Blood Secrets

Hybrid Trouble

Hindi mapakali si Nadia at alam niyang normal lang na ganoon ang mararamdaman niya. Some strong witches are planning to end her life and use it to end the vampire race. Base sa sinabi ni Isabela sa kanila, the ritual will happen during the full moon as the witches needed to use a strong external force to do the ritual. The full moon happens tomorrow and she's getting nervous with each passing second.

Isabela linked her life to her so whatever happens to the other, happens to both. Although it ensures that Isabela will not try and kill her for sure, she couldn't say she's fond of the arrangement. Isabela could die out there and the same thing would happen to her. Damned anxiety--

She almost jumped on her feet when she heard her phone ring. Agad niya itong kinuha mula sa mesa at sinagot.

"Hera," she said. Narinig naman niyang napabuntong-hininga si Hera sa kabilang linya.

"Ano itong narinig ko mula kay Kai na may nagtatangka sa buhay mo?"

She closed his eyes firmly. She had forgotten about the headquarters. The past few days have been full of shocking revelations that she could barely deal with. And she forgot how talkative Kai could be especially when it comes to her safety. He was probably asking for the headquarters' assistance. Ngunit kahit ba gaano karami ang gamit nila, alam niyang hindi uubra ang mga iyon sa kalaban nila ngayon. Blood slayers were meant to slay vampires, not witches.

"I got involved with the mess," she answered. Narinig naman niyang tumahimik ang kabilang linya. It was a sign that Hera was listening and is waiting for her to say more. She doesn't know how much information Kai told her but she figured she's done lying to the people close to her.

"I just found out recently that I am a wolf," she said. Alam na iyon ni Hera at wala na itong reaksyon. Somehow, parang alam na nitong may iba pa siyang gustong sabihin. So she took another deep breath. "And I just recently found out after that that I am also a witch."

This time, narinig niyang nahigit ni Hera ang hininga. "Nadia," Hera called. "How--how did this happen?"

"I found out my mother was indeed killed by a vampire named Vancel Kimber and she was his last kill. Saw her name on Vancel's personal journal of people he had killed. My mom's name was there. Pero hindi ko nakita ang pangalan ng ama ko. And then came these three witches who wishes to use me as a foundation to make a prison world for the vampires. Turns out, I am the most qualified to be their anchor as apparently, I am one of the descendants of the dark witch who made the very first vampires."

She could already imagine Hera's face as she revealed all the information she has learned so far.

"That's--"

"Intense? Overwhelming? Yes, I know," patuloy niya sa nais nitong sabihin.

"So you are a half-wolf and half-witch?"

She nodded as though Hera could see her. "I am. And honestly, I don't really know what to make of it. I mean, what does that make me? Am I a hybrid?"

"By definition, yes you are. But this is just the first time I have encountered someone who is half-wolf and half-witch. Although, hybrids are a rare kind indeed."

Pumasok naman sa isip niya si Lorcan nang mabanggit ni Hera ang katagang hybrid. She shook her thoughts away.

"Kai asked for my help and I am doing my best to find ways to help you--"

"Hera," she called and Hera stopped talking. "I don't think this is something the headquarters have something against. These are witches. We are not trained to kill witches."

"What do you want me to do?"

She swallowed hard as she prepared herself to say something. "If something happens to me--"

"Nothing is going to happen to you, Nadia," she said with so much conviction she also almost believed it too. "I hate the vampires and I certainly hate the Sylvaines but between them and these witches, I would root for them. Because I know at this point, they're the only ones who could help you the most."

Hindi siya makapaniwala sa sinasabi ni Hera. Hera, just like her, is also someone with a deep hatred toward vampires. And to hear her siding with the vampires is saying something.

Although she supposed the same thing could be said to her too. Before she met the Sylvaines, she had been doing a good job being a blood slayer. Ngunit simula nang masama siya sa gulo bg pamilyang ito, she found herself working with them. Gusto niyang kumbinsihin ang sarili na dahil iyon sa katotohanang may mga impormasyong alam si Lorcan na gusto niya ring malaman. And the only way for her to know it is to work with him. She doesnt know until when will she get involved with this mess. Or maybe the better question is: will she ever be free of this mess?

Nalamam niyang hindi siya isang tao. Can someone like her live normally? Being a supernatural would mean she would be a target for any kind of trouble. And being one of the descendants of the dark witch at that, she's surprised the Sylvaine siblings have not snapped her neck yet.

"Nadia," Hera called her on the other line. "Please stay safe."

Napangiti siya sa sinabi nito. Hera also knows that the headquarters can't do anything about her situation.

"I will, Hera," she said before she dropped the call. Ngunit matapos niyang sabihin ang mga katagang iyon ay mas lalo lang bumigat ang pakiramdam niya. She is a far cry from safe. Living under the same roof with the Sylvaines was crazy enough. Idagdag pa na may dalawang Sylvaines na nakakulong sa ibaba. And there are three witches wanting to kill her to they could have the full magic of the dark witch. Kung pwede lang sana niysng ibigay ang kapangyarihan niya sa mga ito, matagal na niyang ginawa para wala nang gulo.

Ngunit hindi ganoon kadali ang bagay na iyon. She actually had to die so the witches get what they want.

