Chapter Five – Aaron
Aaron rubbed his eyes, hating how weak he felt. He had been noticing that he wasn't as steady as he normally was, his thoughts a little more scattered, with a deep thirst that couldn't be quenched, for several weeks now, but he had just assumed that it was just stress. The radical witches had stepped up their ante, going from sneaking around in the shadows to causing havoc in the streets. The anti-magic hysteria was reaching new heights as well. It was a lot to deal with.
But none of that explained this. He was a vampire. Stress or no stress, he couldn't get sick. And yet he felt feverish, his skin was clammy to the touch, and there was a pounding headache shooting through his head to his spine.
His physician clucked her tongue as her hands hovered over his body. A green glow surrounded them. Sofia sat beside him, resting her hand on his arm. Her expression was anxious, eyes wide, chewing on her lower lip.
"What's wrong with him?" she eventually asked, apparently tired of listening to the witch's clucking.
"I'm not sure. I've never seen anything like this before. I'd like to take some tissue samples to run some spells on. Have you been drinking your wife's blood, sir?"
Aaron shook his head. "Not since you confirmed she was pregnant. We didn't want to do anything that would risk the baby."
"Hmmm. What have you been drinking?"
"Bagged blood. The same supply our soldiers get. None of them are exhibiting any of these signs, though."
The physician dropped her hands. The green glow faded from them. The witch shook her head, brow puckering. "The only thing I can think is that they're getting blood from other sources as well. It could be that the blood bags are missing some essential nutrient."
"They have been tasting a little off," Aaron admitted. "But we test our sources thoroughly."
"Well, I'll get a few samples to test again, just to be sure. But in the meantime, sir, you should get some extra rest. It is possible that this is a case of sympathetic pregnancy."
Aaron's head shot up. "Excuse me? What did you just say?"
The physician smiled calmly. "It's not uncommon for men to experience some of the same pregnancy symptoms that their wives go through. She's tired, you're tired. She can't sleep, you can't sleep. She's hungry, you're hungry. I have never heard of it happening quite this way, but it is something to consider."
Aaron scowled. So the physician thought it was all in his head? That was pretty insulting in his opinion. "Don't assume that's what it is," he snapped. "I want you to exhaust every possible physical cause for this. If you find anything, I'll be in my chambers with my wife."
"Of course."
His knees had the consistency of jelly as he stood but somehow managed to keep himself upright. Sofia slid her hand into his as they left the witch's medical rooms. He could feel the worry rolling off his wife, but for her sake, he still smiled.
"I guess that official announcement of your pregnancy will have to wait," he said. "Although the nap is coming a little faster than anticipated."
She didn't even smile. "I'm worried about you."
"I know. But I'll be fine. Promise."
Sofia leaned against him, wrapping her arm around his waist. He tried not to put too much of his weight on her, but it was hard to not to. His eyes hung heavy, and all he wanted to do was just lie down and sleep.
When they got to their apartment, Sofia suddenly stopped. Aaron stumbled. He looked up and tensed. Just outside their door were half a dozen vampires. They were wealthy men, all single, and all political rivals. His eyes narrowed. Sharks scenting blood in the water? Had news of his collapse traveled so quickly?
"Get out of here," he said shortly, not wanting to deal with them right now. "My wife and I were about to go make love."
"Your wife is why we are here," one of them, Anvier, said. "The rumors are true, aren't they? She carries a child."
"My child," Aaron growled. "She did not betray me."
Anvier eyed Sofia's belly with a gleam in his eye. "I didn't think she did. But this is an amazing thing, that a human can conceive a vampire's child. We all want children. If your wife can conceive with vampires, then it is your duty to share her with the others who may benefit from her unique capabilities."
Share her? With a roar, Aaron threw himself forward. "How dare you?"
Before he reached Anvier, he stumbled. The other vampires stared at him as his arms windmilled, fighting to keep himself balanced. Sofia rushed forward, catching him. He sagged against her, fighting the black spots that danced before his eyes. His stomach churned.
"We used magic so that I could conceive," Sofia said. "I'm not unique. And if you want to have children, then I can make you the same potion to use with your women."
Anvier frowned at her. "I didn't know you were a witch."
"I'm not. But my grandmother was, and she taught me a few things and it's an easy potion to make. Now if you'll excuse us, we'll be going."
"No." Aaron pulled himself up again, clenching his hands. He choked back his weakness and glared at his rivals. If he didn't settle this now, it wasn't going to end. It was a risk fighting in his current condition, but what choice did he have? By being weak in front of these vampires, he was putting his rule and his wife in danger. "You insulted my wife, you will pay the consequences."
Anvier's brow furrowed. The other vampire shook his head. "You really want to fight me, Aaron? In your condition, a stiff breeze could knock you down."
"Then that's what we fight for," Aaron snarled back at him. "The first one on his back loses."
Anvier considered him for another moment, then shrugged. "If that is what you want. But I don't think we should fight here. Certainly not when your lovely wife will be in the way. After all, once I defeat you, the rest of the vampire nation will see I'm the stronger man and make me king. I think I'll claim her as my queen… keep her in luxury and comfort when I banish you to the swamp or maybe some sort of pit where you'll never see the sunlight—"
Aaron took advantage of his opponent's monologue. He jumped forward, swinging a punch at Anvier's face. The other vampire stepped back, making Aaron stumble. But as he fell, he wrapped his arms around the other vampire's waist. With a growl, the king picked him up and threw him back, using his own weight to bring the vampire crashing down. Anvier fell flat on his back, Aaron half on him.
"Yet I still win," the king grunting, grinning. The grin didn't last long as everything around him swayed.
"Don't you dare touch him!" Sofia's voice rang out sharply.
Aaron pushed himself to his knees. His wife wrapped her arms around him, tugging uselessly to hoist him up. Though part of his mind said that he couldn’t accept help, couldn't look weak in front of the others, he already knew that he looked weak. If the fight with Anvier had lasted a second longer, he would have lost.
"You're all disgusting brutes," Sofia snarled. "I wouldn't have any of you if you put a gun to my head! Now get out of here. These apartments belong to the king and his wife. None of you are the king and you certainly aren't his wives. Now go before I call the guards and have you physically escorted away!"
Sofia didn't let the other vampires protest. The king couldn't help but smile at her forcefulness, and let her tug him into their apartment. She took him to the couch and eased him down. Once he was sitting, he dropped his chin to his chest and closed his eyes. His head felt a little lighter, but he was so, so thirsty!
"Get me some blood," he mumbled.
"Wait," a familiar voice called.
The physician-witch hurried into the apartment. Aaron found it was a little difficult to concentrate on her as she raced over to where they were. The other vampires still hadn't left and were staring in at the three of them curiously. When Aaron snarled at them, one of them shut the door. The loud complaints that followed told him they weren't going anywhere.
"Here." The witch pressed a glass into Aaron's hand. "Drink this."
He frowned at the clear liquid but drank anyway. It didn't taste how he'd expect a medicine to taste. It was… cleaner. Fresh. Sweet, almost. He gulped it down, emptying the glass quickly.
"Do you feel better?" The physician-witch peered into his eyes.
"I do, thank you." Aaron straightened, surprised when his head stopped spinning. He frowned. "You know what is wrong with me? What medicine was that?"
"It's not medicine, although I do believe I know what's wrong." The witch's shoulders slumped. "I don't know how this is possible. But it appears… Sir, you are turning back into a human."