asked Edith to keep her eye on him and that’s when she realised he was back on the scene. They knew I wouldn’t trust him the way he was being with you but it turns out he was trying to get me to stay away from you. He came in and gave you enough blood to survive until the council came to save us.” I watched as his eyes glossed over. I took a moment to take it all in. One of the only people I trusted in that house was the real reason for my death sentence.
“Edith what happened to her?” I questioned looking up at him quickly.
“What you drank from Dorian it reproduced similar surges from the night you was turned. You woke up in a freak state, a true vampire, and you shot her. She reached from the gun but you grabbed it first and you stopped her.” He looked at me slowly as I bit my lip nodding. “Zach was already dead by the time it all came out.”
“I’m sorry.” I whispered after a while. “I’m sorry for not getting you to safety.” I looked away holding my emotions in check.
“Hey.” He spoke out turning my chin so I was looking at him, “you nearly died for me. I’m the one who put us in this predicament. I should have had a better read on Edith. I put us both in this danger not you.” He whispered staring down at me. “For that I am sorry.” I raised my hand to stroke his cheek softly as I let the tears fall.

“Your mother.” I started to speak but was interrupted by the door opening.
“I hope I’m not interrupting, I just wish to give Miss Darling a check over.” The oldish looking doctor questioned as Frank stood up off the bed and sat in the chair on the far side of the room. “Is he ok to stay?” The doctor looked over at me as I nodded. He carried out his examinations and for the first time I saw my wound. The bullet hole was in between the last of my ribs and my hip bone on my left side. He pressed his gold stethoscope to my belly and a short look of hurt crossed his face as he pulled away.
“I wish to discuss your injuries, are you ok with Mr Iero to be in the room?” He looked over at me as I nodded, Frank making his way over to me, taking my hand quickly. “Your ankle was broken, two of your ribs were also broken, and the bruises you sustained will heal, along with the cuts. Your swelling will go down over time, but I wish to keep an eye on them every week. Your stomach wound has started to heal nicely, but it will be a while before it is fully healed given the lack of vampire healing agents in your system. Something Elena is working on for you.” He smiled but I sensed there was more.
“Go on.” I urged him to continue as he looked uncomfortable.
“When we operated to remove the bullet, we also discovered something else.” He paused looking down at me, completely ignoring Frank’s hard stare. “You were carrying a child. The tests we carried out showed the child to be a half human half vampire with DNA never seen this strong, except for a weaker version in you.” I blinked a couple of times before clearing my throat.
“The silver of the bullet fragments inside me burnt the baby?” I looked up at him as he nodded.
“We had to remove it to save you Miss Darling. I am so very sorry.” He looked remorseful at me.
“Where is the baby now?” I looked up as I noticed Frank quickly turn to look at me confused.
“She is in an incubator, the oxygen and the healing agents donated are giving her a fighting chance.”
“Donated? Donated from who?” I asked quickly, not liking the idea of some random vampire’s dirty blood surrounding something so precious.
“Us.” A unison of voices rang out as there stood; Gerard, Frank’s mother and Anna.

Notes