Chapter 53

Wow, being a vampire was amazing. I hadn't even fully experienced it yet, but I could feel the incredible speed my body was capable of. In those initial moments after waking up, my thoughts had been scattered, but I had to admit my focus became a lot sharper after that first unintended meal. Now, as we made our way to Florence, I started cataloging in my head every change I sensed and observed around me. Demetri was sitting next to me in the back seat while Felix drove. Heidi was currently explaining various hunting techniques. There were many, and it really just depended on the situation and whether you wanted to play with your food. I couldn't deny that the notion didn't stir something within me.

Even as Heidi spoke, my mind was multitasking, listening to her carefully while simultaneously juggling a myriad of other thoughts. Taking up a significant portion of my mind was the hunger, it was gnawing at me. Yet, an almost equally distracting but much more pleasurable urge manifested in my desire for Demetri. As I stole a glance at him, all I wanted to do was rip off all his clothes and just go to town on him. I could sense my arousal building just from the sight of his body, yet the persistent hunger demanded my attention. "Focus, Bella," I scolded myself. "Food first, then sex."

After that mishap with the receptionist, I realized I had to be extremely cautious when I was outside among humans. I couldn't afford a repeat of that incident. Humans flying and screaming at the top of their lungs until they are caught midair and drained dry is a massive red flag, practically shouting, "Hey, look at me, vampire here."

Just that passing thought made me remember Olivia. It was definitely a tragedy, but oh my god, did she taste yummy. And her skin was so incredibly soft as I bit down and the blood started to flow. Shit, I was starting to get aroused, recalling her body jerking against mine as she died. I shook my head, clearing it from wherever the fuck that tangent was leading. I needed to step up my game. I was in control of my body. The thirst would not control me. I focused on that belief, repeating it like a mantra as Felix continued driving to our destination.

While all this was happening, I was also silently practicing using my abilities. I had just minimized my actions to a micro scale. It's crazy how much more advanced I felt my shield was now. I had foolishly thought I had mastered at least parts of what my shield could do when I was human, but after only barely using it, I could tell that I had only scratched the surface of everything it is capable of.

It felt so powerful as I manipulated it next to me while sitting in the car. My mind was already thinking of ways to change its power, output, and how I formed it. My thoughts branched out in so many directions, from the mundane to the truly out there. I briefly had a crazy thought that I could use my shield to tear a hole in the fabric of reality. I really had seen too many multiverse movies recently. I shut that line of thinking down; I wasn't going to be responsible for destroying the space-time continuum on my first day as a vampire.

While my brain continued to work at superspeed, I really tried to force myself to calm down and relax. I kept telling myself, You have eternity, Bella; you don't need to solve all the world's mysteries on day one.

Finally, we reached the outskirts of Florence, and Felix stopped the car. Peering out of the window, I realized I had never been to this section of the city before. It looked more rundown than most of the areas we had visited in the beautiful city in the past. Demetri looked at me and smiled.

"Are you prepared, Bella? When you step out of the car, you'll be inundated with human scents. You'll want to attack, but you mustn't. Remember, secrecy is our most important law. We have to go unseen and unheard. Right now is the most difficult time for a newborn. Keep your mind sharp. Are you ready?"

Taking in his words, I psyched myself up. I could do this. "I understand. I'll do better. I'm ready." We all exited the vehicle. Despite my claims of readiness, both Demetri and Felix flanked my sides closely, while Heidi stood in front of me, smiling. They were evidently preparing for the possibility of the newborn going crazy. I looked around. Despite the pitch-black night, I could see everything with remarkable clarity. I wondered if the sun would make it painful to look at things during the day. I took a deep breath, and damn, it smelled good. I could detect the scent of blood all around us. How was that possible when I saw no humans? Either I had a super nose, or I had underestimated a vampire's ability to smell.

