Chapter 5: What are you? Really?

I was sipping my coffee and eating a pb&j sandwich in the kitchen when Damon came downstairs in black sleep pants and a green t-shirt. I took a deep breath, confrontation time.

"Morning"

"Morning"

"How do you take your morning blood? Room temp or you need me to warm it?"

I looked him dead in the eye. As soon as he looked at me I held up the blood bag.

"Where did you get that?"

"Your fridge, I wanted some water when I woke up"

He remained silent, obviously looking for an excuse.

"Don't lie to me, after everything that I've been through please don't lie to me"

"Fine, I won't. I'm a vampire"

"No, you're not."

"How do you know"?

"I've met vampires before Damon, I dated one, I got beaten around by one, I got bit by one"

I raised my arm showing him my scar from James. He came closer and took hold of my arm, then touched the scar lightly.

"You dated a cold one? Are you insane?"

"And you've never hooked up with a human?"

"I'm different"

"How?"

"I don't have to kill my victim, I just enjoy it"

"Did you bite me last night too? Is that why I got so wasted?"

"No, I promised Charlie I wouldn't bite or kill a human while I was here"

He poured himself a cup of coffee and went to sit on the couch, I followed. I had the TV tuned to a kids program with cartoons

"So, is that why dad told me yesterday to stay away from you, because you are dangerous? He knows?"

"yes to both questions"

"Why did he let you come live here then?"

"You will have to ask him yourself"

We sat there like that for a while until he turned to me and asked about my ex and what my dad knew about him. Shocked I replied

"Nothing obviously. He wasn't very happy with Edward when I got back from Phoenix in spring. Let me take it from the beginning ok? And then it's your turn mister."

I talked to him about everything. How I came to Forks, saw the family at the cafeteria, the weird way Edward looked at me on the first day in Biology, how he disappeared, the death looks I'd take from his siblings those days, how he was friendly when he came back, Tyler's van, the cold attitude until the boys at school all asked me to a dance, how I found out the family secret, baseball, James, the run to Phoenix, the ballet studio, the biting, the hospital, the prom, the summer, my birthday, the forced party, the paper cut, the whole soul discussion, the 'you're not good for me Bella' speech. By the time I finished I was crying, was screaming and had beaten the hell out of the couch cushion I was holding. I took a deep breath and said

"now I feel better, and let's not forget I pushed everyone away because in my 'silly human mind' I thought that once he relented at changed me I'd lose everyone anyway. He said we were soul mates after all, it was where we headed, I think. Your turn"

It was his turn to take a deep breath and started unraveling his past. A tale staged at the 1844 where he was born in Italy. His family was relocated in Mystic Falls, Virginia a couple years after losing his mother during his brother's birth. How close he and his brother were, how his father disapproved of him until he left to join the confederate army and Katherine moved in. He went back on a break of the army, met her, fell in love, dropped his duty and returned home to be with her. He wanted to be with her but she played with both brothers. In the end he found out that she was feeding them both her blood and the night they went to sneak her out of the fire she was going to die in they got shot by their father. That's how they changed. Thinking she was dead they decided to let themselves starve and die but Stefan fed, loved it and the way he could shut his feelings off and forced Damon to feed as well. After that Damon made a promise to himself and Stefan to hate him forever for having forever where it was supposed to be only him and Katherine. Years later they both returned to Mystic Falls. Damon to whisk Katherine out of a tomb that held prisoners all the vampires that were caught back then and Stefan to be with a girl that was a dead ringer for Katherine. Elena. After opening the tomb and finding out that Katherine was never in there and didn't give a damn (Damon's words, not mine) about him Damon realized what a bitch she was. On the night of the town's biggest party Katherine returned only to use him to gain access to Elena's house and kill her biological father. Damon made out with her thinking she was Elena, she wasn't. Damon decided he had enough, changed into his animal form (a craw) started flying, ended up in Seattle, remembered Charlie, moved in. Saw his feelings in me and anted to help me move on as he did. The rest is history.

"An animal form? Fed her blood? Starve and die?"

"Yes to all. Feeding blood to your victim and kill them is the way to change them, and yes animal forms is one of the powers we have."

"But Edward said..

"The cold ones a lot different than us. We're closer to the myths actually. Different species, don't know a lot about it frankly, we bro keep our presence a secret from the public and each other"

I dropped my head in my hands and rubbed my temples.

"Now what?"

"Now nothing, I was planning on staying here till I got my mojo back and then leave. Now I'm not so sure, maybe I'll stick around for a while"

"Right, well I'm starving, you hungry?"

"you offering" he asked in a small arrogant smile

"Hey, I fed a cold one once you can have a few drops"

I answered in a similar cynical tone. He laughed for a while.

