Blood Secrets

The City of Stars

Agad silang nakarating sa gubat kung saan naroroon ang mga lobo. The werewolves have memorized this area like the back of their hands. They should have escaped and hid from the capturer easily. Ngunit hindi maalis sa isipan niya ang posibilidad na hindi pangkaraniwang bampira ang kinakalaban nila ngayon. Whoever he is, he has a plan.

Agad silang nilapitan ng isang babae. Matangkad ito at balingkinitan ang katawan. She was wearing the same clothes as her. Hera, part of the Moonstone pack and is also a vampire slayer.

"I'm sorry to disturb you on your day off, Nadia," hinging paumanhin nito. She just clasped her shoulder and squeezed it a bit.

"It's fine. New Year's done, anyway." She slipped her hands to the pockets of her coat. "Anything useful?"

Tumango naman si Hera. "The capturer used traps, coated in wolf's bane. You know how deadly it is for wolves."

"And they captured those who just shifted. What could be the reason for that?"

Hera nodded. "Because new shifters are fresh. They're still very healthy. I don't see what other reason could there be. What would they do with those young wolves?"

"Something evil and something big," saad ni Kaiden. "We have to prepare and we have to get those young wolves back."

Hinawakan naman ni Hera ang kamay nilang dalawa ni Kai. Hera gave a deep sigh before she said, "Thank you."

"We'll get them back," she assured her even though she isn't sure if they could. They're facing something big. Something they don't know.

Agad silang pumasok sa gubat. They reached a clearing kung saan naroon ang mga lobo, sitting around a bonfire. Some were crying, some were comforting the grieving. They were families of the young wolves that were taken.

Nang makita sila mg mga ito agad namang lumapit sa kanila ang isang babae. She looked like she's in her mid-thirties. Umiiyak ito habang hawak-hawak ang kanyang kamay.

"Please," she said and sobbed. "Please find my son." And she watched the woman sob uncontrollably as if she's been waiting to say those words. Or perhaps saying those words made everything seem more real.

Naramdaman naman niya si Kai na lumapit sa kanya at bumulong, "Let's go. I received some info which could give us some lead."

Tumango naman siya at tiningnan si Hera. "Kami na ang bahala. Your pack needs you more here."

Hera just gave them a sad smile bago sila umalis. The moment they were in the car, Kaiden told her the information he received.

"There's only one source of those traps," saad ni Kaiden. Napakunot naman ang noo niya.

"Saint Angeli. She's in Saint Angeli. And she's not a vampire but a witch."

"Saint Angeli? As in that city?"

Tumango naman si Kaiden. "Those traps were made of dark objects and made stronger by witchcraft."

"Kaiden, there are many witches in this town. Why in Saint Angeli?"

"Saint Angeli witches are the ones who have dark objects. No other witches in the country have them but the ones in St. Angeli."

She doesn't know much about Saint Angeli. All she knows is that that's where the vampire lord is. Hindi niya lang maintindihan kung anong pakay ng mga witches sa mga lobo. Are some witches working with the wolves now?

"I know you're confused too but there's only one way to find out," saad ni Kaiden and she nodded and they drove off to St. Angeli.

So much for a New Year's rest. Finally, she has found some lead na maaaring konektado sa pagkamatay ng mga magulang niya. She never once visited Saint Angeli. They never smelled trouble there. It was said that Saint Angeli is a city where vampires swarm together with witches, wolves, and humans. How it was possible, she doesn't know. But it's been said that the king of vampires is there and has been the one responsible for the peace.

She didn't believe it. Vampires are not capable of peace. They're murderers and they have no mercy. All they care about is themselves. Saint Angeli doesn't have peace. They have fear. Isang bampira ang namumuno sa kanila. Ang hari ng mga bampira. Who would dare cross them? Sa paniniwala niya, peace in Saint Angeli is an illusion.

Tatlong oras ang lumipas at nakarating sila sa syudad. It was almost four in the morning and the city was still flooded with tourists. Hindi yata natutulog ang mga tao dito. Kung siya rin lang naman nakatira dito, she wouldn't be able to sleep knowing that there are vampires roaming everywhere in the city. But then it's new year's so it makes sense why people are wide awake.

May parada pang nagaganap and she could see people dancing. Looking at them they'd look like ordinary humans dancing to an upbeat song but the truth is, there are witches and wolves and eve vampires mingling with them. Iniisip niya pa lang mga bampira gusto nangangati na ang mga kamay niya. But then, they're not going to disturb the peace in this city. They are here for one thing only and that is to find the witch. Bloodshed is unnecessary but inevitable.

