Pregnancy for Nummies, chapter 2

As I flick through the channels on the television, my mind wonders to what would happen if I watched the wounded man sleep? If he is sleeping at all.1

I run my fingers through my hair and stand up, cleaning up the horrible mess that this guy left in my lounge, the blood on the couch and floor, the towel, the bowl, the spare bandages, and the first aid kit.2

I just know that this is going to be a tough weekend for me, everything doesn't seem so beautiful now, and it seems bloody and rather intolerable. The darkness of the house seems gloomy; the way the wind blows outside is eerie.3

Walking into the bathroom the first thing that hits me is the ice coldness of the tiles on my bare feet, it makes me grit my teeth. I hate it when it is so cold in here; it makes me want to avoid the bathroom all together.4

"House, make the tiles warm." My voice is rough even to my own ears, I must be really pissed off and I don't even know it, fascinating.5

The tiles warm up and the room feels less cold, it makes all the muscles I never knew were tense relax.6

Turning the shower makes me wince, the sharp sound of the rushing water hitting the tiles, it's rather loud and uncomfortable on me, and I think everything is going to piss me off tonight... Poor Jarrah.7

I get the shower the right temperature and undress, let's just hope that the wounded man doesn't spy on me with the television in the spare room, it is rather unnerving to know that is possible.8

Feeling the water rushing down my aching skin, soothing my sore muscles, I sink to the warm tiles and just sit there, enjoying something, maybe not everything will piss me off.9

Jarrah trots in and climbs into the shower with me, lying beside me, wetting his fur.10

"You know you can't sleep with me now?” I smile at him and he rests his chin in his leg, looking at me with his puppy dog eyes.11

"If you don't dry off, then it's a definite no." I tell my dog and wash my hair, oh well; he needed a wash any way.12

"Ronald? Ronald?” I hear my mother’s voice and I roll my eyes, standing up.13

I turn the shower off and wrap a towel around my waist, my shower cut short because of my little mother’s random visit of the day.14

Walking into the lounge room, I see my mother looking at the bloody couch.15

"Yeah?" I ask and she frowns at me, she bought that couch for me and she is a major neat freak.16

"What happened to the couch?" The look on her face is priceless.17

"Oh, one of my friends was hurt, he crashed on my couch." I answer her and she purses her lips, motherly-ness clashes with cleanliness for a change.18

"Where is he?" She asks tightly and I sit on the other couch, looking up at her.19

"He's sleeping in one of the spare bedrooms, why are you here Mum?" I sigh and she smiles, handing me a parcel thingy.20

"Your Uncle John sent this to you from where ever he is in the world." She says in a mock mysterious voice and I laugh, my uncle travels the world a lot.21

"Alright, be careful, there are some weirdos out there." She says and leaves with a flick of her long coat.22

I look at the small parcel with cautious eyes; my uncle sends the strangest gifts I have ever seen. One year he sent me a goblet thing with cut jewels and apparently it was a sacrificial goblet, you know where they put the blood. The next year he sent me an elaborate box that I can't open, so it lives under my bed collecting dust.23

Opening the parcel carefully, I think this is the most normal gift he has ever sent me, it's a thick silver like chain, it moves smoothly though, like silk, with an old key hanging from it. The key is in a cross shape with a pentagram at the top of it. It makes me wonder if this is the key to open the box he sent me last year.24

I put the necklace on and it feels nice on my skin, smooth and warm, it makes me smile.25

"House, please put what the man is doing in the bedroom on the television." I mumble, suddenly curious to see if he man is asleep.26

The bedroom comes up on the screen, the man is sitting against the head board of the bed, his knees held to his chest and his body is racked with sobs, his face buried into the tops of his knees.27

I always catch this man in vulnerable situations, I bet that he'd be rightly angry if I walked in there to comfort him, it's so tempting to go and do that.28

Who's betting that I will go in there? My thoughts are aching at me, punching at my sympathy buttons; I just want to hug him and try taking his pain away.29

I turn the television off and stand up, pacing back and forth in the hallway in front of the room he is in; I don't even know his name yet.30

What if he needs the hug? My mind made up, I knock on the bedroom door then cross my arms, waiting for a response.31

After a few seconds I get a rough answer to my knock and I walk in, my arms tighter across my chest.32

"What do you want?" He mumbles and I sit beside him, wrapping my arm over his shoulders, there is no need for words.33

He is so tense, like I am going to rape him or something, I don't blame him, and I am a stranger to him.34

"What are you doing?" He asks tightly and I pull his head against my chest, his breath catching in his throat.35

"You need a hug." I say simply and just sit there, waiting for him to relax; I don't care if he doesn't hug me back. 36

It takes him ten minutes to even begin relaxing, my hand running up and down his arm, even then it takes him half an hour to relax completely, I don't mind, he needs it.37

He wraps his arm across my stomach and falls asleep in my arms, it warms me to the core, for him to trust me so quickly and so sweetly.38

I slide down so we're lying down and wrap my arm over his, falling asleep too, I've never slept with any one before, it's rather easy.39