This must get easier; I never saw Demetri struggle when around humans. But then again, he is over two thousand years old, so his restraint isn't saying much. It would probably be better to judge myself against the Cullens, who are still babies when compared to Demetri. I looked at everyone and smiled. "All good so far. Let's advance a little into the city. Please point out a criminal when you see one. Explain everything you do and look for as we walk."

We started to walk, moving at a very slow pace, almost in slow motion. Then it hit me – we were walking at human speed. Well, this is annoying. My attention focused on the first human I spotted across the street. He strolled along without a care in the world, chatting on his phone. It surprised me that I could listen in on his conversation from such a distance, but sadly, he wasn't some nefarious drug kingpin; just a regular guy talking with his girlfriend. Demetri grabbed my arm to ensure I didn't make any impulsive moves, but I felt in control. At least, I hoped I was. As we continued, passing by numerous humans, it felt like torture to let them all go free. However, that wasn't the kind of vampire I wanted to be. I needed to choose the right humans to feed on, and not kill indiscriminately.

Finally, we made our way to a mostly desolate side street, and Demetri leaned in, speaking softly. "There's a drug dealer up ahead. You wouldn't recognize it yet, but that unusual smell coming from him is cocaine." He proceeded to explain all the telltale signs that the man was up to no good, and I even witnessed a quick transaction. Another man walked by, slipping him money while the dealer handed over a baggie. They didn't even exchange words. Demetri and Felix began guiding me on what to look for: cameras, humans in windows, and even minute details like listening for heartbeats in the area before advancing to attack. After ensuring the area was clear, they gave me the green light to proceed. With a smirk, Heidi suggested this might be a good opportunity to see if I could lure the man away for a more secluded meal. I could tell she doubted my control, well, I would show her.

"I'm ready. Let me give this a try on my own, but stay relatively close, just in case. Maybe watch from the tops of these apartment buildings around us," I suggested, looking up at all the vantage points from the higher ground.

They all nodded, and suddenly, I found myself alone on an unknown street in the outskirts of Florence, Italy. I could do this. I started walking at the snail's pace that humans move, heading toward my meal. As I approached him, I took note of his appearance – he was a young fellow, probably my age, looking shifty with slicked-back hair, a typical look for a drug dealer I would assume. As I walked up to him, a realization hit me: there was a flaw in my plan. I still didn't know how to speak Italian. What if he couldn't understand English? Oh well, it would be good practice no matter what happens. I continued walking at the slow human pace up to him, observing as he finally looked my way and started giving me a weird look. The only thing I could think of that would cause this reaction from him is maybe he had never seen such a beautiful woman before.

As I finally reached the dealer, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why the fuck you walking in slow motion? You tripping or something?"

Shit, I guess I was walking too slowly. I hoped the others weren't recording me on their phones up there. Okay, strike one, Bella. At least I know he speaks English.

"Hi... I'm looking to buy some drugs. Ahh, how much are they?" Hmm, this was not going like I had envisioned it. In my defense, I had never spoken with a drug dealer before.

I watched as the drug dealer's leering eyes roamed up and down my body. He seemed to be particularly interested in my tits. Perhaps I should have embraced the whole seductive slut angle that Heidi suggested, but regardless, this will be good practice no matter what I do or say. So, I continued on with my current approach. Finally, after the drug dealer had finished eye fucking me, he declared, "100 Euros."

I wondered if 100 euros was a good deal. I had no idea how much it cost to buy drugs. Should I go through with the transaction and then kill him? This was harder than I anticipated; I really needed to just follow Heidi's advice next time and not wing it. As I was about to reach into my purse, I realized I didn't bring it, and I had no money on me. I had to stifle a laugh. I had to be the worst vampire killer in history. Okay, strike two. I'll give it another shot.

"Actually, I don't have any money. Ah... is there anything I can do for you instead of paying for the drugs?" Jeez, Bella, not even two hours into your vampire life, and you're already whoring yourself out to score some crack. I didn't read this in the brochure.

