Fighting Bonds

Vincent and Sam look at each other, and you can tell that they are moments away from a fight. I have to do something, “Oh, hell no!” I get between them as I lock eyes with each man and tell them the same thing, “I say who I am around, I dictate who my friends are, and I control my destiny. Now chill out, or you both can leave and never lock eyes with me again.”

Eric just observes our interaction. Vincent speaks first, “Fine, but if he puts you in danger...”

I roll my eyes. “He won't.” Besides, if he does, I will find a way to save myself, I always do.

Eric is still trying to assess what I am. “Interesting, Eva, are you accustomed to resolving disputes?”

“I guess. Why?”

He looks troubled as if he's afraid to say what he's thinking, “This may sound odd...”

I have to bring some levity, “And vampires and werewolves living among us, isn't that odd?”

He chuckles, “Point taken, there are also witches, like we said, and other beings. I think a witch killed my wife. She talked about what a witch forbade her to do.”

I want to learn all that I can because it's not every day that you get the opportunity to interview a vampire. “So witches can control you guys. Is that why the darkness was on her? What about me, though? Could a witch control me?”

He cocks his head, “Don't know. If some of the prophecies are true, then no one can control you, because there were only a few beings that none could control, and all are long since gone.”

I wonder if he's referring to any I have studied, “What prophecies?”

He thinks for a minute, “You'll have to find someone older than me. All I know is, there will be a leader, unlike the others, who will unite the immortals and humans. This leader will fight to keep the balance. One existed long ago, but according to legend, she was just a witch who was bitten by a werewolf. She was just a normal hybrid, but an excellent warrior. You're nothing like that. So I am unsure about any of the prophecies now. You..this…it’s all different.”

I roll my eyes, “Yeah, right.”

Vincent takes my hand, “Do you know all that you can do, Eva?”

I feel a pull to him, too. I can sense him far closer to me than just holding my hand, “Ummm…no, I guess not.”

Sam interjects as he glares at Vincent,  “My grandmother may know something more; our family kept some records.” Why does he want me to meet his family so much? We only just met. 

Eric says, “Well, if witches are involved, one thing is certain, Eva, you're in danger, as is your friend and anyone you are in normal contact with.”

Oh shit! “I rarely go into the office. My coworkers should be safe, right?” Both Eric and Sam tell me that they will assign men to watch over my colleagues. That makes me feel a bit better, but I'm still worried. I decided to distract myself by asking questions: “What happens to vampires during the day?”

Eric responds, “We are just vulnerable and weak. We don't sparkle or anything. Our healing, hearing, and reflexes don't work well in the sunlight, but they do still work. We are closer to being human in the daylight, but we still have our immortality.”

“So what turns a vampire to ash?”

He says, “Beheading, destruction of the heart, or breaking a sacred oath.”

“So your wife broke her word?” I inquire, as I'm just still processing all that has happened tonight.

He nods, “Yes.” If she knew that breaking her oath would lead to her death, why did she do it? Did I make her confess somehow?

I continue with my questions, “How does it work for wolves?” I don't want to kill, but the information could prove useful.

Sam answers, “We heal faster than humans, but nothing like a vampire. Vampires can regrow limbs, we cannot. Even those of us born as wolves can't regenerate a limb. We age, but very slowly, so we can die.”

I didn't know most of that. What is the difference between a made werewolf and a born one? Are there any? They are all just so forthcoming. My barrage of questions doesn't faze them. So I continue, “What about witches?”

Vincent replies, “They die like a human. They live longer but aren't fully immortal.”

Then a question pops into my mind, “Couldn't they weave a spell to make them immortal?”