The Strange House Part 10

So with the big event to look forward to, the time up until spring break seemed to slow down to a fucking halt. You'd think every second would be vacuumed in a blur, but alas. Spring break wasn't until Monday. Well, it was practically Friday, but it wasn't until Monday that Faith would return to pick me up. After giving her Mom's number, Faith called her and they had apparently talked it out.

Mom and Dad were still a bit taken aback by how Faith was such a classy woman, and me a nerdy boy who was constantly bullied, but she had been good so far, and done so much for me, so they trusted her more and more. Faith passed every test with high marks, having risen to more than one occasion. Mom also seemed to hit it off quite well with Faith, so that probably helped too.

At least I got to interrogate Pete while Faith was not around. And it was a good call that he joined me on my walks, as I saw a familiar-looking sour face drive by in a big SUV. Jeremy was prowling, it seemed. Pete was perhaps old, but he at least had two arms and had kind of that old-man strength look to him, I guess. Pete didn't even get fazed by the car at all, but he didn't know who Jeremy was, so yeah.

"You did the plumbing in Faith's dungeon?" I asked one day.

"Sure did. And the tiling. And I lent her the explosives to expand the cave. Dungeon, I mean. It was just a hole before," Pete explained.

"Dang. I guess she trusts you a lot?" I said, trying to not sound prejudicial.

"I'm as loyal as they come. When I found out I had more family out there, I kinda dedicated myself to rectifying a lifetime of fuckups. And to be fair, she did a lot herself, that one. She's quite handy, even as elegant as she is," Pete said, with quite a lot of admiration in his voice. The way he spoke of Faith sounded like Gimli when he admired Galadriel.

"How come you never use her name?" I asked.

"I'm careful. I don't want it in my hands if any secret, even as diminutive it may seem, is revealed on my account," Pete said. "Don't think I'm more versed in

their

lore than you are, I'm just careful," Pete added when he saw that his answer revealed another onslaught of questions.

"What do you know? Have you met others like her?" I said, trying my hand at being more tactful with my curiosity.

It was weird to think of Faith as something other than human, as no one had ever shown me as much humanity as she did. So 'others like her' didn't really sit right with me. To me, she was just Faith, then a vampire second.

"Erh, a few. Just her daughter and-"

"Wait, Faith has a daughter?" I said. I wrecked my brain. Of course, Faith had talked about it briefly, when talking about turning me. I had just barged ahead on something else I was curious about back then and forgot.

"Yeah, the way

they

have daughters," Pete mumbled. "Pardon my French, but Melanie is a devious little harlot. Haven't seen her since the eighties, though."

It was still a bit hard to wrap my head around Faith walking around like now, but even more so that she was around back then, and looking exactly like she always did. And even more so to think she had a vampire daughter named Melanie who also lived back then. I couldn't help but start trying to picture how she looked. By how Pete spoke of her, maybe she was a tough nut to crack, but I was still eager to see if I'd ever meet her.

"So what's she like?" I asked.

"I only saw her in a parking lot. The two of them had something to talk about, and Fa- she didn't know how to drive yet," Pete said.

"Really?" I chuckled, getting an amused smile from Pete. "You taught her to drive?"

Pete chuckled and gave a nod. "If you can call that driving."

"What was she like? Did she have mullet?" I asked.

So this weekend would actually mark one of the first I'd spend completely without Faith since we started fully hanging out together. It was an odd scenario, but I tried to look at the positive. Like, for example, I got to hang out with Mom and Dad.

Dad worked all the time, so I rarely saw him anyway, but I at least would get a few hours with him on the weekend without school getting in the way. Mom was also happy to have an extra set of hands with some baking Friday evening, now that I wasn't out, quote, "horsing around" as they dubbed it. I never figured myself to be one of those horsing types, but I guess my latest meanderings could qualify.

My parents didn't mind though.

"Just nice to have you around here as well," Mom said, ruffling hair. "With Faith borrowing you for most of the spring break, I'm happy to have some quality time spent with you until then."

"So it's okay?"

"Of course. Faith is part of the family, and honestly, she has done you a world of good," Mom encouraged. "Dad hoped to get that patio for the gazebo started during the weekend. You think you'd be able to help him with that?"

"Sure," I said.

