VI- Hit the fucking head

"You should rest." Q's face was still impassive. Nakarating na sila't lahat sa bunker ay halos kibuin dili siya nito.

It probably made a huge dent on his ego the way Cadfael easily defeated him. Men. Napaismid na lamang si Aspen. That prick who happened to be the twin of one of her best friends, Caden, was unfortunately one hell of a powerful vampire. Walang ideya si Aspen kung bakit ganoon na lamang ito kalakas samantalang halos sing edad lamang niya ito. Marahil ay dahil sa nagmula ito sa dugo ng isang hybrid. Maybe he inherited some of his creator's powers.

She knew she was no match for him. Least of all, Q. Kaya naman hindi niya maintindihan kung ano bang ipinagsisintir nito.

They were actually lucky that that bastard left them unscathed. Hindi niya sigurado kung saan ang punta nito at kung bakit hinayaan sila nitong mabuhay pagkatapos ng nangyari. He just received a call and he went faster than he came. But not before burning all the remains of the dead vampires.

Napagisip nilang bumalik na sa bunker tulad narin ng payo ni Xavier sa kanya. Noong una ay inakala ni Aspen na naputol nang muli ang koneksyon nila ni Xav ngunit muli niya itong narinig sa isip niya habang binabantaan ni Cadfael ang buhay niya.

"Who is that scumbag threatening you, love? Tell him to come to me. Tell him that if he doesn't stop, I'm the one who's going to make him pay and nobody would be able to recognize him after I'm done with him. No one threatens you, love. Ako lang."

And though she doesn't find it romantic, it comforted her. Alam niyang dadaan muna si Cadfael sa ibabaw ng bangkay ni Xavier bago siya nito makanti.

Xavier's love for her will protect her to the very end.

She was still reeling from the last conversation they've had inside her mind.

"Is he gone? Did he hurt you?" he whispered in her head. "Hindi kita maramdaman, love. Maybe you should drink some more blood. I want to feel you. I want to know if that bastard scared you so I could kill him."

"I'm okay, Xav. Where are you? I need to find you."

"That asshole might be after me, Aspen. It's very dangerous. I will come to you. You don't need to fear."

"I'm not scared, Xav." totoo iyon. Habang naririnig niya ang tinig nito ay alam niyang wala siyang dahilan upang matakot. She could feel that he's near. "Did you do it, though? Did you kill them?"

Matagal bago ito sumagot. "Do you think I could do such a thing, love?"

Siya naman ang hindi nakasagot sa tanong nito.

She heard Xavier sigh. "Go back to where you were hiding before. I will find you once I think it's safe. For now, someone's on my tail and I don't want you to put yourself in danger by going after me. Stay safe, love. For me. It won't be long now."

That night, maybe because she was worrying about him too much, Aspen dreamt of Xavier. There were monsters attacking him. She have never seen such creatures before. Their complexion was darker compared to a vampire's true form and instead of black, their eyes were white and they drooling this scary looking black substance. She was still shaking when Quentin woke her up.

"I heard you screaming, what happened?"

"I saw them.." pinahid niya ang pawisang noo. Humihingal siyang umupo sa kama.

"Saw who?"

"Monsters."

Kumunot ang noo ni Q. "Care to elaborate on that? What kind of monsters? Coz as far as I'm concerned we belong on that category, too."

Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang lalaki. Noon lamang niya napansin na half naked pala ito at mayroon itong kakaibang marka sa dibdib. She shook her head. It's not the time to admire this idiot's physique. "I've never seen the likes of them before. Para silang bampira but not exactly.."

"I don't understand." napakamot ito ng ulo. "but you seem pretty shaken. Are you sure it's not just a nightmare? Baka imbento lang siya ng imahinasyon mo dahil sa mga nakita natin kanina?"

She shook her head vehemently. "It's too vivid, Q. Parang totoong totoo."

"All nightmares are like that, A."

"I told you--"

Q hastily got up from her bed and went to get something from the table. "Masyado ka lang nagaalala sa nangyari kanina. It might have been just your brain's representation of that asshole we met."

Hindi nito naiintindihan. Pakiramdam niya ay hindi siya talaga nananaginip. It was like a mental projection from Xavier. Meaning, totoong nagaganap ang mga iyon nang panahon na iyon. She was tempted to drink human blood just to check on Xav. Baka nasa panganib ito ngayon kaya nagkaroon sila ng projection kahit putol ang channel sa pagitan nila.

Maya maya ay lumapit muli si Q sa kanya na may dalang isang mug ng dugo.

"What's this?" takang tanong niya.

"It's from a deer I hunted while you're sleeping. Drink it." utos nito. "It might calm you down."

Tipid na nginitian niya ito at tumango lang bilang sagot ang lalaki. Palabas na ito ng kwarto nang muli niya itong tawagin. "Are you still upset?"

