Blood Secrets

Something Dominant

All of them gathered in front of the fireplace. Aedion was standing near the window, looking at the mountain far ahead as if doing so would let his pack know he was thinking about them. Esmeralda and Leila were sitting nearest to the fireplace with Leila giving daggered looks in Isabela's direction who was standing next to the couch where Sebastian sat. Lorcan was sitting across his brother habang katabi si Eleanor. She and Kaiden were sitting on the couch. She could feel Kai tensing every time Lorcan looks in their direction. She appreciates that Kaiden agreed to be here even though his hatred for the Sylvaines is evident. Isa na rin siguro ang katotohanan na nanganganib ang buhay niya kaya narito ang lalaki. She would do the same thing for him.

"What an unusual team we are," said Eleanor, breaking the silence. Isabela shot Eleanor a glare.

"I am not here to team up with the likes of you. I am here because I still have my beliefs. I don't believe the coven of three is doing the right thing."

"And the right thing for you is to rid of our vampirism and make us human again so you can kill us without mercy or are you just going to let us die naturally by letting us get caught with age?"

She closed her eyes firmly as she realized a fight is about to erupt. Nakita niyang napahilot din sa sentido si Sebastian habang si Lorcan naman ay bahagyang nakatingin sa kanya. She gave him a glare and the corners of his mouth tugged up before he looked at Eleanor.

"Eleanor, I would appreciate you not say a word at this moment and let our friend tell us what we need to know," Lorcan said. There was a hint of a smile in his voice and she could see Eleanor grimacing at Lorcan.

"Let me make myself clear first, Sylvaines. I am no friend of yours and as soon as the coven of three are gone, I will go back to scheming your demise--"

"Something you won't be able to do if we kill right you right when you give us the information we want," said Sebastian. His voice was so quiet that she could have sworn Isabela paled. Eleanor crossed his arms and leaned back on the couch.

Nakita naman niyang ngumisi ng malapad si Isabela. "You can't kill me," she said. "I have linked my life to Nadia when I got her blood. If you kill me, Nadia dies. If Nadia dies, the coven of three will find a substitute to create the prison world. Their best choice would be Lorcan Sylvaine."

Tila nanigas siya sa kanyang kinauupuan. Hindi makapaniwalang napatingin siya sa gawi ni Isabela. Nakatingin din si Isabela sa kanya at nagkibit-balikat. "I have to make sure I will be safe while I am here with all of you."

Lorcan massaged the bridge of his nose before he leaned back in his seat. Gone was the playful smirk he had earlier. Masama itong nakatingin kay Isabela. "What makes you think linking your life to Nadia would stop me from killing you. The coven of three can come at me at any time of their convenience. I will kill them just as how I will kill you, Isabela."

Imbes na matakot ay ngumiti lang si Isabela sa gawi ni Lorcan. "Such big words. You won't kill me because as much as you don't want to admit it, you care for Nadia Melendez--"

Hindi na natapos ni Isabela ang nais sabihin nang bigla nalang nasa harapan nito si Lorcan. His hand quickly found Isabela's neck and choked her. Then she felt her throat getting tight too. All of a sudden, she finds it hard to breathe.

"Nadia!" Kai called and she felt his hands on her shoulders. She tried to grasp some air but nothing came. Hindi pa rin siya makahinga.

"Lorcan, stop it! She's telling the truth," Kai shouted and then the next thing she knew, she was gasping for air. Pakiramdam niya ay sinakal din siya ni Lorcan. Nakita niyang nakangiti sa gawi niya si Isabela. She had indeed linked both their lives. Napatingin naman siya sa gawi ni Lorcan na nanlalaki ang mga matang nakatingin sa kanya. Then he averted his gaze and went to shooting daggers back in Isabela's direction.

Isabela had ensured she would not be touched but only at the expense of her life too. Gusto niyang sugurin ang babae at sampalin ito ngunit alam niyang hindi niya magagawa iyon. Not when Isabela could snap her neck in seconds. And besides, she has more pressing matters to deal with, including breathing properly.

Kai eased her back to the couch and she was still holding her neck. Pakiramdam niya ay doon nanggaling ang kamay ni Lorcan kanina. Naramdaman niya talagang nalalagutan na siya ng hininga. She wanted to reprimand Sebastian for taking her blood and giving it to Isabela but all has been done and she couldn't do anything about it now. She supposed it was good too that Isabela made sure she won't die while working with them. She's sick of dead bodies.

"Nadia," she heard Sebastian call her name. Not because he was worried about her condition. He sounded more like he was annoyed that she was still not feeling better. Sinamaan niya ito ng tingin.

"I am still alive, thank you for the concern," she said before taking a deep breath. Medyo umaayos na ang pakiramdam niya. Tumingin siya sa gawi nina Eleanor at Lorcan. "As long as you don't hurt Isabela, I'll be fine. I won't die and Lorcan won't be sought by the coven of three to be my substitute." Nakita niyang umigting ang panga ni Lorcan nang sabihin niya iyon. Eleanor just looked at her and rolled her eyes. Alam niyang wala na ring magagawa si Eleanor sa sitwasyon. She might hate her brother but she knew Eleanor won't put Lorcan in harms way.

"Maybe we should start about the two desiccating vampires in the dungeons, Sebastian?" said Kai. He had been asleep for the most part of the day and she was surprised he has already caught up with the latest events.

