Scene One: The Soak
A slow breath dragged out of him.
He sank deeper into the water, muscles loose, the silence hugging him like an old friend.
"Damn," he muttered, voice rough with wear. "This feels good."
He yawned—slow and deep. His arms stretched out along the edge of the stone pool, muscles pulling tight, fingers flexing. His spine arched slightly, ribs expanding, chasing the last bit of tension from his body.
His eyes watered just a little at the corners. He blinked, wiped them away with the back of his hand, lazy.
"Damn," he said again, softer. "I feel so fuckin' tired, man."
With his eyes half-shut, he added, "Just need to soak here for a few more minutes." He raised his hands, resting them back on the edge of the stone. He exhaled.
Water rippled around him, but his body didn't move.
---
Scene Two: Mama & her Babies
The scene shifted.
The room was quiet, touched by soft morning light. On a wide bed layered with simple blankets, Elliana sat with her legs folded beneath her, watching her babies wriggle beside her.
Elenya kicked softly at the sheets, her tiny feet flailing in the air. Lucifer made a curious sound, reaching up with a little fist.
Elliana smiled gently, adjusting a loose swaddle and brushing a strand of hair from her face. The bed creaked quietly under their small movements.
"Elenya," she said softly. "That's the third time. Why do you keep kicking the blanket off?"
She sighed, overly dramatic, but the smile on her face gave her away.
"You have to stay covered, baby. Or are you trying to start a rebellion?"
Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
"My little stars—always wriggling, never resting."
Leaning in close, she gently poked their noses one by one.
"Boop. Boop. Boop. Who gave you permission to be this cute, hmm? I demand answers!"
Elenya broke into giggles, kicking her feet even harder.
Lucifer just looked on, wide-eyed.
"Careful, Elenya, if you laugh any harder, you're gonna roll off the bed and bounce into the next room," she teased, then glanced at Lucifer.
"Well, at least someone thinks Mama's funny," she said with a grin.
She leaned toward him. "What about you, little lord? No smile for Mommy? Hmph."
She sighed again, more play than exhaustion, her voice soft.
"You two are gonna be the end of me. But what a sweet end it'll be."
Suddenly, Elenya twisted her tiny body and rolled onto her belly, her giggles fading into quiet curiosity. Her little hands pressed into the blanket as she lifted her head—unsteady, but determined.
Her wide, bright eyes drifted toward the door.
Elliana followed her gaze, her smile fading into something thoughtful. She tilted her head slightly, sensing it too—the faint shift in the air. Quiet footsteps just beyond the hall.
"Hmm… guess you feel it too," she murmured, brushing a hand over Elenya's soft curls.
"Your big brother is coming."
---
Scene Three: Lift Off
Fwip!
Elenya's tiny, bat-like wings suddenly unfurled from her back with a soft flutter—like shadows catching the light.
Elliana's eyes widened. "Huh?"
Just as the door creaked open, Elenya let out a squeal of pure delight—and took off.
Flapping wildly, wobbling, she lifted a few inches off the bed.
Elliana froze—only for a second.
"Ele!" she shouted, arms outstretched to catch her. But the baby darted away, wings flapping fast, bolting toward the open doorway like a puffed-up shadow.
The door opened fully.
Standing there was Draven. His hand was still on the doorknob when he froze.
"Huh?"
A blur of motion—tiny wings fluttering, a blanket trailing like a cape—Elenya shot across the room like a tiny missile of chaos and joy.
"Ele—whoa!"
In a flash, his arms moved on instinct. He caught her mid-air, just before she slammed into his chest.
Elliana let out a breath of relief from the bed.
Elenya's tiny hands gripped his shirt like claws, her face lighting up with pure joy as she looked up at him.
"Ele!" he laughed, wide-eyed. "You flying now?"
His heart pounded.
What the hell?
That scared the shit outta me.
Lucky I reacted in time.
I mean, I know vampires can fly, but damn—she ain't even a month old yet.
And newborns ain't supposed to be this strong… right?
She's gettin' stronger every day.
Sharper.
Is this normal for a vampire baby?
She squealed again, burying her face against his chest, her wings twitching with excitement as her little body squirmed in his hold.
Looking down at her with a half-smile, he said, "Yeah… I'm happy to see you too, Ele. But for real—don't play like that again. That was dangerous. You could've gotten hurt."
From the bed, Elliana called out with a smile, "Guess she's been secretly training during nap time."
A pause. "You should've seen her take off."
Draven looked down at Elenya—those wide crimson eyes gleaming like polished glass.
"You really are a little monster, you know that?" he muttered, still catching his breath.
She blinked up at him, eyes unblinking, smile beaming.
Still—he couldn't help it.
He pulled her in close, holding her tight against his face.
"Come here."
Then he leaned in and gently bit her chubby cheek.
"This is what you get for flying at me like a damn bat."
Elenya giggled in response—already trying to flap her wings again.