Blood Secrets

Thorns of Assurance

Naabutan niya si Kai na tahimik na nakaupo sa balkonahe. The Sylvaine mansion is located lm a higher ground that allows them the city's night view. The Sylvaine chose the mansion well. Although she heard they compelled the true owner of the mansion to make them the new owner of the mansion.

Tahimik lang si Kai nang umupo siya sa tabi nito at sumandal sa balikat ng lalaki.

"Did you know the water supply of this city is mixed with enough dose of spelled azalea? Enough so that the vampires of this city won't be able to feed on the humans. And there is a separate water supply for the households inhabited by vampires."

Tahimik lang siyang nakikinig sa sinasabi ng lalaki. Nagpatuloy naman ito. "This city has managed to survive. Vampires, humans, wolves, and witches have lived together." He let out a bitter laugh. Alam niyang lasing ito. She did not say anything and just let him say what he wanted to say. "But among those four, we couldn't deny that if worse comes to worst, the humans will be the ones who are going to suffer the most. Kahit ano pang gawin nila para mamuhay nang payapa, hindi mangyayari iyon." Kai looked at her.

"Do you know why?" he asked. Turns out, he isn't as drunk as she thought he is. Nang hindi siya sumagot ay bumalik ang tingin ng lalaki sa syudad sa harapan nila.

"It's because they are not meant to coexist, Nadia. Vampires feed on humans. Wolf kills a vampire. Witches might be the ones who are tasked to balance everything but that doesn't mean some of them couldn't go rogue just like what the others did. They are not meant to live together. This city will be doomed soon enough."

Silence hovered over them. Sa totoo lang, hindi niya alam ang gusto niyang sabihin sa lalaki. Ngunit alam niyang nababahala ito sa ginagawa nila. They are in the mansion of the deadliest vampires and they are working with them. It was indeed an unlikely alliance. Lorcan did something despicable earlier kaya naman agad niyang napagtanto ang gustong sabihin ni Kai sa kanya.

Vampires and humans are not supposed to live together. They are not supposed to work together. And yet here she is, getting desperate for any information on her parent's murderers. It had been the sole reason why she joined and became a blood slayer. Over time, her hatred for the vampires grew and grew. It was ironic that the kind she was trained to kill is also the kind that could help her find what she had been looking for.

"I know, Kai," she said. Narinig naman niya itong nagpakawala ng mahinang tawa.

"I saw what he did to you earlier, Nads. He choked you and when I saw his eyes, there was nothing there. All I see is a monster. And I know if there wasn't anyone there--if his brother was not there, he would have killed you right after he got the information." Kai looked at her. "Who's to say he's not going to snap his temper and do it again?"

"Kai, we talked about this--"

"I know, Nads. Kaya nga galit ako sa sarili ko ngayon dahil bakit pa ako pumayag. Sigurado naman akong marami pang ibang paraan para hanapin ang mga pumatay sa mga magulang mo. But this...this is madness, Nads. I can't bear to see you being treated like that again. You're a human. Kahit pa buong buhay ka nagsanay na maging blood slayer, it's nothing against them. And I hate to say his words, but we'd be dead even before we could take our weapons out."

"So you're saying that Lorcan is going to try and kill me?"

"He doesn't need anything from you."

"He does. He knows he's outnumbered. All the other vampires in this city are conspiring against him together with some witches. He only has his brother and a sister who clearly doesn't like him at all. He needs my help and I will give it to him if it means getting what I want." She reached to touch his hand. "I'm hitting two birds with one stone here, Kai. We stop a deadly creature from rising and I can finally know who killed my parents."

Natahimik naman si Kai ngunit wala nang makakapigil sa kanya sa kung anong gusto niyang gawin. She's going to find out who killed her parents and if that means she has to walk on thin ice.

"He could easily kill you, Nadia. After what happened earlier, you should be able to see what I'm trying to say."

Alam niya iyon. "I have been to countless dangerous situations before, Kai. This is nothing."

Nakita naman niyang napapikit nang mariin ang lalaki sa sinabi niya. She could see the surrender in his eyes. Alam niyang nag aalala lang ito sa kanya. She reached for his hand and squeezed it tight. Humarap nang tuluyan si Kai.

"I know this is very important to you kaya wala na akong magagawa kung desidido ka na. But I can't help but be worried Nads. I've seen you in countless dangers and every time, I thought those were the most terrifying moments of my life.

