"How long will you follow her?"

Hindi na nagulat si Gin sa tanong nito ni Zepar na bigla na lamang sumulpot sa kaniyang likuran. Nasa parking lot sila ngayon ng Apollo Pharmaceutical Company. Kitang-kita sa kinatatayuan niya ang cafe na nilabasan nina Miyuki at ng babaeng kasama nito na si Alina.

Nakasandal si Gin sa pinto ng kotse ni Zepar na kanina niya pa hinihintay nang bigla itong nawala.

"Sinong may sabing sinusundan ko siya?" aniya bago tinanggal ang salamin at bahagyang pumikit.

"It's obvious." Binuksan ni Zepar ang pinto sa may driver's seat bago tumingin sa kaniya na sinusuot na pabalik ang salamin. "Hindi mo ako uutusan ng oramismo para lang magpuslit ng kung ano man mula sa Apollo."

"Think whatever you want." Papasok na rin sana ni Gin matapos buksan ang pinto ng shotgun seat nang mapansin ang daang tinahak ni Miyuki. "Where is she going?" bulong niya sa sarili habang nakatingin dito.

"Gin! Ano na? Tara."

"Shut up brat." Sinarado niya ang pinto at agad na sinuot ang hood at itim na cap sa ulo niya bago naglakad paalis sa parking lot.

"Geez. Dad really assigned me on taking care this dude pero mukhang ako itong inuutos utasan niya." Zepar just gazed where Gin was heading. "Oh that's why."

Gin was really uncomfortable wearing a hoodie jacket and a cap. He always prefer long sleeves or lab coats than this.

Pagpula ng streetlight ay agad na tumawid si Gin at bahagyang yumuko. Ayaw niyang may makakilala agad sa kaniya. Nakita niya si Miyuki hindi kalayuan na nakasandal sa gilid ng isang abandonadong building na tila may hinihintay.

Napailing si Gin at nilagpasan ito at dire-diretsyong pumasok sa abandonadong building at nagtungo sa pang apat na palapag nito na kung saan ay isang rooftop. Doon mas malaya niyang makikita sa ibaba ang bawat galaw ni Miyuki at ng kung sino man ang tatagpuin niya.

But suddenly Gin's phone rang from his pocket kung kaya't naiiritang inalis niya muna ang tingin sa ibaba at sinagot ang phone niya. It was Naamah.

"Hi dear! Where are you? Umuwi ka na. I'm making lunch." Maririnig sa kabilang linya ang ilang ingay ng mga plato kung kaya't halatang nasa kusina talaga si Naamah. "I heard you're with my brother? Isama mo nalang siya dito."

Without answering ibinaba niya ang tawag at ibanalik ito sa kaniyang bulsa.

"Tsk. These siblings were annoying as heck."

Babalik na sana siya sa pagsandal sa railings ngunit nang sumilip siya sa ibaba ay may kasama ng dalawang lalaki si Miyuki na pilit siyang hinahawakan.

"Just give us the book and you're free to go."

"Ayoko nga! Iyan lang ba ang gusto niyong sabihin sa'kin? Akala ko kung ano na." Agad na tumalikod si Miyuki ngunit agad siyang hinawakan sa balikat ng isang lalaki na madali lang niyang naiwaksi. "Don't you dare touch me."

Tila nandilim ang paningin ng dalawang lalaki na agad na pumula ang kanilang mata. Their sharp, scary fangs started to show.

"Eh?!" Bakas ang gulat nang mapaatras si Miyuki papalayo sa kanila. "You were vampires?!"

Those two men just smirked at her. Bakas ang pangungugat sa leeg at mga braso patungo sa mga kamay nilang unti-unti ng nagkakaroon ng mahahaba't malalakas ng kuko. Their eyes went red as usual and both looked like ready to kill her at that instant.

For some reason Gin can't bare looking the sight from above. Walang pag-aalinlangan niyang hinawakan ang railings ng rooftop at tumalon pababa mula rito. Tumama ang unang paa niya sa balikat ng lalaking humawak kay Miyuki dahilan para mapadaing ito sa sakit habang siya naman ay agad na nakatayo sa harap ni Miyuki.

