Blood Secrets

Tit for Tat

She followed the two witches. They walked over the grand staircase an when they reached the second floor, hindi na niya maiwasang hindi kabahan. She doesn't know what's in store for her. Ngunit sa mga sandaling iyon, wala na siyang ibang iniisip kundi ang kalagayan ni Kai. Kailangan niyang gawin ito para magising lalaki.

The witches were quietly walking. She could hear her heartbeat inside her head. Bigla naman siyang nagsisi na isinama niya si Kaiden sa kanya. But she also couldn't leave him alone. It's not because she doesn't trust him alone. It's because she wanted to include him in everything that she wants to do in this new milestone of discovery with regard to the death of her parents. Alam din niyang gustong tumulong ni Kai sa kanya.

Ngunit napaisip din siya kung mabuti ba itong ginagawa niya. The more she wishes to include Kaiden, the more his life would be at risk. Working together with the Sylvaines is already risky enough because the moment they worked together, they also became enemies with their enemies. And it would have been comforting at least if their enemies were humans. The Sylvaine family has made enemies from different species and she doesn't think she and Kai would be strong enough to face them all. She knows that the Sylvaines won't give a s**t if she and Kai would be in danger because of their enemies. The Sylvaines are selfish and there's probably nothing they can do to change her view of them.

Kaya naman ay habang naglalakad, gumawa siya ng desisyon. All her life, there was nothing more important to her than to find her parents' killers. It was the reason why she became a blood slayer in the first place. But how long can she keep living in the past? Everything has already happened. She couldn't bring back time. She lives in the present and in the present, there's Kai. Alam niyang hindi ito sang-ayon sa mga naging desisyon niya ngunit suportado pa rin siya nito. He expressed how he felt but supported her still anyway. He's her present and her future. She has to let go of her past dahil hinding-hindi siya magiging masaya kung patuloy siyang manatili sa nakaraan. All this time, she has been choosing herself and what she wants. Kai was always there. Kaya naman ngayon, pipiliin niya ang lalaki at ang hinaharap nilang dalawa.

Seeing Kaiden tonight--powerless and vulnerable, she realized she couldn't keep this up. She couldn't keep risking his life. She will talk to Lorcan and the witches. Tutal, may ibang tutulong naman sa kanila. They won't need the blood slayers anymore. They will leave this city and continue living their lives.

Napansin niyang tumigil sa paglalakad ang dalawang witch sa harap niya. She stopped walking too. It was then that she saw the double doors opened. Suddenly, the cold air became even colder. Ramdam niya ang pagtayo ng mga balahibo niya sa katawan.

She's terrified. But the only thing that kept her standing was the future she envisioned inside her head. Kung makakalabas siya nang buhay sa kwartong ito, she will bring Kai and they will leave and they will not turn around.

The witches stood aside, making way for her to go inside. Agad naman siyang naglakad papasok ng kwarto. The moment she was inside, the doors closed behind her, making her flinch.

Iginala niya ang kanyang mga mata sa loob ng kwarto at doon niya nakita si Julian Cestmont. Nakatayo ito sa tabi ng bintana at nakatingin sa labas. She gritted her teeth.

"Making him unconscious was necessary. You could have asked me to come and I would have come willingly," she said. Humarap naman si Julian sa kanya at ngumiti. May hawak itong baso ng alak. Naglakad ang lalaki papunta sa mesa at saka naglagay ng alak sa isang baso. When he was done, he walked towards her and offered her the glass.

"My deepest apologies--"

"Tell your witches to wake him up," she said. Nakita niyang nagulat ang lalaki sa sinabi niya ngunit agad din itong nawala.

He tilted his head. "It's interesting that I could hear your heart beating like crazy," he said and his eyes went to her chest. Na para bang nakikita nito ang puso niyang tumitibok dahil sa kaba.

"And yet you could still muster the courage to talk back," he said. It sounded like a threat but perhaps she had been threatened enough by the Sylvaines that Julian's threat sounded like an invitation to an ice cream party.

