Blood Secrets

When The Wolves Howl

Natapos na sila sa paghahanda. Nalibot na rin nila ang buong bundok para siguruhing walang mga natitirang turista doon. The mountain is safe for the young wolves to transform and to run free for the full moon.

"We have an hour," said Victoria beside him. Among them, Victoria is one of the wolves that could choose whether to turn or not during the full moon. For the rest of them, kailangan nilang maging lobo dahil hindi nila ito napipigilan. It was painful but over time, they got used to it and it doesn't feel as painful as the first time.

He stood by the edge of the clearing and the young ones are already preparing themselves. All of them, together with the adults, will run straight to the forest. Siya ang mangunguna sa kung saan sila papunta. He already had a place mapped out inside his head as to where he could take the young ones.

One of the joys to be a wolf during the full moon is you get to be one with nature. So he wanted to let the young ones experience it. He will make them see how wonderful it is to run free in the wild.

"I bet you Ayla's going to kick Rian's ass tonight," said Henry standing beside him.

"Nobody's kicking someone's ass, Henry. Your job for tonight is to make sure there would be no fighting between the wolves. They're new and still couldn't control their heightened emotions."

Henry groaned. "I was just kidding and I got a lecture."

Napatawa naman siya nang mahina. He looked back and saw the young wolves already standing behind them. Gaya ng sinabi ni Joana ay may sampung bata ang magiging lobo ngayong gabi. Sa unahan ay nakita niya sina Rian at Ayla. They were quiet and were just looking far ahead. Hindi man sabihin ng mga ito ngunit alam niyang kabado sila. Fear and excitement, these were what he felt the firs time he turned.

Kitang-kita niya ang kompetisyon sa mga mata ng dalawa. Perhaps Henry is right. There might be a competition that's happening tonight. He sighed before he signaled Henry to gesture to the other wolves.

Humarap naman siya sa mga ito habang nakatayo sa malaking bato na naroon. All the young wolves looked at him.

"You have been training for this night to come. Sa loob ng ilang taon, hindi kayo naging pabaya sa tungkulin niyo bilang kasapi ng pack na ito at tungkulin niyo sa sarili niyo." He looked at the sky for a brief moment before he looked back at them. "This night marks the start of you being officially members of the pack. Be one with nature. Young wild and free, young ones."

Then the torches around them were lit and the mountains were filled with the yells of the young wolves as they started to run towards the forest. Henry clapped his shoulder before he went down from the boulder and then towards the woods too. He met Joana's eyes and she nodded at him before she ran to the forest too.

Tumingin siya ulit sa kalangitan at doon niya nakitang nagsisimula nang luminaw ang langit. Ina a few minutes, the full moon will appear. In a few minutes, the woods will be filled with screaming young wolves as they turn.

Sumunod na ang ibang mga lobo sa loob ng gubat. Nakatingin lang siya sa langit hanggang sa unti-unting lumabas ang buwan sa likod ng mga ulap.

He felt his body changing. His bones were breaking. For all those years that he has turned every full moon, he got used to it. The pain was still there until it became bearable. His vision started to heighten. Pati na rin ang kanyang pang-amoy at pandinig.

When he has fully transformed, he jumped down from the boulder down to a muddy puddle. He could see his own reflection in the water. Yellow eyes and obsidian black fur stared back at him.

Naririnig na niya ang mga sigaw ng mga bata habang unti-unti itong nagging lobo.

How's the situation? he asked. Among the wolves in the pack, they have a special ability that makes them communicate with each other through their heads. Nagagamit lang nila ito kapag nasa anyong lobo sila.

Everything is going well so far, Aedion, sagot naman ni Joana.

Henry, Tanner, and Phil also reported the same thing. Hindi na siya nagdalawang isip at agad na tumakbo papunta sa kagubatan. His fur ruffled against the cold wind. His surrounding was blurry but he could clearly see what's ahead of him.

Mabilis ang kanyang takbo hanggang sa tumigil siya nang makarating siya sa kinaroonan ng ibang batang lobo. Nakita niyang naroon si Phil na nagmamasid habang ang tatlo sa mga bata ay unti-unting nagging lobo.

The young ones have been conditioned to endure the pain of the transformation. Their training was mainly for that purpose. He could see the young ones starting to grow fur. Nakikita din niyang nag-iiba na ang kulay ng mga mata nito. He nodded in approval and Phil nodded back.

Nagpatuloy siya sa pagtakbo hanggang sa maabutan niya rin ang kinaroroonan nina Tanner. Just like Phil, he also has three wolves in his care. Aedion stayed for a moment until he made sure that the transformation is going well. Nang makasiguro na siyang maayos ang kalagayan ng mga ito agad siyang nagpunta sa kinaroroonan ni Henry. He has two wolves in her care at nang maabutan niya ito ay nasa anyong lobo na ang mga bata.

The two young wolves looked at him and were quick to move toward him.

How are you? tanong niya sa mga ito.

Excellent, sagot naman ng isa.

