Previously:
"Hey," Bella called out, her voice carrying effortlessly over the wind. "Do you think we could fly the rest of the way to your house? I've always thought it would be amazing to fly with other vampires."
Bella didn't get the response she was hoping for. Both Peter and Charlotte stopped abruptly, so suddenly that she nearly overshot them. She managed to stop about ten feet ahead and turned around, confused as to why they had halted.
Peter eyed Bella warily, a myriad of emotions reflected in his gaze. "What was that, little lady? Did you say fly?"
Chapter 30: Vampire 101
Bella was unsure why she was getting this reaction. She tilted her head slightly, trying to gauge their expressions. "Yeah, fly. What's the problem?"
Peter and Charlotte exchanged a glance, their astonishment palpable. Peter's eyebrows shot up, and Charlotte's mouth parted in surprise. The silence stretched on, thick with unspoken thoughts.
"You can fly?" Charlotte finally spoke up, her voice tinged with disbelief and amazement, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Bella's confidence wavered slightly under their scrutiny. "Yeah... Ah, can't you guys?" She began to feel a little awkward, especially with how Peter and Charlotte were now staring at her.
Charlotte shook her head slowly, her expression softening but still incredulous. "No, sugar. I've never heard of a vampire that could fly. Could you show us?"
Well, this was interesting. Bella had assumed that all people like her—vampires—were alike. But Charlotte's words suggested otherwise. Either way, she desperately wanted answers from them, so she decided it would be wise to answer their requests in kind.
With a determined smile, Bella bent her knees and leaped into the air, seamlessly wrapping a bubble around herself. She soared upward, reaching a height of roughly 100 feet within seconds. The sensation of the cool night air rushing past her always brought a smile to her face. At the peak of her ascent, she executed a graceful loop, the moonlight highlighting her form as she arced through the sky.
As she shot downward, heading straight for her new acquaintances, Peter and Charlotte's faces were a picture of disbelief and awe. Bella couldn't help but smile at their expressions. Before they could react or move out of her way, she veered sharply to the left and began making a wide loop around them. Bella had been practicing and refining her movements for over four years, and with her mind controlling her actions, she knew everything looked perfect and seamless. She reveled in her customary spins and twirls, her movements fluid and precise, each turn filling her with a sense of freedom and joy. She truly loved to fly.
After completing several loops, Bella righted herself, hovering upright before her astonished audience. She paused for a few seconds, letting the moment sink in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Finally, she began to lower herself gracefully to the ground, dispelling the bubble around her midsection as her feet touched the earth.
"Well, fuck me. A flying vampire," Peter said, his mouth still agape after witnessing the craziest thing he had ever seen. He shook his head in disbelief, a mix of awe and amusement playing across his features. "I've gotta say, Bella, I never thought I would ever see the day."
Charlotte nodded in agreement, her eyes still wide with astonishment. "That was incredible, Bella."
Before Bella could respond, she noticed Peter's expression grow more serious. "Let's continue on to our house," he said. "I think it's even more important now that you hear everything we have to tell you."
Bella nodded, and they all resumed their journey by land, as it seemed she was the only one who could fly...
As they ran, Bella noticed the landscape becoming increasingly remote. Vast expanses of flat farmland stretched endlessly under the night sky. The sounds of the city had faded away, replaced by the rustling of crops and the occasional distant call of nocturnal animals.
They eventually reached a solitary dirt road, which they turned onto and followed for miles. The road grew increasingly remote until even the farmland disappeared. Bella couldn't help but be intrigued by where actual vampires called home. Her house with her mom was distinctly human, but she wondered if Peter and Charlotte's would be different. Vampires didn't eat food—would they have a kitchen? And since they didn't need to use the bathroom, maybe they had removed the toilets? She couldn't wait to discover what differences, if any, she would find.
After a while, they came to a wooden post fence, weathered but sturdy, marking the boundary of what appeared to be a substantial property. Peter and Charlotte slowed as they reached the driveway, their pace becoming a leisurely walk. Bella noticed Charlotte smiling at her as she held Peter's hand, and they all walked up the driveway together. In the distance, Bella could see a sizable one-story ranch house, its silhouette outlined against the night sky.
