Archive of Our Own

Vampires, werewolves, and witches.

They’ve always been a myth to others. Just some mere stories passed down from one generation to another. Tales that were created to scare children from going out when the sun is out. To hide the truth of what lies in the darkness.

The truth that they exist.

They have always existed. 

They’re not just mere folktales passed down by some ancestors who’ve seen the truth. They were warnings. A way to tell the others to be cautious because these creatures have evolved. They’re not the same creatures as were told in the tales. 

Vampires who can walk under the sun if they wear something that can protect them from it through a spell cast by a witch.

Witches can simply live their normal lives without showing their magic. Some passed down their knowledge, while some decided to bury their history.

And werewolves finally learned how to live in peace, avoiding the bloodshed, and just living their lives without seclusion as normally as possible.

They also learned how to live together harmoniously. A pact was made to stop each other from creating more bloodshed and intervening with human lives. Boundaries were created to stop each other from using the humans as a shield whenever there is conflict brewing on each side.

As vampires need blood to live, they decided to only drink from humans who are willing and accept their true nature, while some resorted to hospital blood bags and animals. Those who are bloodthirsty, mostly new vampires, are isolated and trained by the older generation to control their bloodlust.

One of these older vampires is Stacey. A 222-year-old vampire who only drinks from blood bags and lives her life like a human.

When she was sired after almost dying from a plague, she immediately promised herself that she would never let herself taste another human's blood after she was forced to complete her transition as a vampire.

She learned how to control her thirst for it. Even letting herself be exposed to vervain. A poisonous plant, when it touches their skin. A venomous plant, when consumed by them.

She spent her life learning how to control herself and helping others, too. It may seem like a chore for others, but it was not for her. It was the purpose of her other given life, even as an immortal, to help creatures like her to live a normal life.

Stacey is beautiful. Majestic even.

A lot of people admired her beauty, coveted it, but she didn’t give them any chance to be close to her.

She always maintained her distance, avoiding romance altogether. 

It was always like that for her.

But things are bound to change when fate intervenes.

-

“Seryoso ka ba dito?” 

Stacey’s voice rang inside the office of Colet, the one who saved her from dying, and her friend who made their lives easier to live with humans and other creatures.

Colet sighed and nodded. Her eyes were tired but her youth is still there. After centuries of living her life as a vampire, hindi na bago ang pagod na nararamdaman niya dahil sa responsibildad niya na protektahan ang ibang bampira.

She was also the one who helped Stacey break free from her thirst for blood.

“Yeah. As much as I want to attend, I can’t. May pupuntahan ako sa araw na ‘yan so ikaw lang talaga sasalo nito. You don't have work pa naman overseas. You can handle this. I'll also try na magpapunta ng makakasama mo.”

“What about the invitation? How will I be able to enter if sa’yo nakapangalan ‘yan?”

“Don't worry about it, I asked for another one na nakapangalan sa'yo just in case I won't be able to go there.” Colet grinned at her.

“Baka hindi effective. Hindi ako nakapasok.”

“Girl, it will be. Chill out.”

Annoying talaga nito! 

Pero syempre, hindi pa rin papatalo si Stacey. 

“Pwede palit na lang tayo? Me na lang diyan sa kung saan ka man pupunta.”

“Girl, it’s Maloi’s birthday. Sure ka ba na gusto mong ikaw ‘yung pupunta? Kaya mo ba?”

Agad namang itinikom ni Stacey ang bibig niya at hindi na nagpumilit pa.

Maloi is the witch who gave her the daylight ring to protect her from the sun and was Colet’s wife. She remembered meeting her the first time when she was turned into a vampire. Maloi was caring and didn’t give her any looks of pity for what she suffered. Instead, she became a friend to Stacey, who was vulnerable, sensitive, and needed a lot of support for her new environment.

Although Maloi is kind and welcoming to creatures like her, her family is not. That’s why it’s a shock when a vampire/witch matrimony happened, earning a lot of contradictions from both sides, but they couldn't stop Colet and Maloi from loving each other since they were powerful enough to repel others from controlling them or having a say in their lives.

“Will she go to sleep again ba this year?” Stacey asked as she sat down on one of the couches inside Colet’s office.

The familiar yearning and unease in Colet’s facial expression didn’t escape her eyes.

“Yes. Another 5 years.” The older vampire whispered. Her voice was laced with sadness.

It was always like that whenever it was time for Maloi to sleep again. A way to stop herself from ageing like a normal human being. It was a method she chose for herself while finding a spell to stop herself from ageing. All the centuries of accumulated knowledge are slowly bearing their fruit since every time Maloi goes to sleep, the years she spent sleeping are decreasing also.

“Almost complete naman ‘yung spell diba? Kunting hintay na lang, Ate Colet. You’ll be with Ate Maloi without her sleeping again para ‘di lang siya tumanda.” She tried to reassure the older vampire.

Naiintindihan niya ang Ate Colet niya. Patience is a skill that she developed from all those years that Maloi was sleeping while she waited patiently. Stacey witnessed Colet’s desolation whenever her lover was not with her.

“I know. Namimiss ko lang talaga siya.”

“Mamimiss ka rin niya. Alam ko ‘yan.” 

After their conversation about the upcoming meeting, Stacey decided to go to her favorite park and eat some street food there. It’s been so long since she went outside and ate some food from her favorite vendors. Sawa na siyang uminom only sa blood bags at ‘di kumain ng kahit anong pagkain.

It was dark already when she arrived at the park.

The street food vendors were all present and are lining up sa mga lugar nila na nakaugalian na ni Stacey na puntahan.

She fixed her hair when the wind suddenly blew to her side, but with it, an unfamiliar scent lingered.

Stacey stopped in her tracks and let her eyes wander around the place. Some people were running around since the park is also for people who like jogging. It was also a pet-friendly park, so there were some animals in there with their owners lounging around the grassy areas of the park or playing catch.

What the hell is this scent?

It was not a scent that she was used to. 

It was a new scent that somehow captivated her.

It was musky, sweet, and had a hint of danger.

A scent that she’s never smelled from anyone she encountered.

Stacey closed her eyes to enhance her focus on the scent. Her plans were now ruined just because of a scent she smelled in the air.

Slightly left… not far from me. I can smell it.

She opened her eyes and immediately shifted her attention to where the smell was coming from.

There were several people, but her focus was enduring. She let her gaze run along the people until it stopped on one person.

It was a woman who wore a cap over her slightly disheveled hair. The woman was wearing a comfortable white shirt and a running shorts. Only her side profile is visible to Stacey, but she is sure that the scent was coming from that woman.

Stacey didn’t notice herself walking towards the woman. It was as if her body had moved on its own. It was too late to stop herself because she was now in front of the woman who is, by the way, gorgeous as fuck now that she’s seen her upclose.

She almost wanted to slap herself and just turn her back and walk away from embarrassing herself when the woman suddenly looked up and met her eyes.

Shit naman. Ang ganda lord!

“Hi?” The woman greeted her after noticing her presence.

Stacey almost malfunctioned again after hearing the woman’s voice. It was calm and gentle. Parang hindi makakapatay kahit insekto dahil sa boses nito. The way a single word soothed something inside Stacey made her wanna run away from the place this instant because she somehow couldn’t understand herself anymore.

“Hello? Are you okay?”

The woman's question was followed by a bark from a dog. 

Stacey looked down, only to see a golden retriever circling her. Her eyes widened. It was another first for her. Dogs aren't friendly with her, kahit anong breed pa ‘yan. It was always a struggle for Stacey to maintain a good relationship with animals, dahil na rin siguro na se-sense ng mga ito na hindi siya normal na tao.

She was a vampire, a predator of the night, and vampires hunt animals to quench their thirst for human blood. 

Although she doesn't drink animal blood anymore after blood bags were invented, she's still one of them. And animals could sense it. 

It was only her cat who could stand her presence. Ang masungit niyang pusa pero mahal na mahal niya. 

But right now, a literal golden retriever is wagging its tail at her. Not showing any signs of aggression like how animals normally react towards her kind. It was just circling her and smelling her. 

“I-is this your dog?” Those were the only words that Stacey could mutter at that moment. 

The woman in front of her smiled. It was a friendly one, too. It made Stacey’s heart beat faster than it normally does.

“Yeah. This is Oliver. My companion.”

Stacey bent down and reached out to Oliver with a slightly trembling hand. She gently brushed the golden retriever’s fur with her fingers before letting out a satisfying sigh.

“Oliver likes you,” the woman suddenly commented.

Stacey stopped playing with Oliver’s fur and stood up straight again. “What made you say that?”

“He doesn’t like people that much. This is the first time na lumapit siya sa ibang tao except for me, a couple of my friends, and my family.”

“Oh,”

Stacey didn’t know what to say. It was a first for her, too, so she was as confused as the woman in front of her.

Her body just moved on its own earlier after getting a whiff of the woman’s scent, but now they’re having a conversation about Oliver.

“Do you need something pala?” The woman asked again.

This time, though, Stacey has an answer already for it.

“Uh, nakita ko lang kasi ‘tong si Oliver. Nacute-tan ako. Sorry if na disturbo kita.” She reasoned out. Trying to stop her voice from shaking.

“Hmm, it’s okay. It’s nice to see Oliver liking someone other than me.” The woman chuckled. “I’m Aiah nga pala.”

“I’m Stacey. Nice meeting you, Aiah,” she looked down and offered a little smile to the dog. “And to you, Oliver.”

“I’m new dito sa area so I don’t know the pasikot-sikot. I’m trying to familiarize the path with Oliver while I do my daily jog.” 

“Kaya pala hindi ka pamilyar sa’kin.” Stacey commented, her attention still on the dog to distract herself from the scent that the woman in front of her started emitting again.

Aiah, on the other hand, observed the girl silently. She was new to the place, so she needed to stay on high alert even if she knew that her pack was just around her, exploring the place, too.

Stacey exuded an unfamiliar scent for Aiah, too. She smelled it in the air even before she stepped into the park. Even if she wanted to deny it, the real reason why she went to the park was to follow the scent she managed to catch while she was running around the neighborhood.

It was refreshing—an ambrosial scent that awakened all her senses. 

She had never caught a scent like this before. 

A scent that enticed her whole being.

It was a new experience for Aiah. She was always in control of herself, but today, she just followed her instincts. Not thinking about where it could lead her. 

It led you to this pretty lady, so you can't complain anymore. 

The wolf inside her was screaming something to her, but she ignored it. She didn't want the woman in front of her to know what she was thinking. 

“You often go around here?” Aiah asked, trying to get Stacey to look at her. 

Kanina pa ito na kay Oliver lang ang atensyon. Aiah's not the impatient or the jealous type of person so it was alright for her if her dog had all the attention of other people.

But this is the first time nga pala na may nagustuhan ang maarte niyang aso at ito pa ang unang lumapit. It was also the first time that she wanted to remove someone's attention from her dog because she wanted Stacey to look at her. 

Only her. 

“Yep. Kakain sana ako ng street food noong na amo–uh, nakita ko si Oliver.”

Stacey wanted to slap herself for almost slipping. 

She looked up again and met Aiah's eyes, who was already gazing at her. As if they were waiting for her to look at them for a while. 

Aiah's eyes just carried a depth that Stacey couldn't understand. Pakiramdam niya’y parang isang salita lang nito, mapapasunod kaagad siya. 

Well, that can happen if a vampire compels a human, but she isn't a human, making it impossible for her situation right now. 

“Let me treat you.” Aiah suddenly offers. 

Stacey immediately shook her head. Afraid that furthering their interaction will make her lose control even more. 

It was enough that her blood felt like boiling inside of her, and her fangs were itching to get out just by the whiff of Aiah's scent in the air. 

She couldn't let herself get exposed in public. 

“‘Wag na,” She laughed nervously. “I need to go na rin kasi. My boss just messaged me to go back to the office.” She tried to lie smoothly while pulling her phone from her pocket. 

Aiah noticed the hesitation in Stacey’s voice. It also didn't escape her attention how she lied because she never pulled her phone before to see if there was a message on it, nor did she hear any vibrations or notification sound from Stacey’s phone, so Aiah assumed that she probably wasn't comfortable anymore and wanted to leave the place. 

“Next time, then? If we see each other.” Aiah said, offering a warm smile to Stacey, who was itching to leave the place. 

“Yeah, next time. See you around, Aiah.” Please no next time because I think I'll lose my shit if I ever smell that scent again. 

“See you,” 

-

It was the quickest ever that Stacey ran away from a place. She almost used her vampire speed in front of other humans because of her desperation to get away from Aiah's scent. 

That damn scent.

Why did it have to make her whole body go crazy? 

As if all the cells in her body wanted to taste something foreign… Something that she hasn't tasted for so long… 

Stacey tried to catch her breath after finally gaining some distance from the park. 

She could still smell it. That scent. 

The scent that won't leave her alone. Parang naka engrave na ‘yung amoy sa katawan niya with only that short interaction between them. Hindi niya na maintindihan kung bakit gan’on na lang ang reaksyon ng katawan niya kay Aiah. It was a new experience for her. 

Even when she was still a new vampire, she never lost this much control over herself. She always tried to be as level-headed as possible, but the way she acted earlier was far from being level-headed. 

She was a wreck. 

And a loser. Well, sort of. 

“I need to see Ate Colet.” She whispered to herself before finally having the strength to move again. 

She was fighting every inch of herself para hindi na lumingon at baka kusang bumalik ang katawan niya sa kung nasaan si Aiah. She couldn't even look at her reflection in the rearview mirror of her car, as she already knew it was completely black and veins were protruding around it. 

After reaching her apartment building and Colet’s, she immediately parked her car and went straight to the stairs. She didn't wanna wait on the elevator; instead, she used her vampire ability to get to their apartment floor. It took her a couple of seconds to reach Colet’s unit and knock the hell out of her door. 

“Sandaliiii!”

Stacey could hear the irritation in Colet’s voice as her senses heightened. 

Her fangs are already showing up, and her knuckles are white. 

When Colet opened the door, she didn't need her permission to enter. She just went inside, which confused Colet because Stacey is never a rude person when it comes to other people's homes. This is another first. 

Stacey felt Colet following her from behind after locking the front door. She exhaled loudly before facing Colet, who immediately stopped in her tracks when she saw Stacey’s face. 

“What the hell…”

“I don't know what's happening to me, Ate Colet. I need your help!”

After recovering from the shock, Colet immediately ushered her to sit down. 

“Upo ka muna diyan at kukuha lang ako ng blood bag.”

“I don't need it…”

“But you look-”

“Hungry.” Stacey cut her off before looking away. “Alam ko.”

“Then why are you here? May stock ka naman ng blood bags sa condo ko so why go here?”

“I don't know, okay? That's why I'm here. I don't know what's going on with me. This just happened.”

“What do you mean that it just happened?” Colet’s forehead was now knitted together. Her irritation from Stacey’s sudden visitation warning and confusion with the way she's acting right now is palpable. 

“Shit.” Stacey covered her face with her palms, frustratingly. 

Hindi pa rin maalis ang amoy nito. She could still smell Aiah even if she was now miles away from her. Hindi niya na maintindihan kung bakit ganito ang nararamdaman niya. 

It was very frustrating and new to Stacey, and she didn't know how to handle it. 

“Colet, may bisita ba-OMG! Stakuuu!”

A familiar voice broke the growing tension between them. 

Stacey removed her hands from her face and lifted her head just to see Maloi na nakapantulog na tumatakbo papalapit sa kanya. 

“Namiss kita, girl!” The witch hugged her with all her might, and Stacey just let her. 

She needed every comfort that she could get at that moment. 

Stacey even tried to smell Maloi’s scent. It was different from Aiah’s. Although it was still pleasant compared to others, Aiah’s scent was still different. It was only her scent that made Stacey almost lose control—well, she kinda already did to some extent.

“Bakit ka pala nandito? And why do you look like that?” Maloi asked after breaking the hug and looking at her and Colet alternately. 

“She's thirsty, langga.” It was Colet who answered for her. 

“O? May stock ka naman diyan sa ref, ba’t ‘di mo binigyan?”

“Ayaw niya po.”

Nameywang naman si Maloi sa harapan ni Stacey noong marinig iyon. “At bakit?”

“Because I'm not hungry for that.”

“But you look like you are,”

“I know.” Stacey sighed frustratingly. “That's why I'm here.”

Stacey shared what she experienced with the couple who just sat across her, listening to her attentively. The couple gave each other some weird looks while listening to Stacey’s experience with smelling Aiah's scent. 

The way Maloi looked at Colet made her feel that they already knew and understood what was going on with her. 

“So basically, her scent attracted you?”

“Yes,” I nodded. “It just made my body move on its own.”

“Alam mo ba kung bakit attracted ka sa amoy niya?”

“No, that's why I'm here.”

“I think…” Colet paused, gave Maloi that weird look again before continuing. “You're craving her blood.”

“What?!”

“Listen,” The older vampire sighed. “You said that her scent attracted you. Her scent still lingers until now, even if you're not facing her. It only means that you're attracted to her blood, Stacey. What you smelled from her was her blood. A fragrance you never liked smelling from others.”

“But it smelled different from the other humans…”

“That's the reason why it attracted you. Her blood is something unique, and that makes you crave her.” Colet explained. “I never shared this with you, but I'm also like this with Maloi. Only her blood attracts me because it smells different from the others. I know that witches, and other creatures like werewolves, have a distinct and familiar smell, but hers is just different, even though she's also a witch. She just pulled me. Her scent pulled me towards her, and I couldn't stop. Just like how you're feeling right now.”

“How do I get away from this?”

“That's…” Colet glanced at Maloi again before giving her a sad look. “I don't have an answer for that except for consuming her blood. I'm sorry.”

-

Even after hours had passed since Stacey went to Colet’s unit, she still couldn't fall asleep. 

The cravings subsided, yet she could still smell her. 

Stacey clenches her teeth as she rolls around her bed. She was exasperated. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang gagawin niya dito sa nangyayari sa kanya. 

She was hoping that she wouldn't run to Aiah again. She wanted to avoid her as much as possible, lalo na’t alam niya na baka bigla niya itong makita one random moment while walking around. 

For a couple of days, hindi siya lumabas sa unit niya because she wanted to make sure that she was in control of herself again before going out. She just rested in her home with permission from Colet, who was still worried for her. 

