Fifty-Seven…

Fifty-Seven: Turning Point

Contains language, adult situations.

Stuck in a twilight of unconsciousness, Katerina felt a presence next her.

Was it him?

Thump thump thump thump thump.

His hand drifted to her face.

Caressed her cheek.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

She shifted and woke up.

“Hunter?”

But no one was there.

Once again, disappointment suspended in her stomach like a dead weight.

Not long afterward, Aubrey and Vaclav were notified of Kat’s awakening.

They embraced.

Dawn surfaced.

Aubrey sat across from Vaclav in the clinic’s cafeteria. They discussed what to do about Reznik.

So far, no ideas. At least none that were any good.

“Maybe we should send him to boarding school?” Vaclav suggested.

“I don’t think that will help. Much.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

“A shrink?”

“I don’t think he needs a shrink. Just because his hormones are out of control doesn’t mean he needs therapy.”

“Fine. Then we’ll have a son who wants to poke everything he sees.”

Vaclav stared at her.

“I’m sorry but we’re running out of options! I don’t know what else to do with him! We can’t keep having random guys banging at the door, accusing him of knocking up their wife or girlfriend!”

“I know that, Aubrey.”

Silence ensued. Then Vaclav went off on a very strange tangent.

“This is all my fault.”

“What do you mean?” Aubrey asked.

“I killed your grandfather not long before we conceived Reznik. Then I was going to kill your father.”

“Huh? What does that have to do with anything?”

He leaned forward.

“We’re both being punished for my crimes. Reznik turned out to be a bad seed because of me.”

“Oh!” she laughed. “You mean karma?”

He nodded. She chuckled again.

“I’m glad you find this so amusing.”

“I don’t! I just… don’t think Reznik’s issues have anything to do with karma. Shit happens, you know?” Yet again, she laughed.

Nice comic relief.

“Yes. Shit happens.” He didn’t look too happy.

Just then, Hunter entered the room.

“Kat seems to be okay right now,” Hunter said. He ignored Vaclav as he spoke to Aubrey.

“I gave her an injection of the Nepiramine. Blood work shows her liver is at a slightly lower function than before, but nothing to worry about.” He paused.

“I’m concerned about Kat. She’d swallowed her own blood, and wrote something on the mirror. But I won’t go into that.”

Vaclav’s eyes fixated on Hunter. “Perhaps you should go into it, Dr. Logan.”

“I think the most important thing right now is to find out why she drank her own blood.”

Aubrey and Vaclav looked at each other, not knowing what else to say.

Hunter started out of the room.

Aubrey didn’t see the look of longing on his face as he left.

Um, yeah (Hunter really did this in the game).

Aubrey’s gaze drifted to the wall, troubled thoughts went through her mind.

What the hell are we going to do? Both our kids are in serious, major trouble.

Maybe boarding school wasn’t such a bad idea; then they could finally focus on their daughter’s problems.

But were there actually boarding schools that catered to vampire/dhampir children? And with his rampant powers, would he even be accepted?

Two nights later, Ash couldn’t sleep.

Aubrey and Vaclav’s passion noises kept her awake.

“Ah, ah, ah… yeah Vaclav.”

“Oh! Aubrey…”

“Fuck! Shut the hell up!”

She bolted upright.

Then she grabbed another pillow…

thrusting the pillow over her head, she cursed them both.

As the minutes passed, however, she got to thinking about something. For the millionth time Vaclav has audibly proven how good he must be in bed.

Fuck you Reznik. I’m gonna get me some of your daddeh.

She smiled and fell asleep.

Ash’s morning sickness came with a vengeance.

Of course, Reznik walked in.

“Look at you! Now you’re sick! You’re never gonna have a miscarriage!”

“Leave. Me. Alone.”

“I’m not in the mood for your shit.” She wiped her chin.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him look away in disgust, throwing his hands up.

“Ugh. Gross!” he said.

“I said leave me alone,” she groaned and turned to face him. “Can’t you see I’m sick? You’re only making it worse!”

“Tell me the truth!” he demanded, totally disregarding what she’d said. “Are you a full-blooded vampire, or are you a dhampir?”

She took a step back, feeling dizzy.

Then she looked at him.

“Okay. I’m a dhampir.”

“I don’t want to be a father!”

“I can’t help it, Reznik! Get over yourself!”

They glared at each other.

Somehow, a fire erupted in the toilet.

Kat returned home from the clinic. Obviously the blood hadn’t done much damage. In a way, she was thankful. In another way, she wasn’t.

Depressed as ever, she went into the office and peered at the carousel her father gave her.

She picked it up. A tiny panel opened in the bottom and an object spilled out.

She observed it, pinching it between her thumb and forefinger.

A tiny key. She wondered what it unlocked.

Suddenly her life had a new purpose.

That night, Ash glimpsed Vaclav as he left the bathroom after showering.

“Forgot my damn clothes,” he muttered.

Good. Now drop the towel.

He turned to the side, looking like a Greek god. Or something.

A new level of desire burned from within.

Giddy up, cowboy.

 

****

^^ Now that I’ve updated my IE, I can’t center the asterisks. Nice. Anyhow, thanks for reading as always. ^^