As they approached the house, Bella took in her surroundings. The property was expansive, exuding rustic charm and quiet solitude. Closer to the house, she noticed a large barn, its red paint faded in spots but still vibrant under the moonlight. It stood opposite the house, enhancing the pastoral atmosphere of the place.
In front of the house sat a newish-looking truck, its sleek lines and modern design contrasting sharply with the vehicle parked beside it—a striking vintage car. Although Bella didn't know much about classic automobiles, she guessed it was from the 1950s.
It was evident to her that the property had once been a farm, though those days seemed to be decades past. It wasn't what she had expected, but she liked what she saw.
Peter opened the door and motioned for his wife and Bella to enter. "Welcome to our home," Charlotte said warmly. "Please, have a seat in the living room. We have a lot to discuss."
Bella took a seat while looking around, her eyes absorbing every detail of the room. The house exuded a sense of warmth and history, its cozy and well-lived-in atmosphere instantly putting her at ease. It was evident that Peter and Charlotte had resided here for many decades. Above the fireplace, she noticed a series of photographs, their sepia tones and aged frames attesting to their long history.
One particular photo caught her eye. It showed Peter and Charlotte with two other individuals standing in front of the house. The style of their clothing was nothing like what was worn today, further indicating the passage of time. Bella couldn't help but smile at the sight of more vampires. The other two, a tall blonde man and a short, pixie-like woman, both had smiles on their faces as they stood beside Peter and Charlotte. Even more evidence that she wasn't alone in this new world.
Peter spoke up, breaking Bella out of her reverie. "Okay, Bella. This is your lucky day. Are you ready for a crash course in Vampire 101?" He smirked as he saw her turn towards him, her eyes wide with anticipation. She nodded eagerly, a blend of excitement and curiosity lighting up her face.
He still couldn't fathom how she had survived on her own without someone to guide her and keep her in check. Memories of dealing with newborns flooded back to Peter—how unpredictable and dangerous they could be, driven by insatiable hunger and wild instincts. The fact that Bella had navigated those treacherous waters alone was nothing short of miraculous.
"Good," he continued, leaning forward slightly. "You know, I've been alive for well over a hundred years, and I don't think I've ever encountered a case like yours. Buckle up, because some of what I have to say will probably shock you."
Bella couldn't contain her curiosity and interrupted him. "A hundred years?" she echoed, her voice tinged with awe. "Does that mean my guess was correct? Are we immortal? We never die?"
Peter shrugged, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Well, you can certainly die, but it would usually be at the hands of another vampire. As you've probably figured out, there isn't much in the human world that can harm us. Really, fire is the only thing that can get the job done right. It's one of the few things capable of destroying us completely." He paused, studying Bella's face, which was full of emotion. At the moment, she wore a confused expression, perhaps grappling with the thought of her own mortality for the first time. "I've met vampires who are thousands of years old, so yes, in the broad sense, we are immortal."
Bella pondered Peter's words, turning them over in her mind. Everything he said made sense, except for the part about fire. She vividly recalled the times she had exploded, the intense heat and flames engulfing her body. Each time, she had emerged unscathed. But then again, she believed her bubble had protected her from the fire. She was just about to question Peter further when he spoke up, interrupting her query.
"So you say you are only five years old and yet you've already learned to fly using your power? I have to say, that is beyond impressive," Peter remarked, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "Sometimes it can take a vampire decades, if not centuries, to learn how to use their ability, let alone master it." He nodded at her appraisingly.
Peter's words left Bella puzzled. She tilted her head slightly, trying to grasp the meaning behind his statement. Feeling compelled to seek clarification, she echoed, "Ability?" her brow furrowing in confusion.
"Yes, Bella," Charlotte broke in, her tone eager. "It's not common, but sometimes a vampire like you discovers an additional ability beyond the usual advantages all vampires possess. I personally don't have one, but Peter does." She patted Peter's leg, a proud smile lighting up her face as she encouraged him to continue.
Bella looked towards Peter, fascinated by the unfolding conversation. This was all so interesting.
