Blood Secrets

The Girl Under the Lights

Nadia closed her eyes as she stood on the rooftop alone. Malamig ang simoy ng hangin because it's the Christmas season. Hindi niya alam kung gaano siya katagal nakatayo doon but based on the cold mug in her hands, mga ilang minuto din siguro.

Ilang minuto nalang, magliliwanag na ang kalangitan dahil sa mga fireworks. Bagong taon kasi. Maaga siyang nagsara sa tindahan niya ng mga souvenirs para lang mapanood and mga fireworks.

Napagdesisyunan niyang umupo nalang muna sa bench na naroon at inilagay ang lumamig na inumin. She wrapped her shawl around her shoulders dahil sa lamig.

And then it began.

Colors of blue, red, green, purple, and yellow sparked the night sky. She looked up at it and she could see it disappear as soon it came. But they were beautiful.

"Everything beautiful is short-lived," she mumbled in the wind and continued to stare at the sky.

"Another year, Mom, Dad." She sighed. "Another year." She stared at the sky and wondered what it would be like if her parents were still alive. They would have loved the fireworks.

It's been several years since her parents' death. Ang buong akala niya ay dahil iyon sa isang malubhang sakit na walang gamot. They lived in a village and she never would have expected that vampires would attack ther parents. Hindi niya alam kung amo ang dahilan ng pag-atake but then she realized vampires don't need reason. Wala siya doon noong panahong mangyari ang pag-atake and by the time she got home, her uncle told her that her parents were involved in a terrible accident causing their death. She never saw their bodies kaya hindi siya naniwala doon and she kept on pushing that something wasn't right. And later on, nalaman niyang bampira ang may kagagawan. Her parents were taken by the vampires.

Hindi niya maintindihan ang tiyuhin niya kung bakit nito itinago ang katotohanan sa kanya. But her uncle just said it was what her parents would have wanted. They don't want her to be involved with any supernatural beings but she just couldn't let her parents' death go.

"I'm sorry, mom, dad," she whispered to the wind. "I'm already a part of the Academy. I will train hard and I will avenge your death. I will find the vampire responsible and I don't care whoever it is. I will kill them." It was what she swore. Iyon ang nagtulak sa kanya para pumasok sa Academy at magtrain bilang isang vampire slayer. And to kill every single one of the vampires.

The fireworks lit the sky for a good fifteen minutes and it was enough to satisfy her. Naririnig niya ang mga sigawan ng mga tao sa ibaba. Those who decide to spend their New Year's Eve outside. She stared at the moon for a good long minute before she decided to stand to go back inside.

Ngunit pagkatalikod niya ay bigla naman siyang napahinto. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa kanyang baso and her hand immediately went to where she strapped her weapon.

She gripped the handle of the blade tightly habang pinapakiramdaman niya ang paligid. She knew something's definitely up.

And then she tried to feel her surroundings and then quick as lightning, she threw her mug on her left side. It hit something—or rather someone. And before that someone could even recover sinipa niya ito sa sikmuea dahilan para mapaatras ito at mabangga sa railings na naroon. She didn't take any chance at agad itinutok ang punyal niya sa leeg nito.

The man had his arms up at unti-unting tinanggal ang takip sa mukha. His dashing smile was what greeted her.

Nakahinga naman siya nang maluwag at kinuha ang punyal niya. The man laughed.

"God, Nadia," he said and stood straight. "What gave me away?" tanong nito sa kanya.

She let out a small chuckle before she pointed to the moon.

The man just rolled his eyes. And she laughed. "Next time you want to sneak up on me, try it without the moon. Your shadow gave it all away." She smiled and his smile grew wider. Then she leaned in for a kiss which he gladly answered.

"Why are you here, Kaiden?" tanong niya dahilan para suminmangot ito.

"What? Am I not allowed to see my girlfriend on new year's eve?" Nakasimangot ito habang nakatingin sa kanya. Kayden is her boyfriend. Mag-iisang taon na rin sila. They met each other at the Academy. They're both humans. Two of the few humans in the academy.

The academy accepts all kinds of races, except for the vampires. The wolves, witches, and the humans could go along just fine. Vampires were difficult. And they've been causing trouble ever since they started walking the earth. Ever since the vampire king walked the earth together with his siblings and then sired a lot more vampires from people they hate to the people who ask favors for them.

"You told me you had to be somewhere tonight. Don't tell me naaawa ka sa akin kaya ka bumalik dito?"

Ngunit tumawa lang ang lalake. The laugh she always loved. "If anything, I'd be more afraid for the vampires because they have to face you. I think I'd feel more sorry for them." Ngumisi ito sa kanya and it was her turn to roll her eyes lumayo mula sa lalake. Her lips slightly curved into a smile.

"Want some hot chocolate?" alok niya rito.

Kaiden just grinned and reached to hold her wrists. "I'd love to."

They went inside the store at agad namang naupo si Kaiden sa isa sa mga upuan doon habang gumagawa siya ng maiinom nila.

Napatingin siya sa nobyo. He was wearing his hunting clothes. Which means he's on his way to a mission or he's just recently finished. Ngunit hindi na siya nagtanong at umupo nalang sa kaharap nitong upuan bitbit ang dalawang baso ng hot chocolate.

Agad naman itong ininom ni Kaiden and then he moaned at the taste and the warmth of it seeping into his body. Napangiti naman siya.

Napatingin naman sila sa labas. Kitang-kitang lang kasi iyon because of the huge glass window. They could see people—both local and tourists walking around the area, enjoying New Year's Eve.

Tiningnan niya si Kaiden habang nakatingin ito sa labas. She sighed dahilan para mapatingin ito sa kanya.

"I know you're here for something, Kaiden. Ano iyon?" tanong niya. Hindi na niya mapigilan ang sarili. Kilala niya ito. At alam niyang may gusto itong sabihin sa kanya.

Natahimik naman ang lalake habang nakatingin sa kanya. Maya-maya pa ay napabuntong-hininga na rin ito.

"I'm sorry," saad ng lalake. "I shouldn't be ruining this night for you."

"What is it, Kai?"

"There's been another attack. In the mountains."

Kumunot ang noo niya.

"Where the wolves are?"

Kaiden nodded gravely. Bigla naman siyang nanlamig. These attacks have been going rampant these days. Just a month ago, one of their comrade, who was a wolf, died because of a vampire attack.

"Which pack?"

"The Moon Stone Pack."

Napasapo siya sa kanyang noo. "Casualties?"

It was then that Kaiden looked at her gravely. "About ten of their wolves were taken. The ones that just shifted."

Napapikit siya nang mariin sa narinig ang masamang balita.

"Taken? Not killed?"

Umiling ang lalake. "Taken. Hindi na namin alam ang ibang detalye. That's why I'm here because Ms. Vitdur asked us to investigate."

Hindi na siya nagdalawang-isip. Agad siyang naghanda. The wolves were taken, just like her parents. This might give her a lead after two years of searching.

And she will make sure anyone who's behind this will pay.

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