Blood Secrets

More Than We Know

Eleanor hated chores. She never really did something tedious unless it was indispensable—Kagaya nalang ngayon.

The apartment was small, just enough for two people who don't plan to stay in the place long. Groaning, she placed Kai's body on the mattress and let the unconscious man lie there. Kita niya ang mantsa sa damit nito. His blood, no doubt. Also, she saw what Lorcan did earlier to the poor man just to make Nadia yield. Her brother has his own way of dealing with things and there is always violence involved. She knows Lorcan fancies Nadia but after what he did to her boyfriend, Eleanor thinks Nadia will look at him with hate for the rest of her semi-mortal life.

She placed her hand on her hips and stretched. She might be a vampire but she still feels sore lifting the man from the streets to his room. Idagdag pa na kailangan niyang gumalaw nang hindi nakikita ng mga tao doon. She groaned as she stretched further back. Vampires feel more intensely. If they feel pain, they feel it more than normal people do. However, they heal quickly which is enough to compensate for it.

When the pain in her body subsided, she stared at Kaiden who was lying on the bed, unconscious. The only thing running inside her mind is how stupid the man is. He could have saved himself from the vampire trouble if he had not followed his equally stupid girlfriend to hunt some wolf kidnapper. Now here they are.

Ngunit napatigil naman siya sa iniisip. Deep down inside, she understood him. It was love between him and Nadia. He saw the way he looked at her and how protective he is when it comes to her. Even as he was facing the most dangerous vampires in the world, he was ready to protect Nadia. Even as Lorcan was seconds away from ripping his heart out, he still warned Nadia not to yield. It was the kind of love she yearned for. Kahit pa anong sabihin niya tungkol sa dalawa, even as she tells them how stupid they are, deep down she knew she was envious of the kind of love they have.

Napahawak naman siya sa kanyang dibdib. It was one drawback of being a vampire. She could feel her emotions more intensely. Napalunok siya ng laway before she blinked the tears away.

"Once this is over, you and Nadia could leave this city and don't ever come back. Live somewhere far and be happy," she said. She couldn't believe she was even wishing them a good life when minutes earlier, she just stood close by as Kaiden was almost killed by her brother.

She turned on her back and was about to walk to the door when she felt the pain in her back. Something pierced her and she instantly realized what it was. Slowly, she turned to look at Kaiden. Ngunit hindi na ito nakahiga sa kama. He was standing in front of her, holding a gun loaded with azalea shots. When she looked at his face, gone was the gentleness she sees whenever she's looking at Nadia. He was looking at her as though she was the most monstrous being he had ever seen.

"You're going to regret this," she mumbled before she fell to the ground. Bago pa man siya mawalan ng malay, narinig niyang nagsalita ang lalaki.

"I heard your wishes but I'm sorry to tell you we won't be waiting when this is all over. I am going to take Nadia and we're out of here."

She shook her head. "No," she said. "Lorcan...Lorcan's going to kill you. Or kill Nadia. He will never be able to forgive himself once he does that."

Kaiden scoffed. "Lorcan doesn't feel emotion, Eleanor."

She wanted to retort. Gusto niyang sabihin sa lalaki na hindi totoo ang sinasabi nito. Lorcan may be a monster but he's her brother. And he was ready to kill for her when he needs to. But consciousness was slowly dragging her away.

You're a good man, Kai. It would be a shame if Lorcan kills you.

Those were the words she wanted to say but failed to.

***

Nagising na lang siya na mahapdi ang kanyang buong katawan. Her eyes fluttered open and that's when she realized she was tied to a chair. She looked down and saw that ropes laced with azalea were used to tie her down.

Sinubukan niyang gumalaw ngunit mas lalong humapdi ang buong katawan niya. She hissed as the azalea ropes burned her skin.

She heard footsteps coming in her direction and she whipped her head to the side to see Kai holding weapons.

Stupid, stupid man.

"Just when I thought you can't get more stupid than this," she said. Her voice contained enough venom but he doesn't seem to care.

"They took my girlfriend. Your brother took my girlfriend. Can't you solve your problems without involving her?"

"Your girlfriend could be used to imprison all vampires," she started. "She's not safe out there."

Kai whirled to look at her. His face was furious as though he was moments away from snapping her neck. Although she doubts he could do it, she's sure he's not going to hesitate to try.

"And she's safe with you? Let me remind you, Eleanor, that your brother almost killed her and made numerous threats toward her. She is far from safe."

"My brother may have done so but he's the only one who can keep her safe right now, Kaiden."

Naningkit ang mga mata ng lakaki habang nakatingin sa kanya. "You are insane."

"I am telling the truth, Kaiden. There is another coven," she said. Tumahimil ang lalaki at ngayon ay nakatingin lang ito sa kanya, naghihintay sa kung anong sunod niyang sasabihin.

She took a deep breath, wincing as the ropes seem to bury in her skin.

"They are cooperating with Isabela and the St. Angeli coven of witches to make a prison world. And to make a prison world, they need a powerful enough foundation. They need Nadia."

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ng lalaki.

"Nadia is half wolf but that doesn't mean—"

"She' not just a half wolf, Kaiden." She breathed. "These witches are descendants of the witch that cursed my family. Which means there has to be something more to Nadia than we already know. Something that would make her qualify to become a supernatural prison world foundation."