Part V: The Swan Bloodline
As Demetri and I got in the car and he pulled out of the driveway, I couldn't help but state the obvious, "Oh my god. Could you believe how badly Jake reeked? I'm glad I was able to hold it together. He even overwhelmed the disgusting smell of that pizza."
Demetri shook his head, still clearly in disbelief. "I know. You never mentioned their stench. I'll eventually meet your friend Seth, but otherwise, let's stay clear of that bunch. Jake was pretty much an asshole the entire day." Demetri lowered our windows, allowing us to breathe in some fresh air.
"The Cullens did mention that the wolves stink, but I thought it was more of a vampire-werewolf feud thing where they just liked to complain about the other side. I know the wolves think we stink just as much. That's why I hugged Jake before he left. Hopefully, he has to go bathe in tomato juice or something. At any rate, I doubt Leah will have anything to do with him while he reeks of us. Serves him right for making us eat pizza."
I wanted to let loose and relax a little after the day we had, as even though I loved spending time with my family, it was stressful making sure nothing happened that would compromise our secret.
"Hey, soon we'll reach the road leading to the Cullens' house. What do you say we head down it, get rid of this food, and then unwind a little?" Demetri nodded. However, upon reaching the Cullens' driveway, I noticed it hadn't been plowed, and there was still a good foot of snow on it. So, I asked Demetri to drive ahead until we found a side road that was rarely used. We drove down that road until we found a spot to safely pull over and park.
Exiting the car, I scanned the area and, seeing it was clear of people or other cars, I grabbed onto Demetri and took off at a quick pace, flying over the treetops back towards the Cullen house. As I landed us next to the house, it looked cold and truly resembled a home that had been boarded up for the past five years. It had lost its charm that I always felt when I visited. I guess it was the Cullens that made the house so special.
After taking a moment to look over the house, I turned to Demetri, saying, "Let's deal with this pizza first. I'll take the left side of the house, and you take the right." We exchanged smiles and both went to hack our guts out. Stupid Jake. I wished I could have come up with some clever retaliation, but I couldn't really do or say anything with Charlie and the others around. I didn't trust Jake to keep his cool, as he was always a bit of a hothead, and keeping the secret was more important than engaging in silly got-you games.
After I'd finished barfing up a lung, I went and found Demetri, who seemed to have recovered as well. "You good?" I asked.
"I'm fine. How were you after Kevin had his accident?" Demetri's expression showed only concern for me. "When I saw him come back all bloody, I wanted to make sure you were okay, but I didn't want to make a big deal out of it."
"I was okay. He certainly smelled good, but I was completely in control the entire time. I would have been able to bandage him up if Heather had not been there to take over."
"That's good to hear. Even at five years old, I've known many vampires that age who would not have been able to do what you did. I'm glad you felt no temptation, as I know how hard you've worked to be in control of your thirst. What happened?"
I smiled, remembering the fun time Kevin and I had at the park. "Kevin wanted to play cops and robbers. I think he wants to grow up and be a cop like Charlie. He told me to be the robber, and he would catch me and put me in jail. I don't think he even knows what being a robber means. He was very cute. I led him on a chase, but at one point, he tripped and hit his head on a fallen tree limb. He really screamed at first, but luckily, Heather hugged him while I distracted him with some magic tricks. That book on magic you got me has really turned out to be handy. I think I'll read some more books on the subject. If anyone sees us do anything fishy in the future, showing them that we are actually magicians will probably work as a good explanation for whatever they saw."
Demetri smiled at me. "I love your ingenuity. No matter what the situation is, you're always thinking about how to improve our lives and solve problems we might have one day." He trudged the remaining few feet through the snow and and enveloped me in a big hug. "So, was Christmas everything you had hoped for?"
I returned his hug. "Absolutely, it was perfect. I'm so glad Kevin had such a fun time with the Zorbo. I can't say I would've found it as amusing when I was his age, but then again, I think I was a bit of an odd child."
Demetri laughed. "Face it, honey, you're still a little odd right now." He smiled as I playfully slapped his chest in mock outrage.
