Strigoi Boyfriend: Briareos 3 (rough draft)

Thanks in part to her newest book of poetry, based on the images she had drawn of Briareos, Irini had been able to attract new members to your little monster preservation society. A joke name in the beginning, but now it was becoming a little more official. A young scientist named Victor had come in order to study and learn under you. Another young author named Mary ran away from home to be a protege under Irini. More and more were arriving each day as word about you spread.

Briareos wasn’t the only supernatural entity in the house anymore either. There now was Brom, a werewolf who had reached out to Dr. Navaro. There was also Elisa, a dullahan who had been attracted to Irini’s poetry. The two of them had managed to live among mortals, but were now eager to show themselves as they really were.

You were also growing unmistakably pregnant, which was causing Briareos to into a sort of crazed and over protective nesting period. “Once our baby is born, we will return to the Saliscouche Mountains where he will be met by his kin.”

“They will be a baby, do you think it will be safe to take them 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. Things to sign. 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 always get protective during this time. All I want is to assure the safety of this child.”

You smile up at him. “And they will be safe, you’re overreacting.”

“The mountains are where this baby belongs. Strigoi children are born strong and 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 mountains with them?”

Briareos eyes narrow.

“We will discuss it later, my mate.” You continue your paperwork when you notice some mail stacked to the corner. You begin opening it while Briareos stands before the fireplace. One letter is postmarked several times and the handwriting looks strangely familiar.

The letter 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. “Sure,” you whisper. “That’s fine.” You take a breath and pick up the letter again to read.

“This may be shocking and a bit strange, but after all this time, I have found the courage to reach out to you again. I have heard word of your family’s passing, and I wanted 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 again and furrow your brow.

“What is it?” Strigoi asks.

“Not sure.” You stand up from behind the desk. “Just a very odd letter.” You walk over to Briareos, placing your hand on his arm to feel a sense of balance. You squeeze his arm gently then rub your palm up and down.

“Your cousin died years ago,” Briareos whispers 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 a joke. Perhaps as someone trying to take advantage of me and try to steal a small fortune for their gain.”

“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’s couldn’t-” Your voice catches in the back of your throat and you take a deep breath. Briareos gently lays his hands around 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 upon 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 doors. The door is left open and you can see someone is standing there. They look up at you as you approach and a smile cuts across their youthful face. It has not changed in all this time. Abraham still looks like a teenaged boy.

“I only just got your letter,” you say breathlessly.

Abraham both looks the same yet has changed greatly. Everything about him has been bleached white, his skin, his hair, even his teeth looked brighter. His eyes were always the most beautiful shade of green yet now they were a startling shade of ruby red.

“At least you got it, dear cousin.” Abraham replies.

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

“I am, and I am not.” There is a look of fear that crosses his brow. “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,” he hisses. “I thought that I would be safe once they were dead.”

“How do I know you won’t hurt me? Hurt 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 the skill I did not.”

“You have the skill now, I am sure.” You step aside in the doorway. “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 says, lifting up your hand.

“Because I do not need one.”

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

“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, showing how his mouth splits all the way to his ears. “You would not let me in?” He scoffs.

“This is my mate,” you reply cooly. “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 the seat, glancing over at Briareos by the fire often. “I was kidnapped,” he says. “Vampires who held a grudge against grandfather took me, tortured me.” his eyes look distant. “There was one who took pity on me and he changed me to save my life. I’ve been with him.”

“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 bigger way to get back at someone than to change their own family into something they hated? Not only that, have that person love them.”

“You love this vampire?”

“Like a father. He took care of 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 up from your desk but Briareos rushes upon Abraham. Abraham jumps up and crawls up the wall backwards to get away from him.

“You vampires want nothing but to feed!”

“Not all of us!” Abraham hisses. “The count has taught me there is a way to control the bloodlust.”

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

“Boys! Stop fighting! This is why I want a girl.” You stand up from your desk and reach up to pull on Briareos’ ankle. “I will go fetch one of the crossbows and speak to your count outside.”

You go and take one of the crossbows from the museum then go outside with Dr. Navaro and Irini behind you. There is a grand carriage waiting outside, completely black and being pulled by black oxen.

You step up to the door just as it opens and a man wearing all red comes down to stand before you.

“You must be the count,” you reply.

The count is exceptionally tall and thin, he looks almost like you could snap him like a twig. His eyes though 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 you can 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 such 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. He then extends the ring to you in the center of his long palm. His fingers look like 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 old with a massive ruby in the center. Around the stone there are pearls with runes carved into their faces. “Whose protection are we discussing here?”

“Your family is not the first to profit off the death of my kind. They will not be the last either. The death of your parents and awful grandfather will not end the slaughter. If anything, it only means it will become worse as others fight to take 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 it vulgar. After all this time alive, my lady, I have not stopped learning about myself, about my powers, about 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 inside, going 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 on preservation here, knowledge and understanding. Count Drakos proposes protection, for him, and for others.” You look into his eyes, feeling 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 at the same time 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 grows through the room. You can hear him thinking fast and wild, 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 so long 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 chokes. “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, which you continue until it is agreed you will combine your forces with Drakos, who will help fund research, as well as help bring more of the supernatural 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 sometimes between them, but both of them want to be there.

Eventually, the night comes where 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, you’re not even sure if your baby made it.

You sway between a dreamlike state and unconsciousness, eventually, you come to a place where you can discern the two. You wake and stare around at the underground lair. Everything is quiet except for the sound of a baby whimpering.

Briareos is by your side in an instant. He looks into your eyes asking. “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 he brings a bundle to your arms. The baby inside is pure white with gossamer curls scattered across the top of their head.

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

“Her?” You whimper. You look down at her, nearly spilling over with emotion, but it begins to make you feel dizzy. “I finally get to meet you, little one.”

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

You take the other baby into your arms and you stare back and forth between the two pearl like 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 tight. “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, where we can 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 in that time the girls grow, and can even walk by the time you travel back to the Saliscouche mountains. This time you are not alone. Briareos is with you as well as Drakos and Abraham, who assist with the girls. Once you meet back with the Strigoi, it 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 turned one, you find yourself alone in your office. You have fallen asleep in your chair waiting for Briareos to return. The day had been long and filled with celebration and now Briareos was 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?”