“Do you want me to call for Shee?” Colet’s voice and face on the screen made Stacey laugh a little. 

“Hindi na, sis. I'm fine. I'm in control.” Barely. 

“Sure ka diyan ha? Just call me if you need anything. If you can't attend the gathering later, I can do it. Sabihan ko na lang si Maloi. Alam naman niya sitwasyon mo so she'll understand.”

The meeting is an important gathering for all creatures, a chance for them to mingle and strengthen the peace with each other. Stacey knew that she needed to attend as Colet’s representative. 

“Uy ‘wag wag na! You have a limited time with Ate Maloi, so don't waste it. Pupunta ako mamaya. I can do it.”

“Sige. Basta magsabi ka kung may kailangan ka, okay?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

After the call, she started preparing herself for the gathering. Stacey wore a simple black dress that almost hugged all her curves. She wanted to wear a suit at first, but she changed her mind when she saw that the gathering was intimate and casual. 

She let her curled hair fall over her shoulder. Kahit ang makeup niya ay simple rin. ‘Di na siya nagpabongga sa pananamit dahil it was an intimate gathering naman and not a formal one.

“Time to go.” She said to herself while looking at her vanity mirror. 

She made sure that there was no hint of what had happened days ago on her face.

Her eyes were in their normal shade. A shade of dark brown. Her pupils were of their normal size. Completely different from what it looked like when she caught a whiff of Aiah’s musky scent mixed with something sweet, and a hint of danger.

She remembered how it had darkened days ago. The way her fangs almost unveiled themselves because of Aiah—the owner of the scent that beguiled her. 

That new feeling is still with her. The way her body almost had its own mind. 

For over a century, she has never sired anyone nor bitten another human after her transformation. The bloodthirst was quenched through enough patience and control by only consuming blood bags.

Stacey closed her eyes and tried to make that image of hers disappear from her mind. It was not the right time for that. She needed to go out and go to the meeting place. It was a good thing that the gathering wasn’t far from her place, so she didn’t need to rush, but she always wanted to be on time or earlier than that kaya napagdesisyunan niya nang umalis na.

It was almost seven in the evening when she arrived. She was 30 minutes early, giving her time to explore the place for a short while.

“Invitation, please?”

“Here,” 

“Ms. Stacey Aubrey Sevilleja.” The host gave her a professional smile before returning her invitation. “Welcome, madam.”

The venue was in a newly built restaurant that she hadn’t tried yet. Sa pagka-alala niya, it was built 2 months ago. She remembers her friend, Sheena, inviting her to go and try the restaurant together, but she never gave any response kasi busy pa siya sa trabaho at may mga bagong bampira siyang tinutulungan.

“Wine, madam?” a waiter approached her, obviously a vampire from their scent.

Stacey briefly glanced at the red fluid inside the wine glass before accepting it. She felt like drinking any alcohol she could get her hands on just to alleviate the uneasiness she was feeling even though it wouldn't make her drink. 

She found a spot in the corner of the restaurant where she could see everyone. She took a sip from her wine while she listened to some murmurs not so far away from her. There were already other creatures there, mingling and talking about some stuff that Stacey didn’t bother to listen to anymore.

Outside of the restaurant, Aiah just arrived with two members of the pack—Jhoanna and Mikha.

Aiah was wearing a white crop top under a black blazer. She was wearing a skirt earlier, but she changed into a comfortable black trousers to pair with her top.

Her exhaustion could be felt by the two werewolves who were just trailing behind her. Aiah just came back to the country after securing another contract for her company. She wasn’t just a simple pack leader. She was also a businesswoman in the human world.

There has been that displeasure too for a couple of days now and they don't know why. 

Ever since Aiah came back from her stroll with Oliver, she just felt… different.

Hindi mawari nila Jhoanna kung ano ang nangyari kay Aiah. It often happens na wala ito sa mood lalo na kapag pagod sa trabaho at pag naiirita ito sa ibang werewolves na hinahamon si Aiah kahit na obvious na hindi nila ito kayang kalabanin. 

This time it’s different, though. This is worse.

Mikha wanted to ask, but Jhoanna would just give her that look that says “don’t even dare,” and she would just end up shutting her mouth.

Aiah knew that her mood was affecting her pack, but she couldn't do anything about it. Her body just misses that smell. That fragrance. The scent that captivated her.

She was just enticed by her, at ngayon, hindi niya mapigilan na hanap-hanapin ito. 

After that encounter, she immediately asked Gwen for Stacey’s information. Gwen didn’t bother asking anything and just followed Aiah cause she knew her friend. Hindi ito basta lang nagpapaimbestiga ng tao kung hindi ito interesado. 

Basically, Aiah knows who Stacey is now and what she is. 

A vampire, yet she didn't notice at that time.

Even just relieving that encounter makes the wolf inside Aiah howl like hell. She was always in control, but now there was someone who just took that control away from her.

And that someone is hiding in the corner of the restaurant—no escaping from Aiah’s sharp senses.

It was like a storm inside her had calmed down. Her wolf quieted down. The tiredness and irritation she was feeling earlier just disappeared upon sensing Stacey’s presence inside the place.

“I’ll just go somewhere. You’re free to roam around.” She uttered before leaving the two werewolves, who were both confused by Aiah’s sudden change of demeanour.

“Okay lang ba ‘yun?”

“Let’s just let her be. Tara kuha tayo ng drinks.”

While Mikha and Jhoanna went to get a drink, Aiah roamed around the restaurant, trying to find where she got a whiff of that familiar scent. 

There, her eyes suddenly landed on a woman, completely alone in the corner of the room with a wine glass that was almost empty. She was sure that the woman sensed her presence because of how her posture changed when Aiah’s eyes landed on her.

Stacey suddenly felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. As if someone’s watching her from a distance. Hindi niya siya nagkakamali dahil nakatingin si Aiah sa kanya, who was now making her way to where she is.

Their eyes briefly met each other, but it was Stacey who tore her eyes away from Aiah first. She couldn’t stand how Aiah’s eyes, with the same shade as hers, could look at her with that kind of intensity. 

She could feel her blood boiling again from just sensing Aiah’s presence. Hindi na rin siya makapag-isip ng mabuti, completely forgetting the fact that Aiah was in a place where different creatures are supposed to meet and mingle.

Huli na nang mapagtanto niya na hindi normal na tao si Aiah.

She was like them, too. Hindi niya lang alam kung ano.

“Hi. It’s nice seeing you again, Stacey.” Aiah gave her a charming smile, revealing her two cute dimples, which made Stacey swallow hard.

Tangina, ang ganda talaga.

“Aiah… ‘di ko in-expect na makikita kita dito. I thought you were…” Stacey paused, unsure if she should continue what she was about to say.

“A human right?” she chuckled. “I get that a lot, but no worries. I’m not offended.”

“So, uh, are you a vampire?”

Aiah stared at her for a few seconds before replying. “Hmm, no.”

“Oh,” So she’s either a werewolf or a witch.

Stacey wanted to ask what kind of creature she was, but she stopped herself from asking it cause it was not her business to begin with.

In normal circumstances, vampires like her, who are older and have well-trained senses, could immediately detect if another creature was around them. There is a specific smell for each creature, and the way they present themselves to others is what gives them away.

But with Aiah, Stacey can’t recognize her scent.

Hindi siya sure kung witch ba ito o werewolf dahil sa amoy nito na bago sa kanya.

They started talking about random things about the gathering, never mind the questions in Stacey’s head about Aiah's background. Aiah is a fun conversationalist. Even with little or random things, she knows how to listen well and respond without cutting off Stacey mid-sentence. 

Hindi na nila namalayan na ilang minuto na pala silang nag-uusap, not until they were all called to gather around the area for a brief formal greeting to each other. 

Since Stacey was alone, Aiah stayed with her even if she didn't need to. 

She even introduced Mikha and Jhoanna to Stacey when they went to check their pack leader. 

Imagine their surprise when they saw Aiah smiling carefree while talking to Stacey, who was obviously smitten with Aiah, too. 

“Werewolves,” Stacey muttered after getting a whiff of their scent. 

It was Jhoanna who saw the recognition in Stacey’s face. 

“Yes, ‘di ba sinabi ni Ate Aiah sa'yo?”

So she's a werewolf. 

“She didn't, but it's alright,” Stacey replied shortly, still thinking deeply kung bakit attracted siya sa amoy ni Aiah. 

Maybe Colet was really telling the truth. It's her blood that she wants. Yet she vowed never to taste another human blood again. 

She's not human, though, Stacey. You can definitely take a bite…

Stacey shook her head. Her mind is telling her a lot of things because of that sweet-smelling blood lingering all over her. 

“Are you surprised?”

Her thoughts were halted when she heard Aiah speak beside her. 

The older woman's eyes were still calm and composed, but Stacey saw how a different emotion flickered in them. She wasn't sure if she saw right since Aiah's expression was still neutral. 

Stacey took a deep breath before shaking her head. 

“No. I was just wondering earlier if witch ka ba or not. But now I know.” She tried to smile to hide how wrecked her nerves were right now. 

Aiah stared at her with her piercing brown eyes. 

Parang tinitingnan niyo ang kaluluwa ni Stacey sa paraan ng pagtingin nito sa kanya. Aiah's gaze didn't falter even for a bit, kahit na tinitingnan siya pabalik ni Stacey. 

Stacey even saw a golden streak appearing in Aiah's eyes before it immediately disappeared, but she wasn't sure if what she saw was real or if she was just imagining things. 

I'm really losing my shit right now. 

It was Stacey who avoided and went on to look past Aiah, where the two werewolves were still observing them.

“I think I need to get back to my assigned seat,” Stacey stated. 

She needed to get away from there, as Aiah's presence is not healthy for her sanity right now. 

But before she could even walk away from them, Aiah suddenly held her arms gently but firmly. Just enough to hold her still but not enough to hurt her. 

Stacey almost flinched when their skin touched. 

Parang may kung anong init ang dumaloy sa balat niya dahil sa paghawak ni Aiah sa kanya. 

Aiah felt it, too. The undeniable heat between them. She could feel her wolf growling again inside of her as if wanting to get out. Wanting to take control. 

Fuck.

Parang napapasong binitawan ni Aiah si Stacey.

Just by that simple touch, it brought a lot of emotion into them. 

Suddenly, they were both feeling out of breath because of that simple contact. 

Stacey turned her face away from Aiah, afraid that she might see how her eyes were slowly changing, her fangs almost showing. 

Stacey thought that if Aiah were a vampire, she would probably be able to hear how her heartbeat felt like it ran a marathon because of mere skin contact. 

Pakiramdam niya’y parang sasabog ang puso niya sa pagkabigla at kaba na dulot ng paghawak ni Aiah sa braso niya. 

She immediately took the wine glass and drank its contents to alleviate the heat she was feeling right now. 

Aiah cleared her throat before glaring at the two werewolves who saw everything then returning her eyes to Stacey who looked like she wants to get the fuck out of there. 

Of course, she heard Stacey’s rapid pulse. She might’ve suffered tachycardia already if she were a normal human. Not only could she hear Stacey’s pulse. She could also sense the growing tension building up between them just by how her breathing changed after she let her go. 

“Uh, sorry for that. I was just gonna offer you to sit with us na lang since they're not strict with the sitting arrangement naman. But if you want to go back, it's okay pa rin.” Aiah said with an apologetic tone. 

Stacey nodded. “O-okay lang. I'll stay here.”

“Hmm…”

They all sat down at the table with Aiah and Stacey sitting beside each other, and across them were Mikha and Jhoanna, who only gave each other a look but did not voice anything about what they saw. 

As the gathering progressed, they continued talking. Mikha and Jhoanna started asking Stacey some questions, which the vampire immediately answered because they were distracting her—a huge help on her internal crisis.

Anything to distract me from this gorgeous and attractive werewolf lady sitting beside me, I'll take it. 

“So about the libre that I said last time, are you still up for it?” Aiah suddenly opened up when the two werewolves went to get some food in the buffet. 

Stacey looks at her. “Sabi ko naman sa'yo na ‘wag na.”

“But I insist.”

“You don't have to.”

“Stacey, please?” The way Aiah's voice sounded so sweet almost convinced Stacey to say yes. 

Parang ginagamitan din siya nito ng puppy dog eyes dahil sa biglang pagka expressive ng mga mata nito.

She never took the woman as someone who could do this. 

She's cute. Stacey thought. 

Then she realized that she was getting distracted by Aiah again. 

Damn it. 

“Hindi naman kasi kailangan, Aiah.” Stacey managed to say Aiah's name without stuttering. 

She almost applauded herself for that. 

“I know,” Aiah grinned. “But I want to take you out. Just a friendly date to get to know you.”

“Ah…”

Stacey didn't know how to respond. 

Her body is saying yes, but her mind is warning her not to get close or she'll lose herself even more. 

Pero minsan, masarap nga pala ang bawal. 

“Sige. Just set the date.”

“Alright.” She could see how Aiah's features softened after hearing her reply. “Can I get your number pala? So I can contact you.”

“Ah, yeah. Sure.”

They both exchanged numbers and after that hindi na maalala ni Stacey kung paano nila natapos ang gathering na hindi siya nababaliw sa amoy ni Aiah. 

She should thank Mikha and Jhoanna’s distraction, and she should thank her self-control na natitira pa sa katawan niya. 

“So Stacey, wala ka ba talagang kakilala dito? I thought vampires would often go together sa mga ganitong gatherings?” Jhoanna asked. Her eyes were really curious. 

Stacey smiled a little. “I'm not really sure. ‘Di ako sinabihan ni Colet if may pupunta ba dito na kilala ko. It's alright though. I can manage on my own.”

“Ay, same pala kayo ni Ate Aiah na strong independent woman-Joke lang!”

Jhoanna stopped and shielded herself jokingly when Aiah glared at her. 

“‘Yan. Shut your mouth na lang kasi, Jhoanna.”

“Nyenye!”

“You two are too loud for this place.” Aiah sighed bago tinakpan ang mukha. “God, they're so embarrassing.”

Hindi naman mapigilan ni Stacey na matawa sa nakikita niya. 

She found it cute na ganito ang interaction ni Aiah sa mga kasamahan niya. 

First impression niya naman dito noong magkita sila sa park ay kalma lang at mabait, dala na rin na mukha itong seryoso but seeing her now with two of her adorable pack members, parang Ate lang ito na palaging kinukulit ng mga kapatid. 

“Sorry for this…” Aiah said apologetically. 

Umiling naman si Stacey at nginitian ito. “Don't be. Ang cute niyo nga eh. I never really met a werewolf na nakausap ko ng matagal. Only you three were the ones who spoke to me without being vigilant, so it's all good.”

“You're not dangerous to us. They can sense it, too.”

“Really? Is that why you were welcoming to me noong una tayong nag kita sa park?”

“Yeah. You could say that.” It was your scent, though, that made me follow you. 

“So, ano nga pala–”

“Stakuuuu!”

They all went silent sa table noong may biglang yumakap kay Stacey mula sa likod niya. Stacey immediately recognized Sheena from her voice. 

“Kanina pa kita hinahanap! Dito ka lang pala beh!” Sheena rolled her eyes and sat on the empty chair beside Stacey. “Who this pala mga kasama mo–wait! You two are werewolves! Hi! I'm Sheena nga pala. A friend of Stacey.”

“Hi! I'm Jhoanna.”

“Mikha. Nice meeting you, Sheena. I think I've seen you somewhere.” Mikha narrowed her eyes at Sheena. 

She could've sworn that she saw her somewhere already. She just can't remember where to be exactly. But her face. Mikha would never forget. 

“Baka sa gilid gilid langs. Alam ko namang unforgettable talaga ako.” Sheena joked before laughing out loud. 

Napailing na lang si Stacey. Nasanay na siya sa kaingayan ni Sheena kaya hindi na siya nahihiya para sa kaibigan niya. She's just naturally loud and funny. No shame in that. 

“She's a choreographer. Baka nakikita mo siya paminsan-minsan sa socmed.” Stacey mentioned casually, which earned her a playful slap from Sheena. 

“Lowkey lang dapat kasi eh!”

“I think I remember na. You're that girl sa tiktok who made a summer vibe choreography na naging trending.”

“Hala ka, saan mo ‘to sila napulot, Staku?”

“Baliw ka, uy!”

“True nga! Sincere question naman ‘yan,” Sheena said, pouting. 

“Sila ‘yung nakapulot sa’kin.”

“Correction Miss Stacey. Si Ate Aiah ang nakapulot sa'yo.”

Sabay sabay naman na napabaling ang tingin nila kay Aiah na tahimik lang na nakamasid sa kanila. The woman, who looked amused with their conversation, finally introduced herself to Sheena. 

“I'm Aiah. Nice meeting you, Sheena.”

“Hi po! I'm Sheena. Are you a werewolf din po ba?”

There was a slight pause before Aiah answered.

“You could say that…”

Stacey took a sip on her wine again while she watched Sheena and Aiah's introduction. She prays na wala sanang sasabihin na kahit anong weird si Sheena dahil kilala niya ito. Walang preno ang bibig nito. 

And I was fucking right. 

“May tanong lang ako sa'yo po. May aso ka po ba?”

Stacey almost choked right there after hearing Sheena’s question to Aiah. She immediately glared at her friend na patay malisya lang at nakangiti pa ng malapad habang hinihintay na sumagot si Aiah. 

Aiah, on the other hand, was slightly taken aback by the question. She gave Stacey a quick, knowing glance before responding to Sheena. 

“I have, but I'm curious to know kung bakit ‘yan agad ang tanong mo sa’kin.”

“Ah, wala lang naman po. May naalala lang kasi ako sa pangalan at mukha niyo.”

“Hmm…”

Stacey pursed her lips and acted as if she didn't know anything. Pilit niyang tinatakpan ang kaba sa mukha niya habang nag-iisip kung paano niya ba sasabunutan si Colet sa next nilang meeting. 

I'm pretty sure that she's the one who spilled everything to Sheena. Tahimik lang ‘yun pero chismosa pa rin talaga. Kainis. 

“Anyways. Mikha, model ka ba?”

“No. But I can be if you want me to.”