"Why would I be upset?" he stopped walking.

"I.." napayuko si Aspen. "I don't know.. You're just acting weird and.."

She heard him sigh. Ilang segundo lang at nakabalik na ito sa tabi niya. She could feel his warmth radiating in his skin. And it felt familiar. Weird. "I'm mad at myself, Aspen."

"Why?" she looked at him, setting the mug of blood aside. His brown eyes are staring at her like there's some secret he's trying to pass on to her. Kumunot ang noo niya. Noon naman nagbawi ng tingin si Quentin.

"Because I couldn't protect you."

Natatawang umirap si Aspen sa kasama. "Don't be silly. You've saved my life twice now, Q. For that, I am thankful. No need to beat yourself up because of what happened with Cadfael, none of us is a match against him. He's... Different."

"You don't understand."

She tapped his broad shoulder affectionately. "That's enough, Q." she said to him. "What you're doing for me.. Sobra sobra na. Wala kang obligasyon sa akin pero nandito ka para tumulong. I couldn't ask for anything more."

"Aspen."

Nagulat siya nang biglang humarap sa kanya si Quentin. He began lowering his face down to hers. "I will protect you with my life, I swear to you." he whispered hoarsely. Napapikit na lamang siya nang tuluyang bumaba ang bibig nito sa kanya.

The minute his warm lips touched hers, something washed over her. Like a distant memory of laughter and affection. Like a deja vu that is too blurry to even remember correctly.

Quentin kissed her passionately. His lips travelled down her chin, her jaw and her neck. She could hear the pounding of his heart. The loud rush of blood inside his veins. The pulsing of his jugular.

Feed.

That's what her mind was telling her. Aspen's fangs elongated as her venom flooded her mouth. The call of living blood was too strong. Handa na sana siyang kagatin ang leeg nito nang marinig niya ang boses na iyon.

"Love.."

She immediately pushed Q off her as realization dawned on her. This is not right! "You shouldn't have done that!" singhal niya rito. "I am mated, Q! I have a mate!"

Pagkabigla ang unang namayani sa gwapo nitong mukha. And then, regret? "You are mated. To that Xavier, right?"

She pinched the bridge of her nose. How could she have done this to Xav? Maswerte siya kung hindi nito malalaman ang nangyari sa pagitan nila ni Q. How could she betray him? She's cheating on him with this damn wolf! "Oh gods." Xav probably saw her that's why he was able to call on to her.

He's going to kill her for this!

"Aspen.. Love, they are coming."

"What?!" napatayo si Aspen matapos marinig ang mga salitang iyon.

"What's wrong?" tanong ni Q.

"Xavier?" she concentrated hard. "Xav! Are you still there? What do you mean? Who's coming? Xav!"

Naputol ang pagsigaw niya nang marinig ang malakas na kalabog mula sa labas ng kwarto. Q heard it, too and they both whipped their heads towards the door. After exchanging horrified looks. Aspen grabbed her gun from the night stand and Q took a shotgun from behind the door.

Naunang lumabas si Quentin ng kwarto at sinensyasan siyang i-cover ito. Kumakabog ang dibdib ni Aspen habang maingat nilang hinanap ang pinagmulan ng ingay. Masama ang pakiramdam niya rito. That warning from Xav isn't a joke. Who's coming for her? Was it those monsters in her dream?

Muli pang naulit ang malakas na tunog at ang kasunod niyon ay ang isang malakas na pwersang bumangga kay Q. "Quentin!" agad na pinaputukan ni Aspen ang sumalakay sa kasama. Ngunit dahil sa pangamba na baka matamaan niya si Q ay pinasya niyang lumapit na lamang sa mga ito.

Natulos siya sa kinatatayuan nang makita ang itsura ng kalaban. It was the same creature from her nightmare! It was trying to viscously bite Q had he not grabbed its neck away from him. "Aspen!"

It was clear that Q was struggling from the creature. Meaning, masyado itong malakas. Aspen hastily gathered her wits and ran towards Q. She kicked the creature's face. Tumalsik ito palayo kay Q ngunit agad ring nakabangon upang salakayin muli sila. Mabilis na nakatayo mula sa sahig si Q upang abangan ang kalaban. He slammed his fist across the creature's bare chest and Aspen was ready to catch its nape and slammed it against the wall.

The creature wailed in pain. Ngunit hindi parin ito nagpatalo. Muli itong sumugod na tila ba hayok na hayok sa dugo. Pinagbuntunan nito si Aspen. She bent her back to dodge its attack and hit it with her two feet while flipping backwards. Nang bumagsak ito sa sahig ay saka naman ito pinaulanan ng bala ni Q.

"Die, you fucking bastard!"

