The Werewolf and the Hybrid

CHAPTER2

LAWRENCE was focused on his laptop. He was searching about vampires. Iyon ang nabasa niya sa ancient book na nakita niya sa library. Unang tingin niya pa lang kasi sa biktima, naramdaman na niyang hindi tao ang gumawa no’n. Ngayon mukhang tama ang hinala niya. mukhang hindi lamang silang mga lobo ang naninirahan sa mundong ‘to. May mga hindi ordinaryong nilalang kagaya nila ang nakatira rin sa mundong ‘to. Pero kung sakali man na bampira ang pumatay sa biktima, bakit ngayon lang sila lumabas? At wala siyang nabalitaan noon pa?

Bahagyang natigilan si Lawrence nang mabasa niya kung paano patayin ng isang bampira ang biktima nila. “Preys on human and consuming their blood.” That’s why the victim lost too much blood.

Napatingin siya sa may pinto nang may kumatok roon. He felt the presence of the two elders.

“Come in.”

The door opened. Elder Ambrose and Elder Severus entered. Tumayo siya. “Elders.” He greeted them.

“Your Majesty.” The two elders bowed.

“Please rise and have a seat.” Iminuwestra ni Lawrence ang dalawang upuan sa harapan ng kaniyang lamesa.

Umupo naman ang dalawang Elders.

“Cade, serve us some tea.” Utos ni Lawrence kay Cade na kanina pa nakatayo sa mya pintuan.

Cade bowed and left.

“Your Majesty, why did you summon us?” Elder Ambrose asked.

Tumikhim si Lawrence. “I heard that you are older than my father.” He spoke. “Forgive me if I offended you two.”

Elder Ambrose sighed. “I was indeed offended, but it was the truth, Your Majesty. So, forgiven.”

Ngumiti si Lawrence. “Thank you.”

But even the Alpha King smiled, the two Elders knew how capable Lawrence was. The son of the former Alpha King Lucian was crueler to those people who would betray him. Lawrence's smile could fool anyone, but for them, as the Elders, who watched him growing up, they knew how capable he was.

“Alpha King, you know that Ambrose and I are the eldest among the Elders of the Council. Alam kong may gusto kang itanong sa amin.” Sabi ni Elder Severus.

Tumango si Lawrence. “That’s true. Two days ago, we found a corpse near the border. I sent it to Dr. Mendez to examine the corpse. He told me yesterday that the victim died of losing too much blood. There is no blood in her veins. It was sucked dry by something I don’t know. Kaya ko kaya pinatawag dahil gusto kong malaman kung alam niyo ang tungkol sa mga bampira. I did some research and my research matched the victim’s body condition.”

Nagkatinginan ang dalawang Elders.

Lawrence could read between the lines. So, he knew that these two Elders sitting in front of him knew something.

“Vampires do exist, Your Majesty.” Sabi ni Elder Ambrose. “But they live in another dimension.” He added.

Lawrence listened.

Then Cade arrived holding a tray. He served the tea, then he left.

“As you know, having an association with humans is forbidden not until your father abolished that rule. So, half-humans and half-werewolves exist. They are the product of the human and werewolf bond. But before that happened, the Council of Vampires didn’t want to have an association with humans, and they didn’t want to hurt humans that could someday create chaos,” said Elder Severus. “So, they asked the Moon Goddess if they could live in another dimension where only vampires could live. Pinagbigyan sila at lumikha ang Moon Goddess ng bagong mundo para sa kanila.”

“Pero may rason kung bakit inihiwalay ng Moon Godess ang mga bampira sa mga lobo lalo na sa mga tao. Ang mga bampira kasi ay may kaniya-kaniyang silang kapangyarihan. That power was in-born to them. One thousand years ago, there was a prophecy that could change the world. A hybrid will be born one day, and she will destroy the whole world. Werewolves, vampires, other supernaturals and humans will disappear as if they didn’t exist.”

“Hybrid?” Lawrence asked.

Tumango si Elder Ambrose. “A hybrid is the most powerful but dangerous creature. The Council of Vampires and Werewolves thought of creating barriers between the two races to stop the prophecy. So, Vampires live in another dimension while werewolves live on Earth. Hindi basta-basta makakalabas ang bampira sa mundo nila kung hindi nila bubuksan ang lagusan.”

“So, the prophecy didn’t happen?”

“If there were no hybrids that had werewolf and vampire blood or any kind of supernatural, it would be safe. We will be safe, Your Majesty.”

Ngumiti si Lawrence. “I am a demigod. My mother is a goddess. My father is a werewolf. I am half-god and half-werewolf, that makes me a hybrid.”

