Quarantined in Chaos (Nova Nocte) (25 page)

             
I took Cal by the crook of his elbow.

             
“It’s time to go isn’t it?”

             
His head moved up and down almost imperceptivity.

             
“I’m afraid so.”

             
Daemon peered at the small contingent of our people to escape. His eyes grew older as I watched him.

             
“Can’t we wait? At least until Sunny and Chase go to the doctor to check on the baby? I mean, what’s one more day?”

             
“I’m sorry, Squirrel. This is how it must be. We will say farewell, pick up our belongings, make them forget, and leave before dawn. Our room is on another floor. They check out in the morning; you will never see them again.”

             
Daemon hugged me and led me to the bed. I put my envelope in my bag and waited for Sunny to come out from her shower. Chase must have noticed our depression because he looked up, put away his stuff and gave us each a bear hug. He clapped us on the back and said nice things. It hurts too much to put the words down, but I will remember them long after he’s gone.

             
The water shut off and Sunny began to shout for her husband.

             
“Chase. Chase, I need you.”

             
“I thought you brought your clothes in?”

             
“It’s not that. I think my water broke.”

             
Everyone was on their feet and running around the suite.

             
“WHAT!” Chase grabbed the phone, put it down, and picked it up again. “What do I do?”

             
Daemon took the phone from him.

             
“You get Sunny dressed and I’ll call down for an ambulance.”

             
Both men carried out their tasks. I helped Chase get Sunny ready for the ride. A thick viscous fluid coated the bathroom floor and the woman was clearly in pain.

             
“What are we doing?”

             
“Getting you to a hospital, duh. Now hold still so Chase can get your other shoe on.”

             
Cal became giddy as the Cheshire Cat giving directions.

             
“I can’t believe you are having the baby now. Do you need anything? I hear sucking ice helps, would you like me to get some?”

             
“Aarrgghh. No, I want a doctor and an epidural.”

             
“Yes, of course.” The elder vampire gathered their bags and room keys along with his own. “Field trip, people. Move it, we’ve got a baby to meet.”

             
The group moved as one down the hall and to the waiting ambulance and cab. Chase was beaming as he sat beside Sunny in the emergency vehicle. Cal paid the taxi driver a hundred bucks to keep up with them and promised to pay another hundred in case of tickets. It was the best and most terrifying drive of my life.

             
He’s so excited. I hope everything goes okay. I can leave knowing the three of them are okay. Please, God, let the baby be fine.

             
We rushed into the hospital. The stench of sterility slammed into me like a mallet.

             
I forgot what it was like not to smell decay everywhere.

             
Cal found the waiting room and began pacing. Poor Allen barely kept up with us as we sprinted through the building. And then we waited. After an hour, the three of us had to find a discreet way to feed. Allen and Garret volunteered for one last donation in a broom closet.

             
The night ticked away and everyone grew more restless. Allen and Garret slept. They were exhausted, full, and literally drained. The dawn was nearing when Chase came out to say she was finally going into delivery. Thankfully the waiting room was in the middle of the building preventing any serious issues with windows.

             
“I guess we’re in the hospital for the day.” Daemon commented.

             
“That’s fine. It will allow us some time to see the baby.” Cal brought a tray gourmet coffee from the cafeteria and handed them to the nurses. “Please enjoy these. And thank you for taking such good care of our friends. Please tell us as soon as you know something.”

             
The woman in scrubs accepted and passed around the cups of warm caffeine.

             
“Thank you sir. I’ll be sure to let you know. In fact, I’ll go check on things for you.”

             
“You’re too kind.”

             
He turned to me and Daemon.

“What? A little kindness never hurts.”

              “You’re so happy right now.”             

             
“Why wouldn’t I be? Squirrel, I adore children and two of our friends are having one right now. I know we must leave tonight, but every good day is worth cherishing.” He took a seat next to me. “It’s the only way to offset the long span of tough nights and harsh memories.”

             
The nurse came back to tell us Sunny was doing fine, Chase had fainted but was better now, and the baby would be with us soon. After a few jokes at Chase’s expense, we sat reading old magazines for another hour. It was a great feeling to be reading old magazines and have them actually be informative.

             
Chase came barreling through the doors.

             
“It’s a boy! I have a son.”

             
We all jumped to and celebrated with hugs and handshakes. The poor nurses got an earful from our messy lot.

             
“Can we see him?” I asked.

             
“Yeah, come on back. The doc said two at a time, but he’s gone and the nurses said we can all go back if we are quiet.”

             
Cal shot me a ‘told you so’ glance and bounded after the new father.

             
Sunny was covered in sweat and looked like hell. A happy, glowing, bundle of hell holding a tiny bundle of heaven.

             
“He’s so cute. Look at that tiny nose.” Daemon leaned down and looked at the baby’s face. The rest of the pink child was swaddled snugly in a soft blanket. “Sunny, Chase...” He looked at both of them. “...you two do good work. I demand that you make more.”

             
Sunny laughed and stroked the baby’s cheek. Chase puffed out his chest and put his arm around his wife’s shoulders.

             
“Trust me I plan to practice as much as possible.”

             
Sunny threw him the Mom Glare and he added ‘Just kidding.’ to the statement.

             
I watched as the baby yawned. Cal almost peed himself at the sight.

             
“What’s the lad’s name?”

             
The parents exchanged glances.

