"Ang tagal ninyo."

Bungad ni Chiron kina Haunley at Cessair nang makarating ito sa loob ng monitor room. Seryoso lamang itong nakatingin sa tatlong monitor sa harapan niya habang may tinitipa sa keyboard. Even without looking he could feel the presence of who's who.

Napatingin na lamang si Haunley sa bagong kabit na malaking monitor sa ibabaw ng monitor ni Chiron. Sinusundan niya ang bawat tab na binubuksan nito.

"Ang tagal nitong kasama ko and it's a two hour ride from the city Chiron. Mag-isip ka naman minsan," sagot ni Cessair bago tinanggal ang jacket nitong suot at umupo sa tabi ni Chiron. "What's the catch?"

"Finding useful data about ERI and tracking Zepar as always."

"Bakit hindi niyo na lang itrack ang phone niya?" Haunley asked as he sat at the swivel chair beside Chiron. Why can't they just track and hack Zepar's phone that would be easier to get informations.

"Easier said than done." Wika ni Chiron bago sumandal ng tuluyan sa swivel chair. "He got someone to protect his phone or what." Bumaling ang tingin nito sa puting kisame. "Ayoko na. I miss my girls."

"Philandering bastard," usal naman ni Cessair bago ini-on ang isa pang monitor. Bumaling ang tingin nito kay Haunley na ngayon ay nakaupo at seryosong nakatingin sa sarili nitong monitor. He was typing codes to divert their IP addresses disabling someone to find their exact location.

Biglang bumukas ang metal door at iniluwal nito si Gin na nakakunot noo. He's got bad aura around him kaya alam na nilang tatlo na masama ang loob nito at alam na nila kung ano man ang dahilan ng pagka bad mood nito.

"Azerty, track Miyuki's phone."

Napatingin si Haunley kay Gin na siyang nag utos kay Azerty. Miyuki again. Alam na nitong ang Miyuki na tinutukoy ni Gin ay ang Miyuki mismo na kadorm mate niya. But he didn't dare telling him.

Gin on the other hand seems frustrated after Miyuki told him she's going to a resort at ngayon hindi na ito macontact.

"Bibigyan-bigyan ako ng cellphone tapos hindi ako sasagutin? That brat," usal nito sa sarili habang nakatingin sa malaking monitor at hinihintay ang lokasyon na ibibigay ni Azerty.

"Location identified. Showing coordinates," Azerty replied in its female robotic voice as it shows the coordinates on the new large monitor replacing Chiron's work.

"Lee." Bumalin ang tingin nito kay Haunley na nakatitig lamang sa kanya. "Hack Miyuki's phone."

Tumango lamang si Haunley at agad na ginawa ang pinag uutos nito. He knew it already. How possesive Gin could be when it comes to her. Hindi na nga niya alam kung anong dapat isipin sa trato nito kay Miyuki. He treats Miyuki like a sister and at the same time a lover.

"Seryoso ka bang kapatid lang talaga ang tingin nito sa kanya?" mahinang tanong nito kay Chiron na katabi lamang niya.

"Just shut your mouth Lee and do what I say," bakas ang diin sa boses ni Gin. He could hear what Haunley had said thanks to their senses.

Tumahimik rin agad si Haunley at agad na bumalik sa ginagawa nito at ilang sandali lamang ay nalaman nilang may kausap pala si Miyuki sa kabilang linya and so they ended up listening to their conversation.

"Darn that Lussuria. Ang galing." Gin's sarcasm echoed the room. He just heard the cheesy reason of Zepar for calling Miyuki. Ganito ba talaga ang tipo ni Miyuki?

Kahit ayaw niyang mapalapit ang dalawa ay wala siyang magagawa. Hindi niya pwedeng sabihin kay Miyuki ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw niya silang magkalapit. Kung kaya't mas lalo nalang siyang naging mapanuri sa galaw ng dalawa.

"Sigur—Ahh!"

Napatigil silang lahat sa biglang sigaw ni Miyuki sa kabilang linya.

"Fuck! Zen! What the heck are you doing?!"

What the heck is happening?

