Chapter 13 - Living On The Razor's Edge

Rin's dad is coming too, he's sitting up with a little help from Soothing, good job too because now I have a small host of questions.

"G'morning there. How's the head?" I ask him.

"Wha..? What happened? Rin, where's Rin?!" he starts to look panicked.

"Dad I'm here, it's okay" Rin lets go of Rain and heads over to hug her father tight.

"Oh thank goodness. What happened? Who are these people?"

"That's Alex and that's Rain and their friends. I don't know their names. Alex helped us, he beat up the bad guys!"

Wow, I'm the victim of classic comic book cheese there. I beat the bad guys, hurrah! Okay, I'm playing it down a bit, hearing the kid say that does give me the warm and fuzzies, but I still want to know what the fuck is going on here.

"Okay, since we're short with time and all that, how about Rain and Rin be kind enough to go grab me a coffee and meat filled sandwich. These guys are buying." I walk over to the guys, root through their pockets and snaffle some cash, only about $75, but bollocks to it.

"You two get what you want and get me that, plus whatever these two want." I motion to Wyrmripper and Soothing. I really need to find out their human names cos this is going to be awkward trying to talk to this guy.

I hand over $40 to the two and they grin at each other, yay for teenage joy. They take Wyrmripper and Soothing's orders and skitter off into the cafe.

"Great, now they're gone we can talk Mr...?"

"I'm Riyada, Riyada Cohen."

"Sweet, I'm Alex. Look Riyada, I can play twenty questions with you until the kids come back but I'm tired, grouchy and pretty much got a chunk of stuff from little Rin that makes me worried about you two. I kicked their asses for you, now you tell me who you're running from and we see if I need to kick yours as well to make sure that another Khan survives."

His face is a picture, going from disbelief, anger to sheer surprise. I do love it when I throw someone like that.

"You.. You know?"

"Course I do, she isn't the first one I've ever met."

"Then you must be of the kinfolk or blood?"

I tilt my head and frown.

"Garou you mean?"

He scowls at me. "Oh great, fucking wolves."

I raise an eyebrow. "Delightful. I just saved your ass and I get 'fucking wolves'. What the hell did I ever do to you? Oh wait, shit, you guys had the war of rage in this world right?" I turn to Wyrmripper and Soothing who both nod back at me.

"Wait, what do you mean 'in this world'?" asks Riyada.

"Long story, which I'm betting yours is too. So let's cut to the chase. Are you running from something and how fucking dangerous is it?"

"Yes we are and it's very dangerous. Rin is betrothed but I cannot allow the marriage to take place as they are a monster. We ran and hid here. Her mother is looking for us, but I told Rin she is dead."

"Yeesh, fun. Yay for family fueds. So, you got a plan or were you just running and praying for a miracle?"

"The latter I'm afraid."

I roll my eyes, great. Okay, time to talk to the actual guy in charge.

"Boss?"

Wyrmripper grunts. "What? You think I'm a charity?"

"No, I can't repeat in polite company what I think as I'll get another smack. However this is just a kid with a dad who's obviously not physically able to defend himself. They don't like garou so I'm betting that whoever is chasing will most likely assume they're avoiding wolves. They'd be safer with us. Please?"

"They aren't garou, they aren't one of us." Wyrmripper growls at me.

"No they aren't garou. Yet I do not believe they are less than equal to us. This man, a MAN, has gone against all odds to protect Rin against becoming some bitch of a monster. Yeah, I know there's a chance he's lying, but I sorely doubt it."

"I know he's not lying, I just don't have a good reason to take them with us."

"What's the good reason for leaving them behind?"

"They aren't one of us."

I take a deep breath and step backwards, next to Riyada, hoping what I'm about to say is the right thing.

"Then should Rain and I stay behind too?"

"What are you talking about? Of course not. We owe you."

"But we are not one of you either. Rain was a black spiral and I was the un-dead. We belong to no pack and we are of no tribe. If it is simply a matter of you owing us, then I would consider that debt paid in full since you have spared our lives."

"Why are you doing this now Alex?" asks Soothing.

"You know the reason Soothing."

"I can guess, but I want to hear it."

"Because it's the right thing to do."

"So you would give up the chance to be with Wyrmripper and I, just to do something you feel is 'right'?"

I expect Wyrmripper to say something at this point or at least look at Soothing, but he doesn't.

"I don't want to, but I have to. I have to try to do what I think is right..."

"Grah! We'll talk about this when we get there and worry about it some more then!" growls Wyrmripper. "Riyada, do you have anything with you or is all you have here?"

Riyada grabs a bag that I didn't notice from behind him and stands up, it's a pretty full looking backpack, probably with clothes in.

"I have a question though. Why should we come with you?" asks Riyada.

"Because you don't have a better choice right now when you know I'm right" I reply.

He nods. "Understandable. So, would someone lead the way please?"

I look up at Wyrmripper, he's looking uber pissed at me. Soothing... Hrm, he's got a look on his face I can't decipher. Yet I'd done what I thought was right. Here's hoping I WAS right.

