Mad Bloods

Chapter 3 - Answers

"Be careful on her, she's new to this" Trina whispered.

I nearly went pale and fell frozen. She knows.

A meeting not so very clandestine after all. I screwed up. I took advantage of their kindness and generosity, I went too far meeting Jade like that.

I can feel Trina's eyes on me as I think of a response, atleast, try, but I couldn't. "It's fine," she assures me.

Jade and I were inseperable as kids and they weren't always fan of it, they say we wouldn't get along well if we only knew each other, really knew each other. But so far, we hadn't killed each other, so I'm guessing it's safe. As safe as it can be.

What would Trina mean by saying she's new to this? Hadn't they told Jade the truth all this time?

"New?"

"Yes."

Elle is a smart person and always have a plan on everything and I have always admired that. But this is where I don't agree on her. Keeping secrets to Jade? That's just never justifiable. She has the right to know.

Before I could ask what does Trina mean, she explains. "She had just recently started asking about vampires. We were trying to keep her in the shade"

"And you agree with it?"

My adopted mother looked at me with confusion. "No, of course not. But I don't have a choice. It's Jade." she gestured lightly towards Elle, who's sitting beside Jade.

Of course. It's Jade. The child of Elle.

Never the kid who's innocence is on the line, never the woman she's going to be once she transformed. Just Jade, daughter of Elle.

"She deserves to know," I argued.

Do I really care if my life depended on it? What if telling her the truth would make them take me away once again? That's a risk I'm willing to take.

"I'll tell her," was what I wanted to say when Trina said it first. "You tell her."

"There's no telling how she'll react, she's strong, you know." she shrugs her shoulders.

I couldn't help but smile remembering how she held the knife without any sign of hesitation or nervousness yesterday, it's like she practiced.

"I know."

I could feel Trina's eyes full of wonder, shifting gaze from me to Jade and back and forth.

"If all else fails, I got you." Trina finally said before I followed her gaze and realized Elle staring at us.

She heard it. I looked at Trina to ask if she's sure and as much as I know her sister means business, I also trust my adopted mother just as strong.

?

Knocking on Jade's room, I waited patiently for her to open the door.

"Very brave of you to come here after ignoring me on breakfast." her eyebrows lowered and knitted together once she saw me.

"I was trying to be respectful." I shrugged. After Trina's assurance, I finally felt safe reaching to Jade like this, not afraid of Elle. If she doesn't want me here she would make it clear. I couldn't have possibly even made it here without any of the guards dragging me away. But I'm here. Something about their silence just means something. I'm assuming it's approval. Either way, I want to speak with Jade. And so I will.

"Well," Jade thinks before she opened the door wide. From here, I can see her room. Wide, spacious and princess-like. Exactly what she is. I looked at myself in my formal clothing, which isn't me, but seems right to this place.

"You don't need to be invited in, don't just stand there." she says. She really does know a little about vampires already.

"Just how much do you know?" I skipped running around the bush and asked directly once I entered.

She didn't speak until she had closed the door so I assumed and explored her room.

"Burn a sage." I tell her, only to turn back and see her already holding one smoky sage in one hand, looking at me like a siren. She's smart, why do I tend to underestimate her?

Her room is clean, feminine and modern. She has a carpet on the floor and huge cabinets for her clothes, even a vanity area with a huge mirror.

"I. Had. Literally. Just. Finished. Cleaning." I froze as I sat down to her bed. I've given her yet another reason to be mad at me once again. "I'm sorry" was all I was brave enough to say.

"That would be the second." She meant it as a joke but little did she know how much it stings to have disappointed her.

I walked to the floor and sat down the carpet.

"You can take off your shoes, feel comfortable."

I laughed. I am nowhere near comfortable. I removed my shoes and sat down and waited for her to ask. I don't want to overwhelm her with information but I know she has a lot of questions, I'm here to provide answers as much as I can.

But seeing the pile of books on her bedside table, one could say she no longer needs me here. I can't say that doesn't hurt.

"I haven't really read them," she explained as she grabbed the books and sat on her bed.

"Well, I tried and I couldn't really focus"

I chuckled as I remembered her short attention span even as a kid. She couldn't focus and finish a book even if her life depended on it.

She hit me and said "Don't laugh."

"No, really"

"How are you right now?" she struck me with a question I hadn't expected her to ask. I was ready to answer her first, which, even when she said angrily, I know she meant it seriously as a question. I was ready to explain to her what she was, what I was, where I had been all these years, but not how I feel. How funny.

"I feel..." I tried not to think too much. "delighted."

She watched me, as if waiting for me to tell her more. I don't even know what to say, I have never really thought of how I feel, not really. I'm going to have to disappoint her once more if she wants a thorough answer.

"I'm really glad you're back." she smiled.

"Glad to be back."

She placed the books down the floor and sat down beside me.

"As much as I want to ask questions about humanity, vampirism and nature, and existential crisis..." she waved her hands in the air, "all I really want to know is how are you."

I nodded. I understand her concern but it's unnecessary. "I'm fine, Jade."