"What the fuck are you doi— Sir Gin?!" gulat na usal ng lalaking tinutulungang tumayo ang kaniyang kasamahan. "Sir, ang babaeng 'yan ang may hawak ng libro na pinahahanap ni Professor Lussuria."

"Is that so?" sagot niya habang inaayos ang muntik ng mahulog na salamin.

Bahagya niyang nilingon si Miyuki na bahagyang umaatras habang mahigpit ang hawak sa sling bag nito.

"Opo si—ack!"

Hindi na natapos ng lalaki ang sinasabi nito nang agad na tinusok ni Gin gamit ang kaniyang kuko ang puso nito. Agad niya rin itong hinila at tinusok pa sa isang lalaki na kaniyang tinapakan sa balikat kanina. Blood splattered on his hoodie and cap but he doesn't mind getting dirty all of a sudden. It's just that he doesn't like the presence of this two more than that he hates getting himself in such dirty works.

"Why did you that?" Miyuki asked stammering dahilan para lumingon dito si Gin. "Why did you have to kill them?!"

Napakunot noo si Gin habang unti-unting bumabalik sa normal ang kaniyang katawan. After saving her life all he could get was a shout from her? That's unaaceptable!

His footsteps went heavy than usual. Lumapit siya sa kinatatayuan ni Miyuki na bakas ang gulat at takot sa mukha. Alam niyang nagtatapang-tapangan lang ito kung kaya't agad niya itong hinawakan sa panga at isinandal sa pader ng abandonadong building. Blood trailed on her face.

"So a shout is all I recieve?" bakas ang galit sa boses ni Gin habang dinidiinan ang pagkakahawak niya sa panga ni Miyuki. Napatingin siya sa leeg nitong nakalantad dahil sa off-shoulder green flowy dress na suot nito. "Who would wear such thing at this cold weather?" aniya at binitawan ito.

A girl crawled towards him as he was sitting on the side of the bed. He could see her silky purple velvet night dress sprawled over her legs.

"What the heck are you wearing?!"

Gin dozed off for a second. What was that?

"I left my coat in the car," medyo lutang na sagot ni Miyuki bago kumunot ulit ang mga noo. "Why did you kill them?!"

"You're still not done with that issue?"

"Of course?! Those were living creatures! What did you expect me to do? Be thankful?"

"Kind of."

"Gezz. Ang hirap mong kausap." Lumapit si Miyuki sa dalawang lalaking ngayon ay wala ng buhay habang pinupunasan ng kaniyang panyo ang sariling pisngi. "Bakit lagi nalang may namamatay? Sumpa ba tong buhay ko?"

"Damn it!" Agad na hinawakan ni Gin ang kamay ni Miyuki at hinila ito papasok sa abandonadong building ngunit nang natigilan si Miyuki ay nasigawan niya ito. "Gumalaw ka!"

"I'm moving! Ang bilis mo lang maglakad! Teka nga? Bakit ba ako sumusunod sayo?" Miyuki uttered in realization. Ngunit huli na dahil ngayon ay nakasiksik na silang dalawa ni Gin sa ilalim ng hagdanan kung saan natatakpan sila ng mga sira-sirang kahoy at ng mga drum na nakakalat dito. "Bakit tayo nag tatago?"

"If you don't want to see dead people again just be quite."

Miyuki went silent while she's trap in between Gin's arms while leaning on the wall. Nasa likuran naman ni Gin ang ilang mga drum kung kaya't maling galaw lang nito ay maaring magbigay ng ingay.

Gin heard movements heading to the alley they were before. Hindi niya alam kung sino ito. Plano niya sanang patahimikin ang kung sino mang mapapagawi roon ngunit hindi niya magawa dahil kay Miyuki.

Why is he thinking about her?

What is he doing anyway? Protecting her?

For a few moments they just stood silently there. Hearts beating faster than usual. Not until Gin noticed something.

"Run."

"Huh?" Napatingala si Miyuki sa kaniya at pababa sa katawan niya. "Uhm, ang lapit mo masyado although I admit you kinda look hot."

"You look hot when topless." Kasunod nito ang mahihinang tawa ng babae.

"Bury your perverted thoughts six feet below the ground," He replied as he shut the door outside.

