CHAPTER 5.1

"Roses can bloom beautifully, but when their thorns pierce the heart, they leave behind a trail of blood—a reminder that love is never without sacrifice."

- Roses and Blood

Trigger Warning: This chapter depicts graphic violence, including death, suicide, torture, and massacre. Reader discretion is advised

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1875

"Their beloved daughter loves a fiend! A vampire!"

"That is not natural in the eyes of God!"

"Right! She's practically siding with evil! Enemies!"

"And those who side with the enemy are also enemies of God!"

"They deserve to be punished, for we don't know if that family has already joined the vampires!"

"Traitors!"

"Plague!"

These were the shouts of the countless people surrounding the burning home of the Clemente family. Nieves' Family...

I boldly emerged from the forest, and as I got closer, I saw a large banner with a cross and sword drawn on it...

They are the Brotherhood, an organization that fights and kills those like us...

They all had weapons, if I'm not mistaken, they called them bolos, spears, and swords. Each one held a blazing torch, ready to kill.

From the ground, I leaped high and landed in the middle of their rage.

They were all shocked by my sudden appearance, their eyes blazing with fear and anger.

"There he is!" screamed a woman holding a dagger, her voice filled with hatred. "He's the vampire, the lover of Don Clemente's daughter!"

They all pointed their weapons at me, but I didn't fight back. Instead, I quickly entered Nieves' house, my heart burning with fear and hope. I immediately searched for her inside, my eyes scanning the rapid spread of fire on the wooden parts of the house, the air thick with smoke, as if my world was turning to ash.

A moment later, I heard a mournful cry, accompanied by occasional coughs.

"Nieves!" I called out, my voice almost choked with tears.

"Nieves!!" I yelled, my emotions erupting, unable to hold back the tears.

I closed my eyes and sniffed, hoping to find her scent, but the acrid smell of burning wood and other belongings overpowered everything.

"Help!!!"

A voice sobbed, filled with fear and despair...

"Nieves..."

I moved quickly, following the source of the voice, until I stood in front of a room. I looked around, it was all flames, the walls seemed to dance in the fire, and fear pounded in my chest.

Two burning bodies added to my growing dread.

"Nieves?! Are you in there?!"

Hearing no response, I approached the burning door and kicked it with all my might.

It shattered and fell to the floor, and I lifted my eyes to see her.

One hand was clasped over her mouth, the other clutching her knees.

She coughed, clearly struggling to breathe in the smoky air.

Despair, pain, and suffering were etched in her eyes.

"I'm here, my love!"

She looked towards me, and just as I reached her, burning timbers crashed down from the wall.

"Nieves!" I screamed as I saw only her hand slowly falling to the floor, her body crushed by the burning debris of their room.

I froze where I stood.

"N-no... No... no..."

With all my strength, I pulled and flung aside the burning wood that was piled on her body.

"I promised... I promised..." The words escaped my lips uncontrollably.

I cried out in pain as our skin was sensitive to fire, easily burned.

"Ahhhh!" I screamed as I felt the fire creeping up my body.

But I didn't flinch.

I continued...

Until suddenly, strong arms wrapped around me, and in a flash, I felt myself lifted into the air before crashing onto the hard ground.

I opened my eyes and saw Elehiya, concern etched in her features.

I heard the sounds of destruction and crashing, causing me to turn back towards Nieves' home, now engulfed in flames.

Suddenly, I stood up, about to rush back in when Elehiya grabbed me.

She held me tightly, pulling me away to prevent me from re-entering Nieves' house.

"Brother! It's too late!"

As a wave of weakness washed over me, my knees gave way, and I collapsed onto the ground, continuing to sob uncontrollably.

Elehiya wrapped her arms around me, and soon she was crying too, as if she could feel the pain I was enduring...

AUGUST 25, 2024

MOON PHASE - WANING CRESCENT

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Genesis Villa Del Mar: I'm in the Accountancy department, guys! I'm really excited to meet you all!

Lloyd Smith: Hey! Let's hang out sometime after class or all have lunch together!

Vinci Carlos: Just a heads up! There are witches and lycans around, so let's be careful, guys! Especially you, transferee @Zephyr.

The messages from my fellow emberkins flood our group chat. We all attend the same school, and they will be the ones I spend my time with.

I stand in the elevator, heading up to the 8th floor.

As always, it's 9 PM, and I make my way to the rooftop.

After a few days, my first day of school is finally tomorrow.

"Ugh," I groan,

I can't believe I'm doing this again. How many universities have I attended now?

I can't even count how many I've been to around the world.

"Maybe this time, it will be different," I whisper hopefully.

The elevator doors open, signaling that I arrive on the eighth floor. I step out and head towards the rooftop. The city lights twinkle below.

Maybe...

maybe this time, I'll find something more than just a new school.

I look up at the sky. It is the first night of the Last Quarter phase.

Is it impatience? The longing for the full moon's return? Or a gnawing anxiety about what might happen that night if I don't think through my actions?

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and search for Elehiya's name in my contacts. She already knows I've arrived in the Philippines, and I promised her a visit, but I got too caught up in gallivanting with Thomas.

She's probably mad at me, and I'm too damn stubborn to admit it. I don't even know what subdivision she's living in now. She moved here three years ago with her boyfriend.

Elehiya is my sister—well, not biologically, but she and her parents took me in when we arrived in the Philippines centuries ago. They became my family, the only family I've ever truly known.

She was turned into one of us when she was only 19 years old. A vampire nearly killed her, but thankfully, she was saved just in time by another vampire. However, because she was bitten and the venom coursed through her body, she had no choice but to embrace her transformation.

Back then, vampires were starting to have conflicts. Some were abusive towards humans and wanted to wipe them out, while others began to feel compassion for people, recognizing their resilience and daily struggles. Those vampires started to treat humans with respect and kindness.

And I am one of them.

We are now called the Emberkins.

Vampires and humans began to have formal interactions in the early 19th century. Our kind started to mingle with them, eager to live a normal life like theirs—freely traveling under the sun, having jobs, and contributing to the community.

Eventually, we managed to control our thirst for their blood. We learned to feed on animal blood, becoming vegetarians of sorts, just to avoid harming them.

Back to Elehiya. She took a huge risk by turning her own parents into vampires.

I wish I had the courage to do the same for Nieves, to spare her the pain of a natural death. But I was too cowardly. I feared she would carry the burden of losing her loved ones—her family—with her, living forever in pain and bitterness.

As painful as it is for me, I don't want to be selfish...

But because fate has given me a chance to make amends, because she is alive again, I will protect her. I will be her shield, her protector, her guardian against the darkness that surrounds us. This is the debt I owe her, a debt I will pay with my life.

"Wow, you actually called! For a second, I thought you'd drowned at sea or your plane had crashed, but hey, you're alive!"

Yep, she's definitely miffed.

"Sorry, Elehiya," I say, trying to laugh it off. "Promise, I'll visit tomorrow after class. Just send me your address."

"Sure, whatever. By the way, where did The Sanctuary enroll you?" she asks.

I'm about to answer when I spot some humanoid figures on the rooftops of nearby buildings, hopping from one to the next like they're auditioning for a parkour movie.

I squint.

Nightbringers.

"I gotta go, Elehiya. Emergency," I say, my voice suddenly serious.

"What? Already? Come on, bro! You just don't want to tell me where you are, you're such a drama queen! I promise I won't bother you!" she complains.

I sigh.

"Elehiya, it's serious. Bye." I hang up the call.

Pocketing my phone, I take off running like a bat out of hell and launch myself towards the next building. A powerful leap gets me to the next rooftop, no problem.

They haven't gone far. I'm on their tail.