Blood Secrets

Array of Chaos

"Isadore Melendez," Lorcan said, testing the name in his mouth to see if it sounded familiar.

They were sitting in the sitting room. The only difference is that Sebastian, Eleanor, and Kai are with them. She called Kai when she saw what she needed to see in the journal.

Isadore Melendez. She wanted the name to be unfamiliar. Tanggap na niya noon na wala na ang mga magulang niya but the past events gave her hope that maybe what she knew was wrong. That maybe her parents are still alive. Wala na ang ina niya ngunit wala sa listahan ang kanyang ama. Which means that he's either alive or he's also dead at the hands of another vampire.

"She's his last kill," said Lorcan and looked at her. "He died after that."

"How do you know?" tanong naman ni Kai.

"Because as I said to Nadia earlier, I kept track of him."

"You were following him? That means you saw he killed Nadia's mother?"

Lorcan let out a chuckle. "Kaiden, your imagination is limitless. Even before, I have a lot in my hands so I don't have the luxury of time to be following someone from time to time. It was just occasional. When I happen to check on him that night, I already found him dead in his apartment, lying on his table. His heart was taken away from him. I think he had just finished writing your mother's name on that little journal of his. Because that journal was open when I arrived."

Nanginginig siya at pinili niyang hindi na magsalita. She's scared that if she does, her voice might break. She couldn't afford to be weak. Not right now. Her father might be alive. And yet, she couldn't allow herself to hope. Not now. Not yet.

"A supernatural killed him then?" asked Kai.

"Good deduction skills, Kaiden. You know perfectly well there is no chance in hell that a human would be able to pull the heart of a psychotic vampire. So yes, another supernatural creature killed him."

"But why?"

"Maybe our darling witch friends could send you to the other side so we could ask Vancel personally," Lorcan said and at that moment, she knew he was just taunting them.

"Why are we even here?" tanong ni Eleanor na kanina pa nakikinig. Sebastian on the othe hand was also quiet.

"A rouge witch planned to continue what Julian wanted to do," said Sebastian as though it explained everything. "She might go after Aedion for some venom. And knowing the Bloodbrook pack situation right now, I think Aedion would be desperate enough to accept what Isabela plans to offer."

Tumingin naman si Isabela sa kanya. "Aedion might know some information about your bloodline, Nadia."

Kaiden's head whipped in her direction. "Anong ibig niyang sabihin, Nads?"

She closed her eyes firmly. Hindi pa niya nasasabi kay Kai ang tungkol sa kanyang totoong mga magulang. Unconsciously, her eyes went to Lorcan. Nakita naman niya itong nakangisi sa kanya na para bang nasisiyahan itong makita siyang nahihirapan sa kung ano man ang dapat niyang isagot. Perhaps it was her face that looked like she needed some help. Dahil nakita niyang tumingin si Lorcan sa gawi ni Kai.

"I bit your girlfriend," he said and then he looked at me, smirking as he did. Tila naestatwa naman si Kai sa kinauupuan at tumingin ito kay Lorcan.

"Anong sinabi mo?"

"You heard me, Kaiden. I bit your girlfriend. I was thinking maybe her blood would be delicious but I found that her blood isn't something good for the vampires," he said. Nakakunot pa rin ang noo ni Kaiden habang nakatingin kay Lorcan. Alam niyang hindi magdadalawang-isip si Lorcan na sabihin kay Kai ang lahat. That he would not hesitate to be the bad guy in every story. Ngunit hindi niya hahayaang kay Lorcan maririnig ni Kai ang lahat. Kaya naman tumayo siya dahilan para mapatingin sa kanya ang lahat.

"Kai, let's talk," she said. Ngunit labis na lang ang gulat niya nang makita ang malamig na titig ni Kai sa kanya.

"Why didn't I know about this?" he asked.

"Kai--"

"Why do I have to know it from him? He bit you and you didn't tell me? Nadia, I--"

Hindi na nito dinugtungan ang nais sabihin. "And you have the blood of a wolf." He looked at her in disbelief. "Were you even planning to tell me something as important as this?"

Hindi siya makasagot sa sinabi ng lalaki. What would she say? It was her fault. "I am trying to tell you now. Kai, please. Let's talk."

Ngunit nanatiling malamig ang ekspresyon sa mukha ni Kai. Mas nagulat siya nang tumayo. Ang buong akala niya ay makikipag-usap na ito sa kanya ngunit nilagpasan lang siya nito. She turned and called him. Kai stopped walking but he did not face her.

"You did not tell me so that means you were not planning to include me in this," he said and then walked away. Tears brimmed her eyes but she did not let them fall. Not in front of these vampires.

Tahimik ang paligid at nanatili siyang nakatingin sa pinto kung saan dumaan si Kai. Maya-maya pa ay narinig niya si Lorcan sa likuran niya.

"Well? Aren't you going to chase after him?" he said.

She wanted to. But she remained frozen on her feet. As much as she wanted to run after Kaiden, mas nangibabaw ang kagustuhan niyang mahanap ang katotohana tungkol sa kanyang pagkatao.

Hinarap niya si Lorcan at sinabing, "Gusto kong makausap si Aedion."

The smile on Lorcan's lips was almost feline the moment those words came out of her mouth. Nakita naman niyang tumayo si Sebastian at inayas ang suot nitong coat. Eleanor was on her phone and then looked at her. "Esmeralda told me that they're at the graveyard. You three better hurry."

Tumaas naman ang kilay ni Lorcan sa kapatid na babae. "You're not coming?"

Eleanor gave Lorcan a saccharin smile before she said, "I don't want to get involved in this messy business, brother. And besides, I have a date. You three try not to die tonight."

Bago pa man makapagsalita si Lorcan ay naglakad na papalayo si Eleanor. Leaving just the three of them.

"How powerful is this certain witch? Isabela?" Sebastian said, breaking the silence.

Nakatingin pa rin sa gawi niya si Lorcan bago sinabing, "I believe she's strong enough to take us both down, brother."

The statement did not make her feel any better at all.