Chapter Three: Two Weeks
Naya stared at Angel as the female vampire sat on the sofa in her tiny, two-bedroom apartment. She had looked like a movie star in the glamor of Gabriel's palace but, here in the peeling wallpaper and dripping faucets, her beauty was unreal, unearthly. Ivanna sat on her knee, playing with Angel's cell phone while the vampire beamed at Naya.
"I didn't expect to see anybody from the palace," Naya said honestly, twisting her hands together. She wondered what there was between Gabriel and this leggy vampire, but tamped down on the thought–it wasn't any of her business, and it wasn't like she cared. The only thing between Naya and Gabriel was business. Even if the sex he had given her was the most mind-blowing experience she had ever had and she had dreamt about him every night since they'd been together.
"You tell us you're pregnant and you don't expect us to come and congratulate you?" Angel laughed. "Gabriel would have come himself, but he's busy preparing your room at the palace. You will be moved in at once, of course."
Naya's eyes widened at that, but Ivanna beamed. "We're going to live with you?"
"Yes, precious," Angel cooed. "For as long as you like. And you're going to have pretty dresses and lots of good food to eat."
"No rice!" Ivanna wrinkled her nose.
Naya had to laugh at that. "No rice or beans," she agreed. "Ivi, why don't you go pick a few toys to bring with us? Mommy will help you pack in a moment."
The little girl nodded and slid off Angel's lap, scurrying out of the room. As soon as she was gone, Angel looked around the apartment with a concerned glance. Naya opened her mouth to ask exactly what she was expected to do at the palace, but the vampire woman spoke first.
"Gabriel will not be happy when he learns of how you've been living. He spends an exorbitant amount of money on social welfare. Places like this ought not to exist. And all I can smell in here for food is spices and basic staples. Why aren't you receiving any assistance?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Naya replied, perhaps a little more sharply than she intended.
Angel looked down at her hands, and Naya sighed.
"I was approved for assistance. That's how I can afford this apartment and enough food for the month. It's enough to live on, but only month-to-month, and only if I'm careful. And if I took a job, even flipping hamburgers at McDonalds, my assistance would be cut in half. Adding the costs of childcare, I'd be getting less than I do now. But that doesn't matter anymore because Gabriel promised that I would be well paid for my… services."
Angel still frowned. "I'll still have to talk to him about this. But anyway, you won't have to put up with this apartment much longer. Gabriel is already setting up a bank account for you with enough money to last the rest of your lifetime, as long as you don't go out and buy a dozen yachts. But you'll get a new house, car, and some other things as well."
The vampire laughed and got to her feet. Naya followed suit, only half-listening as Angel talked about everything Gabriel was going to give her in exchange for the baby.
In exchange for the baby. When Naya had made the agreement, she’d had no doubt in her mind that she could do what was necessary. Ivanna came first, and whatever she could do to improve her daughter's life was what she needed to do. But now that she was actually pregnant… Could she really give up her child, just like that?
It would help if she knew what Gabriel's thoughts on the matter were. On the night of the Blood Moon, he'd been the most attentive lover she ever had. Even Ivanna's father, whom Naya had dearly loved, wasn't half so talented. And he had been so insatiable! In her experience, it had always been her left wanting more, and her partner needing a rest, but Gabriel, it seemed, hardened again the moment he finished. He'd had to take care of himself a few times because she was just too tired.
But in the morning, when the warmth of his skin grew cold, he had given her a few boxes of pregnancy tests and sent her home, telling her they'd give it two weeks to see if she was pregnant before they tried anything else. There had been no contact until she called him to tell him she was pregnant.
"You don’t need to bring any clothes." Angel interrupted her thoughts as Naya pulled out a stack of shirts from her dresser to put in a backpack. "Gabriel had me buy you a wardrobe already. And a wardrobe for little Ivanna." The vampire woman beamed. "It was so fun to buy things for a child. We don't get many children in the palace."
