Maiden of the Moon

Chapter 1- Amber, Jade, and Blood

It was already raining pitchforks by the time Amber’s ride pulled over in front of their main office. She sighed deeply knowing that she forgot her umbrella back at home which was a stupid mistake because the monsoon season had already started. She quickly paid her Grab driver and thanked him.

Amber bolted to the door as fast as she could only managing to have the top of her hair wet. She flashed a smile to the staff that greeted her as she entered the building, didn’t waste any time, and headed to her own office space on the 7th floor. It was her third year working in a non-profit organization for cultural heritage conservation. Amber Dacila at twenty-nine years old was an accomplished curator despite being younger than most of her colleagues in the field. She used to work as an associate in a privately owned art museum which made her well connected within the art industry. Her impressive resume, graduating with Latin honors in Art History and completing her Master’s in Anthropology in one of the best schools in the country helped her land the coveted position that she has currently.

Lately, she had been restless and had full schedules for days on end. Amber was overseeing the preparations and campaign for their upcoming exhibition. First on her seemingly unending list of tasks for the day was attending a meeting with the organization’s president and directors. She quickly touched up on her make-up and made herself presentable, as if erasing the distress of braving through the pouring rain first thing in the morning.

Amber was never really the type who needed a lot of work in the facial department. She had jet black hair that framed her small rounded face with soft features, button nose, narrow chin, doe eyes, and long curved lashes. Amber was born with heterochromia. Her right iris was a deep brown color while her left was more of a golden yellow, hence she was named Amber by her adoptive parents: Manuel and Amanda Dacila. 

Her mismatched irises were what used to make people take a second glance at her in the streets but as she got older it didn’t really play a major role in her interactions since she wore contact lenses most of the time. It was a part of her that she purposely chose to hide. Amber, like everyone else, wanted to fit in into a perfectly molded image that the people around her expect her to be. Her left eye was more of a nuisance than a spectacle for her.

She was just gathering up her files for the meeting when one of their interns knocked on her door with a to-go cup of coffee in one hand.

“Ma’am Amber, the meeting will be in conference room two in ten minutes.” The intern gave her a smile and put the coffee on her desk.

“Thanks, Chels. I’ll be right there. You should go ahead and make sure everything is in place for the presentation.”

AFTER GOING through the sections and lists of artifacts to be displayed in the exhibition, Amber wanted to proceed to discuss the budget and provisions for the project but one of the directors interrupted her.

“We should make room for the viewing of the Sinukuan Jade necklace in the collection,” Director Salvador said with intent.

Amber’s forehead creased as she flipped through the pages once more.

“Forgive me, Sir but that necklace is not on the initial list of items to be featured in the exhibit.”

She knew of such an artifact. It was owned by the Caeg Clan, one of the wealthiest families in the country and it has been in their possession for centuries. The Caeg family was one of their benefactors on multiple occasions. They have been active in supporting the organization's research and conservation programs and were kind enough to loan them some of their antique artifacts for public viewing.

“No, it is not. It's one of the pieces that have never been featured on any museums for public display and having that piece as one of our central attractions for the exhibit will surely get us more funding,” he explained.

“I was not given the authorization to include it in the collection, Sir.”

“Ms. Dacila, you’re acquainted with Leo Caeg, right?” Another one from the group interjected.

“I had the pleasure of working on a few of his exhibits earlier in his career.”

“Then we trust that you could use your connection and have them loan the Sinukuan necklace to us for the exhibit.” Director Salvador pressed on. “It is such a rare piece that they keep in the vault and has never seen the light of day. Such an artifact with that kind of historic importance deserves better. We will provide the resources need to safely display that piece. All we need is for you to work your magic and get us the approval.”

Amber chewed on her inner cheek. She recognized the value of having that necklace in their exhibit but she surely felt the pressure from her bosses.