             
“Actually, we’ve agreed to call him Cal.”

             
The ancient Undead stopped breathing and sat down. His lip trembled as he blinked his watery eyes.

             
“I’m honored beyond words.”

             
Daemon gave the namesake a soft punch on the shoulder. I leaned down to give him a small hug.

             
“If you hadn’t arrived in camp, we wouldn’t have made it. Squirrel did a lot for us and Daemon arrived eventually, but you had the knowledge and skills to help us. Little Cal wouldn’t be here if you weren’t.” Sunny said.

             
Chase shook Cal’s hand.

             
“Besides, now we’ll always remember you. Even when we can’t remember everything, we will always know you were important to us.”

             
The nearly two thousand year old Roman soldier and vampire burst into tears. And woke the baby.

              Arriving back at our hotel is bittersweet. Our friends no longer know us. We spent a blissful day taking turns holding Little Cal and reminiscing. Then twilight fell and the process of glamouring our fellow survivors wore on us. Daemon and I barely held it together. Caelinus had to do Allen and Garret because he kept breaking down trying to put Sunny under.

             
I tossed my stuff on the burgundy carpet and sank into an armchair. I let my mind wander, taking in the last few days. I drifted but not too far within. Daemon shrugged out of his shirt.

             
“I’m taking a shower. I feel disgusting.”

             
The Roman looked at me with his sorrow covering his face.

             
It really hurts him to let them go and never find out how they end up. After all these years and centuries, I guess there’s no way to not care.

             
“Squirrel, maybe you should join him. I think I’ll retire to my room next door. Come by after, please.” He picked up his discarded luggage. “But, please, take your time together.”

             
He ambled slowly to the door and left. Daemon grinned.

             
“Not a bad idea. Care to join me?”

             
I answered by striding past him and hooking my finger into the front of his jeans.

###

              “Well, we’re going to have to pay for that.”

             
Daemon sighed and laced up the new shoes he’d bought online and had delivered to the room. My stack of clothes sat beside him, disheveled from our second round on the bed.

             
“It’s not my fault that these beds aren’t made for vampire sex.” He gestured at the caved in portion. “Box springs aren’t supposed to be that flimsy.”

             
I kissed him and sat on his lap to button up my new shirt. I hoped the blue would look good against my paling skin. Daemon nibbled on my ear and I felt his new dungarees getting tighter below me. I wiggled as I slid on my own pants.

“That’s cheating.”

              “Too bad. You know we don’t have time to play again before meeting up with Cal.”

             
I bent over to put on my sneakers. The heat on my butt from the laser gaze he had on it was entertaining.

             
“He said take our time.”

             
I turned around and kissed him. After a minute of doing a tongue tango, I pulled back.

             
“Yes, but after three hours, we’re pushing it. Besides, we need to know what we are doing when we have to check out and get settled somewhere else before dawn.”

             
He pouted and wrinkled his nose.

             
“Fair enough. Just give me a minute before we leave.”

             
“Why?”

             
He stared at me and tilted his head.

“Oh, right.” I blushed and gathered our stuff into the dry-cleaned duffle. “Just let me know when you’re a little less ready.”

              Five minutes later, Daemon knocked on his mentor’s door.

             
“Come in.” Cal’s eyes were puffy and his nose red.

             
He’s been crying in here alone this entire time.

             
I felt guilty.

             
We should’ve cleaned up and come right over to keep him company. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. Sometimes I’m a sucky friend.

             
I gave the Roman a peck on the cheek and a smile. He forced one in return and indicated we should sit down. He pulled out a chair for me and offered Daemon the one across the room.

             
“I know this has been a difficult venture.” He started but faltered. His possessions were laid out on the end of the bed to my right. I gazed at the crusty clothes, short sword, fire kit, bandages, and basic tools. I let my thoughts wander while he composed his.

             
He’s had to go through this loss countless times as he’s moved on. It still affects him like this, but he does it. I can face this, too.

             
I felt the smile creep onto my face.

             
I’ll always have Cal and Daemon. They are my family now. Forever. I kept my promise to my parents and Owen. And the one to Sunny and Chase. I can let this all go and start fresh. My own Nova Nocte with them.

             
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Cal started again. I kept my eyes closed as I forgave myself all my past horrors and breathed them out.

“There are few things tougher than losing loved ones. Having to let them go because it must be done is harder still.”

              Goodbye past. You made me a survivor. You led me to a new life with a new friend and a new love. Goodbye and thank you. You made me Squirrel, but now I’m myself again. I’m Rhiannon.

             
The tug to withdraw disintegrated and was gone. I marveled at the freeing sensation I had yet to feel since being turned. I listened as Cal spoke; I heard him moving as he talked.

“I’ll always love you both as family.
But what has to be must be.”

             
I opened my eyes preparing to tell him that he needn’t fret over me anymore. Daemon screamed as Cal’s sword blade sped towards my head.

END BOOK TWO OF NOVA NOCTE SERIES

Book 3: Retaking Oblivion coming in 2015

             
Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won’t you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favorite retailer? I look forward to hearing your thoughts on my Facebook and Twitter pages as well. Thank you!

             
Melissa Gibbo is the author or
After The End
and has been living and working in the Orlando area for nearly ten years. During this time she has worked at both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. She has a large extended family, a loving wife, and two crazy but loved cats. Melissa grew up in Columbus, Georgia and visits as often as possible.