Blood Secrets

Odd Witch Out

The mountains of St. Angeli were quiet. It wasn't like that before, but now, it is deafening. Alam niya ang dahilan kung bakit ganoon. They have defeated Julian Cestmont but the rogue witches still live. Which means the young wolves in his pack are still in their wolf form.

Nakatayo siya sa gilid ng kanyang bintana habang pinagmamasdan ang paligid. The clearing was busy. Kitang-kita niya ang ibang mga lobo na abala sa gawain. The young wolves were slowly starting to adapt in their forms and are going out to the woods to hunt something for the pack to cook.

In her periphery, she could see Joana walking towards the door of his cabin. Kaya nang pumasok na ito sa kanyang silid ay hindi na siya nagulat.

"The witches requests an audience," saad ni Joana dahilan para mamapalingon siya sa babae.

Reading the silent question on his face, she raced a piece of paper. Kinuha niya ito sa kamay ng babae at binasa.

"Despite Esmeralda's borders around the mountain, that letter still found its way inside. Which means the rogue witches are getting stronger each day, Aedion."

The news did not make him feel any better. Binuksan niya ang papel at binasa ang laman niyon. Dread filled his heart. Tiningnan niya si Joana. "They want to meet."

Joana was quick to shake her head before words came out of her mouth. "Don't do this, Aedion."

"I have to, Jo. The wolves are getting anxious. Esmeralda's shield may be shielding us now but it clearly shows it's getting weaker." Napatingin siya sa piraso ng papel na nakapasok sa kanila. "Do they know about this?" His voice dropped to a whisper. His packs are already anxious. He couldn't add another thing for them to worry about.

"The inner circle does," she answered.

He looked outside the window and saw Henry, Phil, and Tanner were occupied with cleaning the weapons, gathering firewood, and training the other young wolves.

"You can't assure them with false statements, Aedion. The pack is stronger than that," Joana said as though reading his mind. For a moment, he stared outside. If he doesn't know any better, he would have thought the pack is doing well.

They're not. They're in a crisis and they're facing the witches.

"I'm going to meet with Isabela," he said to Joana. Nakita niya ang protests sa mga mata nito ngunit hindi na nagsalita ang babae. Alam niyang hindi na siya mapipigilan kapag nagdesisyon na siya. "You and Henry go to Esmeralda. Ask her what's going on in their side. She should know why Isabela is getting stronger than her."

It took a while for Joana to nod her head and walk out the door. He looked at the clearing again where his pack are. Napatingin din siya mga batang lobo na hindi pa rin bumabalik sa kani-kanilang tunay na anyo. Lumabas siya sa kanyang bahay at lumapit sa mga ito. The moment they saw him, he heard them whimper as he crouched down.

"I'm sorry it's taking so long," he started. The young wolves whimpered and nudged against him. "I made a promise to you and I will honor it." He touched their ruffle and closed his eyes as he talked to them one by one, mind to mind.

The young wolves howl in response.

***

Aedion doesn't frequently visit the city and he does so only when there are council meetings or things he needs that only the city could provide. The noisy streets still don't fancy him. The celebrations are done and the city will endure another few months of peace and quiet before another made-up celebration turns up.

He had long passed the main street. He turned right and walked straight to the path that leads to the cemetery where Isabela asked to meet. The place was eerie. Not because it was in a cemetery but because he knows exactly what this place is.

The cemetery is where the witch's ancestors are buried. If the wolves have the mountains, the witches have the graveyard. This is where their magic is strongest, near to their ancestor.

The only sound he could hear was the sound of his footstep against dry leaves. This could be a trap. The witches are powerful enough to kill a supernatural creature without much help. What if they're going to capture him and use him as leverage against his inner circle? He shook his head and continued walking.

By the time he reached the altar, he was freezing. The air in this place seems to have gotten colder. Hindi na siya nagtaka. The witches in this coven like to make a spectacle. He stood in front of the altar where he could see some kind of top of it. May usok ang nagmumula sa halaman na iyon. The smell wasn't familiar but he doesn't need to know its smell to know that it was another witchy thing.

At hindi nga siya nagkakamali dahil bigla na lang niyang naramdaman ang presensiya sa kanyang likuran. Hindi na niya kailangang lumingon kung sino iyon dahil nagsalita ito.

"I didn't think you'd come," Isabela said. She walked past him and straight to the altar where the burning plant is.

"I didn't think I'd be summoned here, either," he answered. Nakita naman niyang umangat ang tingin ni Isabela sa kanya.

