Blood Secrets

An Intense Magic

By the time the sun had risen, the main door in the Sylvaine mansion burst open. Agad siyang napatayo at ganoon din ang mga kasama niya. Saka naman niya nakita sina Lorcan at Sebastian na naglalakad papasok. Lorcan was dragging an unconscious Grey while Sebastian was carrying August over his shoulder.

Hindi siya sigurado kung anong nangyari at humanton sa ganoon ang lahat ngunit alam niyang hindi naging maganda iyon base na rin sa ekspresyon ng dalawa.

"Bloody saints," muttered Eleanor as she stood on the stairs. "What did you do to them?"

"Nothing worse as what they had planned to do, Eleanor, trust me," saad ni Lorcan bago tumingin sa gawi kung saan siya nakatayo. But his eyse landed on Annabeth. "I might need your magic to tie them down."

Hindi na nito hinintay pang makapagsalita si Annabeth. Agad itong naglakad papunta sa likuran ng hagdanan kung saan mayroong nakatagong pinto. Behind the door is a set of stairs that leads to a basement. She had some time exploring the whole mansion and she couldn't sleep. Kaya ginamit niya ang oras niya magliwaliw sa loob ng mansyon. Eleanor was confident enough she won't be stupid as to burn the house or perhaps she just didn't care.

The reason she couldn't sleep was because she felt adrenaline inside her. Mahirap ang naging proseso ng paggamit niya ng mahika. It took all of her concentration and her energy that right after she did it, it left everything inside her in chaos. Na para bang matapos niyang hawakan ang mahikang nakatago sa kanya ay tila ba hindi na ito mapakali. She could feel it bumping inside of her, making a mess that made her fidgety and anxious.

Napansin iyon ni Isabela kanina kaya naman sinabihan siya nitong kailangan niya munang magpahangin. Sinunod niya ang sinabi ng babae at naglakad-lakad sa loob ng mansyon. It was still dark outside so she settled inside the mansion. Thankfully, the anxiousness was gone and she found herself back in the room she shared with Kai. Nakita niyang mahimbing pa ring natutulog ang lalaki. She was about to turn her back when she heard him move. Nang tingnan niya ito ay nakatingin na ito sa kanya at nakangiti.

"Come here," he had said. Napangiti naman siya sa lalaki at nilapitan ito. Isiniksik niya ang sarili kay Kai and his arms wrapped around her protectively. Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na hininga.

"You didn't sleep," said Kai as he pressed his lips on top of her head. "What's wrong?"

Tiningnan niya ang lalaki at nginitian. "You won't believe what I did earlier."

Nakita niyang tumaas ang kilay ng lalaki habang nakatingin sa kanya. He then shifted and rested his head on his fist before he said, "Enlighten me."

SInabi niya sa lalaki ang ginawa niya. Kung paano siya tinuruan ni Annabeth at Isabela kung paano gamitin ang kapangyarihan niya. Being the remaining descendant of the dark witch, she could feel the magic so powerful and ancient inside of her, pulsing with every breath. He told Kai everything and he listened carefully. At first, she had seen the look of worry that crossed his face but then it changed to something that looked more like pride.

"You did that in a matter of hours?" he asked

She nodded. Nakita naman niyang napangisi ang lalaki sa gawi niya. "You're one badass witch."

By the time they've had enough of each other, they went down to the living room where they saw Annabeth and Isabela still sitting there. They sat there until Lorcan and Sebastian arrived with the unconscious Grey and August.

"What are they going to do?" she asked and Isabela shrugged.

"Making sure they won't escape."

"Are they going to make them...desiccate again?"

Natahimik ang paligid and she knew that even if Isabela don't answer that question, they were thinking the same thing. Grey and August will be once again be put to sleep for another century or centuries.

Being a vampire is bad for them. Blood is bad for them. The more they drink, the crazier they become. And if they don't drink, their cravings for blood would become stronger.

"Grey and August will be put to sleep," said Eleanor, still standing on the stairs. Nakatingin lang ito sa pinto bago tumingin sa gawi nila. "If we let them roam free, it's going to be like having death incarnates walking along with the city, taking every life they want."

