One Hundred and Nine…

One Hundred and Nine: Heartbeat

Contains offensive language and explicit sex, including full frontal male nudity with hard-on.

Fifteen years had come and gone.

Fifteen years without a ‘real’ mother.

Fifteen years of wondering about his heritage.

Now Aubrey’s radiant, white eyes gazed at him.

Now… now Lucifer had a mother. She’d returned from the fabled hereafter. That beautiful, biological connection was fastened by spiritual ties.

“Mom? What’s it like on the other side? Is there really a heaven? Is there nothing?” Though Lucifer’s curiosity was genuine, he also wanted to change the subject regarding his father. He dreaded mentioning Lauren, his father’s latest bride.

“Nothing. It’s like when I was inside my mother’s womb, and I don’t remember how I thrived. All I know is when you conjured my spirit, I was aware again. I had no idea how much time passed since my death. Obviously, it’d been fifteen years.”

So that means there’s no God? That sucks, Lucifer pondered.

“Mom, am I really the reason you died?” Lucifer tried to keep his hands, fingers from trembling.

“Sweetheart, you were only an infant. It wasn’t your fault. Please don’t blame yourself,” she quietly said. “You haven’t been blaming yourself all this time, have you?”

“Not until Dad told me what really happened. I mean, what else am I supposed to think? You never would’ve died if I hadn’t… done that.”

“Your father never did have much tact,” Aubrey muttered. “Never had much of a way with words. But the point is: you are not to blame.”

Lucifer’s eyebrows pursed.

“Your father and I only have ourselves to blame for what happened. Do you understand? First, we didn’t bother using protection.”

Lucifer blushed.

“Sorry,” she continued. “I don’t mean to embarrass you, or gross you out. I’m only telling you these things so you’ll stop blaming yourself. When I got pregnant, I expected the inevitable miscarriage. I’d already miscarried five pregnancies before you. Your father and I got careless as the years passed. And when you grew and thrived inside me, I knew something was wrong. I knew it in my heart. I even saw a doctor but he did not recommend an abortion. I saw you on the scan monitor, how you moved, sucked your thumb, and I learned you were a little boy. I could not bring myself to abort you, Lucifer. That… that is my own fault. Even your father was terrified. He thought I should’ve aborted you. We both had a feeling that something bad was going to happen.”

“And, it did. After you arrived I was in agony for hours. When your father got home, I asked him to kill me. I couldn’t live like that another second. I just couldn’t.”

“I love you, Lucifer. I love you as if I’ve known you since you were born. I loved you before you were born. Seems like one minute you were a newborn, and now you’re a teenager. Like no time has passed at all. Those fifteen years I was trapped, unaware in darkness. Now I’m free.”

“My only wish,” she said, “is to be whole again. To be made of flesh so I can feel and touch those I love.”

“I could try to hug you. It’s not the same thing but it’s better than nothing.”

She smiled. He could barely decipher her lips and fangs.

Lucifer sat on his heels and cradled his intangible mother, as best he could.

“Mom, this sucks. My hand goes right through you, and your head is going through my shoulder.”

“What matters is that I’m here. We’re here together.”

“I love you, Mom.”

Azura Haas. In her spare time, she loitered at the shitty park. It was very quiet and peaceful. The only sounds came from nighttime crickets, owls, and the occasional howling of wolves.

Nature at its best. And it seems like millions of miles away from civilization, and stupid sex-crazed male vampires, and skanky human women looking for undead dick.

Undead dick? That sounds weird, and funny in a strange way. Azura giggled.

She’d turned fifteen the other day. Uncle Lucifer would be fifteen in less than a month.

Azura always thought it was weird how their birthdays were only a month apart, and that she was slightly older than her uncle. Her father was Reznik, while Lucifer’s was Vaclav. Lance was thirteen, the son of her mother (Lauren) and Vaclav. The only child they had together.

WTH? Her mother had been a busy lady.

Cody was supposed to use the enchanted skull to turn her into a wolf, but hadn’t done it yet.

