[Val]

This woman . . . is Lucifer? That, Lucifer?

I don't understand what I'm feeling right now. Marahan kong hinawakan ang leeg ko, basa. Kulay pulang likido. How long was it since the last time I saw my own blood?

I'm pissed, at the same time, impressed. I want to tear this woman in front of me, bit by bit, at the same time I want her on my bed. I want to shout, scream at her. But I want to laugh as well. I was caught off guard, it took seconds before my slit healed.

I can't stop myself from grinning, I'm enjoying this. 

She's fast, so fast, but still, my eyes could follow. Kung ikukumpara, halos parang isang pureblood na ang bilis niya, and diin ng bawat atake niya. Hindi gaanong mapwersa, pero kayang tumagos sa laman.

She tried to pierce me again with her hand, I touched it for a second to alter the direction. It's soft yet hard. Her flesh seems new, like a baby, and at the same time hard like pure solid. Parang bagong labas na sanggol na nabubuhay na ng ilang daang taon.

"What's your name?" I said in between her attacks. I haven't fought back, still admiring her. She returned it with a kick on my stomach that I easily caught. "Cyrene," she answered calmly.

Now holding her foot, I tried throwing her full of force. But something that I've expected, she didn't budge. "Beautiful."

We continued exchanging attacks, we didn't notice, maybe only I, that we were no longer inside the matching ring.

"Say, what did you do?" I asked, not minding the situation, as if we were not trying to kill each other. "Did your adam feed you like, a gallon of their blood?" I chuckled.

I want to know. A year-old vampire is still considered a Nate. I want to know what she did. I felt her presence last year, I know she's the Nate they were talking about. Pero walang bahid ng naramdaman ko no'ng isang taon sa kaniya. Walang-wala na patunay na isa siyang Nate.

Even if this is impossible with her adam's blood, I couldn't grasp how this happened. Is she really the same vampire I've felt a year ago?

Kung ang bampirang naramdaman ko no'ng nakaraang taon, sigurado akong hindi kayang patayin si Tsubaki . . . ito, itong kaharap ko—I won't doubt that she can kill my brother.

She didn't answer, I smirked. "Afraid that I'll know your secret?" aniko. "Why won't you lie instead? Like how you lied about Tsubaki."

Her expression is not changing, I can't guess what she's thinking. She aimed for my neck next, I was a second late, and 1/4 of my neck with a bit of my shoulder was pierced. Pero walang nakapansin, dahil kaagad din itong bumalik.

"Oh, did I make you angry?" I scoffed. "We all know it's a lie that you killed Tsubaki, that you killed one pureblood when you're just a year old."

She once again, aimed for my head. This time, I caught her arm and gripped it enough to penetrate it. Nakakurba ang labi ko sa isang ngisi, na sinundan ng pamimilog ng mga mata nang ang parehong kamay na tinggal ko ay kumapit sa kamay ko para gawin ang ginawa ko.

Her hand regenerated in an instant and gashed my hand. Eyes widened, I took a glance at her hand. It regenerated quickly and perfectly. 

"There's something wrong with your phrase." I was taken aback when for the first time, she answered me. My eyes went towards her, and she greeted me with a slash on the chest.

Hinawi ko siya, pero hindi siya nalayo. Bagkus ay mas kinapitan niya 'ko. Pinuntirya niya ang tiyan ko na kaagad kong hinarangan gamit ang paa ko. My legs went up, full of force, I stamp at her. She dodged, but I hit her shoulder.

I'm sure it went through, but as if it didn't happen, she was perfectly fine.

"What do you mean?" My tone changed. I was no longer admiring her, but answering her attacks and fighting back.

"I didn't kill one pureblood." Boses niya lang ang narinig ko, nawala siya sa paningin ko. The next one I heard felt like it was coming directly from my ear. "I actually killed two more, so make it a three. Tomorrow, it will be four."

I clicked my tongue, instantly facing her. "Liar!"

Nang hinarap ko siya, nawala ulit siya sa paningin ko. Nang wala siya sa magkabilang gilid o likod ko, napatingin ako sa itaas. There, standing at one of the tallest structure here in town, is a woman standing.

Looking down at me with her crimson-red eyes that look like they are glowing under the moonlight.

I kept cursing under my breath. I'm pissed, so pissed. But looking at her, I can't stop myself from admiring. Looking how she's looking down at me, at how she could keep up on me . . . I'm enchanted.

You really are Lucifer. You're an angel . . . from below.

"Val, how about let's start getting serious?" Her voice became one with the wind, like an angel whispering.

I smirked. "Why? Don't you want to play a little longer?" I scoffed. "Don't worry, the sun won't rise anytime soon. Hindi mangyayari ang ginawa mo kay Tsubaki."

Tumalim ang tingin ko nang maglabas siya ng baril. The golden chain that I thought was an accessory, has a gun at the end of it. Is she using a gun? Bullets won't harm me.

"No, it's the opposite." Natigilan ako nang ibaba niya ang baril niya, para bang nagpapabigat ito sa kaniya na kailangan niyang alisin. "I'm worried that I won't notice the sun rising, and just like what happened to Tsubaki, you will run like a coward."

I clicked my tongue, it made me feel something within me. Napahawak ako sa mukha ko, dahan-dahan, hindi ko mapigilang matawa. 

I was out of my mind, I didn't notice my ears getting pointy. I didn't feel my skin getting tougher, my forehead wrinkles were getting visible. How my sharp and perfectly portioned face is now pointed, like a dog. 

Kada labas ng pagtawa ko ay ang pagsabay ng paglaki ng bunganga ko. My mouth was ear to ear and I couldn't stop laughing. My hairline widened, I was almost bald. When I removed my hand from my face, I was a different person—a different creature.

"Fine!" My voice changed as well, I couldn't recognize myself. Like dozens of creatures are talking inside of me. "I'll rip your body apart and eat it!"

Still laughing, our eyes met. Like a real demon watching an angel with red eyes from above, I'm looking up at her.

"Say your goodbyes and say hi to my brother for me, Lucifer!"

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