How I wish I was dreaming. Considering the things that happened right now made me want to wake up from a nightmare. But no matter how many times I bit my lower lip, I wasn't dreaming. Lahat ng nangyayari sa paligid ko ay totoo. And the Rory I knew is actually a vampire. The picture I saw in the city's library was actually him.

It wasn't his grandfather or someone who had the same face as him. Here lies the answer to the question of Lolo Primitivo. Ang rason kung bakit hindi tumanda si Rory ay dahil isa siyang bampira. In legend says, vampires have the ability to stay young and beautiful.

Ganoon din ang nakikita ko sa mga films at television series. I flinched when Rory fell in front of me, bleeding. I quickly averted my eyes when a werewolf jumped into him and tried to bite him. He was struggling.

"I am glad I am not late to save you from this, Kai," he said while struggling to escape from the weight of a werewolf. "It is what your pa―" Hindi niya natapos ang gusto niyang sasabihin nang bigla siyang tumilapon.

Napangiwi ako nang makita ko siyang bumagsak paharap sa lupa. He groaned a second. May nakita siyang wooden stake sa lupa't kaagad na dinampot niya ito. As quick as flash, sumulpot siya sa harapan ng isang bampirang kababangon lang.

Rory gives him a teasing smile before he brutely pierce the edge of the wooden stake right directly to his chest. Napaluhod ito't sumigaw sa sakit. He then dissolved into ash. It's as if he ceased to exist.

Ang mga sugat na natamo ni Rory ay fully healed na. My eyes grew wider when I saw a werewolf was coming behind his back. And I am pretty sure he didn't noticed it.

"Ry, look out!" Kumunot ang ang aking noo dahil sa sinigaw ko.

Bakit pakiramdam ko nangyari na 'to? A bulb above my head exploded when I remember I was dreaming that I was attacked by a werewolf and a vampire saved my ass. Napalingon si Rory sa likuran niya. A sigh of relief escaped from my lips when I saw the werewolf, who had a stormy fur, in chains saved him from the attack.

For the record, Hecate and I were still in fear after everything we witnessed just now. But despite of feeling that, it somehow faded because I felt safe in the presence of Ry. Idagdag na rin ang puting lobong hindi ko alam kung sino. At kung bakit siya nakagapos at tumulong kay Ry.

I heard the werewolf who tried to attack Ry from the back cried in pain when he was bitten by the white werewolf on his left leg. But his cries stopped and stood firm even though he's wounded. Pareho nilang tinitigan ang isa't isa. And both growled in anger.

"Leave him to me," Ry told him. Therefore, he stepped backward. "Take Hecate and Kai away from here," he commanded.

I heard the white werewolf scoff before turning his back on Ry. Tumakbo ito papalapit sa akin. Him being huge in front of me giving me chills runs down my spine. I gritted my teeth to restrain my mouth from trembling in fear.

Pagkatapos niya akong tignan ay dahan-dahan niyang inilapat ang kaniyang malaking pangil sa lubid na nakatali sa kaliwang pulsuhan ko. Nang matanggal niya ito ay sinunod niya ang kaliwa. He was about to take off the rope on my feet when I stopped him.

"Hecate."

Nakita ko siyang tumango bago lumapit kay Hecate. Napasigaw si Hecate nang lumapit ang taong-lobo sa kaniya. She even cover her face with her both palms. Habang ako naman ay itinuon ang aking buong atensyon sa pagtanggal ng lubid sa paa ko.

"Kai!" Nagsilakihan ang aking mga mata nang marinig ko ang natatakot na sigaw ni Hecate. A tears fell upon her eyes. "Behind you!" she added.

Lilingon na sana ako nang biglang may tumadyak sa akin mula sa likuran. I fell my knees to the ground. The next thing happened, someone grab my neck using an arm and grip it tighter. The reason why I almost lost my breath.

Tinuunan ako nito ng kutsilyo sa leeg. Nalaman ko kaagad na si Kiara ang nasa aking likuran nang marinig ko ang mapang-insulto niyang tawa. I saw Rory looked at the person behind me with anger on his eyes. I saw how he moved his jaw and balled his fist scornfully.