"I said run." Ulit ni Gin at binalewala ang sinabi nito. He was bothered. What are those words flashing in his mind? Napailing na lamang siya habang ang kaniyang mata ay unti-unting nagiging pula at kalaunay tinitigan si Miyuki na hindi man lamang natakot.

"Why?"

"Your neck's bleeding. Run."

But his body is contradicting to what he says. Napahawak siya sa baiwang ni Miyuki at yumuko at kinagat ang parte ng leeg kung saan tumutulo ang dugo na nakuha nito nang masagi ang ilang kahoy.

His two sharp fangs pierced deeply into her neck, sucking her blood. Her sweet blood was adicting to him. Miyuki could only groan in pain while trying to push Gin away.

"I told you to run." Gin mumbled in between his breath. "You're my prey so it doesn't really matter."

"Gwapo ka sana pero—"

"What the heck!"

Napaatras si Gin habang may nananalantay pang dugo sa kaniyang bibig. Agad niyang hinila ang syringe na nakatusok sa kaniyang leeg at tinapon sa gilid. Lalapit pa sana siya ulit kay Miyuki pero tuluyan na siyang napaluhod.

What just happened?

He was paralyzed by the sedatives Miyuki's team have made. It's just new and today was Miyuki's first try of using it. Isa itong gamot na naimbento ng ama niya at ng ama ni Alina na nakasulat sa libro. That's why she was confident talking to strangers, for incases if she was talking to vampires she could just inject those sedatives she brought. Hindi naman niya aakalaing darating ang lalaking pinatulog siya noong huli silang nagkita.

"I gotta gooooo."

Miyuki waved before running away. Hindi na ito nagawang pigilan ni Gin. Mabuti na lamang ay biglang nawala sa pandinig niya ang mga ingay kaya alam niyang wala ng makakakita kay Miyuki pag lumabas ito ng gusali.

"Damn woman."

Gin hadn't felt this way before. She should be his prey, his choosen blood source—but why is he letting her go?

Ilang saglit lang dumating si Zepar sa gilid ng abandonadong gusali kung saan siya ngayon nakasandal.

"Yow Gin—oh you killed them?"

"Not obvious?"

Napailing na lamang si Zepar at may tinawagan upang idispatya ang dalawang katawan na nasa alley pa rin. Ilang minuto lamang ay may kumuha na rito at nilinis ang lugar na parang walang nangyari.

"Anong nangyari sayo?" Zepar noticed how Gin looked so weak.

"Sedatives."

"She has sedatives? Wow, ang dami na nilang nagawa."

Napakunot noo si Gin. What does Zepar mean of she? Did he saw her? Dahil dito sinamaan niya ito ng tingin. However, Zepar was not threatened. Gin can't do anything at him, after all he's the only useful ally Gin could have.

After knowing that Zepar was the first experimented cell. He loathed his own father. How could someone made their future son at risk? Definetely only his father. Ang kinikilala niyang ina ay hindi niya pala tunay na ina. Wala siyang ina. The egg cell used was a clone of her known mother—her sister's mother. Just like what had happened to Azazel only that he was a failure experiment. Hindi siya kasing lakas ni Azazel. His senses are lesser kaya binabawi niya ito gamit ng kaniyang pag-iisip. He works smarter.

"Kuya." Patakbong bumaba mula sa kotse si Azazel patungo sa kanilang direksyon.

"Yow soft boy Zel!"

"Stop calling me kuya. Baka marinig ka nila."

"Anong nangyari sa'yo?" Lumapit si Azazel kay Gin. Looking at them both anyone could tell they were siblings. Minsan para silang kambal dahil magkamukhang-magkamukha silang dalawa but it was notably noticed that Gin was years older.

"I'll be fine. Bumalik na tayo sa laboratory. I know Zel's car has a tracker so we need to go now."

"Actually, Zepar's car also has one."

Back in the ERI's laboratory located at the underground basement of Lussuria's mansion, they saw the head researcher Nior Lussuria and his daughter Naamah. Both who have evil roots in them.

"Dear! You're home!" Naamah greeted him with sultry stares but that doesn't affect him as always.

He wasn't home. He knew it. He never felt home with the Lussuria's.

He knew something was missing about himself.

