Strigoi Boyfriend: Briareos 3 (complete)

Female Reader x Male Monster

Thanks in part to her newest book of poetry, based on the images she drew of Briareos, Irini has been able to attract new members to your monster preservation society. The name was originally in jest, but now it’s becoming a little more official. A young scientist named Victor has come to learn under you, and a young author named Mary has run away from her home to be a protege under Irini. More and more are arriving each day as word about you spreads.

Briareos isn’t the only supernatural entity in the house any more. Brom, a werewolf, has reached out to Dr. Navaro. There’s also Elisa, a dullahan who was attracted to Irini’s poetry. The two of them have managed to live among mortals, but are eager to show themselves as they really are. You are also growing unmistakably pregnant, which is causing Briareos to obsess over you. “Once our baby is born, we will return to the Saliscouche Mountains, where he will be met by his kin.”

“It will be an infant. Do you think it will be safe to take it into the mountains so young?” You’re trying to walk about and take care of things, but Briareos has been following you like a lost puppy. “Sit down, I have business to attend to. Papers to write.” You sit down behind your desk and take up a quill. “No need to pace.”

“I cannot help it.” He walks back and forth in front of your desk. “I get protective during this time. All I want is to assure the safety of this child.”

You smile up at him. “And it will be safe. You’re overreacting.”

“The mountains are where this baby belongs. Strigoi children are born with a need for their homeland.” Briareos leans over the desk to look you in the eye. “Our baby will not stop crying until it touches the soil of the mountains.”

You give him a harsh look back. “You’re worried about the safety of the baby here, in my home, but you think we should scale a mountain with it?”

Briareos’ eyes narrow.

“We will discuss it later, my mate.” You continue your paperwork when you notice some mail stacked in the corner. You begin opening it while Briareos stands before the fireplace. One letter is postmarked several times, and the handwriting looks strangely familiar. It begins in a startling fashion. “My dearest cousin, I know it has been ages since we last spoke. In fact, you may recall the funeral that was held for me when we were both in our youth.”

You have to set the paper down a second from shock. “I see,” you whisper. “That’s fine.” You take a breath and pick up the letter again to read.

“This may be a bit strange, but after all this time I have found the courage to reach out to you again. I have received word of your family’s passing, and I want you to know you are not alone in this world. I will come to see you soon. Warm regards, Cousin Abraham.”

You set the paper down and furrow your brow.

“What is it?” Briareos asks.

“I’m not sure. Just a very odd letter.” You walk over to Briareos, placing your hand on his arm to feel a sense of balance. You squeeze gently, then rub your palm up and down his skin.

“Your cousin died years ago,” Briareos murmurs in the back of your mind. “How would he survive such a thing?”

“His body was never found - just his hand.” You look into his eyes and frown. “I don’t know if I should take this as a joke. Perhaps someone trying to take advantage of me.”

“I know what else you are thinking, my mate.” Briareos taps the middle of your forehead. “What if he is one of the undead?”

“That couldn’t...” Your voice catches in your throat and you take a deep breath. Briareos gently puts his hands on your shoulders. “It frightens me to think that, even though I have been working so hard to help creatures like that.”

Briareos gives you a stern look. “If he has been changed into a vampire, he will have a certain amount of bloodlust. He could be dangerous.”

There is a knock on your office door, and Irini lets herself in. “My lady,” she says quietly. “There is someone at the front door for you.”

“Then let them in,” you say.

Irini has a rather strange look on her face. “He won’t. I didn’t dare invite him in without your permission.”

“Stay here,” you tell Briareos. “Just in case.” You follow Irini to the front door. The door is left open and you can see someone standing there. He looks up at you as you approach, and a smile cuts across his youthful face. “I only just got your letter,” you say breathlessly.

Abraham is greatly changed. Everything about him has been bleached white - his skin, his hair, even his teeth. His eyes were always the most beautiful shade of green, yet now they are a startling shade of ruby red. “At least you got it, dear cousin.” Abraham replies.

You look him up and down, glad that Irini is standing by. “Dear cousin, I thought you were dead.”

“I am, and I am not.” A look of fear that crosses his face. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

“You’re a vampire, Abe,” you whisper.

He looks sternly at you. “I thought I could trust you. I thought that I would be safe once they were dead.”

“How do I know you won’t hurt me? My friends?” you ask. “I want to invite you in, Abe, but I must protect my home.”

“We both know you could kill me if you tried. Even in your condition,” he motions to you belly. “You always had skill I did not.”

“You have the skill now, I am sure.” You step aside. “Please, come in, Abe.”

Abe steps over the threshold and stands still before you. “Thank you. It’s been a while since I’ve been here.” He looks around curiously. By now others in the house have come out to see what is going on. “You have friends,” he remarks.