The drug dealer flashed me a yellow-toothed grin. Eww. "Yeah, we can work somethin' out. A blow will land you a hit, a fuck, and you'll walk away with a baggie. Let me fuck you in the ass, and you'll walk away with two baggies." I eyed him warily; why did everyone want to fuck me in the ass? Undeterred, he pressed on, "Let's head to my place, sweetie. You please me, and I'll give you what you're craving for. I'm just 'round the block." He looked at me with hope after he had finished his repulsive proposition.

Well, this wasn't unfolding as I had envisioned. I really should've just bonked him on the head and dragged him to an alley to start with. Or, perhaps, I should just try Felix's idea and slice off his head, making the blood fly into my mouth in one long stream. No, wait, I can't try that one out in public. Focus, Bella, just get him to that alley. Anything beats hearing his life story and an invite to his likely rat-infested love nest. Come on, cheer up, I reassured myself. It's all part of the learning process.

"Actually, I'm a bit pressed for time. How about we find somewhere more secluded, like that alley over there? I'm sure I could satisfy both of us rather quickly." I subtly licked my lips, hinting at what I was offering. In reality, though, I was just craving the opportunity to sink my teeth into him and savor every last drop of that yummy blood. Soon, I reassured myself. Just get him to the alley first.

It was becoming increasingly challenging to restrain myself as thoughts of his blood consumed my mind. So, I gently took his hand, and we began walking toward the alley. Once we were far enough in, and I was certain we wouldn't be interrupted, I turned to him with what I hoped was an alluring smile. "Would you like me to finish you off quickly, which you would probably prefer, or do you want me to go slowly and really take my time, which I think I would find more pleasurable?"

He grinned at me as though I were doing him a favor. "Nice and slow. Make sure to suck good and hard. I really want to enjoy this. You've got to be the finest piece of ass I've ever seen."

"Wow. Thanks for making this so easy for me." It wasn't the most efficient kill, but at least I hadn't encountered any problems. I smiled up at the drug dealer. "I'll admit, this is my first time doing anything like this. I hope I do a good job. Truthfully, I'm a little freaked out that I'm starting to get a tad bit horny. After I'm done with you, I'm going to need a really hard fucking."

I sidled up to him, wrapping one arm around his body, while the other gently pulled him down a bit, given that he was a few inches taller than me. My mouth hovered right next to his neck, and I could practically feel the blood pulsating beneath that thin layer of skin. I started licking the area, hoping to get his blood pumping faster and heightening my anticipation. When I reached the point where I thought I couldn't bear it any longer, I whispered in his ear, "Oh god. I want it so badly. Are you ready? I can't wait any longer. I'm about to start sucking."

As my grip started to tighten around him, I heard him utter his prophetic last words, "That's right, suck me, bitch!" Without hesitation, I obliged, biting down forcefully into his neck. His body stiffened, attempting to pull away, but I held him firmly in place with my arms. As the first gush of blood invaded my mouth, I almost climaxed. Oh my god, his blood tasted amazing. I swallowed as my mouth filled up. Oh my, I felt it coating my throat as it went down. This was better than anything I had ever tasted. I kept on drinking from him slowly, just as he had requested. He really was nice for a drug dealer.

I continued to drink slowly, loving the tingling sensation that was spreading throughout my entire body. With each swallow, I found myself getting hornier and hornier. I hoped this was common among vampires, and I wasn't some sort of nympho or psychopath. I knew I'd need Demetri to really give it to me as soon as I was done. I was so aroused; there was no way I could wait for us to return to the castle. I needed him now. The steady stream of blood flooding my mouth started to dwindle. Damn, I still wanted more. Where the hell is all this blood going? This fucker was bigger than me. Shouldn't I be full?

Releasing my teeth from his neck, I looked at the guy while holding him up. His head hung limply to the side with his eyes open, vacantly staring behind me. Yep, that's one dead drug dealer. I was curious to know if I could switch to the other side of his neck to get more blood, so I shook him to get his head to roll the other way and bit down hard on the opposite side to find out. I got a small trickle of blood, but it seemed this guy was tapped out. I dropped him unceremoniously to the ground and called out, "Demetri."