"Sorry I made you worry."

"And you should. Because I was scared to death when you left, I even thought you died."

She should never even thought of that. She should've been given the explanation she deserve and more.

"Tell me about vampires."

Shocked by her rapid shift of emotions, I looked at her, she looked seriously curious. So innocent, so pure. I could tell this is going to be a long conversation.

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything." she answered.

Everything.

It shouldn't be a big deal. I'm more than willing to help her get to her more educated version of herself and be aware of the dangers outside the borders. But a part of me wishes she never finds out why they try for the longest time to keep us apart.

"Starting with?"

"I don't know. Anywhere."

I stared at her and once she gave up and realized I wouldn't answer unless its a direct question, she initiated.

"Trina and Elle is. That's what I think."

"Correct."

I watched her expression went from simply guessing to outwardly shocked. It used to be a theory and now that I had confirmed it, she couldn't hide her expression of shock and satisfaction of finally making sense of things. Poor girl. She probably thought about this for years. Wondering. Questioning. She's a smart girl to have figured it out. But my confirmation still shocks her.

She stood up and walked. Thinking.

"What about you?" I shook my head no.

"What about me?" she pointed to her chest.

I stood up and walked to her. She watched me and as careful as I can, I grabbed her hand and held it with both my hands.

"You," I exhaled, looking at both of our hands clasped together,"are one of a kind."

She looks even more confused now. "I'm like them, I can feel it, but not exactly, there's something I can't explain." she whispers.

All I could think of is all those years she had been confused, and wondering, how it must've felt to be hidden in the shade to be kept safe, well, as safe as lack of awareness can get you. I tried to keep the rage inside, not letting it slip. I can't let her know how mad I truly am that they kept these as secret to her all this time.

"You were birthed by your mother a human, and once you die, you'll come back as a vampire."

She tried not to flinch at the thought of her dying, and me saying it out loud didn't help. I knew she could hear how my voice changed. Stunting myself ready to catch her fall if she ever decided to faint, I remained calm and watched her expressions changed I couldn't even name them.

"Huh, so basically screw YOLO, I have extra lives!" she opened her hands in celebration but even I could feel a touch of fear in it. She thinks she's hiding it well, and she is at some point, I guess.

Death, above all things, shouldn't scare her. Me, on the other hand...

"If you're not a vampire, what are you?" she held my hand this time. I can feel she genuinely means it as a question. She really doesn't know.

Should I tell her how I spent years training how to not put her in danger everytime she's with me? Or should I tell her how every once in a month, my bones break and I crumble to the ground, giving in to everything I try to hide everyday and become the monster that I am? Should I tell her that one bite from me and she can actually be poisoned to death? I shouldn't want to. But she have the right to the truth. Even if it scares her away. That's a risk I'm willing to take.

"A werewolf."

But my answer didn't scare her away. She watched me closely but didn't say anything. Confused, I watched her as well. She's not scared.

I would tell her everything that has happened to me all these years only if she would ask. I would tell her how much I've missed her, and this town, and how I wasn't allowed to be out for the world while I wasn't ready. And how I wasn't away and hidden to be protected, but it's that this world needs protecting from me.

I'm a beast, a murderer, a hunter and a predator. But above all of that, I made it safe here, and that's how I plan to keep her, safe.

"As in, a full-moon cursed werewolf?"

she stepped back to grab one of the books and showed me a page in it that shows a sketching of a werewolf and a full moon. Pretty nice stereotype but, slightly accurate.

"Yes, except I have this" I showed her my moonlight ring. She raced back to me to see it up close.

"I've seen Trina and the others have this, are they the same?" she looked up at me and I could see how the sun glistens over her brown eyes.

"No, theirs are daylight ring. For vampires." I answered, trying not to be distracted by her.

"What's the difference?"

Her eyes. Golden. Her scent. Vanilla.

I blinked. She has a question that needs answering. I shouldn't be distracted.

"Here," I said before I took my ring off and gave it to her. Such an act of trust I doubt she even understand or appreciate.

Her eyes widened in shock. That's when I noticed we were both under the shade of sunlight. No one was burning.

"I'm not a vampire, Jade."

"Right. You don't burn in the sun,"

I watched her process her thoughts for a while before she stepped back in haste.

"You don't burn in the sun either, if you were then you would've burnt already. The sun doesn't need to think" I stepped towards her. Her arms are raised as she looked closely to them. Does she really think she could burn without her feeling it?

"You're not a vampire yet" I explained.

Slowly, she turned to walk toward the sunlight with me. "It's...warm." she whispered.

"It feels normal," she said, confused.

"That's because it is, Jade."

"What does this do?" she raised my moonlight ring in her hand. "And if I wear it?"

I watched her put my ring in her finger and it fits awkwardly. I've worn it for the longest time that it's like part of my skin and I hadn't really appreciated its beauty. Its black diamond-shaped amulet only shines brighter on Jade's light skin. I haven't really thought about her being a wolf. Although, to be real, I never want her to experience the pain.