Demetri looked up at the Cullen house, likely realizing he had stepped in it and needed to change the subject. "So, this is the famous Cullen house you liked so much. It is a nice-looking home. Did you want to break in or something?"
I laughed. "No, no. I just felt like exercising my abilities for a while before we get back to the hotel, where I'm sure we could think of other, more pleasurable endeavors to take up the rest of the night. Would you like to run with me through the snow, or would you prefer to fly with me?"
Demetri pondered for a moment before saying, "I'll run and keep up with you. You fly as fast or as slow as you want."
I nodded and leaped into the air, allowing my shields to envelop me as I shot off, gliding around 10 feet above the ground. As I navigated through the forest, I wasn't pushing myself to go at my top speed. Flying at around 70 mph felt quite relaxing, so I maintained that pace, and Demetri effortlessly raced beside me. I worked on my aerial maneuvers, spinning and twirling through the trees, focusing on refining the smaller, more subtle movements.
As we raced through the forest, I knew we were approaching a massive cliff ledge. Back when I was human, I always had to take the long way around, envying the Cullens as I watched them jump off, soaring through the air until they landed approximately 100 feet below. Well, times had changed, and I decided to kick up my speed, yelling at Demetri to jump when the time came. We zoomed over the cliff ledge together, with me flying straight ahead while Demetri leaped with all his strength. I watched as he propelled himself into the sky, and while he still had forward momentum, I flew beneath him, allowing him to land somewhat roughly on my back. Despite the impact, I didn't waver in my speed and laughed as he clung on, wrapping his arms around my neck.
"Well, this is a new position," I said, grinning. "Hang on. We're going up." I angled us upward and shot straight into the sky. It was dark out now, and there was no one around to see us, so I didn't worry about that. I kept ascending, flying past the cloud cover until I brought us to a stop. I placed a wide shield underneath us and held it there. "You can let go now. It's safe."
Demetri gingerly released his grip after he felt solid footing underneath him. Standing next to me, he turned and smiled. "You never cease to amaze me, Bella. This is incredible." It struck me that I had never taken Demetri up this high before.
"Look over there; you can see the entire town of Forks. It looks so small from up here," I remarked. While I considered the idea of flying closer after we were done, the expression on Demetri's face suggested he had something else in mind.
"How high do you think we are, Bella?" he asked, looking down.
I smiled. "Oh, I'd say we are about a mile up. Why?"
Demetri grinned back. "Oh, I was just thinking about our mile-high club membership. We've never checked that box that says we've done it sans plane. Don't you think that should be rectified?"
"You know, I think you're right, and the sooner, the better." I looked down, and we were surrounded by nothing but the vast dense forest. "I know I'm going to throw these clothes out as they reek of wolf, but let's keep our clothes on while we do it. They'll just blow away if we try and get naked, and it would be quite the sight trying to get back to our hotel room in our birthday suits."
Demetri, grinning widely, had already started to unzip his pants. "I can live with that. Do you want to get on your hands and knees?"
I laughed, "Fat chance, mister. You've already had that kind of fun last night, and my poor bottom is still sore. You better start with a kiss to make it feel better, and then we can get it on the old-fashioned way. Hmm, maybe while you're pounding into me, I'll drop the shield, and you can continue as we free fall towards the ground. I'll slow us down right before we hit the ground. How does that sound?"
"Sounds amazing! Now drop those pants, it seems I need to lay a kiss on your sweet ass."
I smiled, unbuckling my pants and slowly lowering them teasingly as Demetri got to his knees and kissed my bottom. Afterward, he reached his hand around between my legs and started massaging me. Oh god, that felt good. I let him continue to finger me until he was ready to really get the show going.
Lying flat on my shield, looking down as Demetri pounded into me from behind, was a new experience. I waited until I felt the first signs of my release and figured now was the time, so I removed the shield we were on, and we started plummeting towards the earth. Demetri was still going strong as my orgasm hit full force. I spread my arms out wide, relishing the unbelievable pleasure combined with the feeling of free-falling and the wind blowing through my hair.
I wondered how it would feel if I just let us hit the ground, but even though we would be okay, some remnant of my human sensibilities steered me away from that idea. The ground was coming up fast, and I knew I needed to act. While I was putting my shield around us again, thoughts of what other freaky sex games we could come up with crossed my mind. After all, the night was still young.