He landed in front of me the moment I spoke his name. Clearly, he'd observed the entire scene from the rooftop. Curiosity about his impressions on my first true meal lingered, but that discussion would have to wait. "You can share your thoughts on my performance later. Right now, I need you."

With that, I leapt at him, covering the 10-foot space between us in a single bound. The force of my jump sent him awkwardly backward while I wrapped my legs around him as we collided with the brick wall behind us. I didn't pay much attention to the damage to the bricks. If anyone was inside, hopefully, they would just think it was a mild earthquake.

As I kissed him, I became lost in my bloodlust, entwined with my physical need for him, making it difficult to think clearly. There would be no time for foreplay; I needed him right this instant. My hand descended between us, and I heard fabric tearing. A smile formed on my lips as I could feel Demetri's hard cock pressing against me.

I swiftly impaled myself on him, bouncing up and down without abandon, moving at vampire speed. Holy fuck, I needed him desperately. I had never moved so fast as I rocked his world.

I lost track of time, but eventually, I sensed my climax rapidly approaching, accompanied by an overwhelming desire to bite him. As the waves of my orgasm coursed through my body, I angled my head and sank my teeth into Demetri's neck with all my strength, injecting as much venom as possible.

Everything felt perfect as I continued thrusting my hips into him even after my climax. Simultaneously, Demetri pounded into me as I moved against him, and soon, he stiffened and started cumming inside me. As I felt his release fill me, he yanked my head roughly to the side, exposing my neck, and I eagerly felt the sting as he bit down hard in the same place he had marked three days ago.

I felt him pushing his venom into me once again, and the sting of the foreign venom invading my body made me orgasm again. This feeling was beyond anything I had ever experienced in my human life. As I started to calm down, I eased into a more rhythmic motion, slowly moving against him. I hoped he was prepared for what lay ahead. For many reasons, I needed to surpass that 45-hour marathon fuck fest he once told me about. Soon, I silently told myself.

As the intensity of our coupling waned, I felt Demetri lean in and start gently licking my neck. It felt so soothing, and I wanted to reciprocate, so I began licking the teeth marks I had just left on his own neck. It was a profoundly sensual moment, different from the erotic experience we had just shared. Finally, I pulled back to look him in the eyes. With a smile, I confessed, "I needed that so badly. I'm sorry our first time with me as a vampire had to be in this grimy alley. I just couldn't wait after I drained that guy. How did I do?"

Demetri's smile broadened, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "You had myself, Felix, and Heidi all in stitches. You are the first newborn we ever saw who stopped to have a long, awkward conversation with her first meal. Usually, a newborn can't get a single word out before attacking. Don't worry; you got there in the end, and your technique will only improve with practice."

I chuckled. "Well, I'm glad I could amuse you three. Ah, is it common to get horny as you're draining someone?"

Demetri grinned, "Yes, it's quite common for vampires to feel a surge of arousal during their meals, especially for newborns. Don't worry; it's perfectly normal."

"Phew, that's a relief. I was starting to worry I was some kind of sicko or something. Now, how about you let me get rid of that body? I want to test out my explosive power on a smaller scale in the dumpster to see if it works better than a lighter."

"Sorry, Bella, but Felix already beat you to it while we were… preoccupied. Heidi also went out and got us some new clothes. That is unless you want us to walk around with the crotches of our pants ripped out? That would be quite the fashion statement." I glanced down, and yep, there were our privates on display for all the world to see.

"Okay. I'll need to practice my control to avoid tearing clothes when we're out in public." I glanced around and spotted a bag, presumably holding two new pairs of pants, sitting on top of a trash barrel. Demetri dressed swiftly but signaled for me to wait.

