This is awesome to me! And I want to thank all of you for reading, for coming back for more and for commenting. Without you all, there wouldn't be any views (aside from my own lol)
Extra thanks to Audge for catching it at just the perfect moment! :D
Love you all!
Oh and this is extra special because today is Jadzia's seventh birthday! Not that she cares how many blog views I have but still, tis extra cool to me! lol
Make it fast!
Hotlips (Mother was Police Officer)
Current Life Stage: Teenager
Traits: Good Sense of Humor, Brave, Adventurous, Excitable, Can Apprehend Burglar
Trapper (Mother was Pizza Girl)
Current Life Stage: Teenager
Traits: Insane, Inappropriate, Grumpy, Athletic, Pizza Appreciator
Hawkeye (Mother was Burglar)
Current Life Stage: Teenager
Traits: Genius, Inappropriate, Never Nude, Athletic, Burglar
Bonus Pics, at least one of these two ladies will play a part in the heir's life..
Generation 8, Chapter 8
I curled up in a ball on the small dais to await the news I knew was coming. Even removed in the small chapel, I felt Annaliese's pain when they discovered what I'd already surmised.
Jared had begun the transition.
Though he would never complete it. I felt the emptiness in my heart and soul and wept silently by myself. This might be the only chance I had to mourn him after all.
Those who are bound by blood will share each other's fate.
How soon would it happen? Would they return to find me gone as well? Would Robert go after Minerva? Or Lily? Or Andromeda? My grief for Jared overwhelmed me and pushed them out of my mind. I was grateful for the reprieve.
The doors slammed open then and Robert and Annaliese came running up the aisle toward me.
"Wonderful, she's still alive." Annaliese said, relief spread across her face. "Oh Luna! I'm so sorry...I thought...I.."
"Jared is gone. I know." I whispered, barely holding myself up. Robert reached down and gripped me by the arm, pulling me roughly to my feet.
"Your bond to my son is broken - and yet you live." he said, studying me like a lab rat for a moment.
"Leave her alone Robert, she's got a limited amount of time left I imagine - let her grieve." Annaliese tried to step in but he shoved her aside.
"No!" Robert howled. "There's been a change of plans...you're here all dressed for your wedding day - let's not disappoint."
"No! Please...I..." I sputtered, I didn't have an argument other than 'Let me die in peace.'
"You made me a promise - it's time you uphold it. No more silly games from the child." he said, gripping my wrist tightly.
"But why Robert? What good would it do you?! She'll die within a few days no doubt!" Annaliese was a credit, defending me even now.
"Because it's what I want!" he shouted back at her. "And I will have what I want!"
Annaliese stood by my side throughout the ceremony, even as he roughly pressed his lips to mine to seal the deal. "I'm sorry Luna." she whispered before he yanked me away from her.
He was no kinder in the bedroom that evening and slapped me hard when I started crying. I closed my eyes and tried to think of Jared - only Jared - as he ripped the beautiful dress Annaliese had toiled over from my body and threw it aside.
After he was done with me, he shoved me from the room clinging to the shards of my under clothes and battered. "If you're very lucky you'll breed me an heir quickly and I'll tire of you. You'll return here tomorrow night as sundown, or I'll come for you and it will be worse." With that, he slammed the door.
Annaliese was waiting for me with a warm towel and fresh clothes. "I want to see Jared." I whispered after I was dressed again. I could feel the bruises and cuts he'd left healing already. She nodded and walked with me to the tomb, she stayed at the door as I entered alone.
Along the walls were skeletons and piles of dust and ash. I wondered how long some of these had been entombed down here. Who were they? There was one empty stone slab and then there he was. He looked so peaceful - as if he were merely sleeping.
I stroked his hair from his eyes and couldn't help but laugh pathetically. Even in death, his hair did its own thing.
"Why? Why did you...you said you'd always be there for me!" I slammed my fist into the stone and regretted it instantly as pain shot through my hand and arm. "Oh! I'm so sorry Jared...I know you would be here..."