Naya's shoulders hunched as she remembered Gabriel assuring her that children are precious among the vampires. It helped ease her anxiety that a vampire would try to feed on her little girl, but she doubted anything would erase the fear forever. Fortunately, Ivanna had inherited her father's O positive blood type, which was very common and not as desirable to vampires.
"Once this little one's born," Angel continued, patting Naya's stomach, "you can be sure that he'll be completely doted on. Gabriel was so happy when you called him. You should have seen how happy he was."
"He didn't sound happy over the phone," Naya said. Gabriel's voice had been utterly even.
"That's just Gabriel."
"If you already have clothes and toys at the palace for us, then is there any point in packing?"
Angel's brow furrowed. "Well, if you have anything special you want to bring. Otherwise, everything will be moved to your new house, anyway. And you need to know he was very happy. He just doesn't like to express emotion. Now, come along. I promised Ivanna that we could get ice cream before we headed back to the palace."
***
Gabriel presented Naya to his vampire court that night. Angel had helped her dress in a striking white number that looked more like a wedding dress than anything else. Real pearls were sewn into the waist, and real diamonds hung around her neck, inserted in white gold. Ivanna was similarly dressed, although she insisted on wearing a tiara in her dark hair, while Naya refused.
Unlike the first time she had been in the ballroom, there were no other humans in attendance. The room wasn't as crowded as it had been then, and everywhere she looked were the sculpted figures of vampires, all so beautiful that she felt like a dandelion in a rose garden. Nearby, Ivanna was also the center of attention but, while Naya wished that she could find a place to hide, the three-year-old preened under the attention, clearly loving it.
"That dress suits you," Gabriel told her, during a brief moment when the surrounding vampires weren't pressing their congratulations on her and insisting that they put their ears to her stomach, hoping to hear the baby's heartbeat. "You look good in white."
Naya gave him a vague smile. His arm was firmly around her waist, as it had been all night, and suddenly Naya realized that it was only women who had asked to listen to her stomach. The men only bowed to them both and kept their distance. And as a waiter serving champagne glasses of blood moved past them, Naya could see why. The moment the man stepped within arm's reach of her, one of Gabriel's fangs flashed at him.
"Why did you do that?" Naya asked, curious.
The king rose a brow. "Do what?"
"Every time a man comes near you snarl at him."
"I'm not snarling."
"You are snarling."
Gabriel's eyes narrowed slightly. His lip curled back, revealing one long, pearly white fang. A low, rumbling sound reverberated through his chest and his breathing became audible and harsh. When he let out a quick, sharp noise from his throat, all the vampires around them instantly jumped back and began bowing towards him.
He waved a lazy hand at them, chuckling. Naya's heart pounded and she pulled away from him, but his grip on her was firm, keeping her at his side. She sought out Ivanna but, fortunately, the little girl hadn't heard.
"That was a snarl," he said, matter-of-factly.
"You're still bearing your fangs at any man who comes near us."
Gabriel frowned. "I hadn't noticed. But if I'm doing that, I'm just letting them know you're mine."
"But I'm not." Naya finally managed to free herself from his grip. She shook her head. "I'm carrying your child, but I'm not yours. I'm mine."
She caught sight of another group of vampires making their way towards them and bit back a sigh. Even when she was Ivanna's age, she had preferred being alone to crowds. And with all the attention coming towards her tonight, she was feeling claustrophobic.
"It's Ivanna's bedtime," she said, to many protests around her. "She needs to get to sleep. It was nice to meet you all."
"I'm not tired," Ivanna protested, stomping her feet. But before Naya could respond, Gabriel had scooped up the little girl.
"Your mother is right. It's time for you to go to bed. Say goodnight."
Ivanna sighed dramatically but waved at the crowd. "Goodnight!"
The king wrapped an arm around Naya's waist, leading her away. Naya gritted her teeth, forcing herself to smile as congratulations were offered while they made their way from the ballroom. She just wanted some time alone to get to grips with living in this magnificent palace–to figure out what she wanted from this relationship with Gabriel. You're mine.
What did that even mean?