"Do you know why I called you here to meet?"

He was silent for a moment. He knows what she wants. She's just not sure how much of it is he going to risk.

"You cursed my wolves and now you want something from me in exchange for you removing their curse," he answered. Nakita naman niyang napangiti ang babae sa kanyang direksyon. The last time he saw this witch, she wasn't this confident. Now, she faced him alone. She might be stupid, she might be planning something, or there may be other witches around the vicinity, concealing themselves and showing up only when need be. As far as he's concerned, his plan doesn't involve violence tonight. He is never a fan of violence because he knows how violent he can get when he gets started.

"You're getting the hang of this, don't you?"

"No. Trust me, I don't. I don't care about your business in this city as long as you leave the mountains alone. But clearly, it's not applicable now."

Isabela shrugged. "You're right about that, though. That I want something from you in exchange for removing your wolves' curse."

His lips formed a thin line. Whatever she was going to ask, he knows it was going to be either deadly or almost impossible.

"You killed Julian Cestmont and burned everything he has built. Including the werewolf toxins he accumulated from those wolves," she said.

His inside went cold at the memory. They did burn the house to the ground including all the unconscious vampires there. Ngunit bago nangyari iyon ay nakita niya ang laboratory ni Julian. He saw vials and test tubes containing raw wolf toxins and processed ones. He doesn't know what he had done to those toxins but his vision darkened at the sight of it. So he burned the place to the ground.

he had thought taking Julian was too easy. Too convenient. He didn't realize Isabela could pose such an inconvenience.

"We lost all the toxins and now, to defeat Lorcan, we need another set of wolves."

Naikuyom niya ang kanyang kamao at nakita naman iyon ni Isabela. "Adult wolves," she said.

"What?"

"We don't need the young ones. Adult ones will do."

Naningkit ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin kay Isabela. He has a feeling she's concocting something bigger. Tila nabasa naman nito ang tanong niya dahil ngumiti ang babae.

"Julian Cestmont was smart. But he is not a witch. A witch created the first vampire family--the Sylvaines. He doesn't know how it really works."

"And you know how it works?"

"It's really simple, Alpha. I take a wolf's venom, and then I do what I do with it."

"A wolf's venom?"

"I only need one wolf's venom, Aedion. Julian kidnapping young wolves were unnecessary. He believed everything I said and it led him to his doom."

"Are you saying that you were the one who told him to kidnap young wolves?"

"A means to an end, alpha. I am sure you've done similar things."

"I don't harm others in the process, Isabela. We are nothing alike."

"Very well, doesn't matter now. What matters is that I am here to give you a chance to cure your wolves." Ngumisi ito sa gawi niya. "Give me some of your venom and your young wolves will be back to their form."

When the witch still read the hesitation on his face, she went on. "I don't need a lot of wolves. Julian was stupid enough to believe me when I said it would require a lot of wolves to do what he wanted to do. And before you look at me like that, I had pure intentions when I said it."

"How is it pure when a lot of wolves were kidnapped and suffered because you told him he needed a lot of wolves?"

"Sinabi ko iyon sa kanya para hindi niya ipagpatuloy ang plano niya. I wanted him to realize it is close to impossible. Then he came up with all those ideas of kidnapping wolves. Young ones yo be exact because he knows he is no match against a grown-up wolf."

Saglit siyang natahimik habang nakatingin sa babae. "Why are you doing this?" tanong niya.

Nakita naman niyang nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Isabela. "Because I want the Sylvainea gone. I want the vampires gone. They were not supposed to exist. They are an abomination. An imbalance in nature. Creatures of black magic."

Ngunit sa naririnig, alam niyang may iba pang dahilan. Her reason runs deep. He guessed it rubs personal. He did not dare asked why specifically. Ang kailangan niyang pagtuunan ng pansin ay ang alok nito. Just some of his toxin and the young wolves will be back to their human forms. He is not exactly friends with the Sylvaines. Especially not with Lorcan. Not after what he did to Joana. They fought a common enemy once. Lorcan's one problem was solved. Yet his wolves are still cursed.

"How much of my toxin do you need?" he asked. He saw the wicked delight in her eyes as she took out a small vial and tossed it in her direction.

"Just enough to fill that, Alpha."

Yes. Alpha. He's the Alpha. He always makes the decision in his pack. And he's making that decision now. He removed the cover from the vial and placed it under his fang.