Peter smiled wryly. "Well, I don't really think it's that much of an ability, but it's saved my ass on more than a few occasions. Sometimes, I just know things. There is no rhyme or reason to it—sometimes, I just know stuff, like the answer to a question or information about something that hasn't even happened yet. It just pops into my head. I have no clue why I know it or why it's important," he chuckled. "Sometimes, it's not important at all. In the grand scheme of vampire abilities, it's not that special."
His expression turned serious as he continued, "Now, unfortunately, I've gotta give you your first of many warnings. Be very careful who you show or talk to about your flying because I have to tell you some things about the Volturi. The rulers of the vampire world... they're also collectors. They've forced many a vampire into servitude because of an ability they have. And while I don't think flying would be as sought after compared to an ability with true offensive capability, I reckon Aro, who's the head Italian fucker, would want you just so he could boast about having a vampire who flies."
Bella absorbed Peter's words, her mind racing with a multitude of questions. One in particular stood out. "What do you mean by offensive ability? And do vampires only have one extra ability?"
Peter nodded, his expression turning serious. "Yes, very rarely, a vampire might come along with an ability that could actually harm other vampires. Those are the types of vampires highly prized by the Volturi. Those Italian bastards have filled their ranks—or as they term it, their guard." He made air quotes with his hands, but the derision on his face told Bella exactly what he thought of them. "In truth, they're really all a bunch of sycophants if you ask me. The Volturi use their guard to keep the rest of the vampire world under their heel. They pretend to be a police force, but really, they just use their thugs to maintain their power, which has worked pretty well for them as they have been in charge for well over 3,000 years. By collecting and coercing anyone and everyone to serve them, there's no group or coven left that could ever stand up to them.
"The Volturi have amassed the most dangerous and powerful vampires to serve them. One of their most feared members can take away all your senses with just a glance, leaving you completely at his mercy. Another, with just a look, can make you fall to the ground in unimaginable pain. And Aro, their leader—or king if you buy into his bullshit, is the worst of them all. With one touch of his hand, he absorbs every thought and desire you've ever had in an instant. He then uses your own thoughts against you to exert his influence over the world."
Peter's face darkened with genuine loathing as he spoke. "If you want my advice, Bella, stay away from the Volturi. Nothing good can come from meeting those assholes."
Bella was shocked. It was awful to learn right from the start that the vampire world was governed by such tyrants. "Where do they live? I want to be sure to avoid the likes of them."
"They live in Volterra, Italy," Peter replied, a sly grin playing on his lips. "In a fuckin' castle, if you can believe it. Look it up on the Internet—it looks like some real-life Disney monstrosity." He shook his head, clearly unimpressed. "Char and I have never seen it in person, and we plan to keep it that way. Thankfully, if you don't make any waves or draw unwanted attention to yourself with humans, they tend to leave you alone. And to answer your other question, yes, I've never heard of a vampire with more than one ability."
Bella absorbed Peter's words, but with them, a torrent of new questions sprang into her mind. But now, she felt unsure if she should even voice them. Peter and Charlotte clearly knew everything about vampires, yet their assertions didn't align with what she had discovered about herself. She had multiple abilities: her bubble, the flying, the explosions. Shit, if these Volturi would want to enslave her for just being able to fly, what would they do if they learned she had once caused an explosion that the authorities said was on the scale of a small nuclear device?
The gravity of her situation hit her hard. She quickly decided it would be best to keep her other abilities to herself for now. While Peter and Charlotte seemed trustworthy, she had only just met them, and what they were telling her was deeply troubling. The prospect of being hunted by a powerful coven of vampires and losing her freedom because of her unique abilities was terrifying.
Bella nodded, trying to keep her face impassive while Peter continued speaking. "Okay, I guess we should start with the main laws of the Volturi. The most important one is to keep our existence a secret. Humans cannot know about the vampire world. If any human learns of our existence, they will be executed, along with the vampire who revealed the secret."
As Peter said this, he noticed Bella's eyes widen in shock. Shit. That wasn't good. He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "You haven't revealed yourself to any humans, have you, Bella?"
