Planet Dragos: A Novella of the Elder Races by Thea Harrison

Author:Thea Harrison [Harrison, Thea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Teddy Harrison LLC
Published: 2018-05-13T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

The constant scrape scrape scrape of the arrow against the concrete was driving Pia bonkers, but she didn’t complain because it looked like Carling might actually be making some progress.

The Vampyre kept brushing bits of debris into a careful pile with one skeletal hand. It seemed she had some use for it, and as the sun set, she appeared to gain some strength and energy.

Pia breathed through the contractions and tried to time them as she watched Carling work. It was impossible to get any kind of accurate time without a watch, of course, but she counted up the rhythmic scrapes and did her best to estimate.

Maybe she was having Braxton–Hicks contractions. The past couple of days had certainly been stressful enough. She might not be going into real labor yet.

She held on to that hope until the baby gave a gigantic kick. Suddenly she had to go to the bathroom urgently, and she struggled to her feet to rush over to the bucket. Just as she squatted, a deluge of liquid gushed out.

Carling spun around, focusing on her with laser-like intensity. “Your water broke, didn’t it?” the Vampyre said. “I can smell blood.”

Near to tears, Pia nodded as she tried to readjust her clothes. She’d gotten lucky. Most of the liquid had ended up in the bucket, but she was still damp in places. “I guess I’ve been in labor for a couple of hours.”

As she straightened, the cave spun around her. Carling sprang to her side and grabbed her by the elbows.

Helping her to ease down to the ground again, Carling exclaimed, “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“There wasn’t anything anybody could do.” Pia curled on her side. “I kept hoping they were Braxton–Hicks.” She had grown a little easier around the Vampyre’s feral red gaze, but not by much.

Carling said, “Maybe if I can get someone’s attention, they’ll give us some supplies. Towels, fresh water. Hot water if we can talk them into it.”

As Carling started to stand, Pia lunged upward to grab her arm. “No, don’t! The last time I came to Caerlovena’s attention, she shot at me. The only reason the baby and I are still alive is because we got lucky. What if you hadn’t been able to catch the arrow in time? What if next time she brings a gun and empties a clip at us?”

Carling looked around the wretched cave. Aside from a little water left in the plastic jug, they had nothing. Watching the Vampyre grind her teeth was a macabre experience.

“Fine,” she said. “I understand. I’m going to make some cloth strips. We’ll need something to swaddle the baby with, and hopefully we’ll have enough to give you a pad afterward.”

“Neither one of us is wearing shorts—yet. And I’ve got a bra. I can lose my top without having to go bare naked.” Pia pushed herself upright again and pulled off her tunic.

“I don’t need my top either, and I don’t have a modern sense of modesty. I don’t have any problem going nude if the situation warrants it.

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