Together, they ran towards where Joana and the rest of the two wolves are. Naabutan niya ito sa kinailalimang bahagi ng gubat. Ngunit hindi niya inaasahan ang naabutan niya. He saw Joana's silver fur growling at two young wolves who are about to bite each other.

Aedion let out a low growl and the young wolve's head whipped towards him. Their ferocious faces immediately changed and they whined as they faced him.

Your emotions are heightened when you are in your wolf form. Learn to control it, please.

He looked at Rian's black fur and Ayla's grey fur and their bright yellow eyes. All the young ones have successfully transformed. He looked at the moon before he howled. His howl broke through the forest and moments later, he heard the other wolves howling with him. Their howl dominated the forest and he knew that everyone in the city have heard them.

Narinig niyang tumatakbo na papunta sa gawi niya ang ibang lobo. The deep parts of the woods was dark but it was no problem. Nang makarating na sa gawi niya ang ibang mga lobo ay saka siya nagsimula ulit na tumakbo. The young wolves followed him while the older wolves ran on either side to watch for any signs of trouble.

Let go of everything that's making you worry, he said. Let your wolf run free.

They ran through the woods, maneuvering themselves swiftly against the trees, the logs, the puddles--everything felt good. Watching the young ones turn and making them experience the joys of being a wolf is probably something he would never get tired of doing.

He led them towards the part of the mountain where they will be able to see the whole view of St. Angeli. He could hear them closely following behind him and when they reached their destination. It was a cliff, wide enough to accommodate the young ones.

The young wolves stepped closer to the cliff and he looked back at them. All ten of the young wolves are there standing behind him, now looking at the view of the city below. Their ruffles--a variation of black, silver, and grey--danced with the wind.

Congratulations, he said and the wolves howled in response. The older wolves did the same and for a moment, they dominated the night. The wolves of St. Angeli howled loud enough for the whole mountains to hear.

Ngunit bigla na lang siyang napatigil nang may kakaiba siyang naamoy. He had been living in the mountains for so many years and he could instantly tell if something was different. He immediately communicated with the other wolves and turns out, they smelled something different too.

Go back to the camp now, he said but before the young wolves could even move, people he doesn't recognize started to appear around them. He growled at them and as he looked closer, he realized they were witches. Some are chanting something that gave him a massive headache. He whined. Ganoon din ang nangyari sa ibang mga lobo. He could hear the young wolves whining and whimpering in pain as the witches performed something.

Kahit anong gawin niya ay hindi siya makagalaw. As if it wasn't bad enough, he saw other people arriving. No, not people.

Vampires.

Hindi niya maintindihan kung anong nangyayari ngunit malakas ang kutob niyang may kinalaman ito sa nabalitaan niyang mga lobong dinukot mula sa bundok hindi kalayuan sa kanilang syudad. Vampires and witches are teaming up now.

He fought the spell and managed to stand in front of them. Joana did the same and before he could even stop her, nakita nalang niya ang babae na tumalon papunta sa isa sa mga witches. The witch screamed as Joana buried her fangs in the witch's neck. It is a rule they have established. If any trespassers go into their mountain, they would not hesitate to go for the kill.

With one witch down, their spell was temporarily disrupted. It was enough for Tanner, Phil, Henry, Joana, and him to jump at the vampires and buried their fangs on their arms, legs, and neck. The young wolves were heavily weakened kaya naman hindi ito makatakbo kahit pa sabihan niya itong tumakbo. They were still whimpering in pain and the witch continued their spell. He growled as he felt the searing pain in his head. He tried to stand but it was no use. They managed to take one down and five vampires.

He tried to stand ngunit nang makatayo na siya ay nawala na ang mga bampira pati na rin ang mga batang lobo sa harapan nila.

***

"We've searched the whole mountain, Aedion. Wala kaming makita. There are no traces of them," Phil said as he came rushing inside his cabin. Kanina pa siya naroon. Katatapos lang niyang kausapin ang mga magulang ng mga bata tungkol sa nangyari. The whole village scoured the mountains to find the wolves and the vampires and witches who abducted them. Ngunit walang nakita ang mga ito.

"The witches must have used some spell to make it happen. That must have been what they used to get here in the first place."

"What are we going to do?" tanong naman ni Tanner.

Saka naman pumasok si Joana sa loob. "We have burned the bodies of the dead witch and four vampires. Ang isa sa kanila ay may malay pa. He's in another cabin."

Hindi na sila nag-aksaya pa ng oras at agad na naglakad papunta sa kabilang cabin. And true to Joana's words, naroon nga ang isang bampira, nakagapos sa isang silya.

Tanner and Phil were about to go and give the vampire a beating he deserved but he stopped them.

"Leave us," he said. Nagkatinginan sina Phil at Tanner at halatang labag sa kalooban nila ang gusto niyang mangyari ngunit wala silang magagawa kundi ang sundin siya. They walked out of the door and he heard Joana trying to leave too when she called her name.

He looked at her. "You can stay. Stop me if I go overboard," he said. Before Joana was about to say something, he walked toward the vampire and grabbed him by his collar.

Nagising ang bampira. Namumutla na ito at kumakalat na rin ang lason sa buon katawan ng lalaki dulot ng kagat ng lobo na natamo nito sa leeg.