Umiwas sila sa may parade dahil hindi naman nakakadaan ang sasakyan. They parked along the road at agad naman sila lumabas ng sasakyan. The air doesn't smell of vampires, surprisingly. It smelled more of liquor. Nang mapatingin siya sa likuran, doon niya nakita na isa palang bar ang pinarkingan nila. It was packed too and she could hear the singing and the rowdy music.

"Let's go, Nads," tawag ni Kai sa kanya at agad naman siyang sumunod. But before she walked, she took one last look at the bar and met the eyes of a stranger. Nakatingin ito sa kanya and she felt the hair on her neck rose. The man was tall, wearing a white shirt topped with a coat. On his hand was a glass of alcohol. Hindi nakatakas sa paningin niya ang pagtingin into sa kanya mula ulo hanggang paa. It wasn't the insulting kind. It was more like 'i'm-checking-you-out' kind. And then he tilted his head when he met her eyes again and raised his glass and offered her a small smile before he turned his back and went to his business.

"Nads?"

She was pulled back from her reverie when Kaiden called her again. Agad naman siyang sumunod dito and shook her head.

They walked to the silent part of the city which is basically alleyways. Even homeless people are absent because of the celebration. Or perhaps they have become dinner.

Lumiko sila and she could see a small shop. Bukas ito dahil kitang-kitang rin nila ang ilaw na nagmumula sa loob. Kaiden looked at her and they both nodded before going inside the shop.

Kaiden opened the door slowly and the bell gave a subtle sound just enough to catch the shop owner's attention. But the shopowner doesn't seem to be interested in customers at the time.

"We're still closed," saad nito habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa ginagawa. Tiningna niya ito at doon niya nakitang nagtatali ito ng mga dahon. Probably another ingredient for witchcraft.

"Your door was open," saad ni Kai. It was then that the witch looked at them.

"Doesn't mean I am welcome for customers." Tinitigan sila into.

"Esmeralda Calista. Elder witch of the Saint Angeli coven of witches. Do you recognize this?" Kinuha niya ang dala at inilagay iyon sa mesa ng babae. Kumunot naman ang noo into habang nakatingin sa dala niya.

"Saan niyo nakuha ito?" tanong ng babae.

"Is that yours?" tanong naman niya. She saw the woman swallow hard and then looked at them.

"This is mine indeed but I've had few things missing. Isa ito sa mga nawala."

"You mean this was stolen from you?"

The witch took the trap and studied it carefully before she nodded. "Sa akin nga ito. It's a dark object. It's normal for witches like me to have dark objects. But this one was stolen from me several weeks ago."

She inhaled sharply.

"Wala ka bang ibang alam sa kung sino ang maaaring kumuha ng mga ito sa iyo?"

Umiling ang babae at agad silang tiningnan. "Sino ba kayo? Why are you asking these questions? And why do you have this?"

Nagkatinginan naman sina Nadia at Kai. "Because we believe your dark object was used to hunt down wolves in the forest. Whoever stole that from you is also responsible for it. Kaya kami narito."

Nanliliit ang mga nito habang nakatingin sa kanila. Then her eyes went to their clothes and then back to their face.

"You're them, aren't you?" tanong ng babae. "You're the Blood Slayers."

The woman's stare turned hostile as she looked at them. And since the woman has already found out about it, she decided to nod. And besides, there is no reason for her to lie. Kaya naman inilabas niya ang punyal sa bulsa at itinutok iyon sa babae. The witch attempted to recite a spell that could either blast them or freeze, but it wasn't effective. Not when they're wearing witchcraft-proof bracelets.

"Now, please be so kind and perform a tracking spell using that device. And don't bother telling us you can't do it. We know how a tracking spell works," Kaiden said.

The woman swallowed hard and looked at them. "You would regret this day for the rest of your mortal lives."

"I don't care. I'd spend my life regretting this day if it means saving those young wolves they captured."

The woman was left with no choice but to perform the spell while she and Kaiden waited for the results. And while they wait, she couldn't shake the feeling that something really terrible is happening or about to happen. She shook her head and focused on the matters at hand. At least they'll have a clue now. And somehow, hindi niya maalis sa isip ang sinabi ng babae sa kanya.

That she will regret this day for the rest of her life.

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