Vampire's Pathos

Blood 02

Kian Pierce Aerovan

"Kian, finding the key is in your hands." I kneeled down to show my respect.

"Yes. As you wish, my king." I raised my head, and looked at the two people sitting in the throne.

"She's the only one that can break the curse!" I bowed as an assurance to our queen, and I turned to leave.

I found my way out, and I continued while thinking about our curse.

The curse of the blood moon.

Our blood moon only happens once every century. It was supposed to be a time when our kind is most powerful. The time where we reach our full potential.

But after being cursed fifty years ago, nobody wants the blood moon to happen anymore.

Instead of just being powerful, the blood moon will also remove our sense of reasoning. Every vampire will be seeking power, killing their own kind.

Leading to the eradication of our clans.

I slowly walked out of the portal leading to the human world, and I was inside a familiar place.

Teleported to school so soon?

I shrugged the thought off of my head and went further either way.

Personally, I don't even careless about dying on the blood moon. It's not as if that's the only day when vampires are seeking power.

But even so, my responsibility in this world won't even let me die.

I am a pure blooded descendant of the king's clan, Kian Pierce Aerovan.

Having the king's mark on my chest, I am destined to be king.

This year is the destined blood moon. Basically, we are running out of time, but we're still in a power struggle. If only there wasn't, it would've been already easy to find the her.

The Key.

The last of the Trine.

The one who placed the curse on all of us.

The curse, the recent disappearances of students, power struggles..

What more do they want me to do?

Without even knocking, basta basta nalang akong pumasok sa loob ng kwarto.

"Ano namang kailangan mo, Kean?" At pinaikot niya yung swivel chair niya para makaharap sa akin.

"Bakit hindi mo na ako tinatawag na kuya!" I rolled my eyes at him.

"Bakit mo ba ako pinatawag dito, kuya?" Nilinaw ko, at may nakita akong babae na nasa tabi niya.

"I just want to introduce our new student council vice president, Serene Erica Real." Another one?

To be exact, another girl.

I stared blankly at the girl as she tried to make a move on me.

"Nice to meet you." Ani niya, and she lend her hand in front of me.

Tinitigan ko lang 'yon. "So, ito lang ang dahilan kung bakit pinatawag mo ako?"

What a waste of time.

Agad namang binawi nung babae yung kamay niya, at pinanliitan ko ng mata si Kean.

"Pwede ba umalis ka muna, Serene?" He asked nicely, and the girl curtly nodded. Before finally looking at me, smiling.

"I'll see you around, president."

Sinundan namin ni Kean ng tingin yung babae hanggang sa nakalabas na siya ng principal's office.

"Nakita mo na siguro yung bagong student?" Nakunot yung noo ko.

"That girl?" Turo ko sa pinto. That was the first time I ever saw that or girl, or maybe not.

Baka ngayon lang yung unang beses na pinansin ko yung katauhan niya.

"Hindi!" He shouted as if he was a child, and I waited for his answer.

He sighed and lets his body rest on his chair bago muling mapatingin sa akin.

"You'll meet her soon enough. You're classmates after all." Hindi ko kinibo yung mga sinasabi niya, at nagtinginan lang kami buong magdamag.

"Looks like you're not interested." Well, at least he got that right.

I don't meddle with human affairs. Our affairs as vampires are plenty enough. Ayoko na ng isang pang sakit sa ulo.

"This student is special though." Agad na nakuha ni Kean yung atensyon ko, and he smiled when he knew that he did.

"Now that's the spirit little brother." My head shot up and I looked at him with anger in my eyes.

"Never call me that." I snapped at him and he raised his hands up.

"Okay, okay, fine. Going back to the topic.." Dahan dahan kong kinuyom yung kamay ko at kinalma ko yung sarili ko.

He's literally still toying with me.

"This one, came from that orphanage." Napalitan kaagad ng gulat yung emosyon ko, dissipating my remaining anger.

Didn't they already say that all the children that came there were already checked?

"Looks like one slipped in our hands." He said with a playful smile, as if he was enjoying this.

No, he is enjoying this.

"Genesis orphanage has all of its records written, there was only a few children that they housed, bilang na bilang sa daliri. They double checked if there was either someone who was not written or hidden, pero walang ganon. And now you're telling me that I missed something?"

I was the one leading the investigation, and to think that I missed something.

I was probably distracted during that time to miss that.

There was no other way that I would've made mistakes like that.

"Mukhang mapapadali na yung trabaho mo." He smiled joyfully, and I just looked at him. Analyzing every inch of the emotion that he was practically showing me.

Now.. is this fake or not?

"There's no way she's ever going to be caught that easily."

I exhaled sharply, at agad agad ko nang tinalikuran si Kean.

"I have classes to go to." I said my goodbye, and I teleported in front of my supposedly classroom.

