Reapers 7

7

Anisa sits up, looking around the small room she’s found herself in, a bed the only piece of furniture, no windows and only one door. She wonders what could have happened on her wedding day, why she was there, and most importantly where was Shan
“Sleeping beauty awakes.”   Shan walks in, looking exhausted, but smiling none the less
She smiles softly “Hi… I feel like someone tried to split my head open… What happened? How long have I been out? Are mom and dad okay?”
“They’re fine, we’re fine, and I took care of it, sorry about the head ache.”   He frowns softly
She smiles, unpaved by his obvious guilt “It’s alright, it isn’t your fault… But anyways, what’s for breakfast, dear husband?”
“I thought you might like a good steak, seeing as you missed the romantic dinner I had planned, and the hot night that was to follow.”   He smiles then winks  “How would you like it cooked?”
She smiles sweetly, her fangs descending slightly “Medium rare my love, and darling?”
“Yes?”   He glances over his shoulder as he turns to go
Her eyes turn ice blue “It’s dangerous to knock out a pregnant woman. There could be negative things that may affect the baby.”
He sighs  “I know.  I’ll go cook dinner then we’ll go for a walk.”
“Okay my darling, take as much time as you need.”
He returns shortly with a steak for her
“Are you not hungry?” She sets the plate in her lap “Is something bothering you?”
“I’m fine, just a little tired is all, besides, I think you’re going to love the country around here.”
“Really?” She talks between bites “What kind of landscape? And why no windows??”
“We’re in one of the tower dungeons so you can heal, and we’re underground currently.  The country itself is wild and beautiful.”   He smiles at her
“Are you sure my mother’s the only vampyre you know?”  She sets the empty plate on the bed beside her, watching her husband with a curious suspicion, a smile playing on the edge of her lips
“I don’t recall ever saying she was…”
She grins softly “Now you have to tell me. How many other Vampyres do you know?”
“At least one for every year you’ve been alive…  Maybe more…”
“Ah… And how many of them have you… flirted with?”
“Only you and your mother.”
“Somehow I find that hard to believe, darling…”
“You two have been the only female vamps I’ve been with, all the rest were business partners, and men.”
She smiles softly, not letting the smile reach her eyes she says “Alright my darling, I know you wouldn’t lie to me… Now how about that walk?”
He sighs and offers her his hand to help her out of bed  “If we hurry we might catch the sunrise.”
She sighs wistfully “I haven’t seen the sunrise yet…” taking his hand she rushes off, dragging him with her
“Oh good, we can share your first.”   He winks playfully
She giggles softly “Not if we don’t hurry!”
He picks her up and rushes outside, the sun has still yet to rise “Just in time.”
She wraps her arms around him as they watch the sky turn from purple to pink to blue, the sun slowly peaking over the treetops “Wow…”
“Beautiful isn’t it?”   He looks right at her and pecks her cheek
“It’s… More beautiful than words can describe…” She leaned against his shoulder “I never thought I’d see this…”
“I’m glad I could share it with you.” He smiles at her then slowly leads her to a bench
She leans against him “I was always asleep when the sun rose… It was part of the treatment… Vampyres who hadn’t mated but had taken the treatment could not go outside until after noon. And we had to be indoors by 2 a.m. It was a very odd life to live…”
“I bet… Question.”
“Yes…?”
“Have you heard of solar vamps?”
She looks at him with confusion “No… Mind telling me what they are?”
“They’re Vampyres who can go out in sunlight without the need of medication.”
She shakes her head “They don’t exist… There’s no way… Vampyres can’t go in the sunlight… It’s the basic definition of a vampyre: ‘a magical being who is neither human nor animal, they drink blood of others to survive, they cannot go out into the sunlight.’ Vampyres can’t take the sun’s rays, there’s something in the gamma rays that the sun radiates, it disrupts our cells. There’s no way a vampyre could step foot in sunlight without the Gamma radiation therapy. And the doctors can’t prescribe the therapy until a vampyre is of age.”
“What if I was to tell you that the moon of this planet is the dwarf core from a small star that collapsed eons ago, and that it gives off just enough gamma radiation to make a normal vampyre sick, but not to kill them?”
She sits up straight, moving to where she can look him in the eye “I would question why you brought me here… And consequently, if anything from the last few days was real… However, I know that an eternity alone is lonely so I’m sure you wouldn’t do anything to compromise my trust in you. Why…?”
“Because it is, and the reason you aren’t sick is because of the medication your people use. And yes, everything in the last few days has happened. I know you’re going to ask, but no, no it’s not.”
She looks out to the landscape, her hands folded in her lap, trying to discern if he’s lying or not.
“Come to a decision?”
“First I have a very important question.”
“Go on.”
“Grilled pineapples, bananas, cherries, and strawberries, or a fruit salad?” She looks at him, smiling “I’m starving so please hurry and pick one.”
“The grilled option.” He smiles back and kisses her softly “Want me to go get a blanket?”
“No silly, I want the food first. Pregnancy makes a woman very hungry.” She blushes softly “After all, I am eating for two you know…”
“Yes, I know. Now, the fruit is, this way.” He gets up and walks in a direction, he stops and smiles at her “I’ll return shortly.”
She nods back at him “I know.” She watches him leave, then gets up from the bench. Slowly she walks over to a flower, a marigold in a sea of lilies, and sits down beside it “Your alone too, huh? It’s awful being the only one… Not knowing who to trust…” She laughs softly “What am I saying? You’re a flower… You don’t need to trust anyone… You rely solely on the elements, the sun the ground, and the rain to keep you alive…” She sits be the flower and yammers on until Shan returns
“So you’re all alone huh?” A rough voice sounds behind her, the tone nothing like Shan’s
“You may not know this.” She stands up and turns around, her hand resting lightly on her stomach, which is swollen to the size of a five month pregnancy “But a pregnant woman is never alone.”
“Mhmmm…” the voice comes again from behind her “That just means there’s more blood to feast on.” It cackles darkly
“Do it.