IV- Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off

"Fuck."

Aspen pinched the bridge of her nose while pacing back and forth the bunker's laboratory. Quentin was just sitting in one corner watching her.

"The fuck!" she screamed for the fifth time since they came back. Gulong gulo ang isipan niya sa mga pangyayari. It was as if seeing her plans all go to shit right before her eyes. She didn't suffer from denying herself human blood for two solid years and being so far from Xav just for everything to blow out on her face. Not today! Not fucking ever! "Damn it!!"

"Okay, that does it!" Q stood up in frustration and stalked towards her. "If you're not going to tell me what the frick is going on, I'm going to blow my brains out or I'm going to bomb something."

She looked up at him like he was sprouting hair from his ears. She wanted to scream at him. She wanted to tell him it was all his fault that her plans are ruined but she wasn't that much of a bitch. Q saved her life. Twice. There's nothing she could do to repay him for that except to play nice. And that's what she's going to do eventhough all she wanted was to pin all the blame on him.

"So..?" he cocked one eyebrow at her.

Tinitigan lamang niya ito ng ilang sandali. She couldn't find the exact words on how to tell him that shit's about to get serious. She doesn't want to scare him. How else is she going to tell him that her mate's now hunting them down and Xavier would most probably kill him once he find them? Hanggang sa napagpasyahan na lang niyang talikuran niya ang lalaki at damputin ang jacket niya. Yes, evasion is so much better than being honest at this point.

Seeing how her jacket was mangled by the hunter attack, muli niyang ibinaba iyon. Napaungol siya sa inis. Kulang na lang ay sabunutan niya ang sarili. "I need to go."

"You need to go, why?" he asked, walking towards her. "and where?"

"I need to find Amadeus!" she went back into pacing. "I need to find him. I need to talk to him! I need him to tell me where the hell can I find Drakkar so I can kill that motherfucker and get back to Xavier! But he's gone now, and he's probably looking for me--for us and--"

Q grabbed her arms and shook her hard. "Okay, babe, you need to calm down."

"You don't understand! If I don't do it fast enough, they are going to kill me! People are going to die! Xav won't let me die so he would protect me! So, he would probably die first and I can't--"

"Okay, you are losing your shit right now." he guided her towards a chair and eased her into it. "Why don't you calm down first then tell me what the hell is going on? Who is this Amadeus? Who is this Drakkar? And who the fuck is Xavier?"

She shook her head vehemently. "No. The less you know, the safer you are."

He laughed. "It's touching that you are concerned of my safety now but I need to know what kind of shit I'm getting myself into."

She glared at him. "You are the one who wanted to get involved with this shit on the first place so don't you dare--"

Hinawakan ni Q ang magkabilang pisngi ni Aspen. She was shocked at how tender it felt. His palm was warm in contrast to her chilled skin. He stooped so his face was in level with her. "Whether you like it or not, I'm involved. You already said so yourself that this certain Xavier is hunting us down. So, tell me what is going on so I can help you."

Napabuntong hininga siya. Hindi niya alam kung paano niya ipapaliwanag dito ang lahat. "All you need to know is people's lives will be saved if I find Drakkar and I'm going to die--but you're prolly going to die first--if Xavier finds us."

Matabang siya nitong tinitigan. As if he was contemplating whether to just kill her himself or something. "That's all you're going to tell me?"

"That's all you need to know."

"Then what about telling me why you lied about your name?" she blew out an exasperated breath. Damn Chapel. Kahit kailan ay pahamak talaga ito. "Aspen, huh?"

Napanguso siya at tumayo mula sa kinauupuan. "What can I do? Lying's the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off."

"I don't know how to answer that but taking your clothes off is way more fun than--" He stopped talking when Aspen glared at him. "Okay. Now's not the time for such jokes. I'm sorry, cmon! Stop glaring at me as if you're gonna eat me or something."

Nasapo ni Aspen ang noo. She needed to get her shit together. She need to think straight and fast. Clock's ticking. Pag nahanap sila ni Xavier ay mapupurnada ang plano niya. Lahat ng pinaghirapan niya sa nakaraang dalawang taon ay mababalewala.

Umiling iling si Q. "I knew you weren't a Zelia. The name just doesn't fit you."

"Whatever. That's not the issue now." sagot na lang niya.

Aspen ambled towards Q's collection of guns. She took a beretta in her hand as if testing its weight. Kinuha niya ang magazine na para dito at ipinasak iyon. She spied a few more good guns in there but she settled for the Beretta M9 semi-automatic pistol and put it in a holster.

