Chapter Four

I stared blankly back at her feeling stupid.

 

“That means it’s coming out backwards.” She explained.

 

“Can you fix it?” I realized how uneducated I sounded as I said it. I wanted to dazzle her with my brilliance, not with my stupidity.

 

She sighed. “Maybe, but it’ll really hurt her and I have nothing for the pain, you’ll have to hold her. She’s moving along much quicker than I thought, and now we’re running out of time and I really need you to seal off the room.”

 

“Can we bring someone else back to help?”

 

“I already asked, no. We’ll just have to hurry.”

 

“Ok I’m ready.” I threw on a shirt as we came back out.

 

“Maggi,” She approached the patent gently. “I’m going to need you to stay calm and trust me ok?”

 

“That's what people say when they have bad news.” She said through gritted teeth. “I saw your face earlier. Something is wrong, tell me!"

 

She nodded sadly. “Your baby is breached Maggi, I’m going to have to rotate it.”

 

“Like hell you are!” She exclaimed making a move to sit up. “I’m out of here, and if the porcelain statue wants to stop me he’ll have to kill me!” I believed her, right up until she had a contraction that knocked her back onto the couch. Rebecca didn’t waste a second, talking her through a breathing technique.

 

“Listen Maggi, I’ve done this before, I can help you. It’s too late to get you to a doctor. You’re having the baby here, but I can’t help you if you don’t stay calm."

 

Maggi looked terrified but was clearly exhausted and not fighting her way out of this. 

 

“You’ve don’t this before?” She confirmed hopefully.

 

Rebecca took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I have. and I’m not going to lie to you, it’s going to hurt, but it’s the safest thing for both you and the baby.”

 

Maggi let out a frustrated sigh before nodding. “Fine."

 

It was the weirdest thing I'd ever seen. Poor Maggi was holding onto me for dear life. I think she would have broken my arm if I was a human. Finally, she loosened her grip and Rebecca stood looking satisfied. 

 

“You’re doing great Maggi! It’s almost time to push, just try to relax as much as you can. John, I need you to seal the door.”

 

Of all the things going on right now, I couldn't figure out why she was so concerned about the door. “Seal the door? Why do...”

 

“Germs. Just do it.” She cut me off sharply.

 

That made no sense, but anything to make her happy. I started blocking off the rather flimsy door with the stuff we had got from the store, it didn't quite cover all the way to the top though. Maggi had started to push and was screaming behind me.

 

“How’s it going back there?” Rebecca called out to me.

 

“I’m having trouble with the top but it’s mostly sealed.”

 

“I need it airtight John, make it work, even if it’s just temporary.” Her voice was steady and calm, but demanding. She was going to be a great Luna when I got her out of here. 

 

I was determined. I rummaged through a desk drawer and found some tape and put it to good use. It would never hold, but by the sounds of it, Maggi was almost done. I ran over to help but Rebecca stopped me.

 

“Is it done?”

 

“Yeah, it won't hold for very long but it’s sealed for now.”

  

“Good, go wash your hands and come back.”

 

I ran to the bathroom while Maggi screamed for me in the background, I guess she wanted to try and break my arm again. I came back with clean hands just as the sound of a baby crying broke into the room.

 

“You did it Maggi!” I smiled at her. “She’s absolutely beautiful.”

 

Maggi was crying, looking exhausted but happy. Rebecca looked back at my hodge-podge job of sealing the door and looked worried once again. We quickly cut the umbilical cord and Rebecca had me clean up the baby as she delivered the placenta. It came a lot quicker than the baby did. In no time Maggi was done and holding her beautiful new baby girl. I watched as Maggi bonded with her little baby, smiling. I couldn't wait to have pups of my own with Rebecca, I turned to look at her to notice she was frantically cleaning up as if her life depended on it.

 

“Rebecca, what's wro...”

 

“Quick hand me that bag!”

 

I handed it to her as she stuffed the placenta inside.

  

“Of course, this stupid building doesn't have a window where I need it.” She muttered.

 

“A window?” I asked confused. "We can just open the doo...”

 

“WE WILL NOT OPEN THAT DOOR!” She roared as she rummaged through the shopping baskets looking for something.

  

“Rebecca, what do you need, I can...”

 

Her head snapped to the door as the sound of tape peeling reached our ears.

  

“Shit.”

  

“It’s still mostly covered.” I tried to comfort her.