What the hell was he waiting for? Christmas? Azura chuckled at that thought. After all, Shadowvale’s culture was more like a perpetual celebration of Halloween.

However, Azura did not agree with the witch’s bargain: to keep the skull, Cody had to kill Reznik. Reznik was her father too, and she’d rather die than to lose him or her grandfather. That magic skull wasn’t worth it. Azura tried not to worry about what may happen, and was sure Cody wouldn’t kill his own father. Maybe he was going to trick the witch somehow?

Hands shoved her backside and she flew up in the air.

Who’s this stranger who suddenly decided to push me? Creepy much?

Size six shoes shot toward the starry heavens.

Swinging back, she glanced at the stranger’s feet.

Who…

Azura jerked around, caught a glimpse of him.

He was the cutest guy she’d ever seen. Go ahead, hottie. Push me s’more!

Instead he clutched the seat, halting her from going forward.

The swing settled into a stationary position. Hottie guy circled around to face Azura.

Uncomfortable silence. Then he spoke.

“Hi there. Just thought you needed a little push.”

“Thanks.” She laughed, nervously.

“Why are you here in the middle of the night? Don’t you know it’s dangerous for humans to go lurking around Shadowvale?”

Hottie grabbed the chains, leaned slightly forward. His hands overlapped hers. That touch sent electrical currents through her body.

“I’m not from around here, to be honest. I come from Leesburg. For years I’ve heard the rumors about Shadowvale and its residents, so I got curious and wanted to see for myself what it was all about. And now I see with my own eyes that those rumors are true. As for your eyes, they are as bright as the moon and stars.” He smiled, showing off perfect white teeth. No fangs.

“All my friends were too chicken shit to come with me to Shadowvale,” he continued. “Not me. I’m hoping I don’t regret it and become vampire meat.”

“My name’s Chase,” he intoned, touching her shoulders and hair. Getting a little too close for comfort, even if he was attractive.

The guy was cute but he was older. Maybe 19 or so? Too old for her.

Of course, another part of her could not control what her body was feeling. It was inevitable, biological. Teen hormones were a powerful thing and tended to blind one to certain dangers.

She returned his smile, ignoring her intuition regarding any risk.

“My name’s Azura. I live in that big white house up on the hill.” She pointed to the right past the river.

“Sweet,” he said walking to the other swing. He sat down.

“You probably think I’m some pervert, don’t you?”

“Maybe. How old are you?”

“Seventeen, I promise. So I’m really not much older than you. You look around sixteen.”

“Try one year less.” She paused. “You look a little older than seventeen.”

“I already promised you. I’m seventeen. Graduated a few months ago from high school, and now I’m in college majoring in journalism. I’m on break for a few weeks.”

“Are you one of those things?” he asked. “Looks like you are. You’re not going to suck my blood, are you?”

“My grandpa is full vampire, my dad is a hybrid, and my mom used to be human. But I can still bite you and suck your blood if you want.”

“I don’t know you, Azura, but I already like you. A lot.”

“Me too.”

“I’d love to hang out with you more often. We could keep meeting here in the park,” he said. “You can tell me all about Shadowvale, and its secrets.”

“Sure. I guess.” She grinned, shrugged.

Grunting and pounding, Cody banged Carla.

“Come on baby,” she cried. “Keep going.”

“Ah,” he yelled. “Yeah, yeah, yeah… here it comes, ready or not.”

She grimaced. “I’m not ready.”

“Too bad.” He erupted inside her. “Uh… fuuuuck.” His eyes squeezed shut, his lips parted in ecstasy as he continued screwing her.

Carla’s body bounced along with his movements.

Once he ceased squirting, he parted from her body and flopped next to her.

“Ah, yeah. That was awesome,” he groaned. Carla half-smiled, but seemed a little dissatisfied.

They held each other; as if they were truly lovers and not just fuck buddies.

Hell, they weren’t even really friends, so the term ‘friends with benefits’ didn’t fit either.

“Cody, we need to talk about something,” Carla whispered.

“Yeah? What?” Is this going to be some kind of commitment ultimatum bullshit? I hope the fuck not.

