Blood Secrets

From None To Many

She doesnt remember how long she stayed lying on the ground. She might have passed out and came back to being conscious, she's not sure. Ang tanging alam niya na sigurado siya ay maaaring ito na ang huli niyang mga sandali.

Isabela wanted to fight. But she couldn't even move a finger even with all the mental talks she had with herself earlier to encourage herself. Kung sabagay, dinurog na ni Penelope ang buto mula sa kanyang pulsohan papunta sa kanyang mga daliri. Penelope was making sure she won't be able to fight back. Hindi niya mapigilang tumawa sa naisip.

"Breaking my hand so you would get the upper hand," she said. Although each breath was an effort. Does she have a broken rib too? "Were you thinking I could best you when it comes to spells that you had to take that from me?"

Ngunit sa halip na mainis ay nakita lang niya si Penelope na nakatingin pa rin sa kanya. Walang emosyon ang mukha nito. She isn't sure if it's better than the wrath she rarely shows.

"I don't underestimate you, Isabela, inaamin ko 'yan. If I am going to perform the ritual, it would be without you free to use your hand as you wish to stop me. So I am removing you of that ability. Pansamantala lang naman," sabi nito. "Or not."

She bristled at the sound of delight lacing her voice. These witches are wicked. Witches should be wicked but these three in front of her are on a different level. Kung sabagay, ano ba pang aasahan niya? They were the descendants of the dark witch after all. That witch was wicked enough to curse humans to become an entirely different species. But then she thought of Nadia. It's either she hasn't tapped that magic sleeping inside of her or she's just different from her relatives. As a witch, it's easy for her to see through the person. She could see the coven of three as merciless and ruthless. But all she could see in Nadia was her desire to protect Kai, the only person important to her life right now. Something deep inside her was jealous of that kind of dedication.

"Maybe you three are better off dead," she said. She knows she's walking on thin ice but she doesn't care anymore. Kung mamamatay man lang siya, she might as well inflict as much damage as she could manage. In her case, since she couldn't move her hands and use spells, she's hoping she will be able to damage them with her sharp words.

"Perhaps you ancestors--or maybe the dark witch herself likes Nadia to be the sole owner of her magic. Dahil kung hindi, she would have killed Nadia a long time ago. And yet she let her live this long."

Nakita niyang tumigas ang ekspresyon sa mukha ni Penelope but either she's too good at masking her emotions now or it just didn't affect her. But her jaw clenching was enough encouragement for Isabela.

"Or perhaps she was allowed to live this long just so we could kill her." Penelope's voice was laced with indifference but she knows she was getting riled up.

Isabela let out a mocking chuckle. It was an effort but she manage enough to say her next words, "Perhaps. But Nadia is not someone who would just sit and wait. You're probably already aware of what she's doing now. Risking her life so you wouldn't succeed. Imagine what else she could do if she learns more about spells and magic." Napangisi siya nang makitang nag-iba na ang timpla sa mukha ni Penelope.

The next thing she felt was the blinding pain on her side followed by her agonizing scream and labored breathing. She's certain Penelope had broken some of her ribs this time.

"What are you trying to say?" Penelope asked with every emphasis on the word. She could have sworn she tasted blood in her mouth but that doesn't matter.

Despite the pain, she managed a smirk. "Did you think the spell was only to make the blood moon?"

Nakakunot ang noo ni Penelope habang nakatinigin sa kanya, waiting for her to say what she's supposed to say next.

"It wasn't just to turn the moon red, Penelope. It was also a spell for her to wake up the witch magic inside of her. When that happens, that would mean she would be as strong as you three. Which also means you have to keep moving now especially since the moon had returned to normal a few minutes ago."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Penelope at napatingin sa langit. Narinig niya itong nagmura bago dali-daling tumakbo papunta sa altar na gawa sa bato. She gave Lauris and Finn a mocking grin and the two just glared at her. Pakiramdam niya ay malapit na siyang mawalan ng malay. It is not a good idea to lose consciousness especially when your enemies are around. But she fought. It's what she is: a fighter.

She looked at where Isabela was standing and she was already pouring the vials of blood into the altar. Nakatitig ito sa kanya bago sinabing, "Patayin niyo siya."

