12. France

My hand slid over his as I rubbed circles on his hand trying to soothe Jason. This was ridiculous that he felt so nervous; with me I would be able to do this so easily he is a fool to act like this. But on the other hand I guess he is my fool. I could see that on Jason's face that-for no reason-he was already sweating bullets. I laughed and held his soft, burning hand tighter.

"Now where are you planning to go?" Jake asked. Jason's father seemed calm about this, but I knew that if Syd were here she would be trying not to laugh at his thoughts.

"F-France." Jason managed to get out of his quivering mouth. Jake raised his eyebrows looking at him. I will never need Syd again to read peoples thoughts. I was getting so good at it now. He was saying 'Is she planning to go with you? Alone? Without adult vision?' I held my lips tight together to keep from smiling.

"Me and my whole family are going back to where I was born and I thought it would be a great opportunity for Jason to see my country." I smiled; assuring him everything was fine. Jake's face smoothed at my voice and at that note Jason seemed to finally relax.

"Do you want to go Jason?" his father seemed more amused than I was at that moment. Everything was fine now; I just knew it. Jason sat upright and tried to be taller than his dad-with no prevail- and sighed.

"Yes." Did his voice seem to echo? He squeezed my hand lightly and looked at me to smile.

Then there was a light musical knock on his front door. I rolled my eyes and they both looked at me.

"You're late." I said. There was a dark laugh outside and it opened. Their Skylar stood in the doorway with a light tan shirt on. His hair was in spikes for once and I swear he was wearing dancing shoes.

"Sorry, I was…uh busy. But now I'm here, so if everything settled out?" he beamed at Jason, who surprisingly smiled back. I wondered if it had to do with the way Skylar stood up for Jason at school.

"I believe so. Jason you're 18 so you don't have to ask my permission, but I thank you for coming to me to ask anyway. That shows real maturity." He smiled at me. "You'll take care of him for me won't you, Claire?"

I knew he was joking, but I just seemed to blurt it out. "With all my life." His face was confused for a second, but then he chuckled.

"Ok then, if Jason is done here I need him to come with me." Skylar winked at Jason. His eyes lit up with knowledge and then looked at me.

"Where are you going?" my voice was close to a growl. His smile just made me angrier, but there was no way I could lose my temper again.

"It's for us to know and for you to find out when I want to tell you." my mouth dropped open at Jason's answer. Skylar slapped his hand for a high five.

"I taught you well." He laughed. I rolled my eyes. Jake seemed to smile.

"Do you know about this too?" my voice went high like an opera singer.

"Well of course." What could they be hiding from me? My eyes were skeptical, but Skylar seemed too cocky about this so I let it go.

"Ok let's go." The two boys left the house and I was still sitting there rubbing my temples.

"Men." I muttered. Jake laughed and then looked at me again with appraising eyes. His smile was like he knew something I didn't, which was very true, but what was it that he knew?

"You're not going to tell me are you." it wasn't a question. It was more of an accusation.

"Nope." His face was so smug I couldn't stand it. I got up and went out the door. In my car I put the key in to start my viper and then sped down the street like a mad man. In the house was just Angel, sitting on the couch looking dazed.

"I suppose you wouldn't know where they went now would you?" I sat down next to her and leaned my head on her small shoulder.

"They wouldn't let me know," her voice was shocked I laughed silently, "They said I would tell you." her little face was creased with worry. "The rest of them went. Jason even insisted on Cody being there. And somehow they got Trevor to show up. I don't know what they're doing, but I'm guessing it has to be something big." She smiled at me and I knew what that look was.

"Trash their rooms, take their cars and lets go shopping!" we said in complete unison. I laughed and ran upstairs. It didn't' take long to trash the guys room, they were already pretty messy. We just threw random stuff here and there. We put stuff where we knew it didn't belong and I swear Angel threw Nick's clothes out the window. We both laughed again and I took Cody's new mustang and Angel took Nick's car.

We made it to the mall in some short time and we walked to the first store that caught our eyes. I spotted a pink shirt on the rack and I didn't even bother to try it on. I paid for it and left the store. Angel and me went our separate ways to shop and I walked in almost every store.

I was sitting on a bench when I saw Angel talking to a man. Correction, it looked more like yelling, but I could hear it easily.

"Get away from me, freak." Angel's voice was pitched high. She knew she couldn't fight him off like normal in a crowded mall, but I could do what I wanted to him without anyone else noticing.