"Chiron, the car. The faster the better," seryosong usal ni Gin at agad na lumabas ng silid kasunod si Chiron.

Naiwan sa loob sina Cessair at si Haunley na seyosong nakikinig sa linya ni Miyuki. They can't believe what they've just heard. This is a tragedy in the making. They're accompanied by a vampire and the worst thing had happened. Someone just bleed.

"Tara na."

"Saan?" Kunot noong sagot ni Haunley kay Cessair.

"We're following them. Bring your laptop. I'm using the car."

"May kotse ka?"

"It's my car when I'm still serving Lady Alina. Mas gusto ko nga lang ang motorbike."

Two cars simultaenously ascending hastily on the road. Gin just recieved a message from Haunley confirming a vampire in the same vehicle as her. Making Gin anxious. Ito ang unang beses na kinabahan ng husto si Gin kaya hindi niya mapigilang magsisisigaw sa loob ng kotse habang inuutusan si Chiron magdrive.

"Master." Chiron cut him out calmly. It's the first time Gin commanded him this intense pero hindi niya magawang magtanim ng sama ng loob. Alam niyang ganito lang ang trato nito dahil sa babaeng mahalaga sa buhay niya.

"What?!"

"Kanina pa nag riring ang phone mo."

Ngayon pa lamang napansin ni Gin ang cellphone na nasa bulsa ng coat niya. Hindi niya napansin ang mahihinang ring nito. His mind is pre-occupied right now. His senses just failed him at this moment.

"Miyuki!"

"Gin!"

He could sense tiredness in her voice despite being shouted. Mas lalo siyang kinakabahan.

"Gi—Gin. The—there's blood everywhere." She was crying at wala siyang magawa. "I'm dying Gin."

"Master, may dalang mask si Cessair." Chiron interrupted while still eyes on the road.

"You're not dying! Don't make it too complicated!" Bumaling ang tingin nito kay Chiron "Fuck! Just drive!"

Biglang may narinig siyang click at pagbagsak ng kung ano man kaya mas lalong bumibigat ang pakiramdam niya. He's late she already saw them. Nakita na nito ang mga taong katulad niya.

Just minutes later nakita agad nila ang nabanggang van na nasa isang malaking puno at sa ibaba nito si Miyuki na nakadapang halos nababalutan ng dugo. They were just across the street in the broad daylight. Ang lugar kung nasaan sila ngayon ay walang halos tao at puro puno at dagat ang nakikita nila.

"Bathory catch."

Hinagis ng kararating lang na si Cessair ang dalawang mask kay Gin giving one to Chiron.

Cessair stayed outside his car together with Haunley. Haunley's facing his laptop at the hood of the car sending detours to the neighboring streets para walang dumaan sa lugar nila. He's even complaining about the mask he's wearing but what could he do? Para rin naman iyon sa kanila.

Cessair's calling different people to report about the incident. It should be him dealing the current crime but he knew Gin would feel much better if he's the one doing the saving. He'll just wait to clean his mess.

Gin tossed his coat on the car at patakbong lumapit sa van kasama si Chiron. Nandilim ang paningin niya nang makita ang dalawang lalaking tila wala na sa kani-kanilang sarili. Bago pa man siya makagalaw ulit, Chiron with his glowing red eyes transformed his claws and immedietly attacked one man behind.

"Get. Your. Hands. Off. Her!"

With blood dripping on his shirt Chiron immedietely attacked the man holding Miyuki's neck enabling Gin to catch her.

Gin carried Miyuki on his arms. Tahimik lamang siya't marahang inilapag ito sa backseat bago ipinatong sa katawan nito ang coat niya.

Her summer blue long dress is almost drenched with blood. Hindi pa rin tinatanggal ni Gin ang suot na mask takot na siya muli ang mawala sa sarili. He can't smell anything under the mask kaya hindi niya alam kung kaninong dugo ang nasa katawan ni Miyuki. She's unconscious so he can't ask her and he never planned to.

Ilang sandali lamang ay bumukas ang passenger seat sa harapan at marahan na inilapag ni Chiron ang babaeng walang malay at nababalutan rin ng dugo ang katawan.