"I was thinking of adding a bunch of flowers and plants. Any suggestions?" Mom asked.

It wasn't unusual for her to ask me about ideas for our backyard, but I rarely had any. But there was one. Lavender. Faith always smelled nice, but lavender was a consistency around her. I always liked lavender anyway, but it being always associated with the warmness and the security that Faith represented kinda elevated that wonderful odorous flower for me.

Or was it a tree? A bush? I didn't know shit about lavender come to think of it.

"Perhaps lavender?" I said.

Mom looked at me suspiciously, as if she knew what I was up to here. She couldn't possibly know my reasoning, right? Unless, of course, she had caught a whiff of Faith's perfumes. And on that note, my Mom

'smelling'

my girlfriend created some weird imagery, so I didn't linger on it.

Instead, Mom just gave my hair a stroke, and offered me a smile, before starting to roll out buns.

"I'll write it down."

Saturday I was awoken by Dad, who even brought me a cup of cocoa, and most of that day I spent working in the backyard. We got pretty far, even managing to get some of the beams and stuff ready. I wasn't much of a carpenter or a handyman like my dad, but given appropriate instruction I guess I could be decent. If nothing else, it felt pretty good working with my hands, and by the time I hit the hay, I was dead to the world.

Monday was the first day of official spring break. Which meant a few things. Later, I'd meet Faith again. We hadn't talked for a few days, and it had been over a week since I last saw her, so I was very much looking forward to that. Another thing that spring break meant, I could sleep in. I wasn't out of bed until way late in the day. I determinately went into hibernation, a sleeping animal awaiting his girlfriend.

And when I woke up, I had way too much energy and anticipation. Even gaming couldn't keep me distracted. I was pacing around, never sitting still. Until Mom got the better of me.

"Go for a walk," Mom chuckled, as I came down to check the fridge for the hundredth time. "Get your energy out. She's not here until after eight. A bit late to go traveling, but who am I to judge?"

So I grabbed my phone, my keys, and my earbuds before I went for a stroll. I was just wandering, not really thinking about where I was going. Wandering around, it kinda got me thinking, like I had briefly considered before, whether I should start working out. I mean, I didn't want to be huge and buff like The Rock or something, but if I one day would become a vampire like Faith, perhaps getting in slightly better shape couldn't hurt.

Faith was in perfect shape herself, and I was sure it'd be something she appreciated. I never knew farm work would yield anyone such an incredible body, but then again, she had said she worked for it in addition to working day in and day out.

I also tried to imagine myself as a vampire, but that was really hard. I didn't feel like I'd do anything differently, but then again, I had only been a human after all. I bet it was confusing, like getting superpowers, but not really knowing how to use them. Faith did her best to explain it, but there was so much that was different, that it was impossible to put it all in perspective. And while I knew vampires could consume other stuff, to live off blood would be quite different from what I was used to.

Though, for Faith to become my true vampire mommy... heh, well, that was an interesting thought. Very interesting.

And then there was the matter of the infamous Melanie. Even from the brief conversation I had about her with Pete, she was already quite intimidating. She sounded quite different from Faith, that was for certain. Was that due to being turned? Or was that just how she was? I wondered if I'd get to meet her eventually.

I wandered around aimlessly until I was back at our driveway. I didn't really think I was gone for that long. But then again, I never kept track of time anyway, so I couldn't really tell. It was almost eight PM, and that was all that mattered. I didn't expect her to show up immediately after sundown, as she had to get the car, pack, and do other stuff that I guess correlates with traveling. I wasn't all that experienced with that myself, so I presume there's stuff that needs to be done.

"Dad?" I said. "You're home this early?

"Had to see ya off. Not every day a dad sees his son take his first steps into the grown world all on his own," Dad chuckled. He then motioned for me to join him in the kitchen. "I got something for ya. Call it a tip from the old man."

I followed him into the kitchen and there I saw a small bouquet of roses. Once upon a time, I had bought one of those for Faith, but since then I haven't had the opportunity nor the money to give it another go. Why hadn't I thought of that? Damn it.

"When you haven't seen the ol' lady in a bit, you better have something for 'em. It is not required, but it is," Dad said, with a bushy, knowing smile, a small glint in his weary eyes. He then nodded towards the roses. "Go ahead, give 'em to Faith."