"Why don't we take a walk." His voice purred like an alluring cat. She stepped back at once while he followed her every movement. He touched her arm and the anger flared inside me.

I thought about the most agonizing pain imaginable and set it free. He was on the ground in seconds in pain. Angel didn't move once fraction of an inch. His screams filled the mall and every eye was staring at him and Angel. I knew there was too much attention growing, but I couldn't stop. I liked the way this felt. Power surging through my body, bending it to my whim and unleashing it on others.

This is what you want Claire. This is your gift, don't let anyone stop you. You know you can, Claire. Why not kill him? He was going to try to hurt Angel. Is that not reason enough to end his miserable life? The voice inside my head danced at the very words it had spoken. For some reason the sound was so familiar that I thought I could place it, but for some reason I couldn't.

The voice was right. Why couldn't I just kill him? What was stopping me? That's right, nothing was.

A cool hand grabbed my arm and turned me around to face him. My concentration broke and the man stopped his screaming. Skylar was looking at me with confusion, pain, and fury. Cody was standing in front of Jason, holding him back from trying to run to me. Nick ran right to Angel and he stood in front of her Glaring at the man.

People started to gather around as Skylar and Cody towed me away from the scene. Angel was right behind me while Nick was swearing under his breath probably cursing the man to hell. We walked a little too fast for humans, but Skylar never slowed down till we were at the parking lot.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" Skylar shouted. His face would have turned red if it could.

"Skylar…" Angel said in that soothing tone of hers, but Skylar didn't recognize it this time.

"Don't you 'Skylar' me, Angel! Claire please tell me what you were thinking! I mean didn't ever realize what you could have done? Are you not afraid of exposing us anymore? Is that it? 'Cause if it is let me know! I'll just shout it to the world!" his voice was strained and angered. Skylar threw his hands up in the air and stopped about 15 feet away from us and then made his way back to me. He seemed to be calmer. "Claire you just don't know how much you scared me back there. You, you looked like you were enjoying his pain."

I looked down and then my eyes flickered to Jason who was staring at me. His face was not afraid, mad or puzzled. It was like he didn't know what to think.

"For a second I think I was enjoying his pain. There was a voice inside my head urging me on. Telling me to kill him, over and over again. I thought I knew the voice, but at the same time I have never heard it before. It seemed like it was controlling me…" I didn't know what I was saying. Could a vampire become crazy? Or was I already crazy? I shook my head and tried to run the conversation over again in my head, but no matter how I said it, it didn't sound right. Then once I thought about a question popped up in my head.

"What were you guys doing at the mall?" his face went blank as he stared at me. Cody twiddled his fingers and Jason pretended to whistle.

"That is beyond the point right now, Claire."

"I think this can be the point for now. What were you guys doing here?" Angel growled. She came to my side backing me up. Nick jumped, but Skylar and Cody stood their ground like a fierce wolf pack. I laughed in my mind. Yes I believe a vampire could be crazy.

"We were looking for you." Jason lied. "After you guys trashed our rooms we all came and followed your scent." His voice was so sure a normal human would have believed him, but we weren't normal humans now were we?

"I have four simple words to tell all of you. Liars go to hell." Angel snickered as we caught each of them in the lie and secret they were hiding from us.

"We told you, Claire. I will tell you what we were doing today when I want to." Jason smiled. He just loved knowing something that I didn't know.

"Men." Angel muttered to me.

"Ticket please." The blond chick asked for. I already didn't like her for one she was absolutely beautiful and she thought she could get whatever she wanted in life. Second she kept looking at Jason like he was the hottest guy here. And for me he was, but it was just the way her eyes trailed over his body. There was clearly lust in them, but Jason paid no attention to them, as he was staring at me. The ticket woman stared at me with angry eyes, at least until she saw Skylar. I growled in her ear and then I moved away so fast that it was like I wasn't even there. I could see the plain panic in hers eyes as I walked away with Jason, down the tunnel into the plane.

Jason sat near the window and then I took my place beside him. Skylar then sat on the other side of me, next to Cody. Nick had his arms wrapped around Angel who sat next to him, leaning against him. As I saw the sun coming up I shut the window immediately. Skylar and Nick did the same.

"So were really going to France." Jason breathed, seeming to be surprised.

"Where did you think we were going? Italy?" I laughed at the thought of taking Jason somewhere Italian.

