?

He decided to broach the subject with Sebastian, who was quite nervous and flighty. He didn't want to be pinned down. Jonny looked into Seb's amazing cat-like green eyes, ''Look, Sebby, I like you. I don't care that you drink blood. I know you do. I've seen you. But I don't care. You're nice to me, and that's all that matters!''

Sebby looked at him with those scared green eyes, and whispered, ''You do? It is?'' And Seb squeezed Jonny tightly in an embrace which left him breathless. Jonny was startled to see tears dripping from those jewel-like eyes. Clear tears, not filled with blood, he noted. Jonny hugged him back tightly, while Seb sobbed. ''I've never been honest, outside of my dear Ursula, I've never revealed myself. Never.'' And he continued crying.

Jonny was awed. He did not know what to say. Then he uttered, ''Yes, I do want to stay with you all, if you will have me.'' Seb continued to hug Jonny, ''Yes, do stay,'' as he continuing crying.

The tears were tears of relief. Somehow the others all knew, and the spacy nervousness they'd had was eased in knowing their secrets were respected and would be kept secret. Plans were made for adoption. They'd decided a married couple had a better chance for approval, so Seb married Gwen in a quick ceremony.

All seven of them were present for it, and rejoiced with happiness. Seb especially glowed. He hadn't wanted to make Michael feel bad, for perhaps Michael would have liked to have been the one with the legal honor. But as Jonny felt closest to Sebby, it was decided Seb should have the legal parental rights.

Thus it was, when Jonny returned to school, he had a new set of parents. It may have been a small 'village', but a village it was, and each of his housemates had a hand in helping to raise him.

Under their tutelage, Jonny grew in poise and confidence. He also grew tall, and lost his baby fat. He let his hair grow long, as well, and rejoiced in his auburn tresses. It may not have been the fad at the time, but he didn't care. He also took to learning fencing, and rejoiced in the increasing strength and agility of his body. Fortunately, night classes were held in town, so Jon had others with whom to spare.

He imagined himself ala 'The Highlander', with his deft and well placed strokes. They had the entire TV series on DVD, and he enjoyed watching the dark haired Adrian Paul. Were these fictional characters' immortality similar to the blood drinkers' he knew? At least the blood drinkers weren't after each other's necks all the time. No, only their food sources received any neck attention.

Jonny wondered if he would someday become a blood drinker. He was now sixteen, and the thought fascinated him. He hadn't acquired any friends at school, but he enjoyed long conversations with his nocturnal friends on every subject imaginable.

Though Jon was still the loner at school, his tormentors had long ceased, in the wake of his growing confidence. Next year would be his senior year. But for now, the summer vacation awaited him. He would help out on the farm, which gave him some spending money, as Michael shared the profits with him.

Meanwhile, he was curious about Goldie's and Sonya's intermittment absences. They never spoke of where they went to. One especially hot summer day, he came upon them in the middle of the day, with a prostrate man he'd never seen before. He watched from a distance as the man was hooked up to a machine. The man revived and was startled to find himself on a farm in the miserably hot desert. Then Goldie and Sonya disappeared with the man.

Jonny would later ask them about it, but for now, he sought Michael out. Michael calmly explained, ''They have a very special rescue mission. They find and help people like us who are in trouble and make them well.''

This didn't square with all Jon had heard about blood suckers, ''I thought you people never got sick!'' Michael stammered, ''Well, we don't, usually. But occasionally the blood beings which maintain us are in need of maintenance themselves.''

Jonny gasped, ''Huh? Blood beings?'' Michael smiled, ''You are no stranger to science fiction. Perhaps you can understand.'' Jon struggled to piece together various conversations he'd heard, ''Sebby did say some of you have seen alien beings. Does that have something to do with it?'' Michael softly explained the process in detail until Jonny understood it.

He only gasped again with amazement, as he looked into Michael's 'too intense' eyes. He was dumbfounded. But he filed the knowledge away, and found it fit well with his earlier data. He said no more about it, but sought to get a look at the rescues when ever possible, just to see what the people looked like. Blood drinkers of every appearance and nationality found themselves awakening before the big box. It was fascinating.

Go to Chapter 24, Remember Me!
Go to Chapter Outline of SECOND BOOK
Go to Chapter Outline of FIRST BOOK