“Eyyy! Wala ng bawian ha! Ikakandado ko na ‘to sa utak ko!”

“Sure. Anything for a cutie like you.”

“Grabe na kayo. Third Wheeling ba ako? Ems.”

“You want me to sumbong you to Gwenny, Jho?”

“Dedma sa bassers.” Sumimangot na lang ito at humalukipkip pa. 

“Ay jowa mo ba ‘yung Gwenny? Yiiiiiiee.”

“Ano baaa!”

The voices of the three slowly became like a background sound for Stacey and Aiah as they continued their staring contest. 

Stacey knew that she wouldn't win this. Her heart can't take all this soul-penetrating gaze that Aiah is giving her. She knew that she'd fold any second now. 

“Staku…”

And that made her close her eyes tightly. 

Aiah observed Stacey’s reaction when she called her by her nickname. She wanted to ask for her permission first, but she also wanted to tease Stacey a little bit and see her reaction if she called her with that nickname. 

She saw how Stacey tensed up and how her eyes closed like she was praying for someone to save her in that situation. 

Aiah couldn't help but chuckle at the vampire’s reaction to her teasing. 

She's so pretty even when she's nervous. 

“So…” Aiah paused, her eyes still on Stacey. “You've talked about me sa friends mo–”

“Oh my gosh, stop, please!” Stacey groaned before hiding her face. “This is so embarrassing…”

“It's okay. I'm fine with it. I'm kinda thrilled nga na you talked about me eh. That means na I left a lasting impression on you sa first meeting natin.” Aiah continued teasing her, but her words were sincere. 

She really was glad that she didn't make Stacey feel uncomfortable on their first meeting. Well, maybe a little bit uneasy since it was their first meeting, but she suddenly offered to treat her with food while on the verge of losing control because of this pretty girl’s scent. 

Wanting to see more of Stacey’s expression, Aiah pushed for more teasing. She leaned closer to Stacey’s side while glancing at the trio and then returning her attention to Stacey, who was still tense based on her posture.  

She then asked. 

“Staku… Can I call you with that nickname, too?”

Stacey flinched. “Pag-iisipan ko muna.” Stacey replied while rolling her eyes, but a small smile was on her lips. 

“And about my treat. Wala nang bawian ha?”

“Parang ayoko na pala.” Stacey replied jokingly, which made Aiah laugh. 

“Hey!”

“Ikaw kasi eh!”

“What about me? You told your friends about me nga eh. Don't even try to deny it.”

Seeing how Stacey’s face slowly turned red made Aiah stop teasing her even more. It was enough for her to see this side of Stacey. 

It was time for her to back off because she didn't notice how close she got to Stacey. Her nose almost touched Stacey’s bare shoulder. Thank God it didn't, because she could smell the vampire’s unique aroma again. 

Her eyes dilated when she saw her carotid veins. It was pulsing with excitement. Just like how she could still hear Stacey’s heartbeat. 

It was still fast. 

And Stacey’s face was enough for her to understand what it meant. 

She was also slowly testing the limits of her self-control. 

“Normal lang naman na mag kwento.”

“Of course, Stacey. I'm not judging you naman.” Aiah responded with a playful grin plastered on her face. Hiding the fact that she was going insane internally. 

Stacey wanted to bury herself in the ground. 

Kasalanan ‘to ni Sheena eh! 

Sa utak niya, sinasabunutan niya na sila Sheena at Colet. She wanted to get away from here. 

Away from Aiah. 

Away from that stupid musky scent invading her system again. 

Away from this pretty werewolf who has a face card that could probably launch a thousand ships like Helen of Troy. 

Her scent was enough to drive Stacey crazy, but her face—her eye smile, that charming smile, and those dimples… 

Goddammit.

She had never seen anyone who could be pretty and cute at the same time because of their dimples. 

Why is she so damn attractive even though she's just sitting right beside me? 

“Just make sure na masarap ‘yang libre mo ha?” She murmured, enough for Aiah to hear it. 

The woman beside her chuckled but immediately agreed. She wanted to treat Stacey for so long, but they didn't have the chance to meet again, even if she was around the same area every day because of her daily jogs and walks with Oliver.

Kahit alam niya na kung saan ito nakatira, where she worked, and what her real identity is, she still wanted them to meet each other again and get to know each other through a very normal interaction. 

Kahit alam niyang may risk of losing control, hindi niya pa rin kayang pigilan ang sarili niya dito. 

It's not only her scent that attracted her so much. There was also an undeniable gravity pulling her towards the vampire’s presence. 

Making her heart ache in the best way. 

The subtle shift in her mood whenever she senses her. 

There could only be one explanation. 

Yet she didn't wanna acknowledge it yet nor rush it. 

Although this gathering is a blessing in disguise for a woman like her who just simply… yearns…

“I'll make sure na I won't disappoint you.”

“As you should. Kapag maganda libre mo at nasarapan talaga ako,” Stacey flashed a dazzling smile that almost made Aiah stop breathing for a moment. “Maybe, I'll allow you to call me Staku na.”

When Aiah finally recovered, her smile even widened, and she gave Stacey a nod. 

“Noted, Miss Ma'am.”

-

The following days after that meeting made them busy with work and other errands. 

Despite the fact that they never left each other's thoughts after that day, they still didn't have the time to finally meet up again because of how busy they were. 

Stacey—exhausted from just arriving from her work outside the country—lay in bed after showering. 

She almost feels like passing out from exhaustion. 

Her work has been grueling. It hasn't been easy with all her projects lining up, and her other job after taking a break for a while. 

“Sana sa office na lang ako ni Colet nag full time.”

Nakadapa na siya ngayon sa kama niya. Her face was buried on her comfortable pink pillow. 

She was exhausted. Burnt out.

Stacey loved working, but sometimes she despised it too.

It’s one of her ways to cope with being a vampire. If not working with new vampires, she’ll take work from Colet. If she’s bored naman at walang masyadong trabaho, she’ll do her other job.

Travel. Negotiations. New contracts. Travel. Negotiations.

Same old cycle, but it helped her a lot.

It was inevitable even for a vampire like her to feel sick of it sometimes lalo na kung gusto niya mag pahinga at hindi mag-isip ng trabaho. 

Then she suddenly sat up. Naalala niya na need niya pang i-message si Colet about sa project at negosasyon na nangyari.

She picked up her phone from the bedside table. She unplugged it from the charger before lying on her back and turning it on.

She was expecting a message from Colet, asking her about the work trip, but she did not expect to see the one person she’s been wanting to see for days now, messaging her.

Aiah:

Hey, how are you? Is it bad timing ba if I take you out after your work?

Stacey almost screamed. Almost. 

Parang naririnig niya pa ang boses ni Aiah sa message nito. 

She remembered how she and Aiah became chatmates after the gathering. They don’t talk that much, but the daily messages have become a norm, even if it’s just a simple morning greeting.

Aiah was aware of Stacey’s work trip. The vampire had told her a day before how she would be away for a while. Maybe, she won’t respond that much sa messages nito kaya sinabihan niya na. Aiah understood that, of course, but she continued messaging Stacey with good mornings or just a simple How are you?

It was enough to make Stacey’s day, though. Receiving simple messages from Aiah somehow lessens her tiredness.

Another notification appeared. It was a second message from Aiah.

Aiah:

I can see that you’ve read my message. Is it okay to assume that you’re finally home?

Stacey smiled. She made herself comfortable first in her bed before typing a response.

Stacey:

Yeah. Kakauwi ko lang an hour ago. I just took a shower.

Sorry ngayon lang ako naka reply.

How are you?

Aiah:

Just busying myself with work while I wait for you.

Napailing naman si Stacey sa sagot ni Aiah. She couldn’t deny the butterflies in her stomach, though. It was slowly swarming her insides.

Stacey:

So eager to take me out? Grabe ka na, Aiah.

Aiah:

Will it bother you if I really am eager to take you out?

Stacey only stared at Aiah’s message for a couple of minutes.

There are a lot of things inside her mind right now. Questions wanting some answers. 

Stacey’s first impression of Aiah is a little bit far from what she’s showing her right now. Hindi niya talaga inakala na may ganitong side si Aiah. She’s kinda flirty, which is something that Stacey likes. She won’t deny it. However, she’s also careful for now since she didn’t wanna assume anything and she was still thinking about what she should do about her cravings towards Aiah.

She’s not a human. She’s a werewolf. A werewolf who has a unique scent, who caught Stacey’s attention.

Stacey is still hesitant to give life to her thoughts. To make a decision. There are still many unanswered questions in her head.

She thinks that maybe, going out with Aiah for that treat will make her make up her mind. 

While Stacey was in her deep thoughts, only leaving Aiah’s message on read again, Aiah was casually leaning over the railings on the balcony of her place.

Aiah glanced at her phone from time to time, waiting for a response from Stacey.

She admits that maybe her words may have been too… deliberate.

She’s not like this with other people because of her upbringing and her responsibilities. 

Never did she expect to find herself messaging Stacey daily, even though she wouldn’t receive any response from the vampire because of her busy schedule. She still messaged her, though, just because she wanted to. 

“Shit,” she cursed, unsure if she should send another message to Stacey or just wait.

She wasn’t disappointed because after a minute, Stacey finally responded.

Stacey:

Surprise me if you’re really eager.

Aiah laughed heartily after seeing Stacey’s message.

She really is something. She doesn’t bend that easily for others, yet with Stacey, she feels like she could do anything for her.

Maybe it wasn’t just her scent. It was also her presence that captured Aiah’s attention. The way Stacey carried herself was confident, yet there was still a hint of hesitation. It was as if she didn’t want anyone to see her at her full glory, like how Aiah sees how she lights up even if she’s just smiling.

Aiah:

Alright, Miss Ma’am.

Stacey squealed while her face was buried on her pillow. 

Aiah is making her feel things na ayaw niya sanang i-acknowledge, but here they are like unstoppable forces. She was supposed to avoid her. To stop herself from making a mistake. Pero ‘yung boses din sa utak niya ang nagtutulak sa kanya na lumapit pa kay Aiah.

Just a sip.

Just a simple taste of her blood.

That’ll be enough.

But will it really be? Her mind asks.

She wasn’t sure. 

All she thinks about is how charming Aiah is and how delicious her blood would taste if she ever had the chance to get a taste of it.

And maybe it’s worth it.

Hindi niya na pipilitin ang sarili niya na umiwas.

For the sake of putting out her cravings.

Stacey finally decided.

-

The following day, Stacey went to Colet’s office to officially hand over her report to her boss. Everything went well, their discussion was quick, and things were immediately finalized.  Colet let her go after, but she opted to stay in their pantry to drink coffee.

Hindi pa siya naka breakfast dahil nagmamadali siyang umalis sa condo niya para kaagad na makausap si Colet. She wanted to rest after all. She’ll make use of her 3-day break before going back to work again after she’s done lounging in their office.

With her coffee almost done, Stacey got up and tidied up her clothes. 

She threw away the cup in the bin and was ready to go out, but she was stopped when she heard a footstep outside the door. 

The door opened after a few seconds, revealing one of her co-workers who was looking for her.

“Stacey! Nandito ka pala. Kanina pa kita hinahanap.”

“What’s up?”

“May naghahanap sa’yo na maganda. Nasa office ngayon ni boss. Sundo mo raw.”

“Huh?” She was confused.

“Basta! Punta ka na r’on para makita mo kung sino. Ang ganda, sis! Jusko kung hindi lang ako straight baka patulan ko ‘yon.”

“Okay…?”

Confused,  Stacey made her way to Colet’s office. She wasn’t expecting anyone today, nor was she expecting someone to pick her up. She has no plans except lying on her bed and just rotting in there for a day or two.

“Ate Colet? Pasok ako.” Stacey announced after knocking three times and pushing the door open.

Unang bumungad sa kanya ang isang likod ng babae na parang pamilyar sa kanya. Colet looks at her direction before pointing her lips towards the woman who was sitting across Colet.

Stacey closed the door while her forehead creased and her brows knitted. She wondered who the hell this woman was inside her friend’s office—the one who literally just told their whole floor that she was fetching her.

“Colet, sino ‘to–”

Stacey stood still, stopping herself from making another step when she smelled it.

It was the same scent that made her lose her mind.

The same scent was coming from the woman who was sitting across the table from her boss.

The damn werewolf who was the only one who owns this scent.

Fuck.

“Aiah?” She’s pretty sure that it was her.  “Anong ginagawa mo dito?”

Aiah finally turned her head in her direction. The woman was smiling at Stacey. Her usual charming smile revealed her dimples.

“Hey, Stacey,” she greeted before standing up. “I’m here to take you out.”

“W-what?”

“I kept my word.”

“Huh?”

Lumapit ito sa kanya at inalok ang kamay. “Tara?”

“Wait, Aiah–”

“Sumama ka na nga, Stacey. Dami mo pang arte. Parang ‘di crush ‘yung tao ah.”

Because she’s not a freaking human naman talaga?! Stacey’s mind screamed.

Stacey glared at Colet, who looked unimpressed by her reluctance, but she could see the playful glint in her friend’s eyes.

“Kung ano ano diyan pinagsasabi mo!”

“And denial is a river from Egypt.” Colet retorted.

Stacey rolled her eyes before accepting Aiah’s hand and pulling her towards the door.

“Tara na nga. Baka masabunutan ko pa ‘yan.”

“She’s your boss.”

“I’m your boss!” Colet yelled from inside her office, which earned a middle finger from Stacey.

“Ito sa’yo!”

Aiah can’t help but laugh at the sight of Stacey and Colet’s banter. It was always fun seeing this side of hers. 

Hinayaan lang ni Aiah na hatakin siya ni Stacey palabas sa office. It was not a surprise to her, too, when she noticed several eyes looking in their direction as they walked out of the place. She also noticed that the employees are a mixture of humans and vampires.

Stacey knew that she was gonna be bombarded with lots of questions sa sunod niyang punta sa office nila kasi sino ba naman ang hindi mabibigla kung may magandang babae na mukhang mabango at pogi pa na pupunta sa office without any appointment just to fetch her.

“Did you bring your car?” Stacey asks the latter after they’ve exit the building.

“Uh… no.”

“Then we can use my car–”

“No need, Stacey.”

“Ha? Eh wala tayong sasakyan?”

AIah chuckled. It was her turn to pull Stacey. 

“Tatakbo tayo.”

Stacey stopped. Unsure if she heard it right.

Huh?

“Takbo? As in run?”

Aiah grinned. “Yeah!”

What the fuck?

“Vergara told me that while you were in the company pantry na you seldom go outside raw when you’re not required. She also suggested na we should run na lang papunta sa place na kakainan natin para healthy living.”

“Uh…”

Stacey didn’t know what to say. Nablanko talaga utak niya dahil sa sinabi ni Aiah. She had this idea that Aiah is an adventurous girl since she’s a werewolf—werewolves are active creatures.

She was just taken aback by her spontaneity since Stacey is not a fan of that. 

And she definitely is not a fan of running or any activity that involves moving her body for a long period, even if she is a vampire.

Aiah observed the younger woman for a couple of seconds before finally bursting into laughter when she saw how restless the woman was.

Hindi niya mapigilan na mapangiti habang hindi inaalis ang tingin dito. She was having a lot of fun seeing Stacey’s reaction.

God, she’s really cute when I tease her. 

“I’m just kidding,” Aiah stated afterwards after she was done with her teasing.

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Stacey bago hinampas si Aiah na tumawa lang. 

“Baliw ka! Kinabahan ako!”

“You really dislike physical activities, don’t you?”

“I don’t dislike it. Hindi lang talaga ako fan.” Stacey rolled her eyes playfully. “So may sasakyan ka ba? I swear to God, Aiah. Babalik talaga ako sa loob kapag papatakbuhin mo ako.”

“I was just kidding nga about that,”

“‘Di na ako naniniwala.”

Aiah chuckled again. “Well, if you want to run with me, we can do that another day.”

“Bye.”

Stacey jokingly acted like she was walking away, but Aiah, who was amused by Stacey, held her arm firmly to stop her from walking away, even if she was just kidding.

“I brought my big bike.”

That made Stacey halt in her steps.

Her what?

“Big bike?”

Aiah nodded. “Yeah.”

“Seryoso ka ba diyan?” Stacey asked. Her mind is creating a lot of scenarios right at this moment. 

Just the thought of Aiah riding a big bike. Damn. She wasn't ready for that. 

Aiah faced Stacey. She narrowed her eyes at the latter, trying to gauge her reaction. Mukhang nabigla ito na may big bike siya. Kita niya rin ang pag-iisip nito ng malalim. Stacey was contemplating kung sasakay ba siya kay Aiah o mas gusto niya na lang na tanggapin ‘yung unang sinabi nito na tatakbo sila kahit biro lang’yun. Aiah rarely brings out her big bike since it’s her treasured bike that she assembled herself with the help of her friends. 

It was the first time, after months of it staying in her garage, that she took it out.

And she took it out for a date with Stacey.

Date? No, just taking her out to get to know her.

“Uh-huh. Let’s go na?”

To Stacey surprise, Aiah—as a matter of fact—brought a big freaking bike. It was a Ducati, but she was unsure of what type or version of Ducati it was because of its unique build, na parang custom-made. 

She could already imagine the control she needed to muster up just to stop herself from taking a bite when Aiah’s neck is exposed for her bidding. Hindi niya alam kung kakayanin niya ang magiging distansya ng katawan niya sa katawan ni Aiah kapag pinasakay na siya nito.

And how am I supposed to stop myself from falling from the big bike? Yayakapin ko siya? Hell, no!

“Mabuti na lang at ‘di ako naka skirt ngayon! Baliw ka.” Stacey exclaimed while Aiah was turning her big bike. 

“I would've used my car if you were wearing a skirt.”

“At paano mo naman malalaman ‘yun?”

“That's a secret, Miss Sevilleja.” She winked at her. 

Aiah gave her an extra helmet—well, not really. Aiah was the one who securely put it in her head before guiding her to ride the bike carefully.

“Yakap ka sa bewang ko.”

“It’s okay, sa balikat mo na lang.” Stacey answered, her voice barely audible.

She was trying so hard not to smell Aiah’s scent. It was a dangerous place for her to stay breathing. Sobrang lapit ng leeg nito sa ilong niya kaya parang mababaliw na siya dito.