"If you have been almost killed several times by a vampire and still managed to survive, then I guess that's how I muster the courage to talk back," she answered. Nakita naman niyang napangiti ang lalaki sa sinabi niya.

He turned his back on her before he said, "I could easily kill you and I am sure you are aware of that." Humarap ito ulit sa kanya. His face have changed. His eyes turned bloodshot and his veins were protruding. He was clearly scaring her off but for what purpose, she has no idea.

"And yet you haven't. What's stopping you? You called me here and I am under the impression that you need something. But before I give it to you, I want you to call your witches and wake my boyfriend up."

Julian let out a chuckle before he fished his phone out and dialled a number. Nanatiling nakatingin ang lalaki sa kanya na para bang nang-aasar o binabantayan siya. She couldn't care less. She just wanted Kai to be awake.

"Wake the boy," he said to whoever was on the other line and then ended the call. He then spread his arms wide. "You're quite sharp, but I should not be surprised. You're a blood slayer, am I right?"

Hindi siya sumagot. Marahil ay alam na ng lalaki ang buong buhay niya.

"I know you're looking for a certain vampire named Vancel Kimber, right?"

This time, nakuha na nito ang kanyang atensyon. Lorcan said that Julian may know something about Vancel Kimber ngunit hindi naman niya inaasahan na may makukuha siya ngayong gabi. And yet here he is, indicating that he indeed know something.

"I know things about him and possibly where to find him," Julian said before he walked towards the table. Naningkit naman ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa lalaki. She's aware enough that this man in front of her needs something in exchange for what information he has. Ngunit nakapagdesisyon na siya kanina sa dapat niyang gawin. In order to save Kai away from danger, she will need to drop whatever she was planning to do. She has decided to stop finding the vampire that murdered her parents. Wala itong tanging idinulot sa kanya kundi kapahamakan--

"See, Vancel Kimber don't just kill innocents, Nadia Melendez." Ngumiti ito sa direksyon niya. Nakikita siguro nitong wala na siyang interes sa kung sino man si Vancel Kimber. He's trying to persuade her and catch her attention, making herr curious.

"Which means that if your parents are killed by Vancel KImber, they should be not just ordinary people," He said.

This time, nakuha nito ang kanyang atensyon. Kumunot ag noo niya. "What do you mean?" tanong niya sa lalaki. She could see the satisfaction on his face the moment he realized her got her interest.

"See, I'm sure you know that I want something in return," saad ni Julian.

"I don't have something with me other than my fancy anti-vampire weapons. Is that what you want?"

"You're a funny girl but fun will only give you enough luck," he said and before she could say something, she found herself having difficulty in breathing. His hand wrapped around her throat. She clawed his hand but despite the sharpness of her nails, the scratches she inflicted was cured seconds later.

Nanatili siyang hindi makahinga dahil sa pagsakal sa kanya ng lalaki. She continued to choked and she continued to claw his hands ngunit walang naging epekto iyon.

It was then that the door opened and Lorcan walked in. Tumingin ang lalaki kay Julian at tumingin din ito sa kanya. She must have expected too much because she expected him to go to Julian and shove him away. Then again, it's Lorcan. Wala itong pakialam sa kung ano man kung wala naman itong pakinabang sa kanya. And at that moment, Lorcan doesn't find her useful. Kaya naman wala itong ginawa. Nakatingin lang ito sa kanila bago ito naglakad papunta sa upuan sa loob ng solid at naupo doon.

Lorcan crossed his legs after he poured himself a drink.

"Julian, Julian. Is this an indication that you're too weak now that you're picking on a defenseless human?" tanong nito kay Lorcan.

Hindi natanggal ang tingin ni Julian sa kanya ngunit maya-maya pa ay binitiwan siya nito. She dropped to the floor and coughed. She felt like her throat was still constricted. She looked at Lorcan and he was smiling in her direction as though what had happened to her earlier was downright amusing.

Sinamaan lang niya ito ng tingin. Tumingin nito sa gawi ni Julian at nawala ang ngiti ng lalaki.

"This is the part where you stop pretending youre delighted to see me, Julian."

Nakita naman niyang nawala ang ngiti sa mukha ni Julian saka humarap kay Lorcan.