"Stop right where you are!" He tried to make a step towards me when Kiara warned him and the white werewolf. "Make a wrong move, you'll find Caelestis lying on the ground, bathing his own blood," she warns them both once again.

Habang ako naman ay nanginginig na sa takot. Si Hecate naman ay ganoon din. Two seconds of staring at her, I saw her whispering herself. Then her mind went off too far that made her look crazy. Tila ba'y ang lalim ng iniisip niya.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw a fragment of fear on Ry's eyes. He was staring at the blade that glows in silver. I think he was more worried to the knife than to my life. Napalunok ako sa iniisip ko. Nagtagis ang aking bagang. Mukhang ang sarili ko pa ang nagdadala ng kirot sa puso ko.

"Oh, please. Do not hesitate to end his life, Kiara. I want to see Rory suffer in grief." I saw Akihiro get up from where he lost his consciousness earlier. A sly smile formed upon his lips. That smile wasn't for all of us, but specifically for Rory. "Just like what I did to every lover he had in centuries."

Napatingin ako kay Rory. Anger took over his system. Of course, I understand the anger I see in him. If I was in his shoes, magagalit din ako. Ang sakit lang isipin na ang mga ex-lovers sa buhay mo na nagbigay ng saya at pagmamahal sa 'yo. Mawawala lang nang parang bula sa mga kamay ng kaluluwang walang awang pumatay.

"Now that you remind me of everything you did to them, Chavez. I guess, it is time to pay your sins with your life!" galit na galit na wika ni Rory.

Napadaing ako nang biglang idiin ni Kiara ang kutsilyo sa leeg ko. Napangiwi ako nang maramdaman ko ang sakit na nagmula sa maliit na sugat. Blood race down to my chest.

I heard Kiara sniffed. Ganoon din ang ginawa sa ibang mga bampirang nakapaligid sa amin. And that includes Rory. But I saw him restrained.

"I understand now why," I heard Kiara blissfully chuckling.

"Rory!" Napatingin kaming lahat nang marinig namin ang sigaw ni Hecate. "You need to stop those dirty witches. They are muttering a protection spell. Hindi niyo mapapatay silang dalawa hangga't hindi niyo sila madi-distract!"

We all looked at her in confusion. "Don't stare at me! Maging ako hindi ko rin alam kung paano ko nalaman!" sigaw niya uli.

That was Rory's cue to act. Sumulpot si Rory sa likuran ng apat na witches. He was about to push the four of them but he suddenly fell upon the ground, holding his head as if the witches inflicted pain on him by supernatural means.

Nagbabadya naman ang mga luha ko sa mga nangyayari. Rory was now crawling at the ground to reach the witch's feet while screaming in pain.

"Get him!" Kiara ordered his little disgusting minions.

Napabagsak ako sa lupa nang biglang inatake si Kiara ng puting lobo. The white wolf looked at me in the eye, as if telling me to get away from here as far as possible. Dali-dali akong tumayo't tumakbo papunta kay Hecate. Lumingon ako.

Nakita kong nakadapa na ngayon si Kiara. Habang inaapakan ang likuran niya ng puting taong-lobo. Preventing her to get up. Sumunod na nangyari ay umalingawngaw ang ungol ng white wolf dito sa gubat. My eyes grew wider when numerous howl of werewolves nearby responded to him.

Before I could reach Hecate, napatigil ako sa pagtakbo. Sumulpot na lamang bigla si Akihiro sa aking harapan. He looked at me hungrily. He even licked his lips.

Habang ako naman ay nanginginig sa takot habang atras nang atras. I was about to escape from him when he quickly strangled me. Walang kahirap-hirap niya akong itinapon patungo sa mga boulders.

"Kai!"

Tears escaped from my eyes. Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata, hinihintay na unang bumagsak ang aking ulo. But seconds later, nothing happened to me. Tanging naramdaman ko lang ay tila parang unan na malambot.