"Don't feel bad, but let me give you a hand this one time putting on your pants. We can practice more when we get back to the castle, but it takes a little work for a newborn to get dressed without tearing their clothes." I grinned as I stepped into the pants that Demetri was holding out for me. After he buttoned them up, he smiled and planted a kiss on my lips.

"Thank you, kind sir," I said, adopting the tone of a well-to-do, proper lady, all the while pulling him into a hug.

Looking up into Demetri's eyes, I couldn't help but smile at the joy reflected in his expression. With his arms still wrapped around me, he asked, "Would you like to grab another meal, or are you done for now?"

"Well, I'm still hungry, but I think that might just be a newborn thing. Honestly, I'd rather go test my speed and see what other fun challenges we can come up with. There's just so much I want to do. Let's go meet up with Heidi and Felix and find a spot where we can all race together."

We walked hand in hand out of the alley. I was relieved that my first true meal had been a resounding success, and was a true testament to my preparedness and complete self-control over all my urges. I let out a huff of laughter, wondering where all this bullshit came from that kept invading my mind.

When we returned to the car, I spotted Felix and Heidi waiting for us, both wearing wide grins on their faces, probably still amused by my encounter with my dinner. That's alright, I'm a big girl; I can handle a good-natured ribbing. "It's okay. Laugh it up."

As we all got into the vehicle, Felix threw out some good one-liners that I couldn't help but grin at, joining in the laughter with Demetri and Heidi. During the drive, I sought more tips from Heidi, who happily shared additional pointers. About 30 miles outside Florence, we veered off the highway, navigating our way to some desolate roads leading to the forest.

Stepping out of the car, I inhaled deeply, savoring the crisp air that stood in stark contrast to Florence's intoxicating scent of human blood. Here, the air held a more soothing, woodsy aroma. I cast a quick glance at Demetri, sensing he was on the verge of saying something.

"Alright, Bella, we're in a pretty remote area here, so feel free to go all out and test your speed. Among the three of us, Felix is the fastest." He flashed me a grin, and I shot one right back at him. "Ready to show us what you've got?" he added, his smirk evident as he issued his playful challenge.

I couldn't help but smile. Running at vampire speeds had been a dream of mine for years, and today was finally the day. I glanced at Demetri and my two friends. "Bring it on! I'm more than ready. In my short life, I've already gone from the clumsiest girl in the world to the fastest human woman alive. I can't wait to see what, I guess, Bella version 3.0 has in store for us."

Getting ready for my run, I went through the familiar stretching exercises I used to do when I was human. I raised my arms above my head, stretching left and then right, but the usual good feeling of the exercise didn't accompany the movements. Lifting my left leg behind me and pulling it back with my left hand, I mirrored the action with my right leg. However, the stretch didn't provide the relief it once did. I guess Demetri had been right. As a vampire, my body and muscles were frozen as they were at the moment of my change, and the usual post-stretch comfort was no longer applicable or necessary. It made me even more grateful for the years of hard work I had put into getting my body into top physical condition before my change.

I got ready, and as soon as Demetri, Felix, and Heidi took off, I followed right behind them. It was incredible—I moved through the forest so swiftly, yet everything was crystal clear even in the dark of night. I kept up with the speed the others were going, laughing as I watched all of us running. It felt effortless, and I could see every tiny detail as I raced past. Demetri had been right; my memory was perfect as I replayed the forest I had just run through in my head while simultaneously keeping up with the group. It was truly amazing.

Felix glanced at me, nodded, and then kicked it up a notch, pulling ahead of the rest of us. I watched him speed away, and my gaze shifted to Demetri. I knew I hadn't come close to pushing my limits, so I shot Demetri a quick wave and sped off after Felix. Catching up with him easily, I matched his faster speed for a while, but I knew I could go even faster. "Later, Felix," I called out, then grinned as I moved right next to him, saying, "Beep Beep," giving my best Road Runner impression as I zoomed off, leaving Felix in the dust.