“I have kiliti diyan so it’s not safe,” Aiah argued.

Stacey sighed and didn’t argue anymore. She slowly put her arms around Aiah’s waist, unaware that the latter was already smiling when she felt the warmth of Stacey’s arms around her.

“Kapit ka lang ng mabuti. We’ll be at our destination in a couple of minutes.”

“Baka mamatay ako dito ha?” Baka pala mauna pa akong mamatay dahil sa pagpigil ko nang hininga.

“Just trust me, Miss Ma’am. I’ll keep you safe.” Aiah smirked even though it couldn’t be seen since she was already wearing her helmet. 

-

It took only a couple of minutes when they arrived restobar that Stacey was unfamiliar with. 

Kainan ni Badette. 

While waiting for Aiah to park, she looked around the place. It didn’t have a lot of people, but the place was just her vibe. It was cozy, warm, and comfortable. 

“Do you like it?” 

Stacey looked behind her when she heard Aiah’s voice.

She only nodded in response. Aiah gently guided her to a table where they could see a small garden within the vicinity. 

“I didn’t know na may ganitong place pala dito,” Stacey commented after receiving a menu from one of the waiters.

“This one’s underrated, but my favorite. They’ve been here for more than ten years already.” 

“Dito ba kayo palaging kumakain nila Mikha at Jhoanna?”

“You’re the first one.”

“Huh?”

Aiah raised her head from the menu and looked at her straight in the eyes. “You’re the first one that I took here with me.”

Stacey’s heart started racing before she could even notice it. Her face was flushed before she avoided Aiah’s intense gaze. She cleared her throat and acted as if she were reading the menu.

“Ano ba masarap dito? Ikaw na nga pumili.”

Aiah, without leaving her gaze on Stacey, smiled before proceeding to give Stacey suggestions of the food that she might like.

They only waited for a short time before their orders arrived. Stacey took her time tasting the food they ordered, wondering why she had never discovered this place despite being alive for centuries. 

Aiah talked about the place, making it obvious how much she loved it. Stacey listened and asked some questions regarding it, which Aiah also answered earnestly. They also talked about Stacey’s work, how she calls herself Colet’s errand girl since she’s not a full-time worker at Colet’s company.

Stacey works as Colet’s negotiator with their old and new clients when she’s not busy, but she also has another job that still involves traveling.

“Kung ma guess mo work ko may ano ka…” Stacey paused. “May prize.”

“And what is the limit of this prize?”

“Wow, parang confident na masasagot ng tama ha?”

“Nothing’s wrong with trying. Wala namang mawawala sa’kin.” Aiah grinned. “But I’ll have something from you if I guess it right.”

Nakaramdam ng kaunting kaba si Stacey dahil sa ngiti ni Aiah. Her attractive face could seriously hide her cunning nature. It was subtle, but Aiah knows how to play everything under her palms.

“‘Wag na lang pal–”

“You’re a pilot.”

Stacey bit her lip. How the hell…?

“Now my prize, Miss Sevilleja?”

“How can you be so sure na pilot nga ako?”

A smirk appeared on Aiah’s lips. “That’s my secret.”

“Ang daya!”

“What? Wala namang need na reason sa tanong mo eh. You only said to guess your job.”

“Fine!” Stacey rolled her eyes. “What do you want as a prize?”

“You.”

“Ha?” 

“You, Stacey.” The smile on Aiah’s face widened, showing her perfect pearly teeth and her dimples. “I’m Aiah. Maraiah Queen Arceta.”

Aiah then offered her hand in front of Stacey, urging her to take it as she introduced herself.

“I’m confused…”

“I want to introduce myself to you properly this time. Without my dog with me, and not sweating from my run.”

Stacey frowned, but the amusement in her eyes didn’t escape Aiah. The vampire slowly lifted her hand and accepted Aiah’s hand. It was warm and rough. It’s roughness already told Stacey about how much of a hard worker Aiah is. 

“Stacey Aubrey Sevilleja.”

“Nice meeting you, Miss Sevilleja.” Aiah teased after letting their hands linger for a while before letting go.

“Baliw ka talaga.” 

“Maybe I am,” She proudly stated. “For my next prize,”

“Luh? You want another one?”

“Yeah. Wala kang sinabi na limit eh.” Aiah placed both of her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her knuckles. “Can I call you Staku na?”

Suddenly, the memories from the night when the gathering happened flooded Stacey’s mind. She remembered Aiah’s words, asking her if she could call her using her nickname. Like it was some sort of privilege for her if she was granted access to it. Stacey hasn’t given her a definite answer, but today, she will.

“Okay.”

Aiah’s smile disappeared, but her eyes sparkled.

“Okay?”

“Yes,” Stacey uttered. “You can call me Staku.”

After that conversation, it was Stacey’s turn to ask Aiah some questions about her personal life. There were some questions that Aiah was able to dodge smoothly, and Stacey noticed this but didn’t bother asking about it. It was not her business to interrogate Aiah with questions that she wasn’t ready to answer yet.

It is never a choice for her to force someone na sabihin ang hindi pa nila kayang sabihin. They were only starting as friends. She’ll know more about Aiah eventually if she’s patient.

Good thing about being a vampire? 

She already mastered the art of waiting.

“A penny for your thoughts, Miss Sevilleja?”

Stacey blinked. “Sorry. Iniisip ko lang na ang sarap ng food dito pero ngayon ko lang nalaman na may ganitong place.” She took a bite of the food again.

It was the only reason she could come up with for her spacing out mid-conversation.

“Gusto mo bang bumalik dito?” It was a simple question that Stacey immediately answered.

“Oo naman if hindi busy.”

“So if I invite you for another treat, will you come with me again?”

Stacey blinked again as she tried to process Aiah’s words. 

Tama ba ang narinig ko? Her mind was confused. She was confused.

Stacey cleared her throat. “Kung ‘di ko lang alam na gusto mo lang ako i-libre baka mag-assume na ako na may gusto ka sa’kin.”

“Am I not making it obvious?”

Now, Stacey stopped eating.

She lowered her utensils and looked at Aiah with wide eyes. She was expecting the latter to be only teasing her, but when her eyes landed on Aiah’s face, she had nothing but a soft hold on her expression.

Parang matutunaw si Stacey sa tingin na binibigay ni Aiah sa kanya. There was the unspoken spark between them. Neither of them acknowledges it verbally, but the tension is undeniable.

It was also becoming unbearable.

Forget the stares. Forget Aiah’s dark brown eyes that seem to see through her soul.

Stacey was beginning to lose it.

“Tumigil ka nga! Kain ka na at baka maulanan pa tayo.” She brushed it off, trying to distract herself by eating the food.

Aiah chuckled dubiously. “Ganito ka pala kapag kinikilig?”

“Assumera? Anong kinikilig ka diyan?”

“It was Colet who said na rin earlier na crush mo ako–”

“Tama ka na, sis! Stop assuming.”

Aiah leaned on the table, making the gap between their faces smaller before whispering.

“Sure ka na ba diyan, Staks?”

“Huy!” Stacey unconsciously slaps Aiah’s shoulder before pushing her away, which makes the latter laugh even more.

Ramdam na ni Stacey ang pamumula ng mukha niya, and it’s even worse than earlier.

“You look so red.”

“Tumigil ka, Aiah. Tusukin kita eh.” She joked.

“Wow, so violent. Ganyan ka ba sa mga ka date mo?”

“Anong date, sis? ‘Di to date. I was kidnapped. You kidnapped me.”

“You were a willing victim. No need for coercion.”

“Alam mo, kumain na lang tayo.”

Of course, Stacey said yes to going out again.

Ayaw niya na magpakipot. She wanted to have a taste of Aiah’s blood, and this is one way to earn it—through befriending her.

Though I’m pretty sure that’s not the only thing that you want from Aiah. The voice inside her mind stated.

-

After their first date, Aiah started going to Colet’s office to fetch Stacey, who was also always flustered since it was the first time that someone would ask her out almost every day, with the reasoning of it being only a treat as a friend.

“You really like dinner dates ‘no?” Stacey mentioned one time while they were out in the neighborhood park, strolling around the place while Stacey was holding Oliver's leash. 

They were just in her place as she prepared dinner for them beforehand because Aiah requested to taste her cooking. 

Who was she to say no to this pretty lady right? 

“I just find it peaceful kapag gabi.” Aiah answered, her hand was placed on Stacey’s back. Guiding her gently as they continued their stroll. 

“True ‘yan. Less encounter pa sa humans.”

“Yes.”

Stacey remembered Aiah's face earlier when she opened the door for her to enter. 

Aiah was just standing outside the door with an expensive champagne bottle in her hand. Her facial expression was unreadable while waiting for Stacey to let her enter.

“Ano pa ginagawa mo diyan? Pumasok ka na.” Stacey said to Aiah as the latter was not moving. 

Parang iyon naman kaagad ang signal ni Aiah para gumalaw at kaagad na pumasok sa bahay niya. That slightly confused Stacey but immediately disregarded the events. 

She looked like a lost puppy though when she was standing outside my door. Stacey thought which made her giggle. 

“Care to share, Staku?” Aiah woke her up from her thoughts. 

She tilted her head towards Aiah and grinned at her. 

“Naalala ko lang mukha mo kanina, cute mo eh.”

“Excuse me, Miss Ma’am. Me? Cute?”

“Yes, may angal ka ba?” Tinaasan niya pa ito ng kilay na ikinasimangot lang nito. 

See? Ang cute!

“Syempre wala.”

Their nights would go on like this nonstop. They didn't mind that they were taking each other's time. They were glad that they could do it even with their busy schedules since they were already expecting that there will be times that they wouldn't be able to go out because of work. 

And there was one time na pumunta si Aiah sa opisina ni Colet just to fetch her pero wala si Stacey. 

Stacey forgot to tell Aiah before leaving that she was flying out of the country, not for Colet’s business, but to fly a plane. There was some sort of emergency with one of her colleagues, and she was the only available pilot at that moment. 

Nasanay si Stacey na palaging umaalis lang na walang paalam kahit sa kanila ni Colet kapag may ganitong emergency. It’s not like something will happen to her. Being a vampire, it was enough for her to be safe. 

But things are different right now. She has Aiah now who makes daily calls with her—yes, they’ve progressed enough na nagca-call na sila sa isa’t-isa. It was a new thing for Stacey, too. A new experience. For centuries of being a vampire, romance didn’t matter to her. She may have all the time in her life, but it was not her priority, nor will it be.

Not until Aiah happened.

“Sorry, I just got home after a 16-hour flight.” Stacey immediately explained after she received a call from Aiah at almost midnight.

She almost wanted to slap herself for not messaging Aiah. She totally forgot that she’s not like Colet or her other friends. 

She was more than that.

“It’s alright. How was your flight?”

She was not upset. There was no anger in her tone. It was just the normal Aiah who would call her every day with her soft and lingering voice, asking about her day like it was a normal occurrence— in fact, it already is.

“Okay lang. No turbulence on our way back.” Stacey sighed. “Sorry na ‘di ako nakapag-message sa’yo. Nasanay lang talaga ako na umaalis na lang bigla kapag may ganito.”

She heard Aiah’s soft laugh on the other line. “Okay lang, Staku. You don’t have to apologize at all. It’s your job. It’s normal. It happens and it’ll probably happen to me, too.”

“Ikaw?” Stacey rested her back on her bathroom door. 

“Hmm?”

“Kamusta rin ang araw mo?” Stacey stifled a smile. “Na walang ako?”

Aiah chuckled. “I was dying without your presence.”

That made Stacey laugh out loud. “OA naman!”

“I’m okay na now, though, since I finally heard your voice.” Patuloy pa nito.

“Tumigil ka nga! Kaasar ka naman eh.”

“Fine,” There was a few seconds of silence before Aiah continued. “You should rest na. It’s late.”

“Hindi pa naman ako pagod.”

“Hmm… Do you want me to sing you a song?”

“Tumigil ka. Oo na, sleep na ako.”

“What? It was a genuine and innocent question!”

“Bahala ka diyan! Nang-aasar tono mo eh.”

“Stacey,” The mere call of Stacey’s name made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. “Good night.”

Ako ‘yung pinapatulog pero para siya ‘tong unang matutulog.

“Good night, Aiah. Sleep well.”

“I will.” Now that I’ve heard your voice.

-

The next few weeks were a routine for them. 

Kung hindi hinahatak si Staku papunta kung saan-saan, may dala namang surpresa si Aiah para dito.

“What’s with the flowers?”

It was early in the morning, and Stacey had just woken up. Aiah just came from a morning run when she decided to buy a bouquet for Stacey and bring it to her doorstep personally at seven in the morning.

“Just a common courtesy. Why? Do you hate it?”

“No!” Stacey laughed. “I’m not used to it lang. This is my first flower after… 120 years.”

“That’s surprising,” Aiah commented. “Your beauty should be even more appreciated. You deserve more than these flowers. You deserve a flower field.”

Blood started rising to Stacey’s face. “Sus! Bolera ka talaga, Aiah.”

“I’m serious, though?”

“Haynaku, pasok na nga kayo dito ni Oliver. Kawawa naman ang baby na ‘yan at maaga pang hinatak kung saan-saan ng mommy.”

“He was the one who woke me up po. Bakit parang ako ‘yung masama?” Aiah pouted, which earned a soft slap on her arms from Stacey.

“Hindi bagay sa’yo, Arceta.”

“Really? Is it because ako ang bagay sa’yo?”

“Wala akong naririnig.” Pabirong inirapan pa ni Stacey si Aiah bago ito tuluyang makapasok sa condo niya.

This was one of the routines they had initiated together. Breakfast at Stacey’s home if they have time to spare. It was also a time for Stacey to get to know Aiah’s companion, Oliver, and play with him to her heart’s content.

Mabuti na nga lang at may himala kasi ang bait ng pusa niya na si Star kay Oliver. Despite being a dog and a cat, they really got along very well.

-

The time they spent together helped them improve their urges. It helped them have discipline and control over their bodies. 

Stacey was getting used to Aiah’s presence. Her scent still entices her, but she was getting better at controlling it. It was the same for Aiah, whose scent was also all over Stacey, but the latter didn’t know about it yet. It was another way of protecting her from other werewolves, who disliked her.

Stacey noticed the small changes between them. Even the way she sees Aiah was different from before. 

You only befriended her because of her blood. Her conscience faintly whispered inside her head.

But it was different now. Stacey no longer views Aiah as an object of her desire. It was more than that. An affection she didn’t mind having with the werewolf.

And Aiah was feeling more than the attraction she felt for Stacey, too. She was already 6 feet deep, and she had no plans of digging herself up because this is where she belonged. This is where she should be. 

In the presence of her beloved vampire, Stacey Sevilleja.

-

“Kayo muna bahala sa condo ko. I'll go out tonight.”

It was a night with clear skies when Aiah and Stacey decided to go out again for dinner.

She called Jhoanna, Gwen, and Mikha to stay with Oliver. Another person was coming, too. Aiah wasn’t sure if it was really Sheena who was coming, who was a friend of Stacey.

Hindi niya alam kung paano ito naging close sa dalawa niyang kaibigan but she didn’t bother asking about it. It was not her business anyway.

“Grabe parang araw-araw na kayong lumalabas ah.” Colet commented. Munching on the fries they cooked a while ago.

“We do it all the time.”

“If work-related. Pero never this personal.” Gwen added while she played with Oliver using her magic. 

“True ‘yan. Buti nga at tanggap ni Stacey kung ano ka. Weird pa rin kasi ‘yung reaksyon nang iba eh. Para namang gusto mo silang kagatin.”

Aiah stopped doing her hair after hearing Jhoanna’s words. Parang nagising siya bigla mula sa isang panaginip at tinapunan ng malamig na tubig dahil dito. 

Shit. I haven't told her yet. 

Napansin naman ng mga kaibigan niya ang biglaang pananahimik niya. Gwen stopped playing with Oliver before speaking. 

“Natahimik ka diyan?”

“I haven't… I haven't told her yet.” Aiah lowered her head. “About my ancestry…”

“What?!” Halos sabay na sigaw ni Jhoanna at Mikha. 

Gwen just shook her head in disbelief. 

“Ilang buwan na kayong lumalabas tas ‘di mo pa pala sinasabi pa rin sa kanya?”

“I got distracted.”

“Stop lying, Ate Aiah.” Mikha crossed her arms. “You're just scared of her reaction if she knew kaya hindi mo pa sinasabi.”

“It's not like that–”

“Eh ano?”

“I'll tell her naman eventually.”

“When, Ate Aiah? Kapag accidentally mo siyang nakagat dahil ‘di mo mapigilan ‘yang nararamdaman mo sa kanya?”

“I can still control myself.” Yes, I could. I've been in control of my urges and desire for her for months already.

“Alam namin ‘yan, and we trust you, Ate. It's just that ikaw din nagsabi sa’min kung ano ang epekto ni Stacey sa'yo. You might be able to control yourself for now, but what about when your senses are heightened? When you're so deep in your attraction towards her that you unconsciously bite her? Ano? Doon mo pa lang sasabihin?”

That silenced Aiah. 

It never really left her thoughts. Her ancestry. Her blood. The blood that made her who she is. Someone different from the rest of the creatures. Someone who can't just love anyone without thinking of the consequences. 

Yet for the first time in Aiah's life, she let herself fall. She didn't stop herself but kept herself at bay for the sake of not hurting the girl she loves accidentally. 

Of course, she adores her more than she could comprehend. 

From the moment she followed Stacey’s scent, she knew already. 

She won't let this moment get away from her. Now that she's slowly coming to terms with her feelings towards the vampire. 

“I'll tell her, soon.” Aniya bago tinuloy ang pag-aayos ng buhok. 

Nagkatinginan na lamang ang tatlo niyang kaibigan at sabay na napailing. Aiah is stubborn when it comes to things that she values and cares for. They wouldn't be able to do anything about her situation. They would just have to trust their pack leader. Alam nilang hindi ito gagawa ng desisyon na hindi ito sigurado.

The sound of the doorbell rang inside the house, which prompted Mikha to stand up and go to the door to get whoever was at the front door. 

Aiah, who was now done with her hair, glanced at Jhoanna and gave her a curious look. 