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When I wake we're in a completely different position, me in the vulnerable one, the man spooning me, his arm draped loosely over my waist.41

I lift his arm off of me and slide off the bed as quietly as I can, I don't want an earful of hate when he wakes up.42

Jarrah is waiting at the bedroom door, a guilty look on his face, he probably done a crap in my bedroom; it's my fault for forgetting to let him out.43

I open the back door for him and he trots out, his tail wagging excitedly.44

I walk into my bedroom and I laugh, he didn't do a crap in there, he just slept on my bed while he was wet. Ah well, at least I don't have to clean up a smelly piece of crap.45

Cleaning up my bed I get time to think, it was hard to think with that mans heated breath on the back of my neck. I want to help that guy, but it's hard with his attitude.46

I get the box out from under my bed and run my fingers over the elaborate carvings in the black stained wood.47

The key I got yesterday not surprisingly opens the box with ease; a huge waft of warm beautiful smelling air hits me in the face. It makes me feels nice, like I've slipped into a nice warm bath with the lights dimmed.48

In the box there are five things, a note, a candle, a box filled with different coloured vial’s, a black feather pen with pot of black ink, and a pretty stick with a pointy purple stone in the end of it.49

Picking up the note I get a feeling of dread, like something bad has happened, my uncle rarely writes anything but birthday cards.50

'If you are reading then congratulations, you've made it to your twenty first birthday. Happy birthday Renaldo.' Is the first paragraph, it makes me smile, my uncle always calls me Renaldo, says it makes me more suave.51

'I have good news and great news, well; I think it really depends on how you take things. If you're anything like me, then you will love both of the things I am about to tell you. If you're like you're father, I take great pride in causing your displeasure.' I laugh at the note, he is a strange character my uncle, his brother, my father, doesn't like my uncles craziness, I enjoy it.52

'You are now in complete control of the house with the thirteen rooms meaning that all sorts of creatures will be coming to visit. Isn't that wonderful? The house holds things that not even I know all of them, it kept surprising me every day I lived there. In this box holds all of the things you will need for the creatures, whether they're cursed, or injured, or even dying.' that makes me cock my head to one side, this is getting interesting and turning into a fucked up fairy tale situation.53

'Note that there are thirteen vials in the box. Yes? They're all beautiful colours in them, aren't there? In the lid of the box is the name of each vile, take a look at that.' He says and I turn the lid upside down.54

The thirteen names on the back of the lid are:55

1. Haleine. (Breath)56

2. Coeur. (Heart)57

3. Feu. (Fire)58

4. Eau. (Water)59

5. Sang. (Blood)60

6. Membre. (Limb)61

7. Cerveau. (Brain)62

8. Muscle. (Obviously muscle)63

9. Danse. (Dance)64

10. Lutte. (Fight)65

11. Tristesse. (Sadness)66

12. Haine. (Hate)67

13. Désire. (Lust)68

'I am hoping you would remember all the French words I taught you, if not, then they mean...' I skip the meanings because I already know what they mean.69

'Now, the first one helps a person breathe again, that's the blue vile and you put a drop on the tip of their tongue. The second starts the heart again, that's the brownie-red one and you put a drop on their chest over their heart. The third sooths a burn, it is the bile green one and you rub that on a burn, just a drop of it too. The forth takes water out of the lungs, that's the baby blue one and you put a drop down the back of their throat. The fifth stops bleeding, just a drop in the wound and that is the blood red one. Got it all so far?' I sigh and rub my forehead, sitting on the bed, this is a bit rough.70

'The sixth attaches the limb back on, here is hoping that you don't need to use that one, that one is the clear vile and you put a drop on both the limb and the place where it belongs, then press them together. The seventh heals the brain, brings back memories, it is the grey one, just a drop in the nose. The eighth one goes with the sixth one, just a drop in the muscle if it's open, it also soothes strained muscles with a drop on the sore area, it's the orange one, and it’s the one that is mostly used. The ninth allows you to stop a dance curse, anything to do with the legs curse, that is the light violet one, just a drop on the legs and a tap of the wand. The tenth gives you the ability to fight and to stop a fight, which is the yellow one, just a drop on the back of a hand. The next two just stop hate and sadness, avoiding murder and depression, suicide, just a drop on the forehead; they're the black one, which is for twelfth one, and the lime green one is for the eleventh. The last one is a very special one, it breaks love spells and lust spells, it heightens natural lust and love, making it more, just a drop on an old fella, or on a woman’s who-ha, that is the aqua one.' I yawn and laugh at my uncles writing, he calls genitals the strangest names I have ever heard.71

'Alright, the last few items are simpler, the wand is used to cast spells, you know there are books in my old room, the key opens my room so you'll be able to get in. The candle you light it when things get dark, and you'll be able to see into the future with its flames but don't believe everything it says, I should have a few more in my room, I know how fast these candles burn down. If you run out just calls the number on the bottom of the candle, they're useful little things. The pen came with the large Book of Shadows in my room, you're welcome to go through it and start your own, the manufacturers number is on the back, he's an interesting character.' I lie down, there is three pages of the note done, two more to go.72

