Normal people would get on an air plane to get from one country to another, or over long distances, but I have my very own private flyer; Air Vampire: The bloodiest ride you'll ever have.
I never knew Mark could fly, let alone in a human form, but it turns out 'Special Ability' vampires don’t have the ability to change into bats, so Victor and William could, I guessed.
"I like bats," I murmured softly to myself.
Mark chuckled a bit.
"I like bats, too."
"I always wanted a bat as a pet, like a fruit bat, so I could have something cute, and I just love them." I smiled, hugging Mark around his neck loosely as we flew.
It was interesting how I wasn’t screaming my head off, being afraid of heights and everything, or even getting motion sickness from the speed that he was going, but I was very calm, and very comfortable.
"Guess I know what to get you for your birthday." Mark smiled before gently landing on the church's lawn, only down the road from my house, and next door to his.
I want you to meet my mom sometime." I smiled to him.
"How about now? I've been able to think of a good enough reason as to why we were gone for three days.
I blinked. I had totally forgotten about that.
I smiled sheepishly.
"That would be smart." I rubbed the back of my head and he picked me up bridal style and began towards my house, while I suddenly began to feel tired, and somewhat sick.
I looked up at Mark questioningly. He had something in mind for sure.
He started to slow down till when he got to my house and slowly went up the driveway and to the front door, where he leaned against the railing and rang the doorbell.
After a moment my mother opened the door. Her eyes were stained pink from crying, and all of her make up was running down her cheeks.
I hadn't seen her so upset before.
Her eyes widened as she saw the two of us on the porch.
"Oh my God!" She cried, opening the door wide. "Josh! Get down here! It's Kristine!" My mother cried to her husband. Now that I really think about it, I never told you guys about him. Josh is my stepfather. He's a sweet guy, sense of humor, loves scary movies, ADD with most things except those he's passionate about, and the typical guy. The only problem I had with him was trust.
When I lived in Hawaii with my mother, before Samantha was born, my mother and him used to get drunk a lot and have physical fights. I had never lived through something like that before. I was very sheltered at my dad's, but when I turned 13 and moved in with mom, I was suddenly exposed to the cruel world.
Samantha is the only reason why I'm here today, the only reason why I was able to meet Mark and his family.
I was very suicidal during those few years, until Samantha was born. I used to take care of her while they were being a$$holes. I often was out at midnight, letting her sleep in the front pouch and would walk around the town until the we early morning hours.
Those walks were the only peace I could get. And to tell you the truth, I kind of miss them. I miss her being that small, and letting her fall asleep only minutes through the walk, so I could just contemplate on my own.
I guess that was the reason why she attached herself to me so much. I was like the second mother, and she could somewhat remember me saving her from countless nights of screaming all night as her parents fought in the living room. It made me feel very special actually, but anyway, back to what's happening now. Maybe I'll get back into my past again for you some other time.
Mother helped Mark bring me inside and sat him down on the couch. He was a good actor; he looked so tired, frail, and almost sickly.
"What happened?!" Mother began to cry again, holding my hand gently.
"We were kidnapped in the carnival parking lot," Mark spoke softly. "I wasn’t able to get a good look at the guy before he knocked me out."
"Oh my God, He didn’t hurt you two, did her?" She was still crying a bit as Josh ran down the stairs, dressed, and holding the phone.
"Should I call the cops?"
"That won't be necessary." Mark quickly replied. "I drowned him. They'll find his body soon enough."
Josh and mom both blinked out of surprise.
"You killed him?" Mom stuttered, looking down at Mark and I as he lovingly stroked my hair.
"He was going to touch my Kristine. I wouldn’t let him do something to her. I couldn’t."
Mom smiled gently as I blushed faintly. He meant those words, and how passionate he was about saying it.
It was flattering, and so very romantic all in one.
"Mama?" Samantha's weary voice came from the doorway to the hallway and I tilted my head back to find her standing there, rubbing her eyes in her tiny pink nightgown. I smiled gently.
Mark turned his head and blinked when his eyes landed upon Samantha. He hadn't met my sister's either. And I guess he would be now.
"Hey there, Sammy." I spoke weakly and she instantly looked up to find Mark and me. She smiled brightly.
"Sissy!" She cried, running over to me and climbing up onto the couch and hugging me.
I hugged her back, smiling brightly. I had missed her. I had missed Hailey too, but I guess I would be seeing her in the morning.
"Mark, you seem so tired, would you like to stay here the night? You could call your parents in the morning and we'll take you home." Mom smiled to him.
I smiled a bit and looked up to him. That would be nice to finally have my gothic mate spend the night. Mother obviously trusted him, then again, I'm sure she would be happy to find us naked in my bed the next morning. She always anticipated me sleeping with someone, guess she was trying to make it happen now, or she was just thinking of us for once.
"That would be lovely, thank you Mrs. Jones." Mark replied, smiling sweetly.
"Call me Mom, if you'd like." She smiled and Mark chuckled a bit and nodded.
"Alright, Mom."
I smiled. He always called his own mother 'mother', so I guess calling mine 'Mom' was alright.
"The room's this way." She led Mark into my room and he gently sat down and got himself comfortable before placing me between his legs, letting me sleep against his chest. Though I could hear no heart beat-didn’t figure he would have one- I was still very comfortable none-the-less.
"Good night, you two." Mom smiled, taking Samantha from me and started upstairs. Of course Samantha didn’t understand that I had been taken from her, but merely thought I was with Grandma the whole time.
I'm sure it was better to keep it that way until she was older.
"I never thought the first night meeting your mother and step father, I would be spending the night." Mark chuckled, regaining his usual composer, and taking my symptoms away.
I smiled.
"Mom wants me to get laid unconsciously." I teased.
Mark laughed before smirking down at me seductively.
"Do you want to?"
RRRTTT CRASH BOOM
I wasn’t ready to give him my answer. I wasn’t ready to give myself to him just yet. I did love him, and making love with him would be something I would allow sooner or later, but I couldn’t now. I couldn’t tell him I was raped before ninth grade. I couldn’t just yet.
I laughed, as if he were playing, trying to get off the subject and cuddled to him.
He obviously took the hint and dropped it, stroking my hair lovingly.
"Tomorrow I'll leave you." He whispered softly. My heart sank. "And I don’t know when I'll be able to see you again. It could be a few days, or two weeks."
"Two weeks?" I asked, looking up to him with such despair.
Mark nodded.
"I need to make sure you aren’t around while the family is in."
"Why's that?"
"Because, not all of them will keep their hands off you. They are very protective of the family secret, and if they find out that you know, they might end up going to the extreme and killing you."
I blinked. I was suddenly dropped into a pit of fear. I was in danger and Mark's extended family was the cause. But I wanted to meet them. I wanted to show them that not all humans would go and sell them to a freak show.
"I still want to meet them, Mark. I want your family to trust me, not hate me."
Mark sighed, still stroking my hair.
"I know, but I've already brought you into enough danger since I came into your life."
"I would have met Victor anyway, and think of what could have happened if you weren’t around." I contradicted him.
Mark smiled gently.
"I still cant bring you with m-" I cut him off.
"Come on, Mark. I'll stay around you and your parents. I wont get myself alone with one of them, I promise. I want them to like me, Mark."
Mark sighed, looking down at me. He was really contemplating it.
"Fine. But you'll have to have me or Elizabeth at your side at all times, do you understand?"
I smiled and nodded, hugging him tightly around the chest.
"Thank you, Mark!"
"Then tomorrow," He paused, leaning down and kissing me gently. My heart sped up as I fell into a world of bliss. He pulled away gently. "You'll meet the family."

[To be Continued]