Oh god! Mom. Bella hadn't known. She quickly composed herself and shook her head. She watched as Peter regarded her, and by the way he appraised her, she thought he didn't believe her. Thankfully, he didn't question her any further, probably not wanting to know the truth.
Peter continued, "Okay, so maintaining the secret is our main law, and all others are offshoots of that one—like not exposing your vampire nature to humans, cleaning up after your kills, things like that. It appears you were very smart, as I think we would have definitely heard about it if you started flying around in front of humans. That would certainly have garnered attention, and truthfully, it would have been a death sentence for you, as the Volturi do not give second chances."
They talked throughout the night, and Bella learned a great deal about vampire history and culture. She heard snippets of Peter and Charlotte's pasts, which sounded truly dreadful. Listening to their accounts of the vampire wars they had been involved in, she felt grateful that she hadn't ventured to Mexico yet; knowing what was still going on down there, she planned to avoid the country entirely.
Bella shared some stories about her travels, and although it was still hard for her to talk about, she managed to share some of her struggles and experiences during those first few months as a new vampire. Now she knew she had been a newborn. Hearing Peter and Charlotte describe newborns in their tales, she realized it could have been much worse for her and that she might actually have gotten off easy. It certainly hadn't felt that way at the time. She carefully skipped over anything involving her mom and any other details she thought stood out as unusual.
At one point, Charlotte asked if Bella lived as a nomad or if she had a home like they did. Bella explained that she had mostly been living as a nomad but did have a base of operations in Phoenix where she stored her belongings.
By the time morning came, Bella found herself really liking Peter and Charlotte and hoped they could become friends. Charlotte seemed to feel the same way, as she had invited Bella to stay with them for a while to continue teaching her about vampire life. Bella eagerly accepted their invitation. Other than her mom, she hadn't made any true friends in the last five years, and the thought of having friends with whom she didn't have to hide her true self filled her with happiness.
To top it off, Peter had also mentioned that they would teach her a few things about vampire combat, which sounded incredibly intriguing to Bella. She had never been in a fight in her life and was eager to learn everything they could teach her. Throughout her vampire life, Bella had always felt an insatiable urge to improve and become better. Initially, it was her control around humans, and then her abilities. Now, hearing about combat fighting between vampires, she felt that urge reignite, and she couldn't wait to see what they could teach her. Charlotte had boasted that Peter was one of the top vampire fighters, a claim substantiated by his survival through decades of constant fighting in the Southern wars he had mentioned.
Charlotte led Bella to their guest room, where she dropped off her backpack. The room was nice and cozy, with a queen-size bed and an adjoining bathroom. Peeking into the bathroom, she noted the presence of a toilet... Maybe they had human friends who visited. A missing toilet would certainly raise some questions.
Walking back into the living room, Bella detoured to a wall that had piqued her interest earlier when they had been talking during the night. The entire wall above and around an old oak desk was adorned with an eclectic array of artifacts. Most of the items she could identify, but a few left her stumped. Several framed newspaper articles caught her eye. The headlines were mostly about disappearances or murders, and she was pretty sure Peter and Charlotte must have had some involvement in those stories.
Bella's eyes roamed over the collection, noting the lack of any apparent rhyme or reason to the display. She was certain that each piece held its own unique story, significant enough for Peter and Charlotte to display them so prominently.
"It's never a good idea for a vampire to become a hoarder," Peter remarked from behind her. "You'll quickly find yourself running out of space. Char and I keep a few mementos and display them, switching them out as the decades pass."
Bella nodded; his words made sense. She had already noticed that her room at her mom's place was filling up rather quickly. Spotting an unusual-looking spear, she couldn't help but ask, "What's that from? It looks much older and doesn't really match the rest of the items."
Peter chuckled. "After watching the first Indiana Jones movie, my friend Gar and I decided to head down to Peru in search of real lost treasure. We managed to locate some hidden ruins swallowed up by the forest, but there were no golden statue heads or giant boulders trying to flatten us. We did, however, come across some authentic Incan spears. Gar's spear even had blood on it, showing it had been used before the temple, or whatever the ruins had originally been, were abandoned."