When I got there, napatingin nalang ako sa isang babaeng nasa harap lang rin ng pinto.

Not really minding her, I quickly got hold of the knob, at saka naman siya napatingin sa akin. The girl tried not to look surprised, but it was easily seen on her face.

This might be the new student that Kean was talking about.

Realizing that, binuksan ko na yung pinto at dire diretsong pumasok.

It wouldn't be good if she realizes that I'm not human.

After a few minutes, classes started.

And Teves introduced the student to the whole class.

"Nice to meet you."

The new girl was meek and quiet. It doesn't look like this girl would even want to make her mark in this school.

It's like she just wants to be a shadow.

Well, this is interesting.

What are you hiding behind that mask?

"Well, enough with the introductions then? Let's start the class."

And the class started and ended minutes later, "Kian, you're classmates with the new student, right?" I looked over to my side only to see Kei rushing over.

"Maganda ba?" Ani niya at umakbay sa akin, and I quickly took his arm off of my shoulders.

"Come on, come on. It's not like kakainin ko siya." I looked at him again, and he gave me a mischievous grin.

"I'm not in the mood for your games, Kei." Sagot ko, at tinalikuran ko siya.

Kean is already more than enough of what I could handle.

I wanted to ask why he was here even if he wasn't in my class, but I just didn't bother to. Masasayang lang yung oras ko kapag sinabi niyang gusto niya lang akong makita.

"Finally, an answer!" Kei Arsiel Ren.

The next successor of the Ren family.

Another vampire clan.

Wielder of Reverie and the Sword of Hearts.

One of my trusted followers..

One with a few loose screws in his head.

"Kean told me about that girl." So the information's already out.

I wouldn't expect less from Kean.

Napatingin nalang ako sa kanya, and I thought about the time I met that girl.

"The girl looks human enough."

I answered and I got my uniform out of my locker. The break should at least be two hours from now..

Well, judging by the schedule anyway.

"So how did she end up in that orphanage?" I closed my locker when he finished his sentence, I could feel his stare, and I just shrugged it off.

"I will find that out."

Leaving no room for any more questions or arguments, the both of us walked out of the dressing room. Other students were also leaving along with us since the next class was about to start.

And still, Kei followed behind me.

"Paano naman yung mga nawawalang studyante?"

I continued to focus on the way ahead, but without even giving it much thought, I still answered his question.

"Ada is on it."

Napatigil ako nung napatigil siya, and he gave me a look of uncertainty.

"Are you sure that you can trust that woman?" I gave him a blank look, and he quietly stood his ground.

Siguro may problema pa rin siya kay Ada.

Well, it's not like I could blame him.

Ada's family is one of the reasons why a part of his clan members died, but to me, that didn't exactly matter.

As long as someone can get the job done.

"I wouldn't give her that task if I didn't."

Ada Teves.

Kean's trusted advisor.

Well, other than being his advisor. I think she's also his lover.

An infected witch and a twisted vampire?

Talk about a perfect match.

Tinalikuran ko na si Kei, at napatigil na naman ako sa pag alis nung may nakita akong babaeng nakaharang sa harapan ko.

"U-Um, ano.." Napalingon nalang ako sa nagsalita. Isang babae. Tinitigan ko lang at hinihintay kung ano pang sasabihin niya.

"Can I meet with you later?" I just nodded as a silent answer, then the girl went away. I could hear and see everyone on the scene.

These things are drawing too much attention.

It's about time I do something about these confessions.

They're nothing but a nuisance.

"Your popularity never ceases to amaze me." Napalingon nalang ako kay Kei na nasa tabi ko na, and I looked at the girl who was going her way.

Was that even going to benefit me?

Being popular with humans?

"If I were you, kakainin ko nalang siya." He licked his lips as if it was something sweet, at sinamaaan ko siya ng tingin. It didn't even take him a second before he noticed my glare.

"I was just kidding. Since when did I turn someone into an infected?" He explained with a lighthearted expression on his face as if he was proving me wrong.

Without any other words, I took my glare off of him and I went down the field.

I followed what they told the students to do. Classes still proceeded, one after another.

Until it was finally break.

And the girl who asked for me was already on the door of my class.

"What is it?" I asked, getting it over with as soon as possible.

"U-Um.. I want to tell you somewhere else." Agad siyang tumalikod sa akin, and I just followed. I'll ask Risa to do something about these confessions next time.

Patungong naglalakad yung babae, which was weird, kaya may nakabangga siya.

"Ah- sorry!"

She apologized as soon as she felt the impact, and I just looked as the event unfolded.

Nakita ko yung lalaking nakabangga niya, and it looks this guy won't let it go.

"Ano ba? Sa susunod pwede bang tumingin ka sa dinadaanan mo ha! Ikaw-" He raised his hand against the girl, and I grabbed his arm before he could.

