Chapter 39 — Two Heartbeats
Vanessa’s POV:
Vanessa wasn’t stupid. It took her a couple of days, but she figured out that Rylie and Malik were up to something. She not only noticed the secrecy, but something in her gut said what she saw was exactly how it looked. She pretended to sleep, and Aaron would come in to look out for her as she was still in unpredictable mode since Alec bit her. To both their surprises, a friendship was forming between them. It couldn’t be that they had something crucial in common; the fact that both of them had someone close keeping secrets.
Interesting facts she learned about Aaron, his full name is Aaron Callaway, and he came from a long line of pure bloods too. His family had branched off to others, so he wasn’t as pure as the ones who marred within their families, but all the more powerful. He had been a close friend of Malik’s since the creation of the city. They kept a good relationship with the people over the years. They shared the same idea of wanting to co-exist with humans. There were once wars that took place centuries ago. It’s why the hunter line was born. She found out how Alec and Alfred had helped create it. There’s a code vampires can’t kill each other, so the ones that were causing problems and fraternizing with humans, the hunters could go kill.
She also found out that Malik was granted the city for the purpose of proving they could co-exist with humans. “So that’s why he’s so guarded.”
“Malik is a good man. I wouldn’t have stayed by his side as long as I have if he wasn’t. If I may be honest, I’m relieved you stopped him from killing Byron. None of us really wanted to do that. But Malik is a man of his word and consequences must be neutral.” Aaron explained with a smile.
“I’m really happy to hear that despite living in the world that he has, he’s had good friends. But why did Malik make him so nervous?”
Aaron laughed, “He knew Malik could see into his mind. It’s a gift we pure bloods have. If Byron thought of you, which he did frequently, Malik saw you. Byron was nervous about Malik meeting you because Malik’s known to be a bit of a womanizer.”
“I’m sure he’s had centuries of all kinds of women.”
“He mostly likes virgins.”
Vanessa scowled at this, “Oh so he has a never been touched or penetrated type. How well I fit into that category.”
“Don’t get upset.” Aaron laughed, “I’ve seen Malik in pleasure mode, but with you. It’s not about pleasure. He’s genuinely in love and wants the best for you.”
Vanessa felt her chest swell with adoration for both Malik and Aaron for being the outsider looking in, telling her how Malik feels. “I want the best for him too.” She smiled. “So, what movie did you bring tonight? And did you get the chocolate licorice I asked for?”
Aaron chuckled and tossed the Twizzlers at her. “Okay, this one you’re going to love. It was made in the 1940’s and the acting is actually hilarious. You wouldn’t expect it to be a comedy, but it is.”
Vanessa looked at the DVD cover, “Yeah it looks like it’s some old Frankenstein tale.”
“Nah, it’s so funny. It’s one of my favorites.”
Aaron popped the DVD into the player and sat back in his spot on her bed. Vanessa tore open the bag of Twizzlers and went for the chocolate caramel bars in the nightstand drawer. They sat together enjoying the movie as Vanessa chowed down on her goodies. “I don’t know why but I’ve been having these weird cravings lately. I don’t usually eat this much junk food in one sitting, but it’s like I can’t get enough lately.”
Aaron looked at her with furrowed brows. “I would slow down. Your face is looking puffy.”
“Puffy?!” She jumped off the bed and rushed to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror thoroughly and sure enough, there was a little extra puff in her cheeks. She ran back to the room and looked at Aaron, “Oh my God I am looking puffy!”
“Calm down, V. It’s just a little bit. Not a lot. Maybe stop while you’re ahead? How about we order something from room service? Have you been eating dinner lately?”
“I’ve been eating like five dinners.”
“Are you still throwing up?”
“Mostly in the mornings. Sometimes if I overeat at night, I will. I just get this heartburn that’s so…” she shuddered.
They looked at one another and a fact was becoming painfully obvious. Vanessa supposed she knew in her gut all along. The food cravings were a dead giveaway. But how could, she be sure? When she threw up the venom, she was queasy for a bit, and it took a couple days to get it all out. But the vomiting did continue. But this time it was the normal kind. She was so sick of puking up food, it was so disgusting. Yet she craved it. There weren’t any odd cravings, but food was almost like a drug to her.
Aaron looked at her and they exchanged a silent agreement for him to listen. He furrowed his brows as he concentrated on her stomach. He looked up at her, and Vanessa’s mouth went dry. Don’t say it, please don’t say it. But it was a truth now. Neither one of them could deny it. Pure bloods did reproduce, amongst themselves. “When was the last time you had sex?”
Vanessa shrugged, “Um…a couple weeks ago?”
“And when did this start?”
Vanessa ran a nervous hand through her hair and began pacing the room back and forth, “A few days ago. Going on a week now.”
“I don’t know how it’s possible, but there are two heartbeats I hear inside you.”
“What do you mean there’s two heartbeats?”
“Well, there’s yours, and then there’s another one. Vanessa, I’m 99% sure that you’re pregnant.”