With only one day left until Vittorio’s party, it wasn’t the first thing on Irene’s mind. She cracked open her eyes with the immediate notion that she’d like to find out if she was expecting a child.
“So, I guess vampire doctors probably make their appointments at night, huh?”
Will grinned at her. “Yeah, they do. And I already asked Hiram to schedule one for you. Since it’s just a couple of blood tests, and I have the money to back up my request, they’ve got you scheduled at a quarter to two. So, that means we’ve got hours yet before we need to be on our way. I don’t know about you, but I have plenty of work to do between now and that time. My email is packed full of events I haven’t gotten to.”
“Yeah, I’ve got plenty to do,” she nodded. “I’ve got to type in all the notes I’ve been jotting down from before you gave me my new laptop. It’ll probably take me a little while.”
He winked at her. “Especially if you’re finding it difficult to concentrate.”
“And why would I be doing that?”
“You’re about to go find out if you’re creating another life,” he shrugged. “It’s a major responsibility, raising a child. Even I might be having some difficulty trying to concentrate.”
“I think it’s exciting, personally,” she told him. “I was beginning to think I couldn’t have kids after all the sex I’ve had without conceiving.”
“A vampire-born usually won’t conceive a human child,” Will pointed out.
“You’re really convinced that must be what’s going on, aren’t you?”
“I can see no other feasible explanation,” he insisted. “Come on, let’s get dressed and get to work, shall we?”
*****
Hours later, Irene and Will were headed inside the vampire doctor’s office. Admittedly, she’d been wondering how it would be different than a regular doctor, but as they stepped into the reception room, she was disappointed to discover it looked the same as any other medical facility she’d ever seen. Just a room full of chairs and a receptionist behind a big, long desk.
“Hello, Lord William,” said the woman seated there, then cast a smile as she said, “And you must be Irene. We’ve all been wondering about the girl that finally captured one of the elusive Knight brothers.”
“You make it sound like that’s a difficult thing,” Irene chuckled.
“It is,” Will told her, smirking slightly.
“And here I thought I was the one who was playing hard to get,” she teased.
“So, you two are wanting to find out if Irene is pregnant,” she said, grinning. “I hope congratulations will be in order, Will. Come on, Irene, if you’ll just follow me, we can get you all checked out. The doctor also said that since this is your first check-up as a vampire, she will want to examine you more fully, make sure the transition took properly, that sort of thing.”
“Okay,” she agreed, tagging along behind the woman, whose nametag said, ‘Debra.’ “Say, Debra, I gotta tell you, I never knew vampires went to a doctor the same as humans.”
“Oh, yes, this is the modern age, you know?” she chuckled. “Modernization appears to have wheedled its way into everything these days. Now, go ahead and put on that gown and hop up on the bed. Doctor Lindell will be in to see you shortly.”
“Thanks,” Irene said.
While she waited, she couldn’t help glancing at the literature on the wall, and she pulled out a pamphlet called, ‘Vampirism and You.’ Chuckling, she started to read the thing, but she was interrupted before she got very far.
“Hi, Irene, I’m Lisa Lindell, but most folks just call me Lin,” said the doctor, shaking her hand. “If you’re taking that along, I hope Will’s told you about the rules concerning vampire literature.”
“Keep it behind closed doors?” Irene guessed.
She laughed. “Yes, that’s about it, really. And don’t show it to mortals who might spread the word. I’m sure you know the drill by now.”
“Will’s teachings have been—rather thorough,” Irene said, grinning naughtily.
“I don’t doubt that,” she replied.
“Also, he’s been saying he wondered if I’m a vampire born,” she added. “See, I came to my parents as an infant from some orphanage, and when he drained me, I turned before I ever received his blood.”
“Yeah, that sounds like a pretty solid confirmation to me,” she nodded. “You can’t do that any other way. Give me the go-ahead, and I’ll try to find out what your birth clan might be.”
“Sure, I’d love to know,” said Irene. “The whole idea is quite fascinating.”
“Well, I’ll send in the lab tech after we’ve done the examination, and it won’t take too long to let you know.”
“Thanks, that’ll be great. And, of course, the most important question will be answered too.”
“You mean if you and Will are having a baby?” she teased. “I suppose that’s the question you mean?”
“Of course.”
“I can tell you already that you are,” she said.
“How?” asked Irene curiously.
“Vampire’s instinct,” she shrugged. “I’ve honed that skill to a very high degree, to the point where I can just feel certain things. The presence of your baby’s mind just happens to be one of them. You’re having a boy. You’ll see.”
“That’s amazing. I can’t wait to see if you’re right.”
About an hour later, armed with the results to her test and grinning broadly, Irene stepped out into the lobby again. Will was sitting out there using her laptop to continue doing some work, but he was clearly not concentrating. When he spotted Irene, he practically jumped to his feet.
“Hello, Daddy,” she called. “Have you got any idea who Clan Santi is?”
“They are allies of ours, actually,” said Will, tilting his head curiously. “The Clan of the Saints. They were fellow members of the Knights Templar.”
“Is that right?” she said curiously. “Then it sounds like you made a pretty good match.”
“She typed your ancestry? I never thought of that.”
“Well, she said that since it was so apparent I was vampire born, and the test was not harmful either way, we might as well find out, and I couldn’t agree with her more. She also thinks we’re having a boy.”
“Lin never ceases to amaze me,” Will replied. “Come on, pet, let’s get you home.”
*****
“With knowledge of her pregnancy, you are still willing to take her into the path of danger?” asked Hiram with a frown the following night while Irene was showering and Will was donning his tuxedo.
“It’s not that I want to, Hiram, it’s that I must,” Will insisted. “This threat must be eliminated. It is the only choice.’
“You could at least warn the girl,” he added in a grumbling tone.
“If I do that, she would not act naturally,” he insisted. “She must figure everything out on her own, or he will know.”
“And you’re sure?” Hiram prodded. “Sure that she is going to choose you?”
“Of course, she’ll choose me,” he scoffed. “And even if she doesn’t, I’m going to win this battle anyway. Vittorio has been a thorn in the side of my clan long enough. I intend to extract him now, while most of our clans are both off in Rome to fight the war. His master will be removed from power there. What better way to help out than to remove his influences here as well? Now, I wish to hear no more of this subject. Irene and I will return to you by the end of the night.”
“Yes, sir,” Hiram sighed, taking his leave.
Irene came out not long afterwards, already wearing her bra and panties. She liked the red velvet dress so much she had decided to wear it again tonight, and Hiram had delivered the freshly laundered garment while he had just been there. Smiling, she tugged it on.
“Will, Hiram is a wonderful servant, but don’t you think it would be a good idea to get ourselves a couple of maids?” she asked.
“Wow, there’s an idea,” he chuckled. “Get a couple of women to wear Charles out during the day?”
She giggled. “I wouldn’t worry about that; he’s always ready to play. No, I mean to clean up the place. Hiram tries, of course, but it could really use a woman’s touch.”
“That would only work if they were ghouls too,” Will pointed out dryly. “Just how many people were you hoping to control?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Five. Ten. A dozen?” she commented dryly. “Besides, we’re going to have to get a nanny to help with the baby anyway, so we might as well start making changes now rather than later, don’t you think?”
“Pet, has anybody ever accused you of being high maintenance?” Will complained.
“Not really,” she said. “But I mean, were you planning on always leaving me home? And would a baby have any business going to all the places that we frequently like to go?”
“You’re right,” he agreed. “I suppose I hadn’t considered the thing. All right, two maids and a nanny. We’ll need to keep our eyes open. Don’t want just anybody taking care of our home or our child.”