Little Suckers Bite Too (San Francisco Vampires #6) (Vampires of San Francisco series) (6 page)

“Lily first, please, Diel.”

“Of course, honey. I’ll send someone out there. I’m not leaving your side.”

A nurse volunteers to find her and let them all know my status.

Lily comes in, quietly. I can tell she has been crying very recently. Her eyes are still puffy. Her vampire healing would have taken care of it otherwise.

“Hannah, honey, how are you?” she asks taking my hand.

“I’m doing better. They’ve given me some medicine to stop the contractions. They are slowing down. I barely feel them now.” I say. She gives me a tentative smile. “They also gave me something to help the baby’s lungs develop in case I do deliver.”

Her body starts to shake, indicating she has started crying again. Diel takes her up in his arms and whispers something into her ear. I can’t even hear it, but Lily nods and makes a valiant effort to look like everything is fine.

“It’s okay, Lily. I’m scared too.”

“Yes, but we need to think positively and keep you as calm and relaxed as possible. Do you want to hear about our wedding trip?” she asks.

“Yes, I do. I am so excited. We have to find a nanny, Diel, so that we can have some alone time to visit places that would not be appropriate for the baby.”

“We’ll see. I already have it from Helena that there will be no need for that. She said that she and Julian are eager take care of the baby for us anytime we want on the cruise,” Diel says.

“Oooh she stole my job. I am so going to have to battle everyone to see this baby. I just know it,” Lily says.

“Lily, it’s your wedding cruise. You will not be taking care of our baby. You will be too busy celebrating. Or at least you should be,” I tell her.

“I can’t think of a more worthy thing to celebrate than a new life. So we’ll see who has the baby the most.” She juts her chin out stubbornly and I just laugh. I’ve seen her in that mode before.

“That’s the kind of sounds I want to hear coming out of this room,” Dr. Hildebrand says as he walks in. “Hannah, I’m just going to check you again. Do you need some privacy,” he asks as he looks at Lily.

“No, we’ve been through a lot together and she will be my other coach throughout delivery so she better get used to it now.” Lily laughs and hugs me.

Dr. Hildebrand checks me and I haven’t dilated any more. My contractions have also stopped. He’s pleased. Diel and Lily are relieved.

“I still want you overnight but if the you have no more contractions then you can go home in the afternoon. Strict bed rest. I’ll see you every two days and I will bring you blood or a donor when I do. You need to stay hydrated and well fed. The baby is growing rapidly right now and will need the extra nourishment.”

“Yes, Dr. Hildebrand,” I say. Diel shakes his hand.

“I’ll leave you all to visit. Only one visitor besides Diel at a time, remember?”

“Yes, sir,” Diel says.

“I better let Helena in here. She was pacing the room, wearing out the tiles. I think we better let Aidan in then. He is just as anxious to see you,” Lily says, smiling down at me.

“Okay, give me a hug at least. When everyone has visited, I want you all to go back home. Hades needs you too and Diel will stay with me. We’ll see you tomorrow when I wake up.” She reaches down and hugs me tightly and then surprises me with a kiss on the cheek. I reach for Diel as she leaves. I need him to ground me. He gives me what I need unconditionally.

I spend the next half hour visiting. By then I am tired and Diel goes out to say goodbye to everyone. He comes back in and snuggles down on the bed with me and we talk until dawn when I fall asleep to sound of his heartbeat.

CHAPTER 8 . AIDAN

I know that Lilith is worried about Hannah. But I am surprised by the depth of her concern. She surprises me all the time these days. I know she is living vicariously through Hannah right now and it is taking a toll on her.

I give her a hug before we head off to the house Diel rented. I should say mansion because that is what it is with its nine bedrooms. It’s built like mis-stacked blocks with large balconies on every level. A veritable tree house. I really like it. It’s open, airy and gives me the feeling of being alone when I need it and the ability to congregate with others when the mood arises.

