Blood Secrets

Bleed To Death

"What was he doing here?" Kai asked as soon as they were alone. She blinked, removing the traces of nerve she had earlier before she looked at Kai.

"To gloat, as usual," sagot naman niya. She didn't mean the exhaustion to be so evident in her voice at nakita niya ang pag-aalala sa mukha ni Kai. She offered him a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine, Kai. Perhaps spending the last crappy days with them made it better."

"Are you saying that you're getting along now?" tanong ng lalaki.

"What? No! What I'm trying to say is that these past few days have become bearable. And I got used to the Sylvaines now that they don't scare or irk me as much as they do before."

Tumango naman si Kai ngunit naroon pa rin ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito. She sighed and walked closer to him before she took his hands in hers. "It's going to be fine."

"Three strong witches are out there, plotting your demise. I can't help but be worried. They're basically your relatives and yet they're willing their own blood for power."

Kung pwede lang sanang tumakbo papalayo at huwag nang bumalik dito, ginawa na niya. Heck, she would have asked Kai if they run away together and never ever look back. If only it was that easy. She can't live while constantly looking over her shoulder. She will not give that kind of life to Kaiden. He does not deserve it. Kung madali lang sana ang lahat, she would have done it. But the thing is, the only way out of this one is the hard way. At wala silang ibang pagpipilian. Either she dies or they fight and she will have the chance to live. But even the chance of living is slim. What does she have against three strong witches?

"What are you thinking?" tanong naman ni Kai. She was pulled away from her thoughts and that's when she saw Kai was looking worriedly at her again.

"I was thinking of what we should do once this is all over."

Sumilay naman ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Kai. "Anywhere. I will do anything with you, anywhere. So long as we are both together in it."

"Then are you two up for some adventure today?" said a voice near the door.

Agad naman silang napalingon sa pintuan kung saan nakatayo si Isabela.

"The full moon is tonight, which means the ritual will be done later. But I have something that will help us." Isabela then jerked her head downstairs and both of them followed.

Nang makababa na sila ay bigla naman siyang napahinto nang makita kung sinu-sino ang naroon. The familiar men who attacked them last night was there. And there was also another woman she doesn't know.

She met the eyes of one of the men and she could see the slight resemblance of the twins to Sebastian. She was expecting them to gloat or snicker in her direction ngunit wala siyang reaksyong nakuha sa mga ito. The twins looked as though they won't cause trouble even if someone tells them. Saka naman napunta ang kanyang atenyon sa babaeng hindi niya kilala. One look and Nadia could already tell that the woman is not ordinary.

"Nadia, Kaiden," said Sebastian who was standing near the fireplace. "I want you to meet my two brothers, Grey and August Sylvaine. And one of the witches from Whitbury, Annabeth."

Annabeth nodded in their direction and she doesn't seem like someone who is fond of introductions. Agad itong tumayo at humarap sa kanila ngunit nagulat na lang siya nang biglang naglakad si Kai papalapit sa kambal.

"I was under the impression that you are here to apologize," he said. Nakayuko ang dalawang lalaki but as soon as they heard Kaiden's words, they both looked up.

One of the twins, she supposed it was Grey, snickered. "I spared your life. Shouldn't you be thankful enough that I let you live at least?"

Oh, god. We already have Lorcan and now we have to deal with this one? P

Bakit sa lahat ng magkakapatid, bakit kay Lorcan pa nils nskuha ang ganitong klaseng pag-uugali.

She would have tolerated it if it was Sebastian. At least Sebastian make murder and an insult look merciful and kind. Although she is not sure if that is a good thing or not. Hindi na rin siya makapag-isip nang matino dahil sa gulong nagbabadyang mangyari sa harapan niya.

"Kai," she called but Kaiden doesnt seem to listen. Nanatili itong nakatayo sa harapan ni Grey kaya naman nagsimula na siyang maglakad papunta sa gawi nito ngunit agad din siyang napatigil nang tumayo din si August at humarang sa kanya.

Unlike Grey, August looked like he came straight out of the night. His dark hair almost covered his eyes bordered by his lashes so dark. August looked like a sad song while Grey looked like he came straight out of a cage and would not hesitate to wreak havoc just because he can. The twins were very different and yet at that very moment, she knew they are willing to protect each other and would not hesitate in doing so. Nakita niya iyon sa klase ng tingin na ibinigay ni August sa kanya.

Naramdaman niya si Lorcan sa tabi niya at bago pa man niya ito malingon ay mabilis itong gumalaw. With a shove, he pushed both August and Grey down at hindi na rin nanlaban ang dalawa.

"Now, I know both of you have been asleep for a long time but that doesn't mean you are allowed to make a mess in this living room. Your sister would not be pleased," Lorcan said. Although there was a hint of humor in his voice, she could sense the warning in his eyes. Kaya naman agad siyang umatras at mabuti nalang at sumunod na rin si Kai sa kanya. Arguing with the twins would not be a very wise move.

"They attacked us," sabi ni Kai kay Lorcan. The latter raised his brow before he looked at Kai fully.

