Mermaid Blues: Beasts, Giants and Spirits

Preparation

Benjie is sitting on the chair beside Wendel's bed. He is fast asleep with his back leaning on the backrest. His head is leaning on his left shoulder. His arms crossed on his chest. He used his jacket as a blanket to cover up his body.

Meanwhile, there is a sudden sound of a ruckus happening outside, in the hallway. Benjie got disturbed when he suddenly heard people growling and grunting as they struggled. He looked toward the door, and he was curious about the sound coming from beyond the door. He immediately stood up, alarmed and tensed. He is getting suspicious as he might know what is going on. He hopes that there is nothing wrong going on outside the room. He hopes that there are no hunters outside. The hospital is a public institution, therefore, the hunters don't have the guts to invade it. Then, the lights above him dim as they produce a zapping sound.

"Benjie?" Wendel immediately called. He is getting confused, alarmed, and frightened as to what is happening. He just woke up and now he doesn't have any idea what is going on. He can hear struggles outside and the lights are creepily turning off and on.

"It's okay. It's okay..." Benjie told him with uncertainty.

"What is going on?" Wendel asked as he slowly sat down. Benjie assists him.

"What are you doing? The bullet wound has not healed yet. You shouldn't move," Benjie protests.

Wendel grunts in pain. "I...I can...manage."

Benjie and Wendel heard a loud bang coming from the door. Both of them slowly turned their heads toward it. Their eyes widened in surprise. They can see people outside knocked out, lying on the ground. Even the guards assigned to guard the door are seen lying on the ground. They are not dead, but they seem like they have vomited. Furthermore, Benjie and Wendel can smell a strong scent of menthol but seem mixed with something like chlorine. They cough hard after sniffing it.

As the door opens with a loud bang, a woman enters. It is Agatha. She is not affected by the sniffing spell she cast out since she imbued herself with a protection spell. With her are two men also imbued with a protection spell. They are holding guns ready to shoot the two targets' heads with silver bullets.

"Stop!" a girl behind them yelled. "Don't kill them!"

The hunters turned around to see who had called their attention. Agatha also looked back curious as to who the girl who yelled "stop" was. Benjie recognized the voice. However, he couldn't see her because the three enemies were blocking the view from the outside. His vision is starting to blur up. His eyelids want his eyes shut but he doesn't want to. He coughs. He slowly drops his body to the bed.

"You finally decided to show up," Agatha said.

"I am here. I am the one you are looking for, right? Take me with you. Just don't kill them. Please, I beg you," she said nervously.

"Fine," Agatha said.

"And...and...release the leader you took as a captive," she added.

"What makes you think we will agree to that?" Agatha insisted. "Our agreement with the Association of the Cordilleran Marksmen is to exchange him with you. That is a very separate agreement. Now, that you are here making another agreement in exchange for the lives of those two cute guys behind is another matter."

"Then, let me revise the agreement," Ana said. "In exchange for the lives of Kuya Benjie, Kuya Wendel, and Kuya Japeth. I will come with you."

"Still a no," she refused. "The leader must die."

"If so, be it. I won't come with you. I have no choice but to battle you three," she also remained stubborn. She stretched out her hand toward the hunters.

The hunters immediately pointed their guns at her. They were alarmed by the stance she made. Agatha told them not to shoot.

"You are persistent, aren't you?" Agatha said. "Fine. I will let the leader live. However, we will take you and these boys. Don't worry, we won't kill them. It is you that we want."

Ana nodded in agreement. She took a huge gulp as she got more nervous.

***Blue Water***

Seth is standing in the room where Wendel is supposed to be resting. He is standing next to the empty bed. He is staring at it as he thinks deeply. His eyes were filled with dismay because he felt that he had failed to protect Benjie and Wendel. He feels like a failure, he doesn't know where to start. He feels hopeless. The lights above him are dimming.

"Oh...tell me what to do Lourdes. Your son...I am afraid I'll lose him too...," he whispers.

Then, Silvia came inside. She found him standing still next to the bed. She can tell that he is disappointed with himself.

"Don't feel hopeless yet," she said. "We can still figure this out."

Seth got startled. He glanced at the woman behind him. "Silvia. Any progress?" he asked.

"Of course, I have," she said. Then she stretched out her hand holding a notebook. She wanted to give it to the old man in front of her. "I had taken note of all the possible ingredients to create the spell that made everyone here asleep. In fact, the smell is still strong enough to stick in my nose to recognize the ingredients."