She gazed at him a moment. Then dropped the bomb.

“I found out the other day that I’m pregnant. And Cody, I swear it’s your baby. Jimmy and I haven’t made love in months. I haven’t screwed any other vampires either.”

He gaped at her. No words could possibly escape his lips. Yet.

He bolted upright. “No. No! Hell no! This is going to fuck everything up, Carla! I had plans! Things I wanted to do.” He took a deep breath. “Why the hell did you wait till after we fucked to bring this shit up? Is this some kind of a joke?”

“I’m… sorry. What do you want me to say, Cody? Shit happens.”

Both lunged from the bed. Cody jerked up his boxers as Carla slid on her panties, and tied the straps to her robe.

“I’m barely nineteen years old,” he ranted. “I’m begging you, Carla. Please get an abortion. I’ll pay for it, I’ll drive you to the clinic. I’ll do anything!”

She rolled her eyes.

“How did this happen? For shit’s sake you’re 39 years old!” he said.

“Are you that stupid? Just because I’m almost forty doesn’t mean I can’t get pregnant.”

“Get rid of it. Things are too complicated right now; you know this as well as I do. You’re married for Christ’s sake.”

“Yes. I’m married and that didn’t stop you from fucking me.”

He threw his hands up in the air.

“It’s not the right time, Carla.”

“I don’t care. I don’t want to get rid of it. If you don’t want to support me in raising it, so be it. I’ll do this on my own.”

Frustrated, he shook his head.

Meanwhile, Mila and her sister had heard everything going on in their mother’s bedroom.

Their father would be home soon. Cody needed to leave ASAP.

Sarah, Mila’s younger sister, was upset with her mother’s argument; not to mention her playing around with a man aside from Sarah’s daddy. The little girl had brought up her concerns with her sister many times.

Mila was very upset as well. Her mother’s risky, adulterous behavior was getting old. Her father didn’t deserve to be treated like shit.

“Don’t worry, Sarah.” Mila sniffed; her chin trembled. “Everything will be okay. I promise.”

The rising sun hovered above the horizon.

A new day had arrived. What would that day and night bring?

Vaclav lingered in a deep sleep. Lauren remained upstairs inside the den, reading a book.

His legs shifted as he began to awaken. Something odd was happening.

Half-asleep, he wondered why the blanket was no longer in contact with his nude body.

A cool breeze swept over his face and torso.

Luminous eyes shot open.

“My God. Aubrey… it can’t be you. I’m dreaming. Please God; please don’t let this be a dream.”

“No,” her voice echoed. “You’re not dreaming, my love. My love Vaclav.”

Disbelieving her presence, he held her but his hand drifted through her body. His heart felt like a dagger pierced it, pulled out, then pierced it again and again. Stabbing, thrusting, killing.

Since seeing her, it was like nothing had changed. Nothing.

He was still in love with her.

She vanished. He rose up and angrily kicked the blankets down at the foot of the bed.

“God dammit, Aubrey! Don’t fucking show yourself to me and then simply disappear! Where the hell did you go?” Frantically he looked around.

“AUBREY!”

“Shut up. I’m over here since the light helps keep me visible. Are you getting blind in your old age, dear husband?”

He headed for her. No time to waste.

“You’re naked now.” His voice quaked, just like his body. Vaclav’s penis quickly grew. Ready for his eternal love but he could not have her.

“You’re also naked, dear husband.”

Despite his fingers slipping through her, he pretended to caress soft, tactile skin.

“You’re crying, my love,” she said.

“Yes I am. I don’t know whether to feel joy, anguish, desire… I feel everything. God, I still love you Aubrey. I didn’t realize it until I saw you again.” His voice broke. “All I want to do is embrace you, touch you, make love to you. It’s all I can think about. To hell with everything else. Aubrey, I need you. I need you so badly I feel as if I’ll die. I will die if I don’t have you.”

“I want you to make love to me. I need you every bit as badly as you need me, my love.”

“What the fuck am I supposed to do? We can’t make love like this.” Another tear fell.