"Master, nasa loob rin siya ng van na sinasakyan nila. I checked her heartbeat. She's still alive. I'm asking for per—"

"Just bring her. Kailangan na nating makaalis rito. Papunta na ang mga pulis. Cessair's gonna clean the mess." Gin cut him off. Tumango lamang si Chiron bago lumipat sa driver's seat at pinaharurot paalis.

With blood drenching on them hindi sila maaaring bumalik sa mansyon. The blood in them would make their servants lost themselves. Kaya minabuti nilang tumuloy sa bahay ni Chiron na ngayon pa lang nalaman ni Gin. It was two-storey house residing alone beside a lake in the same forest where the Bathory mansion was.

"I didn't thought I could introduce you to my house this way, master."

Hindi umimik si Gin at agad na lumabas at binuhat si Miyuki. Binuksan muna ni Chiron ang pinto na mula sa garahe. Agad rin nitong binalikan ang babaeng nasa passenger's seat.

Dumiretyo si Gin sa banyo kung saan inilapag niya sa bath tub ang ngayo'y gising na si Miyuki.

"Can you at least clean yourself? Miyuki?"

When was the last time Miyuki heard Gin's worried voice? It was weeks ago. She missed him. She missed this seldom side of him.

Tinignan niya ang kanyang sarili na kasalukuyang nakalublub sa bath tub na puno ng tubig. The water's turning red as it spills to the floor and Gin's feet. She looked at Gin's face still covered with mask.

"You really hate blood, Gin?" She asked like she didn't know anything, like she hadn't put suspicions at him.

"I'll explain to you later. Just please clean yourself." He held Miyuki's hand gently. "I'd be waiting outside."

"Sandali!"

She held firmly at Gin's hand enabling him to let go. Nakayuko lamang siya habang nagbabadya ang mga luha sa mata niya.

"My classmates. Anong nangyari sa kanila?" Her voice is shaking too afraid hearing what he would say. Alam naman niya ang nangyari but she wished it's only just a nightmare.

Napabuntong hininga si Gin. Miyuki's still young mas emotional ito lalong lalo na't ngayon pa ito nakikipagsalamuha sa ibang tao. Alam niyang mahahalaga sa kanya ang mga taong napalapit na sa rito. Pero wala siyang magawa para pagaanin ang loob nito. He must still tell her the truth.

"There's only two of you who survived. She's the girl named Mary. She's with Chiron." Binitawan ni Gin ang hawak ni Miyuki sa kanya at tuluyang lumabas ng banyo. He just stood there. Listening. He could her Miyuki's silent sobs.

He missed the Miyuki he had before. The world outside their mansion is cruel enough to her and to people like him. If only he could keep Miyuki forever.

Walang pangbabaeng damit sa bahay ni Chiron kaya tanging isang malaking t shirt at boxer shorts ang pinasuot kay Miyuki at Mary. Good thing Miyuki was already on herself nang tulungan niyang maglinis si Mary.

"Now tell me when did you build this lair."

With arms crossed on the couch, Gin asked Chiron who offered him a tea. Wala na ang kani-kanilang suot na mask at kasalukuyang nasa sala na ng bahay habang nasa iisang kwarto ngayon sa pangalawang palapag ang dalawang babae. Bahagya nilang naamoy ang mga dugo ng dalawa pero agad nila silang tinurukan ng gamot na buwan-buwang ini-intake ni Miyuki. It lessens the addictive smell of their blood that made vampires insane.

Dapat ngayon ay nag-iisip si Gin ng susunod na gagawin ngunit heto siya ngayon nagtatanong tungkol sa bahay na tinutuluyan nila. Chiron never uttered at him that he planned and even made one.

"Ang totoo niyan master. Tambayan ko lang talaga to." Umupo si Chiron sa katabing couch at tumingin sa master niyang hindi pa rin nagbabago ang eksypresyon sa mukha. Napabuntong hininga siya nang mapansin ang pagkunot ng noo nito na tila hindi na kumbinsi sa rason niya.

"Don't give me that look master." Tumayo rin agad si Chiron at bahagyang yumukod kay Gin. "Malay niyo magkakapamilya rin ako balang araw. I want to live in here. Excuse me."