We head back to the lorry and just as we get there I spot Rain and Rin talking and laughing together as they carried a bag and a tray of cups. Coffee would be perfect right about now. Plus not getting my ass kicked. That would be sweet too. Might have to just settle for coffee.

Riyada smiles at Rin, she looks so happy. Better keep it to myself for now that he's a she, I'm guessing they did it to hide better. Though what the fuck made her dye her hair that colour, I'll never know. It's hardly inconspicuous. Erk, what about Rain? Hope he's bi cos if not, he's gonna get one hell of a shock.

"Rin, we will be travelling with these gentlemen for now."

Rin smiles widely at Rain, then to me. This kid sure is cheerful. Here's hoping it lifts Wyrmripper's mood somewhat.

"Everyone wait here a minute. Soothing, Alex, in the truck. I want a word." Wyrmripper says.

Well fucknuggets. I really hope I'm not about to find out how well garou heal. I hop up into the cab without a word and Soothing follows me. Wyrmripper is already in his side and tapping fingertips on the edge of the steering wheel. I hop in the middle this time, rather than sit on the back. We're not going anywhere and I'd rather be nearer Wyrmripper than further away. If he's going to hit me, then there's no escaping.

"Okay. I got to ask this Alex. Are you sure you're doing this for the right reasons? You're not on some redemption kick?" asks Wyrmripper.

"Well, no, I hope not. I know it's the right thing to do and I don't want redemption. I'm done. I've got a new life that I'm responsible for now as well as now people who need my help. Don't get me wrong, I still have to make sure my husband is ok when or if I can go back and it would be nice if I could say goodbye to Colt, but I don't have any control over any of that so I'm taking control of what I can do."

"Well... I can't really argue those points, so because of how much you've done for us, keeping an eye on these two for you would be the least we can do in return. Your reasoning is sound on what information we have on those two, but I think we need some more. I'm gonna get someone to look into them when we get set up."

I nod and let out a sigh of relief, only to feel Wyrmripper grab my ear, ow ow ow ow!

"HOWEVER...There are two things we need to clear up, firstly, 'I can't repeat what I think in polite company'? Care to explain that?"

I wince and blush. "I would, but I got slapped the last time I said something sexual." another cuff on the back of the head, ouch!

"Glad you remembered that at least." he pulls harder on my ear and drags me closer, fucking ow!

"Secondly, you EVER say you don't belong to any tribe or pack again and I'll bang your head against the nearest solid surface until you get it through your thick skull that yours and Rain's asses belong to the Glass Walkers and you're under MY pack's command. GOT IT?!"

I try to nod and yelp as he's still got hold of my ear. "Yessir, I'm sorry!"

"Good!" he lets go of my ear. "You better get everyone loaded up then, we're running behind now."

I nod and rub my ear with a wince, but I don't care about the pain. What Wyrmripper just said made me happier than I ever thought I could be again. I'm smiling until I turn to get the passenger door open and Soothing is sat there, looking hard at me. I lean back a bit with a whimper.

"So, does this revelation make all you've done forgiven?" he growls at me.

A glance behind me shows Wyrmripper is a tad surprised by this reaction but is watching me and Soothing intently. I turn back to Soothing and look at the anger in his eyes. I like Soothing, a lot. That's why I told him the truth, I didn't want him to become another Colt, so I drove him away at the beginning. It was a callous action worthy of a vampire. I'm not a vampire anymore, I have a heart and now is the time for me to use it.

I slide towards Soothing on my knees, my head lowered slightly, when I'm closer I lean up so I'm very close to him. He hasn't moved, he's waiting for my answer, so I give him the truth.

"When I first met you Soothing, you were kind to me. I told you the gods honest truth about what I had done for two very big reasons. Firstly, that you would know what vampires are capable of and why in my world they are destroyed by the garou as a rule. Secondly, I did not want you to be another Colt. Someone who I told the truth to, but ended up letting down because I over estimated myself. I've been given a blank slate and a second chance. Yet I know that doesn't forgive my past actions, it's given me a chance to learn from them and now I truly believe I will never be that monster again. If you can't agree after what you have seen so far, then I trust you to make the right call." At this point I tilt my head to the side exposing my throat to him, there's no way I'd be able to react at this range if he attacks, but that's the point.

"So you're saying if I believed you were capable of being that monster again, I should just tear your throat out right now?"

"No, I'm saying that you should tear out my throat if the Alex before you is the monster that devours souls."

He leans forward and I feel his teeth now graze my throat. I'm shivering, I'm scared. I can't help it. I trust him, but...

"Are you scared of me?"

"No..."

"What are you scared of then?"

"That I'm wrong."

"You're betting your life that you're not?"

"Yes."

"And you're scared that you might be?"

"Yes."

"You have my word you need never be scared of being like that Alex."

I let out a sigh of relief and fall against Soothing. His arms slip around me and hold me gently, tears slipping from my eyes.

"Why shouldn't he be scared of that anymore Soothing?" asks Wyrmripper

"Because he'll kill me before that can happen..." I answer and feel Soothing squeeze me a little tighter.

Knowing someone will kill you if you go bad, I didn't think I'd actually feel relieved about that, but I honestly do.