Hindi nagdalawang-isip sina Finn at Lauris na pilitin siyang tumayo. Hindi niya alam kung paano siya papatayin ng dalawa but she doesn't find the will to care for that anymore. Perhaps it's what happens when you know you're about to die. You don't look forward to the future anymore--if the coven of three will be successful or not. She doesn't look forward to using more spells to maintain the balance of the supernatural world. She just stopped...hoping. And it was what accepting death feels like to her.

Finn and Lauris were dragging her harshly but she felt like she was being held carefully. Kaya naman ay natutukso talaga siyang isara ang kanyang mga mata.

But then she felt their hands leave her dahilan para bumagsak siya sa lupa. She groaned in pain. Her body sent jolts of pain and she doesn't know what was happening. She fought hard enough to open her eyes once again and she could see a familiar face.

Hindi niya alam kung anong ginagawa ng lalaking 'yon doon but as she opened her eyes wider, she saw exactly Sebastian's fangs sunk into Finn's neck. On his other hand, Sebastian was holding Lauris on his neck. She could tell it was tight enough for him not to talk about whatever he knows.

When Sebastian knows drinking from the witch's blood, he took out a handkerchief from his coat and wiped it around his mouth. The white handkerchief had been stained with blood. Fresh blood.

Napatingin naman si Sebastian sa isang witch na hawak niya.

"Leave him alone!" shouted Penelope. Before she could even warn Sebastian, bigla nalang itong napaluhod sa lupa habang hawak-hawak ang ulo. She saw Penelope raising her hands and she knew exactly what was happening. Narinig na lang niyang napasigaw sa sakit si Sebastian.

Finn was lying unconscious on the ground as he was just bitten. Habang si Lauris naman ay halos naghihikahos pa dahil sa pagkasakal ni Sebastian dito kanina. She knew it would only be a matter of time before they would recover and Kill Sebastian.

She is not good enough of a witch to use spells without her hands. And with her current state, she couldn't do any spells. Nang mapatingin siya sa gawi ni Penelope ay nakita niyang madali lang nitong napapaluhod si Sebastian habang patuloy ito sa ginagawa kanina sa altar. Alam niyang naghihintay lang itong makabawi na sina Lauris at Finn bago nito ipagpapatuloy ang naudlot na ritwal. Penelope is running out of time too as the moon was about to be covered by the clouds. Alam ni Penelope ang kanyang sitwasyon kaya naman hindi ito nagdalawang-isip na ibuhos ang lakas nito para baliin ang leeg ni Sebastian.

Isabela heard the snap quite loudly and she knew it would take some time for Sebastian to regain consciousness.

"No," she muttered as she could see Sebastian's temporarily lifeless body lying on the ground. Lauris and Finn were still unconscious but she could see Penelope going on with the ritual. However, as she looked closer, she realized Penelope wasn't doing what she was supposed to do. Instead, she was chanting a spell Isabela is quite familiar with.

Nang malaman niya kung anong klaseng spell ang ginagamit ni Penelope ay hindi siya makapaniwalang napatingin sa babae. Penelope's eyes were cold and distant. Very different from the eyes she saw earlier when she protected Lauris and Finn.

"How could you do this to your coven?" she asked.

"Our main goal is to rid this world of vampires. This is what I needed to do to be strong enough to complete the ritual. This is what they would have wanted me to do," sagot naman ni Penelope.

She looked in horror at Lauris and Finn's unconscious bodies. Nakikita niyang unti-unting nag-iiba ang kulay ng balat ng mga ito--a sign of dying as Penelope was taking their life force, taking it all for her own. She didn't like Lauris and Finn but at that very moment, she felt sorry for them. Sinusunod nila ang mga utos ni Penelope. They have trusted her with their lives but she doesn't think Penelope has the right to decide for them when they should die.

Hindi niya alam kung anong ginagawa niya. One moment, she was lying helplessly on the ground and the next moment, she was sitting and closing her eyes, willing herself to summon the magic in her. Masakit ang kamay niya. Pakiramdam niya ay sapat na ang sakit na iyon para himatayin siya ngunit nilalabanan niya ito. The colors of Lauris and Finn's skin have turned from lively to dull. It ran from the tips of their fingers up to the length of their arms. It would only be a matter of time before it would spread to their whole bodies.

She doesn't know what she's doing but there was only one thing in her mind and that is to save Lauris and Finn. Iyon lang ang tanging paraan para matalo niya si Penelope. So she reached for that dee magic inside of her. Clutching it tight. Mahirap iyon ngunit nagawa niya rin kalaunan. The spell came to her before she could even think about it. She likes to think it was because of her ancestor's help but it would be impossible. What she's doing now is against what they wanted her to do.

