Darkness Chapter 53: The Ball

**Nelly**

When I awoke, I hastily adorned myself with a facade of cheerfulness. The relentless hunger gnawed at my insides, a result of the morning sickness from this pregnancy. No longer able to sustain myself on human blood, I was forced to resort to feeding on animals. The process was more demanding and required me to feed more frequently, leaving me drained and disheartened. This method of hunting was not something I relished.

As I made my way towards the forest's edge, Quinn fell into step beside me. "Don't do anything reckless," he cautioned.

Perplexed, I inquired, "What do you mean?"

"He cares for you deeply. He's just afraid of the consequences. He loves you and is worried for the baby," Quinn explained.

I shook my head in frustration. "I refuse to engage in this discussion with you. I must hunt. Please excuse me."

“I'll go with you,” he suggests.

“I don't need a babysitter.”

Quinn sighs. “Your baby only wants animal blood?”

“Yeah.”

“You're weaker than usual, right?”

“Yeah.”

He walks up to me and leans down. “Don't make me regret this,” he says as he moves his hair to the side.

“What the hell, Quinn? I can't feed from you!”

“Why?” he asks.

“It would be like if you bit me. Your virus could affect me.”

Quinn shrugs, “Well, not necessarily.”

"I refuse to take that risk," I declare firmly. The thought lingers in my mind that my parents may have conducted experiments on me. "But I appreciate your concern."

With a heavy heart, I leave him behind and disappear into the depths of the forest. I am acutely aware of the wolves watching me, undoubtedly at Vincent's behest. After satisfying my hunger, I stumbled upon a serene pond where geese gracefully glide across the water. The sounds of smaller creatures scurrying about fill the air, creating a sense of tranquility. Here, there is no conflict, no battles. I begin to understand why Vincent chose this place for us.

Hours pass as I sit in contemplation, surrounded by nature's beauty. Eventually, I rise and make my way back to the chateau. Upon entering our room, I find Vincent emerging from the shower. "Hello," I greet him, but he barely acknowledges me, confirming my worst fears. It becomes clear to me that I am nothing more than a mere replacement in his eyes.

After luxuriating in a refreshing shower, I meticulously prepare myself for the evening ahead. The seamstress truly outdid herself with the dress she crafted for me. Adorned in a long, elegant red gown, I can't help but feel a bit self-conscious about my appearance. Despite my reservations, Vincent's kind words reassure me as he admires my attire and calls me beautiful.

As we make our way to the car, I can't shake the feeling that this night will be a challenging one. Arriving at the Count's castle, I am taken aback by its grandeur. Surrounded by friends Alec, Quinn, and Beau, we attract curious glances from the other guests. I cling to Vincent's arm, feeling the weight of their stares.

Upon meeting the Count, Stephen, his warm greeting to Vincent reveals a history between them. Vincent's response hints at a past filled with challenges and danger. As Stephen expresses regret for not being able to assist Vincent in the past, Vincent acknowledges the necessity of protecting those closest to him.

In a moment of formality, Vincent introduces me as his wife, Nelly, to the Count. The air is thick with tension and unspoken truths as we navigate the social intricacies of the evening. I find myself missing fighting because formal situations aren’t my thing.

Stephen extends his hand, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Well, I can see why you were hiding. She's absolutely stunning and pregnant!"

The word "pregnant" hung in the air, sending a chill down my spine. Maybe I should go back to hating most vampires. "Hello. So I can't pass this off as just being fat?" I attempted to lighten the mood with a joke.

Stephen took hold of Vincent, leading us to a private room where he fixed me with a piercing stare. "How the hell? She can't be..." Stephen's voice faltered.

"I am," I replied nonchalantly. The constant shock and disbelief from others upon learning of my pregnancy was beginning to wear on me, or perhaps my patience was simply wearing thin.

Vincent interjected, revealing, "You know, I was captured and experimented on. We believe that one of the drugs they used may have made this possible."

"Okay, but you, I understand. How is she possible? She shouldn't be able to conceive," Stephen questioned, his voice filled with astonishment and confusion.

"I changed her. She was dying, and I fed her my blood. It's the only thing we can think of," Vincent explains urgently. The gravity of the situation weighs heavily on his words. But as I reflect on my own experiences, I can't help but wonder if I, too, was subjected to experimentation. Perhaps that's why I didn't transform into a wolf after that vicious attack. It's a perplexing mystery, one that may be tied to a forgotten prophecy. It could be why this baby doesn't crave human blood.

Quinn nods solemnly, adding, "My elders have confirmed it. She's pregnant with a girl."

Stephen interjects with concern, shaking his head. "Vincent, you shouldn't have brought her here. They're going to panic when they see her. You both need to leave. Nelly, please understand, it's not personal. As long as you're here, you're under my protection. I can't bear to see harm come to you or your child. Vincent is a dear friend, and I can't bear the thought of him suffering another loss."

Vincent's expression darkens as he reveals, "We already have a problem. Do you remember Peter?" 

"Yeah. Big ego and no clue how to lead," Stephen retorted.

"Yep. He's already kidnapped her once. He wants to make me pay for Bianca," Vincent revealed.

"Okay, call me tomorrow. We will discuss further," Stephen said.

We nodded in agreement. As we were escorted out through a side entrance and taken home, Vincent did not join me in bed that night. In that moment, I made a decision - I cannot continue like this. I refuse to be a replacement for the woman he lost. He must either love me for who I am, or not at all.

I hastily grab a bag and carefully select the clothes I will need for my journey. With determination in my heart, I make my way to the safe and withdraw some cash. As I walk across the hall to what was to become the nursery, I gather some essentials to sustain me until I can establish myself in a new place.

My destination is Italy. I have a trusted friend there who I know will protect me. I steal a glance back at our room, where memories of love and happiness linger. With a heavy heart, I leave a note for Vincent, the man I adore, and walk away from the life we once shared.

I leave behind my wedding ring, a symbol of our union, and silently pray that Vincent will find love again. I hope that he will find someone who can heal his wounds and help him move on from his past, from Bianca.

"I love you, Vincent," I whisper softly, as I take my first steps towards a new beginning.