Seth took the notebook. He opens it and he begins to read what's written on the first page. "Wait! cow eyes? horse p***s? m*******a?" he got intrigued.

"Well, they're the main ingredients," she said. "Those body parts enhance the spell."

The old man wrinkled his face in disgust.

"Have you identified the witch who did the spell?" she asked.

"It's her. The same witch is always seen with Gabriel Umali. She has no records in the database, making her hard to track. Maybe she is also responsible for blacking out the entire building."

"Interesting," she commented.

Seth showed her the flash drive he had just found on the bed. "She left this," he told.

"Okay. Is she sending a message?"

"They are playing with us," he said in anger. "Goddamn them! They are playing with us."

"Calm down," she said. "I don't know if you werewolves are experiencing high blood, but please calm down. Let's see what's in it."

"We are being played, Silvia. I do not know what will happen to us if we further listen to them. I don't know how to save Japeth or Benjie or...or anyone anymore!" he is pacing.

"Hey! Listen to me. We have to play by their rules, okay?" Silvia advised. "It's the only way for us to find where they are. We have no choice. If we don't ...what method are we going to use to save them? Look... you are the boss of the Association, the juniors are looking up to your wisdom. You must have to be strong in order to get them home safely. Please have hope."

Seth bit his lips as he reflected on what Silvia said. He nods. "Okay then. If they want to play by their rules, then fine, I'll play. However, they will not underestimate the Marksmen. Because we can beat them with their own game. They don't know how to alter rules compared to us. This is war."

Silvia looks at him with determination painted on her face. "That's the Seth I know and admire."

:::::::::::::

The fog is getting thicker again at the peak of Mount Cabuyao. Most of the view around the school is covered in fog. Good thing the students are aware of the climate that they wear thick jackets to fight the incoming cold December breeze. It is still ten in the morning but the background looks like the darkness of evening.

Outside the canteen, located in the backyard of the Acosta Corp. Building... Seline, Grace, and Gilhameer are at one of the tables. They are sitting across from each other. They are talking about how worried they are about Ana.

"It was unexpected..." Grace told them. "If only we only knew that she was going to surrender herself, then I might be able to stop her."

"I do not know what will happen to her if she is going to force herself to remove the tattoos on them," Seline said. She placed her elbow on the table and rested her head on her hand. She thinks deeply.

"What will happen if she attempts to use her magic to eradicate the tattoos?" Gilhameer asked.

"She can't handle it," Grace said. "I am afraid that if she goes to look into their deepest pain, their sorrows, their sadness, she might go insane. Three pains coming from three different people is too much to bear."

Gilhameer nodded. He understood what she meant. "I see. So, in exchange for the lives of those three men, she must have to maintain her sanity."

"Yeah, like that," she said.

The boy slowly shook her head. Then, he picked up one of the sticks of grilled chicken blood on his plate. He chows down a chunk of it. "I can't imagine what Ken's gonna react right now".

"He'll be mad," Grace told him. "And I'll get mad too. I'll be mad at the association for not doing their job". Then, she glanced at Seline who was sitting beside her. "However, what do we know about them anyway?"

Seline shrugged. "At least they are trying to help," she replied.

"That's the reason why Kuya Benjie doesn't trust them," Gilhameer seconded.

::::::::::::::::::::

In an isolated room located in the basement of a mansion .No people around, just the pitch black darkness, there's only one light bulb hanging from the ceiling that barely lit up the entire room, the temperature was warm due to isolation.

Mark was standing below that light bulb. He is staring at the darkness beyond the light. He is standing against the warm temperature that made him feel unease. His hands were cuffed, connected onto a pole right in front of him. The hand cuffs were made of spirit-sealing stones. The floor's heating up, yet, he wear nothing to defend his feet from the pain.

He was all beaten up. A bruise to his left eye, three vertical slashes on both sides of his neck. His clothes torn as if he got dragged while he was on his way there. He gasps as he shed his tears.

Then, out from the light that was shinning right above. There is small bright shiny object floating against the darkness. It is coming towards him with its size as small as a firefly. Mark heard a whisper coming from nowhere. He widened his eyes with fright as he looked around. He began to question his sanity. However, his eyes caught the small light hovering around him. There he felt hope instead of fear. He realized that the Santelmo has come.

Mark looked at him with distrust. "Why are you so late?"