I had never heard my Dad talk like that, and he was certainly not the most romantic person as far as I knew, but it was good advice. And he was right. You had to be a fool to not give someone flowers when you hadn't seen them for over a week. Perhaps I was learning some things I didn't know about Dad.

"Thanks, Dad!" I said. "I should've got some on my own..."

"There's always next time," Dad smiled. "What the heck?" he said, looking out. "Since when did a young woman like Faith drive an RV?"

"What are you talking about?" I said, moving over to the window.

Lo and behold, outside we saw a huge RV roll up to our driveway, parking on the curb, and then there stood Faith, in a black dress, red leather jacket, and sunglasses. She looked spectacular as always.

"I'll go out and meet her," I said.

"Hey there lil bro," Faith said as I made my way out. I didn't expect myself to hurry so much once the door was no longer between us, but once I got my shoes on I almost ran over and shoved myself up against her, wrapping my hands around her to hug her as tight as I could. And to my great joy, I felt her hand wrap around me in return, squeezing me. "You've missed me?"

"Yes," I said into her chest. I didn't want to let go, but I knew I had to. So I reluctantly pulled away and looked up into her dark shades, somewhat conscious of how I had acted right in front of the whole neighborhood. Faith seemed unfazed, and immediately took her shades off.

"They were in the glove compartment," Faith explained, bringing my attention back to the RV.

"What's up with the RV?" I asked.

"I mostly travel by U-haul trucks, FedEx, and so on, but since you're tagging along I decided to make an upgrade," Faith smiled.

"U-haul trucks?" I asked.

"I ship myself," Faith explained. "Sometimes I fly, but to save a bunch of stress I simply throw myself in a sealed container and mail myself to an address. Perhaps not the most merciful thing to do to the poor drivers, but whatever. But an RV is much cozier."

I could imagine so, yeah. And I saw she had already made some sunproof modifications here and there. I was intrigued to check out the interior as well.

"So I hope you don't mind driving a bit when I sleep?" Faith asked.

"I've never driven before," I said. Faith simply shrugged at that.

"You've outdone yourself this time, Faith," Dad chuckled as he came out, looking up and down the black on slate black RV.

Being no expert, I could easily see that it was perhaps one of the more comfortable types. Not top-notch, but not bottom shelf either. It was fairly long, though, so driving it would perhaps be a challenge. I got nervous just at the thought of it.

"I got it used from a client who was very happy that I chose his company for some road stuff," Faith explained.

"You mind?" Dad asked, waving his hand at the handle.

"By all means," Faith said, and Dad headed inside. I heard a small 'woah' from him and I knew then the interior was likely fitted to Faith's specifications.

"Will I meet this client at the gala?" I asked.

"You sure will," Faith said, ruffling my hair, gripping a handful of locks lightly to give me a quite pleasurable, but mostly playful discreet yank. "I've missed you too," she hummed warmly.

"Where is this thing anyway?" I asked.

"Minneapolis," Faith answered. "So plenty of opportunities to have to warm my little darling up on the way. Speaking of which, how was your week with the folks? Anything happened that I should know about?"

"Not really. Pete has kept me company. I saw Jeremy the other day, but both of them seem pretty whipped by their parents," I said. Faith smiled at that, as her actions had the desired effect on my bullies. I was pretty eager to follow up on some of the questions Pete had left me with, but I was guessing there would be time for that on the road to Minneapolis. This would be the first time we'd spend such a long amount of time together.

"So normally you'd ship yourself there? To Minneapolis?" I asked, not able to contain a snicker from imagining Faith stuffed in a box, getting a shove from Faith.

"It's called being pragmatic," Faith said, turning to greet Mom who came out to join the spectacle.

Mom also had a chance to look inside the RV. Dad even found some electric stuff that he helped rewire, much to the delight of Faith. After some chit-chat between the four of us, it was soon time to go. Mom gave me a kiss on the cheek, and Dad a pat on the back, before they sent me off for my first-ever road trip.

As I bid them farewell, I stepped into the RV and saw the interior for myself. It wasn't that it was all that extravagant, but rather how much it wasn't like those old-timey campers you saw in the movies. The small bed area was sealed off with a thick door with sturdy frames, and the bed itself was pretty much the entire bed area in itself, with no windows. Everything in there was black on black apart from a few ceiling lamps and some LEDs.

