Valasserara

Chapter 6

Author's Notes: I'm so so so sorry it's been so long on this. I kinda lost inspiration and then I suddenly found it the other day and I've been working on it ever since. Now that I'm getting a sense of direction I'm getting my footing back with this piece and I'm more willing to work on it. I'll try to get a new chapter up in a few days though I'm working on my novel and then Wonderstruck a bit. I'm also trying to eek out the last chapter and epilogue of All Souls Night to go up together so I can finally say that is off my plate. I have a little time at the moment to work on things so if you feel the urge please let me know if you enjoy this piece and I'll add it back to my regular rotation. ~ Scarlette

"I need a few days Melluma." Emma said softly.

Her mate cocked her head, studying her for a moment before dipping her head in consent.

"I know the way home…I will return."

"You put me in a bad position once before what's to make me think you won't do it again?" Regina tugged the sheets over her naked body, curling up slightly as though she were chilled.

"You act as though I'm not going to come with you. I've all ready agreed to."

"Then why do you require a few days Ataya?" Her mate snarled her title and she flinched back before responding in kind. They growled at one another for a moment before Regina's lip dropped from its upward snarl.

"I don't think it's wise for you to take long. Things are…changing."

"What do you mean?"

"The winter hounds…they're coming."

"Why would the messengers of the elders come to us?"

"There's been trouble…a man named Rumplestilskin…I know you know his name."

"He's dangerous but I don't know much about him beyond that. The courts I stayed in didn't have many dealings with him. Most choose to stay clear from what I've heard."

"He's one of us. He's…like us."

"Regina we're vampires."

"No we're not…we're older than them and he's…he's the product of a failed experiment. I've only heard of it happening a few times before they realized it was causing a lot of problems."

"What do you mean a failed experiment? What do you know Melluma?"

"We're a rarity Emma. But Rumplestilskin is even more of a rarity. He's the product of two…you know in any pairing there is a dominant mate and a submissive. I'm your submissive mate though we often lead others to believe I'm your dominant."

"Only in court."

"Yes, but it still stands with a Valassarera it's an essential that we be that type of pairing to beget a child."

"You still insist…"

"Will you allow me to finish before you cut in Ataya?" Regina snapped, baring her fangs, which caused Emma to growl lowly in her throat before she settled.

"Fine, continue."

"The elders in years prior to even our parents being born tried to experiment a bit with a pairing of two dominants. It killed many but it did beget a few. Rumplestilskin is the last one known to still exist."

"So what does that mean?"

"He's trying to overthrow the caryuo's, the elders and anyone that stands in his way. He wants to create a new world one where only our kind exist and not what he claims is a perversion."

"So a vampire is a perversion? I thought the elders were vampires themselves?"

"Yes, and he wants to wipe them off the face of the world." Regina paused, wondering how much to reveal. "A few of them are like us. But not many; our kind is so rare that vampires outnumber us. The fact that you found me and your Saireta lives with us…it's unheard of for that many of our kind to live together. We don't tend to recognize one another outside of the immediate family unit. David acknowledges me because of you but if Snow were here, they wouldn't see me as anything more than your mate though you're their child. Any child we had, he or she would be ours alone and they wouldn't have a part of it."

Emma ran her fingers through her hair, pacing back and forth with little thought to what she was doing. Her mate remained in her place on the bed, watching with a steady eye but never moving to interfere with the other's movements.

"And he wants you to join him I take it?" She didn't even want to get into the whole having a child thing not after Grace and everything that had led them away from one another.

"You as well. He realizes in order to do this he needs quite a bit of help."

"And you want this to come to pass?"

"No, I don't. Hence the purpose of the winter hounds."

"They're coming?"

"They're coming to summon all of us."

"So is this why you've finally sought me out? War is coming and you want me at your side?"

"I did no such thing. You came here looking for me. You knew how much I loved New Orleans and that I often came here. So really who sought whom out?"

"I…" Emma went to deny it, than snapped her jaws shut with an audible snap. She sighed, forcing the animal back that wanted to growl at her mate.

"I'll give you your few days for whatever reason that you believe you need them. I won't seek you out just as I haven't all these years since you ran from me."

The taller vampire dipped her head in agreement with the terms. "Fine, I'll be at home in a few days."

"Fine, I'll see you there."

Regina groaned softly as she sat up. The large mahogany four-poster bed in the rooms she'd shared with her mate had never felt emptier. The silk sheets they'd enjoyed rolling around in were cold, the room lacked warmth, which wasn't right. She demanded the thralls keep her rooms warm at all times. She reached up; pushing her long braided hair back and slipped to her feet. She hissed as her feet touched the cold stones of the floor and quickly reached for her satin dove grey robe. She tied it around her waist and moved out of the room quickly, something unknown alarming her. She stopped in the sitting room and looked around. Everything was as she left it, nothing out of place. David remained in his corner, lost in his mind. She frowned. It had only been one night since she'd seen Emma and she knew her mate wasn't here yet. The bond they shared didn't sing with her closeness. So what had awoken her? The sun was high in the sky, she could feel the pull of sleep and yet she couldn't seem to obey the siren's call. Perhaps she should see if one of the thralls had heard anything. They were the only ones about this time of the day. She took a step towards the door, ready to pull the heavy gilded wood open when a voice behind her disrupted her movements. She whirled on her heel, looking towards her mate's Father.

"What did you say?"

"Your scent has changed." He repeated, still glassy eyed.

She paused before moving towards him. "What do you mean by that? How would my scent have changed?"

"No one will catch it just yet but I do because I know it."

"David, are you saying what I think you're saying?"

His lips remained passive for a moment, "Your scent is sweeter, heavier. You aren't able to sleep are you?"

"No, I thought I heard something."

"No, that was just your organs shifting into place."

"Why would my organs need to shift?" Her hand went to her flat belly. She jerked back quickly, feeling a slight movement. Her eyes widened as she looked down and then up at the other man.

"Yes, you're with child." Blue eyes remained glassy as the words drifted over her. She was pregnant, after so long it had finally happened. She was with child. What was she going to tell her mate?

The Winter Hounds - Messengers of the Elders, they're like very large solid white dogs with blood red eyes. They're more intelligent than dogs and act closer to humans though they don't speak and are pack creatures.