I climbed up onto the stone next to him and pulled his cold body into my arms. "I think I'm pregnant Jared...you would have been a father..."
"We would have been a family..." I was sobbing again. "And now, I'm married to your father and I'm going to die. I'm scared...I'm scared to die and yet...I'm scared to live now..."
It could have been minutes or hours later when Annaliese carefully pulled me away from him. "Come Luna, you should get some sleep now."
"I don't think I can." I said, though my legs betrayed me and walked away from Jared's still form. "I don't want to leave him."
"Listen to me Luna, Jared is with you - always." she touched my heart carefully. "Even Robert doesn't know all the magic - I can't say he's ever known the magic of love. Let your love of Jared heal you. Let it carry you through these days until all this is over."
"Until I die you mean." I said.
"Yes." Somehow we were back in my bedroom and Annaliese had changed my clothes once again. She laid me down on the bed. "Sleep now Luna, sleep it will soon be over."
She was both right and wrong. Jared was with me, I felt his warmth beside me on the bed and though there was nothing there when I turned to look, I still felt him close to me.
But it wouldn't end soon.
------
Robert was true to his word and expected me every night at sundown. The one time I wasn't there because I was feeling ill from the baby, he left no part of my body untouched. I was still healing the following day from that one and Annaliese was horrified. "How can you still be bruised?"
I had my theories - namely that the baby was sapping me dry, leaving little energy to apply to my own healing - but I kept my mouth shut. It was too early for me to know about any baby with Robert and I shuddered to think what he might do if he found out that I was pregnant with someone else's baby - even if it was his grandchild. More than that, I already knew she was a girl. I don't know HOW I knew, I just did, and Robert was very particular about having a MALE heir.
After Annaliese had ordered me back to bed until sundown, I ran my hand along my non-existent belly. "We'll be okay." I whispered. I'd survived a week since Jared's death so far...could I survive long enough to give birth? When would the blood bond catch up with me?
------
Finally I was far enough along that I felt safe telling Robert about the baby. I tried to look somewhat happy as I lied to him, telling him I was carrying a Van Allen baby (true enough I suppose). If he suspected my duplicity, he said nothing and excused me without laying a hand on me for once.
Slightly stunned, I walked away and plodded down the stairs in my slippers. He'd actually be somewhat NICE to me - granted it was all fake but given the last month of my life, I was grateful for the small kindness.
I settled down at the piano and pressed a few keys hesitantly. Warmth spread over me and I could almost believe Jared was sitting next to me guiding my figures over the keys.
A song I didn't know or recognize played out by my very fingers. Annaliese hurried in looking startled. "How..."
I paused and looked up at her. "What's wrong?"
"I thought it was my sister playing just now...how do you know that song Luna?"
"What song?" I stared at my hands and then at her. "I don't, I just...I was just playing and that's what came out."
Annaliese frowned and my fingers seemed to start playing on their own again. After another minute of listening, she hurried from the room, wiping her face.
------
Now that I was pregnant, Robert mostly ignored me. Something I was thankful for as I was terrified his abuse would hurt the baby or kill me before I could safely deliver her.
There were times when he'd remember I was around, usually after having it out with Annaliese. They were nearly equally matched so Robert never went so far as to hurt her.
Instead he took it out on me, coming into my room and 'exercising his rights as my husband' as he called it. As great a support as Annaliese was to me, I wished she'd just stay away from him anyway.
But even after the worst of it, there was Jared. I was more and more sure that he was there - maybe not in physical form but he was there keeping me warm on the coldest nights. "I wish you were here for real." I caught myself whispering to thin air now and then.
Sometimes I felt so sure he was there I'd reach out for him.
Of course my hand only met air.
I am here Luna. Always.
I shook my head, trying to dislodge his phantom for the moment. As much as I just wanted to embrace him, if I did I'd never be able to pretend everything was fine when I contacted my family. Unwilling to let them think I was miserable, I painted a pretty picture of wedded bliss with every email I sent. I'd long since given up calling as my voice tended to crack and give me away.
