Knowing that an evil witch of Luna Roja was still half-alive makes things more complicated. An ancient witch who created vampires and werewolves. She put a curse on Ry's family to become a blood-lusting monster. Maging sariling tribo nito ay hindi nakaligtas. The tribe of witches way back in the year 950 became the first ever werewolves in history.

Up until now, I couldn't believe we are the descendant of Fodor. Ito ay ang pamilyang nangangalaga sa tribo. At ang pinakamakapangyarihan sa anim pang pamilya.

"We have to do something, Kai," I heard Ry said in a whisper tone.

I was about to respond when I heard Lola Elisa and Tita Grace muttering a witch prayer. "Hecate, Dark Mother, when I doubt, show me my strength. When I am wrong, show me the right path. Light the crossroads before me, so that I might see my way," sabay-sabay nilang bulong.

"Queen of Transitions, Guardian of Doorways, Hecate, bless my journeys. Through dark and dawn, day and dusk. Help us bring the balance of forces. Light and dark, above and below. As a coin cannot have only one side, for I am not a whole, one without the other!" pagpapatuloy pa nilang dalawa. Habang ako naman ay nakatingin lamang sa kanila. "So mote it be!"

Chills runs down my spine when a cold and calming breeze suddenly brushed against my skin. Tila ba'y ang kaninang puso kong hindi makahinga, binigyan ako nito ng muling pag-asa. Lola Elisa looked at me with assurance smile plastered upon her lips.

Mabilis na kumunot ang aking noo nang tinitigan niya lamang ako. "The Goddess Hecate answered our prayer." My eyes grew wider when Lola Elisa's voice suddenly rang in my head. She didn't even move her lips to speak. Does this mean she's speaking to me telepathically? "Help is on the way."

She once again give me an assurance smile. Nabaling kaagad ang atensyon niya sa kagigising lang ni Tito Ace, ama ni Hecate. Diretso kaagad ang mata niya sa paligid. I once again saw fear quickly took over someone's system.

"Ano'ng―" Hindi natapos ang sinabi nito nang makita niya ako. At nang mapagtanto niyang kaming lahat ay nakagapos sa kahoy. "Mahal," pagtawag nito kay Tita Grace.

"How do you feel?" Tita Grace asked.

A bitter smile plastered upon Tito Ace's lips. "Medyo nahihilo pa," sagot naman nito.

Me, on the other hand, my eyes went straight to the ground. No matter how many times they shove the guilt away from me, it keeps on coming back. It hurts me knowing that there's too many people already hurt because of my existence.

Dahil sa akin―napalunok ako ng laway nang bigla na lamang may bumara sa lalamunan ko. I absentmindedly bit my lower lip to restrain my tears from falling upon my eyes. Dahil sa akin nadamay sila. Dahil sa akin kailangan nilang pagdaanan ang mga ganitong klaseng paghihirap.

"Once our help arrive, Kai must die." My heart skipped a beat when I heard what Lola Elisa said in my head. Pero mukhang kaming apat ang sinabihan niya nang makita ko ang reaksyon ni Rory. "You all have to trust me. Do not worry, we all have everything under control." Puno ng kasiguraduhang dagdag niya.

Tita Grace looked at me with determination. Maging si Tito Ace naman ay tila sumasang-ayon sa sinabi ni Lola Elisa. Habang ako naman ay kinakabahan. Are they telling me that I should give up?

Or perhaps, dapat lang talaga sa simula pa lang.

Napalingon naman ako sa kinaroroonan ni Rory. His eyes were filled with anger, sadness, and most especially fear. I shed tears. When he saw my tears, his face softened. Napansin ko kaagad ang nagtubig niyang mga mata.

"Please." Mas lalong sumikip ang dibdib ko nang marinig ko ang bumibiyak niyang boses. "There might be the other way," he pleaded. Lumagpas ang tingin niya sa akin. He was looking at Valenzuela witches.

"As I said, don't worry," madiing sagot ni Lola Elisa sa aming isipan. "This is what Hecate, our patron, wanted. Kailangang mamatay ni Kai upang matalo natin ang mga kalaban. Most especially, Hergest, the ancient evil witch. If she continue to walk upon the Earth, we all are doom," she answered.

Mali ako. Lola Elisa don't want me to give up. Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng plano niya, pero isa lang ang siguro ako. I need to die. Kailangan kong mamatay para magtagumpay kami. It's as if Lola Elisa wanted to tell me there's something waiting for me after my death.

"Del Grosso, rest assured you'll have him back," pangako ni Lola Elisa.

Dahil sa ipinangako ni Lola Elisa ay napawi ang takot sa mukha ni Rory. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw his chest moved. To be followed by a sigh of relief. Tila ba'y nabunutan siya ng tinik sa lalamunan.

Nagkatitigan kaming dalawa ni Ry. Walang ni isa sa amin ang gustong magbitaw. Nawala man ang takot sa mukha niya, pero nandoon naman ang kaniyang pag-aalala. I give him a confident smile, even though the fear of death lingers in my system.

Nagkaiwasan lamang kami ng tingin nang bigla naming marinig ang malakas na tunog ng conch horn. Lumabas si Meira sa Alpha's Lair na pagmamay-ari ko. Suot-suot nito ang plain white na bestida. Nakasunod naman ang ilang witches na nakasuot naman ng plain black na bestida.