I opened my eyes. There I saw a gray werewolf shielded me from falling at the boulders. Her yellow eyes greeted me. But instead of being terrified, I felt overly safe. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw her smile. Matamis na ngiting palagi kong nakikita sa mga labi ni Lola.

The wolf help me stand. I was overwhelmed when eight werewolves stood in front of me as if putting their life on the line just to protect me. Nakita ko pang may lumapit na itim na wolf kay Hecate at dinala siya sa tabi ko. We both give each other a tight hug.

Nangunguna ang gray wolf na nagligtas sa akin sa pagkakabagsak sa mga boulders. Naglakad naman 'yong puting wolf papalapit sa gray wolf. Napaatras ang mga vampires at werewolves na kasama nina Akihiro at Kiara nang makita kung gaano kami karami.

Sa kabilang banda, nakita kong nagtagumpay si Rory sa pagtigil sa apat na witches sa kanilang ginagawa. Then I looked straight to Kiara and Akihiro who didn't even flinch. They stood firm, confident that they will win.

"Crescents," nanggagalaiti sa galit na banggit ni Kiara.

Habang ako naman ay napakunot ng noo. Crescents. Saan ko nga ba 'yan narinig?

"This is none of your business!" she shouted in anger.

She stepped two backwards when she heard them growl simultaneously. Naglakad ang mga wolves papalapit nang papalapit sa kanilang dalawa. They are all trying to shove them away from me.

But to my surprise, the wolves cries in pain so suddenly. Maging kaming dalawa ni Hecate ay napabagsak sa lupa't sumisigaw sa sakit ng ulo. Tumingin ako sa paligid. Doon ko na lamang napagtantong may mga witches pang iba na nakatago sa mga damo.

Kiara expected them to come. There are a total of ten witches raising their right hand across their chest. And they are all muttering words that I couldn't understand.

"They are using pain infliction spells against us all, Kai," Hecate said.

Nagulat na lamang ako nang bigla akong lumutang. Rory's eyes meet mine. Habang pataas ako nang pataas, mas lalong sumakit ang aking ulo. Tila ba'y sasabog na ito. Nagbagsakan na naman ang mga luha ko sa mata.

Sumikip bigla ang aking puso. Naramdaman ko rin ang sakit na dumaloy sa mga ugat ko. Habol ko na ngayon ang aking hininga nang bigla akong pinagkaitan ng hangin. Narinig ko ang ungol ng dalawang wolves na nakatingin sa akin.

Their eyes were filled with worries. And their cries had the fragment of sadness. It's as if they are sad that they have nothing to do to stop the witches. The white and gray wolves looked at each other. Sumunod na ginawa nila ay tinignan si Rory sa mata. Nakita kong tumango si Rory.

"Kai, hubarin mo ang kuwintas na suot-suot mo!" Nahihirapang sigaw sa akin ni Rory. "Hubarin mo bago pa mahuli ang lahat!" I looked at him in confusion. How does that even helped me from this situation? "Take it off, please," nagmamakaawa niyang sabi.

Nahihirapan mang gumalaw. Inabot ko ang suot-suot kong kuwintas. I pulled it at itinapon ito pagkatapos. My eyes grew wider when I felt the moonlight touches my skin. Biglang nawala ang sakit sa aking ulo at bumalik ang hangin na pinagkait sa akin.

I felt tingling sensation when something runs down through my veins. Napaluhod ako sa lupa nang maramdaman ko ang sakit sa gums ko. Tila ba'y may tumubong kakaibang pangil sa aking mga ngipin. Naramdaman ko rin ang pag-iba ng kulay ng aking mga mata.

Sabay-sabay na tumubo ang mga matutulis na kuko sa aking mga kamay. I felt stronger. I feel the power racing through my veins. It is a familiar feeling. Ang pakiramdam na parang matagal ng natutulog sa kaloob-looban ko.

Ang pakiramdam na akala ko'y sa alaala ko lang mararamdaman. I stood firm in front of everyone. I balled my palm in anger and hissed to the people who tried to hurt my friends.

"A hybrid!"