"Nothing happens"

"What about you?" she looked at me all concerned, "What happens to you without it?"

I thought before I speak, nothing really happens except I turn when it's a full moon. The sole purpose of the ring was to protect me from the moonlight but, it came with perks. But with my training, I can't exactly say I need those perks anymore. I'm ready for combat with or without the ring. It's just nice to wear it.

"It was from my mother, you know."

I watched her eyes become golden once again when she looked up to me. The sun kissing her skin just the right amount that she glows.

"My real mother," I continued.

When Elle found me, she said that my mother had surrendered me to her in such haste, it's like I was in danger and in need of protection, and my mother gave Elle this same ring. They didn't know what it was for until they found me transforming every once in a month.

Once I've grown enough they gave the ring for me to wear and found that I was able to remain human for as long as I wear it.

"So you're real mothers a?"

"Werewolf too, I'm guessing. I hadn't really met her." I sat down.

She sat down beside me, still focused on my story.

"I'm sorry..."

"You don't have to." I cut her sentence.

Being adopted doesn't change the way they treat me here, in fact, I've got even more attention and advantages because of my gender identity. I feel bad for Jade about that. Before I could express my own sorries, she continued.

"...about Elle, for taking you in after I was born, and realizing she doesn't want you anymore once her post-partum was over"

I couldn't help but smile. Ah yes, that story we've known all along. It was Trina who didn't want me to be given up for another adoption or given away to humans for she had doubted that I may be supernatural. And she was right. That's how she became my adopted mother. I'm more than thankful for her. I owe her another thank-you-hug when I see her later.

"Well, I'm sorry that you got taken away from your mother right after you were born" I genuinely feel sorry, it's not her fault she got born into this. It's like her whole life is filled with violence. I'd like to keep her safe from now on, keep her eyes close when the violence happens. Protect her innocence more than anything.

"It's no big deal, I didn't even know that yet"

We both laughed.

After newborn Jade was born, Elle took a walk outside to solitude, to feel her sorrow, to mourn the loss of her still-alive daughter, but can't be with her. That's when she saw my mother, giving me away. And Elle accepted me right away, for I served as a replacement for the daughter she can't nurture just yet.

"Your real mother must be a werewolf."

"I don't doubt that."

She looked to the sun, seemingly to appreciate it and the fact that it doesn't burn her skin.

"But it doesn't really matter now, does it? She gave me away. Let go of people who let go of you."

"Yeah, sure." she shrugged.

I watched her leave me in the sun again and sat down on her couch.

"Pretend you don't think about her everyday. You never wondered how has she been all these years."

She's damn right I think about my mother everyday. As much as I can ever be thankful for my adopted mother, I really do wonder where my real mother is. And Jade, she doesn't need to ask, she just knows. She got me there.

"What else do you want to know?"

I would've waited for her to ask in her own pace but I decided to prompt her. Questions about humanity, vampirism and nature, and existential crisis. Just as she said.

"Humans. I've never met them have I?"

"Besides Elle's business parties, no."

There's no human around her in her life, not really. Most of her caretakers and teachers and housekeepers are witches. Her friends, her family, me. Either supernatural or a product of scientific experiment. No one was purely human to have ever stepped inside this mansion. Everyone was a part of us. That's how Jade has been kept safe for 14 years.

"So they're basically NPCs." she mumbled.

I tried to recall the term. I'm sure it's something about a game. But I don't really know for sure since I've never really played any video games for so long. I'd physically memorize a whole damn map of a province while exploring than settle on a 2 dimensional version of a fantasy word in a flat screen tv.

"Where were you?"

"Olanivan" I answered simply.

"Well?" her eyebrows raised. Of course that doesn't answer her question, it's just the name of the place.

I stepped forward and watched her watching me. Sitting down next to her, the couch took in my weight as she bounced due to the softness of the couch.

"I was under the training of an ancient werewolf who lived long before Elle and Trina were turned into vampires."

"Who was he?"

"Long term family friend."

The twins has got multiple family friends, these connections had kept us alive to this day. I don't even bother asking them where on earth had they found these people. I'm thankful they do.

"How is he still alive then, werewolves can't live that long." she thinks out loud. Damn right it's confusing. Vampires live long, she knows that already. Werewolves don't.

"He came back to life."

She blinked. "How?"

"I don't really know about that. But I'll ask Elle if you want. Trina says she's got something to do with it."

"Of course. She always has something to do with people dying and coming back to life."

After that, Jade asked a few questions about training and winced as if she feels pain for me. She's glad it had ended, and hit me when I told her I just escaped and didn't exactly graduated, but just the same, I know it's safe enough for me to go when i did.

It wasn't long before our interview was interrupted when I heard footsteps.

"Someone's coming."

"That must be the twins."

"Twins?"

She laughed. Elle and Trina wouldn't visit her at a time like this, they've got work to do.

"You don't remember Belle?"

The name sounds familiar. I couldn't pinpoint exactly how. It has to be someone from our childhood. But who?