Gold and pearls were common for jewelry during the precolonial era. Most of these pieces were bracelets, sashes, bangles, and head-wears. For nobles, they adorned their swords, spears, and daggers with intricately crafted gold. Some even went as far as put gold filings and scales in their teeth. Jade on the other hand, although still found in some pre-colonial pieces of jewelry, the bulk of it was known to be imported from mainland Asia as early as 500 BC. This proves the thriving international trade and maritime prowess of the different kingdoms in the archipelago. The Caeg family owned one of the very few discovered and well-preserved necklaces made of gold and jade.

She drew a deep breath before proceeding. “I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, shall we discuss the next agenda?”

LEO CROSSED his legs and lit a stick of cigarette as he sat by the veranda of his studio, looking over the busy, wet, and noisy San Juan, Manila. He didn’t even bother to take off his white canvas apron as he took a moment away from his work. The open sliding doors, let in the chaos of the streets down below, the yelling man trying to sell his taho, the constant beeping, and blaring of car horns, the high school kids who just got out of the campus giggling by the crossing. Three stories away from the ground floor yet it still washed through him like an inescapable wave to the sense. He hated this aspect of his hometown the very moment he stepped foot in the country after over six years studying abroad. Yet he still loved every bit of it. There was a fine line between the mayhem and stark silence that made him feel normal... alive.

Leo came from a family of wealth. Not just ordinary wealth, but they were the poster kids for old money. His ancestors owned an ungodly amount of land in the provinces which made it possible for them to have influence in the business and political landscape of the country. Now they have focused more on hospitals and casinos but still holding on to a portion of land that they used to own. For centuries the Caeg family has built up a fortune off the blood of people beneath them. Leo still cringes at that thought every time that is why he wanted to carve out a career of his own. Although, it would be totally hypocritical for him to say that he had reached everything without the influence and power that his family has.

Apart from his blinding inheritance, Leo was also easy on the eyes. He had that mestizo look, fair, lean, above average height, and facial features with hints of eurocentric standards. He sported his unruly curls and narrow deep-seated eyes that made him just a tad bit mysterious to anyone he meets for the first time. He took his last hit from the cigarette and blew tiny smoke rings before pressing the butt on his ashtray. From his veranda, he saw Amber getting off a taxi, gracefully making her way to his art studio.

He quickly stood up to give her a welcoming hug and their customary beso, a kiss on each cheek.

“It’s good to see you, darling,” he teased.

Amber just chuckled and smacked his chest. She’s quite used to Leo’s harmless flirting every now and then. It was something that the young artist does with basically everyone with a pulse.

“Thanks, for agreeing to see me.”

“Well, a visit from a muse like you couldn’t hurt. Am I right?”

Leo took her hand and led her to sit by the veranda both of them trying to dodge the mirage of canvas, paint, and random brushes scattered around the place. In Leo’s defense, it would be impossible to organize a painter’s studio. One only tries to clean up but by the end of the day, it will always be his method in the madness that will prevail.

Both of them shared a close relationship after working together on a few projects. Leo made some advances on Amber back when they barely knew each other but she was quick to shut it down and keep it all professional. Amber could not deny that Leo was a fine and accomplished young man. That was the catch. He was young... a little bit too young for her. At twenty-four, he was only five years younger than her. It wasn’t much of a gap but Amber soon realized that Leo still had that naive innocence that came with his age. Besides, she was never one to mix business with pleasure.

Once they were both seated, Amber went straight down to business. “So I mentioned on the email the other day. We wanted to make adjustments on the list of the items your family is going to loan us.”

He smirked before putting down his drink. “And here I thought you came all the way up here ‘cause you missed me.”

“Don’t act cute on me now, Lei. I’m here for official matters.”

“I reviewed it and ran it through my family. We are willing to lend a few more trinkets for the exhibit. I could schedule an initial viewing this week so you could assess their condition,” he started with glee. “But I’m sorry to say that the jade necklace you’ve been pining over won’t be one of them.”

“You know that my bosses wanted that jade necklace. Come on, can’t you just pull some strings for me? For old times sake?” She flashed him with her puppy eyes to which Leo chuckled and shook his head.

“Oh, don’t you act cute on me now, Amber.” He played with his lighter and hesitated to light another cigarette. He knew how much Amber disliked the habit. “If it was up to me, I would’ve said yes. I do have trust in you and your work. But it wasn’t up to me.”