Agad na umalis si Chiron at nagtungo sa pangalawang palapag. Naiwan si Gin sa sala na malalim ang iniisip.

Hindi lang si Gin ang nahihirapan sa sitwasyon nila. Everyone around him are also suffering. Chiron can't have the life that he wanted after being stuck at him. Hindi niya rin ito maaaring pakawalan. He need him more than any high technology could offer.

Also Miyuki. Ngayon na nasangkot na ito sa mga taong katulad nila he has no choice but to tell her the truth. Pero paano? He can't just tell her, 'Hey I'm a vampire.'

The four of them stayed on the house for a week. Umuuwi lamang sina Chiron at Gin sa mansyon ng mga ilang oras upang ayusin ang mga bagay-bagay ngunit bumabalik agad sila sa bahay kapag hapon na.

Kahit isa sa kanila wala ng umimik tungkol sa insidente ,especially Miyuki and Mary. Parehong may bandage sa ulo ang dalawa ngunit si Mary ang mas malubha ang kalagayan. May bali ito sa braso at nahihirapang kumain kaya si Chiron ang nagaalaga rito.

Another problem was that Mary lost her memories.

Chiron took care both of their school absensees kaya ngayon alam na ni Miyuki na may alam na ito sa kursong kinuha niya. Which to her surprise he didn't ask.

Bihira na rin nagkakausap sina Gin at Miyuki matapos ang pangyayari. Gin would just glance at her pero pilit binabalewala ni Miyuki ang mga tingin nito.

Gin stayed on the master's bedroom. Chiron and them stayed on three other rooms.

Miyuki was just looking outside her window where the bright starry sky reflected on the surface of calm lake waters. The trees are barely moving and small insects were making little noises. Everything was quiet and peaceful. The place was charming and enchanted pero hindi niya magawang sumaya.

How could she?

Her friends died and merely killed her and Mary. Now, Mary lost her memories.

Napalingon siya pinto nang makarinig siya ng mahihinang katok at kasunod nito'y inuluwal si Gin na seryosong nakatingin ng diretsyo sa kanya. Her room was only dimmed by the moonlight coming from her window but still his expressions was clear to her.

"Kailangan nating mag-usap."

She ends up sitting on the edge of the bed while Gin's sitting on a single chair in front of her.

"Alam kong marami kang tanong. Hindi ko alam kung anong nararamdam mo ngayon pero Miyuki—" Gin held her hand kaya napatingin siya ng diretsyo sa mga mata nito. "Trust me. I'm just saving you."

"I'm not in distress Gin. You don't need to save me. But what happened last week is an exemption." She bowed down while Gin's still holding her hand. Nararamdamn niya ang panglalamig ng kanyang kamay. It's scary recalling things that happened. "You're like them right?"

Gin frozed although he had expected this question hindi niya parin maiwasang ma-blanko. Kaya ibinagay niya kay Miyuki ang librong kanina pa niya dala-dala.

"Remember this book?" Inilapag ni Gin ang libro sa kamay ni Miyuki. "Sinabi kong may kinalaman ito sa katotohanan. I never told which truth was it but I want you to read it for yourself."

"Isang tanong lang ang tinanong ko sayo Gin. Sagutin mo ako. Katulad ka ba nila?" Her voice sounded pleading to hear a no. Pero alam niyang isa nga talaga ito sa kanila dahil sa mga pagkakataong naaalala niya. Mga pahiwatag ng nakaraan tungkol sa pagkatao ng lalaking kaharap niya.

"I'm not like them. We were the same kind but I'm not like them. I'll never be like them."

Tumayo ng tuluyan si Gin at balak na sanang iwan siya ngunit bago paman ito makapagbukas ng pinto ay bigla siyang nagsalita habang nakatitig sa libro.

"May hinala na ako Gin eh matagal na. Kung bakit pakiramdam ko magkaiba tayo. I know your kind since I stepped out of the mansion." Marahan na inilagay ni Miyuki ang libro sa kama bago lumingon kay Gin.

"I know the reason why I lasted on your mansion."