Blood Secrets

The Dark Witch's Symbol

Her wound stung but that was the least of her concern. Horror filled her eyes as he saw what Sebastian had just done. He took her blood and placed it inside a vial before he gave it to Isabela behind him. Nakaluhod pa rin si Lorcan sa sahig at tila ramdam niya ang sakit na nararamdaman nito.

"Sebastian," she called once again. Nakita niyang sinenyasan ng lalaki si Isabela at itinigil ng huli ang ginagawa nito kay Lorcan. Sebastian and Isabela are clearly working together but she couldn't comprehend how it came to be. Isabela is supposed to be their enemy. She was the one who said the Sylvaines should be annihilated.

"Anong ibig sabihin nito?" tanong niya sa lalaki. Sebastian looked at her and then at Lorcan.

"It's best you don't know," he said. But she doesn't want to not know. She wants to know. Her hand acted before she could even think. In an instant, she was holding a letter opener she picked up on the bedside table and pointed it under Sebastian's chin. She knew it was futile and Sebastian could probably cut her hand before she could take a breath but she is not going to let him go just like that.

"You are working with Isabela who has made her intentions clear that she's going to kill you all and use me to do that. And now you just took my blood and gave it to her. I deserve to know what the hell you're doing." Nagulat siya nang marinig ang sariling boses. She was frightened and yet her voice did not shake.

"I have daggered our siblings many times, Sebastian. And I have daggered you a few times. If you don't explain this now, you won't be getting out of this house." Lorcan's voice was equally threatening. Kalmado lang si Lorcan habang nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa habang si Isabela naman ay nakatayo lang sa likuran ni Sebastian. For a moment, she looked like she was frightened and doesn't know what to do.

Narinig nilang nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga si Sebastian. He stuffed his hands inside his pockets and looked at the two of them. "Isabela has offered to help," he said. He did not bother to take the small weapon she pointed at him. Tumingin ang lalaki sa gawi ni Lorcan.

"The coven of three is indeed planning to use Nadia as a foundation for that prison world. According to Isabela, they are using Nadia out of a personal grudge." Sebastian looked at her as though he was waiting for her to reveal something she has been keeping them from. Kumunot naman ang noo niya sa sinabi ng lalaki.

"I don't know them," sagot niya sa tanong sa mga mata nito. "I haven't met them. I am just as confused as you as to why they want me to be the foundation. I don't know about any personal grudges."

Nanatiling nakatingin si Sebastian sa kanya na para bang isa siyang problemang hindi nito masagot. Isabela, on the other hand, was looking at her as though she as observing her carefully, looking for any signs that might reveal or confirm what they're suspecting about.

"Whatever do you mean, Sebastian?" Lorcan asked. His voice was still dark, threatening. But she has other concerns.

"Why did you take my blood?"

It was Isabela who took a step forward. Hawak-hawak nito ang maliit na bote na pinaglagyan ng kanyang dugo kanina. "The coven of three wanted you gone from their path. Hindi ko alam kung bakit at nang tanungin ko sila, wala silang planong sabihin sa akin ang tunay na dahilan. They told me it was a personal grudge." Tumingi siya kay Lorcan. "The coven of three, as you already know, are the descendants of the dark witch that cursed you and your siblings to become vampires. They have the power to undo it and remove the vampire blood in your systems and make you humans, which was my plan. But they wanted to make you suffer. They wanted to make Nadia suffer. During my short time with them, I realized how hungry for the power they are. When the dark witch died, her magic was divided among the three of them. But they seem to be seeking more."

She looked at Isabela. Gusto niyang sabihin sa babae na sabihin na sa kanya ang lahat at huwag nang magpaliguy-ligoy pa. But something tells her deep inside that she has to hear all of it.

"I had a conclusion that some of the dark witch's power went somewhere else." Isabela's eyes were hard as she stared at her. "I think some of the dark witch's power went to you, Nadia."

"What?"

"I think the reason why they want you gone is for them to take the slumbering power the dark witch has left to you. Once you are gone, they will have it for themselves. That si why they wanted to bring you down together with the vampires." She looked from her to Lorcan. "I took her blood so I could confirm my suspicion."

Hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig mula sa babae. Some of the dark witch's magic was left inside her. Isabela said the word slumbering. Does that mean she had the magic all this time and she wasn't even aware of it? First, she was a wolf. And now, she's a witch. She couldn't comprehend how that was possible.

"Are...are you trying to tell me that I am a descendant of the dark witch?" she asked. Isabela looked at her and she could have sworn there was something in her eyes as if saying she could understand how she was feeling. Isabela nodded slowly.

"I--I don't understand. I'm a wolf. Half-human, half-wolf. I don't--how is this even possible?" Before she could even stop herself, she looked at Lorcan. As though silently asking him questions he might know the answer to. Ngunit nang tingnan niya si Lorcan ay gulat din itong nakatingin sa kanya. Nakaawang ang bibig ng lalaki habang nanlalaki ang mga mata. If she is indeed the descendant of the witch that cursed the Sylvaine family to become vampires, that would only mean that she's the Sylvaine family's enemy.