Nang matapos siya say tinakpan niya iyon. Nasa harapan na niya si Isabela na tila sabik nang kunin ang maliit na bote. He handed the bottle to her and ahe was about to grab it when he pulled it back. Nakita niyang nag-iba ang ekspresyon sa mukha ni Isabela. But he doesnt care.

"Your word," he said. Isabela gritted her teeth but then she stepped back. She closed her eyes and chanted something he couldn't quite make out.

She then opened her eyes and then said, "It's done."

He gave her a dubious look before fishing out his phone and dialing Phil's number.

Sa kabilang linya, naririnig niya ang mga sigawan ng mga lobo.

"They're back!" saad ni Phil. Napatingin naman siya sa gawi ni Isabela na tinaasan lang siya ng kilay.

"I'll be back, Phil. Tend to them." Agad niyang ibinaba ang telepono at tiningnan ang babae. He was holding the vial tightly hanggang sa ibinigay niya iyon sa babae.

Ngumiti naman si Isabela sa gawi niya.

"You're doing the right thing—"

Hindi nito natapos ang nais sabihin nang bigla nalang may sumulpot at sinakal si Isabela. Aedion staggered back because of surprise.

"Hello, witch," said a voice. When he got a clearer picture, he saw that it was Lorcan. And he was holding Isabela's neck.

Isabela was trying to claw Lorcan's fingers but it was no use. Aedion doesn't really care if witches and vampires kill each other. As long as his pack is safe, he doesn't care about anything else.

He met Isabela's eyes, clearly needing help. But he doesn't feel the need to help. The witch cursed his wolf. She could do it again. Lorcan can kill her.

Aedion stepped back. His pack needs him right now.

Ngunit pagtalikod niya ay nakita niya si Sebastian and he wasn't looking at the witch. He's looking at him.

He could smell trouble from a mile away and right now, trouble seems to clog his nose.

"What did you do, Aedion?" asked Sebastian. Unlike his brother, Sebastian seems more reasonable. But he's still a Sylvaine. He doesn't trust the Sylvaines.

"Doing my duty as the Alpha of my pack, Sebastian," he said. Sa maliit na panahon na nakasama niya si Sebastian, alam niyang wala nang mas mahalaga rito kaysa sa sariling pamilya. He values family. Kaya naman apam niyang naiintindihan ng lalaki ang ginawa niya para iligtas ang mga lobo niya. He could also see the understanding in his eyes.

Sebastian's eyes went from him to Isabela and to her hand, clutching the vial. Saka naman tumingin si Sebastian sa kanya.

"She has the wolf's venom, brother," announcee Sebastian. Narinig niya ang pagsinghap ni Isabela nang sabihin iyon ni Sebastian.

"You witches are always looking for something to do," Lorcan said. Hindi niya makita kung anong ginagawa ng lalaki dahil nakatalikod siya sa gawi nito ngunig narinig niya nalang itong tila nasasakal din.

He saw the alam on Sebastiab's face but it was only short-lived as it was replaced with a pained expression. Na tila may nangyayari sa katawan nila na hindi niya makita.

He whirled and saw Isabela standing and Lorcan was kneeling on the ground, holding his head. Isabela's eyes found his ngunit hindi nagsalita ang babae.

Instead, she looked at Lorcan. "The ancestors have lent their strength in me. I don't need other witches to make you suffer," she said.

He is not familiar with how witches' coven work but he knows that if witch ancestors interfere, it is bad news.

Narinig niyang napasigaw si Lorcsn dahil sa sakit na binibigay ni Isabela. Ganoon din si Sebastian. When he looked at where Isabela was, wala na ang babae doon and he was left with two strong vampires, now too weak to move.

He knew he should go before they get their strength but he was about to run when he was greeted by a gun.

"Don't make this harder for me, Aedion," said the woman.

"Nadia," he said. "What is the meaning of this?"

He couldnt quite grasp how the situation turned. Sa pagkaalam niya, galit si Nadia sa mga bampira. And now, shes working with them.

Tila nabasa naman ng babae ang kalituhan sa mga mata niya. Then she said, "I need something from you and they told me not to let you go."

But he knows there is something more about so he raised his hands. He doesn't know what it is exactly. He might have sworn he doesn't care about vampires and witches but he cares for humans. Somehow, he could feel something towards Nadia. Something that shouts he needs to protect her.

"What are you doing, Nadia?" he asked.

Nadia swallowed hard before saying, "I just need to ask a few questions."