Chapter 2.5

Theron was about to wake Theresa when he realized his pocket still felt heavy. He quickly located the full vial his sister had filled that morning and cursed aloud. For a moment, Theresa's body wavered in the air, her consciousness almost becoming aware. Silently backing away and leaving the compound, Theron had no choice but to come to terms with his inner thoughts. He had shirked his duties in order to spend more time with the woman; he was going soft. 

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Soon enough, time passed and the babies were ready to become toddlers.

Katib had returned that morning to a teary reunion. Discussions about moving in had taken place, and the couple was excited to see their babies grow up. As the first of their daughters starting the age change, Katib strummed on his guitar and lead the family in singing "Happy Birthday".

Before the second baby had time to age up, however; shit hit the fan. "What kind of sick joke do you think you're pulling?" Katib snarled at Oriana, gesturing to the toddler's hair and eye color, "Do you really expect me to believe this thing is mine?"

"Please," Oriana said, trying to buy herself time. The red headed child was as much of a shock to her as it was to Katib, but how was she to explain that? She thought the vampire menace had blown over as quickly as it started, but the evidence in her arms begged to differ.

"Just shut up!" he roared, cutting her off before she could even begin to explain, "I don't want to hear your excuses, you worthless, cheating, slut!"

"Katib, my grandmother, Hathor," Oriana tried again.

"Now you're trying to use my culture on me? That's it. I am out of here," he finished his tirade, stomping off towards the door.

Oriana didn't even try to stop her beloved from leaving. She knew it was pointless, given the circumstances. Instead, she proceeded to finish the birthday celebrations of Eden and Awen.

Eden.

Awen.

Blake.

When the celebrations came to an end, Oriana attempted a smile as she geared up for an undercover mission and disappeared off into the night.

When the toddlers are left alone while the rest of the household turns in for the night, a familiar face shows up looking for Oriana. Distracted by her now-toddlers, he takes a moment to appreciate the spark of life in each. It is something he has never felt, nor had ever wanted to feel before these past few weeks.

Overcome with emotion, he snuggles Blake close and feels her tiny heart slowly beating; she isn't afraid of the monster holding her in his hands.

It's at this moment that he realizes the implications of the toddlers' looks. Yanking his head back to get a better look, he freezes for a moment, afraid. "They're mine," he breathes, not to anyone in particular, "It should be impossible, children born of a vampire's seed are always vampires... Unless..."

Caught up in the possibilities and in his children, Theron spends the rest of the night playing with the toddlers and teaching them to talk. It's not until Oriana walks into the room that he's realized the sun has begun to rise.

"Get away from my children, you monster!" she shrieks when she see's him babbling with Eden.

Standing up and facing her a little too fast, Theron tries to calm her down.

"Stay away, you've ruined my life! Katib has left me because of what you've done. Haven't you caused this family enough pain?" she asks, visibly trembling.

"It's your blood that gave my children life," he realizes out loud as he subconsciously strokes her cheek.

Oriana tears up at the remark, afraid for her life. "Don't take my blood," she begs, "Don't hurt me anymore."

Nervous at the first confrontation he's had with Oriana when she wasn't allured, Theron almost envelopes her with it before stopping himself. This isn't how he should treat the mother of his children. If he's ever to have a chance at seeing them again, he had to start earning her trust. "I haven't poisoned you in quite some time," he tries to explain, "Search me; you'll find nothing. You've awakened a part of me I didn't know existed," he pauses, "Please, give me a chance."