Nagpatuloy siya sa kanyang ginagawa and that's when she heard the spell from her own mouth.

"Phasmatos vita impello tenebria magus."

Her mouth repeated the spell many times and when she opened her eyes, she could see the dullness had stopped spreading in Lauris and Finn's arms. Napatingin siya sa gawi ni Penelope at masama itong nakatingin sa kanya. Before she could even think of what to do next, life was knocked out of her lungs and she fell to the ground once again.

Her ribs were still broken and her breathing was ragged. Pakiramdam niya ay mabibilang na niya ang hininga niya. But she refused to give up. Not just yet. Kaya naman sinubukan niyang bumangon ngunit tila may nakapako sa kanyang mga braso dahilan para hindi siya makagalaw.

Napatingin siya sa gilid niya nang mapansing gumalaw sina Lauris at Finn. They were gaining consciousness. Hindi na nag-aksaya ng panahon si Penelope at agad na ipinagpatuloy ang pagkuha nito sa mahika ng kanyang mga kasama. Agad namang napansin iyon nina Finn at Lauris. They looked in horror to Penelope's direction.

"Penelope," said Lauris. The tone of his voice was laced with disbelief as he realized what Penelope was doing. She let out a chuckle dahilan para mapatingin sa gawi niya sina Finn at Lauris.

"She's going to take your lives if you let her," she said weakly although she was certain they heard her say it.

Nakita naman niyang napalunok si Finn bago napatingin sa gawi ni Penelope. There was something in his eyes that looked unmistakenly like acceptance...and defeat.

"She may be your coven leader but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to follow her. Kaya niyo siyang talunin dalawa," pangungumbinsi niya ngunit sa nakikita niya sa mga mata nito, they don't look like they're keen on going against Penelope.

"We are bound. Our loyalty is only to her and we shall do whatever she wanted to do. If she wishes to take our lives then we believe it is for the best," said Finn. Although there was conviction in his voice, she could sense the deep sadness in it. She wasn't supposed to feel sorry and yet here she is.

With a long grunt, she forced herself to stand. Tiningnan niya ang dalawa sa mata.

"You two are probably my most hated duo but I won't stand by and let her take away your lives."

Bago pa man siya mapigilan ng mga ito, isinara na niya ang kanyang mga mata. She tried reaching for that magic she felt earlier but all she could see was a blank slate. There was nothing for her to grab on to. She was drained and she knew she couldn't do anything about it.

Binuksan niya ang kanyang mga mata at nakitang nakatingin sa kanya ang dalawa.

"I..." she wasn't able to finish what she was about to say when she saw Lauris shaking his head. She could see his whole arms were already dull.

"You have no business with this, witch. Just leave her be. After this, Penelope will be powerful enough to do the spell by herself--"

"Like hell I would let that happen."

Isinara niya ulit ang kanyang mga mata at sumubok ulit ngunit walang saysay iyon. She was panicking and the two must have seen it too. Napatingin siya sa kulay abo na unti-untin sumasakop sa katawan ng mga ito. They're dying and they're not doing anything about it.

"Screw you and your blind loyalty," she muttered as her eyes followed the dull magic now going to their necks.

Lauris and Finn sat there, waiting for their death.

"Do you want this?" she asked.

"If it is what Penelope wants--"

"Do you want this?"

Tahimik ang dalawa and for a brief moment, she saw regret flashed their eyes.

"Just as I thought," she said. "It's not too late."

Finn let out a bitter smile. Something she wasn't expecting to see. "It's too late, witch."

The dull magic has reached their mouth and then their nose. B

But just as it was about to reach their eyes, the magic stopped. And then the dull magic was starting to recede and then disappear. Napatingin siya saw gawi ni Penelope at nagulat nalang siya sa nakita niya doon.

August was holding Penelope's neck and lifted her a few inches from the ground, while Grey was standing next to the limp body of Penelope, holding Penelope's heart.

Nang magtapo ang mga mata nila ni Grey, the vampire smiled and tossed Penelope's heart to the ground before he said, "She was too focused on you that she forgot to watch out for her back."

And then he licked the blood coating his fingers as though it was the most delicious blood he had tasted his whole life.

The Rippers are here. She couldn't move and the witches next to her were too shocked to even say something. Sebastian was still unconscious and she knew that against the Sylvaine Rippers, they wouldn't stand a chance.