They didn't have to know. Ever.
------
Weeks turned to months and my belly continued to expand. I could sense the baby in more than a physical way and rejoiced in every moment I had with her. I couldn't imagine I'd have much longer after the birth - if I made it that far - before fate would catch up with me.
"Why, do you think, it hasn't yet?" I asked Annaliese as we fumbled with the crib assembly.
"Well, I've been thinking it has to do with the fact that neither of you were full vampires at the time.
"Why would that change anything?" I asked.
"It's ancient magic Luna...and it's just that, magic! It's not entirely predictable." she said. "This is wrong..." she held up a malformed piece of the crib and frowned. "It could also have something to do with the fact that you were pregnant at the time of the bond."
I dropped the board I was holding and stared at her. "You knew?" I choked. "You know this..."
"That you're carrying Jared's baby? Of course I do Luna." she smiled. "I also know she will be beautiful and perfect."
"Will you take her...if I....when I...when I die?" I stuttered, tears in my eyes. "Will you take her away from here...away from him?" Annaliese put a hand on my arm and nodded.
Though Annaliese knew, Robert showed no indication that he knew the baby was a girl or that she wasn't his. "How's my boy today?" he asked with an evil grin, reaching out for my stomach. On reflex, I jerked away from him and shielded my baby with the other arm.
He was only surprised for a moment before he shoved me against the bed and pressed his hand firmly against the bulge. He glared at me the whole time and remained until the baby gave him a hard kick. He jerked my head toward his and pressed his lips to mine, nicking my lip with his fangs in the process. "Remember who your husband is woman." he growled at me. "I'll be seeing you tonight." he warned before pushing me aside and leaving in a rage.
I sank against the bed and cried. "Oh Jared..." I moaned out loud. "If only you were here...you would take delight out of feeling her kick and wiggle...."
------
I was a few weeks early when I felt the first signs of oncoming labor. I wondered, briefly, what Robert would think since I was a month further along then he even knew. Then the pain in my back sent him out of my mind.
I paced the room for hours considering what I should do. I didn't want to go to a hospital or to alert the household to my situation. The last thing I wanted in labor was Robert Van Allen lording over me as I tried to birth my baby - a baby I knew would displease him.
Every contraction seemed to hurt more than the one before until I seemed to be in one endless contraction from hell.
Annaliese came in then and shrieked when she realized what a state I was in. She clamped her hand over her mouth and locked the door behind her. "You should have called me! How far apart are they?"
"They're supposed to be apart?!" I asked in horror.
"Oh no!" She tried, in vain, to get me to lay down. Every position was sheer agony so I continued the pacing.
"Jared!" I cried out as a particularly hard one ripped me to shreds. "Where are you?!"
I'm here Luna. Always.
As the words slithered into my mind, I felt the warmth of his presence and suddenly the contractions seemed a little easier to manage.
Three hours later I delivered a beautiful baby girl and held her tightly, examining her every feature in hopes of sealing them in my memory forever.
"You said she would deliver a boy!" Robert yelled when he saw her bundled in the pink blanket.
"Now, you said that Robert." Annaliese said calmly.
Robert sneered and then stalked out of the room.
After helping me get cleaned up and rebundling the baby, Annaliese left as well - a smile on her face. "She's perfect Luna. Jared would love her I think."
"I know he would." I replied. For the first time in months, I felt great joy - enough to overwhelm every other emotion.
He was there. Always there. I was sure he was reaching out for our daughter and telling her how much Daddy loved her.
"He does you know..." I said softly as we laid together in bed that first night. "Daddy loves you very much Temperance."
Always.
End Chapter
Outtakes
Generation 8, Chapter 7
"What have I done Jared?" I'd been pacing for nearly an hour, while Jared looked on silently. "I had to...b-but..."
"Luna..."
I didn't stop babbling, having not really heard him. "He'd go after my family...after my sisters...."
"Luna."
I whirled around on him. "They're defenseless Jared! My parents are human and the triplets are just children - barely five years old now!"
