Page 76 of Risking Immortality

Three weeks after our voyage abroad, my father calls me to set up a meeting with the doctor. Both Erin and I have made a valiant effort at putting the doctor’s tests to the back of our minds. We’ve almost resigned ourselves to waiting for both our birthdays to roll around before getting any concrete answers.

“You look delicious,” Erin purrs in my ear as we exit the car and begin walking to my parents’ front door.

“You don’t look too shabby yourself,” I grin wolfishly. I will be stripping her naked the second we have an iota of privacy. I’ve already noticed my siblings have arrived in force. Their cars are lined up like soldiers outside my parents’ home.

Mother asked us to dress up for the evening, which in all honesty I could have done without. If Dr. Mendhi has no news, or worse bad news, the last thing I want to do is suffer through a dinner party. But as you are aware, there is no refusing Victoria Loch.

Classical music echoes through the house. I can hear my family chatting and laughing. A part of me wants to rip into them for acting so casually. For me and Erin, tonight is stress and anxiety dressed up in dinner jackets and ball gowns.

“Ah, there you are. My, my, Erin, you look beautiful.” I want to scoff and say, “Of course she does, she always looks beautiful,” but I don’t. Erin accepts the compliment from my mother as well as a tight hug. We make the rounds and hug each member of the family. It really is a dinner party, considering my sisters- and brothers-in-law are also in attendance. I guess my nieces and nephews are watching a film or playing somewhere.

“Mother,” I say a little testily. “Did we really have to make tonight such a big deal?” I ask in a low voice.

“Yes, because it’s not just about you, Amelia,” she says. I look at her, trying to gauge what the real reason is for the Loch gathering.

My father breaks the chatter with a few sharp raps on his champagne flute. “Settle down, you rowdy lot,” he chuckles. “Thank you for being here. It’s always lovely to have all my children in the house.” He gestures for Mother to join him. “Your mother and I have an announcement.”

I watch my mother subtly place her hand on her stomach, and then I know. My face breaks out in a wide smile. I catch her eye and she winks. “What are you smiling at?” Lucille barks. Her pissy attitude makes me smile more. I thoroughly enjoy being in the know when my irritating sister isn’t.

“If you shut up, you’ll find out,” I snap.

“Dear Lord, I can’t believe we’re going to do this all over again,” my father half chuckles, half huffs.

“What does that mean?” Lucille bites. Wow, she’s in a mood this evening.

“It means we’re pregnant,” my mother replies. Her eyes are shining, and I can honestly say she is glowing with happiness. I peek to the side and almost choke on my laughter when I see Erin’s face.

The rest of my siblings have rushed over to my parents, whereas I hang back with Erin, who still hasn’t moved. “Are you okay?” I chuckle. Her rapid blinking informs me she’s still processing.

“But… but she’s over two hundred,” Erin finally whispers in awe.

“Yup, and still very fertile, by all accounts.”

“So… vampires can just keep churning out little vampires?” This makes me laugh out loud.

“Well, we’re not vampire-making machines, but in a sense, yes. We can continue reproducing. Our aging stops, remember? For Mother and Father, this little one will be no different from when they had Laurence. Mom won’t feel any older, nor will my father.”

“I just… I mean… wow.”

“Does that scare you?”

“What, having a baby when I’m well into my second century? Um, yeah,” she giggles.

It’s like a rain cloud descends on us both when we realize simultaneously that this might not be our future. I grab her hand and bring it to my lips. Pressing a kiss on her knuckles, I try to convey confidence while channeling my love. “Come on, let’s go congratulate them.”

We spend several minutes hugging and kissing my parents. I’m thrilled for them both. Dr. Mendhi’s appearance at the door interrupts our celebration. Sucking in a lungful of air, I excuse Erin and myself to find out the test results away from my family. I want them to have a little longer toasting the new baby rather than dealing with this.

“Drink?” I ask the doctor as we settle into my father’s study. He nods and I pour all three of us a healthy glass of bourbon.

Erin and I sit on the couch opposite Dr. Mendhi, who is sitting in my father’s wingback chair.

“It’s good news,” he says. I rein in my excitement. I’ve learned not to read too much into people’s expressions. Good news doesn’t mean we have definitive answers. It could just mean I’m not about to turn into a bloodthirsty monster anytime soon. Instead of answering, I nod for him to continue. “First: Barty is a fine specimen of a vampire. All his tests came back clear. He’s had no adverse reaction to mating with a human. Normal on all fronts. Second: Anya’s blood work was fascinating.” I find myself shifting closer to the edge of the couch.

“In what way?” Erin asks.

“Anya’s blood is a mix between vampire and human.”

“How?” I blurt.

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