I was almost flying through the forest now; I was going so fast, and then it hit me. I could actually try flying now. I no longer had to worry about falling or injuring myself. My body was pretty much indestructible and harder than the ground. I put even more speed into running, and I was going so fast I just had to try it. I jumped high into the air. As I flew up, I wrapped my shield around my body and raised it as fast as my mind could move it.

I had never done anything like this, and as I soared higher into the sky, I marveled at how free I felt. Continuously lifting myself higher and higher, the wind enveloped my body, and my hair danced wildly as gusts assaulted it. I couldn't gauge the exact speed at which I was moving my shield with my body encased in it, but it felt like I was ascending at a rapid pace. Not as fast as vampire speed while running, but swift nonetheless. I knew that with practice, I would be able to move even faster and more gracefully.

I could see the bright lights of Florence far in the distance—a beautiful sight as I kept pushing higher. Ahead, some clouds sparsely dotted the sky, and I thought, why not, and pushed beyond them until I finally stopped the shield from moving and held myself steady in place. I hung there, suspended, taking in the beauty of the early morning sky. I was so high that even though it was still pitch black on Earth, at such a high elevation, I could see the sun just starting to become visible.

I rotated my shield around to face the sun, eager to catch my first glimpse with my new eyes. Its beauty struck me speechless. With my vampire vision, I could now truly appreciate the sun in all its glory. Every detail was vivid, and staring directly at it didn't hurt my eyes. As I marveled at the sun, an unusual reflection caught the edge of my vision. Looking down in awe, I saw my true self for the very first time.

Of course, I knew this would happen, but still seeing it for the first time caught me off guard. Raising my hands in front of me, I was mesmerized by the sight—they sparkled with a radiance that stole my breath. It was like millions of diamonds reflecting the sun's brilliance, and I found it nearly impossible to look away. Eager to share this experience with Demetri, I looked down towards the Earth, but I was so far up that I couldn't spot him or my friends, especially if they were still beneath the tree cover.

Looking down at the Earth made me fully appreciate how high I had actually traveled. Maybe I had overdone it a bit on this initial test flight, but hey, I'm a goddamn vampire now. I decided a small further test was warranted before heading back down, so I turned myself perpendicular to the ground and started moving around in wide circles. As I moved, it felt anything but graceful. Sure, I was handling my shield better and faster than I ever did as a human, but I needed to learn refinement and really put in some practice time before it would appear like I was really flying.

Ready to return to the Earth, I thought it would be fun to streak down from the sky like a bird. I changed my direction so I was now aimed downwards. I started moving my shield again towards the ground as fast as I could move it. Soon, I was hurtling towards the Earth at increasing speed, and I thought it would be cool if right before I hit the ground, I moved myself to do one of those superhero landings that are so popular in the movies. I put even more speed into my shield so I was streaking down from the sky like a bullet.

It felt amazing as I flew down, and I saw the ground rapidly approaching. I started to adjust my shield to right myself so I could land on my feet, but unfortunately, I hadn't factored in all of the variables, including how fast I could turn myself. As a result, I pretty much did a belly flop straight into the earth, causing a massive explosion of dirt all around me. Laughter bubbled up as the debris fell all around me. Luckily, no one had been filming that first attempt. As I got up to dust myself off, the others zipped in, positioned themselves around the edges of the large impact crater I was standing in.

"Bella, are you alright?" Demetri asked, his tone filled with concern. He jumped down into the crater and enveloped me in a big hug, unfazed by how dirty I had become.

"I'm fine. Better than fine. Did you guys see me fly into the air? I went up beyond the clouds. It was unbelievable. On the way down, I tried to do one of those superhero landings, but I guess I need some more practice. I love being a vampire." I hugged Demetri tightly; the grin on my face would not be leaving anytime soon. "Okay, what's next?"

Let me know your thoughts on the final regular chapter. The next one will be the epilogue. I know it's sad that the story is ending, but who knows? I might decide to give an update with a time jump so we can see how everyone is faring. Thank you to everyone who has enjoyed the story and left their reviews.