"Luna!"
"What?!"
“Do you trust me?” he asked, his mind was unreadable but I could see him pleading with his eyes. Willing me to put my faith - more than that, my whole life and future - in his hands.
“Y-yes?” I squeaked.
"Then trust me that we'll figure this out alright?" I don't know if he actually had a plan but he seemed so sure that I melted in his arms, the weight of the world seemingly lifted off my shoulders.
"You should know....I-I think I'm in love with you."
"Yeah I know." Jared said with a cocky grin. He tapped my forehead gently and I cursed under my breath - I always forgot to shield my thoughts in the den of vampires.
"I really need to work on that." I said with a laugh.
"Mmhmm" he said. He put his hand on my cheek and leaned in closely. "We'll figure something out..." he whispered just before he kissed me.
------
The only time we were able to be alone together was when Robert was away - which he was frequently as of late thankfully. The curious side of me wanted to know where he was going off to and what he might be planning. The rest of me was thankful for the relief from his overbearing presence.
In the weeks that followed I'd gotten a real taste of what being married to Robert Van Allen would mean and it wasn't something I anticipated with any joy. He ignored me or demanded my attention whenever it suited him with no regard for my own feelings. "He's got rather ancient ideas on women..." Jared said softly. He ran his fingers through my hair. "Let's forget about him for now..."
"How can I Jared? I have to MARRY him remember?" There was still no sign from Jared that he had any sort of plan. Further, everyday was like living on a knife's edge as the transition for each of us could come at any point now. Would Jared die? Would I die?
He pressed his finger to my lips. "Shh." Before I could protest, he replaced his finger with his lips and I lost all my will and power to protest as the electricity his kisses produced coursed through me. I love you Luna and I will protect you. Always.
I heard the words in my head this time, which was good seeing as our lips were occupied with kissing. Okay, then love me - completely. I looked into his eyes as the meaning of my thoughts sunk in.
"You sure?" he asked, trying not to look nervous.
"If I have to marry him..." I stopped the protest on his lips with my finger. "IF it comes down to it...and I have to marry him....I want to have this first. Please Jared..."
Your wish is my command...
Afterwards, I curled up in his arms. I felt myself shivering though I couldn't begin to think why as I was anything but cold. I vaguely recalled the blood we'd shared during and scratched at the spot - though it was already healed.
"Regrets?" Jared looked like he was afraid I'd jump away from him at any moment.
"No, never." I said, a smile on my face. "Thank you - for this. At least this way I have something true to hold on to."
"Luna, I'm going..."
"I know you'll do anything to protect me. B-But that might not be enough...I love you and I trust you Jared. And I will hold onto this forever as what it's supposed to be." I said.
We were barely dressed when Annaliese sauntered into the room. "How many times have you two shared blood?" she asked, studying each of us with a quizzical eye.
"Um...just the once..." Jared said, his face full of confusion.
"Twice." I said, recalling the exchange in the conservatory. I mentally shared the memory with Jared and he smiled.
Annaliese looked between us for confirmation one way or the other. I silently congratulated myself on having honed my shielding and telepathy skills while Jared confirmed that it was, in fact, twice. "Then come with me...now."
Obediently, we followed her behind the house where the small, seldom-used, chapel sat. I knew from Jared that the family tomb was held within the walls as well. It's where his mother had been laid out, no doubt turned to ash and bone now. "Vampire don't turn to dust spontaneously like in the movies Luna." Jared had scoffed at my limited knowledge when I'd mentioned my thoughts to him. "The older a vampire, the faster the rate though."
"There!" Annaliese's exclamation snapped me back into the present day. "The Binding of Blood..." she looked up at us, clearing expecting a reaction but we both looked confused mostly. "It's an ancient ritual - hardly used anymore....for various reasons."
"Such as?" I ventured.
"In these times, vampires don't have long term commitments anymore. And the Blood Bond is certainly a long term commitment - as in forever." She dared either of us to protest but we stayed silent.
"What else?" Jared asked.