“You could make my job a little bit easier and back me up here.”

“Trust me, darling. I’m making your life so much easier by not letting you deal with my crazy uncle. He is actually the one who has the authority on which heirloom and jewels we lend for public exhibits.”

“You’re uncle? Hmm... tell me more.” She prompted her chin on her knuckles.

Leo knew her too well and he frantically shook his head in disapproval but nonetheless, continued talking. “Tito Seth is my father’s younger brother. Although out of all of us, he was the most private and tends to hate media attention. Prickly old man, I’m telling you.”

She raised her eyebrows. It was Leo’s first time mentioning this said uncle. Her mind was quick to picture out an old frail man, hunched over his antiques like a troll, and ready to bash someone’s head if they even took a photo of him. Surely he couldn’t be too far off from what she imagined him to be.

“And how do you suppose I can meet this Tito Seth that you speak of?” she willfully asked.

Leo knew that Amber could be stubborn if she wanted to. Maybe that was one of her traits that made her go so far in her career. Amber will not take no for an answer.

“I guess,” he sighed. “I could try to fix you up a meeting with my uncle so you can convince him yourself.”

Amber’s eyes shined instantly with victory and a smile broke through her stoic face.

“But it’s all that I can for you, regarding this jade necklace situation.” Leo was quick to snap her out of her mental celebration But it did not do anything to diminish her bright smile.

“Great! I’m looking forward to it!”

A meeting with just another egotistical old man whose way too rich for his own good. She was used to dealing with men like that.

How bad could he be? She thought to herself.

SETH leaned back into the booth as the girl who just became a giggling mess sat on his lap. He stretched out his arms to the side, resting them on the backrest. He looked over the mezzanine and smiled to himself, pleased with the number of people who turned out for the night.

The place was dimly lit with a few flickering LEDs and flashing lights from the ceiling, almost putting everyone in a trans. The DJ was playing upbeat music, people jumping up and down, alcohol pouring everywhere, and women fawning all over him and his colleagues. They were in a VIP basement turned to his private entertainment den, strictly invite-only. It was his place solely reserved for misfits and lost souls like himself. His den to enjoy the earthly pleasures and for his men to hunt. There he hosted various events too wicked to imagine. It won’t be long before everyone would be half-naked, drunk out of their wits, and succumbing to his every will.

The woman on his lap traced her fingers on his sharp jawline, traveled up to his high cheekbones. His almond eyes were already dark and dilating with hunger and desire. The woman laced her fingers through his platinum blonde locks before capturing his lips into a greedy kiss. Seth chuckled for a split second but was quick to indulge her and responded to her kiss.

It always amuses Seth just by how many women were willing to throw themselves at his mercy. It did help that he looked way younger than he actually is. Add it to his unique and exotic look, with tanned skin, almond eyes, and silver hair. His eyebrow arched as he saw what was happening down on the dance floor.

Each of his men stood up and in the dark, inconspicuously took their places as if stalking their prey. The DJ and Seth shared a look before the beat drop. The merry shouts were quickly turned into screams of panic and despair. The woman on his lap was just about to turn around to check what was happening on the dance floor but Seth grabbed her jaw and forced her to keep looking at him. The white of his eyes was now jet black and his brown irises turned blood red.

“Tell me, babe. Don’t you just love it when your night ends up as wild as this?”

Before she could even utter a word, Seth used his claws to tear her throat off of her neck, bathing in the shower of blood from her open jugular. Once again, Seth looked over the mezzanine and smile to himself for the chaos and the blood bath he was witnessing. His army of Aswangs feeding and taking their fill from the blood and internal organs of those poor unsuspecting mortals. But his high from his blood lust came to a halt when he felt his phone vibrating from his pocket. With his hands still sticky with the blood of his latest victim, he peeked through the number calling him. He saw his nephew’s user ID.

 “s**t,” he cursed to himself before quickly finding a space quiet enough to take the call. “This better be good, Lei!”