Ikinakabit na niya ang holster sa balakang at hita niya nang mapatingin naman siya kay Q. Kinuha nito ang isang M4 Carbine at isinukbit ang strap niyon sa balikat nito.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"You honestly don't think I will let you out there alone?" he was busy loading a black bag with ammunition. "You got a better chance of surviving if you're with me. I've also got connections around here that could help you find this Amadeus."

She just kept staring at him. In a way, naaalala niya si Xav dito. They are both handsome, yes, in the most rugged way possible. Only Xav always kept his hair on a clean cut and Q looks like a fan of some horrible boy band with his man bun. They're both cocky as well, and over protective which drives her nuts most of the time. But Xavier loves her. And she missed him so much that hearing his voice earlier, eventhough mad, makes her want to cry like a baby.

Napayuko siya. Wala siyang ibang gustong gawin kundi ang yumakap dito at marinig mula dito na hindi siya nito pababayaan. She needed that reassurance now. More than ever.

"Hey, you okay?" untag ni Q sa kanya.

"Are you sure you are willing to do this?"

Q grinned at her.

"You could die out there." she warned.

"Well, we all can't live forever, right?"

Aspen ground her molars. Although it was good to have someone to watch your back, she doesn't want to put a life sentence on this wolf. She have enough blood on her hands and enough lives that rested on her shoulder. The last thing she needed was another dent on her conscience.

"Listen," hinawakan ni Q ang magkabilang balikat niya. "if you say that the world's future rested upon you finding this Amadeus and killing Drakkar, then I'm in. I'm not up to seeing the world end just yet. Cmon, I may be a monster but give me some credit."

Tumango lamang siya at nagsimula na silang lumabas sa bunker. Hindi iyon ang oras upang magpakasentimental siya. She have a monster to hunt and a mate to return to.

"THIS AMADEUS CHARACTER's one helluva sneaky bastard." komento ni Q habang nagmamaneho. Kagagaling lamang nila sa isang lugar kung saan diumano'y huling nakita ang lalaki. Ngunit tila yata nakatunog ito sa pagdating nila dahil agad ring nakatakas ang lalaki.

Aspen gritted her teeth. The longer it's going to take them to find Amadeus, the harder it would be to evade Xav. She could almost feel him now. He's near. Wala sa loob na hinawakan niya ang singsing na suot at pinaikot ikot iyon sa daliri niya. A habit she formed ever since she left him. This is all for you, Xav. For us. I'm so sorry for doing this to you.

"Hey, 'you good in there?"

Tinanguan lamang niya si Q. They are now heading towards another of Amadeus' hide out. Sana naman sa pagkakataong ito ay maabutan nila ito. Tyumempo sila na mataas ang araw upang masiguradong hindi ito basta basta lalabas ng taguan nito. And although it was risky, it was a risk they are willing to take.

She took extra care into feeding. Siniguro niyang busog siya upang kahit apektado siya sa sinag ng araw ay may ipon siyang lakas. Besides, Q's with her. Plano niyang kausapin lamang si Amadeus ngunit kung sakaling magkagulo man--knowing a vampire's tendency to be volatile--it wouldn't hurt to have an extra muscle in case something goes wrong.

"You've been awfully quiet."

"I'm trying to think." hindi na muli kumibo pa si Q. The truth is she was just worried about Chapel's visit.

"Bakit hindi ninyo siya pinigilan?!"

"Do you think anyone of us can stop him? Hirap na hirap na nga kaming kumbinsihin siya na hwag kang sundan the moment you left the coven." she could see that Chapel was anxious by the way he was pacing back and forth. "The only thing that kept him from going after you two years ago was he was too... God, I can't believe I'm going to say this but, he was too broken hearted Aspen. He barely fed for the whole year."

Aspen inhaled sharply. She could imagine Xavier's gaunt face, refusing to feed himself because of her.

"Once he somehow recovered, he was determined to go. At dahil sa bilin mo, we had to stop him. He was able to injure Thad and Caden but Dread and Payne were able to restrain him. Rune talked to him and told him there is no way he will be able to track you so there's no use going after you. Ang buong akala niya sira na ang bond ninyong dalawa. But this morning..."

"I ingested some human blood, Chapel." mahinang sambit niya.

"I assumed." Napabuga ng hangin si Chapel sabay sapo sa noo nito. "The moment he went out the door, we knew there was no stopping him this time. Not even Rune. Not even the fucking royals."

Napalunok si Aspen. Kilala niya si Xavier. The guys were able to stop him before because he allowed them to do so. Ngayong nasiguro na nitong hindi nawala ang bond sa pagitan nila katulad ng pinapaniwala nila rito ay wala nang makakapigil dito na hanapin siya.

