Thalia slowly awoke as the morning sun slipped through the curtains, piercing her closed eyelids as if awakening her from a temporary death. The warmth of the universe seemed to affirm a wound not yet fully healed. Thalia felt shattered in every part of her body, still sticky from the remnants of love born from forced union.
"I still own it."
The voice echoed in Thalia's mind, low but piercing like a dagger sheathed in silk. The words lingered like a nightmare whisper unwilling to pass.
When bodies intertwined beneath the first dim light of a marriage, there was no blush on Thalia's cheeks nor warmth in the depths of her heart, only fear trapped in a haze of grief. Only the shadow of discomfort marked each breath she took.
Thalia's fingers touched her stomach which still flat, smooth, and empty. Her touch seemed to search for a hope that would not grow from a hollow heart, yet was forced to exist. Disappointment played the lead role as she thought of the seed planted, not by Ashen but born from that strange, revolting night.
"Wife."
That single word from Alaric's lips sent a subtle tremor through Thalia's body, as though a deathly chill was creeping into her pores. That one word also brought back the memory of a mouth forced to taste the metallic flavor of red elixir, piercing through as if slowly unraveling the concept of humanity itself.
By instinct, Thalia covered her mouth, fighting the nausea rising from her gut as her mind replayed the memory like an old cinema that could not be stopped.
In Thalia sight now, Alaric stood calmly, adjusting a black tie around his neck. He looked elegant, like an old European nobleman preparing for a banquet. Alaric stepped closer without a sound, then placed his cold hand on Thalia's cheek. The movement appeared gentle but held a threat in every second.
Thalia bit her lower lip so hard it tore the skin as Alaric's sharp fangs pierced her neck, drinking away the sense of safety from her fragile body.
"You're tempting me," Alaric whispered, almost like a seduction, before his lips grazed hers, licking the drops of blood that nearly fell in vain. Alaric gently touched Thalia's wounded lips and wiped away his own saliva from the remnants of red wine that had drugged her like a heavenly nectar.
They were opposites like night and day, life and death, fated to unite in a lie soaked in blood.
Thalia looked at Alaric with a burning gaze, hatred flickering within, "And you trapped me."
Alaric chuckled softly, as if the accusation were a small joke, "I'm not the one you should blame, am I?"
His calm tone veiled cruelty, leaving Thalia silent, knowing exactly who he was referring to. But knowing did not mean accepting, and so Thalia chose to avert her gaze. Alaric lifted her chin with his fingertip, forcing his wife to face that dark fury.
"Should I kill him?"
Thalia's breath caught and she stared at Alaric, raising her trembling hand and slapped him with all the rage she could muster. The next second, Thalia's breath hitched as Alaric gripped her neck. Her hands instinctively clutched his wrist in an effort to stop him.
"I'm sorry..."
Thalia whispered softly, her voice sounding more like a sob than an apology. Alaric finally released her. Red marks bloomed on her neck and her breath came heavy, followed by harsh coughing.
Alaric walked to the door with a firm back, "You'd better prepare to carry that child, Thalia."
The door closed slowly behind him, leaving Thalia alone in a silent room. She lowered her head and let out a muted scream that trembled through the air with whimpers that pierced the stillness, unaware that Alaric was chuckling quietly as he listened, footsteps echoing.
Sometimes, time cannot heal the invisible scars, only thicken and age them. Three months had passed, and now Thalia's belly had begun to show. Slowly but surely, her body delivered joyful news to the grandfather, Theo, a baby was growing inside her.
Each night, Thalia held her swelling stomach, feeling foreign to herself. She sat in stillness before a window facing the beauty of the moonlight. Her fingers touched her belly gently, still trying to accept the reality.
"He's a dhampir."
Alaric's voice disregarding her presence suddenly cut through Thalia's solitude, startling her slightly. His hand trailed along the curve of Thalia's round belly.
"Give him your blood as nourishment."
In old tales, it was written that a dhampir is a creature born of a vampire's blood residing in a human womb. The life force of a dhampir bridges two worlds. But the tales ended there in the ancient books.
Thalia felt dizzy and sick as the baby moved gently, showing signs of health. That would be true if the baby inside Thalia were human but for a dhampir fetus, it meant one thing, is blood.
Alaric caught Thalia as she nearly collapsed. His dark eyes glinted as if he could see the behavior of the dhampir child. He glanced at the old fairy tale book Thalia had been reading.
"Eat. He's drinking your blood, and you need iron."
Thalia looked at Alaric as he ordered the servants to prepare meals for her. Her mouth reluctantly accepted the nourishment fit for a human. The limits of humanity within Thalia only made the being inside her more pronounced.
Each day grew more exhausting for Thalia, who had to constantly eat to feed herself and the fetus. In moments of desperation, she would cry and strike her belly, not just because of the blood being drained, but because her freedom had been stolen along with the crimson elixir.
"Calm down."
That phrase always came when Thalia felt drained, as the fetus moved more wildly. Physical changes became apparent as Thalia stared at her reflection, longing for her beauty to return.
Nine months of survival had passed. Now Thalia felt her belly harden as labored breaths escaped her lips and cold sweat covered her body. The first contraction was excruciating.
From behind the door came the clack of footsteps Alaric, expressionless, his gaze sharp and void of warmth.
"Call the obstetrician. Tell the others to hide and restrain themselves."
Alaric ordered his personal secretary before approaching Thalia as they waited for the doctor.
"...Alaric."
Thalia's moaning voice sounded utterly sorrowful, her pale face now the adornment of a melancholic harmony.
"I've called the doctor."
The room grew tense as a doctor arrived to help deliver the child of Thalia and Alaric. Thalia's blood was like nectar, luring bees so Alaric ordered all the servants to lock themselves away and summoned a human doctor for safety.
With one final push, Thalia fell into a deeper abyss of pain as the world around her blurred. The sound of crying filled the room with joy at least for the doctor, who felt accomplished, while Thalia and Alaric remained emotionless.
Empty.
Thalia closed her eyes, utterly exhausted, while Alaric cradled the tiny body after it had been cleaned by the doctor. Alaric sat beside the sleeping Thalia, his fingers gently touching her forehead.
"Well done."