The Dormant Queen of the Hybrid

Book 1, Chapter 14 Asterids

The morning arrived on the Sordlak family estate. But Asterids and her boss remained awake and vigilant for any sign of the specter. They also made an anonymous call to the security of the black church, to warn them about the creature. But the whole day went by easily without any news on Hamorabi. It seems that the security deemed their warning as a prank call. Asterids tried calling the direct line of her aunt Imelda but she’s not responding either.

“The specter kills every few months. Once or twice a year. Mr. Sandro is the first this year—”

“You need to take a rest.”

“I can’t yet, boss. Hamorabi is on the prowl to kill his second. We’ll have to deal with him ASAP,” Asterids said with a very tired voice.

“Come on, assistant. I’ll be on the look out. We’ll need you on your best self, or else you won’t be functional.” Dook explained. After a few minutes of argument, Asterids fell asleep on her own.

*** *** ***

Three days had passed that they spent together in the office, but the duo still heard no reports on any unusual sightings of Hamorabi. Since 2007, based on the files of the dead bodies that Hamorabi left on his trail, they were expecting the attack within the city of Pasig only. The attack on Asterids would be the first case that happened in the witch district, Makati city. They are already on edge.

“What if the summoner is no longer attacking in random?” Asterids started.

“Were all the previous victims even killed at random? They were only targeting alphas or hybrids.” her boss countered.

“You’re right. We’re not sure if any of the attacks were planned, or randomly decided by the summoner. There might be a pattern so obvious that we are not seeing.”

“Well all of them now have a bloody, eyeless face.”

“Your eyes is the window of your soul.” Asterids blurted out. “No one is safe. They can be anywhere. Are we back to zero?”

“We’ll figure this out, assistant.”

Mr. Tony interrupted the two by knocking on the door. “Your messenger is here, sir.”

“Let him in Tony,” Dook replied.

“Hey, Alvin,” Asterids greeted the leader of the trio goons as he enter the room.

“Ms. Asterids.. Alpha,” Alvin politely respond.

“Any news for us?”

“Yes, alpha. T-there has been another victim. It’s not yet out in public. I got it directly from the source.”

“F*ck.” Dook let out a frustrated sigh as he crossed his arms. He then composed himself after. His eyes became calculating.

“It’s alpha Chris. Madrigal clan member of the Luda family. He’s a bartender in the Makati district. They found his body in a ditch. He’s been dead for three days now, according to my source.”

“He was killed, instead of me.” Asterids’ voice shook, but her expression is distorted with rage.

*** *** ***

Asterids whole week was awful. She was not able to shake the feeling of guilt for surviving the attack, for the price of another’s life. On top of that, she received a voicemail from her aunt Imelda. She won’t be able to help her. One of the grandmaster, a witch of higher position than an arch mage, sent Imelda back to UK for a conference. Her aunt’s hands are tied at this point. Asterids is not even sure of the Coven’s decision, to turn a blind eye on this case, which is getting worse by the day. It doesn’t make sense.

“Ms. Asterids. You’ve been sucking your teeth the whole time. Are you okay?” Simon, one of the goons, asked while frowning out of concern.

“Shoot.. Sorry,” she apologized. Asterids forgot she’s not alone in the office lobby. Two of the trio goons, Alex and Simon, is with her sitting on the sofa. They are waiting for Theo to arrive, so they can proceed with meeting the gravel and sand supplier for a new construction project. She finally noticed her cold neglected coffee on the table and took a sip.

“I’ve been seeing you guys a lot lately,” she forced a smile.

“Good coincidence I guess,” Simon grinned shyly.

“I know you guys were handling a different project under the Rosario branch office project manager.” Asterids is a bit testy that day. She wanted to sleep badly.

“Now tell me the truth.. The boss has been instructing you guys to be my guard, isn’t he? Cause that’s not cool. I’m no damsel in distress,” she lied. Asterids remembered how helpless she was, when the specter attacked her. But still. Having his underlings guard her 24 hours a day, is over the top and counter productive. Simon only apologized, but didn’t answer the question. Alvin however, kept on smiling like an i***t while wearing his earphone. And ironically, this made the absent-minded-blue-eyed lady a bit annoyed.

“Alvin?” Still no respond. And so Asterids yanked the earphone from him, which made the audio of his phone, turned speaker mode. The whole lobby then was filled with the pornographic moaning coming from the audio being played in Alvin phone.

“Wait, are you listening to Pornography?”

Alvin then replied with a thirsty voice “,Yes.. Miss.” And smiled creepily. “You should try the audio book, Miss. It’ll help you relax.” He reconnected the earphone jack to his phone, then started approaching Asterids, so she can join the porn listening session.

“Dude, I’m warning you,” she threatened. But it seems that Alvin is a bit pushy today. He’s getting closer with his comical smiling face and wiggling hands like it’s fondling something soft and pinching the earphone buds, and so Asterids snapped.