“You sound surprised.” You take his hand and walk with him.

Abraham arches his brows. “Seeing your pregnant is the real surprise. I do not see a ring either,” he remarks, lifting your hand.

“Because I do not need one.”

Abraham squeezes your hand. “Where are all the weapons? Grandfather used to insist there be one mounted every six feet along the wall.”

“I put them away. I do not hunt anymore.” You lead Abraham back to your office.

Abraham stops cold in his tracks when he sees Briareos. His eyes go wide and his lip curls, and his mouth splits open all the way to his ears. “You would not let me in?” he scoffs.

“This is my mate,” you reply coolly. “Abraham, this is Briareos. Briareos, this is my cousin, Abraham.”

Briareos growls at Abraham. Abraham stares at him, keeping his stance defensive. “You mated with a Strigoi. You’re mad!”

“You knew that.” You pat a chair for him to sit in. “Where have you been all this time, cousin? Tell me every detail.”

Abraham reluctantly takes his seat, glancing over at Briareos by the fire often. “I was kidnapped,” he says. “By vampires who held a grudge against grandfather. They tortured me.” His eyes grow distant. “There was one who took pity on me, and he changed me to save my life. He is my companion now.”

“Who is he?” you ask.

“A nobleman, very old,” he replies. “He hated grandfather more than anybody, I believe.”

You furrow your brow. “Then why save his grandson?”

Abraham shrugs. “What better revenge than to change one’s kin into something he hated? Not only that, but to earn his kin’s love?”

“You love this vampire?”

“Like a father. He cared for me more than my own father did,” he says spitefully. “He was the one who told me to reach out to you.”

“What for?”

Abraham glances back to Briareos. “He wants to meet you. He’s waiting outside.”

You stand from your desk, but Briareos rushes at Abraham. Abraham jumps up and creeps away along the wall like a spider.

“You vampires want nothing but to feed!”

“No!” Abraham hisses. “The Count has taught me a way to control the bloodlust.”

Briareos begins to levitate towards Abraham. “By feeding on everyone in sight!”

“Stop this! This is why I want a daughter.” You reach up to pull on Briareos’ ankle. “I will fetch one of the crossbows and speak to your Count outside.” You take one of the crossbows from the museum, then go outside with Dr. Navaro and Irini behind you. There is a grand carriage waiting, completely black and drawn by black oxen. You step up to the door just as it opens, and a man dressed all in red descends to stand before you.

“You must be the count,” you reply.

The count is exceptionally tall and thin, but his eyes radiate an energy that you can feel at the back of your mind. He is indeed old, and has a power to match his years. “Drakos,” he says as he bows. Long white hair spills like smoke around his shoulders. “Your cousin speaks very highly of you, fine lady.”

“He says you’re a father to him. That is why I am here.”

Count Drakos’ eyes focus on your belly, and you can feel his thoughts more than hear them. “Congratulations on your fruit.”

You place your hands over your belly. “Is that what you call it?”

His smile is wicked, but you can feel it is genuine. “I hated your grandfather, so it does me good knowing I outlived him.”

“I liked him,” you reply. “But I have done without the family business.”

“I have heard whisperings through the grapevine,” Count Drakos says with a bow of his head. “That also brought me great joy.”

“Then out with it. What do you want from me?”

He lifts a hand and removes a ring from his finger, then extends the ring to you in the center of his long palm. His fingers look like a spider’s legs, and you can almost see the bone through his skin. “I want to offer a partnership, in exchange for protection.”

You cautiously take the ring. It’s bright and old, with a massive ruby. Ringing the stone are pearls with runes carved into their faces. “Whose protection are we discussing?”

“Your family is not the first to profit off the death of my kind. They will not be the last. The death of your parents and grandfather will not end the slaughter. If anything, it only means others will fight to claim their place.”

“I can feel how powerful you are, Count. Do you really need me?”

“I am vulnerable,” he insists. “During the day, I am at my weakest, and I could be taken advantage of then. Your cousin, too. My other children as well. You know this.”

“You have mind control powers, do you not?”

Count Drakos sniffs. “I find them vulgar. After all this time alive, my lady, I have not stopped learning about myself, about my powers or my morals. I simply want to live like anybody does. My kind is dying out fast, and I am terrified for a future where we will be all gone. Not just the vampire, but all of us.”

You motion to the door. “Would you like to come in?”

Count Drakos bows before you. “It will be nicer to talk inside.”

You take him to the parlor, where you are soon joined by the others in the house. You set the ring on the table in the center of the room and lay the crossbow beside it. Abraham sits beside Count Drakos, while Irini and Dr. Navaro stand beside you. “We have been working for preservation, knowledge and understanding. Count Drakos proposes protection, for him and for others.” You look into his eyes and feel him thinking. He reaches over, placing his hand on Abraham’s arm.

