It's In The Blood (Book 1): It's In The Blood, #1

By Christopher Lee Roeters

    In writing " It's In The Blood" I've brought together a total of my past fears, hopes, and dreams. Growing up in Craig, Colorado, Kotzebue, Alaska, and northern Michigan, I've learned a lot about the vast differences in people. Rather if it is a matter of difference within the race, sexual orientation, or any other item that may make a person, or group of people, different from those around us, I've always believed that all men should be treated equal. 

     I credit my adoptive family for my open minded nature. I also credit young authors such as Macaulay Culkin and Christopher Paolini who gave me the backbone, to put into writing, my best example of Science Fiction. With this, i've used a mythical race to bring to light that equalness to all minority groups. With it, the sadness that is way too often left within the wake of those that choose to hate. 

     I've shown that, at times, that those that are the closest to us turn out to be the ones that we should not have trusted, while at other times our best friends are formed out of those that you would have least expected…. How often have you heard of a friendship or relationship starting off from an argument or fight?

     Then, along with the above, and then beyond, I've shown a deep contrast of love within a family. A family that many readers would love to be part of or close to. I've shown a depth of brotherhood that most could only dream of while the rest of us know that It's In The Blood. 

     I would like to personally thank you for choosing to read It's In The Blood… Thank you and God bless…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christopher Lee Roeters
• Release date: Oct 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201604233

Book preview

It's In The Blood (Prologue)

Moving ever so slowly , careful to not wake his friend up as he laid fast asleep, he carefully pulled the bed covers off of his friend's arm. Putting his own nose close to his friend's skin he sniffed for the scent that had drawn his thirst. Only smelling the natural pheromone and perhaps a little bit of ivory soap, he carefully pulled up the sleeve of his friend's tee-shirt thinking and hoping that his memory had brought him to the correct arm. 

Suddenly his friend's slight snoring came to an abrupt stop as he turned over onto his side. Pausing for a moment, monitoring the volume of his own breathing and movement, he waited for his six year old friend to continue snoring again to assure himself that his personal stealth mission would be successful. Listening carefully he could hear his breathing slow down. Then, now that his friend was on his side facing him, almost nose to nose, he once again searched the length of his arm. Careful, to not make any sudden movements, he breathed in the warmth off of his friend's skin. Using the tip of his own nose, to move the sleeve of his tee-shirt, he continued his search slowly and quietly. Nearing his friend‘s arm pit the edge of his bottom lip lightly caught the treasure that he had been looking for. Now, using the tip of his tongue, he felt the edge of the plastic as he searched for the center of it where there was no adhesive. Finding a raised spot of the plastic, where he knew that he could get his tongue into, he carefully pushed the tip of his tongue under the bandage to allow his own saliva to loosen the adhesive on one side. As he continued to pry carefully, he watched, by the corner of his eye, for any facial movements and continued to listen for any change in his friend's breathing.

Soon, with a lot of his saliva now running down off his friend's arm and onto the bed sheets, one side of the plastic popped off. With the sudden movement of the bandage he paused, once again, to make sure that his friend wasn't startled. Then, once again with the tip of his tongue, he licked the affected skin and quickly tore through the scab that had began to grow over the sore. Carefully he sealed both of his lips around the area that the bandage had covered only moments before and began to suck, without making any sudden noises, the thick rich blood from his friend.

Stopping, only for a moment, he moved his head close to his friend's head to observe his sleep. Sniffing the warm puffs of air that exited the mouth, the smell of toothpaste nowoverwhelmed the smell of ivory soap. Assured that his Friend was still asleep he carefully relocked his lips over the wound then continued to harvest...

In Memory Of

Kim (Iriuruq) Nay Jr.

8/22/75 - 1/22/2004

It's In The Blood (Chapter 1)

It was an average September day, slightly cool outside, yet the bright rays of sunlight were blinding through the windshield as Corina and her mom pulled up to the Craig High School. Honey, don't forget to put your hat and gloves on before you open the car door... You just got over you're cold... Lord knows that you don't need another.

Mom... it's less than fifty feet to the door of the school. I'll be just fine, besides, it's not that cold out anyway. Corina retorted as she popped open the door. Looking back to her mother, as she put one foot on the ground, she offered a smile. I love you mom.

I love you too sweetie... Then, as she pointed at a male student passing by close to the car. ... just stay away from the boys. All they think about is sex, drugs, and alcohol.

