TAMING THE HEARTLESS VAMPIRE

Chapter 5

Hindi ako sumunod sa utos ni Vale.

After everything that happened—the hospital, the frozen time, the terrifying transformation—there’s no way na pupunta ako sa tulay na sinabi niya. I was not his dog. I was not a puppet he could just pull by the strings.

Buong gabi akong nanatili sa loob ng bahay namin, nakaupo sa gilid ng kama at yakap ang sarili ko. The air in my room felt stagnant, almost heavy. Pinipilit kong kumbinsihin ang sarili ko na kung hindi ko siya pansinin, kung magpapanggap akong normal pa rin ang lahat, maybe… just maybe… babalik sa dati ang buhay ko. Maybe I’d wake up and find out the cancer was still there, and all of this was just a fever dream born from my fear of death.

But deep inside, alam kong hindi na iyon posible. Every time I inhaled, I could smell the dust on the floorboards, the scent of the neighbors' cooking from three houses away, and the metallic tang of my own changed blood.

Lumipas ang ilang oras. The clock on my wall ticked like a countdown to something inevitable. Tahimik ang buong bahay, save for Adrian’s soft snoring from the other room.

Then suddenly—

Kumilos ang kurtina sa tabi ng bintana ko.

Nanigas ako. There was no breeze tonight. The humid air was dead still. Pero malinaw kong naramdaman ang presensya—isang bigat sa hangin na tila humihigop ng lahat ng init sa kwarto.

My heart starts pounding against my ribs, a frantic rhythm that felt more like a warning.

Then I hear his voice, echoing not in the room, but directly inside the cavern of my mind.

“You’re so stubborn, Aria.”

Nanlamig ang buong katawan ko. I gripped my blanket until my knuckles turned white.

Vale.

Hindi ko siya nakikita kahit saan sa kwarto, pero alam kong naroon siya. Watching me. Hiding somewhere in the shadows where the light of my small lamp couldn't reach. He was a predator waiting for his prey to realize the cage was already locked.

Pinilit kong maging matatag. I didn't want him to see me shaking. “I’m not coming with you,” matigas kong sabi sa dilim. “I never asked for this life. Hindi ko hiniling na maging tulad mo. If you want a slave, go find someone else.”

A low, melodic chuckle echoes in the room, sending shivers down my spine. It was a beautiful sound, but it carried the edge of a blade.

“But you don’t have a choice, my dear.” Kalma ang boses niya. Parang natutuwa pa siya sa pagrerebelde ko, like a scientist watching a lab rat try to escape an inescapable maze.

“You already died, Aria. Your human life ended on that pavement. And now, your only duty—your only purpose—is to be my thrall.”

Napapikit ako sa galit, my nails digging into my palms. “Paano kung ayoko? Paano kung tumanggi ako hanggang sa mamatay ako sa gutom?”

Humalakhak siya, a sound that felt like ice water being poured down my back. Then his voice becomes colder, stripping away the amusement.

“What about your brother?”

Natigilan ako. The name hit me like a physical blow. Adrian.

“How will you protect him?” bulong ni Vale sa isip ko, his voice now a seductive, dangerous hiss. “Can you even control yourself around him? Every second you deny your hunger, you become more of a monster. Do you think your love is stronger than the thirst I gave you?”

Biglang bumigat ang dibdib ko. I thought of Adrian sleeping peacefully, unaware that his sister was becoming a creature of nightmare.

Then Vale whispers something that freezes my blood, something so cruel it made my stomach flip.

“Or do you want me to kill him now… so you can finally obey me without distractions?”

“No!”

The scream tore from my throat before I could stop it. Agad akong tumakbo palabas ng kwarto, my heart in my throat.

“Adrian!” sigaw ko habang halos magkanda-dapa ako sa pagbaba sa hagdan. “Adrian, gising!”

“Ate?”

Napalingon ako sa sala. Naroon siya, nakahiga sa sofa, kagigising lang at kinukusot ang mga mata. The TV was still on, casting a flickering blue light on his confused face.

Relief crashes over me so hard I could have fainted. Agad ko siyang nilapitan at niyakap nang mahigpit, holding him as if he might disappear.

“Ayos ka lang ba? May masakit ba sa’yo?” nanginginig kong tanong, my eyes scanning his neck and chest for any sign of harm.

“Oo naman,” sagot niya, sounding half-asleep. “Bakit ka ba sumisigaw? May ipis ba sa taas?”