"Hit the fucking head!" sigaw niya rito na agad naman nitong sinunod.

They stood over the dead body while breathing hard. "What the hell is that?" tanong ni Q.

"I have no fucking idea." pinagmasdan niya ang bangkay. It was exactly what she saw in her dreams and this thing was attacking Xav. No, these things. Sigurado siyang hindi lamang iisa ang umatake sa mate niya. Xav, are you okay? Were you warning me about this monster? Why are they after us?

Hindi pa niya natatapos ang isipin nang makarinig silang muli ng ingay ni Q. They found another creature crouching from the entrance of the dirty kitchen. It's growling and drooling while glaring at them. Hindi na nagpatumpik tumpik pa si Aspen. She ran towards the counter and grabbed a butcher knife. Nang pumaling siya nakita niyang susunggaban na siya nito ay saka niya itinarak ang patalim sa tiyan nito.

The monster was still growling and struggling to come near her and take a bite inspite of being pierced. Gigil na ipinasak pa niya lalo ang kutsilyo bago ito hinila pataas sa leeg ng kalaban. The monster fell into the floor writhing.

"Nice one." Q had the decency to praise her.

"What? You had fun napping in there?"

He shrugged and sprayed bullets as another upcoming threat charged towards him. "I think there are more of them."

"I think so, too."

"We need to find were these pests are coming through." he whispered harshly as he opened one of the cupboards filled with arsenal. "Hindi ako makapaniwalang napasok nila ang bunker."

"You're right," she answered as she tightened her grip on a karambit.

Q eyed the combat knife skeptically. "Are you going to be fine with that thing?"

She gave him a flat stare. "I happen to be better at close quarter combat. You've seen me in action."

He licked his lips as he stared at her with high regard.

"Stop it with the perverted stare, Q!" saway niya rito. "Let's go find these motherfuckers."

Hindi makuha si Quentin sa paliwanag na mas mapapabilis ang paghahanap nila kung maghihiwalay silang dalawa. He said he needed to watch over her and make sure she won't destroy his things but she doubt it. Gusto lamang siya nitong protektahan. And the idea doesn't sit well with her. She's not some weak damsel in distress who needs protection. And he's definitely not her knight in shining armor.

Wala na silang nakasulubong na kalaban sa sumunod na sandali. Siguro ay naligaw lamang ang tatlong halimaw na iyon. But how did they get inside?

"Oh, crap."

Mabilis na nilingon ni Aspen si Q. He was looking at a gaping hole in the wall. The bastards dug their way in. Kung paanong naamoy sila ng mga ito gayong nasa underground sila ay hindi niya malaman.

"We need to fix this right away, Q." she said examining the edges of the hole.

"You don't have to tell me."

They were interrupted again by a loud sound coming from the main entrance of the bunker. Tila may malakas na pwersa sa likod niyon na gustong gumiba sa bakal na pinto.

Agad na itinutok ni Q ang baril sa pinto at siya naman ay humanda sa pakikipaglaban.

They were focused on the main door that they did not notice the movements from the hole in the wall. Aspen let out a shriek when two forces hit Quentin at once. Tumilapon ang lalaki sa sahig at pinagtulungan ng dalawang creature na lumabas mula sa butas.

She was about to rush towards him when another one attacked her from behind. She was able to deflect the creature's bite by grabbing its neck but it was too strong. Pilit niyang inaabot ang nabitawan niyang karambit sa sahig ngunit masyadong malakas ang kalaban niya. She was grunting as she try to throw it off her.

"Aargh!!" she screamed as its nails dug into her shoulder.

"Aspen!" she heard Quentin roar.

She was getting weaker and weaker from the blood loss and as her vision got dimmer, a black figure slammed against the creature and knocked it off her. She watched as the two of them wrestled against each other. She kicked her foot against the floor to help herself up. Sinapo niya ang duguang balikat. Bumaling siya kay Q na nakikipagpambuno parin sa mga umatake dito. Kumurap kurap siya. Quentin was now transformed into his wolf form at kasalukuyang may kinakalaban.

Kung ganoon, sino..?

Her heart seemed to beat out of her chest when she saw his familiar ruby red eyes. Hawak hawak nito sa leeg ang bangkay ng kalaban gamit ang isang kamay nito. He easily ripped its heart out by the other hand before disposing of its body on the floor.

"Aspen!" she heard Quentin growl on the other side of her, still on his beast form. Mahaba ang nguso nito at mga ngipin. His eyes are yellow and his skin was full of gray fur. "Don't be afraid, it's me."

"Quentin.." anas niya.

"Are you--"

Hindi pa nito natatapos ang sasabihin nang biglang atakihin ito ng nasa kaliwa niya at isalya ito sa dingding sa harap niya.

"Xavier, don't!!"