Swept Away: The First Bloodline (31 page)

             
“I never left you.  I’m always here T.  Follow your heart and T, let Santa come this year.”  His voice echoed off and then he was gone.  The bright light no longer shined.  The warmth that had surrounded her was gone and she shook from the cold air around her. 

             
She pulled herself back together the best she knew how and went back to the Tahoe.  She sat there for a minute using the sleeve of her hoody to wipe away what tears remained.

“Taylor, do you want me to drive?”

              “No, I want to.  I’m fine.
”
She wiped her tears one last time, drying her face.  “North or South?”  Taylor questioned.

             
“Let’s head north.  Ashley wants snow for Christmas.  If we head north maybe we can give her that at least.”

             
Agreeing with her she turned north on I 55 and began their journey into the new life that they had no choice but to live right now.  There was no turning back.  They had no option.  Her children had no other option.

             
The music played quietly.  Liz and the twins slept peacefully.  Six hours into the trip Taylor was fighting to keep her eyes open.  She had just stopped at Effingham, Illinois and filled up the tank.  She had to catch some shut eye.

             
“Liz, wake up.” Taylor whispered not wanting to wake the twins or alarm Liz.

             
“What?  What is it?”  She jumped as if a cannon had just gone off in her ear.

             
“Nothing.  Shhh.  I’m tired, can you take over?”

             
She rubbed her eyes and calmed her breathing before they changed seats.  “How far do you want to go?”

             
“I thought maybe we could make it to Chicago tonight, get a room somewhere and spend a few days there maybe.  I don’t know.   I just want this to seem like a vacation to them more than what it really is.”

             
“It’s ok Tay.  Get some sleep.  When you wake up, we will be there.  Rest now.”  It didn’t take much for Taylor to do exactly what Liz had told her to.  She went right to sleep.

             
“Sweet, hear me, hear me now.  You mustn’t stay long in one place.  They can find you.  Keep moving.  Only a couple days at each stop.  Don’t even think about working.  The means to survive will be provided.  Until we meet again.”

             
She woke as if Damien were sitting right next to her the words were spoken so clear.  Was he really talking to her or had it been yet another dream.  Did he know something that she didn’t? 

I shouldn’t have
run you off the way I did.

             
The sun was rising as they reached Chicago. 

“I thought we would be here sooner.  We should have been here by like two thirty this morning.  It’s almost eight.” 
Taylor looked at Liz waiting for her answer.

“I was beat.  You were beat.  I had to pull over at a rest area and catch a nap.  I’m sorry.”

“It’s ok.  I’m glad you pulled over instead of making yourself keep going.”

Liz was quick to find a hotel.  When the kids woke the first thing was like every other morning.  They were hungry.  Thankfully, the hotel she had chosen had a really good breakfast.  After checking in, the kids made their decision on what kind of cereal they wanted. 

Taylor watched as they looked around excitement filling their tiny blue beautiful eyes.  “Where we going to go first?”  Zach questioned.

             
“I want to go to a princess show.”  Ashley suggested.

             
“I want to go to six flags.”  Zach put in.

             
“After the princess show first.”  Ashley almost scolded.

             
“No, before that.  Six flags first.”  Zach started.

             
“Ok, wait.  First, a hot shower, then maybe a swim, then maybe we can do both.   Six Flags must have some princesses there.  Liz and Ashley can visit with them.  Me and Zach can take on all the death traps.”

             
Their hands erupted into clapping.  They had always been rather easy kids to please.  Liz didn’t like the rides and never had.  Liz was always more of the girly girl.  Taylor however, was more of the Tom boy.  So Taylor and Zach fit really good when it came to death defying death traps like those at amusement parks.  The higher and faster the ride, the more they screamed, the better the ride.

             
The kids did what they did the best.  Swam, played, laughed, giggled, splashed each other and just acted like kids.  After a bit Taylor started making laps.  She really didn’t feel like a swim but she knew the cool water would wake her up better than any cup of coffee the hotel had to offer.  She had watched as the kids swam around and remembered being at Damien’s pool. 

             
She had noticed the way they had interacted with each other closely.  She loved the way they were all carefree around each other.  He was so gentle and tender with each of them.  He had more patience than she ever knew could exist.  He taught both of them how to swim stronger, faster, how to float and tread water.

             
But the best part, was when they got out of the pool, how he had cuddled them both up in a towel making sure they were nice and warm even though the water was perfect and the temperature of the room was greatly accommodating.  The look in his eyes when he looked at them.  The feeling in Taylor’s heart when she watched how he intermingled with them.

             
“I know that look of yours.  Why don’t you just call him?  If he won’t answer your mental calls, use the cell.” 

             
“Because I can’t.  I can’t put their lives in any more danger than what they already are.  And if he wanted to hear from me he would hear me, or have called me.”

             
“So, let me get this straight.  The only way for them to be safe is for us to change.  If we change, we will be able to be with Jarrod and Damien, the twin’s safe, our short life on the run safe again?”

             
“Yes, but it isn’t that easy.  If we change then they will change to.”

             
“So!  It would be their way of life.  Think about it.  Would it really be that bad to never know sickness, death, the pain that you felt when you lost Chase?  The pain you feel now because you’re not with Damien?”