The rest was a rather small, but modern kitchen, a few small chairs with a TV and consoles, and of course the front. It wasn't much like I said, but it was enough. And it all screamed vampire-Faith.

"I'm thinking we're setting up camp when we get up in Illinois, then tomorrow we'll haul ass all the way to Minneapolis, where we've got a hotel waiting for us, where we'll stay for a few days. Then we loop back home in a slow, passionate manner," Faith explained, pulling out of our cul-de-sac. "Sounds like a plan?"

It did indeed. I was eager to see how the trip would go. I had been looking forward to this all week, but mostly due to getting to hang with Faith again. But as we rolled out onto Indiana State Road 157, it dawned on me that I was going on an actual holiday with my girlfriend. Like so many others did with their girlfriends!

Though, I guess some took their girls to Aspen, or other ski resorts, or did other spring breaky things. Instead, I was taken on a trip through parts of the Midwest, and the flattest parts at that. But I was happy and eager nonetheless. On a road trip, we'd have a bunch of time to talk about all sorts of things, listen to music, chill, all that stuff.

"So I'm guessing I have to drive parts of the way?" I asked, a bit worried about having to maneuver this big thing. Dad had once let me drive his cop car, just out of the driveway, and that was scary enough.

"If you don't mind. It's not hard, and if you get tired I'll take over," Faith said. She then looked at me and smiled. "You know what? I'll teach you tonight," she encouraged, giving my thigh a squeeze.

I have to say, I always had some misplaced prejudice against campers, RV, and all that, but it was kinda nice sitting in the seat like this, slightly elevated, listening to whatever industrial metal Faith was blasting. While I was always the most curious dude, for the first hour I just took in the road, idly chatting with Faith about the flat road ahead. She explained our route to me, but I wasn't able to capture the details of it. I knew she drove ways away from both Chicago and Indianapolis as she simply preferred to drive well away from the bigger cities. Faith was the boss, and I had of course no objections.

"I know you think it is boring, but what is it that this gala is about? I know you supply both materials and building projects, but if I'm to be your plus one, shouldn't I know a bit more?" I asked.

Faith sighed and turned down the music a bit.

"It's actually pretty dull, but I can explain it if you want," Faith said, but her tone told me that she didn't like the idea of telling me. Not that she didn't like to explain stuff to me, but that the topic truly bored her as well. "Basically, I round up land here and there from all over the world. I then wait, which you know I can do a lot of. Then suddenly when I've waited a bit, people want to do stuff on that land, whether it is to run train tracks through, build houses, hospitals, or simply prospect for oil. So I have projects of various degrees. But it is extremely boring. For example, back in the 1920s, property was dirt cheap, like in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and in California in general. Having some money from the railroad debacle, I bought a bunch of land, waited for the right opportunity, and built houses, roads, you name it. And that's just California. I'm pretty much everywhere."

"Land out there is crazy expensive!" I said. If she bought it cheap back then, the value had to have increased a whole lot. For the first time, Faith's sense of business was starting to really reveal itself. I began to think her financial status might not start with an M.

"I sold some, but I mostly rent out a lot. And out here, well, there's always shit going on. But then lumber, concrete, materials in general became really expensive, and drivers, all that stuff. So over a few years, I bought something like twenty-five percent of all that crap in the Midwest. I also have other businesses in other industries. But please, Logan. This is extremely boring. Can't we talk about something else?" Faith explained.

I was quiet for a bit. Partly mulling new topics, but also letting it settle on me.

"Do you own any forests?" I asked.

"Some would say I own a lot of forests. Why? You wanna go camping?" Faith asked.

"No, I mean, if you own that much of the economy, it kinda makes you a land baroness," I said, chuckling. "I'm trying to imagine what it must be like to own so many things. And how it is to do it in such a way that no one knows your name."

"Oh, don't get me wrong. My name is out there, I just make sure to not appear in any direct ways. Hence Pete. It's complicated, but I have my ways," Faith said. "But I don't wanna bore you with all that. Nor myself for that matter."

"So the sun. We'll be driving through a lot of it, and I know how you have concealed everything, but how exactly does it affect you? And is it like, you can't stay awake at all when the sun is up?" I asked, getting a chuckle from Faith at how easily I could change topics to something else I was ever so curious about.