Everyone scatters to their rooms when we get there. Lily mumbles something about taking a long hot bath before bed and Sebastian hums his approval. I remember running a bath for Manda in Paris, our first night there. I’d filled the flat with rose petals and candles. A wave of loneliness crashes into me. It makes me stagger for a minute while I walk to my room.

I’m going searching again. They can do without me for a few hours. Hannah is well and I’ll take my cell. I go in search of Julian to let him know.

I open my eyes to the architecture around me. I try to ignore the intense anger and unease I have as I attempt to admire some of one of my favorite cities. The smell of polluted water assaults my senses. I’ve tracked the Vampire King to Venice. I am hoping it will also lead me to Manda. So far I have been unsuccessful. The vamp has many secrets. He is much older than Zoe was and is ruthless in his punishments. He has a reputation for making business transactions.

Basilio, King of the Italian Vampires, is reluctant to give me an audience. He’s notorious for his paranoia. A Djinn fits nicely into that “unknown magickal entity” category that he fears. I will see him. I am done playing nice and will just pop in on him.

I drop the heavy weighted knocker at the front door of the King’s residence. A beautiful, female, raven haired vampire answers the door.

“Signore Aidan. The King will see you today. He knows you have been in his territory and is anxious to know the reason for this,” she purrs. “I am Isabella. I will take you to see him.”

“Finally,” I mumble. She gives me an arch look but says nothing.

We pass through a marble foyer with a vast chandelier. In front of us is a curving grand staircase. Isabella takes me up stairs to where the more important rooms are because of frequent flooding. We pass many rooms that are mostly dark yet occupied. The hall goes far and it is soon obvious that the mansion is as large as any palace. It must be connected to several other buildings in the area.

At last we find our way in to a throne room of sorts. Of sorts means that there is indeed a throne in it but it also has a large ornate desk in one corner, similar to the ones Elizabeth I used when conducting meetings. But Basilio isn’t seated at his desk, he is in full-blown king mode, sitting in his throne. I’ll humor him.

I bow my head slightly when I am standing in front of him. He acknowledges me with a slight nod.

“Signore Aidan, what can the good people of my kingdom do for you?” he asks, carefully not committing himself to anything.

“Your Majesty, I have been searching for a new vampire. She was just reborn last month. I was engaged to her while she was human and she was kidnapped and turned against her will…”

“That is against the law in my kingdom,” he interrupts me.

“I am much relieved to hear that, your Majesty. The problem is that I can no longer track her essence since she was turned. She was turned on Italian soil and I am hoping she is still here.”

“What is it you think we can do for you?” he repeats with a frown on his face.

“I would just ask that you make some inquiries into who are the new vampires and if you find any African-American females, that you contact me so that I can determine if it is her,” I say.

“That is reasonable. I will do this as a sign of goodwill between my people and yourself.”

“Your Majesty, it would be a foundation in a long-lasting relationship if you were to find her.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then we will remain acquaintances and I will continue looking. But if you find her or know of her whereabouts and do not contact me, I will seek retribution.” I give him a look that shows I will not to be trifled with.

“How will I contact you?” he asks. He has looked away, flicking his fingers at a subject who wasn’t doing his work to standard. The King does not like threats. He has all of his accumulated splendor to insulate himself from just that sort of thing.

“Here is my card with my cell phone number on it, if you will permit me to approach you?”

He nods and I give him my card and retreat to a respectable distance.

“Thank you, Signore Aidan. I will contact you if I have any leads.” He motions for a lesser vamp to show me out but instead I transmanifest in front of him to let him know I could reach anywhere at any time.

I couldn’t get a good read on him. He is too schooled in vampire politics to give away anything. He is older than Helena and a survivor. If he contacts me it will be for the boon of having a Djinn as a friend.

I leave the palace to wander the streets of Venice. It makes me too sad, thinking of how I would love to show this city to Manda so I go back to Hell. Figuratively and literally.

