Game of the Vampires

Chapter 35:

(Click the music video when I say so please :)]

My head was running rapid, conjuring thousands of thoughts. And Col, all he could say was hello. I stared up at him, unblinking as I tried to wrap my head around the situation. Col was a wolf. The human that I had believed him to be was never there. I knew that it was still him, but now I was seeing him in a whole different light.

I tried to find words, but I kept coming up blank. Col finally put up his hands as he approached me.

"Look, I can explain," he began as he started to pull on his pants.

I flinched slightly as I noticed all the blood, both his and the men's, smeared across his skin. Even his hair was matted down with it. Col paused a few inches in front of me. He outstretched his hand towards me.

"Come with me," he said gently.

Despite that small voice in the back of my head that protested the idea, I found myself following him. I kept my distance behind him, still trying to process everything. Neither of us said a word, and I eventually realized that Col was leading us back to the cabin.

When we came to the cabin, Col immediately plopped down on a sofa in the corner of the main room. I remained standing at the door until Col gestured for me to sit down. Hesitantly and slowly, I took a seat.

For a moment, all I could focus on was the blood that tainted his skin. The smell was making me lightheaded, and I felt I might pass out any minute. Col must have noticed because he inclined his head towards me. I noticed that he had a large abrasion across the right side of his chest. Col began to dig his index finger and thumb into the slit, fishing around until he pulled out the end piece of a blade that was about as long as my ring finger.

"Why the face, Collins?" Col hissed out as he flung the piece into a can.

I was almost positive that my face was as pale as a sheet by now. My own blood I could handle. Other's... not so much.

I licked my dry lips. "Um... y-you're... wolf..." I stuttered, trying to not become sick.

Col peeked up at me from under his matted hair. "From what you've seen, yes I am," he sighed. "I know you have more questions, so let me have them," he said, waving his hand.

"How?" I let out, not missing a beat.

Col leaned his head back on the arm of the sofa. "I was born this way. I inherrited the gene from my father, and so on and so on."

"How long have you known you were...?"

"Since after my family was murdered. It was one of the reasons I left."

"And you came here after you learned what you were?" I asked.

Col shook his head. "I managed to escape into the vampire world since the vampires could tell I wasn't human. The first months were hell, especially since I was transitioning. Blake found me, and I was welcomed into their pack for awhile until I traded that life for this one."

"If you are a wolf, how is it that the vampires haven't figured you out?"

Tapping the blood-covered symbol on his chest, he answered, "Occultum. It's an ancient marking to mask your true nature."

I didn't ask anything else after that. I just sat there, staring down at my folded hands ontop of my lap. I could feel Col's eyes on me as he waited for me to break the silence.

"Airlia," he said softly. "Say something."

I didn't meet his eyes. I kept my eyes glued to the floor. "What do you want me to say?"