The small light just keeps hovering around. It didn't respond. It was just dancing around, like a firefly just flying minding its own business.

Mark nodded. "You happy now? Looking at me so miserable."

The small dot of light went closer. It floated in front of him. The dot paused to move. It's as if staring at him with empathy.

"I wonder how you came in. I thought Gabriel had this room spirit proofed," he wonders. "Anyways...I'll still be as good as dead," he chuckled.

The room was hot. There are flies hovering around the entire room. Some of them landed on Mark since they were attracted to the smell of his sweat and the taste of his blood. However annoying they might be, Mark was unable to swat them away. The flapping of their wings gave the room noise. That's the only music he hears in that lonely room.

:::::::::::::::

Sherdel raised his hand as he hesitantly knocked on the door of his father's office. While gently knocking, he heard his big brother yelling inside the room. And so, he stopped knocking and began to listen to the conversation instead.

"I can't believe you are doing this to me, Dad!" he complained.

"You will go to date that lady whether you like it or not, Severin," his father talked back.

"I hate her, Dad. I do not like her personality. She...she's weird. I don't get her."

"None sense!" his father slammed the table. "You'll soon learn how to love her."

"No, Dad," Severin shook his head.

"Don't you dare insist," Mr. Severino was getting more enraged. "I am trying to find you a perfect partner so that you and her will rule the company one day. If ever our company fails, at least there's another company to help us rise."

"And you think she can help us?" he remained insistent.

"Severin. Listen to---"

"No! I'm walking out of here. I'm out. Leave me alone!"

He headed to the door. When he opened it, he got startled when he saw Sherdel standing in front of him.

"Ahem!" Sherdel looked away as he made way for his big brother to pass.

Severine ignored him. He just passed by, acting like he didn't see his little brother at all. After he was completely gone out of Sherdel's sight, Sherdel slowly slipped in.

Sherdel found his father sitting behind his desk. He was rubbing his face with his palms due to his frustration and disappointment.

"What now, Sherdelino?" Mr. Severino asked.

"I came here to complain but..." his jaw trembled in nervousness. "...I think Severin got in here first," he said.

His father scowled after he heard what he had said.

"I'll just leave. I'll just come back once you've calmed down," he said. He turned to the door. He was about to exit when his father told him to stop. Sherdel faced his father.

"If this is about Catherine, I don't want to discuss it," his father told him.

"Nope," Sherdel replied. "I came here to tell you that we have a game next week. I'm gonna ask you to come."

"No, as much as I'd love to see you play basketball, there are more important things I have to do than that," his father immediately replied. "Are you sure that is only the reason why you're here?"

"Honestly. If Kuya Severin is the one who will inherit your company, why to bother forcing me to have a relationship with Cath?"

"I am doing this for the sake of your future, son," he said. "Besides, her father wants a man to rule over their company and there's no one besides you who can suit the job."

"If I am not interested?"

His father scowled again.

"Again, Sherdie. You're not the one who's gonna decide," he said.

Sherdel bit his lips, then he nodded. He faced the door and he walked toward it.

::::::::::::::::

"How could you let this happen?" Kendrick yells at Gordon.

They are on the rooftop at the house of the Rosales.

"Calm down, okay?"

"How can I calm down if my brother is taken away," he protests. "Tell me! How can I calm down in such a situation like this?"

"Listen to me, okay? The hunters have sent us a message," he informed. "The bright side is that they won't kill your brother.

However, they must have to take him with Ana."

Kendrick tilted his head and wrinkled his face. "What? So, you have agreed to let them take her too? Is that your plan?" He protests.

"No! She went of her own volition. She decided to take her with them so that neither your brother nor Wendel will die," he argues.

Kendrick looked away. He wipes his face with his palms. He is so frustrated. "Are you going to keep it this way?"

"We must play by their own game, young man. However, it doesn't mean we have nothing on our sleeves. We can break rules if we want to," he said. "Don't worry. We can still save them. Trust me. This time we'll save your family."

Kendrick bit his lips. He had no choice but to trust his words. He nodded. "Okay... what can I do to help?"

"Nothing," he answered. "I want you to do nothing while we try to save him, okay? Can you do that?"

Kendrick nods with uncertainty. "Okay. I'll try... but make sure to bring the only family I have back safe and sound."

"I promise," Gordon said.

Kendrick scratches his head. And he began walking back and forth.