"They didn't just attack you. You actually died, Kaiden. And unless you want that to happen again, I suggest you sit back down and listen."

Naging seryoso na ang mukha ni Lorcan habang nakatingin sa gawi ni Kai. And something tells her that if Kaiden will be attacked by his siblings again, Lorcan will not offer his blood. Sa tingin niya ay nakita din iyon ni Kai dahil hindi na ito nagsalita pa at umupo na lang.

She reached for his hand and squeezed it. Ngunit nakita rin niyang nakatingin si Lorcan sa kamay nila. When he met her eyes, a mocking grin escaped his lips. Hindi na lang niya iyon pinansin.

Hindi niya alam kung nasaan sina Leila at Esme. She found herself wishing they're okay. Somehow, nalapit na rin ang kanyang loob sa dalawa.

"The coven of three is undoubtedly strong. And if this one dies, they would become stronger and that is the last thing we would ever want to happen." Annabeth gestured in her direction.

"This one has a name," said Kai. "What should we do so Nadia won't be put in harm's way?"

Tiningnan ni Annabeth si Kai sa mata before she said, "A spell."

It was Isabela who walked forward and looked at them. "My other ancestors said there is a way for their ritual not to work. I have given them Eleanor and Sebastian's blood so I wouldn't raise suspicion but they are planning on something where they didn't plan to involve me."

"So much for not suspecting you," Lorcan snickered ngunit hindi na siya pinansin ni Isabela.

"I asked for my ancestor's help and they said that the only way to stop it is to remove their external source."

Kumunot ang noo niya ngunit ahad namamg dumugtong si Annabeth.

"They plan to get their external force from the full moon."

"Are you telling us that in order for us not to die, we have to stop the full moon?" Eleanor scoffed. "We might be the notorious Sylvaine family but that doesn't mean we have the ability to stop the full moon. You think too highly of us, Isabela."

Humarap naman si Isabela kay Eleanor. "You already think too highly of yourself." She then faced the others as she went on, "The full moon could not be stopped but we can stop it being a force. Do you know the story of the blood moon?"

"Isn't that a children's story?" tanong niya. She is familiar with it. Lalo pa at palagi niya itong naririnig noon. Her uncle used to tell her before.

"Some parts of that story are true," Isabela continued. "The blood comes out when the moon mourns. Mourning for the blood spilled. Of magic and will, thorns grow. The blood moon blooms at its fingertips."

"I still don't see any connection," she said. Ngunit nagpatuloy si Isabela.

"Once powerful becomes helpless. The moon ought to be fearless. But the blood of her child spilled removes all the walls she has built. A child of both worlds. Beloved by both worlds. As the child bleeds, so does the universe."

Nakakunot ang noo niya sa pinagsasasabi ng babae. She knows the story. In fact, kabisado niya iyon. But she still couldn't see any connection.

It was Lorcan who started to talk.

"Child of both worlds. A hybrid. Specifically blood of a hybrid."

Bigla naman siyang nanlamig sa sinabi ng lalaki.

"When you say bleed, what kind of bleeding exactly are we talking about?" tanong niya.

"Not just a hybrid but someone with the blood of the wolf. And as to your question, Nadia, I meant bleed to death."

"We have two hybrids here. Which one should bleed to death?" tanong naman ni Eleanor. She did not even bother masking her delight.

"Lorcan is a vampire. Wolves and vampires are particularly not species that should be together," said Isabela before looking in her direction. At that moment, she knew she was the one who was going to bleed to death.

Silence covered the whole living room. Tanging ang tunog ng apoy ang naririnig nila.

"Absolutely not," Kaiden said.

"She's a wolf and a witch. One of the descendants of the strongest witch that ever lived. She has not killed a human to trigger her wolf form that is why her purity is the best choice," said Annabeth. There is a way for her not to die. And that is to finish the spell before she dies. Enough of her blood would complete the spell."

Hindi na siya nakikinig sa huling sinabi ng babae. Tila nabibingi na rin siya. Bleed to death but not too long so she would still survive. She couldn't help but wonder if it could be done. If it could is possible. It's a risky thing and she is not sure if she is prepared to take the risk.

Ngunit napatingin siya sa gawi ni Kai. Kitang-kita niya ang pag-aalala sa mga mata nito. She has planned a future for both of them. A future where she won't need to constantly look behind her back. A future she and Kai both deserve. If achieving that future means she has to bleed to death, then maybe it is worth the risk after all.

She tore her gaze away from Kai and looked at Isabela. She could feel the eyes of the others on her.

"How are we going to do this?" she said.

"Nadia," Lorcan said.

At the same time, Kai said, "Nadia, don't."

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa ngunit wala na siyang oras para pansinin ang mga ito.

"This is our only way, right?" she said. "I can't run away. I don't want to live in a future where I have to constantly fear for my life. Or fear for the lives of people I care about." She looked at Kai and she could see him shaking his head. Ngunit buo na ang kanyang desisyon. Nothing could stop her now.

She looked back at Isabela before she said, "Tell me what I need to do and when do we start?"