Pero habang yakap ko siya, may kakaiba akong napansin. Isang bagay na hindi ko naramdaman noon.

Naamoy ko siya.

Hindi yung pamilyar na amoy ng shampoo niya o yung detergent ng damit niya. It was something else.

Dugo.

Naririnig ko ang pintig ng puso niya—isang malakas, masigla, at mainit na tunog. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Naririnig ko ang pagdaloy ng dugo sa ugat sa leeg niya, tila isang mabilis na sapa na puno ng buhay.

Biglang nanuyo ang lalamunan ko. An agonizing ache started in my gums. Napapalunok ako habang hindi ko maalis ang tingin ko sa puting balat ng leeg niya. It looked so… inviting.

Then I feel it.

My fangs.

Lumalaki sila, pushing through my gums with a dull, throbbing pain. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa takot at pandidiri sa sarili ko. I was looking at my brother—my only family—as if he were food.

Bago pa ako mawalan ng kontrol, marahas akong napalayo sa kanya. I stumbled back, hitting the wall.

“Ate? Ano bang problema—”

“Wala! Stay there!” I shouted, my voice cracking.

Tumakbo ako papasok sa banyo at agad isinara ang pinto. I locked it with trembling hands and forced myself to face the mirror.

My breath hitched. My fangs were fully out, white and lethal. And my eyes… my once plain brown eyes were changing. May kumakalat na kulay ginto sa gitna ng iris ko, spreading like a drop of ink in water.

Just like Vale.

Napaupo ako sa sahig habang umiiyak, covering my mouth to stifle my sobs. “What am I becoming… Diyos ko, anong nangyayari sa akin?”

“Ate?” narinig kong tawag ni Adrian mula sa labas, kinakatok ang pinto. “Okay ka lang ba talaga? Kanina ka pa weird. Are you sick again?”

Pinilit kong pakalmahin ang boses ko, though my chest was heaving. “Okay lang ako… may... may tagos lang ako. Sumakit lang bigla yung puson ko.”

“Ah,” sagot niya, his tone immediately softening into sympathy. “Kaya pala ang sungit mo. Gusto mo bang ibili kita ng napkin sa 7-Eleven?”

Sa kabila ng lahat ng lagim, napangiti ako nang mapait. Sanay na siyang bumili ng napkin para sa akin simula nung mamatay si Mama; hindi siya nahihiya kahit lalaki siya.

“May pera ka pa ba?” tanong ko, checking my reflection again. The gold was fading, but the hunger remained.

“With wings ba?” tanong niya.

Bahagya akong natawa sa gitna ng luha ko. “Oo. Sige na, bilhan mo ako.”

“Sige ate, bili muna ako. Stay put, okay?”

Narinig ko ang pagbukas at pagsara ng pinto ng bahay. The moment he was gone, I leaned my head against the cold bathroom tiles. I couldn't stay here. I was a ticking time bomb. One moment of weakness, and I might destroy the only thing I had left to live for.

I didn't wait for him to come back. I left a messy note saying I had to run to the hospital for an emergency check-up and headed straight for the bridge.

Naglakad ako papunta sa tulay, but it wasn't a normal walk. Habang nagmamadali ako, napansin kong bumibilis ang galaw ko. The world around me seemed to slow down. I was crossing blocks in seconds, my feet barely touching the pavement.

Napahinto ako sa gulat sa dulo ng tulay. So this is real. This isn't just a hallucination or a trick. Unti-unti na akong nagiging vampire.

Pagdating ko sa gitna ng tulay, wala si Vale. Instead, may nakita akong isang matangkad na lalaking nakasandal sa isang makintab at itim na kotse. He looked professional, wearing a grey suit that fit him perfectly.

Lumapit siya sa akin at bahagyang yumuko—isang pormal na pagbati na tila galing sa ibang panahon.

“My name is Damien,” sabi niya, his voice deep and steady. “Hinihintay kayo ni Master Vale, Ms. Sinclair.”

Binuksan niya ang backseat ng kotse, inviting me in.

“Teka… asan siya?” tanong ko, my eyes searching the darkness. “Akala ko dito kami magkikita. He told me to come here.”

“He waited for hours,” sagot ni Damien, his expression unreadable. “But when you didn't arrive at the designated time, he lost his patience. He left and asked me to bring you directly to the Nightborn Palace.”

Nightborn Palace? Palasyo?

“Parang wala namang ganung lugar dito sa Pilipinas,” bulong ko. “Are we going to a hotel?”