The next day marked our last in Forks, and before heading to Charlie's, I gave Demetri a tour, showing him around, including the high school and the town center where both Charlie and Heather worked. We planned it so that we arrived right after they had all finished lunch. What fortunate timing indeed.
While Kevin was busy playing with his Zorbo, Charlie motioned for me to come closer, and he whispered, "That doll you got Kevin is really freaking me out, Bella. Last night, as I was reading a story to Kevin, I saw it walking around the room, inspecting some of his toys. After I wished Kevin good night, the doll looked right at me and asked if I could plug it in to charge overnight. Once I did, it thanked me, said good night, and closed its eyes. I don't know what to do. I've seen several movies that start this way, and they never end well."
I grinned at Charlie. "Dad, it's just the appearance of intelligence. It's programmed to act like a kid around Kevin, but for an adult, it can be a bit more direct. Toys like this are the future. I'm sure by the time Kevin is my age, all computers will be interactive—you can talk to them, and they'll talk right back. Don't worry, there won't be a Judgment Day, and the Zorbo is not Chucky or Megan. I suggest you read the manual; it will explain in detail what the doll can do and how it thinks and behaves around others. It's actually a pretty fascinating read."
Charlie nodded, but I could tell he wasn't entirely convinced. Later, while I was playing with Kevin and helping him fill in one of his coloring books, the phone rang. It turned out Heather was needed at the bank. We assured her not to worry and that we'd still be here when she got back. After kissing Kevin and Charlie goodbye, she headed off to handle whatever issue the bank was facing.
Demetri was currently telling a story to Kevin, weaving a tale about a hero in ancient Greece. I was certain he was drawing inspiration from his own life, but instead of wreaking havoc on the townsfolk, he depicted himself saving them from dragons and other mythical beasts. Kevin was awestruck, completely absorbed in the narrative, and I couldn't help but smile when I noticed Charlie equally captivated by the tale.
When the story concluded, Charlie spoke up. "Your tale of ancient Greece got me thinking. Heather has been hinting that when Kevin is older, she'd like to show him more of the world. She thinks I need to see more of it too, considering I've never been outside the US. Europe is on her mind. You've shared so many wonderful stories about your home in Italy. Do you think you could show us around if we ever happen to pop by your house?"
Shit. That doesn't sound good, but I smiled. "Of course, but for a first trip to Europe, especially with a young boy, I believe you'd have a better time visiting some of the larger cities like London and Paris. They offer a blend of culture and attractions that can keep a boy like Kevin interested. In the future, before making any plans, talk to us. I'm sure I can schedule some time off, so either I or, hopefully, both of us can come and spend time with you on your trip, showing you all the sights. I agree with Heather; taking a trip to Europe is an amazing idea, Dad. I would have suggested it myself, but I know you. However, she's right, and you and Kevin should see the world. What age do you think Kevin will be when you guys do this?"
Charlie smiled, clearly pleased that I liked the idea. "Oh, not for a while, I'd say, not until Kevin is around 10 to 13. We would want him to remember and truly enjoy the trip."
Demetri chimed in, "That sounds great. We'll look forward to it. It's always nice experiencing places you've been before through someone else's fresh eyes."
Just then, Charlie's cell phone rang. He answered the call, and after listening for a moment, assumed his more professional tone and walked into the kitchen to speak without the chance of Kevin interrupting him. We could both clearly hear that a semi-truck had rolled over, blocking the highway, and Charlie was needed. After he ended the call, he came back to the living room with a concerned look on his face. "That was Deputy Crabtree. A truck just overturned on the highway, and they need me. Can you guys watch Kevin for a while until Heather or I return?"
"Sure, Dad. That's no issue at all. Go do your job. Kevin will be fine."
Charlie smiled appreciatively at me. "Thanks, Bells." He went to the closet and retrieved his jacket and other gear before coming back quickly. Kneeling down in front of Kevin, he said, "Hey, little man, Bella and Demetri are going to watch you for a little while until your mom or I come home. You behave, okay?"
