TELL ME THE TRUTH

Chapter Fourteen - Part Two

"I don't know. I think I'd rather just write it all down later."

Maggie glanced up, tilting her head to the side and shushing Ryan before he could speak again. I wanted to ask what was wrong, but it was clear the woman wanted silence. I glanced at Ryan, and he was listening to.

I wasn't sure what they were listening to, but I couldn't hear anything.

"It's Trudy and Mya," Maggie finally stated. "They're almost here."

. . .

Maggie had been right.

Not even five minutes later, I heard footsteps, and then two women dropped into the bunker. One was short and slight, with dark features, and the other was tall and pale. The taller one, her gray eyes flashing in mischief, dipped a low bow and smiled. Her hair was a blood red waterfall over her shoulder, her skin so pale it shined in the patch of sunlight that fell through the trapdoor.

She was intimidating, to say the least, but I had this gut feeling that she wasn't the most intimidating thing I'd see today.

"I'm Trudy," she greeted, "Natus Sanguinis, or born sang."

"As opposed to what?" I asked.

She chuckled, and the sound filled the air, a soft caress to my skin that made me shudder. "Turned," she let out simply.

"Trudy, stop that," Ryan snapped. "Where's your big kitty-cat? Play games with him, not Jeanne."

Trudy laughed again, but this time I didn't feel anything more than a slight tickle in the air. "Fine." She refocused her attention on me. "In answer to your question, there are two types of sanguinis, natus sanguinis - what I am - and sanguinis veterunt - a turned sang."

The smaller woman spoke up then. I had forgotten she was there for a moment, she was so quiet. "Natus sangs are a lot stronger," she said, "and they can be in the sunlight, though they are weakened during the day. Veterunts can't withstand the sun. They have to stay indoors during the day, and they're very weak. Most veterunts sleep through the day."

"Are there a lot of veterunts?"

Trudy nodded. "Oh, yeah. They're everywhere. More of them than born sangs."

My eyes widened. "I would've thought not being able to be in the sun would cause problems."

She shrugged. "Apparently not." She checked her watch, pursing her lips when she read the time. "They're not the only ones who can't handle the sun, though. Mya's kind can't either."

The smaller woman waved and pushed her dark hair out of her face. She still hadn't removed the dark glasses she was wearing, and I noticed she held onto Trudy's arm. "Plumis vespertilio," she declared. "Most of us are a lot weaker during the day, and the sun is painful to our eyes. You know the myth that all bats are blind?"

I nodded.

"We're where that myth came from. Regular bats can see, but we can't see when the sun is shining. We can't change forms, and most bats have to sleep when the sun reaches its apex because it's so painful."

"What about at night?"

She smiled then, and it brightened her face up, making her look even younger. "We can see, we can change forms, and we're pretty freakin' strong."

A/N: 

This chapter wasn't the most interesting, that's for sure! I hate introducing all of these people, and I can't seem to find an interesting way to do it - at least, not until the boys show up. 

Lots of drama involves those two. ;) 

<3 Jess