“You are a demigod, Your Majesty. You’re not a hybrid. Dugo ng isang bathala ang nananalaytay sa iyong mga ugat. Hybrids are different. Walang dugong bathala ang nananalaytay sa kanilang mga ugat kundi dugo lamang ng mga pinagmulan nilang lahi.”

Pakiramdam ni Lawrence ay sasakit na ang ulo niya. “Stop it. Sumasakit na ang ulo ko. Bumalik na lamang tayo sa ating pinag-uusapan kanina. Can you describe vampires to me? Ang daming lumalabas na article rito.” Aniya habang nakatingin sa kaniyang laptop.

“Vampires have red eyes, fangs, and pale skin. They generally drink human or animal blood to survive. And they couldn’t stand sunlight. Nasusunog sila. Katulad natin malalakas rin sila. Sunlight and silver weapons could kill them.”

They will die by silver weapons. Just like werewolves. Lawrence thought.

“Are they our enemies?”

Umiling si Elder Severus. “No.”

Tumango si Lawrence. “Pero gusto kong malaman kung bakit sila nambiktima ng tao?”

“Must be the rebel vampires.” Ani Elder Ambrose.

“Rebel vampires? Just like Rogues?” Lawrence asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Tumango si Lawrence at hinilot ang sentido. Talagang sumasakit ang ulo niya. How would he address this situation?

Ang dami na niyang iniisip at ngayon dumagdag pa ang mga bampirang ‘to.

Nang matapos ang pag-uusap nilang tatlo, umalis na ang dalawang Elders. Pagkasara ng pinto nawalan ng emosyon ang mukha ni Lawrence. Uminom siya ng tsaa. Something is off. I smell something fishy.

TO ENSURE the safety of his people, Lawrence joined the night patrols. Habang nagpapatrolya siya kasama ang mga pack warriors, ramdam niya ang matang nakatingin sa kaniya. May nararamdaman rin siyang presensiya. Isang presensiya na hindi pamilyar sa kaniya.

Napatigil si Lawrence saka napahawak sa kwintas na suot. Bigla na lamang itong uminit pero hindi naman siya napapaso. Pakiramdam niya ay may gustong pumasok sa sistema niya at pinipigilan ito ng kwintas na suot niya.

“Alpha, what’s the matter?” Cade asked.

“Someone is watching us.” Sabi ni Lawrence.

Suddenly, they saw a quick shadow that passed through them. They smelled an incense smell and felt the cold breeze pass through them.

“Your Majesty?” Cade called the Alpha King when they didn’t see him.

The Alpha King suddenly disappeared.

“Alpha!”

“s**t! Find His Majesty!” Cade ordered. He growled and tracked His Majesty. Sinundan niya ang amoy nito.

Lawrence was pushed against the big tree. Malakas ang pagkakabalya niya sa malaking puno. He even heard the cracking sound of his bones.

‘That must be hurt.’ Pang-aasar na saad ni Lucas, ang wolf niya.

‘Shut up, Lucas. Just sleep.’ Sabi naman ni Lawrence saka mabilis na tumayo pero bago pa man siya makabawi, may bigla na lang sumakal sa kaniya.

Lawrence didn’t struggle and calmly looked at the person in front of him. That person was strangling him. He could feel his strength. Malakas ito. Sa pagbalya na lamang nito sa kaniya sa puno, iba ng lakas nito. Mabuti na lamang at hindi siya tao dahil baka hindi agad gumaling ang nabali na buto niya. He could be disabled.

Kahit gabi na, matalas ang mata ni Lawrence at nakita niya ang hitsura ng taong nasa harapan niya. The person who is in front of him is not a human. He has fangs, red eyes and pale skin. Lawrence could feel his claws digging into his skin. At naamoy niya ang kakaibang amoy mula rito.

Hinawakan ni Lawrence ang pulsuhan ng bampirang nakahawak sa kaniya saka niya ito malakas na itinulak bago pa man siya nito makagat.

The vampire was shocked. “You…”

“I am a werewolf. You are a vampire. I just learned recently that vampires and werewolves aren’t enemies, and we have the same strength. Magkapareho rin tayo ng kahinaan. Silver weapons could kill us.” Kalmadong saad ni Lawrence. “Sino ka? At ano ang ginagawa mo rito?”

Ngumisi ang bampira. Hindi niya sinagot ang tanong ng kaniyang kaharap at sinugod ito.

Lawrence quickly dodged the vampire's attack. The vampire looked him in the eyes as if he was hypnotizing him.

