Blood Secrets

To Escape And Embrace

Nadia still felt like she was floating but at least she was already conscious. Kanina, alam niyang saglit siyang nabawian ng buhay. No matter how Annabeth phrased it, she knew she was dead for a few minutes.

The Sylvaine mansion was quiet as they all lounged in the living room. Katabi niya si Kai na kanina pa nakahawak sa kamay niya na para bang anumang segundo ay bigla siyang mawala. She couldn't blame him. Not after what he had been through, witnessing her like that.

In front of them were Lorcan and Eleanor. Lorcan was swirling the contents of his glass while Eleanor was sitting next to him, crossing her arms. She could see the stains of blood on her shirt and she knew who it was from. Elijah, as usual, was standing near the fireplace. His back was on them and like Lorcan, he was also holding his glass but never drinking its contents. Annabeth stood near the window, looking outside as if the view inside was enough to make her sick. Isabela was on the other end of her sofa, holding her wrist which tells her enough that she was anxious about something. Wala siyang alam sa kung anong nangyari dito ngunit alam niyang iyon ang dahilan kung bakit ito mapakali.

Mag-aalas kuwatro na ng madaling-araw and everything that had happened earlier felt like it happened ages ago. Hindi pa rin makapaniwala na nagawa nga ni Annabeth na kunin lahat ng kanyang dugo. She could remember some of the images vividly but some of there were too murky to even remember. She had already came to terms with the fact that coven leader of the coven of three is dead and that all her magic went to her. Ayon kay Isabela, akmang papatayin ni Penelope ang dalawa nitong kasama para maging malakas para sa ritwal na gagawin nito. Ngunit biglang dumating sina August at Grey para patayin si Penelope.

They attempted to kill the remaining witches of Penelope's coven and also Isabela but the witches of St. Angeli came led by Esmeralda. Before the witches could even kill the Sylvaine twins, Sebastian snapped the two's necks and brought them to the prison cell underneath the Sylvaine mansion. Ganoon din ang ginawa kina Finn at Lauris. Isabela made a spelled rope that would make it impossible for the two to get away. And looking at them, Nadia doesn't seem to think they were inclined on escaping. Clearly, what they witnessed in the graveyard was still shocking for them. She couldn't tell if they were mourning but judging from the blank look in their eyes, she supposed they mourn in their own way.

"What are you going to do with Grey and August?" tanong ni Eleanor, breaking the think silence. The question was clearly for Sebastian and Lorcan but the two were just silent. Then Lorcan emptied his glass before he turned to look at Eleanor.

"They go back to sleep," simpleng sagot nito.

Alam niya ang kayang gawin ng mga kapatid nito. Grey and August are indeed walking nightmares. If they are left unwatched, they are dangerous. Annabeth was here to watch over them and yet even with her magic, they were useless in stopping them. It would only be a matter of time before they break free and unleash hell on Earth. Putting them back to slumber is indeed a wise choice but she also knew it would only make them worse.

Tahimik pa rin si Sebastian na para bang nag-iisip pa ito ng ibang paraan. Ngunit tila buo na ang desisyon ni Lorcan.

Hindi na ito nag-aksaya ng panahon. He finished his drink before he stood. Saka nito nilingon si Annabeth. "We better get going."

Annabeth did not say anything and just peeled herself from the window and followed Lorcan down to where the prison cell was located.

"Are you feeling alright?" tanong ni Kai sa kanya kaya naman napalingon siya rito. She gave him an assuring smile. Maliban sa kakaibang nangyari sa kanya kanina, she doesn't feel anything. Maayos naman ang pakiramdam niya. She nodded in Kaiden's direction.

Ngunit magsasalita na sana siya nang bigla na lang nanlamig ang buo niyang katawan. She felt like she was being frozen from the inside. Napatingin siya sa kanyang dibdib at labis na lang ang takot niya nang makitang nagliliwanag na naman iyon.

The sensation was familiar. Too familiar because she had felt it tonight, just a few hours ago. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit at ayaw niyang isipin ang posibilidad.

The once calm magic inside her stirred once again as her panic rose. Sinubukan niyang kalmahan ang sarili niya ngunit nahihirapan siyang gawin iyon. Lalong-lalo na nagkakagulo na rin ang paligid. She could hear Annabeth's voice as she ran back to her. Nanlalaki ang mga mata nito habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"Finn and Lauris," Isabela rasped. And then it all dawned on her. She doesn't want to acknowledge it but hearing Isabela say the words made it more real somehow. Lorcan and Sebastian disappeared in the living room in an instant.

She tried to do what she did earlier but then memories came flooding in. This time, a lot stronger than earlier and a lot more. She heard voices she doesn't recognize and saw faces she was unfamiliar with. All of them were all pouring into her that she held her head and screamed as it had become too overwhelming.

Ngunti hindi rin nagtagal iyon. Maybe because she had done it before that the second time was a lot easier. She was panting for air the moment she was done and her eyes searched for Kai. Nanlalaki ang mga mata nitong nakatingin sa kanya at ramdam niya rin ang panginginig ng kamay nito.

"Nadia," he called.

Her throat was dry and she felt like she hadn't had any water in ages. But she forced herself to mutter the words she needed to say next.