Bella smiled, watching the memories play across Peter's face. She hoped to one day have fond memories of her own from adventures like that. She had done some wild things so far, but nothing quite like what Peter described.
"That sounds like fun," Bella mused, envisioning herself in a worn leather jacket and fedora, exploring ancient ruins. "I still need to see the world. I've explored a lot of the US, but I haven't traveled overseas yet."
Peter smiled. "You'll love it. For someone as young as you, it's probably hard to imagine just how ancient and different the rest of the world is compared to the US. Char and I usually take extended trips every few years to explore different parts of the globe. Just last year, we completed our goal of visiting every continent by trekking to Antarctica."
"Really? How was that?" Bella asked, intrigued.
Charlotte laughed. "Cold, if you can believe it! But absolutely stunning. Unfortunately, we could only stay for about a week since our food options were rather limited…"
Bella chuckled. "I imagine they were." She figured there weren't exactly many humans at the South Pole.
She wondered if they had to bring changes of clothes with them. While vampires might be indestructible, their clothes were not, and she imagined the garments might freeze solid if they got wet. Glancing down at herself, Bella realized she only had one change of clothes in her backpack. All the clothes she had acquired while living in Orlando these past months had been shipped off to her mom's.
Thinking about her mom, Bella knew she needed to find a way to call her and relay the crucial information she had just learned. It was now more important than ever that her mom never utter a word about anything.
Hoping to get to know Charlotte better, Bella turned to her. "Hey, I'm going to need some more clothes if I'm going to stay here a while. It looks like a nice day out. Do you think we could run or drive into the city so I can pick some things up?"
Charlotte smiled, though she regarded Bella somewhat questioningly. "Sure, that sounds like fun. I'll take you to some of my favorite shops. We can head out later tonight after it gets dark. Texas isn't really ideal for traveling during the day, but you must know that since your home base is in Phoenix. Sometimes we've thought about moving to a more hospitable northern climate, but…"
"Fuck the north," Peter interjected. "We're Texans, and ain't nothing's making me leave my birth state."
"Yeah, that," Charlotte added, smiling and rubbing Peter's back.
Bella had to smile at Peter's antics. He certainly was quite the character. However, Charlotte's words confused her. "I'm a little unsure what you're referring to. Why can't we go now?"
Charlotte now regarded Bella like she might be a bit slow in the head. "Well, it's obvious, Bella. We can't go out during the day. I think the humans might have something to say if they saw us sparkling like a pair of frickin' disco balls."
"Yeah, but we just shut the sparkles off and we'll be good to go," Bella said, puzzled by Charlotte's concern.
Peter shot Bella a perplexed look. "What do you mean, shut the sparkles off?" he asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Well, I'll admit it took me over a year to figure it out, being by myself and all, but eventually I stumbled upon how to do it…" Bella trailed off, noticing the bewildered looks Peter and Charlotte were giving her. Unease crept in as she realized she might have been incorrect about some of her assumptions again. "Ah... You guys can shut the sparkles off, right?"
Both Peter and Charlotte slowly shook their heads, their expressions a mix of disbelief and curiosity. Peter's eyes narrowed as he appraised her more closely. "No, Bella. No vampire has ever been able to look normal in the sunlight. Are you saying you can? Could you show us?"
It had never occurred to Bella that stopping herself from sparkling was unique in any way. She had always assumed she had just been slow in figuring it out since no one had taught her. Once again, her assumptions about vampires seemed to be faulty. Replaying the events of the previous night in her mind, she realized that neither Peter nor Charlotte had mentioned vampires sparkling. Truthfully, she rarely thought about the sparkles anymore, having shut them off almost entirely for the past four years. She knew she would have to be more careful in the future, but it was too late now to feign ignorance. Bella nodded to them, and they all walked to the front door and stepped out into the blazing hot Texan sun. Peter and Charlotte sparkled like crazy, both gasping as they saw her standing there in the same sunlight, looking perfectly normal.