Annaliese was silent, her eyes moving slowly over the words in the book. "Those who are bound by blood will share each other's fate...."
"If he dies, I die." I said. It was a statement rather than a question because I knew it was exactly what she'd meant. "And visa versa." She nodded solemnly, all of us thinking about the upcoming transitions.
"Never." Jared said finally. "I won't save her only to condemn her to death!"
"Jared! I want to...I would rather have one day bound to you than a lifetime bound to anyone else." I looked at Annaliese. "Can it be broken by anyone? I mean if we do this and then Robert finds out...can he break the bond?"
Annaliese shook her head. "If he does, it would kill you both."
"Well, this is perfectly Romeo and Juliet isn't it?" I asked with a pitiful laugh. "Will you be my Romeo Jared?" Before he could answer, Annaliese had shoved some clothes into our hands and pushed us to change claiming it was part of the ceremony.
Jared took sometime returning from changing but finally he was by my side, clutching my hands tightly.
"Are you sure about this Luna?" Jared whispered. "You know what's going to happen to me...and now you..."
"Yes, I am." I said with a nod.
"This is in Latin - you'll forgive me if my accent is a bit rough but basically I will direct each of you to use the dagger to let your own blood into one of the goblets. Once you finish, you will exchange cups and drink three times together. You understand?" she asked. We nodded and I took a steadying breath.
"To fuerit obligatus sanguinem duo procedent. Bis et ter magis amplexi perficere debent ligare." The once chilly chapel filled with warmth as she spoke and I felt an odd tingling sensation surrounding me. From Jared's reaction, I assumed he felt the same pull of magic.
"Jared Van Allen, tolle animam tuam trado et calix sanguinis tui amantem posse, ut biberent." she nodded to Jared and he took up the dagger and sliced into his arm, letting the precious red liquid pool into the goblet.
"Luna Taffity, tolle animam tuam trado et calix sanguinis tui amantem posse, ut biberent." Now it was my turn. Jared hesitantly handed the dagger to me and I did the same as him - making the same cut on my arm.
"Hinc erunt coniuncti colligatio aeternum. Simul accipe tres bibit ex poculis et factum fiet." she motioned for us to exchange the goblets and drink. I have to admit that the taste of his blood still thrilled me. I couldn't imagine ordinary human blood tasting so fine.
Jared was on me as soon as the ceremony was done, pulling me into a deep kiss.
Our moment of joy and bliss was quickly interrupted as the door to the chapel was thrown open with a loud bang. "What have you done?!"
Robert Van Allen's face was a mix of fury and shock. "What have you done?!" he repeated.
"It's done Robert, they're bound." Annaliese said from behind the book. Jared pulled me closer, still kissing me despite the rage rolling off his father.
"How? Why?!" he thundered.
"The Blood Bind. Surely you felt it, even as far away as you've traveled." Annaliese stepped out from behind the pulpit and came closer to him.
"How dare you interfere! She is mine! She has given her word and I will have her!" I shivered as he thrust his finger at me repeatedly.
"If you try to break them apart you will kill them both...and yourself more than likely. This old vampire magic Robert - older than you!"
"Don't you dare talk to me about old magic! I know more than you could ever know!"
"Perhaps, but you know what their fate will be Robert. You can still get an heir, a grandchild." she reasoned quickly, trying to put a salve on his anger before...well before something happened we might all regret.
"You assume too much Annaliese..." he said, his voice had transformed from molten lava to that of frozen ice. "You assume he'll live long enough to father a child - a boy child. And when he dies...when, not if, she dies too. Regardless of the babe she might carry."
The silence that filled the air was thick and dangerous.
"Nevertheless, as the deed is done, I have no choice but to agree to transfer your promise to me to my son. You'll be married by week's end." Robert said finally. "And when you die - if I don't have an heir - I'll know where to go." he looked directly at me, no doubt thinking of my sisters, before stalking out.
The three of us let out a collective breath and very nearly sagged into each other. "Well then, with that done..." Jared fumbled in his pocket for a time before producing a box.
