Generations

Bethany sat in English class staring at Matthew's empty desk. She couldn't figure how he had gotten past her. She had checked every stall in the bathroom and there were no windows or other doors; he had somehow gotten out and continued to seek whatever it was that he so desperately needed.

Bethany had wanted to talk to Matt as soon as she could but from what she could tell he never returned to school. With a babysitting job right after school she couldn't get in touch with him until later.

After being hunted down by Beth for the last week Matt was somewhat surprised she wasn't in school for the next two days, but he was happy for the relief. He really liked her which was why he wanted to shield her from the truth. Taylor had told him she must have caught the stomach flu from the kid she had babysat for the other night. Apparently it was running rampant through the elementary school.

By Thursday Bethany had finally dragged herself back to school but the nausea that had attacked her a few days before had stuck with her. She was pale and exhausted. She saw Matt give her sympathetic looks but other than a few kind words he continued to avoid her. He looked so preoccupied it was almost painful; she just wished he would open up to her but it was becoming clear that it wasn't going to happen anytime soon. She kept going back to the conversation they had had in the cafeteria something about vampires and witches, but she couldn't remember much more. He obviously wasn't a vampire he went to school and was out in the daytime and his dad, his hot dad just didn't look the part so she wondered what the heck he had been talking about. Maybe it had just been a play for attention, but then why was he being so evasive now, unless he was playing hard to get. She perked up with that thought. They had been very close sharing many intimate moments together though he was a bit hesitant at first, but finally gave in when she assured him that she was on the pill and wouldn't get pregnant. The perkiness that she had just enjoyed quickly fled as she realized what might be causing her nausea and fatigue. In fact her heart began to pound so loudly she could hear it in her ears as she took her phone out to check the date. Her period was in fact several days late something that had never happened before. Her face drained of what little color it had as she made the realization of what might be happening to her.

Matt stomped up the stairs of the front porch. He was determined that today was the day he put his plan into motion; the worst thing that would happen was that he would die and he felt he was more than prepared for that. Life had worn him down and if the cards held his death rather than his intention then so be it. He was ready to go into the house when Tara sidled up to him. He really needed to get a grip he hadn't even seen her.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked.

He raised his eyebrows in defeat. "Shoot."

"What exactly are you?"

"I'm sure Sookie gave you my lineage."

"Yeah sort of, I mean I know Eric is your father, but why did I feel all tingly when you touched me and how did you save Lafayette?"

"I have certain gifts passed down to me by my mother."

"She was a good witch and that's where you get your kindness isn't it?"

"Magic is whatever the user wants it to be, true magic is in the heart."

"And that's why you're tingly?"

"It was the heat of the moment coursing through my veins; you have to remember my father was roasting at the stake."

"Is there anybody else like you? Can you have kids?"

"What the hell do you care?"

"Have you killed anybody before?"

Matt sighed, maybe he needed a good old fashioned catharsis. "I've lived for four hundred plus years and have had to fight for my life on many occasions; yes I have killed, I've killed many times over. Kids, I would imagine my mutations would make me sterile but I haven't sent any samples off to the lab. And as far as I know, I'm it, solo, unique, one of a kind, the main man and all that shit."

"Would you hurt me?"

"Why would I hurt you?"

"But you could?"

"Anybody can hurt anybody. You call us monsters but humanity is the most inhumane of all. So called monsters kill to survive, sure sometimes vampires get a little carried away as do werewolves but it is humans who kill for sport, whether it be animals or fellow humans; your kind kills just to kill. There are no serial killers in the monster realm."

"Yeah I suppose you're right, but it's that, well y'all are so efficient at it."

"So have I answered all your questions? Are you going to stake me in the heart now?"

"Would it kill you?"

"Maybe, I really couldn't tell you but if you're up for it bring it on," he said wearily.

"No, I don't want to hurt you. I just don't get how you are so nice while your father is such an ass."

"He was under a spell."

"So he's all nice and gentle now?"

"Well I wouldn't say that. Look I have a lot of homework; next time we talk you can buy me lunch."

"Sorry, it's just that all I can think about is that night when I held your hand. It freaked me out."

"Well do you feel better now?"

"I guess so, besides if Sookie trusts you then so do I. She misses you ya know, she talks about you all the time. She loved the trip; said Scotland and Sweden were beautiful."

"Great, next time I take a trip I'll let you know."

"Yeah I think I would stand out in Sweden with all that blond hair."

"You'd be the life of the party," Matt smiled.

Matt watched her leave and sat down on the steps for a minute. He had barely changed position when Bethany came out of the shadows, tears streaming down her face. "What are you?" she screamed.

Matt jumped up and went to her with concern etched on his face. "How much did you hear?"

"Everything; all of it. Are you a monster?"

Matt sighed and looked at the front door of the house as if it would open up and yield some answers. "I suppose I am."

"What a werewolf, a shape shifter, an alien? What are you?"

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"Yes, I need to know what kind of baby I'm carrying?" she shouted collapsing into his arms.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm pregnant, you idiot that's what."

"How do you know, did you take a test, you said you were on birth control," Matt rambled.

"I just know, I have a ton of symptoms; I'm nauseous, sensitive to smells and period is late and it's never late. I was on birth control but maybe your monster sperm overrode it. Please what are you?"

"You're right I should have told you, but it isn't easy. I like it here, I want to stay and what if the PTA gets a little up in arms when they learn they have a vampire in the school, then what do I do?"

Bethany pulled away from Matt her face registering shock. "But it's not even sundown yet."

"I'm half vampire by my father and my mother," he began figuring he might as well tell all, "was a witch."

"Was, what is she now?"

"Dead, she died in 1610."

Matt had to hold on as Bethany collapsed in his arms. "How old are you?" she gasped.

"Well if you do the math," he said calculating the numbers. "I'm 416 though I often just round up as five hundred sounds more sophisticated."

"I think I'm going to be sick," she said gagging.

"Beth I'm sorry, I really, really am. In human years I'm fourteen, I stopped aging when my mother died."

"Oh great, I'm sixteen and you're only fourteen somehow that is even worse. God you're just a kid."

"And you're saying we're going to have a kid?"

"I don't know, maybe, will it look human?"

"I look totally human, my father even looks human."

"I can't believe he's a vampire, he looks so normal," she said thinking of Eric.

"He was human before he was turned, he merely stopped aging."

"How old is he?"

"Not certain but he was a Viking."

"Not a Minnesota one either huh?'

"Nope."

"So you aren't going to age anymore? I'm going to get older and you will always look as you do?"

"I guess, unless…"

"Unless what?"

"I'm not sure; it was just something I was going to try. Why don't you come inside and lay down you don't look too good."

"The other guy that lives in the house, is he a vampire too?"

"Yes, he's the King of Louisiana and my father is the Sheriff."

"Oh I see," she said her complexion still pale. "Thanks but I'll pass for right now."

"They won't hurt you," Matt promised.

"I guess I'll never need a picture of you since you'll never change." She said putting her hand on her stomach. "It will make for an awkward future."

"I'm so sorry Bethany," Matt called out as she walked away.