CHAPTER 9 . HANNAH

I wake slowly and am momentarily fuzzy about where I am. Then it hits me. The baby and the hospital. I reach out instinctively for Diel and find him snoring next to me. I smile down on his peaceful visage and move a lock of hair that has fallen across his eyes. He stirs.

“I didn’t mean to wake you,” I whisper, hoping he will go back to sleep.

“No worries, babe. I wanted to get up when you got up so we could get out of here.” He runs a hand through his hair, disheveling it more than normal. “How are you feeling? Any contractions?”

“No. I feel great, except that your son is kicking me in front and back. I don’t know how that is possible but he is. He must be doing gymnastics in there.”

“Not my son. He’s playing rugby or doing push-ups.” He looks horrified at the thought of his son doing something like gymnastics. It makes me laugh and he scowls even more.

He gets up and kisses me on the forehead. The doctor walks in.

“Ahh, you’re up. Excellent, let me examine you one more time and then I will sign the release orders,” Dr. Hildebrand says.

“Awesomesauce,” I tell him and he gives me a funny look, shakes his head and starts the exam.

“Hannah, you are still three centimeters dilated so that is good and bad. The contractions have stopped and you haven’t dilated any more. But you are susceptible to infection so I will be looking for that. I don’t want to start you on antibiotics yet. No baths and no sex,” he says giving Diel a stern look.

“Don’t look at me. I had nothing to do with this,” he says pointing at my belly. “It was all her.” I smack him.

“Thank you, Hannah. I thought I was going to have to hit a Duke,” Dr. Hildebrand says. Diel roars with laughter. I can tell he is more relaxed and carefree knowing everything is okay for the moment.

“I’ll go sign those papers. You can get dressed. A nurse will be in shortly to go over everything with you. You have my number if anything happens.”

Diel helps me get dressed in a long, grey, stretchy skirt and a dark-blue wool maternity sweater. I slip my swollen feet into a pair of mules and am ready to go. Aidan, upon Lily’s insistence, had sent fresh clothes over last night. I will have to thank them both. I’ll feel really good after a shower, but clean clothes are almost as good.

The nurse comes in and goes over my discharge instructions and gets my signature on a million forms. Then we are free.

“Should we call ahead or just surprise them,” Diel asks.

“Surprise them.”

“Excellent,” Diel says, smiling.

Our drive back to the house is uneventful. I take in the beautiful landscaping with wonder. Maybe we should buy this house so we have a permanent place in Hell. We’ll have to come often to see the pediatrician and to let the baby have a firm grasp on his legacy as a Duke.

“Is this house for sale?” I ask Diel. His forehead wrinkles in concentration, maneuvering the beast of a SUV into the long drive at the beginning of the property.

“It is. What are you thinking?” he asks.

“I’d like to buy it, with everything in it. We need a permanent home here and I love this place and its seclusion. I think the baby will be happy here too. There is so much to see and stimulate him. Besides, he will need a house one day if he decides to make Hell his half-time home.” I take Diel’s hand and squeeze.

“I agree. Let’s buy it. I’ll make the necessary phone calls after we get you settled.”

We wind our way up the drive and are surprised to find a luxury sedan in the driveway.

“Shit,” Diel says under his breath.

“What is it or better who is it?” I ask a little panicked.

“Don’t get worked up, babe, please. It’s my parents.”

“Fuck, just what we need,” I growl. “And too late. I’m worked up.”

“I’m going to carry you up stairs and get you settled then I will talk to them in one of the sitting rooms.”

“Okay, I want to take a shower and I am sure that Lily will stand guard for me. She’ll also probably dress me up like a doll. I’m not sure I like this new assertive Lily,” I say with a grim countenance. Diel laughs at my frown and kisses me when we park.

He gently lifts me out of the SUV. Taking me straight in the house, past his waiting parents and the rest of our brood.