"Life is short, but places last longer. Never mistaken a silent town for a boring one, for each place has a story to tell for the right ones"

***

"Winter-tide's Lullaby" Matthos re-read the message on Barney's phone

"So crazy lullaby serial killer is out there singing her heart out and taking children's souls. The supposed savior is chasing Neva. We don't know Neva" Barney summarized in boredom. He was getting tired of watching Matthos pace.

"Neva said she had a father" Matthos ignored Barney's glare

"She does, but we can't contact him if he has gone to the light. Besides, we need to create a gap between Neva and that failed savior. As long as she's roaming in this very soil where the crazy lady is, she won't be safe"

"The kids who were put to sleep, are they still alive?"

"According to Mama, barely." Barney frowned "They're not dead, but they are barely alive"

"Winter is here" Matthos murmured

"Did you just quote Game of Thrones?" his friend snorted and earned himself a smack in the head

"This is winter, winter-tide's lullaby. Why is it happening now? Why only now?" he continued

"The only guess I can deduce is that something awakened these beings. Something jacked up their radars and gave them a reason to actually come up and haunt the living"

"When did the lullaby comatose plague start?"

Barney knocked his forehead, as if trying to wake up his brain "I think it started a month before I came to you"

"Neva arrived at least a week before you came"

"So we can remove Neva as one of the reasons" he pointed out

"No, it means Neva could be one of the reasons. Let's not forget, the failed savior is chasing her instead of saving babies"

"This is so complex" Barney smirked "I love it"

"I don't" Matthos admitted "I'm thinking of Neva, and how she's coping"

"She's not coping at all"

"Exactly"

Neva was given the space she needed. She rarely finished her food and preferred to be alone. Matthos and Barney made sure she didn't feel lonely.

"She needs time, Matthos"

"I wish we can afford it"

"Let's go check on her upstairs. I don't like it when we have to leave her alone" Barney stood up and dragged a very tired Matthos upstairs. They found Neva on the edge of the bed. These days, she always fell asleep. Matthos and Barney see her aura, and it's a gloomy blue. No amount of healing or enchantments can help her at the moment.

"She doesn't even want to watch anything" Barney complained

"Do you have other news from the headquarters?"

"I've heard some gossip"

Matthos pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration "Fudge balls, a gossip? Really Barney?"

"Hey, you haven't heard of it yet" he smirked and started "There's this new case that is both confidential and urgent"

"If it's confidential, why are you telling me?"

"Shut up and listen, young child" Barney patted Matthos head as if he's trying to calm a child, which was not working at all "There's been a mass search going on about a creature so pure she grants immortality"

"Vampires"

Barney shook his head "Worse, it's unknown. This creature is in demand as its blood can give you immortality, provided that you drink from it frequently. The creature is said to wake up every century or so"

"Odd"

"Indeed it is. Although there's no connection between that or Winter-tide Lullaby, both will be lethal for man kind. Have you seen the books these days? Immortality is portrayed as dope. People believe that immortality grants power. What they don't know is that with immortality, you only live forever. You will still get sick, get wounded, maimed"

"There have been a few records about humans having super powers" Matthos argued

"Super powers, but not immortal. Our records show immortals as basically normal beings who will live forever. Unless they get bitten by royal vampires to share their lives with, or be converted to any type of being, immortality isn't a suitable option for humans. For people like us"

"So what happened to the creature?"

"This is where it gets freaking tricky. Apparently, for thousands of years, this creature was held by a cult that both worshiped and abused it. They drink its blood every day, but the creature can heal. They lock it in a special casket that only their head priest can open. However, some time in the 14th century, these immortal beings died in the Bubonic Plague"

"Immortals died in the Bubonic Plague?" Matthos deadpanned

"Yep, and they are considered immortal. Some agents found the casket, but the creature is not inside of it. They did see bloody garments. Which means that if this creature is harmed, the blood drinkers would die"

"Let's stick to having a short life"

"Do you think Neva knows something about this? I mean obviously she's been skipping time. Maybe she heard rumors about it. "

Both boys pondered on the idea

"It may spark a memory and cause more problems for her" Matthos concluded

"I admire your affectionate nature, Matthos. However, being too soft on Neva would not help her. We need answers for the greater good" Barney saw a strange emotion flash on his friend's eyes "I will never sacrifice her for answers, brother"

"Your reassurance isn't needed, but greatly appreciated"

"We'll have a hard time dealing with things once the cold season falls upon us" Barney continued "If we are to travel where you want us to travel, we'll open a portal that is at its strongest pull. Will we be able to pull up such a feat with only the two of us?"

"Two human beings with a knowledge in necromancy and a bit of help from the other side can. We can't risk having a supernatural being, that has the ability to do harm on us, to know Neva's existence. Even if they had a bit of inkling, do you think they'd help us? The price we pay would be bigger, and would end up to not be worth it."

"Like our light missions where we had to deal with those special vampires" Barney shuddered at the memory

"I still have nightmares about that. Who knew there were so many types of vampires in this world? That one was creepy. They act so normal and then half of their bodies stay on the ground while half of it flies and seeks its prey" Matthos winced

"Your idea sounds much better. The other side it is. Chicken is cheap over there, and we can buy tobaccos on the way"

"Atang"

"Yep, if we call on the dead, we need to make small sacrifices. Offering them blood and sticky rice can save us a lot of trouble"

"Especially since they're all so freaking sensitive"

"Do you think they'd have an idea though?"

"I do. If we can get a hold of native spirits and have them connect us to foreign spirits, I'm pretty sure we'd be able to find a way"

"True, that country has been invaded three times" Barney recalled

"Spain, USA and Japan" He remembered meeting a deceased Belgian priest before, as they have built schools in that area and anchored themselves to haunt the area for their afterlife.

"They've been doing some trades before too. Yeah, the idea of them being able to connect us to foreign spirits is possible."

"Neva should participate in the ritual though" Matthos heard Barney's heavy sigh

"I really don't want her to participate in the ritual. Then again, her father"

"We'll discuss it with her later"

"Let's try not to drain ourselves on the way. If there's something I hate about spirits, its their ability to drain us"

"Good thing we have a talisman maker"

"I know. I'm so awesome"

They continued to discuss their ideas, glancing at Neva's sleeping figure from time to time. Even in the unsure nature of the case they are dealing with, there is one thing they are sure of. Pulling a portal there is much safer.

***

Sorry for the long absence

Just in case you're wondering, atang is an Ilocano ritual that people do to appease spirits. Ilocanos are people native to the northern parts of Luzon, the biggest island in the Philippines.Atang can be used for positive and negative intents, some even do it to kill a person while witch doctors do it to save lives. There are people who dabble with the dark arts here, and to appease the beings they disturb, its practitioners kill a special kind of chicken, light tobacco cigars, cook a special type rice, and perform a ritual. It would be hard to elaborate, although I've seen a lot of people do it.

Atang is also done by some new home owners in order to make peace with the spirits that linger in their homes. It opens a portal, and the act is disturbing at times. If you're surrounded by people who believe and even associate themselves with spirits, you'd get used to it.