Telling Claire about what happened

After finishing to help me with the bar, we walked home together. I didn't feel Aurora or Yahana's gazes on me anymore, which was a relief. But I was now thinking of how to explain everything that happened to me to Claire.

I need to go straight to the point, but should I admit that I wore Sarah...?

It was something I was still ashamed of. I lost control of myself when I wore her, and did things I regretted, even if my skinwalker side loved my time as her. I could still vividly remember the bliss I felt from wearing her skin, masturbating as her, wearing her clothes, and teaching as her... This now more primal part of me was craving to experience something like that again.

I'll avoid mentioning the most shameful parts...

As we entered our flat and I locked the door behind me, Claire spoke. "So, what did you want to tell me?"

I sat on the couch, taking a deep breath. "You see, I... haven't been fully truthful with you..."

She raised an eyebrow. "I had a feeling you were hiding something. What is it?"

"Remember that night I didn't come back? I told you I got into a fight and escorted someone home?"

"Yeah?"

"It wasn't the whole story. I didn't simply fall asleep there. The person I saved was... a skinwalker."

Claire tilted her head. "A skinwalker?"

"A creature who can... turn humans into wearable skins, gaining their memories and souls. To thank me for saving them, they turned me into one..." I freed the spines in my right hand, making Claire gasp. "I didn't really know how to tell you and didn't want to make you worry, so I prefered to lie and try to find more about my situation on my own."

"You're... a skinwalker?"

I nodded slowly. "Now, yeah... I'm no longer human. While searching for clues about what I became, I coincidentally met Sarah, who immediately noticed how bad I was feeling, and invited me to spend the evening at her place." I sighed, blushing slightly as I looked away. "I drank too much and... lost control, skinning her. I couldn't resist spending the next day as her..."

"You became... Sarah?" Claire asked, bewildered by all these reveals.

"Y-yeah... That's why I didn't contact you until the next evening... But I regained my senses and restored her once college was over. Since then, I tried to return to a normal life, but it hasn't been easy."

Claire sat next to me, hugging me. "I... I had no idea... But you're... still yourself, right? Even if you're a skinwalker?"

I gave her a reassuring smile, hugging her back. "Yeah, I'm still me. I just have a few new skills, now."

"Ed... Why did you hide it from me?"

I looked away. "I didn't have the courage to admit what happened. I was lost and confused after my... transformation, and feared your reaction. But I couldn't lie any longer, you deserved to know... You're my sister, and I hope this won't change anything between us."

"It won't..." She simply replied, her hug tightening. "I love you, Ed... Even if you're no longer human... You're the only family I have."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks..."

After a moment to process everything, she broke free from the hug. "So, you... you really became Sarah?" She wondered, her tone more curious.

My cheeks reddened again. "Y-yeah... I had her memories, her personality, her body... I spent the whole day teaching as her, using her knowledge as if it were my own."

"It sounds... unbelievable... But I know you wouldn't lie, and I saw these weird spines... How... How did you feel?"

"It was... amazing, honestly..." I replied, embarrassment overcoming me. "I had a lot of fun..."

"I see... What are you going to do, now?" She shyly asked.

"I will help Aurora." I admitted. "She and I have a deal."

"Aurora? The goth woman? Why?"

"We... fought, last night. She's a sort of monster hunter." As Claire gasped again, I continued. "She found out about my new nature and wanted to kill me, but I managed to convince her to give me a chance after sparing her. I'm to help her and her friend who was at the bar tonight."

"I knew you got into a fight..." Claire muttered. "But I didn't know it was that bad... Why not tell me, Ed?! I could have lost you!"

I tried to be reassuring. "You know I'm quite resilient and stubborn, Claire. I wouldn't have died that easily. I can't leave you alone."

She grabbed my hand and held it tightly. "Do you... really have to help her? I don't want you to be in danger."

"With these abilities, I have the power to make the world better, and Aurora and Yahana share a similar goal. But don't worry, I'll be careful."

Claire looked down for a moment, as if she was thinking of ways to convince me to give up on my goal.

Finally, she looked back at me. "Ed, could I... meet them?"

"Huh, why?"

"I... I want to talk to them." She replied, but I felt like she wasn't telling the whole truth.

"I'll text Aurora tomorrow to ask her." I said, not wanting to be pushy.

"Thanks, Ed." She spoke, hugging me again. "I love you."

"I love you too, Claire. Now, we should sleep, it's quite late already."

She nodded and left to her room, but not before glancing one last time at me. I was relieved she took all of this fairly well, I was kinda stupid not to trust her before. Our bonds were too strong to break due to my condition.

I went to my own room and laid on the bed, closing my eyes and quickly falling asleep.