"My brothers will be forever tucked in there safely and they will not be able to harm anyone," sagot naman ni Sebastian.

"Brothers? You have brothers?" Leila asked. Esmeralda beside her coughed and Isabela gave a worried glance in the woman's direction.

"Yes, there are two more Sylvaines and if you think the three of us are monsters, Grey and August kill without thinking," Lorcan answered. She felt Kai tense beside her.

"And how are they going to help defeat the coven of three? Sinabi niyo kanina na wala kayong planong buhayin sila. They were called the rippers of Montenegro, were they not?" Kai insisted. Narinig naman niyang napasinghap si Isabela.

"Rippers of Montenegro?" Isabela asked, paling. "You mean to tell me that the m******e that happened there many years ago was done by your brothers?"

Lorcan finished the contents of his glass. "Like I said, they kill without thinking. They were supposed to remain asleep with the help of the Renegades in Whitburry. My brothers have been desiccated for many years. Now, they are hungrier than ever. Because of the Renegades' magic that sealed them in their coffins, they are holding grudges towards witches."

Kumunot ang noo niya sa sinabi ng lalaki. She couldn't see anything strong about his statement that could convince him that the other Sylvaine brothers could defeat the coven of three. At hindi niya rin maintindihan kung anong sinasabi nito. What are Renegades?

It was Esmeralda who decided to speak. "The Renegades have strong magic. They're half witches and half vampires. Which means their abilities as witches are also strong. The Renegades have spelled the other two brothers. This would only mean that among us, the Renegades or the vampires spelled by the Renegades have a chance to defeat the coven of three in a battle."

Renegades. Half-vampires and half-witches. With her years of working as a blood slayer, it was the first time she heard of such kind. What other things has she been not aware of? And if they're called Renegades, what is she called then? For being a half-wolf and half-witch. Are there any other people out there who are like her that she's not aware of?

She shook the idea away. Right now, she can't think of such things. Kailangan niyang magpokus sa problema nila ngayon. At iyon ay kung paano talunin ang tatlong witches na maaaring dahilan ng pagkawala ng mga bampira sa mundong ibabaw.

"What, are you going to tell them to bark and they would bark at the right tree?" tanong ni Eleanor habang nakatingin sa gawi ni Lorcan.

Lorcan was sitting comfortably and that's when he smirked. "That's where Aedion comes."

Aedion peeled his eyes from the mountains in the distance and looked at Lorcan. "What are you trying to say, Lorcan?"

"My brothers are strong. Even in their weak and desiccated self, they managed to almost kill a blood slayer." Lorcan glanced in Kai's direction. "Although Kaiden had managed to stab August with a syringe filled with undiluted azalea it still wasn't enough to stop him. Wolf venom, on the other hand, could be effective."

"Could be effective?" Aedion scoffed. "I am tired of playing games with you, Lorcan. I don't want to risk my life to mere possibilities."

"Do you prefer we use your beloved Joana Jade, instead?"

At the mention of Joana's name, Aedion's face darkened. "Do not ever bring her into this mess again," he said and shot a particular look in Eleanor's direction.

Eleanor rolled her eyes. "Oh, give me a break. I already let her go."

"And don't bother my pack again. I will give you my venom and in return, I shall return to the mountains with my pack." Aedion looked in Esmeralda's direction as though wanting to say something. Tila nakuha naman ni Esmeralda ang nais ng lalaki.

"The spell is linked to my niece. The mountain is still protected, Alpha."

Nakita niya ang pasasalamat sa mata ng lalaki.

Napatingin siya sa gawi ni Sebastian. He did not decline Aedion's request and the latter took it that they agree. Kaya naman agad itong lumapit sa gawi ni Lorcan at kinuha ang baso doon na wala nang laman. His face changed briefly, with his eyes changing color. His fangs came out and he bit the edge of the glass, just enough to extract the venom.

Nang makuha na nito ang lason ay ibinigay ni Aedion ang baso kay Lorcan. Tinanggap naman iyon ng huli.

"My job here is done. I don't see why the wolves should get involved with this mess." Hindi na naghintay si Aedion sa maaaring sasabihin ni Lorcan at agad itong naglakad papalabas ng bahay. Nagtataka naman siyang nakatingin kay Lorcan at tila napansin iyon ng lalaki.

"Whatever it is, Nadia, out with it." Lorcan looked at her. The look in his eyes was inscrutable.

"Why do you need Aedion's venom when you're a hybrid?" she asked. Nakita naman niyang walang reaksyon lang si Sebastian. Eleanor on the other hand was snickering. The others were just as curious.

Lorcan swirled the wolf's venom inside the glass before he looked at her. "My vampire side is more dominant, Nadia dear," he said. "Simply said, I can't use my wolf form at my convenience."

He was looking at her as though he wanted to say something. And that's when she realized that she must be the same. She is half-wolf and half-witch. One side has to be dominant over the other. She couldn't remember anything that would have given her a clue that she was a wolf. She doesn't transform during the full moon. Whereas with her witch side, she remembered that short vision she saw right before Kaiden arrived.

She saw something was going to attack Sebastian and she was able to warn her before a spear hit him. It was only a short vision but it was very vivid. Which can only mean one thing: her witch side might be her dominant side.

Napatingin siya ulit sa gawi ni Lorcan at nakita niyang nakangisi na ito sa gawi niya.

Then he said, "Well, looks like someone just figured out something."