Few seconds later, Asterids was caught by her boss Dook, grabbing Alvin by the shoulder, shaking him, torturing him out of unreasonable frustration. The lady just really need her rest. Dook however, noticed Alvin’s face and ears are reddish, while smiling as if dazed from excitement.

“I think he’s liking the attention.”

Asterids then made a yelping disgusted sound, releasing the poor fellow.

“Perv.” Dook and Asterids said at the same time, which made Alvin chortle.

“It’s your fault, boss! You want Alvin the pervy, chaperone me my whole life?”

“Maybe I should just marry you, Ms. Asterids,” Alvin said winking, which made Dook elbow him in the ribs.

“Alvin, I can do karate. Please do remember that.” Asterids lied.

“I’ll behave.” Alvin said immediately.

“Come on now, assistant. I’m just trying to make sure you’re safe. My clan members are good trustworthy people. Except Alvin.”

“Yes. No Alvin,” Asterids immediately agreed, which made the goon grunt as a protest.

“You need to go back to the Madrigal household. Tia asked to me to tell you. You would be safer with the clan members around. They also increased the security there,” Dook asserted.

“I don’t think we’ll be safer anywhere, boss.. We are fighting a freaking ghost!”

“You wanted to lead your people correct? Then be with them,” the young alpha countered. Asterids went silent, because she know that he’s right.

*** *** ***

She got out of a taxi cab and stared at the familiar house of the Madrigals. The outside is very luxurious and tropical in design. It have enough space for its own parking lot, a wide flower garden, a huge swimming pool that is connected to the three story main building. There is also an annex house to accept guess or clients visiting. Definitely a mansion.

Asterids went to the Madrigal household, guarded by one of the goons of the Sordlaks clan. Not Alvin, nor any of the usual trio. She lead the guy to the guests bar, together with some of the Madrigal guards. She had to compromise with her boss.

As she slink inside the main building, she felt the emptiness of the house. As if she just entered a lofty museum. Every room is definitely filled with high end or designers furniture and modern appliances, though.

“Asterids.. Thank for entertaining my request today.” The petite, corn-pixy haired lady greeted her. Tia Madrigal. It seems that she mellowed down, ever since Edward went missing. Her love for him is genuine after all. Tia is the twin flame of her father. A reincarnated lover. A mate. But she ruined Asterids’ family and she even treated her awfully in the past. But recently, Asterids felt that Tia is truthfully regretting her old ways. Almost everyday, Tia will message her, to ask for her forgiveness and also update her on Edwards whereabouts. Loneliness is not something Asterids want, even for her enemies. And so the young lady kept her face neutral, but she greeted Tia back.

“You heard about the attack, right?” Asterids started, as they both settled in the Sala.

“Yes. I already relayed my commiseration for the Luda family,” Tia replied.

“It was supposed to be me.. I saw the specter in the witches’ graveyard.” Asterids felt the fury in her heart.

“B-but the killings didn’t left our city in the past,” the old lady stammered.

“It’s getting stronger.. please remind the clan members to be on guard. Always. Never go out of their home alone, specially the alphas and hybrids. The summoner attacks day or night. Mr. Luda is second this year, but we shouldn’t take any more risk until the murderer is captured.”

“Asterids.. I don’t believe you’re safe alone out there,” Tia stood up. “Please go back and live here,” she begged. Asterids wasn’t able to answer her.

*** *** ***

Asterids found herself inside her old room. She saw all familiar photos, personal items, clothes, and even her favorite stuff animal. After giving birth to her son Andy, she didn’t have time to go back to this room to gather all this stuff. They kicked her out of the gutter, as soon as they found out the false information on Edward’s biological connection to her. How easily it is for some people to cut a love one out of their life, baffled her. Asterids tried to search within herself, for any lingering sentiment for the room. For her previous life as a Madrigal daughter.. But.. This is no longer a home for her.

She closed the door of her old room, like she’s finally moving on from a bad breakup, as she start meandering in the hallway. As per usual, she noticed her father’s office door locked. The door blends with the wall design, except it’s color is pure white. The handle is silver. Fake silver. This door is how she see the image of her strong alpha lion father. She would always stand in the hallway as she stared at her father’s strong back entering his office. Sometimes she would imagine him coming out of the room with surprise gifts of extravagance. Edward would say how much he love her, but he never really interacts with her that much. Being an omega shifter who does not use her ability, she would always see her father’s disappointed look. The office door reminds her, on how Edward kept shutting her out of his life. He would always growl at her, if she tried even just a peek at the door. In reality, he never really cared about her.

Asterids had enough of the memory lane. Though the house is huge, the emotional stuff inside it is enough to suffocate her. The house made her feel the need to be on guard and that is not s good sign. It was too much for her. She really can’t live there anymore. The house is too broken for her now. She will have to think of another way to be with the madrigal clan.