He knew that woman has something to do with it.

"Dad! He's ignoring me!" pagtatampo nito sa harapan ng ama niya. A 25 year old grown up woman but still a childish daddy's girl.

A brat. She's definetely a brat that Gin just wanted to shut her up himself but he couldn't. He still can't move freely on his own. Staying with them for 2 years and studying their movements are still not enough. Lalong-lalo na't wala pa siyang ala-ala.

"Shut up Naamah."

"I always prefer you calling me Aoko though."

"Whatever, Aoko."

Pinulupot ni Naamah ang kaniyang braso kay Gin. She smiled when Gin didn't waver. Agad rin itong nawala nang may mapansing kakaiba kay Gin.

A woman's perfume.

The next dew days Naamah's suspecting Gin on affairs but she can't pinpoint who. Wala siyang maisip na babaeng maaring lapitan ni Gin ng sobrang lapit to the point na didikit rito ang pabango. She clinched her palms. What did Gin do? Kaninong pabango ba iyon?

"Falcon! Get your ass on here!"

"Ye-yes!"

Azazel will be experimented again. Halos araw-araw na itong routine. Lahat nga bagay na pwedeng pag-aralan sa kaniya ginagawa na ng ERI. Ang kaniyang lakas, isip at pisikal na pangagatawan mapanormal man o nagtatrasform na—lahat ay inia-analize ng mga researchers sa laboratory.

"Lalabas ako," malamig na tugon ni Gin bago nagtungo sa elevator paakyat sa ground floor ng mansyon. He couldn't bare how Azazel will be tortured again. The ERI's method of studying strengths are always harsh. Palagi na niyang naririnig ang mga impit na ungol at sigaw ni Azazel dahil sa sakit. Kahit ngayon lang ayaw niya muna itong marinig.

"Dear? Saan ka pupunta? Lalabas ka? Let's go shopping!" Bumungad kay Gin si Naamah na agad na inangkla ang braso sa kaniya.

Hindi ito pinansin ni Gin at nagtungo sa kanilang kwarto na nasa pangalawang palapag upang magbihis. Sinundan naman siya ni Naamah.

"Out."

"Dear? I'm your wife! Pwede ko na yan makita!"

"You sounded like a girlfriend Miyu."

"You're much worst Gin. You treated me like I'm your wife."

"I'm not giving you the permission. Out." Umiling si Gin ata napahawak sa sintido bago tinanggal ang kaniyang salamin at nilagay sa mesa. A scene just pop out in his head again. Whose Miyu? Was that scene even real? Why are scenes popping as if those were his memories?

"I would never." Humiga si Naamah sa kama. "Also this is our room Gin."

Pumasok si Gin sa dressing room ng kanilang kwarto at hinubad ang labcoat na suot bago nag bihis ng hoodie at isang ripped jeans. Thanks to Zepar for this odd kind of clothing.

"Dear."

Hindi napansin ni Gin na naghihintay na pala si Naamah sa labas ng dressing room. Hinila siya nito patungo sa kama dahilan para pumaibabaw siya kay Naamah.

"Can't we have our own offspring?" Naamah whispered in Gin's ear with sultry voice. Ipinasok niya ang kaniyang kamay sa mula sa laylayan ng hoodie ni Gin habang ang kabila naman ay nasa leeg nito at ipinahaharap ang mukha nito sa kaniya. Gin remained his stoned face even with their lips almost touched.

"I told you semen injection is the only way I could cooperate," Gin whispered as his lips touched Naamah's lips.

Naamah could feel burning anger. Kung siya ang papipiliin ayaw niyang magka-anak. She hates children at papayag lang siyang magkaroon nito kung gagawa sila ni Gin. If Gin would touch her, if he would make love with her. Papayag siyang experemintuhan sila ng kaniyang ama basta mapasakanya lang ang puso at ang buong pagkatao ni Gin—whatever it takes.

After all he's the man she always loved since she first saw him in the Bathory mansion 20 years ago.

Mapusok na hinalikan ni Naamah si Gin. Her hands creep on Gin's abdomen but Gin pulled her hands out as he broke her kisses. A smirk showed on his face as he got up from bed and grabbing his eyeglasses.

"Better luck next time Aoko."