"I had hoped this would all work out so that I might offer you this... seeing as we're already engaged it would seem." I think we both recalled his father's words.
"Where did you...?"
"It was my mother's." he looked over at Annaliese, she was studying the book but I thought I saw a small spasm as he mentioned his mother, her sister. "So, what say you my fair Juliet...will you marry me?"
"Yes - though I hope we have a better end than that couple." I said with a smile.
------
"Don't fret about this too much now, it's not the actual dress." Annaliese said as she slipped a garment over my head.
"Why are we going to all this trouble for the wedding - we have limited days. Surely there's a dress I can wear around her that doesn't require all this." I said, frowning at the image reflected at me.
"It's your wedding Luna. And as you are a vampire and blood bound to my nephew - it's likely to be the only one you have. Don't you want it to be perfect?" she asked, tugging at the strings and fabric to adjust the dress.
"I'd just as soon get married in a pair of jeans." I said with a laugh. It came so easily now, laughing. Robert had disappeared into his library and none of us went near it - for fear of awakening a sleeping beast or inferno.
Annaliese smiled back at me for a second but it quickly faded away. She turned from the mirror and covered her face. "I'm sorry."
"What is it?" I asked quickly. Beneath her hands I could hear sniffles. "Annaliese, are you alright?"
"No...not really." she wiped her eyes quickly. "My sister was a lot like you, she said something similar before she married Robert..."
"Did she love him?" I asked and then bit my lip for asking such a question.
"She believed herself to be in love....but I don't think she loved him exactly. We were both turned centuries ago and had been through love more than once already. I think she was in love with his power mostly. And she wanted a child - desperately. As did he - but for different reasons obviously." Annaliese stopped weaving the tale and went back to work on the dress in silence.
------
The day of the wedding, only a few nights later, was a dismal sort of day. It rained off and on all day and Jared and I enjoyed it together in the conservatory. At any point we might transition and then sunlight would be stolen from us for the most part. "I should go get ready - Annaliese has this dress and a veil and everything...I told her I'd rather go in jeans but..."
"She insisted. I know." he said, kissing me quickly. "I'll see you soon."
I slipped up the stairs and slipped on the dress quickly. Despite my protests, it was a gorgeous gown and it suited me I thought. I'd just slipped the pearls over my head when I felt so light headed and nauseous.
I held tight to the mirror, afraid I might topple over if the dizziness didn't pass by soon enough.
Annaliese came in and rushed to my side when she saw how pale I was. "Luna! Are you alright?"
"I don't know..." I whispered, still clutching my stomach. "I don't..." she helped me to the edge of the bed and I sat for some time - no doubt creasing the dress - until I felt well enough to stand. Carefully Annaliese pinned the veil into my hair and clutched my arm all the way to the chapel.
I fretted outside the door, surely we were late after the spell but Annaliese calmed my nerves before opening the door for me.
"Where is he?" I looked frantically around the room. Robert was seething in a pew but Jared was no where in sight. "Where's Jared?" Tears sprang up in panic - threatening to ruin my makeup - but I didn't care.
"I don't know..." Annaliese looked unsteady as well but she walked me to the front of the chapel before turning to Robert and grabbing him by the coat. "We'll go find him. Just stay here Luna..."
Robert glared at her but followed along anyway. I'm not sure she actually wanted his company or his helped but knew better than to leave the two of us alone.
I slumped in a most ungraceful puddle and fought back the tears. The last thing I wanted was blood streaked raccoon eyes. I swiped at them with my hands and was surprised to find I'd been crying real tears as opposed to the more ghastly vampire ones I'd seen my mom shed. "Must be a 'perk' of the change" I muttered. "That's one I could live without."
Jared, where are you? I reached out for him, as I had so many times in the last couple weeks.
This time was different.
This time there was no one there.
End Chapter
Author note: I don't read/speak/write Latin. I used Google translate. Sorry for any inconsistencies
Outtakes
Walter Closet
Who dances in the water closet
