Chapter eight

Mackenzie

"Give me one bloody reason I shouldn't kill you for just mentioning my mother's name," I demand angrily. "I watched her die so don't you dare speak her name!"

"Mack," a woman's voice says in a soothing tone.

I recognize that voice. Can it be? After three hundred years? Has she really been alive this whole time?

Keeping my grip on the vampire that stabbed me, I looked over my shoulder. It was as if I was caught in a dream. The woman standing behind me looked like my mother. She hadn't aged a day since that night. She comes over to caress my face and I drop the vampire from against the wall of the building.

"You're not real," I choke quietly as tears rapidly roll down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry love, the Vampire King had scouts. I had to make them believe I was dead," she chokes in a whisper. A year before he found us, he turned your grandfather, my father. He made him a scout. Even as a vampire he couldn't kill his only daughter. He turned me at the last minute, when you killed the Vampire King."

"My mother would never have abandoned me, vampire or not," I choke in anger and walk around her.

"Lullaby and good night,

With pink roses bedight,

With lilies o'er spread

Is my baby's sweet head.

Lay thee down now and rest,

May thy slumber be blessed.

Lay thee down now and rest,

May thy slumber be blessed.

Lullaby and good night,

You're your mother's delight,

Shining angels beside

My darling abide.

Soft and warm is your bed,

Close your eyes and rest your head.

Soft and warm is your bed,

Close your eyes and rest your head.

Sleepyhead, close your eyes,

Mother's right here beside you

I'll protect you from harm,

You will wake in my arms.

Guardian angels are near,

So sleep on with no fear.

Guardian angels are near,

So sleep on with no fear," she sings, stopping me in my tracks, her voice wavering at the end. "Darling, it's really me. I'm so sorry."

"If you are really who you say you are, you'll help me with finding a witch. Should you not and you are whom you say, you'll not meet your grandchild," I say quietly and turn to face her. "You know where to find me, clearly you're good at watching from a distance."

I walk away without another word and find Anita and her parents where I left them. Anita was still passed out and I take her from Charlie. I don't give them a chance to ask questions and head for Anita's.

When we get there I take Anita to her room and kick the door closed. I strip her down so she would be comfortable and do the same. I climb in bed with her and she moves to lay on my chest. I wrap my arms around her and she lets out a content sigh.

I think back to the lullaby that was sung to me every night, until it ended that night. The memory of her lifeless body laying there as blood pooled around her. The Vampire King's mouth still dripping with her blood as I tore his head from his shoulders.

I didn't realize I was sobbing until I felt warm, delicate hands caressing my face. I look in Anita's caring eyes and saw concern. I couldn't stop the sobs and she pulls my head to lay on her chest, stroking my hair. She keeps quiet, letting me expell my pent up pain. The sobs don't stop as I drift off to sleep with her delicate fingers combing through my hair.

Anita

Waking up to Mackenzie sobbing was heartbreaking. She seemed lost in her thoughts when I caressed her face. Her sobs were so out of control she couldn't stop. I knew the only thing I could do was offer comfort so that's what I did.

The sobs continue as she fell asleep before her breaths shook as she calmed from her sobs. My bedroom door opens and my mother poked her head in. She looks at Mackenzie with sympathy and I was left confused. What happened after I passed out?

The question must have been written on my face because my mother says in a choked whisper, "Her mother is alive, well a vampire."

No wonder she was hysterical. Tears fill my eyes at what could possibly be running through her head right now. I kiss her head and her breaths shutter from the sobs. She pulls me closer to her in her sleep and I wrap my arms around her.

"How are you feeling sweetheart," she asks with concern, sitting on the bed beside me.

"Better than the restaurant," I say quietly as I continue to stroke her hair. "I'm kinda tired though. Are you guys staying the night?"

"If you want us too," she says with understanding with Mackenzie being emotional.

"Please," I ask with pleading eyes.

"See you in the morning," she says with a smile and kisses my forehead and Mackenzie's before leaving the room.

I woke the next morning and Mackenzie was gone from bed. I could hear her talking in the living room, but she sounded angry. I quickly went out to see what was wrong and she was with another woman. The woman resembles her, just looks a few years older.

Her attention turns to me and smiles. "Is this the grandchild you mentioned? She's beautiful," she says and I couldn't help but laugh. "I beg your pardon?"

"I'm sorry, please excuse my rudeness. I'm Anita, Mackenzie's girlfriend," I say with a smile and hold my hand out to her.

She shakes my hand and looks around me. "Where is my grandchild," she asks with anxious to her tone.

"It'll be a while before you meet him or her," I say with a smile and she looks at me confused. "It's a nine month waiting list."

"Adoption," she asks looking between me and Mackenzie.

"Oh, for Pete's sake, she's pregnant," Mackenzie snaps looking at her mother with hardened eyes. "I thought I was clear on the witch part? Was I not?"

"Darling, why get a witch? I could turn her for you after the..."

"If a single vampire so much as grazes their fangs on her flesh," Mackenzie bellows, shifting into her vampire form and Olivia's eyes widen. "It's one thing if our child be born a vampire, but I will not still her beating heart.

"Now can you get a bloody witch or not," Mackenzie asks clenching her hands in tight fists.

I step in her view and caress her face. Her crimson eyes meet mine and she's calmed down a moment later. She closes her eyes and lets out a calming breath. When her eyes open they're no longer crimson. "The witch can wait Mackenzie. Talk to her," I say in a soothing whisper and she lets out a defeated sigh. "She's alive, isn't that what matters?"