"So you have heard of our masterplan," said Julian. "What do you think?"

Lorcan took his time drinking on his wine before he said, "I'd say it's reckless."

Then Lorcan threw the glass in Julian's direction. Madali itong nasangga ng huli but it was only a distraction for what Lorcan really intended to do. In an instant, Lorcan was in front of Julian. His hand drove straight to Julian's chest. Narinig niyang napasinghap si Julian sa ginawa ni Lorcan. At alam niya rin na nakahawak na si Julian sa puso ni Julian.

It was clear that Lorcan is way stronger. Mas matanda nga naman ito. Pero bilib din siya sa tapang ni Julian dahil nakuha nitong pagbantaan ang buhay ng bampirang mas malakas pa sa kanya. And to add to that, Lorcan was the one who sired him. She could almost imagine the hatred Julian felt but then she realized there must be something else that makes Julian so confident.

The door burst open again and the two witches came in. They raised their hands and chanted some spell and Lorcan screamed in agony.

As if it wasnt enough, they broke Lorcan's finger, unwrapping it from Julian's heart. Alam niyang iyon ang nangyari dahil rinig na rinig niya ang pagkabali ng buto.

"Take your hand out or that wont be the only broken bone in your body," saad ni Julian. Ngunit nagmatigas si Lorcan. Hindi nito kinukuha ang kamay sa dibdib ni Julian. He the witches are faster. The moment Lorcan heals, they break his hand again. And as if it wasnt enough, thry broke his other arm and then his legs.

She winced st the sound of thr broken bones and was so tempted to go out but for some reason, hindi siya makagalaw sa kanyang kinauupuan. Perhaps it was because of the fear.

Ngunit hindi naman niya hahayaang magdusa si Lorcan. He may be an asshole but she still gave her word that she's going to help him. She looked around at nakita niya ang isang letter opener na nasa isang mesa. With all her courage and her strength, she crawled towards the table and took the letter opener.

Nang makuha niya ito ay agad niya itong itinapon sa direksyon ng isang witch. She knew she would hit the witch's hand ngunit nasangga ito ng witch. The letter opener she threw got suspended mid-air and now the other witch is looking at her.

With a wave of the witch's hand, the letter opener was sent back flying in her direction. Bago pa man siya makailag ay tumama ito sa kanyang balikat. She let out a cry of pain. Her hand was quick to get the weapoj pierced on her shoulder ngunit napadaing ulit siya sa sakit nang biglang nabali ang kanyang pulsohan. The witch had broken her wrist dahilan para mapaiyak siya sa sakit.

Ngunit dahil sa kanya na nakapokus ang isang witc ay madali kay Lorcan na makawala sa kung ano mana ng ginagawa nito. He took his hand out from Julian's chest and in the next moment, he was standing behind the witch. She knew instantly what was going to happen next.

Lorcan snapped the witch's neck and the latter fell to the ground. He did not hesitate to kill the witch. Hindi na dapat siya nagulat pero hindi niya pa rin inaasahan ang ginawa nito. He then went to choke the other witch.

Lorcan grinned in Julian's direction. Ngunit nagulat na lang siya nang hindi na siya nakaupo sa sahig. The next thing she realized was Julian's arm on her neck, lifting her head to the other side as though preparing to bury his fangs.

Hindi na niya maitago ang kaba. Idagdag pa ang sakit sa kanyang kamay. She's certain Julian is going to kill her if Lorcan makes it clear that she's no use to him.

She has encountered dangers before but at the moment was the scariest of them all. She never feared for her life but now, for some reason she wants to beg to whoever's listening to spare her. Marahil ay dahil iyon sa unti-unti na siyang nakakalapit sa katotohanan tungkol sa pagkamatay ng kanyang mga magulang. Then again, she has decided not to think with her past.

But she knew, deep down inside, kahit anong pagkumbinsi niya sa sarili niya, she will always go back to the very reason why she was here today. Ngunit kung ipagpaptuloy niya iyon, manganganib naman ang buhay ni Kai. She doesn't want to die. She will not die.

Not today.