Bahagya siyang ngumiti, a look that made me realize he knew things I couldn't even imagine. “The world you see is only a veil, Ms. Sinclair. Master Vale lives in the truth behind it.”

Wala na akong choice. If I went back home, I was a threat to Adrian. If I stayed here, the hunger would eventually drive me to kill a stranger. I got into the car.

Habang bumibiyahe kami, lalong naging malinaw na hindi ito normal na sasakyan. The scenery outside the window was a blur of lights, moving faster than any expressway speed limit.

Makalipas ang ilang minuto, pumasok kami sa isang bahagi ng probinsya na hindi ko pamilyar. We drove into a thick, ancient forest where the fog was so dense I couldn't see the road. Biglang lumitaw ang isang napakalaking lumang gate na gawa sa bakal at nababalutan ng makakapal na baging.

Kusang bumukas iyon nang walang humahawak.

Pagpasok namin, napansin ko ang napakalalaking puno—mga punong parang hindi dapat umiiral sa bansa dahil sa sobrang taas at kakaibang hugis. Then, emerging from the mist like a titan, I saw it.

A palace.

Napakalaki. Ancient stone, gothic spires, and glowing stained-glass windows. Parang galing ito sa Italy o Europe noong Renaissance period, dinala sa gitna ng gubat ng Pilipinas.

The Nightborn Palace.

Doon ko tuluyang naintindihan. I’m no longer part of the human world. I am now a guest—or a prisoner—in a kingdom of shadows.

Pinangunahan ako ni Damien sa loob ng palasyo. The hallways were lined with velvet carpets and oil paintings of people with the same cold, golden eyes. Huminto kami sa harap ng isang malaking pinto na gawa sa ukit na kahoy.

“Naghihintay sa loob si Master Vale. Good luck, Ms. Sinclair.”

Huminga ako nang malalim, pilit na pinapakalma ang nanginginig kong kamay, bago pumasok.

The office was vast, filled with the scent of old paper and expensive wine. Nasa loob si Vale, nakaupo sa isang swivel chair sa likod ng malaking mesa. He looked regal, powerful, and utterly dangerous. Malamig ang titig niya, piercing through me.

Pero hindi siya nag-iisa.

May isang lalaking nakagapos sa isang upuan sa sulok ng kwarto. May sako ito sa ulo, but I could hear his muffled whimpers. He was struggling, his body twitching in terror.

“Sit,” utos ni Vale, pointing to the chair across his desk.

Umupo ako, though my skin was crawling. “I did not like it when you let me wait for hours, Ms. Sinclair,” he said, his English crisp and biting. “Punctuality is a virtue you must learn.”

Napairap ako, my anger overcoming my fear for a moment. “Do you think it’s easy to accept all of this? Binigyan mo nga ako ng bagong buhay pero ginawa mo naman akong halimaw! I didn't want this!”

Nagdilim ang mukha niya, the air in the room turning heavy. “Your stubbornness is getting on my nerves, thrall. You are focusing on the loss, while ignoring the godhood I have granted you.”

Hindi ako umatras. Matapang akong tumingin sa kanya. “Mas mabuti pang mamatay na lang ako kaysa maging tulad mo, Vale! I’d rather be dust than a murderer!”

Sa isang iglap—so fast my eyes couldn't track him—hawak na niya ang leeg ko, pinning me against the back of the chair.

“You are one of us now,” malamig niyang sabi, his face inches from mine. “Sa ayaw mo man o sa hindi, the blood of the Nightborn flows in your veins. You will obey.”

Pinakawalan niya ako at naglakad papunta sa lalaking nakagapos sa sulok.

“You need to drink,” sabi niya, his voice devoid of pity. “The transition is nearly complete. If you do not feed now, your organs will begin to shut down again—and this time, it will be agonizing.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. “You want me to bite him? No! I won't do it!”

Ngumiti si Vale, a cruel, mocking curve of the lips. “Oh, there’s more to it than just a meal, Aria.”

Tinanggal niya ang sako sa ulo ng lalaki sa isang mabilis na galaw.

“I hope you like my gift.”

Napahinto ang mundo ko. The air left my lungs as I recognized the face beneath the hood. The man was bruised, crying, and shaking in absolute terror.

Ang lalaking nakagapos sa upuan—ang lalaking ngayon ay nagmamakaawa sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga mata—ay ang taong minsan kong minahal at naging mundo ko.

“A-Aaron…?”