"Even though I hate our setup now, I want to be with you. I don't want to leave you on your own. But if along the moments of our little camaraderie show with them you find it hard, just say the word and I will take you out of here."

Napangiti siya sa kanyang nobyo. "I love you," she said. Kai smiled at her too. "Thank you, Kai."

"Anything for you." He leaned close and she did the same. She couldnt remember when was the last time they had moments like this. Kaya naman ipinikit niya ang mga mata niya. She could feel his breath hovering over her mouth. Akmang hahalikan na niya ang lalaki nang may marinig silang tumikhim sa likuran nila.

They both whirled to see Lorcan Sylvaine leaning on the wall with his arms crossed. Nakangisi ito sa gawi nila. Kai was quick to stand at agad din naman siyang tumayo para tumayo sa harapan nito. She faced Lorcan.

"What do you want?" she hissed.

Nakangiti pa rin si Lorcan sa gawi nila na para bang nang-aasar. It was as if he was making fun of the fact that her and Kai didnt get to have their moment.

"Oh, don't stop on my account," he said. "I don't mind waiting for you to be done."

"I said what do you want?"

Lorcan pushed himself away from the door and walked towards them. He roamed his eyes around the area and then back to them. "The view here is magnificent, isn't it? What's more interesting is that this is the exact place where I compelled the original owner to transfer the deed of the house to us." He looked at them.

"He asked my brother, Sebastian, to spare him and his family. If he hadn't done that, I would have just killed him and that would be more convenient. If he dies, the house is automatically ownerless."

The more she listens to him, the more she realizes just how bad this man can be.

Naglakad ito papalapit sa mesa nila. He poured a glass of whiskey before he raised his glass in their direction as though proposing a toast. "You know, with my heightened sense of hearing, I couldn't help but eavesdrop on your conversation."

"Good to know you know we hate you," said Kai. Ngunit ngumisi lang si Lorcan sa gawi nila.

"See, I'd be more surprised if you like me."

"What the hell do you want, Lorcan? If this is you getting nervous with all your enemies plotting your demise then go find someone else to annoy," she said. Hindi na niya napigilan ang sarili niyang sabihin iyon. Nakita naman niyang nag-iba ang timpla ng mukha ng lalaki. But he made no move to hurt them.

"I am here to tell you, dearest Nadia, that I honor our bargain," he said. Naningkit naman ang mga mata niya sa sinabi nito. Even though it was what she wanted to hear from the man, hindi niya pa rin mapigilang magduda sa kahit anong sasabihin nito. "As much as I hate to admit, I do have made quite a lot of enemies and all are pissed all at once. You and your little anti-vampire group are offering its help so I and my siblings figured to accept the help. After all, Nadia Melendez wants something in return from me, doesn't she?"

"Our headquarters already know of this alliance. If you so much as hurt Nadia, you would make an enemy of the whole anti-vampire community. Not that it's something new but if we're out of this alliance, Esmeralda will pull out too." Kai now stepped in front of him. Lorcan clenched his jaw as he stared at Kai. He knows he doesn't have much choice now.

Maya-maya pa a ngumiti ito sa gawi nila. "Like I said, I will honor the bargain." He looked at her.

"Eleanor told me about this certain vampire you were looking for?"

Napatingin siya sa gawi ni Kai bago siya muling tumingin kay Lorcan. "Yes, I am. May nakapagsabi sa akin na siya ang pumatay sa mga magulang ko."

Lorcan took a sip from his glass. "The problem with us, vampires, is that with all the killings we had done in the course of our immortal lives, we don't remember all of it. Sometimes, we kill for fun and sometimes out of anger or frustration. I don't remember all the humans I killed. I learned my lesson when I was about fifty years old that it is much more convenient to not actually drain the blood out of them so I won't have to go through the inconvenience of disposing a dead body."

She gritted her teeth. To think that these creatures would kill and then not feel bad about it--it's a whole new level of monstrosity. But why would she be surprised? They're monsters, to begin with.

"So whoever this vampire is, he might not be able to remember he killed your parents. But anyway, what's the vampire's name?" he asked.

"His name is Vancel Kimber," she said.

Nakita naman niyang ibinaba ni Lorcan ang hawak na baso habang nanlalaki ang mga matang nakatingin sa kanya. "Sigurado ka ba sa pangalang iyan?"

"Kilala mo ba siya?" tanong ni Kai.