"I had to make sure I make it to you first so I used your drop of blood. I need to warn you, Aspen." hinugot nito ang isang silver blade na nakatago sa may bandang tadyang nito at iniabot sa kanya. "You're both out of our protection now. It's open season for the vampire royals and the hunter council."

"I THINK WE'RE HERE."

Quentin's voice snapped her out of her trance. Nasa harap sila ngayon ng isang matayog na gate. Sa loob nito ay tanaw nila ang isang malaking bahay. A mansion to be exact.

"You vamps sure knew how to pick a lair." nakangising tudyo ni Q sa kanya.

"Four hundred and fifty years is very long time, Q." aniya, akmang bababa na ng truck. "His money have accumulated all those years."

"What about you? How much is your net worth?"

"I don't care much about money," she answered. She was too preoccupied then on how to survive that she never really thought about earning and saving money. Besides, it was meaningless when you can't even invest on something without attracting the attention of the hunters.

Only high profiled vampires like Amadeus have somehow the immunity from hunters. Katulad na rin ng coven ni Rune, Amadeus is heavily protected. By the royals or whoever it is. Basta ang alam ni Aspen, hindi basta basta inaatake ng council ang mga kagaya nito.

Quentin was the first one to got out of the vehicle and Aspen followed suit. He approached the gate carefully.

Kumunot ang noo ni Aspen nang makalapit sila. Walang nakabantay sa gate at tila walang tao o bampira sa paligid na nakapagtataka given na isang makapangyarihang bampira si Amadeus. Maybe because the sun is still up? She mused. Ngunit magkagayon man, it is highly unlikely na iwanang walang bantay ang mismong entrance ng kabahayan.

Q was even able to open the gate without much effort which made her all the more suspicious. Nasa kalahati na sila ng malawak na bakuran ng mansion nang huminto si Q at hawakan nito ang M4 na nakasukbit sa katawan nito. She heard him curse under his breath.

"What?" agad na tanong niya.

"Finger on the trigger, Aspen." he said quietly. He raised his gun and pointed it in front of him. "I think something happened here."

She gritted her teeth as she took her gun out of her holster. Sinasabi na nga ba niya. "What do you think happened, Q?"

"I don't know." he answered as he started to take a step forward. "But I'm sure bloodshed happened in this place. I could smell blood, A. Lots of it."

They moved forward cautiously. Hindi tinatanggal ni Aspen ang mga mata niya sa entrance ng mansion. Tama si Q, she could definitely smell blood now from where they were standing. Werewolf si Q kaya naman mas matalas ang pang amoy nito kaysa sa kanya. Malayo pa lamang ay amoy na nito ang dugo. Hindi nga lamang makumpirma ni Aspen kung dugo ba iyon ng tao o ng bampira.

"But this is a vampire lair. The smell of blood could mean anything."

"I know that," he answered as he peeked through the windows. "but can you hear any movements at all? Tell me, dahil mas matalas ang pandinig mo."

Aspen gasped. Tama ito. Wala nga siyang marinig na anumang pagkilos mula sa loob ng mansion. Nagsimula siyang lalong kabahan.

When they got inside the house, the rusty smell of blood became stronger. Nakapatay ang lahat ng ilaw sa kabahayan at walang maririnig na anuman. Heavy curtains are draped into the windows, blocking the sunlight. Sinenyasan siya ni Q na pumunta sa itaas ng mansion habang ito na ang bahala sa ibaba. Aspen's eyes narrowed as she used her night vision to her advantage. Nakatutok ang baril niya habang hinahanap ang pakay.

There was no one inside. She opened almost all the doors but it was empty. Hindi rin niya nahanap ang pinagmumulan ng masangsang na amoy ng dugo.

As she went back down, nakasalubong niya si Quentin. His face was grim.

"I think you need to see this."

Kabadong sumunod siya rito. Nakarating sila sa isang malapad na pinto at sa tingin niya ay isang ballroom ang nasa likod niyon. She nodded when he looked at her with his hand on the door handle.

Quentin opened the door and the stench of blood came so strong she almost puked. She's sure now. It was definitely vampire's blood. Nang makapasok sila ay namutla siya nang husto sa nakita.

Nakahandusay sa sahig ng malawak na kwarto ang halos limampung bangkay ng mga bampira. It was chaos. There were blood and body parts everywhere. It was a stuff from a vampire's nightmare.

"What do you think happened here? Who did this?"

"I don't know." napalunok siya sabay kuyom ng mga palad. "But I think I have an idea."