There is a knock at my bedroom door and I turn to look at the wonded man, his hair is flowing around him like some kind of wet dream, but the look on his face is dead serious.73

"Are you hungry?" I ask him and he shakes his head, walking to me.74

He crawls onto the bed and rests his head on my lower back, falling to sleep again.75

I shrug and go back to reading, I'm glad he feels safe enough with me to sleep on me, maybe it's safer than sleeping alone.76

'Now as I mentioned before, there will be many creatures coming and going, they will be no harm to you, this is a safe house. You have to understand a few of them, some have tempers, some will offer sex to show their grattitude for helping them, others will be forever in your debt, some will give you gifts, some magical, some worth a lot of money and some wont want to leave you. My books and my Book of Shadows will tell you about the creatures and how to deal with them, some like to keep speaking to a minimum and use your mind to communicate, others talk a lot, some are very touchy, others are lke Kings and Queens with the attitudes they have. Just be kind and everything will work like clock work.' I smile at my uncle, he pretty much just helped me out a lot.77

The last page is juts a list of things that my uncle knows the house can do.78

"What are you reading?" The man asks in his husky voice and I sigh heavily.79

"My uncles ramblings about this house and the things I got last year." I say and he looks over my shoulder.80

"Oh, those are pretty much compulsary in a safe house, it's for the keeper." He says and picks up the wand.81

"Want to learn something that you wont find in books?" He questions and I roll over to watch him, curious.82

"Bilower Iris." He whispers and the wand shines, then his eyes become a different colour, instead of green, they're blue.83

"Strike Iris." He says and his eyes go back to normal.84

"Why isn't it in book?" I question and he shrugs.85

"It's for assasins to hide their identity, so a rare few know about it." He answers and gives me the wand back, resting his head on my chest.86

"Would you like me to try my new toys out on your wounds?" I ask and he smiles at me.87

"If you can heal my neck up, that'd be good." He says and I carefully unwrap his throat from the gauze and bandage.88

I pick up the blood red vial and cock my head to one side, his wound is still seaping blood.89

"Just a drop in the wound." He mutters and I nod, carefully opening the vial, it's a huge vial.90

I make him tilt his head back and suddenly he's tense again, it is rather a vulnerable position to be in.91

I let a drop of the liquid fall into the wound and the response is immediate, the wound closes and he slowly relaxes.92

"There you go." I smile down at him and he pulls me down into a soft gentle tongue filled kiss, his hand in my hair. I am too in shock to respond in a good or a bad way, any way at all.93

He lets go of me and sighs softly, his hand slidding down to rest on his side.94

"Thankyou, I have nothing to give to you but myself, but if that is what needs to be done to fully thank you, then you're welcome to it." He whispers and I blush.95

"I think I'll just live with out that sort of thank you and say something Korny, like you being safe is my reward." I say and he smiles, closing his eyes.96

"The others have taken advantage of my weaknesses before, it's different to offer it and be declined, than not to offer it and have it taken from me." He says softly and I stair at him in horror.97

"Other safe house keepers have required that of you?" I ask, shocked.98

"Yes, it's why I decided to try this one for a change." He says and I hug him tightly, how dare they do this to him when he needed their help!99

"Is there some kind of organisation I can complain to about that?" I question and he laughs, shaking his head.100

"No, not at all, you five are the organisation, we go to you to complain and for help, you guys are able to do what ever you like to us and we're not allowed to fight back." He shrugs.101

"Fuck, that is so wrong. How your... You know?" I sigh, avoiding saying arse because it makes me feel disgusting for spying on his in the first place.102

"Sore as fuck, but I'm trying to forget about it." He grumbles and runs his fingers through his hair.103

"Would you like me to see if I can heal it, I don't like it that you're hurting." I say and he bites his lip, taking a deep breath.104

"Okay." He whispers, turning his face away. This has got to be so hard for him, to trust me with something so private.105

This is going to be so hard for us both, to look at something so terrifying, the evidence of rape still there, but I must endure it.106

I make him lie on his stomach and I carefully pull his pants down, the bruises and cuts that are exposed to me makes me stiffle a pained sob.107

"What sort of monster could do this to anyone?" I whisper shakily and he burries his face into a pillow.108

Carefully, I spread his arse cheeks, exposing the wonnded puckered flesh, still so red and painful.109

I drip a dab of the blood red liquid on him and he bites the pillow, squeezing his eyes closed, I then drip a drop of the orange one in it, slowly he relaxes.110

I pull up his pants and rest my head on his lower back, holding him carefully.111

"Thank you." He whispers and I close my eyes, I can't immagine how hard that was for him, but I will be there the next time to stop it.112

"What is your name?" He whispers.113

"Ronald. What's yours?" I ask and he rolls onto his back.114

"Christian." He answers and I sigh, putting the viles back in the box.115

"Thank you for everything." He kisses my shoulder and I smile, stroking his hair.116

"You're welcome, just make sure it doesn't happen again." I say and he nods solemnly.