Saglit na natahimik si Lorcan at maya-maya pa ay inubos niya ang laman ng kanyang baso bago tumingin sa kanila ni Kai.

"I know him," he said and grinned. "Now things are starting to get interesting."

"You know him?"

"Oh yes," he said and then looked at them. "I know the man personally, but--" He raised his finger to stop her from talking. "I will tell you all about him and everything I know after all of this is over."

"Are you kidding me?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Kai.

"Unfortunately not, Kaiden. I need leverage that you won't kill me with your innovative weapons. So if I get to live at the end of this, then you can have all the information you want."

"So you don't mind if we kill Sebastian or Eleanor?" tanong niya. Nakita naman niyang ngumiti ang lalaki habang umiinom sa baso nito.

"See, you talk a lot about killing one of us but you just can't. Right now, we have bigger enemies and besides, I think you already know that it would be a stupid stance to kill my siblings. You saw what they're capable of." He looked at her over the rim of his glass.

Tama nga naman ito. He couldn't kill Sebastian or Eleanor. They are in another league. It would perhaps require all the strongest weapons they have and even then, she's not certain that it would be enough.

"For that, Nadia Melendez, you have my word that you will not die by my hands. And as for your boyfriend, I can't make any promises," sabi ng lalaki bago ngumisi sa gawi niya.

Nakita nito ang galit sa mukha niya bago ito tumawa. "I was joking," he said and then stood. "We will have to start our master plan in annihilating a group of rogues."

He then gestured towards the exit that leads to the foyer. "Shall we?"

Sumunod naman sila sa lalaki. As much as possible, she has to do her thing quickly. She wanted to get away from this family quickly. Kailangan lang niyang makuha ang gusto niyang makuhang impormasyon at wala na siyang pakialam sa pamilyang ito.

Naabutan nila sina Eleanor, Sebastian, at Esme. Eleanor was just about to slice a knife into her palm when they arrived. Nagtataka man ay hindi na siya nagsalita at nakatingin lang sa kung anong ginagawa ng babae. She could see Esme sitting down on the couch, glaring at Eleanor. Kanina kasi ay sinugatan ito ni Eleanor. While Lorcan was choking her, Esme was about to interfere and do her witch thing when Eleanor threw a fork, stabbing the witch's hands.

"We have to refrain from killing each other," said Sebastion.

"Agreed. But don't you think your siblings should be the ones to hear that?" saad naman ni Kai.

Lorcan and Eleanor looked at Kai and before they could even say something, nagsalita ulit si Sebastian.

"If we are going to work together, we have to work together. Not kill each other the moment we have the chance."

"Worry not, brother. I and dear Nadia here have come to an agreement that we will not kill each other until this is all over."

Nakatingin lang si Sebastian sa kapatid na para bang nagdududa pa rin ito sa sinabi ng lalaki. Nugnit maya-maya ay nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga si Sebastian.

She looked at where Eleanor is and saw her placing her fist over an empty glass. The blood from her wound earlier was already filling the glass almost half full. Nang matapos ito ay saka ito ibinigay ni Eleanor kay Esme na masama pa ring nakatingin sa kanya.

"Oh for god's sake. Stop glaring as if that could kill me," said Eleanor. Masami pa ring nakatingin sa kanya si Esme.

"Look at you complaining over me glaring at you when moments ago you just stabbed my hand with a fork. Ako dapat ang magrereklamo."

Magsasalita na sana si Eleanor nang biglang sumigaw si Sebastian. "Enough!"

Lorcan smiled as he twirled the contents of his glass while looking at her. "Esme, just drink her blood, please. It will cure your wounds. We need your magic."

Naniniwala na talaga siyang sa tatlong magkakapatid na Sylavine, Sebastian is indeed the noble one. The one who thinks before he leaps. The one who doesn't kill for fun.

Binigyan ni Esme si Eleanor ng masamang tingin bago nito kinuha ang baso at saka ininom ang laman niyon. She grimaced at the sight. Drinking vampire blood. Somehow, her stomach churned at the sight.

Tiningnan ni Esme ang kamay nito. It had a nasty wound earlier and as she looked closer, she could see it was slowly closing. Hindi niya napigilan ang mamangha sa nakikita. She has never seen a vampire's blood in action.

Esme doesn't look like she has seen the healing capabilities of a vampire's blood either. Eleanor poured herself a drink before she said, "Now, do your best and don't die while my blood's in your system."

Before another argument could erupt, the next thing they heard was the window glasses shattering around them.