May isang witch na may bitbit ng isang puting bowl. She created a binding circle using salt. Nang matapos siya'y laking gulat ko nang mapagtanto ko ito. A binding circle with the symbol of the Devil. Sa gitna ng star ay may pile ng mga kahoy. Logs that used to start a bonfire.

Napamura kaagad ako sa aking isipan nang maalala ko ang sinabi ni Hecate sa akin kanina sa school. This is what she saw from her vision. Pagkarating ni Meira sa isang maliit na binding circle malapit sa pinakamalaki ay tinapunan niya muna ako ng tingin.

A devilish smile quickly plastered upon her lips. "Phasmatos incendia!" Meira suddenly said. Pagkatapos niyang sabihin ang mga katagang 'yon, biglang lumiyab ang apoy sa kahoy na nasa gitna ng star sa binding circle.

I saw Meira nodded to Cedric. Kaagad kong nakuha ang inutos ni Meira sa kaniya nang kaladkarin nila ang isa sa miyembro ng pack ko. Napatayo ako sa aking pagkakaupo't pilit na kumawala sa pagkakagapos. It seemed like my soul left my body when Meira mercilessly slit his troat.

"No!" umiiyak kong sigaw. "Huwag mo silang idamay!" pagmamakaawa ko.

My admonition was ignored. Meira started to mutter an incantation.

Mas lalong lumakas ang aking hagulgol nang muli na namang kumuha pa ng isa sa miyembro ng pack ko si Cedric. Lola on the other side was grunting and restraining. But her tears were undisputably visible. My heart once again skipped a beat. Halos hindi na ako makahinga sa mga nasasiksihan ko.

The cries of crescent kids never ends. Umalingawngaw sa tenga ko ang kanilang mga pagmamakaawa. My throat was as if clogged. My rivers of tears won't stop falling upon my eyes.

It hurts. It hurts. It fucking hurts!

Meira moaned in pleasure after she slit the throat of her second sacrifice. "I provide thee the blood of my mother's descendants. Give me what my heart wants!" Sigaw ni Meira.

An ominous breeze brushed against my skin. Tila ba'y simoy ng hangin ni kamatayan. Ibang-iba ito sa hangin na idinulot ng prayer ng Valenzuela witches kanina sa diyosang si Hecate. I could smell the fragments of toxicity mixed in the air.

Tila ba'y binuksan ni Meira ang pintuan ng impyerno.

Kumuha na naman si Cedric ng isa pang miyembro ng pack sa isang binding circle ilang pulgada ang layo sa kung nasaan si Meira. Mas lalong dumami ang mga luhang nagbagsakan sa aking mga mata. Just like what Meira did to the first two, she slit the throat with her blade.

Ominous breeze once again brushed against my skin. And slightly blows my hair.

"Praise the Dark Lord!" the other witches answered to her.

The bonfire suddenly become restless. Mas lalong sumiklab ang apoy. Tila ba'y nagustuhan nito ang mga ginagawa ni Meira. Sa sobrang sikip ng aking puso ay tila lumukso ito palabas nang tumingin sa akin si Meira.

"Bring me the hybrid!" She shouted.

Two vampires suddenly appeared in front of me. To my surprise, biglang bumagsak nang kusa ang pagkakatali ng lubid sa aking pulsuhan. It's as if the rope was enchanted. Hinawakan naman ako nang mahigpit ng dalawang bampira't kinaladkad papalapit kay Meira.

"Hybrid, hybrid, hybrid. Stand before me, move I forbid," kaagaran niyang pagbanggit ng kaniyang spell.

Naglakad ako papunta sa harapan ni Meira. Nasa likuran ko siya. Pagkarating ko sa harapan niya'y hindi ko na magalaw ang aking katawan. A tears once again fell upon my eyes when I heard Lola wailing in her werewolf form.

Pinagtaasan ako ng balahibo sa braso nang dumampi sa leeg ko ang blade na hawak-hawak ni Meira. I quickly grimaced when I felt she slowly shoved the edge. On the other hand, my heart won't stop pounding.

So, this is how it feels when you are on the brink of death.

"O mighty dark lord, in exchange of flesh and bones. Provide me no more hearts and stones." Meira continued to mutter her incantation while slowly slit my throat. Blood instantaneously raced down my neck. "Here's the blood of both my beloved, let me walk upon the earth!" she once again shouted.

My eyes grew wider when she finally slit my throat. Kaagad niya akong binitawan. Bumagsak ang walang lakas kong katawan. Tanging iyakan ng mga mahal ko sa buhay ang aking naririnig. Then suddenly my world starts spinning.

Meira's blade wasn't an ordinary. It deprived my body to heal itself. My breathing becomes heavy. My heart won't stop pounding. Namimigat na rin ang talukap ng aking mata.

"Mother, Maiden, Crone, stand around him, shoulder to shoulder, so only precious life may hold him. As your lunar light doth wax and wane, keep him on this mortal plane. By torchlight, key, and holy knife, hold Caelestis close to life!"

Rinig na rinig kong sabay-sabay na bigkas galing sa apat na boses. A last smile plastered upon my lips. One of the four is Hecate's voice. I don't know where she is.

I don't have the time to look around when my eyes slowly close as death starts to devour me.