"You're going to die in a few hours so you have to tell me everything I need to know," he said. Nakita naman niyang tumawa lang ang bampira sa gawi niya. He could feel his temper rising and the urge to separate the vampire's head from its body. Ngunit pinigilan niya ang sarili. He stepped back.

"I'd rather die than tell you anything--" Hindi na natapos ng lalaki ang nais sabihin nang sa isang iglap ay nasa harapan na nito si Joana at sinuntok ito sa mukha. The vampire groaned in pain and before he could even manage a smirk, Joana punched him on the other side before she grabbed his collar and pressed the bite wound. Umalingawngaw ang sigaw ng lalaki dahil sa sakit.

"Either you tell us what we need to know or I can bite you in different parts of your body."

Although it wouldn't be as effective as a bite of her wolf form but it sure was effective in scaring the vampire. Mukhang wala itong masyadong alam tungkol sa mga lobo.

Mas idiniin pa ni Joana ang kanyang daliri sa sugat ng bampira dahilan para magmakaawa ito.

"Tell us everything and don't leave any details, understood?"

"I won't. Just please--"

Kinuha ni Joana ang kanyang daliri at saka tumingin sa kanya. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa nakita at napansin ni Joana ang surpresa sa mukha niya.

"What? I saved you the effort. All you need to do is ask questions," said the woman.

Napatango naman siya. "Right, thanks...?"

He looked at the vampire in front of them na hinihingal. "Where are they taking the young wolves?"

"Somewhere far from here. The place where everything began," sagot ng lalaki. Kumunot naman ang noon niya sa sinabi nito.

"Where exactly is that?"

The vampire shook his head. "I don't know. They didn't tell us where exactly. Iyon lang ang alam ko."

"They? Who's they?"

"The leaders of the rogues. There are a group of witches and vampires who are breaking the city rules. The vampire faction and the witch faction are now teaming up together to hunt down these rogues."

Nagkatinginan sila ni Joana. "You mean the Sylvaines are not part of this?" Ang buong akala niya ay ang mga Sylvaines ang nasa likuran ng lahat ng ito. Ngunit nagkakamali siya.

"They are the reason why the vampires and witches are retaliating. They wanted the Sylvaines dead."

Mas lalo naman siyang naguluhan sa sinabi nito. "That would also mean your death."

The vampire scoffed. "We're sired to the Sylvaines, alright. But with the help of the witches, we will break the sire link so we will not die when the Sylvaines die."

"They are immortal. How can you even kill them?" Joana stepped in.

The vampire looked at her and said, "Your venoms, especially the fresh venoms of the young ones are what we need together with the right spells from the witches."

"So you're taking our wolves to take their venoms so you could kill the Sylvaines." He could feel his blood starting to boil.

"And if we are successful, we will create another creature. Someone stronger than a hybrid. Someone that could make the vampires the dominant species--"

"Are you f*****g kidding me?" He hissed. Nakita naman niyang nagulat ang bampira nang bigla siyang sumigaw. He could feel his fangs grow and his blood went up to his head. "Are you telling me that these rogues will experiment on my young wolves and extract their venoms?"

"It will only be for a short while. A short pain. Not as painful as the one they have to go through a transformation--"

Hindi na ito nakapagsalita pa nang kumuha siya ng piraso ng kahoy at isinaksak ito sa tiyan ng lalaki. The man grunted in pain.

"If I don't get these wolves back, I will give you an antidote for this bite. And when your wounds have healed after a month, I will bury my fangs on your skin again. You will go through the same pain again. You have an eternity to live and I will make sure you spend it screaming in excruciating pain. Do you understand me?"

Nakita niya ang takot sa mga mata ng lalaki kaya naman binitawan niya ito. The vampire's weak enough to escape kaya naman hinayaan nila ito doon. He left the piece of wood buried in his stomach. Let him suffer.

Lumabas silang dalawa ni Joana at hindi niya napigilan, he punched the wall of the cabin dahilan para bumaon ang kamao niya doon. The young wolves are taken and it was because of these rogues.

"They will pay, Aedion. We will make sure they will." Joana touched his shoulder and he calmed down a little.

"They must be so scared, Jo."

"I know. I know. But they are also strong. We will save them. We always do."

He looked at her and somehow, the words were assuring enough as it came from her. Magsasalita na sana siya nang marinig nilang bigla nalang sumigaw ang bampira sa loob ng cabin. He sounded like he was being tortured kaya naman agad silang tumakbo pabalik sa loob.

Ngunit hindi nila inaasahan ang kanilang naabutan.

The vampire that was supposed to stay tied to a chair is now lying on the floor, gray and dead. Maraming dugo ang nasa bandang dibdib nito.

Joana was quick to touch the vampire's heart and she gasped in surprise. "His heart was crushed from the inside."

He muttered a silent curse. Ngunit nang mapadpad ang tingin niya sa pader sa likuran nila ay hindi siya makapaniwala sa nakita. The vampire's blood was splattered across the wall, forming letters he could make out as: Abandoned City Townhouse tomorrow.

The rogues have left him a message.