There are numerous of voices ringing in my ear. My head was as if wanting to explode because of the pain I've felt. Nagrambulan naman ang aking puso. I slowly opened my eyes. Face of the both person I dislike greeted me. A devilish smile formed upon Kiara's lips. At ganoon din ang ginawa ni Akihiro.

"The golden boy just got wake up!" anunsyo pa ni Kiara.

Sinamahan pa niya ito ng nang-iinsultong palakpak. Nangingibabaw kaagad ang galit sa akin nang maalala kong may taong naglagay ng panyo sa ilong ko kanina. And I cannot believe that person was Kiara.

Iginala ko ang aking mata sa paligid. There are torches in circle. And we are in the middle of the forest. Hindi ko alam kung saan ito. I tried to get up from where I am sitting. But fear took over my system when I realized. Nakagapos ang mga kamay ko at paa sa upuan gamit ang lubid.

Kinabahan ako nang kakaiba. I looked at my left side. Naglakihan ang aking mga mata nang makita kong nakagapos din si Hecate nang walang malay. Few inches away from Hecate, nakagapos din ang malaking asong may puting balahibo. Ginapos siya gamit ang mga kadena.

The animal's furs were as stormy as Lupus' hair. His eyes met mine. Sumalubong sa akin ang mata niyang kulay dilaw. It is the same color of the beast I saw last week. Pero hindi ako nakaramdam ng takot mula sa kaniya.

His eyes were apologizing. It's as if he was telling me he failed to protect me. A tears trying to escape from my eyes. Hindi ko alam kung saan galing 'yon. Isa lang ang alam ko, delikado ang buhay namin.

To restrain myself from crying, I looked at my right side. There I realized, may mga taong nakasuot ng itim na damit. Most of them are men. Pero mabibilang ko lang ang mga babae. Nagulat ako nang mapansing may limang naglakihang mga aso. They are growling and looking at me as if I am their prey.

There are also four people on the corner: two males and two females. My forehead furrowed. The four of them were muttering words I couldn't understand.

"I have a question, Caelestis." Napatingin ako kay Kiara nang bigla siyang magsalita. "Kilala mo ba talaga si Rory?"

Bumagsak kaagad ang mata ko sa lupa nang marinig ko ang tanong niya. Tila parang napipi ako bigla dahil doon. I gritted my teeth in anger when I heard her laughed sarcastically and insultingly. Hindi ko man buong kilala si Ry, pero isa lang ang alam ko, mabait siyang tao.

Tinignan ko nang masama si Kiara. But she just mocked me and laugh. Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling ang confidence ko. However, I just felt that I should stand for my friends. If Kiara truly that insane for Rory, bakit kailangan pa niyang manakit ng ibang tao para lang makuha ang gusto niya?

That doesn't makes sense. Unless kung desperada siyang makuha si Rory. Pero bakit kailangan pa niyang kunin ito kung alam naman niyang lumalapit naman sa kaniya?

Nakita kong tumayo sa pagkakaupo si Kiara. "Your eyes says I have feelings for Rory, am I right?" I didn't responded. Tumawa siya na parang nandidiri. "How stupid of you to think that way?" may diin niyang tanong.

Habang ako naman ay napakuyom ng kamao dahil sa tinawag niya sa akin.

"Huwag mong ibato sa akin 'yan, Kai," she said with worried on her eyes. Dahilan para kumunot ang aking noo. "It is you who have a feelings for him." My eyes grew wider after hearing what she said.

I have feelings for Ry? Absolutely not!

"Hmm," she hummed. "Alam ko na kung ano ang susunod mong itanong, Kai. I'll tell you." She smiled devilishly.

Nag-stretch pa siya bago magsalita ulit. Si Akihiro naman ay may ginagawa. Gumagawa siya ng mga wood stake na hindi ko alam kung para saan. Nawala ulit ang aking atensyon kay Akihiro nang i-angat ni Kiara ang ulo ko gamit ang hintuturo niya. Sumalubong sa akin ang nanlilisik niyang mata.

"In 1521, there was an influential family which is the House of Echeverria. It is the year when the Spaniards, led by Ferdinand Magellan, discovered the Philippines," she started telling me a story. Ang pagtataka ko ay mas lalo niyang dinagdagan. "Their rival family is Del Grosso," she added.

Ang kaninang walang interes na makinig sa kuwento niya ay biglang bumaliktad. Pakiramdam ko masasagot na lahat ng tanong sa aking isipan. Answers that I was looking for.

"Del Grosso consists of five siblings. The eldest is Zalex Vero. Second child is King Azrael. The middle is no other than Rory. Next to Rory is Rouvon John. And lastly, the youngest, Lucien Alistair." When she mentioned the name Lucien, disgust was all over her face. "And the House Echeverria's eldest is me."

When she said she's the eldest child of House of Echeverria, my eyes grew wider. If the Del Grosso were alive way back in 1521. Sinong Rory ang kilala ko? It was 501 years ago. There's no way the Rory I know right now is still alive, looking young.