“When pa kayo naging close kay Sheena? Stacey hadn't mentioned anything about this.”

“Sis, paano ba naman makaka-mention or kwento eh sobrang busy din kayo sa isa't-isa na ‘di niyo na alam mga ganaps sa paligid niyo kapag magkasama kayo?”

Fair point. 

“Edi ngayon hindi mo alam na may jowa na kaibigan mo.”

“What?”

Ngumuso si Jhoanna sa pinto kung nasaan si Mikha at Sheena. “Just look,”

“Hi, Ate Aiah! Ganda mo tonight, ah. May ka date ka rin ba?”

“Hey, Shee. You can come in.” She greeted the girl and invited her inside. 

Kaagad naman itong pumasok habang nakasunod si Mikha sa likod nito.

“Halaaa! Ito ba si Oliver? Ang cute!” Sheena giddily walks towards Oliver to pet him. 

“It's nice seeing you again.”

“Sorry pala sa bigla kong pagpunta dito. Sabi kasi ni Mikhs okay lang eh.”

“I agreed naman na you can come, so it's alright. More friends for Oliver, right buddy?” 

The golden retriever barked in response. 

“Si Staku pala–”

Another doorbell. 

Aiah looked at her friends, confused. “Are we expecting another visitor?”

“Ay! Nandiyan na siya.” Without them blinking, Sheena just disappeared right in front of their eyes and was at the front door already. 

Tiningnan naman ni Aiah si Mikha na nagkibit-balikat lang. Halatang sanay na kay Sheena. 

Aiah just watched as Sheena opened the door, which made her stand up abruptly.

“Stacey!”

She was not ready to see Staku right in front of her doorstep while she was preparing. She could only wait patiently and calm her excitement as she kept her eyes on Stacey who was currently entering her home.

“Beh, ‘di ka pa na invite ni Ate Aiah–ay! Never mind.” Sheena grinned when she realized that it was not Stacey’s first time stepping inside Aiah’s abode. “Bading kayo ha,” 

Stacey and Aiah ignored the teasing coming from their friends. Their eyes were stuck with each other. Aiah saw the flicker of recognition in Stacey’s eyes which made her lips curve into a smirk. 

“Hey,”

“Hey.”

“Ako dapat susundo sa'yo.” Aiah declared. 

Stacey shrugged. “Sinundo ako bigla ni Sheena eh kaya sumama na lang ako. Hindi naman ako siguro nakaka istorbo sa'yo ‘no?” She roamed her eyes on Aiah's body. “Mukhang may pinaghahandaan ka pa namang date.”

The thin lines on the side of Aiah's eyes showed when she laughed softly. “You're funny, Miss Sevilleja.”

“I think you're confusing me with you, Miss Arceta.”

They both smiled at each other, still not moving from their eye contact. 

“Uh, hello. May kasama kayo?”

It was the only time that they finally avoided looking at each other—but the smile on their lips stayed. 

Stacey looked at Sheena and rolled her eyes at her for breaking their moment which only earned an annoying laugh from her. 

“Nakakainis ka.”

“Wala akong pake.”

“Sana mag break kayo ni Mikha.”

“Huy! Ikatok mo ‘yan!” Sheena glared at her but she only smirked at her. 

“Don't worry, hindi naman ako papayag, bub.” Mikha commented. 

Aiah just watched their exchange. Some questions formulated inside her head but she would only ask Stacey about it when they're all alone. 

“Stacey, let's go na?”

“Sige. Bye, everyone! Bye Oli!” The vampire even rained tiny kisses on Oliver's face making its tail wag excitedly.

“Ingat kayo. Pasalubong lang diyan.” Jhoanna said jokingly. 

“You can buy whatever you want naman. Use my gcash number.” Aiah casually mentioned as she gathers a picnic basket and her jacket. 

“No limit?” Jhoanna grinned mischievously. 

Aiah sighed and nodded. “No limit.” She looks at Sheena. “Huwag kang mahiya sa kanila ha? Just order the food na you also want. No need to worry about the bill. I'll pay for it.”

“Noted, sis.”

And as Aiah and Stacey walked out of Aiah's place, the vampire slightly leaned over Aiah's shoulder before whispering something to her. 

“Sure ka ba na ikaw magbabayad? Alam kong mayaman ka pero grabe pakainin ‘yan si Shee. Walang katapusan tiyan niyan…”

The latter chuckled. “It's fine. Ako naman nag offer. Don't worry about it.”

“Fine,” Stacey gave up and just continued walking beside Aiah. 

When they reach the bottom floor, where cars are privately parked, Aiah immediately opens the door for Stacey, letting her enter her car first before anything else. 

“So… saan tayo pupunta tonight?” Stacey asked when Aiah started driving. 

“It's a secret.”

Tumaas naman ang kilay ni Stacey dahil dito. “Wow ha?”

“Now it's my turn to ask about Mikha and Sheena? Do you know what's going on between them?”

“Of course! Ilang months din niligawan ni Mikha si Shee, ‘no!”

“How come I didn't know about this…” Aiah pretended to be sad pero tinawanan lang siya ni Staku. 

“I thought alam mo na kasi kaibigan mo naman si Mikha.”

“Alright, fair point.”

“So, saan nga tayo pupunta?”

“You'll see.”

After an almost 15-minute drive, they arrived at a very familiar place that Stacey immediately recognized. 

They were in the Sunken Garden. 

“Why here?”

“Hmm, I just wanted to see the stars with you. I heard na clear ang langit ngayon kaya…” Aiah looked at her and winked. 

“That explains the picnic basket.”

“Yep. I hope you'll love the simple dishes I made for our date.”

“‘Yan ka nanaman sa date mo.”

“Why? Isn't it really a date? Our date.” Aiah replied. 

“Hindi na tayo matatapos dito. Halika ka na nga.”

Stacey got out of the car first, followed by Aiah, who picked up the picnic basket at the back of her car. 

They walked side by side afterwards, their eyes wandering around as there were also some people taking their time in the place, while some were even having their run. 

“It's been so long since I went here,” Stacey reminisced about her experience in the sunken garden. 

Hindi niya na maalala kung kailan siya huling nag punta dito, but she could still remember that she was alone when she went here years ago. 

She was just trying to find some peace, and she found it here in her isolation. 

“I go here for my daily runs sometimes if I'm not too busy.”

“Mabuti na lang at hindi marami ‘yung tao dito ngayon.”

“Why? Do you get distracted by them ba?” Aiah asked curiously. 

“Hindi naman. I'm used to them. I can always sense their blood kahit sa ganitong distansya, but I learned to control my urges for fresh human blood. I don't like how they taste anyway.”

“Hmm.” Aiah only hummed and didn't say anything afterwards. 

They just continued walking for a while, the distance between them shrinking as they continued on their path.

Both of them noticed it, of course, but still didn't comment about it. Instead, Aiah transferred the picnic basket to her other hand while she slowly moved her hand towards Stacey’s hand in the most subtle way. 

Stacey noticed this but didn't say anything. A smile appeared on her lips as she observed Aiah in her peripheral vision. 

Slowly, she extended her pinky and let it touch Aiah’s hand. Aiah looked down and saw Stacey’s pinky. It was moving closer, as if she wanted her pinky to intertwine with it. Aiah, without any second thoughts, linked their pinkies together. 

A smile plastered on her lips as the warmth it gave comforted her cold body. 

“I'm curious,” Stacey said. Her voice was laced with curiosity.

“About what?”

“Your wolf form. I'm curious kung ano ang itsura.”

Aiah smiled. “Have you seen one?”

“Hmm, yeah. But it was like a hundred years ago pa tsaka ‘di ko masyadong nakita kasi umalis na lang bigla eh noong makita si Ate Colet.”

“I'll show you my wolf,”

“Weh?”

Aiah grinned. “Kapag akin ka na.”

“Baliw!” Stacey playfully slapped her. 

“Bakit? Ayaw mo ba? Hindi ka naman lugi sa’kin.”

“Ewan ko sa'yo! Malapit na ba tayo?” Stacey asked, their pinkies still tangled together. Swaying as they walked. 

She was doing her best to avoid thinking about Aiah's words. If she only knew kung ano ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. 

Aiah suddenly stopped. “We're here.”

Walang masyadong tao sa parte ng sunken garden na hinintuan nila. Stacey could also see the view without the trees blocking it. Aiah was right the it was a clear sky for tonight. She could see the stars shining, almost as if they had come to greet her.

“So why here, Arceta?” 

“‘Coz you mentioned days ago na namiss mong pumunta dito.”

Inilatag ni Aiah ang picnic blanket sa damo habang si Stacey naman ay nanood lang sa ginawa niya. Stacey offered to help her out kahit sa paglagay lang ng mga pagkain but Aiah insisted that Stacey shouldn’t do anything and just be a princess.

She could only roll her eyes at the latter, but still, she followed Aiah as she swiftly brought out the food she had stored from inside the basket.

Aiah was not an expert, but she did her best to prepare everything for Stacey. She baked some simple cookies with the help of a YouTube tutorial and her memories of her grandmom teaching her how to bake. It turned out good naman kaya proud din siya sa gawa niya. The next food she prepared was sisig. A delicacy in one of her favorite towns. Hindi niya na kailangan ng tulong para lutuin ito since she made sure to learn it well when she was at pampangga years ago.

Being with Stacey for months comes with the privilege of observing her up close. Aiah took note of her likes and dislikes. She remembered all the small things that irritate her and what makes her happy. 

Stacey’s eyes brightened when she smelled the sisig. “Hala! You cooked that?”

Aiah proudly smiles. “Yep. You said last time that you were craving for one, that’s why I cooked this for you.”

“So sweet naman!”

“Pasado na ba?”

“Taste test pa!”

They sat in silence after a while. Still munching on the food brought by Aiah. Stacey would talk about random things again while Aiah would laugh at something she said, but still listened attentively. 

It was enough for them.

Just them being comfortable and at ease.

It was just right.

No need for words.

Just them.

As Aiah and her gaze lingered on Stacey, she couldn’t help but remove the strands of her hair covering a part of her face, which made the younger woman stop talking.

It lingered in the air.

The sweetness of Aiah’s fragrance combined with its familiar, warm, and earthy scent.

It reflected Aiah’s eyes.

And the way it didn’t make Stacey’s heart throb in the same way that hurt her because of her urge to sink her fangs into Aiah’s skin.

It was the opposite this time.

She felt at peace as she let it remain on her senses instead of concealing it.

“Have I told you that you look even prettier tonight?” Aiah muttered, barely a whisper.

But Stacey heard it. 

And it was enough to make her feel the flutter inside her stomach.

It was enough to ignite what they had for each other.

“Hindi mo na kailangang sabihin…” A pause. “Your eyes are enough to express it whenever you look at me.”

Stacey always noticed Aiah’s eyes. Her dark brown orbs are always looking at her way. Sometimes when she glanced at her, she could see the flicker of something familiar in it. It was always there, yet neither of them said it out loud.

Neither of them wanted to acknowledge it yet.

Pero ngayon, parang kaya na nila.

They both shifted with subtle movements as the cold breeze enveloped them—urging them to find a source for warmth.

The moment felt right for them.

As they sat together under the starry night, the wind blew around them like the comfort of a mother's embrace. It didn't feel cold; instead, they felt warmer than ever as their fingers slowly intertwined. 

Everything was perfect. 

The atmosphere, the tension, and the warmth coming from their hands slowly went up to their cheeks. Leaving them flushed as a smile slowly curved on their lips. 

They were quiet, letting the moment linger between them. Afraid that if they speak too soon or move too soon, they'll ruin what was settled in their silence.

Aiah saw the familiar glint of emotion in Stacey’s eyes. The way she gave her permission to lean closer to her, removing the distance between them. 

Stacey was anticipating Aiah's next move as her heart raced to the point of no control. She was sure that Aiah could hear it from the distance between them. How her heart screamed for Aiah to come closer and just embrace her without any worries. 

Aiah saw it all and she was ready to take it all. 

She was ready to take everything that Stacey could offer. 

Slowly, their faces moved closer, only an inch apart. 

Stacey closed her eyes, letting the moment between them take over. The quiet anticipation was building up like a peaceful ocean before the storm. Her grip on Aiah's hand tightened as she waited for the gap between them to finally close. 

Only, it wasn't that simple. 

As Aiah leaned closer to Stacey, she caught a whiff of her endearing scent, making her lose control for the first time in a while as her throat felt tight and her canines slowly bared itself because of a sudden craving for Stacey’s scent. 

Aiah's eyes turned golden as veins appeared around her eyes. 

Her chest hitched with each ragged breath, leaving her almost unrestrained, unbound, far from being in control. 

It didn't help that Stacey’s breath hit her skin, making her lose even more of her sanity. 

This is not right. 

Aiah gritted her teeth as she tried to control herself. She closed her eyes as her nose touched Stacey’s nose, their lips only mere inches away from touching. 

Her jaw clenched while she gripped the blanket with her free hand, holding for a support to stop herself from making a mistake. 

This is wrong. Her mind whispers. 

Her mind was clouded with desire as Stacey’s scent got stronger. Her fangs were now fully exposed and Aiah was afraid that Stacey would see her differently if she saw her face. 

A mindless monster like her predecessor. 

With all her strength, she pulled herself away from Stacey. 

The warmth gone, the anticipation fading—only her fear that she would end up hurting Stacey remained. 

Stacey opened her eyes when she felt the latter pulling away from her suddenly. The warmth of Aiah's hand with hers disappeared. Her face was in confusion, her lips parted when she saw Aiah turn her back on her. 

With that, she was unable to see how Aiah calmed herself and hid her canines again as she tightly closed her eyes, afraid that Stacey might see them. 

“Aiah? What's wrong?” Stacey could only ask. 

It took over a minute before Aiah could finally respond. Her voice is colder than usual. 

“Let's go home. Hatid na kita.”

“Aiah?”

“Please,” 

Stacey paused as she heard how Aiah's voice cracked. She had no choice but to follow Aiah back to her car. Her mind still swirling with confusion from the sudden indifference of the latter to her. 

The ride home was quiet. Not the same comforting silence between them. It was cold, rigid, and suffocating. Far from their comforting glances and laughter whenever they go out. 

It was as if something had flipped inside Aiah for her to start acting like this. 

Like she was someone that Stacey couldn't decipher. 

“Aiah-”

“Good night, Stacey.” Without even glancing at her, Aiah drove off, leaving Stacey empty and questioning what had happened. 

-

The following days were a torture for them. Stacey wanted to know what happened but Aiah kept avoiding it. She wouldn't answer her calls and she wouldn't open her door if she visited her. 

That night left a hollow inside Stacey’s chest and questions that were left unanswered. 

It was unbearable—almost like a permanent tattoo dedicated to a lover, yet the reason for its existence is not there anymore. 

Then, as she leaned on the wall of her room, thinking about what she’d done wrong, she tasted something salty coming out of her eyes.

It was the first time that Stacey shed a tear again for someone she thought would never run away from her.

And it was killing her. 

-

It's been weeks since they last talked to each other. The void inside Aiah's chest continues to grow as more time passes by without her seeing Stacey again. 

There was a gnawing pain at first. A pain she could've sworn she'd never felt, even when she was still human. The pain was crawling all over her body na parang may isang parte sa katawan niya ang nawala nang nagdesisyon siya na layuan na si Stacey. 

Maybe it was her heart that slowly grew numb as more days went by without witnessing her favorite bright smile from her favorite girl. 

Or maybe it was the unpleasant feeling inside her stomach as she felt the coldness crawling upwards whenever she saw Stacey’s messages in her phone's notification. 

She wasn't really sure. 

Ang alam niya lang ay namimiss niya na ang dalaga at gusto niya na itong makita. 

But I can't risk it. 

You won't risk anything. 

The voices keep on fighting. 

Hindi alam ni Aiah kung papakinggan niya ba ang utak niya o mas tamang pakinggan ang puso niya. Her heart has been screaming Stacey’s name over and over again, begging her to lower her walls and talk to her. 

She was missing her so much. 

Everything that Stacey touched inside Aiah's place reminded her of the vampire. 

From the scent Stacey left in her home to all the laughter she could still hear even in the corners of her room. There was always a reminder of her existing feelings towards Stacey Sevilleja, no matter how much she ran away from it. She just couldn't escape, or doesn't want to. 

And missing Stacey means waiting for her messages to Aiah that she never replied to.

Aiah looks at her phone, trying to see if there is a notification coming from the vampire. She always sends a message at a specific time consistently and without fail. Aiah left them all on read. 

Today, though, was different. Aiah was now staring at her phone, still waiting for something to appear on it, even though it had been a couple of hours that passed by since Stacey’s scheduled daily messages towards her. 

“Maybe she's busy,” she tells herself to calm her nerves. 

However, after a day, there was still no message from Stacey. 

Aiah was now worried as fuck. 

Kahit hindi dapat, tinawagan niya pa rin ang number ni Stacey. She knew that she should ask her friends first before calling her, but her anxiousness got the best of her. 

She needed to hear Stacey’s voice to make sure that she was safe. 

“Fuck. Answer the damn call.” Aiah was not getting frustrated because Stacey’s number was out of coverage. 

She kept on calling her, but she was out of reach no matter what method she used. 

“Stacey, answer please…” 

The restlessness, combined with her desolation towards the latter, meant she couldn't think straight anymore before she finally decided to go to Colet. 

Hindi na siya nag-isip pa ng gagawin niya. She just went straight to where Colet is. 

“Do you know where Stacey is?”

Colet almost dropped her coffee when she heard Aiah’s voice behind her. Her eyes widened when she turned her back to face her. She didn't even feel Aiah's presence when she arrived. It was like she just got there at this moment. 

“Aiah, hey!” Colet greeted when she recovered. “To answer that, hindi ko alam kung nasaan si Staku. Alam mo naman ‘yun, hindi nagpapaalam kung wala ditong trabaho.”

Right.

“Thanks, Colet. Please call me if you have any news about her, please.”

“Ano bang nangyayari? Nag-away ba kayo.”

“No,” she pauses. “Just a misunderstanding.” Misunderstanding sa sarili ko. 

“Sige. Ingat ka.”

“You, too.” 

Colet almost dropped her coffee again when Aiah just disappeared in front of her eyes when she blinked for a second. 