"Well Skylar lied to my dad last time so I wouldn't be surprised if you did." He laughed and then took my hand.

"Anything to drink?" a brunette waitress asked. She seemed to be talking to Jason and then she winked. I fought back a hiss.

"Um how about a Dr. Pepper?" Jason asked looking at my face only, trying to calm me down.

"Certainly." She smiled at him. She gave him his drink then she walked away without asking me. Not that I would have taken anything, but it was still rude. I rolled my eyes and made one of those humph sounds.

Hours passed and Jason was snoring. His head was leaned on my shoulder as a pillow. Because we had to keep up and act the rest of us vampires pretended to sleep. I think it was the easiest not only because I had the most experience in pretending, but because I also had a lot on my mind to sift through.

First was the way Jason disregarded the flight attendant. It made me feel good that he loved me and didn't even find any interest in her, but it also scared me. What was I going to do about this? He was human and I was not. I could never be like him. And I don't know if I could change him. I don't know if I could do that to him. Not my precious Jason. I know Jason loves me with everything he has, but he is human and he will die someday. That's how it's supposed to be. But am I that selfish to take that away from him?

Second was how he still loved me more even after the fact that I almost killed him. That brings me back to the fact that he is fragile and that he loves me too much. Everything could be perfect for us if I changed him, but what if he didn't want to be changed or if he didn't want to be with me anymore? I don't know if I could deal with that concept. So I quickly passed to the next issue.

Third was my half family. Could I risk their lives knowing I was the one to blame for this tragic event? And then Jason is in the middle of this, but there is no way I would let him die over me. I would have to die first. All of the faces of my family popped into view.

Samantha. Her glowing red hair was beautiful when the sunlight threw its rays on it just right. The little freckles that dotted her nose and cheeks. The way she blushed when we asked her questions about her life style, and how she laugh made everyone else smile. And how she had the tendency to calm everyone else down with a snarl from her own mouth. I loved her and she is one of the closest friends I have, besides Taylor.

Taylor. My body yearns for her to be back by my side, just to give her a hug. That way we can wrestle and race like we used to. She was the only on, besides Angel, with a sporting chance to beat me. The way her golden blond hair curled whenever you got it wet and how when she got mad she would cuss at you till she couldn't think of anymore words. How she always knew when she was being lied to and she was the first one who ever made me feel better in the hard days.

She also got on my nerves when Skylar first introduced us. She never liked me from the get go. She thought I was after Skylar and that I would kill for him. Though I had told her hundreds of times before she never believed when I said he was just my brother. He had to break up some serious cat fights, but in the end we had grown to love each other like real sisters should.

Next was Syd. Her Black hair was naturally curly, but she whined at me until I allowed her to get a straightened hairstyle. You should have seen my face when I was in that store. I was afraid for something to go wrong and then I would have to bust my way out, and with a big bang, trust me. Her mind reading was the most annoying thing there was about her, but when it came right down to it, it had saved our butts a few times. She led us to places that would be good for hiding and then other places with a good hunting range for everyone, including me.

Ben. Syd's faithful little husband. My little trooper. I was sure I had over a thousand pet names for him, but I loved him to death. His golden brown hair bounced whenever he ran. The way his eyes just seemed to melt when he smiled. The way he loved to play the blame game when I caught him. And it wasn't just a coincidence that it was always Skylar. You couldn't find two better brothers then them two.

Angel. Her pale blond hair seemed to glow when it was snowing. When she got it wet it got the darkest of blondes and then she would whine at me so she could dye it pink. Of course I knew she was kidding I still gritted my teeth over it. Her brown eyes were the most beautiful among us when it came down to it. The way we found out how she could transport places scared Nick half to death. He thought she left him and he was a wreck for days. At least until she found out she could get back from China. To save the day she even got us little gifts. She was my fragile baby, and clearly one of my favorites.

Nick. He was at a lost for words. The way he looked in his jeans was just amazing. I was sure if he really wanted to that he could advertise for Ambercrombie & Fitch. I knew by the look in his light green eyes that I had to save him from death. Skylar disapproved, but I don't regret my decision and so far neither does Nick. I don't know what it was with blondes, but that's what most of my coven was made of. His soft blond hair could be used as animal fur. I was always touching it for some reason. I just couldn't keep my hands off it. Angel didn't mind knowing I would never destroy her like that and she had enough faith in Nick not to cheat or betray her like that.