Tumingin ulit ako kay Kiara. My forehead once again furrowed in confusion. If Kiara says she's also alive in the year 1521, that means, she's 501 years old? How is that even possible? I scoff. Maybe this girl in front of me is delusional.

"Despite the two families being rival, they became friends. Helping each other to protect the people from colonizers," she continued. "My brother next to me became Rory Del Grosso's lover. My parents supported the love they shared, of course." A sweet smile formed upon her lips. Pero kaagad niya itong binawi at napalitan ng mapait na ngiti.

Nakita kong pinulot niya ang maliit na sanga ng kahoy at pinaglaruan ito. Paikot-ikot lang siya sa upuan ko. She then pulverize it by griping too tight with anger plastered upon her face. Nagkapira-piraso ang sanga't ibinigasak niya sa lupa.

"Rory left Manila and went to Cebu to helped the warriors of Lapulapu during the Battle of Mactan," pagpapatuloy ulit niya.

My eyes grew wider when she mentioned that Rory actually helped during the Battle of Mactan where Lapulapu and his warriors fiercely fought against Spaniards force led by Ferdinand Magellan.

"Nagtagal si Rory sa Cebu ng dalawang taon. My brother, his lover, was longing for him. In January 1524, nangako siya sa kaniyang bunsong kapatid na si Lucien na uuwi siya sa birthday nito. But Rory broke his promise again." Natatawang sabi niya. "Lucien who was tired of his brother's broken promises, he turned his humanity off and went rampage. My family wasn't the exception. Luca slaughtered my entire my family." There she shed tears while telling me how her family ended in the hands of Rory's youngest sibling.

She wiped her tears. Akihiro join her by hugging her tight. Habang ako naman ay lumilipad ang isipan. Hindi makapagsalita sa mga narinig ko mula sa kaniya. It's just impossible to believe. Rory's youngest sibling turned off his humanity? What the hell does that even mean? Can she just be more specific?

"Akihiro wasn't also the exception." Napatingin ako kay Akihiro nang banggitin ni Kiara ang pangalan niya. "His ex-lover died in the hands of Rory Del Grosso. Do you know why witches hated them?"

I looked at her in disbelief. She's telling me an ancient story that involves Rory's family. And now, she mentioned witches? Nahihibang na ba siya?

"You still don't believe me. Don't worry, you will," puno ng kasiguraduhang saad niya. "Del Grosso siblings are the original vam―"

Hindi niya natapos ang gusto niyang sasabihin nang bigla na lamang siya tumilapon patungo sa puno ng kahoy. Her back crashed horizontally against the tree. My face grimaced when I heard her spine cracked when she fell upon the ground.

There I saw Rory standing right before me. Tatawagin ko na sana siya nang makita ko kung gaano katulis ang mga kuko sa kaniyang mga kamay. My eyes grew thrice wider when I saw his nail-like fangs and his blood moon eyes.

"Rory." Tanging pangalan niya lang ang kayang nabigkas ng aking bibig dahil sa takot na nasaksihan ko sa hitsura niya.

He glanced at me. The anger on his face faded. In a matter of seconds, sumulpot bigla si Akihiro sa likuran ni Rory. He was about to pierce the wooden stake on Rory's back.

But Rory was way more faster than him, therefore, he kicked him hard right directly to the center of his stomach. Dahilan para mapatilapon din si Akihiro sa puno ng kahoy.

His back crashed against the tree. As agile as lightning strike, Rory grab Akihiro's collar and bite him on the neck. Pinulot ni Rory ang wooden stake na nasa sahig at walang pag-alinlangang isinaksak ito sa dibdib ni Akihiro.

Sa sobrang bilis ni Rory, halos hindi ko na siya mahagilap. Napaalerto siya nang mapagtanto niyang pinalibutan na siya ng mga nilalang na nakalabas ang mga pangil. Mga nilalang na hindi ko inakalang totoo.

Umalingawngaw ang mga ungol ng limang aso na kasama namin sa gitna ng kagubatan. Sumunod ang kanilang mga angil na tila handa ng sumalakay sa kanilang biktima. Napabagsak si Rory sa lupa nang daganan siya ng isang malaking aso.

Natakot ako para sa kaniya. My eyes were lock to the wolf in chain. He wanted to break out. His eyes were looking at Rory. It's as if he wanted to help him fight them. Nakuha ni Hecate ang aking buong atensyon nang marinig ko siyang kinakapos ng hangin.

Nakatingin siya kay Rory na pinapalibutan ng mga kalaban. I wanted to comfort her, but I am as frightened as her. My knees, hands, and mouth won't stop shivering in fear. Rory was still can't move.

But to my surprise, 'yong mga nilalang na nag-corner sa kaniya ay tumilapon nang sabay-sabay sa kung saan-saan. Rory just shove them away from him with great extent force. Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling 'yong lakas niya.

He hissed to all of them to give them a warning. Pero kaagad naman sila bumangon at tinignan ng masama si Rory. They all hissed back. A sign that they will fight Rory no matter what happen.

"You all want my wrath?" galit na galit na tanong niya sa mga kalaban. "Then, you all shall taste how fiery the wrath of an original vampire is!"