A knock sounded that almost made her jump to her feet. Nang lumingon siya sa gawi ng pintuan ay nakita niyang nakatayo na doon si Lorcan. He didn't even wait for her to answer and he was already walking inside her room. Her hands were behind him as though he was hiding something.

Tumigil ang lalaki sa paglalakad at humarap sa kanya. He gave her a small smile before he gave her a look from head to foot. She tried not to get insulted by the look he was giving her.

She tossed her phone to the bed and crossed her arms. "Anong ginagawa mo rito?" tanong niya. But Lorcan gave her an incredulous look.

"Have you forgotten, love, that this is my house?"

"Doesn't mean you can barge right in your guest's room, right?"

Ngumisi si Lorcan sa gawi niya but despite the swagger and the conceit, she could sense Lorcan wants to say something. And true to her observation, nakita niyang biglang naging seryoso ang mukha ng lalaki habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"How are you feeling?" tanong nito.

Hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin siya sa lalaki. Did he just ask her how she is? Lorcan Sylvaine.

Tila napansin naman ni Lorcan ang gulat sa mukha niya. Ngumiti ito.

"Either you have never heard me talk before or I said something wrong."

"Both, actually. You don't strike me as someone who would ask me if I was alright. And you did say something wrong because that was not what you were supposed to say."

Nakita niyang bahagyang tumaas ang kilay ng lalaki habang nakatingin sa kanya. "What am I suppose to say?" His voice now was lower. Tila nanghahamon.

"Just...just go back to your normal threatening 'I-will-kill-you-if-you-defy-me' thing."

"Ah. But I couldn't possibly kill you, love. After all, you're the only person who could help us." Then he placed a dramatic hand on his mouth as though he said something wrong and he just regretted it. But she knows better.

"I forgot you're not human. Should I have said half-wolf and half-witch?"

Alam niya ang ginagawa nito. He's riling her up for reasons she doesn't know. Or maybe this is just who he is.

"What do you want, Lorcan?" she asked.

Lorcan roamed his eyes around before he said, "Where's Kaiden?"

"If you're looking for him, you can find him with Sebastian."

Nagkibit-balikat naman si Lorcan bago ito naglakad papuntsla sa upuan na naroon at naupo. He crosses his legs and looked at her.

"Back to my question: how are you feeling?"

Nakakunot pa rin ang noo niya habang nakatingin sa lalaki. It was then that Lorcan let out a sigh.

"You just discovered you are a half-witch. A descendant of the dark witch at that. I would imagine you feel quite shocked. Or scared." The way he said the last words make her skin crawl. She is indeed scared. Scared of her identity. Scared of what she can do. Scared of him.

"You're scared of me," he said as though he confirmed it with one look from her.

Alam niyang alam na iyon ng lalaki at wala na ring saysay kung magsisinungaling pa siya. Ngunit ano naman dito kung takot siya?

"Did you come here to gloat? Asserting your dominance that you're the strongest here and that everybody should be scared—"

Hindi na niya natapos ang nais niyang sabihin namg bigla na lang nasa harapan na niya si Lorcan. She hated how fast vampires can be.

Lorcan was too near and she staggered back. Ngunit patuloy ang lalaki sa paglalakad papalapit sa kanya hanggang sa wala na siyang maatrasan at napaupo siya sa bedside table. Lorcan did not smile.

"I don't think you are even afraid of me, Nadia. Because if you are, you wouldn't be able to talk to me. I have threatened your life several times. I have threatened you to leave and yet here you are." He smiled before he raised his hand and touched her face. His hand was cold and she jolted at his touch. "I think you're most afraid of what you truly are, love. And as a fellow hybrid, I wouldn't tell you it's okay because it is not." He caressed her face and as much as she wanted to back away, she couldn't. "The world will treat you as an abomination and at the same time, fear you. It is up to you which of the two you will delight in. I delight in both." Another smile from him.

Lorcan was impossibly close and she doesn't know where to focus: to his distance or to the words he just said.

Words left her and she felt like her mouth had been frozen. When she finally found the words she wanted to say, someone barged inside her room.

Mabilis pa sa kidlat siyang lumayo sa lalaki while Lorcan remained standing there before he turned his head to the door as though he couldn't care less whoever it was.

Kaiden was standing by the door with his brows furrowed. Nakatingin ito sa kanilang dalawa. Hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin sa lalaki. Ngunit bago pa man siya makapagsalita ay naunahan na siya nito.

"Leave her alone, Lorcan," he said. His voice was low.

Lorcan let out a low chuckle before he turned to face Kai fully. His hands behind him.

"Kaiden," he said. "You've had several trips and almost trips to the afterlife. Has it dulled your sense of humor?"

"I am not joking right now, Lorcan." And indeed, Kai's face was grave and serious as he was looking at Lorcan. "Leave her alone."

She could imagine Lorcan was smirking in her direction but she did not dare interfere. Narinig niyang bahagyang tumawa si Lorcan bago ito naglakad papalapit kay Kai. She was scared of what he might do to her boyfriend and she was relieved when he only stood an arm's length away from him.

"Very well, Kaiden," Lorcan said before he walked out of the room.