PENUMBRA

Chapter 6

I stared at him earnestly, hoping to disguise my impatience as admiration.

"So you see," Arthur continued, "the cold ones are traditionally our enemies. But this group that came to our territory during my great-grandmother's time was different. They didn't hunt the way others of their kind did — they weren't supposed to be dangerous to the tribe nor to the city. So my grand-mother together with my grand-father and others elders of the tribe made a truce with them of letting the group stay here and not cause any trouble, because if not, many deaths would happen to them". He winked at me.

"If they weren't dangerous, then why... ?"I tried to understand, struggling not to let him see how seriously I was considering his legend.

"Vampires cannot be predicable, they have a beauty into them, a charm of been able to control humans with their eyes, knowing their next moves just by the eyes. Even if their are noble, it's impossible to know when they might get too hungry to resist not killing humans" He deliberately worked a thick edge of menace into his tone.

"What do you mean, noble?"

"The group was composed of three mans and one woman, they claimed they didn't drink human blood, but yes animals blood, dogs, bunnies, birds, dears instead."

I tried to keep my voice casual. "So how does it fit in with Andrew Wright? Is he connected to your tribe somehow?"

"No." He paused dramatically. "He was there." He must have thought the expression on my face was fear inspired by his story. He smiled, pleased, and continued.

"Now there are only four men, but once there was two womens in the group. I don't know what happened to the womens. The leaders of the groups are Dr. Max and Matthew Wright." He was fighting a smile.

"And what are they?" I finally asked. "What are they?"

He smiled darkly.

"Vampires," he replied in a chilling voice. "They are a curse placed on us."

I stared out at the rough surf after he answered, not sure what my face was exposing.

"You have goose bumps," he laughed delightedly.

"You're a good storyteller," I complimented him, still staring into the waves.

"Pretty crazy stuff, though, isn't it? No wonder my parents don't want us to talk about it to anyone."

I couldn't control my expression enough to look at him yet. "Don't worry, I won't give you away. I'll take it to the grave," I promised, and then I shivered.

"Seriously, though, don't say anything to Peter. He was pretty mad at my dad when he heard that some of us weren't going to the hospital since Dr. Max started working there."

"I won't, of course not."

"So do you think we're a bunch of crazy weird story tellers or what?" he asked in a playful tone, but with a hint of worry. I still hadn't looked away from the ocean.

I turned and smiled at him as normally as I could.

"No. I think you're very good at telling scary stories, though. I still have goose bumps, see?" I held up my arm.

"Cool." He smiled.

"So do you have a boyfriend yet?" Arthur asked, jealous at the edge of his voice.

"No, absolutely not," I whispered. I was tremendously grateful to Peter, and eager to make him as happy as possible. I winked at him. He smiled, elated by my inept flirting. GOSH, I need to learn how to flirt!

"So when I get my license..." he began.

"You should come see me in Florence. We could hang out sometime." I felt guilty as I said this, knowing that I'd used him. But I really did like Jacob. He was someone I could easily be friends with. I whimper feeling weird.

"Are you alright Evelyn?"

"Yes", I sneeze, "The rain got me bad. I hope I don't get sick."

I pulled up my hood as we tramped across the rocks toward the parking lot. A few drops were beginning to fall, making black spots on the stones where I landed.

"I will let you head home now", he kisses my cheeks making me hot, "Be careful to not get too hot to handle Evelyn", he said winking while running to his truck down the road. "It was nice seeing" he screamed along the way.

"It was indeed. Next time take your dad to see mine"

"Sure", that's all he said before running off.

I started blacking out where he was, but jumped right into my car trying not to think of anything else besides my bed.