"What are you doing?" I asked with irritation visible in my voice.

"A-Aerovan." After calling my name, the guy took back his arm and ran away with his tail between his legs.

Humans are such weaklings.

They trample on the weak, when they are also weak just like them.

They bury themselves in a false sense of security in power.

To begin with, what was the meaning of power for them anyway?

Binalewala ko nalang yung mga inisip ko at napatingin doon sa babae.

"Be careful next time." Sabi ko at naglakad na ulit.

Nang makarating kami sa may gilid lang nung building malapit sa garden, napansin kong tumigil na siya sa paglalakad. She immediately turned to face me, and her face was already bright red.

If I could see her ears, then maybe it'll be red too.

"C-Class President Kian Pierce Aerovan, will you go out with me?" Ang sabi niya, another confession. It should already be known to them that I don't accept confessions.

Kaya bakit pa rin ba nila sinasayang yung oras ko dahil dito?

"I'm sorry, but I can't love. And even if I do, it would not be you." I quickly answered, and a cold wind brushed through my hair as I felt a presence behind her.

"I need to go." Sabi ko, and I turned my back on her.

"Thank you for listening." I stopped briefly when I heard her speak in a melancholy tone, but I continued to walk either way.

It doesn't matter how much someone loves me.

I won't love them back, I won't.

That new girl..

She was listening..

I'll find out what you are.. sooner or later.

Without even thinking about it, the sun passed by as quickly as it came. And the moon was already shining brightly.

"She's late again." Kei muttered under his breath as he stood above tree branches, looking for any signs of her.

"Pwede bang 'wag nalang natin siya isama next time?" Kei complained, and I crossed my arms and rested my back on the tree behind me.

"She's the one with the information." After speaking, I immediately saw him in front of me with a scrunched forehead. I looked at him, as if I was already telling him to not speak any further.

"It's not like there's really an exact time for this." I explained once again, and a shadow appeared beside him.

"I hope I didn't make you wait." Franchesca said with a smile, and stood properly.

"Kanina pa kami naghihintay!" Reklamo ni Kei sa kanya, at sinamaan naman siya kaagad ni Franchesca ng tingin.

"Hindi ikaw yung kausap ko." She scowled, and turned to me with a different expression.

"Let's leave him." Franchesca said with a smile, and this time Kei protested.

"Ang kapal ng mukha!"

Franchesca Iris.

Just like Kei, she's the next successor of her family.

The Irises.

Wielder of Hydrangea.

Another one of my followers who has a loose screw in the head.

I held my head when they already started bickering like little kids, and when I finally thought that it was enough. I glared at the two of them.

"One more word, and I'll cut your tongues off."

Agad silang nanahimik dahil sa sinabi ko, at tinalikuran ko na silang dalawa.

"Franchesca, what's the update on the vampire hunters?" I asked her and I looked exactly at the skies. If you know nothing about the moon, you'd probably think that it's just another peaceful night.

But underneath that bright light lies a glimpse of truth around everything.

"They've killed a lot of infected during these past few months, and a few of our kind is held captive." After hearing those, all of us were alerted by the change in the wind.

Looks like we've got company.

"Put on your masks."

Kei and Franchesca followed, and as soon as the footsteps are heard.. I turned around.

"The white tiger, the coyote, and the pack's leader.. The Alpha."

"Give us back our comrades, Dylvan."

I told him, and he pointed his crossbow at me in return.

"Bakit parang inuutusan mo ako?" He said with an irritated smile, and from our hidden space, the three of us got a hold of our weapons.

The forest was a witness to this planned encounter, and I had my guard up when all of the hunters' weapons are finally out.

"Don't take them alone! They're strong enough to cut your head off in just an instant!" A small smirk showed on my lips as I showed up behind Dylvan.

Dividing the group instantly.

"It's not good to warn them during battle you know, it leaves you wide open" I teased, and he turned around and fired his crossbow. I could see a look of surprise on his face, and I dodged his attack with ease.

"It's nice that you're still alive." I remarked as I sat on top of a branch, staring as one by one his men fell asleep.

Franchesca's poison really works wonders at times like this.

At hindi ko natanggal yung ngiti sa labi ko nung manpansin kong hindi pa rin natutumba si Dylvan.

He must already be immune to that poison..

Dylvan might be a little too far behind to be competing with higher ranking vampires like us, but vampire hunters like them are more likely to subdue the increasing infected easily with their numbers.

It's hard to mobilize my men when there are only a few of them left.

"You're making my job a lot easier." I whispered to myself, and flicked my fingers.

When Dylvan saw what it was in my hands, his eyes were already shocked.

"Thank you for your memory." I told him off as a bright blue crystal quietly rests in my hands.

"Let's go." I called Kei and Franchesca.

Time to free our bounded men.