Climbing the rest of the way out of the car, she stopped for a moment, staring at her mom. Not all of the boys think like that mom. She said and then slammed the door shut. The fact is, even though she was only into the second week of being a freshman, is that she had already began to have a crush on a sophmore that she had frequently passed in the hallway. Being too shy to ask him for his name she would only smile at him, with this he would smile back at her.

As usual, for Corina, she walked into her first class of the day, U.S. History, about ten minutes early. Though this wasn't her favorite class, she did enjoy little short conversations with her teacher, Mrs. Henderson. Mrs. Henderson, who was elderly, late fifties, maybe early sixties, chose to spend a few moments each morning talking to Corina about almost anything that could come to a person's mind. For anyone else to listen to these conversations may cause a person to think that the old lady was a mental case. Corina, on the other hand, listened very well and enjoyed most of the topics that Mrs. Henderson had brought up. During these conversations Corina, over a period of time, had began to relate to Mrs. Henderson about weird dreams that she has had over a large period of time.

It was about the age of ten that Corina's dreams had began. The dreams were sometimes good and then other times they are bad, so bad that she would wake up in the middle of the night scared and crying. As with most dreams, moments after she would awake, the memory of the details couldn't be remembered. She knew some of the details, yet not enough to make sense at the night terrors.

At exactly eight o'clock the bell, signaling the start of the first class, had began to chime, with it the rest of the students started to file in through the door. Though it would normally seem as though the class was taking forever to end, this particular day seemed to fly by pretty fast. Then, as she left the classroom to head to her next class, math, she saw, from a distance, the face of the student she began to have a crush on. As a surprise to her, however, the young man stopped right in front of her. Hello, how are you doing? He asked.

Shocked, Corina looked around her to see if there was anyone else that the handsome gentleman could possibly be talking to. Not seeing anyone else she turned back to face him. He was perhaps a couple of years older than herself, dark blond hair - nicely trimmed, blue or greenish eyes, and maybe a hundred and forty pounds. "I'm doing good, how are you?' She asked as she began to blush.

I'm alright... What's your name? He asked as he began to smile ear to ear at the sight of her blushing.

My name is Corina. As she said this a long-time bad habit of hers seemed to take over. This habit was a combination of her toes both turning towards one another (knees inward) and then sticking her index finger in the corner of her mouth just enough to chew on her nail.

Well, my name is David, would you be willing to go out on a date with me Corina? At this, the handsome young man reached out and took ahold of the arm that was still raised as Corina continued to chew, now even more vigorously on her finger nail. How about right after our last class... about three thirty. He continued as he still held on to her arm.

Yeah... Corina started while still in shock. ...three-thirty would be great. Lowering her arm, she offered David a hand shake.

Taking her hand up in his own he shook it. Three thirty it is... I'll see you in just a couple of hours, okay?

That would be great, thank you. She said and then, once again, put her finger back into her mouth as he began to walk away.

The entire episode of formally meeting David had caused Corina to feel like she was in shock. This wasn't the first time that she had been asked out on a date, however, this was the first time that she had been asked since she had began to get the thought of wanting a family of her own. She had even gone as far as wanting, and wishing, that she had, at least two kids. She had always thought about her own childhood and had decided that she would want at least two children so that they would have each other for playmates on rainy days. She personally had grown up as a single child and had long decided that she couldn't wish that upon her worse enemy.

It seemed, to Corina, that the last two hours of the day had felt as long as the first six. It had also seemed to her that she had never seen the hands on the clock move so slow as they did just prior to the class ending at three fifteen. Then, as she walked out the front door of the school, she found David waiting for her.

Hey, how are you doing? He asked as their eyes met one another. David was well dressed, as he had every time that she had seen him prior to this point, and he seemed to be very professional in the way that he spoke to people and stood upright, rather than slouching as many people do. So, how old are you Corina? If you don't mind me asking that is.

I'm fourteen. Answering his question she had fought off the urge to chew on her finger nail as she normally would when she began to feel nervous. Something, however, about David seemed to soothe any nervous feelings. He was gentle, and spoke in a soft, yet audible voice. Thank you David... I've had a crush on you since I first met you... I just can't believe...

You just can't believe that I asked you out on a date? David interrupted. Looking up towards David's face, as they headed down the sidewalk leaving the school, she could see a slight, yet cute, smile on his face.

As Corina looked harder into his face, as they continued to walk, she couldn't help but to think to herself that she had recognized him from somewhere else.David, where else have you lived?