Kevin glanced up from playing with his Zorbo. "Okay," he said, waving goodbye with his little hand as Charlie bid us farewell and swiftly drove away in his squad car.
Turning to Demetri, I remarked, "Looks like we can add babysitting to the list of chores we never thought we'd do."
Kevin piped up, "I'm a big boy, not a baby," in a high-pitched voice, eliciting a laugh from me.
"Oh, I know, Kevin. You're big and strong, just like your daddy," I said with a smile. Kevin nodded happily and went back to playing.
Turning my attention to Demetri, I noticed he was looking at Kevin with a peculiar expression. "What's got you looking like that?" I asked, intrigued.
Demetri turned his attention back to me, speaking in a hushed tone that wouldn't reach Kevin's ears. "I've just discovered something intriguing. I happened to use my power, but, just like you, I can't detect Kevin with my ability at all. It seems he can resist a vampire's power while human, just as you did."
Well, that was surprising. I glanced at Kevin, who continued playing, completely oblivious to our conversation. "That is unusual. I guess it proves that my abilities come from Charlie's genes and not a combination of both my parents. You can detect Charlie, right?"
Demetri nodded. "Yes, I can sense Charlie right now; he's on the road, on his way to wherever the accident was. And I can detect Heather at the bank you showed me earlier today. But inside this house, I can't sense anyone, neither you nor Kevin."
"Are you certain I'm not just projecting my shield outward, possibly confusing your vamp radar? Let me slip out the back door for a moment and get away from Kevin, just to double-check your findings." Demetri nodded, and I walked out the back door. Listening carefully, I detected no other heartbeats nearby, so I flew into the forest for a minute and then flew back. Coming back into the living room, I looked at Demetri.
"No, it's not you. Kevin is the one blocking me," Demetri stated.
Well, that was certainly interesting. I thought for a moment, contemplating the significance of this revelation. My powers had only become significantly more powerful after I had been introduced to vampire venom, an experience that Kevin wouldn't share. "I don't think this should have any bearing on his life. We're not going to bring a child into our world. He'll grow up as he normally would. I think when he's older, I'll get a blood sample at some point, just for research purposes."
"Do you think he'd want to become a vampire someday, like you did?" Demetri asked, watching Kevin play happily.
I couldn't help but imagine the prospect of keeping my brother in my life, spared from the inevitable process of aging and eventual mortality. As I mulled over the potential consequences, I voiced my thoughts, "Well, I think it's best that we don't consider any issues like that for several decades. Let him grow into an adult, just as I wanted to. We'll look at his life at that point. If he's settled down and is happy with a wife, I don't see any reason to tempt him with what could be. However, if he's unhappy or has just not found his calling in the world, then we can think more about the matter."
Demetri nodded, "That sounds well thought out. I wonder what it is about the Swan family that made you and Kevin this way?"
I smiled, "Oh, I plan to find out. Now that I know it's from Charlie, I'll be getting a blood sample from him as well. I think during our next visit, I'll mention that I'm conducting a research study on blood from several generations of the same family and would like to use ours as one of my control groups. I'm confident I'll be able to get both Charlie and Kevin to volunteer a sample. This is just the type of research I'm interested in. I haven't started studying my own blood yet, but I think the time is near for me to conduct thorough research on the Swan bloodline."
Heather returned around an hour later and thanked us for watching Kevin. Charlie came back a few hours after that. Soon, sadly, it was time for us to depart, but seeing how well the trip had gone, I knew we would return. I bid everyone farewell with hugs, yet it was evident that Kevin, in particular, would miss me. He clung to my leg, and with tears in his eyes, he urged me not to leave. He was so sweet; I smiled, scooping him up, and gave him another heartfelt hug, rubbing his back, and assured him that I would be back. I suggested that we could now keep in touch through the phone and email, just like I did with his daddy. This seemed to appease him, and I handed him off to Charlie as we all waved our goodbyes.
Demetri and I hopped back into the car, pulling out of the driveway on our way to Seattle and our awaiting jet. With only a few days left until New Year's, I looked forward to celebrating the end of 2034 with the Cullens.
Feedback or reviews are welcome. I hope everyone had a happy new year!