Lawrence blinked.

“Impossible.” Nagtatakang saad ng bampira. “Hindi ka nahipnotismo.”

Ramdam ni Lawrence na umiinit ang suot niyang kwintas.

‘Lawrence, he wants your blood. That’s why he attacked you.’ Ani Lucas.

‘My blood?’

‘Yes, your blood. The scent of your blood is unique and has a pleasant smell for vampires. Mag-iingat ka sa bampirang ‘to dahil kung nakakamatay lang ang tingin kanina ka pa patay.’

‘Baka hindi lang ako. Baka pati ikaw, Lucas. Tandaan mo nasa iisang katawan lamang tayo.’

Lucas growled. Walang sabi-sabing tinake over niya ang katawan ni Lawrence at sinugod ang bampirang kaharap nila. His golden-brown eyes suddenly became black and attacked their enemy.

‘Lucas, give me back my body!’

Pero hindi pinansin ni Lucas si Lawrence.

Using his sharp and long claws, he digs out the vampire’s heart. The vampire dropped to the ground with a lifeless body.

“Stinky vampire,” Lucas said in a dangerous tone of his voice. He growled.

“Your Majesty!” Cade arrived at the scene. Napatigil siya nang humarap sa kaniya ang Alpha King. He and the pack warriors immediately dropped to their knees and bowed their heads. He was the Alpha King but the one who was in front of them was his wolf. Lucas, the Alpha King’s wolf, is more dangerous than His Majesty. Lucas is known for his bad temper. He could kill someone so easily. So, different from His Majesty who was always calm, kind, and nice to his people.

Napalunok si Cade nang maramdaman ang paglapit sa kaniya ni Lucas.

Ngumisi si Lucas nang marinig niya ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ng Beta ng Night Moon Pack.

He looked at the vampire he killed. “He tried to bite Lawrence. I just saved your Alpha King.” Aniya.

Then Lucas gave Lawrence back control of his own body.

“What the...” hindi alam ni Lawrence kung ano ang sasabihin niya nang makita niya ang kaniyang duguang kamay. He saw the vampire’s body lying on the ground, lifeless.

‘You dug out his heart?!’

‘Yeah, what about it? I just saved you, idiot!’

Lawrence took a deep breath to calm himself because of what his wolf did. ‘Lucas, I told you to control your temper. Kapag naulit pa ito, pasensiyahan na lamang tayo. I will be the one who will seal you!’

Lucas, who heard Lawrence, just hung his head down and closed his eyes.

Hinayaan naman ni Lawrence si Lucas saka hinarap ang mga pack warriors niya. “You may rise.”

Agad na tumayo ang mga ito.

“Your Majesty.” Binigyan siya ni Cade ng towel kaya pinunasan niya ang duguan niyang kamay. Tinignan niya ang patay na katawan. The body of the vampire became ashes.

Napabuga ng hangin si Lawrence.

“Cade, continue your patrol. I’m going to visit my mother.”

Yumukod si Cade.

Lawrence runs deeper into the woods. He passed through the portal and entered the other dimension where his mother called it ‘paradise.’ It was indeed a paradise. All spirit beasts, animals and auspicious animals are all in this dimension. Habang naglalakad siya sa daan patungo sa lake cabin, nakita niya na may kaunting pagbabago ang Paradise. Mas lalo pang lumago ang mga halaman, puno, mga bulaklak at rumami ang mga hayop sa paligid. He could also hear the birds chirping. Kahit gabi na maliwanag ang buong paligid dahil sa dalawang buwan na nasa kalangitan at nagbibigay ng liwanag.

When he reached the lake cabin, the window in his parent’s room was open, and he saw them hugging each other. Sa himbing ng tulog ng magulang niya hindi man lang siya naramdaman ng mga ito.

He cast a spell so that his father wouldn’t wake up.

“Mom.” Tawag niya sa kaniyang ina.

Celeste opened her eyes when she heard her son’s voice. Bumangon siya at tumingin sa nakabukas na bintana. Her lips formed a smile when she saw her son standing outside.

“Turn around.”

Napailing na lang si Lawrence saka inikot ang mata at tumalikod. “Mom, you and dad are always active in making love. Wala naman kayong naibigay na kapatid ko.” Sabi niya.

Tumawa lang naman ng mahina si Celeste saka nagsuot ng damit at lumabas ng cabin. Nilapitan niya si Lawrence na nakatayo sa harapan ng lawa at mukhang may malalim na iniisip. Pero nang makalapit siya sa anak niya, naamoy niya ang isang pamilyar na amoy mula rito.

“Vampire…”