"I don't believe it," Peter said, shaking his head in astonishment. "This is a first, Bella. I don't really know what to make of you. You can fly and shut off the sparkles. This has to be one of the strangest days in Char's and my long lives. How exactly are you doing it?"
Bella didn't want to discuss her bubble ability after what Peter and Charlotte had told her about the Volturi the previous night, so she decided to modify the explanation of her powers slightly. "Well, I was thinking hard about shutting off the sparkles one day while sunbathing out in the middle of the ocean, and, surprisingly, they flickered off for a moment. At first, it was really difficult to keep them off, but with lots of practice and time, it got easier. Now I can keep them off pretty much indefinitely without much effort. I can sparkle too if I want." She shut off her bubble, and her skin began to sparkle again, mirroring Peter's and Charlotte's skin.
Looking down at her sparkling self, she remembered how restricting life had been during that first year when she could only go out at night. It was awful to think that all vampires had been living this way for centuries, and some for much, much longer.
As Charlotte watched Bella sparkle like a vampire should, she gasped again when Bella's sparkles shut off, and she appeared normal under the sunlight. It was as if she could just flip a switch to turn them on and off. "Amazing." She glanced at Peter, who looked equally stunned. "Boy, I sure would like to be able to walk around during the day out in public. You don't know how lucky you are, Bella."
Bella thought about what Charlotte was saying and could see the wistfulness in her eyes. They were offering to help her and teach her about her new life, and she wanted to repay them in kind if she could. Thinking about it, she realized she wouldn't be revealing the true extent of her abilities if she tried helping Charlotte in this one small way.
"Hang on, let me try something. Stay still for a bit; I don't know if this will work as I've never tried it before." She concentrated on Charlotte, focusing her no-sparkle bubble away from herself, similar to how she would make something glow. It didn't seem to be taxing her, and pretty quickly, Charlotte's glittering self flickered once and then, as if by magic, she too looked normal.
Charlotte gasped. "Oh my god. Peter, look at me!" She started inspecting her skin, raising her hand against the sunlight streaming down. As she turned it this way and that, it wasn't reflecting the light like millions of diamonds. If she could, she was sure there would have been tears in her eyes. She looked down at her legs, marveling at how they now appeared in the sunlight—utterly normal.
"That's amazing," Peter said, staring at his wife. He gently picked up her hand and began examining it. It was surreal to see her hand looking normal next to his sparkling one. "I've never seen a vampire try something new like this and succeed so effortlessly." He turned his gaze to Bella, who was smiling brightly. "Your ability must be connected to your brain, giving you these advanced powers. I can't make heads or tails of what I've seen from you this past day. I wish my knower was giving me some answers about you, but so far, it's been silent. Regardless, it's clear you are a very special vampire, Bella."
Seeing how happy Charlotte looked, inspecting her skin, Bella couldn't help but smile. She was glad she was able to repay Peter and Charlotte's generosity in this small way. Charlotte still seemed pretty distracted, so she spoke up louder to get her attention. "We can go out later after it gets dark. Since I've never done anything like this before, I think we should test it now and for at least the next few days before taking you out among humans in daylight. Let's make sure I can maintain it as long as needed and see what sort of distance limits there might be. When I first figured this out years ago, I didn't go out in public for several months until I was sure I wouldn't start sparkling by accident."
Charlotte couldn't contain her excitement and rushed over to Bella, enveloping her in a tight hug. "Thank you, Bella! That sounds perfect. I'm so glad we met you. Come on, let me show you the rest of the house. Ooh, then we can go talk in the back where we have a pool. I'd love to try sunbathing in the actual sun and, for once, not look like a freak."
Bella laughed. "Sounds like a plan. Lead the way. You know, hitting the beach was one of the first things I did too."
Bella and Charlotte exchanged grins and started walking into the house, leaving Peter standing there, sparkling all by his lonesome.
"Hey now, wait for me," Peter called, quickening his pace to catch up.
I hope you enjoyed listening to Peter and Charlotte explain the ins and outs of vampirism. In the next chapter, we'll explore the heart of Bella's stay with them, including her learning how to fight.
Comments are appreciated. Seeing a new comment always makes me smile as I click on it to read.