"Finn and Lauris are dead," she said. Narinig niya ang pagsinghap ni Isabela sa tabi niya. Her eyes went to Annabeth.

"You're the only one left in your coven, Nadia," Annabeth said. "What you possess is a very strong form of magic. Magic that belonged to the dark witch herself."

She doesn't know if it was a bad thing or not. But the look on Annabeth's face shows it's the former.

"Too much of this power--"

Hindi na nito natuloy ang nais nitong sabihin nang bigla nalang naroon sina Lorcan at Sebastian. They were holding ropes and the look on their faces tells them enough what happened. Alam niya agad kung anong nangyari bago pa man sabihin ng mga ito.

"Grey and August are gone. And they're the ones who killed Finn and Lauris," Sebastian said as he dropped the bloodied ropes on the floor.

***

Aside from the nauseating feeling she had, she doesn't feel anything different. Although if she focuses hard enough, she could feel the magic coursing through her veins. She could almost taste it. In fact, if she were to describe what would it taste like, she would say it is something bitter but then it's the kind of bitter you get used to later on.

Hindi siya sigurado kung dahil iyon sa mga karanasan nina Finn, Lauris, at Penelope na ngayon ay nasa kanya na. From the memories she had acquired, she could tell they're old. It made her wonder how long they have lived.

"Nads," someone called from the door. Agad naman siyang napalingon at nakitang si Kaiden iyon. She gave him a small smile before she motioned him to enter. They share the same room but they never had the chance to sleep together on the same bed dahil na rin sa mga kaganapan sa kanilang paligid. But now that everything has been solved, they're going to get a good night's sleep.

Although she wouldn't be too sure. Grey and August got away and from the stories she heard, it's not a good idea for them to be out in the open.

"How is it going?" she asked. Right after Sebastian announces that the twins have escaped the prison, agad siyang umakyat sa kanyang kwarto. With the magic of the coven of the three now inside of her, it took a toll on her energy. Pakiramdam niya ay nabubuhay sa kanya ang alaala ng tatlo but Isabela said it was normal. Over time, it would disappear. The magic would become her own and not someone else's. She doesn't know if she wanted to relish that idea.

"They're still going at it. Annabeth and Isabela are working on a much stronger tracking spell that would locate the twins," answered Kai. She sensed that there is something more he has to say so she raised her brows.

"I sense a but." The moment she said it, she heard Kai sigh as he sat on the bed next to her.

"Sebastian suspects that before the twins killed Finn and Lauris, they made them put a cloaking spell on them. Kaya nahihirapan sina Annabeth na hanapin sila."

She nodded. "Normally, as much as I know, if the one who cast the spell dies, the spell will be gone too. But since their magic didn't die with them, the cloaking spell is still working and is covering the tracks of August and Grey."

Tumango si Kai at napahilot sa sentido. "If this continues, the headquarters are going to get involved. Hindi sila maaaring makisali, Nads. I already talked to the higher-ups but they couldn't make a promise."

Bigla naman siyang na lamig sa sinabi ng lalaki. If the blood slayers get involved, they would not hesitate to kill the Sylvaine twin rippers. If the headquarters somehow managed to kill them, the rest of the Sylvaines will not stand still. Gaya ng sinabi niya noon, no matter how hard it is for them to like each other, the Sylvaines would kill anyone who destroys their family.

"They would have no problem killing everyone from the headquarters, Kai."

Kai nodded as though he, too, knows it was something bound to happen if they don't find a way around it.

"Perhaps you should try and convince them more. Tell them we got it taken care of."

Napatingin naman si Kai sa kanya at tumango. He leaned to give her a quick kiss on the lips before he passed out on the bed. Napatingin naman siya sa pinto at hindi na siya nag-aksaya ng panahon. Agad siyang bumaba at napatingin kina Isabela at Annabeth na nakatayo sa paligid ng mesa. They looked at her as soon as they noticed she was there.

"Where are the others?" tanong niya. She couldn't see any signs of Lorcan, Sebastian, or Eleanor.

"They're out meeting with the council to decide what could be done with this current situation," said Isabela. Napakunot naman ang noo niya sa sinabi nito.

"Council. You're the coven leader so why are you here?" tanong niya rito. Nagpakawala nalang ito ng buntong-hininga.

"I was stripped of that title."

"So the new coven leader is..."

"Our ancestors put Esmeralda back as the coven leader."

There was no hint of regret or hatred in Isabela's voice. There was just pure acceptance.

"I've been thinking," she started. "Since the magic of the coven of the three is now in me, I thought if it would be possible if I practice and try to undo the cloaking spell that covers their tracks?"

Nakatingin sa kanya ang dalawang witch. Then Annabeth was shaking her head. "It would take months to practice a spell like that. At isa pa, hindi mo pa masyadong alam ang kapangyarihan na nasa iyo. You have a very strong magic in you, Nadia. If we dont use that right, something really, really bad would happen to you."

"How else should we do this, then? Wait until you track them? They have a cloaking spell and the magic that did it is in me. Teach how to grab hold of it and undo the spell. The more they spend time out in the open, the more innocent people will be in danger. Surely, you know exactly what they can do, Annabeth."

A flash of worry crossed Annabeth's eyes and she knew she had convinced her.

Kaya naman hindi na siya nagulat sa sunod na sinabi ng babae.

"Sit down and close your eyes."