Keith. He was the only one that joined us. I had no idea where he came from, but he just showed up. I didn't save him and he never really did tell us specifically how old he is. His hair was short and cropped. It was a bleached blonde. Not like Angel's who was just pale, it was like his hair was completely white. I don't know why, but that's the way it has always been. There was nothing really special about his face other than it was perfect and handsome. To tell you the truth there was always something about him. The way he seemed to always get him way in everything and how I always got the feeling that I never liked him like should. He is still part of my family, but there was something he was doing that tore my family in half.

Cody. The most recent to our family thanks to me. Even after four thousand years of experience I can't be perfect. He had a baby face. It was one of those faces that made you just want to pinch. I was sure he got that from his grandparents all the time. It was too bad I took away his life and now he will never see his parents again. He didn't hold a grudge against me at all though. He loved me and I could see that he would be my brother like Skylar was to me. He seemed to understand me like Skylar does. He talks to me like I was his diary and he seemed to fit into this family like a missing jigsaw piece that was finally found.

He had those crimson eyes still and they seemed to look good on him. He has long light brown hair that curved in front of his face. The way he spoke was very wise and I was shocked to see that he didn't even have a gift. Maybe it will develop through time. Or its possible that he had one it just hasn't been able to show itself correctly yet. Take me fore example. I didn't know I had a gift for a good two centuries. I didn't find out until I got so angry with this one man. I just wanted him to die and there he was and as I looked into his face I saw him drop dead. Over the years I was able to make it stronger and I was able to control it better. I was able to give more pain or none at all.

Then how him and Jason were still close friends. Cody was pretty upset that Jason knew what I was before him, but that friend relationship never changed or got worse. It got so much stronger. Jason doesn't seem afraid of him and was I so happy about that. I was hurt knowing that I took away Jason's friend, but then I saw that they could still be friends. I was so lit up with joy.

Last but not least was Skylar. I doubt there could be a more perfect brother than him. I loved him to death no matter how many times he made me mad, or when we got into bad fights, or how he knew he was right and I was wrong and how I didn't want to admit it. His dark brown hair looked like chocolate. The way it waved in the wind and how he smiled when he was trying to get out of a lie. He was just another lost for words. No matter how hard I tried no words could even describe him even an inch.

The last thing I was trying to comprehend was the voice inside my head. For some reason everything was starting to be put together. Something was controlling my family and it was using Keith as its leader. I know Keith would never do this to me on purpose so there must be a strong force here. My thoughts flickered to my Cody. He had one of the best gifts in the world. If he thought about it or wanted something done it would happen in that same instant. He could stop any war he wanted to or he could start one form out of nowhere.

From his gift I knew exactly how I got mine. I was sure that if I weren't changed that night I would have been pregnant with his baby. A little tiny monster forming inside me every second. I believe this is why I have the gift I have. Some of his power must have rubbed off on my or something like that, but I guess I can never be sure. All I know is that I have this gift and I need to use it only when necessary. I knew that if I used it otherwise I would be the best serial killer the world has ever known. And the best part is that they would have no DNA to trace me by. With all of the dead skin cells and no blood pumping through you and all that. Technically we don't exist at all. We have no records and we should all be long dead by now. If they did manage to get some hairs they would lead to no where. We were practically ghosts in this unforgiving world.

There was a small ding on the plane signaling for us to fasten our seatbelts for landing. I nudged Jason awake and he did the same thing as me. He stifled a yawn and I saw Cody being too dramatic when he woke up. He was seriously going to need some practice. We got out of the plane, while I was leading Jason; he was still half-asleep. Our luggage was the first to come off and as we made our taxi by mere seconds we were off to my hometown. I guess it was my hometown in what people would call the bible times.

About an hour later we arrived in Paris, France. I saw Jason's eyes go wide as he took in all the big lights, the Eiffel Tower was what made him drool a little bit.

"You've never seen the Eiffel Tower?" I asked totaling submersed in my old memories. It had been a few decades since the last time I had been here and boy had it changed. There were new lights on the Tower and I swore the last time I was here there wasn't an elevator, but maybe I'm losing it.

"I've seen pictures, but I never imagined that it was this beautiful in person." His voice was amazed and if his eyes got any wider his eyeballs would fall out of their sockets.