Why do you ask? He questioned with a slight giggle. Putting his hand on her arm, he pulled her close to himself as they came to a road that they had to cross.

Just... I recognize you from somewhere... It feels like that I've known you before, or of you anyway.

Well I've lived most of my life in Colorado Springs... just south of Denver on the other side of the state. He responded with a smile that he seemed to keep as he gazed at her.

The walk that they had taken was nearly two miles long, yet with the combination of excitement and conversation it seemed that they had reached the restaurant pretty quickly. During that walk Corina felt as though she had told David her entire life story. They had talked a lot about Corina's hopes of having a family of her own some day and how David had similar wishes of his own.

As they left the restaurant they headed back the same way as they had arrived. I live in the yellow house there at the corner of Finnly Lane and Ninth Street. Corina said as they continued to walk.

"Well being that close to the high school I'm surprised that your mom drove you to school.''

Well we had to go to the grocery store this morning and so she decided to just drop me off on the way home. Corina responded just as they reached the top of the hill. Finnly Lane was basically one big hill. The high school at the top, which is also the end of the road, and then the business district at the bottom of the one mile stretch. In between was all residential. Ninth Street was the last cross road, just prior to the school. Basically, the high school was across the street from Corina's home. (890 Finnly Lane).

Well, just in case you would like to know, I live in Ridgeview on Exmoore Place, at the end of the road. The last house on the left. Putting his hand into his pocket he pulled out a pen and a piece of paper. Here's my number in case you need someone to talk to. He said as he quickly scribbled down the number.

As they reached Corina's driveway David gave her a hug. Thank you David. I haven't felt this happy in a long time.

Well, if you call me, or let me know at school, we can go out anytime you want. He said as he stood back from her.

Well thanks again... maybe I'll call you tonight before I go to bed... I'll see you later.

Unless I see you first. David responded jokingly then watched as Corina walked into her house. Walking back down Finnly Lane David thought about how strange it felt to have a date with a girl on the first day talking to her. Prior to this day he had wanted to talk to her but the little bit of shyness, that he did have, had made him put off his hopes until he had come across her at school this particular day.

David had just turned sixteen years old the day before and so he had hoped that the age difference between them wouldn't cause any problems. Corina was just four months short of her fifteenth birthday but the way that she had described her mother, as they ate at the restaurant, had alarmed him. There were many things that they had discussed, however, what stood out the most is how her mother seems to stereotype males in general.

It took David about forty five minutes to get home. Ridgeview, where he lived, is sort of like a suburb of Craig. Though Craig itself, is a small community, about thirty five hundred people. Ridgeview is located just west of town with about a half mile of open land between them. As he walked up to his house he had hoped that Corina would be good to her word and call him that night. This was the first time that he had thought for sure that he had found the girl of his dreams.

That night, after calling David, as she said she would, Corina fell asleep fairly quickly. Normally she would toss and turn each night as she struggled to fall asleep. As she slept images of her new friend, David, had started to run through her mind. Then, as she had for many years in the past, started to have the dreams that at times had woken her up terrified.

The dreams were always the same, or at least the same people anyway. These people consisted of two children, that seemed to be the villains within the dreams, one adult male who seemed to be her protector within the dreams, and then an elderly male that had been just as evil as the two children.

Through her conversations with Mrs. Henderson at school about these dreams she had remembered the faces, or images. It never failed though, each morning, just moments after waking up, the images of anything of detail had faded away. She had mentioned this problem to Mrs. Henderson before and her response was something in regards to the fact that dreams, even those that seem to last all night, actually only last for about a second or two. Mrs. Henderson had also said that this is why the details of a dream disappear from memory so quickly.

It seemed, to Corina, that she had just fallen asleep when the blinding sun, through the bedroom window, had woken her up. Without climbing out of the bed immediately, she just laid there and stared out the window. She could tell by looking at the window that it was cold outside. Frost had built up around the edges of the glass narrowing her ability to see the houses across the street.

As she decided to climb out of bed she slowly brought one leg out from under the covers and then quickly recovered herself as the cold air hit her.

Corina... Her mom yelled down the stairs. ...Corina are you awake dear? it's time to get ready for school. Though she normally didn't like this part of the day, getting up so early, she had found the extra effort to get up knowing that the quicker she got up the sooner she would be able to get to school and see David again.

Im awake mom... I'll be upstairs in a minute. Corina responded from under her blankets. Then seconds later quickly jumped up out of the bed and threw on the clothes that she had pulled out of the dresser the night before.