“He predicts a mass extinction if the hunting is not quelled. And he also predicts it will only get worse in the coming years. It is up to us in this room to fight against it.” You look up to see Briareos step into the room. Count Drakos rises and turns to look back at him.

“I have already offered safe haven to the Strigoi of Saliscouche,” you say nervously. “Count Drakos, this is my mate...”

“Briareos,” Drakos murmurs. “I know him.”

Briareos is still in the doorway, and a murmur ripples through the room. You can hear him thinking wildly, but you are able to decipher his panic. “He’s your son,” you whisper out loud.

“I am,” Drakos says quietly. “I thought I felt something familiar, but it has been long enough that I convinced myself it was nothing.”

You approach Drakos and stand beside Briareos. You take hold of his hand and squeeze tight. “He is here asking for help.”

“I am… glad to see you, Father.” Drakos’ voice is strained. “It has been so long.”

For the longest time, he is silent; he glares up at Drakos while his thoughts are scattered and wild. His lip curls and he points to Drakos’ face. “You will come home with me,” Briareos snarls. “That is not a request.”

A faint smile appears on Drakos’ lips. “That is acceptable.”

Briareos joins the meeting, and you continue until it is agreed that you will combine your efforts with Drakos. He will finance your research, and bring more supernatural creatures seeking asylum into his home. Agreeing to stay until his new sibling is born, Drakos works along with you as you build up your plan to combat the growing number of hunters in the world. Briareos is hesitant at first, and both seem unsure how to act around one another. It’s tense between them, but they want each other’s company.

Eventually, the night comes when you go into labor. Dr. Navaro and Irini work together to help you, while Victor keeps getting in the way. Eventually, Drakos takes Victor out. The birth is long and excruciating. By the end, you’re delirious and come down with a fever. For the next few days you’re in a haze, and you’re not even sure if your baby has survived. You sway between a dreamlike state and unconsciousness, and eventually you come to a place where you can discern the two. You wake and stare around at the walls of the cellar. Everything is quiet except for the sound of a baby whimpering.

Briareos is by your side in an instant. He looks into your eyes. “Are you there?”

“I’m here,” you answer him.

He presses his forehead against yours, almost weeping.

“Where’s my baby?”

Briareos helps you to sit up, and guides a bundle to your arms. The baby inside is pure white, with gossamer curls scattered across the top of its head.

“I have been calling her Heraklea,” Biareos says softly.

“Her?” you whimper. You look down at your daughter, nearly spilling over with emotion, enough that you begin to feel dizzy. “I finally get to meet you, little one.”

“Wait, she’s not the only one.” He hands you another infant. “This is Semele.”

You take the other baby into your arms and stare back and forth between the two pearly creatures in awe. “This can’t be,” you gasp in alarm. “Two?”

“It almost killed you,” he confesses weakly. “Drakos has been giving you his blood to heal you.” Briareos sits beside you and holds you tightly. “Without him, you would be gone.”

You sniffle pitifully as you look at the two baby girls. “They’re so little.”

“They are strong though, just like you. I cannot wait to show them off back home in Saliscouche. Once you are ready.” Briareos kisses the top of your head. “We’ll bring them all back here, where we can grow and live again.”

You stare at the girls, trying to see who they will grow into. “Yes,” you whisper. “They will be safe here.”

Briareos sighs deeply. “Ask me again.”

“Ask what again?”

“You know.”

You smile softly. “Briareos,” you think, “do you like me?”

“My mate, I love you.”

It takes months for you to recover, and the girls can walk on their own by the time you travel back to the Saliscouche mountains. Briareos is with you as well as Drakos and Abraham, who assist with the girls. Meeting with the Strigoi is a joyous reunion, not just for Briareos, but for Drakos as well.

Back home, the Strigoi seem to settle in nicely. Drakos even invites some to join him back in his keep. You continue to work to strengthen the monster preservation society, and have even been working on a training regiment.

One evening, not long after the twins are a year old, you find yourself alone in your office, dozing in your chair as you wait for Briareos to return. The day had been long and filled with celebration, and now Briareos is trying to get the girls to go to sleep. His kiss wakes you, and he pulls you into his arms. “Come, my mate.”

“It’s been so long. I’m not sure I remember how.” You giggle as Briareos lays you before the fire and pulls up your skirts.

“I know you haven’t.” He licks your neck. “I can see it in your mind.”

You wrap your arms around him and kiss him hungrily. “Hurry, before anyone wakes up.” You kiss him again and whisper to him in your mind. “Do you like me?”

“I love you,” he answers.

“I love you too.” You push him down and climb on top of him. You stroke your hands down his chest and grin. “Now, where do we begin?”