 

“It doesn't matter now, quick give me the bag with the Placenta in it.”

 

No sooner had I handed it to her did the door burst open on its hinges as one of the bank robbers ran in, his eyes glowing red.

Vampire.

 

Instinct kicked in and I readied myself for attack.

  

“Julius stop!” Rebecca ordered while holding out her hand. 

 

I stood there in shock. She knew! She knew the whole time and had been trying to keep the smell of blood from wafting down the halls to him. I couldn't believe I messed up sealing the door. Growling I stood between him and the girls letting my canines grow out. He wasn’t getting anywhere near them.

 

“John it's fine, he won't hurt Maggi, he just wants this.” She stepped out from behind me holding the placenta bag but I pushed her back. Julius didn't like that and started coming towards us again.

  

“STOP!” She yelled looking him dead in the eye. "You will not.” He listened to her order but was clearly itching to attack. How was she commanding a vampire? What was she? And how was she staying so calm? She seemed completely unfazed to learn what I was.

 

“John, If you won't let me go, you’ll have to go give this to him.” Her tone softened as she spoke to me. “He’s not going to attack, he just wants the blood, that's all. Him eating the placenta isn’t going to hurt anyone."

 

She handed me the bag. Of course, it was basically a big bag of blood. I would have rather torn the vampire to shreds but I listened to Rebecca instead. Inching forward, I growled every time Julius tried to come close too quickly. Finally, he snatched the bag from my hands and immediately dove into it. Disgusting. Just then the leader came running in. He took a quick look at Julius and then at Rebecca.

 

“It’s just the placenta Ivan, not the baby, everyone is ok.” She explained peacefully. 

 

He nodded, then paused and looked at me nostrils flaring. I could smell him now, as he no doubt could now smell me without the wall of perfume I had earlier. His eyes darted between Rebecca and me a couple of times before looking at Maggi and her baby for a few moments. Then he ordered Julius to follow him out and us to stay in the room before he stormed out.

 

“You knew?!” I turned to her. “You’re working with vampires?!”

 

“Yes, I knew! You’re lucky that perfume was covering you earlier or they would have taken and killed you on sight.” She huffed. “Still wish I had a window, you’ve got to get out of here.”

 

“And leave you with those leeches?! Fat chance!” I took some deep breaths trying unsuccessfully to calm down. “What about Maggi, she..” I turned to look at her to notice her eyes were glazed over.

 

“She’s fine John, Ivan put her in a trance of sorts. As far as she’s concerned she didn't see anything and will snap out of it in a bit.”

 

 I didn’t know if I was angry or if I was just in shock. Either way, my blood was pulsing through my body alarmingly fast.

 

“How can you work with those blood sucking...”

  

“John, stop. I’m well aware of the rivalry between your kinds, but do not speak of things you do not know.” She spoke cooly and calmly, but there was something very threatening about her tone. “And I assure you, I’ve gotten along with them just fine without a big bad wolf to protect me, I’ll be just as fine when you leave. You need to leave.”

 

My heart hurt when she said she didn’t need me, that she wanted me to leave. It was too late though. One, I would never leave her, and two, Ivan came back through the door. 

 

“It’s time to go, There’s an ambulance coming for the woman.” He looked straight at me. “And you’re coming with us.”

  

“Ivan, what are you…” 

 

“He doesn’t mind. Do you...John was it?”

 

Walking into a pack of vampires as a lone wolf was suicide. On the other hand, if she left with them I may never see her again.

 

“I’d be honored.” I said through gritted teeth. Rebeca looked a little shocked at my response but didn’t say anything. Ivan pulled out a pair of silver cuffs from behind his back.

 

“You understand, just a formality of course.”

  

What choice did I have? I reached out my hands with my wrists together while he came forward and cuffed me.

 

“Ivan, this is ridiculous, I didn’t know he was a werewolf, I’m sorry, just let him go.” Her steady voice was starting to waver for the first time. She grabbed his arm and looked into his eyes pleadingly. 

 

“We’re leaving now Rebecca, come along now.”

 

She looked at me apologetically before shooting Ivan another glare and stomped the room. I followed them out to the main area. Zander saw me in cuffs and started to get up but I subtly shook my head at him. Being outnumbered by humans with guns was one thing, a crew of vampires was a whole other. We walked out to a van waiting for us. After they loaded up the money we drove off into the rain.