Chapter 14:
-Reveal yourself!-
Meanwhile, Ivanhoe rode into the forest to have a look at the area and to secure it. He was somewhat uncertainly what happened with his fatherHe investigated the matter. Something wasn't right.He wanted to know what it was however, he had to go back at the place where he knew, that his father could have been and that meant: the clearing with the stone-circle. He didn't like to spy his father, actually he didn't care but for his taste happened too many strange things in the last time.First those wolves in the forest, eaten until on the bones, then the workers, which almost lost their life and believe to have seen something. He didn't know whether he now should be anxiously or calmed. He climbed from the horse and got a few latex gloves and put them on. Besides ash, he couldn't find much however, his attention hiked to one of the stones behind him. He knelt down and looked at the torn chains and handcuffs but became worried, when he saw a scrap of a garment, not far from it. A black shirt, probably, but his father didn't wear such shirts and if, white or blue. Sounds came from the forest and Ivanhoe pulled his weapon, however, there was nothing. As he wanted to put back them again, Michael suddenly came before him. He scared shortly.
"Oh, it's just you."
"Who did you expect?"
"What are doing you here"?
"I was with your father and now wanted to stretch the legs a bit." his gazes hiked inconspicuously to the ground and understood why Ivanhoe was so strange. "And what's up in your program today?"
"Daily tours like usual."
"Ah. And what are you doing there? Did you find something?" he remained quiet and observed Ivanhoe's reactions. Ivanhoe rose and turned around to Michael while he withdrew his gloves again.
"Have you seen something similar like this once before?" he pointed to the chains. "However, that's not natural. What could prepare something like this?"
"You don't believe approximately... that it could have been a werewolf or whatever, do you?"
"Are you that sure? Would you hold it for so unlikely? I, anyway, had always believed in it whatever the people or my father had told."
"And what are you supposed to do if it's actually one?"
"I will kill him."
„You don't say." a smile drove over his lips. "That would be definitely simple."
Ivanhoe became somehow restless. A cold shiver ran him down his back. He swallowed. "I know that my father was bitten by a wolf but he was healed and if not... this can I assure you with certainty, this shirt doesn't belong to him."
"And whom do you have in suspicion otherwise? Do you know somebody else who has been bitten?"
"No, but..."
"But what?"
"Stay away from me." he pulled another time his gun and got it ready to fire. his hands trembled and could shoot every moment.
„You don't think I have something to do with it?"
"Why do you wear these sunglasses, anyway? Only someone who has to hide something wears sunglasses even if it's dark. I warn you, I don't hesitate to shoot. Answer me this question: who are you? Don't dare to lie."
"We have all our secrets. I am who I am: Michael Corvin, nobody else. However, I am not a werewolf."
"Lie"!
"I tell the truth."
"Don't lie to me!"
„Nobody understands what I am, not even I."
"Remove the glasses.
Michael didn't refuse but held his eyes closed. As he opened them Ivanhoe stepped shocked back and almost fell. "What the hell...?"
"I' am anything but a fucking werewolf. And if you nevertheless shoot me these silver-bullets, so I will still stand. I am an accident... abhorrence. I'm dead and also not. I am the result if a vampire and a werewolf bits one single capable human being, capable to unify the species. I'm hybrid. The single living."
"Oh God."
"Did you feel sorry for me?"
"N... no."
"On the contrary, I helped you in many regards. Not only with the work but also with the wolves. They stay away from here and if I, well how should I say it politely, am hungry, I wont lay hands on the villagers, what is quite a relieve, and furthermore I rescued two people from the sure death, didn't I?"
Ivanhoe nodded.
"I asked your father to free me from my moods as good as and... the first try failed."
"You almost killed my father, is it that you want?"
"It is the last thing I want. We discussed today a new strategy how we will proceed... however he will risk much."
"Not more attempted suicides."
"I haven't agreed yet. The risk is too big."
Ivanhoe had calmed down a bit and put away the weapon again. "What does he intend?"
"Well, to be short: stabbing. But chains doesn't me keep back, as you see."
"did you maybe think about letting you anaesthetize, I mean..."
"No, I don't have. And furthermore we need a lot of anaesthetic, believe me, I am a doctor and they wont give that lot."
"And what about a veterinarian? There are situations here, at which we must put down sick bears or even wolves in narcosis, to treat them or to put sleep."
„Sounds promising."
"Do you have approximately another idea?"
"then we need the quintuple unit as usually required for a grizzly... just to be certain."
"What? The quintuple? This will knock you off!"
"We intend to do this, don't we? Or it will more happen than just a shattered leg."
"You're serious..."
"Deadly serious."
"I will see, whether I get the stuff together, maybe it will take a while. When do you need it then?"
"By next full moon and don't forget the chains."
"But, you will be knocked out with this dose, for what do you need..."
"Just do it. Don't underestimate me. Everyone who did it is no more, savvy."
"Where do you go?"
"Nowhere."
Michael passed at Ivanhoe with a sharp one look and strolled with his hands in the pockets and sun glass on through the splendid forest. As taken root, Ivanhoe remained there with the pistol in his right hand. He couldn't trust Michael, despite of his almost normal behaviour. If it was correct, what Michael told him and he claimed to be was no joke, then there could be more on stake as he could suspect. he threw, another last look at the shattered chains and the scraps on the ground, then, he put the weapon away and climbed on the horse and rode into the against-sedate direction.