“What the fuck… Nagha-hallucinate ba ako?”

She was sure that she had just witnessed Aiah using super speed. Just like a fucking vampire. 

“Langga? Nandito ka ba?” Maloi entered her office and stopped when she saw Colet’s expression. “O? Anong nangyari sa'yo at parang nakakita ka nang multo?”

“Ga, naalala mo si Aiah diba…”

“Oo, ‘yung sinabi mong gusto ni Staku?”

“Yes… and do you remember me telling you that she was a wolf?”

“Yep,” Maloi’s forehead creased. “Ano bang nangyari?”

“She went here,”

“Ay? True ba? Sayang ‘di ko siya naabutan.”

“She just vanished…”

“Ha?”

“She just vanished, ga. I just blinked and she was gone right in front of me…”

Mas along kumunot ang noo ni Maloi. Wala na ang ngiti nito. “But you said na werewolf si Aiah.”

“I did,” Lumunok ito “Si Staku mismo ang nagsabi sa'kin and Sheena also mentioned that Aiah was her girlfriend’s pack leader.”

“What…” Maloi stilled for a minute and was like in her deep thoughts. 

Colet, who was still in disbelief, managed to sit down on her swivel chair as her legs began to shake. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit parang mas lalo siyang kinabahan sa reaksyon ni Maloi. 

“Oh my God…” Maloi suddenly uttered before looking directly at her wife. “I think I know.”

“What?”

Maloi bit her lip before finally telling Colet what she knew.

-

On the other hand, Aiah roamed around the town while still waiting for Stacey to respond. 

Hindi niya na alam ang gagawin niya. Her wolf was also screaming but she was too preoccupied to even pay attention to it. 

She was just walking without a path. Figuratively and literally. 

Para siyang nabuhayan nang marinig ang ringtone niya para kay Stacey. 

She was calling Aiah now. 

Without a second, she answered. 

“Aiah? Hey? Are you alright? Tumawag ka sa’kin ng ilang beses.”

Para namang nakahinga ng maluwag si Aiah pagkatapos niyang marinig ang boses ni Staku. She was sure that the vampire sounded tired, but her priority was to know if she was safe. 

“I got worried. Okay ka lang ba?” Aiah asked. Her voice was softer than her usual tone with Stacey. 

Stacey, on the other line, was busy unpacking her luggage after her almost 19-hour flight from Singapore to New York, then another 18 hours and 50 minutes flight from New York back to Singapore, and then she would also fly from Singapore to the Philippines for almost 4 hours. 

She admits that she was tired, but it was distressing since she was able to distract herself from her longing for Aiah, who had been ignoring her after that night. 

And now, to be able to hear her voice again, calling her nonstop, parang nawala lahat ng pagod at mga boses sa utak niya.

Just knowing that Aiah was worried was enough for her. 

“Nagtrabaho ako,” Stacey announced, her voice a little bit hoarse. “I flew for hours kaya I wasn't able to leave you a message.” Message na ise-seen mo lang. 

“Oh.” Right. 

Aiah remembers that Stacey is not used to leaving a message whenever she's in her pilot mode. She was able to leave her some though before this happened. Pero ngayon na umiiwas siya at nararamdaman ‘yun ni Stacey, hindi siya nag message kay Aiah na may trabaho siya. She didn't wanna impose. 

“Aiah…”

The silence between them was aching, but neither of them wanted to drop the call. It was enough that they could hear each other's voices. It was enough to calm their worries, but it was not enough for them to finally have a conversation. 

So they just stayed like that for a while. 

Only their breathing could be heard. 

Aiah wanted to curl her body down her bed, to embrace Stacey’s presence, even if it's just a call. 

Yet she wouldn't be able to do that now that she's still outside, letting everything linger. Letting her savor this call with Stacey without interruptions. 

“Aiah, can we… Can we talk, please?”

Something pierced Aiah's chest when she heard Stacey’s voice. It was longing, pain, and almost pleading. Aiah could already imagine Stacey’s painful expression as she uttered those words. 

Aiah's throat tightened. 

She couldn't bear hearing her like this. 

So she did what she thought was best for her heart right now. 

“I have to go. Take care, Stacey.” Her voice was brittle and breathy. 

Before Stacey could even say anything, Aiah just ended the call. 

-

Stacey sat silently in the darkness, her luggage already forgotten. 

She was just staring blankly at her phone, where Aiah had just dropped the call, leaving her empty again. 

It should've been her chance to talk to her, to finally have a proper conversation about what happened. She was supposed to know what really happened, why Aiah suddenly avoided her like she was some kind of plague. 

It bothered her so much because they were getting along really well. They were building something beautiful. Yet for some reason, Stacey thinks that Aiah might not be on the same page as her. That hurt her even more than the silence lingering quietly.

There was a quiet ache from a wound that she felt would never heal kung hindi niya maririnig mismo sa bibig ni Aiah ang katotohanan. Kung ano ba talaga ang nangyayari. 

Kung bakit bigla itong lumayo.

Kung bakit…

Stacey closed her eyes tightly while she shifted to a sitting position where she could hug both of her folded legs as she stopped herself from tearing up.

I miss her so much.

-

Another week passed between them, yet the quiet yearning between them stayed. Stacey still hasn’t left a message to Aiah again, afraid of making the pain inside her chest ache more than she could handle.

Aiah would stare at her phone every morning for the past days, waiting for a message she somehow knew she wouldn’t receive anymore after what she’s done.

The change between them was noticed by their friends. It was obvious from how Stacey wouldn’t respond to Colet when she asked her about Aiah. Aiah would also distract herself from the insurmountable yearning she feels towards Stacey. 

God, she misses her smile. She misses the way her hair flips whenever the wind dances with her. She misses how Stacey’s eyes would disappear whenever she laughs at something Aiah had said. She misses the calmness she brings out of her, the way she would make Aiah feel like she was human all over again, minus the urges she feels whenever Stacey’s scent invades her senses.

Aiah sighed quietly while playing with her wine glass. 

She was currently at a party prepared by her family. A normal gathering for their pack and a way to further their network of connections. 

Pero walang pake si Aiah sa nangyayari. Her mind was only thinking of one person. 

All the chaos. All the chatters. She shut it off. Only the noise inside her head is left. She can't turn it off, no matter how much she tries. She just couldn't stop the voices inside her head, asking her if she was really making the right choices.

Avoiding her is not the answer, Aiah. 

She knew that, of course. 

Alam niya na dapat mas naging prangka pa siya kay Stacey. She should've been more stern with her. More strict. Colder.

Dapat sinabi niya na ang totoo. Dapat lumayo na siya habang maaga pa. Pero ang hirap kasi para sa kanya na layuan ito.

If she didn’t entertain the thought of feeling something towards the vampire, then maybe she wouldn’t be suffering like this.

It was easy for her to be merciless. To be someone who will not show her emotions. She did it for years—no, centuries.

It made her lead her pack successfully. It made her grounded but still powerful enough to protect her pack from their enemies. 

It was essential to have all the control that she had accumulated in the present. It helped her survive. Helped her overcome all those noises along the way. 

Being a daughter of someone who came from a family of something ancient was not easy for her, but she had to be strong. She needed to accept all parts of herself to survive. 

Yet, all that protection she's built for herself just crumbled because of a certain vampire that never left her mind. 

Stacey Aubrey Sevilleja. 

Her enigma. 

The woman she could never decipher. 

It still puzzles her how much this vampire captivated her whole being with just her scent. 

A scent she shouldn't get close to. 

Not because it's not allowed. 

But because it's dangerous. 

Hindi alam ni Aiah kung hanggang kailan pa tatagal ang pasensya niya. 

She doesn't know when her patience will shatter.

She can't think straight whenever she's in the presence of Stacey, that's why she tried to avoid her in every possible way without the latter knowing what she really is, almost running away.

But avoiding her won't lead to anything good. She has to face her sooner or later. Aiah knew that she could never run away from this, even if she wanted to. 

“Ate, may nag message yata sa phone mo.” 

Aiah suddenly awoke from her deep thoughts when she heard Gwen speak beside her. 

The witch raised her brows at her before looking at her phone na nag-on ulit ang screen dahil sa notification. 

Aiah placed the wine glass back on the table. She then reached her phone to see what it was.

She wasn't expecting anyone to message her tonight, except if it was for business or came from her friends who are so makulit. 

That's why imagine her surprise when she saw Stacey’s name on her screen. The vampire left a message for her twice. Almost begging her to talk to her from the way she constructed her sentences. It was the first time that Stacey messaged her again after that call. 

Aiah groaned internally. 

She didn't like the fact that Stacey had to beg just for her to face her. 

You fucked this up real bad, Arceta. 

She didn't think twice, though, after seeing the vampire’s message. 

The night was still young. The party was still going, but she decided to leave. 

She needed to see Stacey at once. 

“You're leaving?” Mikha asked when she noticed Aiah getting ready to leave. “Baka hanapin ka ni tita?”

“I need to go somewhere.” She replied. 

“This late?”

Aiah just hummed and stood up with hesitation after fixing her suit. “Take care of our businesses here, okay? I'll message you later.”

“Kami na bahala dito. Ingat, sis.”

“Kayo rin.”

Aiah briefly sent a message to her mother while she drove her car to where Stacey was. 

The place where they first met. 

The park that gave life to their friendship. 

And the place where Oliver finally found her other mother. 

Aiah's mate. 

But she couldn't risk it. 

The fear of losing Stacey because of her carelessness is still there. 

She'll never forgive herself if she hurts her. 

Aiah tightened her hold on the steering wheel. Naka park na siya ngayon in her usual spot. Yet, she didn't want to go out. 

From her spot, she could see Stacey’s back. Even if she's far away, Aiah could always recognize Stacey’s figure. Maybe it was because of her heightened senses. Maybe it was because she could see things from far away. Hindi niya alam. 

But she's sure of one thing. 

She'll always spot her even if there are thousands of people around her. 

“You can do it, Arceta. Time to face her.” Aiah says to herself before finally removing her seatbelt and opening her car door to get out. 

There, clad in simple loose denim pants and a pink spaghetti strap top, the vampire glowed like a star in the dim park. 

Aiah slowly closed her car without removing her eyes from the goddess incarnate. 

She couldn’t remove her gaze from her as she slowly took a step towards the vampire. Hindi pa rin ito lumilingon sa kanya, but she's sure as hell that Stacey already noticed her presence after she parked her car. 

Every step felt heavier as she got closer to where Stacey was. Her fingers trembled, her hands were cold, and her heart was pounding, almost as if it wanted to get out of her chest.

Stacey, fully aware of Aiah’s presence, stayed still. She only looked at the sky, a little disappointed that there weren’t stars present at that moment.

Ramdam niya ang lamig dahil sa suot niya pero ininda niya ito at pilit na hindi pinansin. Her attention was on the sound of Aiah’s footsteps getting closer and her ragged breathing.

And with Aiah’s last step, Stacey finally spoke.

“Why are you avoiding me?”

Her question made Aiah feel the knots in her stomach. Her eyes stayed on Stacey’s back. Hindi pa rin siya nito hinaharap at nakatingin lang sa langit.

Aiah thought about her words. How she would answer Stacey without hurting her, but she couldn’t tell her the truth without leaving a sting.

“Because I shouldn't get closer to you.”

“Why? Is it because I'm a vampire and you're a werewolf?” Aiah flinched at Stacey’s frustrated and angry tone.

“Stacey-”

Aiah stopped when Stacey turned around and faced her. 

The vampire’s eyes were glistening with unshed tears. Stacey’s lips trembled as she tried to get the words out of her mouth, even if it hurt. 

“Tangina naman, Aiah! Hindi naman bawal diba? I'm here trying my best to get closer to you but you just wouldn't budge! Hindi ko na alam kung ano pa ang dapat kong gawin para lang kausapin mo ulit ako!”

“This is for your own good.”

“What do you know about what's good for me? You didn't even contact me after that night.” A tear fell from her eyes. “That one time na tumawag ka… dapat doon na tayo nag-usap eh. Pero… pero binabaan mo lang ako.”

Aiah screwed her eyes shut. “I-I was worried.”

“Well, here I am, Arceta. Safe and sound!” Stacey’s eyes carried a barely contained anger as she clenched her jaw. “What I need is you, Aiah. I don’t need you to worry about my safety. I don’t need you to be my friend. I just need you to talk to me and tell me everything!”

“You're not safe with me, Stacey.”

“Wala akong pake! I'm willing to take the risk for you, Aiah.”

“Stacey, I—”

Aiah was supposed to say something to Stacey, but she paused mid-sentence when she felt a couple of familiar and unfamiliar presences looming around them. 

There was no time for an explanation.

Fuck the distance she built between them. Her instincts immediately told her to protect the vampire behind her as wolves from her rival pack slowly made themselves known.

“Liam.” Aiah's lips formed into a thin line. 

“Aiah Arceta. I was not expecting to see you here,” Liam’s eyes lingered behind Aiah. “With a vampire.”

“Expected or unexpected, it's always an unpleasant sight to see you.”

“Fiesty are we?”

“I'm more than that if provoked.”

There was a silent warning in Aiah's words. If others who already knew who she is heard her, they would've immediately run away, but some idiots like Liam don't know their place. 

“Provoked, you say? Let's see then.”

Liam and his men slowly surrounded them, making Aiah's senses heightened than usual. 

She held Stacey’s hand and placed the girl behind her while her eyes never left the men surrounding them.

“Another step and rip your hearts off.”

Even Stacey felt the coldness in Aiah's voice when she spoke those words. She's never heard Aiah speak like that. It was the first time that she ever spoke like a cold-blooded creature who would show no mercy to anyone who stepped on her boundary. 

Nakita niya rin kung paano matigilan ang mga lalaking nakapalibot sa kanila. Some took a step back, and some were thinking twice if they should follow Liam’s order because the way the female alpha ran her eyes at them felt like a stab from something that could kill them. 

“Aiah…” She called her name. 

The woman glanced at her for a moment. It was just a couple of seconds, but that was enough for Stacey to see how Aiah's eyes slowly turned into an amber color. 

Stacey, of course, knew how a werewolf iris turns into a golden shade or an amber color when they're channeling their wolf, but what she saw with Aiah is different from what she was used to seeing. 

She had black veins around her eyes. 

Just like vampires.

“Aiah, your eyes…”

It was almost enough for Stacey to forget breathing and forget what was happening at this moment. She had a lot of questions in her head. 

Why are her eyes like that? She's a werewolf, right? So why does she have the features of a vampire? 

Her thoughts got interrupted when Aiah spoke again. 

“I dare you to take a step right now.” The sharpness and coldness in her voice are very evident. 

Kahit si Stacey ay medyo natakot dahil dito. She wasn't worried for her life, kahit na may pitong wolf na nakapalibot sa kanila which can really inflict a fatal bite on her as a vampire.

Even so, she felt the opposite of worry.

She felt secure just by being held by Aiah. 

“Ano na?! ‘wag niyong sabihin na takot kayo sa babaeng ‘yan?! Attack her!”

Two of them immediately moved and jumped to where Aiah is, but Aiah was fast to deflect them, moving with the speed of a vampire, which confused Stacey even more. 

It was easy for Aiah to defend from their attacks while also protecting Stacey. Hindi na ito bago sa kanya. She could take them all for all she cares, and Stacey would still be safe with only her right hand holding her. 

Another werewolf attacked Aiah head-on, thinking that he could surprise her with his movements, but he was wrong. Aiah stopped him from moving further closer to her when she let her hands make a hole through his chest with ease and ripped his heart off without any hesitation, earning a lot of reaction from the witnesses and other attackers. 

“What the fuck, Liam! What did you get us into?!”

“Fuck it! Just continue attacking her! We can't back out now!”

“But she just ripped Earl’s heart off like it was nothing!”

“Just shut the fuck up and follow my order!”

Another werewolf attacked Aiah, but this time she didn't rip his heart off. This time, she dodged his attacks before firmly holding him by his neck and revealing her fangs and biting him. 

The man screamed painfully when he felt Aiah's fangs sink into his neck. Parang sinusunog ang balat niya sa kagat nito. Doon pa lang, alam niya na na may mali dahil nakagat na siya ng ibang werewolf na kasama nila noon pero hindi ganito ang sakit nanaramdaman niya. 

Na parang mawawalan siya ng buhay sa kagat lang nito. 

Aiah let him go after tearing a piece of his neck, then simply spat it out in front of them. Her eyes were still golden, and her fangs bared against them. There was blood all over her face, and her left hand was covered with blood while still holding the heart she ripped from the dead werewolf. With the mess she's in, she didn't mind that at all. All she wanted was to finish whatever this is so she and Stacey could talk again and finish their argument earlier. 

“Ahhhhh! Tulungan niyo ako please!” kaagad naman itong nilapitan ng ibang kasama nito at inalalayan.

They saw how his found festered after just a couple of seconds. They have never seen a bite wound like that before. Not from a normal werewolf nor a vampire.

“What the hell did you do to him?!”

Aiah smiled coldly. “I don't know. I just gave him what he deserved.”

“Liam, putangina! You said she was a werewolf!”

“S-she is!”

“Fucking hell man! She's fucking not! Look at her eyes and look at this fucking bite!”

“S-shit! Run!”

They all run away while carrying the dead body of their fellow werewolf, and the werewolf who will die after a couple of hours because of Aiah's lethal bite. 

Liam gave Aiah a scornful look, but the latter just stared back at him without any emotion. 

“Run while you can, Liam. You can also try saving that friend of yours, but you won't be able to since only I could heal that wound.” Her voice was chilling, and her eyes bore the anger of daring to attack her beloved vampire. 

“Here, take this with you before you run the fuck away like some coward.”

Stacey just stared with awe when Aiah threw the heart to Liam, and the man caught it, panicking.

Liam just left them after that. Some bystanders saw what happened, and Aiah followed all their traces readily through their smell and the sound of their footsteps getting away from the place.

Some humans ran away while some were in shock to do anything. 

“Aiah…”

“Wait here,” the older woman took a black handkerchief out of her blazer and used it to clean herself while making her way to a human who was clearly in shock at what they had just witnessed. 

Stacey just followed Aiah with her eyes. Seeing everything with her very own eyes, how Aiah compelled the human to forget everything, then just disappeared right before her eyes, then appeared again after a couple of minutes. It left her in shock as well.