Looking at Eleanor, she could have sworn she saw some kind of emotion crossing her eyes but it was gone as soon as it came. "This is the best way to control them," Eleanor continued to tell them but it sounded more like she was convincing herself more than them.

Hindi na ito naghintay na makapagsalita pa sila. Eleanor walked straight back upstairs and she couldn't mistake it. Eleanor is sad to see his other brothers being treated like that. Ngunit wala na silang magagawa. Letting Grey and August free would probably be like letting hell on earth. The people wouldn't stand a chance. Not against two psychotic Sylvaine vampires.

Naramdaman niya ang paghigpit ng kamay ni Kai sa kamay. She squeezed it back before she leaned on his shoulder and she felt him kiss the top of her head.

"Don't feel bad, Nads," sabi ng lalaki and she nodded.

Grey had almost killed her. August almost killed Kai. And yet somehow, deep down inside her she felt bad for the twins.

They were once humans. And the dark witch cursed them to become vampires. To become creatures that feed on human blood. She could almost imagine the disgust they felt to themselves as they realize they need to feed on blood to survive. What was it like for them? Hindi nila ginusto na maging bampira sila. Their father was the one who hunted witches and the witch took revenge on them instead. It was unfair. What happened to Grey and August was not their fault. It was the dark witch and her magic. It was the magic that now resides inside of her.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she finally felt sleepy. But right after she went back to sleep, she had decided on something she thought she could do to help. It sounded insane and perhaps it was just her sleepiness that the plan sounded brilliant at the same time.

Before she could even entertain the thought more, she was already fast asleep.

***

Nagising na lang siya na nasa kwarto na. She didn't know how long she was asleep but judging from the faint glow of the sunset outside the window, she knew she slept for a long time. Her stomach grumbled and she was quickly on her feet.

Ngunit bago pa man siya makapaglakad papunta sa pintuam ay nahagip ng mga mata niya ang isang papel sa tabi ng kanyang kama. She picked up the thin paper and read the note.

Nads,

I will be out to meet with Hera and the rest at the headquarters. I need to warn them that they shouldn't get involved with this. I told Sebastian about it and he swore that the people at the headquarters will be untouched if they don't meddle with this mess. I will try to talk to the higher-ups about this too.

Try not to miss me too much while I'm gone. I will be there as soon as I am finished here.

PS. I didn't wake you up because you deserve some good sleep. Promise I'll be back soon.

I love you.

She closed her eyes as she stopped her tears from falling. She's already missing him. Huminga siya ng malalim bago binasa ulit ang liham na sinulat ni Kai. Hindi niya alam kung ilang araw mawawala ang lalaki ngunit pinagdarasal niya na sana hindi masyadong matagal. Ngunit alam niya rin kung gaano kahirap kumbinsihin ang mga nakatataas sa kanila. Kai said he's going to convince them but that doesnt mean theres a guarantee that they will be convinced.

She dreaded he possibility but she couldnt do anything about it. Agad naman niyang kinuha ang telepono at tinawagan si Kai. At first ring, he answered thhe phone.

"Hey, baby," he said and she bit her lower lip to stop herself from grinning.

She cleared her throat and said, "I'm awake now and I've read your note."

"How was your sleep?"

Napangiti siya. "Good, thanks to you."

Sa kabilang linya naririnig niya ang busina ng sasakyan. Nagmamaneho ito.

"How long before you get there?"

"About an hour or so. Hera had already told the higher-ups about it. They just needed to hear more to finally be able to make a decision."

"Well, I hope they make a wise one."

"I hope so too, Nads."

Napahiga siya ulit sa kama at ipinikit ang kanyang mga mata. "I miss you already," she said. Narinig naman niya ang mahinang tawa nito sa kabilang linya.

"I am missing you too. But I will be back before you know it. You better have some witchy tricks you show me once I'm back." She could almost see the teasing grin he had on his face as she chuckled.

