Mine

Part 10 (Colby's POV)

<Colby's POV>
Penelope breathes out, staring. "How about when the others know, and only if another person asks, then I'll answer?" She suggests.
I huff, blowing my hair out of my eyes. "Why?"
"Because I don't want you asking me me to bite you." She answers. "I know you'll be so curious to see if I'm being serious."
"I won't."
"That's what they all say."
I raise an eyebrow. "You've had other people ask?"
"Yes."
I watch Penelope. I always thought it was odd that she didn't blink much, or how little emotion she spoke with or showed on her abnormally beautiful face. Or how still she usually was. Or how she never ate in front of me. Now I knew why, at least.
I look down. "Do you want me to tell them?" I look up. "Or do you?"
Penelope keeps her eyes on me, thinking before she answered. As always. "Only Sam."
"Why only Sam?"
"Because Sam believes in the supernatural. Like you. I believe he'll take it better than any of the others."
"But if you tell him, Sam won't be able to tell Kat. And they don't keep secrets from each other."
"The others will know eventually."
"When do you plan on telling him?" I ask. I hoped Sam would take it okay.
"Soon." Penelope answers. "Not today though."
I nod. The next week, I continue to talk to Penelope, asking more questions than I ever thought possible. I was surprised Penelope had so much patience with me, but I guess being alive for over four hundred years did that.
From what she answered, almost everything humans thought was true about vampires was actually wrong. Sunlight didn't affect vampires, except make them thirsty and tired, and they don't sparkle. Apparently vampires have blood, but it wasn't like human blood. According to Penelope, vampire blood was scentless and black, but was able to heal any living, breathing thing.
"Okay," I hold my hands up. "I have probably the most annoying question you've ever been asked." Penelope raises an eyebrow. "Hear me out: Does garlic affect you?"
"Common myth." Penelope answers.
"It doesn't?"
She shakes her head. "Actually, eating garlic makes a human's blood taste better. Vampires can almost taste the garlic from your blood."
I pause. Then, "Can you die?"
"Not easily."
"It gets boring, doesn't it?" I ask. "Life, I mean."
"When you're born so long ago, as I was, you get to see the growth of humanity."
"Can you change? Into a bat or anything?"
At this, Penelope laughs. I frown. It was a decent question, right? "No, we can't."
"Do you sleep in coffins? Or do you not sleep at all, like in Twilight?"
She scowls. "Vampires hate that movie. It's wrong in so many ways." She says. "But yes, we sleep. Just not in coffins. Usually, you'd find a vampire asleep during mid-day, when the sun  is highest."
"Because it drains you?"
"Yes."
"Can you see yourself in mirrors?"
She nods. "Yes, we can."
"Is it true that vampires are technically dead?"
"It's true we don't have beating hearts or lungs that always need air, but our brains and other senses work, don't they?" Penelope questions. I pause, wondering if my next question should be worded. I was very curious, but I was honestly scared to see Penelope's reaction. "What are you thinking?" She asks me.
"I was wondering if I could ask a question, but I'm not sure how you'd react." I answer.
Penelope nods. "I already know what you're wanting to ask."
I look up. "You do?"
"You're wondering how to kill a vampire." I nod. She smiles. "There's only one way to completely destroy a vampire."
I lean in. "What is it?"
"Fire."
"Fire? How?" How could fire destroy a vampire? Weren't they supposed to be invincible?
"It burns our blood and keeps us from healing."