Tears fill her eyes and pulls me in a hug. I rub her back in comfort and she shutters a calming breath. "Will you join us," she asks wiping her eyes.

A wave of nausea hits me before I could answer her and bolt to the bathroom. I just make the toilet and feel someone else pull my hair back, rubbing my back. I wipe my mouth and lean against the person behind me. The person wasn't Mackenzie or my parents and I jolt away from them. Wrong move. Another round of nausea hits and I get sick again.

"You need not fear me darling," Olivia says in a soothing whisper, rubbing my back. "You bare my grandchild and daughter's heart. I drink animal blood dear, not humans."

"I'm not scared, just wasn't expecting you, no offense," I say in a breathy whisper as the nausea passes.

She laughs as she helps me to my feet and I look at her confused. "How did you get here in daylight? I thought vampires could walk in sunlight?"

"Clever girl," she says with a smile, caressing my face. "A witch bestowed the ability to walk in daylight upon my father and I. It makes hunting easier for us."

"Can I ask something without sounding rude," I ask quietly as I wash my hands and she nods. "Why hide all these years? Mackenzie feels she failed you as your daughter to protect you. She literally cried herself to sleep last night. I've seen her at her worst, but last night was as if she watched you killed all over again."

"I was protecting her from the Vampire King's royal guards. He had an army of highly trained assassins hunting her down. We're talking millions Anita," she says in a choked whisper as tears roll down her cheeks and her eyes lower to my stomach. "Now they know of her child, we assumed it was you. Now that I know you're pregnant with her child...

"I've waited three hundred years for this. I'm not standing in the shadows and watching it being taken from me. They'll kill you if they find out. You must help me tell her, please," she begs in a pleading whisper.

My head was spinning with all this information and staggered into her. "Mackenzie," she calls out in a panicked tone.

Mackenzie barges in the bathroom and stares daggers at Olivia. I go in her arms as uncontrolled sobs escape my lips. "Listen to what she has to say, Mackenzie, please," I plead between broken sobs.

Mackenzie

I let out a calming breath for Anita's sake and hoist her up with her legs around my waist. I lead her to the living room and sit with Anita straddling my lap, holding onto me like I was her lifeline. I gesture for her to start explaining while I did my best to soothe Anita.

As she explained everything I came to understand why she stayed hidden all these years. She came out of hiding for the safety of my child and now Anita's. Everyone thinks my child is grown and not a growing fetus in Anita's womb.

"What do we do? Where's grandfather," I ask in a scared whisper as I notice Anita fell asleep.

"I want you to continue your routine with Anita. Your grandfather and I will handle everything. He went to Kensington, to bring back the witch who helped us, my mother," she says in a bitter tone.

"You say that like you don't like her," I say curious.

"She isn't going to be easy to ask for help, she'll want something in return," she says with warning in her tone.

"What did she make you do," I ask, afraid to know the answer.

"She made your grandfather remarry her. She committed adultery after I was born and banished her. I had already done what she asked of me. She wanted a grandchild and she has been helping look after you. You may not owe her anything in return," she says with a light smile. She sighs and says, "Just be ready for bickering when you're grandparents return. It's all they do."

The smell of blood fill the room and my mother looks around. Charlie brings two pints and says with a smile, "Mackenzie, it's been a few days since you last had blood. I brought your mother some."

"Thank you Charlie," I say with relief.

"How's Anita," she asks with concern.

"She's asleep," I say softly. "Is there another pint? I can hear the bickering my mother mentioned before, in the driveway."

"I'm sorry, those were the last two," she says in sympathy and I hand mine back. She looks at me confused and asks, "What about your...?"

"I'll be fine," I say closing my eyes and focusing on Anita.

"Mackenzie," my mother says in a soothing whisper and I look at her. "Drink, I'll stall them a few minutes. We ate this morning."

I let out a relieved breath and she smiles lightly. She walks outside and I drink half pint before giving it to Charlie. "Thank you."

She quickly brings it to the kitchen as the front door opens. My mother returns with my grandparents and thankfully she got them to stop bickering. They take a seat across from us and my grandmother eyes Anita. "Olivia, this woman mounting my grandchild is who exactly," she asks with disgust.

"Mind your tongue hag," I snarl in vampire form. "Blood or not, you will not speak of the mother of my child that way."

"Is that any way to speak with an elder," she retorts.

"Victoria," my grandfather says in warning and she shuts her mouth. He looks at me and says, "My deepest apologies. She will mind her tongue or I'll revoke my second offer to her."

"Jeffrey, you wouldn't," Victoria chokes quietly.

"You'll do what our granddaughter wishes no strings attached," he says sternly.

Anita sits up in my lap and rubs her eyes. "What's with the shouting," she asks in a husky whisper from sleep.

"Sorry love," I say in a soothing whisper, tucking hair from her face. "It appears I'm in the middle of a three hundred year wait of a family reunion."

"I'll give you privacy," she says with a tired smile and gives me a kiss before walking towards her room.

"May I...," My mother asks, gesturing towards the room.

I smile lightly and it was enough for her to go after Anita. She was most likely laying down anyway. Seeing her after all these years has my emotions scattered all over the place. I could hear her singing the lullaby and tears roll down my cheeks as I let out a calming breath. Hearing it still soothes me and I get up to go peek in the room.

Anita was laying on my mother's chest, eyes closed while my mother played with her hair. I smile at how peaceful Anita looked sleeping and walk back out to my grandparents. I wipe my eyes and stare down Victoria. "Are you going to help me make her immortal or not?"