Ch 205: Different Appetites

Kai drove us home and once we entered. Already, his family and friends were waiting for us at the front entrance of the living room.

"How did it go?" Mrs. Collin asked, excitedly.

So I held out the ultrasound pictures and Kai announced proudly, "The baby showed itself today!"

Everyone was awed when they passed the pictures around. I was hugged one at a time by Veronica, Rose, Mia, Zoey, Sharlene, Mrs. Collin, and Ava came by for a visit. Her tiny baby belly wasn't showing yet for being three months pregnant. While I was getting hugs, Kai got firm handshakes from his friends, dad, Eric his brother-in-law, and his older brother.

"If you need anything let me know. You, me, and Sharlene can cry and puke together," Ava told me and I couldn't stop my giggle.

"I hope I get another little niece," Veronica chippered.

"I wanna hold my baby cousin?" Coraline looked around baffled and tried to find this baby. We couldn't help but laugh at how cute she was being.

"First, we have to wait because it's growing in Auntie Victoria's belly," Zoey told her daughter.

"How long is that going to be?" Adorably, Coraline crossed her arms, giving me a pouty lip.

"May 1st is my due date," I smiled to tell her.

"Awe, that is so funny! You got the same due date as me," Sharlene giggled.

"That's crazy!" I said but Coraline wasn't happy to discover such news.

"That's going to be forever!" Coraline pouts even louder and Chester picks her up and kisses her cheek.

"Before too long that baby will be here sooner than you think," Chester said and then he gave her to Zoey.

"Dinner is about ready, why don't we head to the dining room," Mrs. Collin suggested.

I tagged along with the vampiresses. Kai and his advisors took off with his brother Chester, Eric, John, and their advisors in that split second. I knew in the back of my mind they went out hunting together. And I certainly tried not to think about that and force my mind on the baby. In the back of my mind, I still felt shocked to realize, I am surely pregnant with a vamp baby.

~~~

Sunday morning rolled in and I woke up sick. Once I got strength, I roamed to the large kitchen that was bigger than any restaurant. Several chefs were preparing lunch but they didn't say anything to me. Anybody is welcome to get what they want from the kitchen. Peering about, I found Rome cooking chicken on a burner stove.

"How are you feeling, Princess?" Rome asked me once he saw I opened the cabinet nearby his cooking stove.

"Ok. Just came for some tea," I said, getting a blueberry tea bag. Rome went around me and started to fill a teapot.

"You could have texted me, I would've made this for you," Rome told me and smiled.

"It gives me a break from the room," I shared and he nodded to understand.

"I can understand where you're coming from," Rome replied when he put the teapot on the burner

Since I was waiting for the water to boil, I asked him out of curiosity. "Why do you like to cook?"

Rome sent a smile my way, "When you're immortal, it's nice to find a hobby. I found cooking to be enjoyable. Ace enjoys his science fiction novels about aliens. Rose plays the violin. Glenn took a passion for being a vet and helping animals."

"Other than hunting, what's Kai's hobby?" I ask, interested.

Rome said, "During the night Kai likes to sit on the rooftop above his balcony. While you sleep he enjoys looking at the stars. It's the only thing in this world that hasn't changed for him. He takes that time to mellow and guard over you while you sleep."

I smiled full-heartedly. "I never knew that."

Rome stared deeply into my eyes and said truly. "Instead of fighting so much, perhaps it's time to get to know the real Kai and give him a chance like you gave Orlando."

I knew I was guilty of this but he kidnapped me, so it was a difficult predicament.

"Why did you obliterate Gabby's memories about us?" Just to purposely end this conversation, I asked him.

Rome chuckled and asked a question over mine, "What makes you say that, Princess?"

"Since I learned you have a gift to erase anyone's memory," I teasingly mocked him and he acted like his usual self.

"I had to Princess because Mr. Collin exchanged business deals with her father," Rome replied, having this sagacious expression when cooking his food.

"Have you ever used that gift on me?" I asked, only wondering and he glanced at me.

Rome chuckled, "No, I am forbidden to use it on you or anyone in the Coven. Unless I am told otherwise."

"That's interesting," I stated because I didn't know what else to ask.

But Rome chuckled as if he was remembering something.

"Why are you laughing?" I ask, perplexed.

Rome explained. "When I was learning how to master my gift. I accidentally obliterated my sister's mind. It was funny but then I had to learn how to give her back those memories. She forgot about everyone, including that she was a vampiress. She was pretty clueless for a while."

"Of course, you'd laugh about doing that," I giggled at the thought of his weirdness.

Rome shared with me. "We were fighting when I did it out of anger. Regardless, I had to figure out how to reverse it. It took me time before I set it right."

I laughed with him and then asked. "Do you have a second gift?"

"I do but I'm not going to reveal that to you yet," Rome indicated. "For safety reasons on my part."

"I guess I can understand that. At least you didn't eat Gabby," I said lightly and my water was done.

After he got my tea off the burner, Rome enlightened me. "I liked Gabby. Vampires select their prey carefully. If we like them then we won't eat them. Humans eat what they like but it's different for us. We feast on what we don't like and have no value for that individual."

"That's why you don't pick women raising children?" I said and remembered when he collected those phone numbers while Kai and I were buying food at the grocery store that day.

Rome smirked and poured me my tea. "That would be why, Princess."

Inwardly, my heart smiled but then I frown to realize Kai wasn't like Rome.

[Next Chapter is Ian's storyline.]