"Listen I'm going to show you my, uh memories." I was sure he would figure out what I meant by the tone I used.

"Claire…"

"No you need to know everything about my life and where I grew up. What's mine is yours." I reminded him. "Later we can climb the Eiffel Tower." I winked at him and his mouth went aghast.

"Climb?" he choked.

"Climb." Skylar said in a spooky ghost voice. I slapped him in the back of the head. The last thing I needed was for that Jason to be scared of everything I thought was just pure fun.

I took his hand and led him to another place. There was my car parked in a special place. I laughed at Jason, Skylar, Cody, and Nick's faces.

"You didn't expect me to leave my baby behind did you?" I laughed as I pulled the curtain to reveal Skylar and Angel's cars. Nick gasped.

"What you didn't think to bring my car?" Nick was totally appalled at me; I was sure.

"I could only get a few cars here and these were the fastest…if we needed them." I added. Nick pouted and, thanks to Angel, he got to drive her car. Cody went with Skylar while Jason got to ride shotgun in my car.

"This is where the fun starts." I told Jason.

"How?"

"I'm going to show you how vampires race on the open road. Once we get there I mean. No need to cause panic or have Skylar make me panic thinking he was going to hit someone," I laughed at myself remembering the last time he did that, "But you don't have to worry. If you did die I would just bring you back." I teased. Neither of us was uncomfortable with the words I used in that last sentence and that's what made it so wrong. I sighed and drove off down the street.

Angel stood at the staring point while the sound of our engines revving non-stop. Skylar winked at me and made the motion that I was dead meat. If anything he was. Jason sat in the shotgun position and he was already clinging to the seat. I pulled out some extra seatbelts just so he didn't blow out the window.

"On you marks," Angel shouted only for Jason's benefit, "Get set! Go!" as soon as the letter G left her mouth our tires went squealing. Jason looked around the car confused.

"What?" I asked looking at him. Not his eyes were wide with alarm. "I don't have to look to drive trust me."

"Well it just doesn't seem like we're moving."

"Oh trust me were going about 300mph by now. Skylar might try to go faster, but there is no way he going to beat my viper." I smiled in anticipation. Jason smiled in return and nodded to the number on my speedometer. He meant to go faster. "With pleasure." I told him. I pushed down on my gas pedal; shifted to gear four and my car lifted into a good 335mph. I saw Skylar's car try to keep up, but he was nothing compared to mine.

Suddenly another car turned up Angel's car. She had her BMW convertible and it was made for speed rather than the way Skylar's was for looks. I took it on as a challenge. She smiled at me and we took off as well. It was a better race than what Skylar tried to do and she was better at this than him. Imagine that. Then her car disappeared.

"Damn it." I growled with pleasure. She was going to make this race unfair and that's just the way I liked it.

"Where'd she go?" Jason asked trying to look out the window, but getting dizzy in the process.

"Don't do that." I advised. "She transported somewhere just to make this race more fun." Out of no where her car appeared in front of me and the race began again. I pushed my car to go to 400mph. I knew it wasn't supposed to go that fast and I could hear my car whining in protest, but I was having too much fun.

Then it happened.

I could catch the flame that was lighting in Angel's front hood. I caught it fast enough to break open my door before Jason even knew what was happening. I grabbed him and ripped him out the car before a second had passed. I felt the air whistle by me then I got that weird sensation on Angel's gift so I knew she saw what I saw in time too. We ended up back where Skylar was in time to see Angel's precious BMW being engulfed by flames.

Jason was standing next to me trying to catch up to what was going on. He was still wide-eyed and clinging to me like a life preserver. I held on to him with so much force that I knew I was hurting him. I didn't want to ever let go though, afraid that he would be ripped away from me forever. That moment was just too close. Angel was hissing uncontrollably by my side.

"Of all the rotten luck! It had to be my freaking car!" she watched the flames dance around her charred vehicle. I could help but fight a laugh. I felt Skylar, Cody, and Nick laughing at her reaction.

"I'll get you a knew one." Promises like that seemed to mean nothing to her. Even mine.

"I don't want a new one," she screamed to high pitched I think for Jason to hear, "I want my old one back." She whined and Jason was trying not to laugh. Usually guys were the ones who made big deals over cars, while girls fussed about which outfit, or if she broke a nail. Jason seemed to be enjoying himself.

Then I heard it.

It was fast, very fast. And it was gaining on us.