"You should look forward to it," she said, still smiling before she put the phone down. Nakangiti siya habang nakatingin sa kisame. But then the needing struck and she fell down instantly as soon as she realized it would take Kai several days to be back. Hindi pa niya kailanman naramdaman ang ganitong klaseng emosyon. At that moment, she needed Kai more than she needed him in the past.

Hindi siya sigurado kung dahil ba iyon sa mga nangyari nitong mga nakaraang araw kaya hindi na niya ito nakikita masyado. But then the need was so strong that she rolled to the side of the bed and smelled the pillows.

It smelled like him and she buried her face in it, thinking he was there next to her. His hands gently explored her body and his mouth trailing kisses over her lips, her jaw, her neck, and then down, down, and down—

Napasinghap siya at bigla na lang napabangon nang makarinig siya ng pagkatok sa pinto.

Her eyes were wide as she looked at the threshold only to see Lorcan leaning against the doorframe and looking at her with genuine interest. There was a hint of a smirk on his mouth and for a moment she just wanted to bury herself under the sheets.

"Something wrong?" she asked and Lorcan did not answer right away. He crossed his arms and looked at her.

"Where is Kaiden going?" he asked. Of course, he knew Kai has gone off somewhere. Vampires and their impeccable sense of hearing.

"Just to convince the headquarters not to meddle in this business," she answered. Lorcan let out a scoff before he dropped his hands to his sides and walked straight to the sofa near the window. He sat there, making himself comfortable as he was still looking at her.

"Something like that shouldn't even have the need of convincing. If your headquarters are smart enough, they would know it is never wise to meddle with a vampire's business. Especially the Sylvaines' business."

He's wrong. Because the headquarters don't care if blood slayers will be killed. They only care about how many vampires they have killed. So it would take a lot of convincing on Kaiden's part.

Thinking of Kaiden, her cheeks flushed hot and she cleared her throat to distract herself but it wasn't helping. She wanted Kai. She wanted to touch him, to feel him. The feeling was not unfamiliar. She knows it too well—the need, the desire. She just isn't sure why she was feeling it at that moment.

"You look flustered, love," said Lorcan. She looked at him and he was folding his hands in front of him. His eyes flared with interest as though he knows what was happening to her and yet was still curious.

She cant let him know she is desiring for her boyfriend right now. She tried to ignore the thoughts inside her head and the sticky feeling in between her legs. But the more she focused on ignoring it, the more intense it became.

Kaya naman tumayo na siya at akmang maglalakad na nang magsalita ulit si Lorcan.

"So your witch prowess made your wolf part more intense than it was before," saad ng lalaki.

Nakakunot ang noo niya habang nakatingin dito. "What are you saying?"

Lorcan tilted his head. "You look like this is the first time you felt this kind of feeling."

"What feeling," she said. Her words contained enough bite that only confirmed Lorcan's thoughts.

"I think I should be the one asking you that question now, Nadia. What are you feeling?"

She gritted her teeth. "I feel like kicking you in the face," she said and she didn't wait for anything. She moved faster than her brain could even think it was a bad idea to attack Lorcab Sylvaine. But she was already moving and as expected, Lorcan had grabbed hold of her arms and twisted her around. Her back was against his chest.

"What you're feeling right now, my love is part of being a wolf. The desire, the lust, the need." He chuckled and the sound skittered along with her bones. She hated it. "Your witch magic intensified your wolf form and now you feel that way for the first time."

"Let go of me," she spat.

"Only if you promised not to swing your feet," he whispered and his hot breath against the back of her heart made her almost shiver. She doesn't want this kind of feeling. It's wrong. So, so wrong. Especially wrong that it doesn't choose who to desire.

When she stopped moving, Lorcan released her and before she could even turn towards him, he was already at the threshold, grinning like a cat.

"If it's any consolation, you're not alone on that feeling," he said and his eyes took their time to travel all over her body. Then he slowly looked back into her eyes.

"It's the mating season for the wolves after all," he said and before she could gasp at what he said, he was already gone.