             
“No, but what if they don’t want that life?  What if they want to experience life as we know it?”

             
“They won’t.  Nobody wants to go through what you go through.  And besides, what if that is the only way we can make sure they are safe?”

             
“I can’t talk about this right now.  Really, it’s too much.  I have to think all of it through.”

             
“Don’t think too long Tay, we don’t know who is after us and when they will find us.  I will back whatever your decision is as long as you really make it for the right reason.”  Her words were almost short when she stood and walked away from Taylor.

             
Was that her way of telling me she would change?  Was it her way of telling me that just like all our lives she would follow me?  What was she trying to tell me?

             
She was right about one thing though.  Taylor’s ability to over think things always made it difficult to make decisions.  She didn’t need any more stress adding to this multiple life changing decision.  But how could she do this to the twins. 

What if they wanted to have children and they don’t meet their special someone before they change?  They will never have that experience.
  Then what if they have children, and their children have children.  Will this decision ultimately affect a lot more than it does right now.  Like a domino effect. 

             
She knew in her heart if the twins weren’t involved she would change in a heartbeat and not spend another nanosecond wasting precious time thinking about it or even considering it for that matter.  But the fact was she didn’t know what the future held for them and how they would react.

             
What she did know was two things.  First, her kid’s lives were in danger and she had to do whatever it took to keep them safe.  And secondly, her heart was in pieces and she was alone again without Damien and that was not a life she wanted to live again either.

             
“Mom, earth to Mom.”  Taylor blinked her eyes to see Zach standing in front of her. 

             
“We swam for over an hour can we go now?  Please!”  His lips wide and tooth bearing.  Taylor didn’t know who to say no to that.  Not with a face like his.

             
“Ok.  Let’s get changed.”  The screaming and yelling that came out their mouths were one for the record books.  They dressed and took off to six flags.  The minute they were in the gate, Ashley had Liz’s hand pulling her to the right and Zach had Taylor’s pulling her to the left.

             
“You got your cell phone right?”  Taylor yelled to Liz.

             
“Yep, you got yours?”  She yelled back.

             
“Yes, call if you see anything or feel anything.”  And then the kids had them separated unaware of the dangers.

             
“Come on Mom, let’s go.  I want to ride the train first.”  He tugged at her hand with all his might.  When they reached the train he quickly picked their seats and they began their tour of the entire park.  Taylor glared at everyone with suspicious eyes.  She even looked at the kids there wondering if they would like shape shift into something evil and try to kill them.  The train came to a halt and they were off and on their way to the next.

             
“Roller coaster now.  Let’s go mom.”  Thank God for the instant pass they bought otherwise the lines would have been miserable.  They loaded up and as the roller coaster reached its first fall, Zach closed his eyes. 

             
Ride after ride passed.  Taylor tried to enjoy herself but all she could think about was Damien. 
Just text him.  Call him.  For once in your damn miserable piece of existence do something for yourself.

             
The feeling of hands on her shoulders as they flew down the hill startled her and she immediately had ahold of Zach.  Then they were standing on the ground.  Damien.

             
“What are you doing here?”  She was in shock and yet pleasantly surprised. 
I missed you.

             
“We have to go now.”  His voice was serious.  No I missed you to.  No I love you.  Nothing. 

             
“But Liz and Ashley?”  There was no way in hell Taylor was leaving them.  Something in her told her he really wasn’t asking her to nor would he ever leave them either.

             
“Jarrod has them.  They are already back at the hotel.”  And just like that they were gone.  In a flash they were back in a room.  But not their room.  A different room.  Damien had Zach in his arms and he appeared to be sleeping.  Taylor remembered what Damien said about Jarrod being able to make someone sleep.

             
Taylor turned noting Ashley lying on the couch asleep as well.  Jarrod no doubt and his talent at work.  There was no way they would be sleeping right now.

             
“What’s going on now?  We just got here.”  Both curious and scared to hear the answer that somehow they already knew.  Not the specifics but they knew the bad vampires were on their trail.

             
“They found you already.  They would have had you by morning.  They were closing in quick.  They already know that we have you and are trying to find out where we are taking you both.  We have to go.  If we hurry, we can get the twins to Regina and then we will leave together.”

             
“Leave.  Are you fucking crazy?  I am not leaving; I will not leave my kids.”

             
“Taylor listen to me, it’s the only way right now.  They aren’t tracking the twins, they are tracking you.  If they find us, we can’t have them with us.”

             
His brutal honesty was more than she could bear.  As if the world had just ended around her, she felt all of her emotions coming to surface uncontrollably. 
Stop it Damien.  Make em go away.

             
“Taylor, as much as I would love to toy with your emotions right now, especially more some than others, we don’t have time.  We have to go.”

             
“Damien, they’re near, it’s only a matter of time.  They will be here before nightfall not morning.”  Jarrod’s words were stern but informational only.  As if he was leaving all the decisions up to Damien to make.

             
“Regina’s now, you take Liz and Ashley, I got these two.”  And just like that Liz was picking up cradling Ashley in her arms and looking in Jarrod’s eyes.  Taylor could see at that moment that Liz felt for him the same as she felt for Damien.