She has an enhanced speed and can use compulsion on others. 

Just like a vampire.

Now in front of Stacey was Aiah, who looked a little worn out from the sudden event. It didn't remove that fact that she was still gorgeous as fuck though. Even the little blood left on her face made her ten times hotter in Stacey’s eyes. 

This is not the right time for that, Stacey!

She almost slapped herself for imagining things that she shouldn’t.

Alam niyang hindi dapat gan’on ang nasa utak niya, but she can't stop herself from feeling something for Aiah with what she just saw. 

“Stacey…” Aiah called her name, her voice almost begging. “Let's talk sa bahay ko?”

“I-I think we should just go home.”

“No. Please, let's talk? I'll tell you everything, just please…”

Aiah reached out her hand, hoping that Stacey would accept it. 

The vampire looked at it for a few seconds. 

Hindi niya alam kung tama ba na sumama kay Aiah or mas tama na umuwi na lang at mag-usap na lang sila sa ibang oras. 

She couldn't look her straight in the eyes, but a voice inside of her told her that she should accept her hand and follow her. 

You need to talk, Stacey. You don't need more distance. 

After a couple of minutes that felt like a millennium for Aiah, Stacey accepted her hand. 

She sighed in relief. Her expression calmed down. 

“Thank you,” she uttered softly. 

Aiah, without any warning, put Stacey’s hand on her nape and suddenly carried her in a bridal style.

Stacey gasped at what Aiah did and glared at her. 

“Warning naman!” she squealed.

“Sorry, this is faster than riding our cars. Just hold on tight, okay?”

Stacey nodded and closed her eyes. 

She felt them move in seconds after she closed her eyes. It only took less than a minute before they arrived at Aiah's house.

Maingat na ibinaba siya nito at hinayaan na ilibot ang mga mata sa loob. Trying to find something different after weeks of not going here. 

The whole house still screamed like Aiah. It was clean, calm, and practical. Just like how she remembered it.

And there was Oliver. 

“Hey, baby! I missed you!”

The golden retriever wagged its tail towards Stacey while playfully barking at the visitor.

Aiah just let them be.

She just stared at them intently while removing her blazer. Almost tiptoeing behind Stacey. Giving her enough space with Oliver, afraid that she might invade her boundaries if she pushes herself towards her.

Stacey had her back turned against Aiah, but she could feel her eyes on her. She always knew those gazes. She'll always recognize it. 

It was intense, sharp, but somehow soft, almost looking through her soul.

It was enough to make her nervous. Enough for her to be scared again of what the outcome of their talk would be. To add to that, she couldn’t remove what she had witnessed earlier from her head. How Aiah felt so different. It was like she saw another part of Aiah that she hadn’t been able to witness because the latter didn’t want her to catch a sight of that side of hers.

Aiah felt the same, too, but here they are. Hindi niya na hahayaan pa na hindi niya masabi ang dapat matagal niya nang sinabi dito.

“Talk.” 

Aiah stilled. Her jaw clenched as she heard the sharpness in Stacey’s voice.

She was not here to play with her. She was here for her explanation.

Her cowardice brought them to this situation. If only she didn’t run away, if only she dared to tell her the truth after all the moments she shared with Stacey, maybe they wouldn’t have to start this kind of conversation.

But those are just ifs. What she has now is real.

And she would do anything just to mend it.

“I’m sorry…” she began. “Natakot lang ako.”

Stacey remained silent, but she was listening.

“I admit that… I was a coward.” Aiah felt the tremors in her hands as she made a fist. “Natakot ako na kung malaman mo ang totoo… lalayuan mo ako.”

She continued. “I was afraid that I’ve become too close to you to the point that I might unconsciously lose control over…” Myself. 

Aiah gritted her teeth as her emotions started to take over. It was not the time for that. She needs to say it first. She needed to tell her the truth before she loses it.

This time, Stacey stopped petting Oliver. She inhaled deeply before finally facing Aiah, who looked vulnerable as she stood in front of her. The distance between them was noticeable, too, and Stacey understood what it meant.

“I’m not what you think I am, Stacey…” She hesitated before continuing. “I’m not just a werewolf.”

Even with her pained expression, Aiah still looked like a goddess in Stacey’s eyes. 

Nakita niya rin kung paano unti-unting nagbago ang mata ni Aiah. She saw how her iris became amber. It was a sight to see for Stacey, but what caught her attention was the veins that slowly appeared under Aiah’s eyes.

That made her stand up without removing her eyes from the older woman.

It was the same thing that she saw earlier when Aiah was fighting with the other wolves. 

She had the same form. The same face.

She also possessed abilities that only vampires should have. She witnessed first hand how Aiah had an enhanced speed and was able to compel humans to forget what they saw in the park. 

As if she were both a werewolf and a… vampire.

“Holy shit.”

Stacey covered her mouth when she finally realized everything.

“Aiah… what…”

As Aiah’s eyes returned to their normal shade of brown, she carefully met the vampire’s surprised gaze.

Her throat felt dry, and her heart uneasy as she spoke. “I possess both, Stacey.” She felt her insides numbing. “I am both a werewolf and a vampire.”

Parang nabingi si Stacey sa narining niya. It was as if her brain couldn’t process the information she just heard. Nanigas siya sa kinatatayuan niya, hindi alam kung ano ba ang dapat niyang sabihin  kay Aiah. She wasn’t sure of the words she was supposed to say after hearing all that.

Aiah waited patiently while she watched the series of realizations all over Stacey’s face. It was not hard to decipher the disbelief, the denial, and the confusion running inside her head. Aiah saw it all.

But she waited.

Because deep inside her, she was hoping that Stacey would understand.

“W-what… then what are you?” Stacey asked after recovering from the shock.

“We are what they call a… hybrid.”

Hybrids. Stacey heard stories about them, but she didn’t take them seriously. She’s forgotten about those stories told by some of the vampires she met along the years of exploring the world. 

They were a combination of two different creatures. A taboo. Something against the balance of nature. That was all she knew and remembered.

“I can’t believe that you exist…”

“This is why I was scared to tell you the truth.”

“But you didn’t have to run away from me, Aiah. Maiintindihan naman kita eh kapag sinabi mo lang ang totoo.” Her throat tightened. “Wala lang ba sa’yo ‘yung pinagsamahan natin? Hindi mo ba talaga nakikita?”

“No!” Aiah immediately held Stacey’s hands. “You know na hindi ‘yan totoo.”

“Then what? Ano pa ba ang ibang magiging rason?”

Aiah made a mess of her hair. “Natatakot nga ako na baka masaktan kita.”

“Bakit? Paano mo ako masasaktan? Dahil sa kagat mo ba?”

“Yes!” Aiah yelled frustratingly. “Yes, Stacey. I was afraid of accidentally biting you. Afraid that I might not be able to control myself whenever you’re near me.”

“Well, I don’t fucking care, Aiah! I’m willing to take a risk just for you!”

“I can’t risk your safety, Stacey! Your life!” Aiah groaned out of frustration. “You don't know how much control you hold towards me, Stacey. You're like a drug that'll make me lose my mind in the process of consuming you.”

Stacey took a step closer towards Aiah. “I don’t care, Aiah. I’m willing to take every chance I have with you, even if it means dying.”

Wala na akong pake kung hindi ko man matikman ang dugo mo. What I feel for you is more important than these cravings I’ve developed when we first met.

Aiah didn’t move. She just stood there, feeling all the emotions she couldn’t understand anymore, but also anticipating Stacey’s warmth as she closes the gap between them.

“You don’t have to walk away from me, Aiah. You don’t have to be scared.” 

Another step. 

“I want you.”

Aiah’s breath hitched when Stacey’s hand brushed against her arms.

Stacey’s eyes softened as she saw how Aiah slowly made herself unguarded.

Her hands trailed Aiah’s arms, slowly feeling the heat against her skin.

“Kahit ano ka man, wala akong pake. Ikaw ang gusto ko, Aiah. Wala na akong pake kung may mangyari man sa’kin. Call me crazy or something for wanting you this much, wala akong pake. This is the first time that I felt really alive after all those centuries I spent living my life as a vampire.”

That silenced Aiah, but Stacey still wasn’t done.

“I admit na I was attracted sa’yo dahil sa dugo mo. I was planning na kaibiganin ka para lang sa dugo mo, na baka may chance ako na matikman ka, pero eventually I stopped thinking that way because what we have was real, Aiah. It was not because of my cravings. It was because of your persistent care towards me, and how much you memorize every detail about me, na kahit ‘yung maliliit na bagay alam mo na.”

She was surprised to hear all of that coming from Stacey. She wasn’t expecting her to say all those things and express what she feels for her.

Aiah noticed the subtle shift between them sometimes if they’re too close. She noticed how Stacey would become flustered and how hard she tried to hide her face whenever they were inches away from each other.

Still, Aiah saw Stacey’s eyes change with veins showing under her eyes and her fangs slowly baring themselves before she could even fully hide her face. It didn’t help that she could also hear Stacey’s heartbeat. It was racing whenever their eyes met.

And Aiah wasn’t that gullible to not understand what that meant.

For a while, Stacey was able to hear how Aiah’s breathing slowly relaxed. She also felt Aiah loosening up. She was finally calming down.

Aiah moved her arms, making Stacey remove her hands from them. Stacey could only watch as Aiah encircled her arms around her waist, earning a small gasp from her because of Aiah’s sudden movement.

She looked up, only to meet Aiah’s eyes. There it was again, her eyes that pierced through her. Her eyes seemed to know what’s going on inside her head. She always had this intense stare, but Stacey didn’t mind it. 

The way she looked at her, as if she were directly looking at her soul, was something that brought shivers inside of her, but in a pleasant way.

Aiah held her in place without breaking their eye contact. Stacey just lets Aiah do anything that she wants. Even if she was startled at first when Aiah's pupils dilated as she looked at her eyes without blinking. 

“Do you really like me? Not just because of my blood?”

Aiah's voice felt like a lullaby that left her almost enthralled.

It made her feel like she was floating and that she could answer anything that she asked. 

“No. I don't like you, Aiah.”

Huh? 

The way she suddenly answered Aiah without even thinking surprised Stacey.

But she was immediately distracted when she saw the pain and shock in Aiah's face when she uttered that. That was another moment where she unconsciously spoke again without thinking. 

“I love you.” She said gently. “Not just because of my attraction to your blood, but because I got to know you from the moments we shared. Kahit noong iniiwasan mo ako at pilit kitang nilalapitan at gustong makasama at makausap. It was enough for me to love you, Aiah. I see you as you are. Kahit iba ka man sa’min. I will still love you.”

Aiah let go of her and stepped back. 

She didn't want to let her go, but she had to. 

She needed to breathe after what she had just heard. 

Stacey loves me. 

She loves me. 

And I think I'll lose my mind because of it. 

Para namang nawala sa pagkalutang si Stacey noong iniwas ni Aiah ang mata sa kanya. She watched as the older woman took a step back to process what she had confessed. 

Stacey clearly felt it, though. That she was not in control just a while ago when Aiah asked her about her feelings. 

Was I just compelled?!

How is that even possible? 

She knew for a fact that she didn't have enough guts to say it all out loud in one go, even though she's been pursuing Aiah for months now. 

Unless, of course, she was compelled to say the truth out of her consciousness. 

“Aiah, did you just…”

“Yes. Sorry for that. I just need to hear the truth from you.” Aiah didn't even try to hide it. 

“Pero paano…” Stacey’s lips parted. “How is that even possible?”

“It is with my bloodline.” 

“What do you mean?”

“I'll tell you about it, but first, let me hold you, please…” Aiah's voice almost cracked. 

She wanted to hold Stacey so much after she had taken her time. 

I need her. I need her warmth against mine. I need her familiar scent and comfort. 

The needs. The wants. It didn't matter ‘cause Aiah wanted and needed Stacey at the same time. 

“Aiah…” Stacey muttered her name before nodding. 

Aiah took a step closer to Stacey before instantly removing the distance between them. 

She buried her nose into Stacey’s neck. Savoring her scent. Calming down her nerves. She tightened her hold on her. Almost like a bear hug. A big spoon. 

It wasn't enough, though. Aiah needed something even comforting and warmer than that. 

But it’s something that she should ask permission for first before doing. Ayaw niyang takutin si Stacey. Ayaw niyang lumayo ito sa kanya.

“Will you tell me?” Stacey asked softly while still being embraced by Aiah.

“I… I will.” Aiah responded weakly. Her face was still buried on Stacey’s neck.

Aiah started telling Stacey her family’s history.

Aiah came from the original bloodline. The original vampires… and the hybrid. Her grandmother was the daughter of Niklaus Mikaelson, the original hybrid who sacrificed his life to save his daughter. 

Her grandmother, Hope Mikaelson, is a powerful vampire, werewolf, and witch tribid. She became like that because of the Mikaelson and Marshall blood that flows in her veins.

When Hope got older, she had Aiah’s mother, who was also a tribrid, but she didn’t activate her werewolf and vampire side because she chose to only cater to the power of being a witch. Hope taught her daughter everything about being a witch and helped her avoid triggering her other genes inherited from their original bloodline.

Aiah was also born after her mother married an alpha from a neighboring pack of the Crescent Wolf Pack, but she didn’t have any witch powers. Aiah had the body of a human who carried both the vampire and werewolf genes from her parents. These genes were still dormant because she needed to fulfill something for them to activate. They let Aiah live her life as a human before finally activating these genes at the right time. 

She needed to do two things before they finally activated.

And the first thing that Aiah needed to do to become a true hybrid was to become a werewolf.

Aiah became a werewolf by killing someone out of rage. She was 24 when it happened. It was her first time feeling that anger where she could no longer control herself, thus, killing that person. That triggered her latent werewolf gene. Making her transform into a wolf for the first time in her life, and granting her strength that surpasses even the strength of a vampire. Her grandmom and mother even put a spell on her, making her venom more lethal than the original hybrid—lethal enough to kill even her fellow werewolves. Hope made this spell not for herself but to protect her granddaughter from other werewolves who wanted to take her life. 

For her vampire side to activate, she needed to die first. Hope Mikaelson, her grandmother, in order to become a true tribrid, needed to die first before activating her vampire gene. This is what Aiah needed to experience, too, before she finally becomes a true hybrid.

When Aiah was 29, she got into a fight with a rival pack of her father. That fight killed her when she was surprisingly stabbed through her heart. Her friends witnessed how Aiah died because of a fatal wound from the enemy. They witnessed how she took her last breath.

And they also witnessed how she came to life again.

When Aiah woke up, she already felt something different about herself. The wound was not there anymore, and she was lighter and could move faster like a vampire. Her senses also became more sensitive, causing her to feel disoriented at first, but she immediately mastered it with the guidance of her grandmother.

She became faster, even stronger, and her senses were enhanced when she finally became a hybrid.

She could also turn herself into a wolf even without the power of the full moon. This was one of the things that helped her as a werewolf who couldn’t control their shifting when it was the full moon, hence, making her avoid feeling the pain of breaking her bones over and over again every month without her control.

But what Aiah did not expect with her transformation was her bloodlust.

As a new vampire, she didn’t know how to control her hunger for blood. She almost killed one of her friends when she woke up, wanting to drink someone’s blood because of the hunger she was feeling.

Mabuti na lang at naroon ang mommy at lola niya noong oras na iyon. They subdued her using magic, and after that, helped her overcome her thirst for blood as a new vampire.

“I became the pack’s alpha after my father stepped down from being its patriarch. Even after centuries, I’m still leading and protecting them because dito ko maibubuhos ang kakayahan na ibinigay sa’kin ng dugo na dumadaloy sa ugat ko.”

“May iba pa bang hybrid na katulad mo?”

“Hmm. I’m not really sure since the last hybrids were sired by Klaus Mikaelson using a very specific bloodline. I haven’t met anyone who is like me in the present, but maybe some of them are still alive out there. Just hiding.”

“Can all hybrids use compulsion towards another vampire like you?”

“No. Only those who have the original blood could compel another vampire.” Aiah finally raised her head and looked at Stacey with an apologetic expression. “Also, there is something I haven’t told you yet…”

“Ano?”

“Hybrids and Tribrids with the original blood could heal a werewolf’s bite.”

Stacey’s lips parted. “What?! Bakit ‘di mo sinabi kaagad sa’kin kanina? I was willing to risk everything pa naman!”

Aiah bowed her head. “I was just trying to make sure kung may nararamdaman ka ba talaga sa’kin.” She sighed. “I was also really afraid that I might end up killing you accidentally, kahit na I have my blood to heal you.”

“Aiah…” Stacey pulled her closer to her. “You don’t have to be scared anymore.”

“I’m really sorry for compelling you earlier. I just needed to do that…”

“It’s okay, Aiah. I’m not mad anymore.” Stacey replied.

She reached for Aiah’s cheeks and caressed them gently. Her eyes softened at the sight of the hybrid. Aiah looked so vulnerable in front of her. She couldn’t blame her, though, after sharing all that information about her past.

“I’m sorry if I avoided you.”

“Hmm… Forgiven.”

“And I’m sorry if I didn’t tell you the truth just because I was scared that you would turn your back on me if you knew what I really am.”

“You don’t have to apologize for that, Aiah..”

“I know… I just…” Aiah sighed and gazed at Stacey with warmth and tenderness. “I love you,”

Stacey already had the feeling that Aiah felt the same, but she never expected the girl to finally say it to her.

Her heart felt calmer even though it was beating so fast. Somehow, Aiah’s confession calmed her anxious nerves and settled something inside of her. It was like a missing piece in her puzzle.

“Mahal din kita, Aiah. Sobra.”

With their hearts finally intertwined together, their faces slowly got closer. Hindi nila inalis ang mga mata sa isa’t-isa habang dahan-dahan na lumalapit ang mukha nila.

When their nose touched, Stacey closed her eyes slowly. 

It was warm and soft when Aiah’s lips met hers. It wasn’t rushed. It was just right.

The kiss didn’t feel forced. It was just right for that moment. The growing tension between them and the warmth that comes with their confession. It was just perfect. 

It's like they found the missing piece inside them. 