As Corina came into the kitchen she only stopped to grab her coat and backpack before heading for the door. Aren't you gonna eat something before you go to school? Corina's mother questioned.

No... not today, I just want to get to school. Corina said and then gave her mom a quick hug before walking out the door. I love you mom, I'll see you when I get home.

Following her daughter to the door, What's going on Corina, you got a hot date this morning? She said jokingly.

Looking back towards her mother, as she continued to walk, Yep! Then, without hesitation, turned back as she picked up pace.

As she continued to stand with the door open, she put her hand to her forehead, as she watched Corina walk over the top of the hill to the high school. It was normal for Mrs. Sanchez to automatically assume the worst anytime a boy at school had showed interest in her daughter. She had always hoped for the best for Corina and prayed that Corina wouldn't repeat the past she had lived as a single parent. In her opinion there was no boy that would be good enough for her daughter. The one thing that she was proud of is the fact that Corina had absolutely no liking for alcohol or drugs. She could only hope that she wouldn't follow in her footsteps.

As usual Corina showed up early in her U.S. History class where Mrs. Henderson waited for her. Well how are you doing this morning Corina?

I'm doing good Mrs. Henderson, Corina started as she removed her coat. I had one of those crazy dreams again last night though.

Well thats too bad. I wish that you could remember more detail of them, maybe that way you could confront the issue and possibly put an end to the nightmares. Mrs. Henderson said as she sat down in her chair. Corina, I think that something else is going on as well... you seem to be all full of smiles this morning.

Clasping her hands together she looked at her teacher. I've got a boyfriend Mrs. Henderson.

Well that's good for you honey... what's his name? Mrs. Henderson's voice showed a lot of excitement for her young student.

David DeClue. Corina answered as she seemed to daze out towards the window.

That sophmore that looks so handsome and dresses like he's worth a million bucks? She asked as a smile came over her face.

Yep... He took me out on a date yesterday right after school. We ate at the restaurant in the mini-mall next door to the 'Safeway' grocery store. She said in a real quiet tone, as it she didn't want anyone else to hear.

Well, I'm proud of you honey. You just make sure that you don't get yourself into any trouble... you hear me?

I hear you... I can't imagine any trouble, however. He even walked me home after we ate. Putting both or her hands over her mouth she continued. Mrs. Henderson... I've had a crush on him since I first got to high school. Evidently he has had a crush on me too.

Like I said, I'm proud of you Corina. Just make sure that you take your time and not move too quickly. It would be hard to finish school with a child for extra responsibility. The older women said as she stood up.

Then, Just as the teacher stood, the bell rang for the first class of the day to start. With the ring of the bell came all of the students as they had waited out in the hall.

As lunch time rolled around Corina met David in the hallway, outside of the cafeteria. Hi Corina, how are you doing? He asked in a cheerful voice.

I'm doing good... seems like the morning has goes by slowly, waiting to see you...

Well it felt slow to me also... Hey, would you like to go out to that restaurant again today after school? As he questioned her the smile on his face grew as he saw the look of excitement come over Corina.

Sure... What time do you want so to meet you today? Corina asked as she almost started to put her finger up to the corner of her mouth.

Reaching out to hold her arm that had contributed to not silly habit., Well, how about the same time. I've got my mom's car today and so we won't have to walk. Besides that, it's starting to get too cold outside. As he finished he quickly gave Corina a hug and then turned to walk away.

The hug seemed to freeze Corina as she continued to stand in one place for a moment without moving. Corina! Quickly snapping to attention she turned to see Mrs. Henderson standing next to her. I've called your name like three or four times Corina, are you alright hun?

Yeah.... I'm doing great. David just asked me out on another date at the restaurant again.

Oooo... Sounds good, just remember what I told you earlier. Take things slow. You don't want to make any bad choices at this young age that you'll regret later. Mrs. Henderson said then disappeared into the crowd of students down the hall.

The day, once again, seemed to finish off slowly as Corina had waited for school to get out for the day. Then, as she walked out of the building at three-thirty, David was, once again, waiting for her in the car. Walking up to the passenger's side door of the car, David reached over to unlock the door. Hey you... how are you doing? he asked as the opened the door.

I'm doing good... She responded and then sat down and closed the door behind herself. The day crept by slowly again... but finally here we are.

Yeah, l know what you mean. David said as he put the car into drive, then began to move. "At least today we have a warm vehicle rather than