"Come on, get dressed. I'll take you out to lunch"

"oh lucky me"

I headed upstairs and went through my closet. I wasn't in the mood for anything too much. The day was unusually warm and judging by the shining sun I decided to go with distressed jeans, and with a smile I put on a light blue finding Nemo t-shirt. Cowboy boots, ponytail, sunglasses and a small bag. I grabbed a white jacket and was ready. I applied a thin layer of makeup, mascara and a dark pink lip gloss. I went downstairs to find Damon lounging against the front door. He was dressed in blue jeans, darker blue t-shirt and black leather jacket.

"Ready?"

"Happy meal in mc Donald's?"

I stuck my tongue at him.

"Let's go"

He drove us to town and we went to a new diner that specialized in international cuisine and other varied food that had opened during the summer. We received a lot of glances by the other patrons as we got a table by the window.

"Why do you always wear sunglasses?"

"The direct sunlight hurts our eyes"

"But, and please don't laugh, how do you go out in the sunlight like now? The 'others' can't."

"I have this" he showed me a big ring on his right hand "it's specially spelled to protect me; my brother has one as well. By the way do you like the sun?"

"I love the sun, I was raised in sunny Arizona, remember? Now that you mention it, it's strangely sunny these days. I can count the days it was sunny last year in one hand, including summer."

He gave me a smile

"Do you want it to remain sunny?"

I felt my jaw dropping

"Are you doing this?"

"Yep. It's one of our powers. Weather manipulation, usually I like to keep it foggy because it's easier for us to go out then"

"What do you mean?"

The waitress came to get our orders then and we both jumped back. I got the paella and Damon got a Spanish omelet. After a last flirty smile at Damon the waitress left with our order. I was surprised at the pang of jealousy I felt but I chalked it up to missing Edward.

"I mean that while sun doesn't hurt us, the ones with the ring that it, it still weakens us, we need to feed more those days"

"And yet you ask me if I want it to be sunny everyday?"

He took a sip and I knew there was no way I'd get an answer.

"You said that human food and drink do nothing for you, right?" he nodded "Then why do you eat it?"

"Keep up appearances"

"Too true"

Our food came at that moment and we ate while talking about this and that. At some point Charlie called to say he'd be home around 8 and wanted to talk to me about something. After eating, Damon and I went for a walk and headed home.

I had done all homework so I went to my room to check my mails. Waiting for the computer to start and dial up I took of my jacket and shoes and put the all in the closet. I sat on the computer to see I had four mails from mom, I replied to all of them but didn't know what she knew of Damon so I simply said that dad was allowing the nephew of a friend to live in with us for a while. I disclosed all vamp stuff, the club, me getting drunk or sharing a bed with Damon. I wanted to confide in her but since I moved here we had lost our closeness. I wasn't sure if that happened because of the distance or because I spent all my free time with the Cullens alienating myself from her, Charlie or my friends. On a whim I pulled out my cell and asked Angela if she wanted to do something after school tomorrow. Instead of worrying myself sick while waiting for an answer I went downstairs to watch a movie until dad returned from the funeral.

Dad returned, and joined me in the living room. He seemed somber and I kept silent waiting for him to gather his thoughts. Finally as the movie ended he turned the tv off and I turned to him.

"What is it dad?"

'please tell me you're not kicking Damon out, I actually have someone to talk to now'

"I told you my cousin Greg passed right?"

"Yes"

"He lived in Seattle and in his will he passed me his house and everything that's in there. I will go there next Saturday to see what I want and keep it and then rent the place. Do you want to come with me?"

"Sure, I'd love to. Erm dad?"

"yes?"

"Damon and I talked and he told me about him being a vampire."

"He did huh? Well they have a weakness, it's a herb and from now on I want you either to consume some every day or wear something with it inside it."

"Don't you trust him? I mean he lives here now"

"I do trust him, I just prefer to be on the safe side."

"I'll wear it"

"Ok then, I'll get you something"

"Actually" came a voice from the stairs "she doesn't need it"

"What do you mean?" I asked Damon who joined us in a flash

"I mean that there is something in your head that makes your brain inaccessible. I tried to compel you before and it was like there was no brain there"

"Thank you" I said dryly

"Seriously or are you just saying it?"

"Seriously, do you want me to demonstrate?"

"No I believe you, however I'd feel better if you wore something"

"Can we figure it out in the morning? I kinda want to go to bed."

"Sure, sleep well"

"Thanks, night Damon"

With that I went to my room and got ready for bed. I checked my cell, no texts or calls. I tried to calm down and fell asleep. While I didn't cry myself to sleep I did have tear stains the next morning