Her head whipped to the sleeping Kaiden and walked over to shield him. Hindi niya alam kung anong gagawin ng mga ito sa kanila. Hindi niya alam kung anong gagawin ni Lorcan sa kanila. He could take her heart out. He could kill Kaiden in his sleep. At the moment, Nadia knew she had to be far from them. Alam niya rin na wala siyang laban kay Sebastian at Lorcan but if they are going to go after her, she is not going down without a fight.

"I'm not going to kill you," Lorcan said, looking at her. Napatiningin siya sa lalaki. Hindi niya mabasa ang mukha nito ngunit kitang-kita niya ang mga mata nito. He was looking at her as though convincing her that he would not do anything she wouldn't like. And perhaps it was because they have spent quite some time together, or perhaps he had saved her life multiple times that she found herself easily trusting what he said. He doesn't want to trust what he said. Alam niya ang takbo ng utak ni Lorcan. He could be saying he won't kill her and then right after she would believe his word then he would strike. She knows it. She has seen how ruthless he can be.

Lorcan stepped forward and she held up a hand. Nakita naman niyang tumigil ang lalaki sa paglalakad papunta sa kanya.

"Don't take another step," she said.

"I am not going to hurt you--"

"But you've done it multiple times, Lorcan. How can I be sure this isn't some trap you're setting up to get me to trust you so you could kill me afterward?"

"Why would you even think I would kill you?"

"Because I've seen death in you several times. I've seen how you could easily drive your hands to squeeze someone's heart. I've seen how you don't feel remorse every time you do it. I've seen how ruthless you can be. And most importantly, I could be a descendant of the dark witch that cursed your family."

His jaw clenched. She doesn't know what it meant but she could see anger flaring in his eyes. "I won't kill you, Nadia." His voice turned cold. "And besides, if I do, that would mean the coven of three will get the power they sought and they would get what they want. The last thing I want to happen is for them to make that prison world and imprison all vampires there. Should that be an enough reason for you to believe that I am not going to do anything to you?"

Natahimik naman siya sa sinabi ng lalaki. Her fist clenched and she couldn't say another word. She looked at Lorcna and she could have sworn she saw some emotion pass in his eyes but it was gone as soon as it came. For a moment, she felt bad that she said those words. But then she found comfort with the fact that what she said was true. And that Lorcan knows how ruthless he can be. And even if he doesn't, a lot of others have called him worse. Why would he be affected by what she said.

Nakahinga naman siya nang maluwag sa sinabi ng lalaki. Somehow, it was easier to believe that he has a strong reason not to kill her or Kaiden rather than his words of promise alone. Lorcan is a monster and she doesn't think he would be capable of any remorse or learn a bit of it.

Silence hovered in the air and it was as if the tension she felt earlier was gone and her knees went weak. Napaupo nalang siya sa kama katabi ni Kai bago siya tumingin sa gawi ni Isabela.

"How are you going to--"

Bago pa man niya matapos ang nais sabihin ay nakita na niyang naupo si Isabela sa sahig. Isabela looked at her and said, "I'll do a spell."

Isabela removed the vial's cover before pouring its contents on the floor. Her blood pooled on the floor, forming a perfect circle. Closing her eyes, Isabela placed her palm on top of it. Nakatingin lang siya sa babae at ganoon din sina Sebastian at Lorcan. Isabela's lips moved, chanting a spell. She could hear the words phasmatos and detego. Hindi niya alam kung anong ibig sabihin niyon ngunit nakita nalang niyang biglang gumalaw ang dugo. She hitched her breath as the blood formed a bigger circle until it thinned and thinned against the floor.

Nagpatuloy si Isabela sa ginagawa habang patuloy naman silang nanunuod. She doesn't know what would be the indication that she is indeed a descendant of the dark witch. Nakatingin lang siya sa kanyang dugo na gumagaaw sa sahig. As if there was something else that was guiding them to move a certain way. Tumingin siya sa gawi ni Isabela at napasinghap nang makitang dumudugo na ang ilong nito.

She wanted to stop her but she knew it would be futile. Hindi niya alam kung saan itutuon ang kanyang pansin. Sa dumudugong ilong ni Isabela o sa dugo niya sa sahig na unti-unting gumagalaw. As she looked closer, she could tell it was some sort of a symbol. Although she doesn't know what it was.

Mas lalong lumalakas ang boses ni Isabela habang patuloy ito sa ginagawa. Then the lamp shades exploded, signifying that whatever is happening is not good. This time, she could hear the words Isabela was chanting.

Phasmatos cretio tenibrie us detego.

Inulit-ulit pa iyon ni Isabela nang ilang beses hanggang sa binuksan nito ang mga mata at napahawak siya sa sahig habang pinupunasan ang dugo sa kanyang ilong. Isabela looker at her, her eyes sleepy as if she's close to passing out. Napatingin ito sa dugo niya sa sahig. It wasn't formed a circle anymore. As Isabela did the spell, her blood as formed into something she doesn't recognize. She looked closer to it and a moment later, her breath hitched as she saw what her blood formed into: ᛟ

Isabela let out a shaky breath before she said, "It's the rune Othala."

Nanatiling nakatitig ang kanyang mga mata sa simbolo na nasa sahig. It was then that Lorcan said the words she dreaded to hear,

"The symbol of the dark witch."