They pulled away when they were only out of breath. The tension was still evident, and the way Aiah almost followed Stacey’s lips showed how much she craved for the vampire’s taste. It showed how much she longed for this moment and how she would never trade this for anything in this world. 

One kiss was not enough to fill her up. She needs more of it from Stacey. She needed to feel her lips against hers once again. She needed to remove the space between them. 

God, she was crazy for her. 

“A-Aiah, wait,” Stacey stopped her when the kiss was deepening. 

“It's okay…” Aiah said between their soft kisses. “It'll be fine…”

Stacey’s grip on Aiah tightened as the heat between them loomed like a thread. 

And that made Stacey lose control over her impulse towards Aiah. 

She pulled away when she felt like she was losing it after having a taste of Aiah's lips and letting her scent linger between them. 

“What's wrong?” Aiah asked while catching her breath. Her eyes never leave Stacey, who bowed her head to hide her face. 

“I'm sorry… It’s just that,” Stacey sighed before lifting her head. “I'm craving you.”

Aiah's expression remained calm. As if she wasn't surprised to hear what Stacey said. 

“My blood?” She simply asked. 

Stacey nodded. “Yeah. It's hard not to smell it when you're this near.”

Aiah kept her eyes on her. She stayed quiet for a couple of seconds, as if she was thinking about something, before she finally spoke up. 

“You can take a bite, if you want.”

Stacey’s eyes widened in surprise. “What?”

“You heard me,”

“B-but–”

Aiah held her hands. A reassurance to her that it was really okay. 

“It's alright. You can have my blood. I won't stop you.”

“Are you sure?” 

“Yes.”

“Then…” Stacey shut her eyes before opening it again and meeting Aiah's dark brown orbs. “Just a sip.”

“Will it be enough?”

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

Aiah gathered all her hair to expose her neck to Stacey. 

Stacey closed her eyes as she could hear Aiah's heartbeat and the way her blood ran through her veins. 

It made her salivate. 

It made her thirsty. 

It made her lose her mind a little bit. 

God, I want to taste her so badly.

“Take a bite, Stacey.”

That was all she needed to hear before opening her eyes, revealing the veins around her eyes, and it darkened with blood vessels appearing on the sclera at the sight of Aiah's exposed neck. 

“This will sting a little…”

“I know.”

With that, Stacey revealed her fangs before closing in on Aiah, who was holding her breath. She could feel Stacey’s warm breath against her skin. She could feel the warmth of her body as Stacey encircled her arms on Aiah's waist before finally sinking her canines into her neck. 

Aiah almost groaned when Stacey sank her teeth even deeper to have a proper taste of her sweet blood, which nearly sent a euphoric feeling to Stacey’s whole being. 

Aiah held Stacey’s shoulder as her support for the pleasure she was feeling from the vampire’s bite. It was not painful for her. Instead, it was pleasant and pleasurable, something she did not expect to feel at all. 

The way it burned her insides. The way she could feel Stacey’s fangs and tongue on her skin, draining every bit of her sanity instead of her blood.

It was a new sensation she’d never experienced in her entire life as a vampire/werewolf hybrid.

“Stacey…” Her voice almost sounded out of breath when the vampire finished taking a sip.

She felt the hairs on her body stand up when Stacey cleanly licked the bite on her skin before letting her go. Stacey needed to distance herself from Aiah because she could still smell her blood from the bite she made.

Aiah’s blood lingered on her tongue. Its metallic taste combined with the subtle sweetness and something compelling within the texture of her blood. It made Stacey even more thirsty for her. She wanted to hold Aiah in her arms pero kailangan niya itong bitawan para ma kontrol ang sarili.

It’s not the same with Aiah, though.

Aiah didn’t let go. Nakakapit pa rin sa braso ni Stacey ang mga kamay niya. Mas humigpit pa ito. She was still feeling the aftermath of that bite.

The bite that she would want Stacey to do over and over again.

“Your blood tasted better than I imagined,” Stacey stated, licking off the remaining blood on the side of her lips. “Thank you for the drink.” She grinned.

Stacey leaned over to Aiah and gave her a peck on her cheek before stepping back. Aiah didn’t have enough time to react sa halik ni Stacey sa kanya dahil pinaprocess pa ng utak niya ang pagtikim nito ng dugo niya.

She’s even more bewildered when Stacey suddenly scooped all her hair and placed it on the other side of her neck, exposing the other side—kagaya ng ginawa niya when she offered Stacey to take a sip from her.

“What are you doing?” 

Stacey heard the danger in Aiah’s voice. The way it deepened and the way her eyes are slowly changing.

Pero binalewala niya ito. She liked seeing Aiah’s true nature, even though what she saw earlier scared her a little bit. 

It’s different now, though, since Stacey finally knows what Aiah wants. What she is. What she feels for her.

It was enough for her to let her have a taste, too.

It was only fair for Aiah to also savor her blood, even if it came with a risk.

“You know that my bite could be lethal to you.”

“Alam ko.”

“They why?”

“Do I need to give a reason?”

“Yes!” Aiah gritted her teeth before frustratingly 

“Alam ko na delikado, but Aiah, you don’t need to stop yourself.” Stacey reached for Aiah’s face and gently caressed it. “Crave for me if you must. I won’t stop you.”

“But-”

“I’ll drink your blood again after you’ve drunk mine. You said it yourself, diba? Only your blood could heal the wound you inflicted. You’re here. It won’t get dangerous. I trust you, Aiah.”

“Stacey…”

“Let it out, Aiah… take a bite…”

Aiah growled as if in pain as her iris turned golden and veins appeared around her eyes. Her fangs showed, but it was still obvious that she was restraining herself from the way she gritted her teeth and her eyes wavered.

“Come,”

Stacey held Aiah’s chin with her fingertips and led her closer to her.

Fuck the distance she wanted earlier. 

“I trust you…” Stacey whispered near Aiah’s ear.

Aiah’s breath staggered before closing her eyes. She could smell Stacey’s blood. She could hear it moving through her veins.

It was pulling her towards her. That scent that captivated her when they first met. The way her nose smelled that divine scent, capturing her attention.

It never left her. She never forgot it. 

That ambrosial scent.

It only belonged to a single woman.

A vampire.

And her name is Stacey Aubrey Sevilleja.

Her mate.

Aiah slowly sank her teeth into Stacey’s neck. 

Ramdam ni Stacey ang hapdi na dala ng lason sa kagat ni Aiah.

She was not joking when she said that her venom from her bite is lethal because Stacey could feel the searing pain enveloping her whole body.

But she didn’t want Aiah to stop. She wanted her to taste her.

Because in the middle of the pain was pleasure.

The pleasure of getting your blood tasted by the woman you love.

Aiah was gentle with it, too. Stacey could feel how Aiah was controlling herself from drinking more than she should.

Hinayaan niya rin ito na yakapin siya sa bewang habang siya naman ay kumapit lang sa damit ni Aiah. Gripping it tightly as she felt herself weakening from the venom of Aiah’s bite.

It took a couple more seconds before Aiah stopped drinking from her.

Aiah was letting Stacey’s blood linger on her mouth. It was really like ambrosia to her. She could still feel and taste her blood on the tip of her tongue. The way its flavor almost made her lose her mind is just the beginning of it all. Combined with how she could hear Stacey’s heartbeat while she drank her blood, it was pure bliss and euphoria. 

They were both feeling the same ecstasy of feeding from their lover's blood. It was exhilarating. Almost an unforgettable and unexpected experience. The way they could sense each other's pain and pleasure was a testament to their bond. 

But now, Stacey is feeling the aftermath of Aiah's bite. She could feel her gut turning cold. Her body was losing its strength, and her mind was getting fuzzy from the scorching pain caused by the pestering wound. 

Aiah tightened her embrace with Stacey. Afraid that she might fall if she loosened her hold on her, even for just a second. She could feel the vampire’s body limping as the venom slowly weakened her. 

Face pale. Bids of sweat forming on her forehead. Her breathing is shallow. 

She was slowly losing her consciousness. 

“I'll carry you sa couch, okay?” 

“O-okay…”

Aiah carried her effortlessly before laying her down carefully on the couch. 

She moved Stacey to lie her head on Aiah's thighs. Aiah trailed her fingers on the wound bite. The bite is clean, but the way it infected Stacey is gruesome. Aiah can see how lethal her bite is. It was slowly killing Stacey. 

Aiah stopped trailing the wound with her fingers and raised her hand near her lips. She bared her fangs and bit her wrist. Just enough for blood to flow. Enough for Stacey to drink. 

“Drink, baby.”

If only Stacey weren't weak and almost dying right now, she would've probably have her face turning crimson because of Aiah's sudden endearment towards her. 

Instead, she just watched Aiah with her eyes, almost wanting to close them. 

She offered her wrist to Stacey. When she sensed Aiah's blood, her pulse immediately quickened. Even in her weak state, she still managed to hold Aiah's arm and proceeded to drink her blood from it. 

She closed her eyes tightly as she felt the wound slowly healing up while she was still drinking Aiah's blood. The more she drank from her, the more she could feel herself regaining her strength. 

Damn, I could do this all day. 

“Do you feel good na? Nothing painful anymore?” Aiah asked, her voice soft and gentle.

There were no traces of the wound anymore. Only the blood that was left unclean. Aiah ran her fingers in the same area again, caressing it delicately. Afraid that she might hurt Stacey, even just a little bit, if she put too much pressure on it. 

Stacey looked at her. “Uh-huh. Your blood is really potent, ‘no?” she then chuckled.

Aiah breathed a sigh of relief before her lips formed a radiant smile. 

“Good. That's good.”

-

Stacey was still recovering her strength, so Aiah decided to carry her to her bedroom for a more comfortable resting place for Stacey. She let her sit in her bed for a minute while she went to get a fresh set of pajamas for the vampire and a clean towel.

They were both tired after all the events tonight. Aiah figured out that Stacey would want to rest there instead of going home. Hindi rin siya hahayaan ni Aiah na makauwi, not after what happened. Not after she knew her condition.

It was not her first time inside Aiah’s bedroom, but Stacey would still look around curiously, trying to find new details that she might’ve missed from her last visit.

A particular sketch caught her eye from Aiah’s desk. She knew that the latter had a talent for the arts. She saw some of her works when they came to her office, and of course, inside her bedroom.

Before she could even process the sketch, Aiah suddenly came back with a towel and pajamas in her hand.

“Hey, sa’yo ‘to. You can take a bath in the bathroom.”

Stacey absentmindedly accepted the clothes before finally processing what Aiah just said. 

“Huh?”

“Maligo ka na sa banyo if you can stand already. I'll take a bath na rin sa guest room.”

“Hindi ba ako uuwi?”

Aiah beamed at her. “No. You rest here tonight.”

“Bakit dito? Dapat sa guest room ako?”

“‘Di ko pa naaayos ang guest room kaya dito ka magpapahinga sa kwarto ko. Don't worry,” Aiah walked to her before leaning down to kiss her on her head. “I'll be back in a few.” 

Aiah almost disappeared right before Stacey’s eyes, but she was fast enough to hold the latter, stopping her from going out. 

The hybrid glanced at Stacey’s hand that was gripping her shirt before staring at her face that was already red from being flushed. 

“Staku?”

Hindi alam ni Staku kung bakit niya pinigilan si Aiah na umalis. Her hand just moved on its own after feeling her body heat against her when Aiah kissed her head. 

The familiar tension was building up again inside of her, almost burning her throat, her breathing shallow, and her senses recognizing Aiah's scent again. 

What the hell am I feeling? 

“Stacey? What's wrong? Do you need help ba na maligo?”

“N-no, I'm alright.” She avoided her eyes at her, afraid that she might say something inappropriate if she got a view of Aiah's face. 

Lalo na sa labi nito na kanina lang ay hinalik—

Stacey closed her eyes tightly as the thoughts of them kissing flash inside her mind again. Na parang isa itong sirang plaka dahil paulit ulit na naglalaro sa utak niya ang halik na pinagsaluhan nila kanina kahit na anong pilit niya na ibahin ang nasa isip. 

It was hard to think straight when a hot, drop-dead gorgeous vampire/werewolf hybrid was in front of her. 

Pilit niyang tinatago ang tunay na nararamdaman habang magkalapit sila ni Aiah. She's afraid that the latter would tease her about wanting something like her… Kisses. 

Slowly, she loosened her grip on Aiah's shirt. 

“Sorry, ligo ka na rin. I'll take a bath na kapag nakalabas ka na.”

She was still averting her gaze towards her while calming down. She wanted the heat to subside, and it was not helping that Aiah still hadn't moved into her position. 

Nasa harapan pa rin siya ni Stacey. Nagtaka na siya noong ilang segundo na ang lumipas pero hindi pa rin umaalis si Aiah. That was the time when she finally looked up, only to meet Aiah's intense gaze as she looked down on her with the same passion flickering in her eyes. 

Before Stacey could even utter another word, Aiah's lips suddenly crashed into hers while Aiah's hands went to her nape and the other on her side as a support while she aggressively kissed the vampire. 

Even when taken by surprise, Stacey immediately responded with the same intensity as she was holding onto Aiah's shirt again with both of her hands this time. 

Not wanting to let her go 

Not wanting that moment to end. 

Both of their hearts raced more than they could have anticipated. Aiah could hear Stacey’s little moans because of their kisses—she could feel her warm breath against her lips as they pulled away to get some air. 

Stacey was silently catching her breath when Aiah rested their foreheads together. Aiah chuckled softly after regaining her normal heartbeat after their kiss. 

“Will that be enough for now?” Aiah whispered, her voice a little hoarse. 

Stacey could only respond with a nod as she was still catching her breath. 

Aiah once again placed a soft kiss on her head before finally heading out of the room to take a shower.

“I'll be back, baby.”

Nakatulala lang si Stacey ng ilang minuto habang pinoproseso ang nangyayari. 

I just made out with Aiah 

I tasted her blood. 

She tasted mine. 

And then we made out again.

Tapos dito pa ako sa kwarto niya matutulog?! 

All the shame that wasn't there earlier seemed to slowly creep into Stacey’s body as she realized her situation. 

I’m so fucked.

Without wasting any more seconds, she stood up, with the clothes and towel in her arms, before entering the bathroom.

Aiah, in a simple oversized black shirt and pajama shorts, was drying her hair as she walked back to her room. She was expecting Stacey to already be lying in her bed when she got back, but instead, she found her bedroom empty.

She stopped drying her hair and focused her senses on her hearing. 

Aiah heard a muffled voice inside her bathroom. That settled her. She must be taking her time in there. She thought.

She quietly moved around inside her room while waiting for Stacey to finish showering. Inayos niya ang magulo niyang desk na may mga unfinished sketches. When she saw one of the sketches on top of it, she immediately hid it. It was a portrait of Stacey pero hindi pa niya natatapos kaya hindi niya muna ito ipapakita sa dalaga.

Maybe she’ll finish it after today and give it to Stacey as a gift one of these days.

Aiah sat down at the edge of her bed, directly facing her bathroom door. She heard Stacey’s footsteps moving towards the door before it finally opened, revealing her in cute pink pajamas (that she bought with Stacey in mind).

Her back straightened up when Stacey made her gaze towards her. 

“Sorry, medyo natagalan ako.”

“It’s okay.” Aiah patted the space beside her. “C’mere.”

Stacey obliged instantly. 

Aiah tilted her head towards Stacey and held her hand. Intertwining it with hers before racing it to her lips to plant a kiss on her knuckles.

Stacey just let Aiah do anything. Nakatingin lang siya dito habang pinapaulanan nito ng halik ang kamay niya.

“You sure you’re not feeling anything different in your body?”

“I’m fine. Sobrang epektibo ng dugo mo. Pwede na mabenta as healing potion.” Stacey joked, but her mind still wandered over the heat coming from Aiah’s palms.

Aiah chuckled. “Pwede naman basta exclusively for you lang.”

“Sige, ano kapalit?”

“Labi mo, okay na.”

“Mga salita mo talaga! Higa na nga ako.”

That even made Aiah laugh harder as she watched Stacey crawl to her bed, avoiding her teasing, and trying to hide her shy face again.

Tumalukbong ito sa kumot para itago ang mukha which Aiah find adorable. Ilang sandali pa, siya naman ang sumunod kay Staku. Tumabi siya dito na nakatagilid. She was using her left arm as a support sa ulo niya habang ang kanang kamay naman niya ay idinantay niya sa nakatalukbong na si Stacey.

That made Stacey jump out of the covers and stare at Aiah’s hand that was currently resting on her waist, gently pulling her towards her while grinning playfully.

“Huy! Tumigil ka!” Saway ni Stacey dito when she noticed how close their bodies were becoming.

“You wanna sleep right? Let’s sleep.” Aiah said casually. Pumasok na rin siya sa loob ng kumot at mas lalong niyakap si Stacey na parang nanigas na sa pwesto niya.

Aiah was wrapping her right arm around her waist as if she didn't want Stacey to get away from her. This made Stacey feel something warm inside her again. Akala niya okay na ‘yung kanina. She thought that by showering, the heat would die down. 

But she was wrong.

She was clearly wrong.

Stacey squeezed Aiah’s arm. “Akala ko ba dito ako matutulog?”

“Yeah,”

“Eh bakit nandito ka?”

Aiah casually slid her arm under Stacey’s head, making the vampire gasp as she came face to face with Aiah, whose eyes were now closed, before resting their foreheads together.

“Don’t you wanna be with me?” 

Stacey could only stare at Aiah, who asked that question na parang nagpapaawa siya dito. Kinakabahan pa rin siya lalo at amoy na amoy niya si Aiah ngayon pero kinalma niya ang sarili at niyakap din ito pabalik.

“Tsansing ka lang sa’kin eh. May guest room ka naman…” Stacey muttered before burying her face in the crook of Aiah’s neck.

A victorious smile slowly formed on Aiah’s lips. “I told you earlier na ‘di pa ‘yun nakaayos.”

Stacey rolled her eyes, but a smile curled around her lips. “‘Wag ka na magpalusot.”

“I’m not making palusot naman,”

“Bahala ka diyan, Arceta.” Mas lalong idiniin ni Stacey ang mukha sa leeg ni Aiah, na parang hindi lang siya naaapektuhan ng amoy nito.

Stacey closed her eyes and tried to sleep. As if you can sleep when you’re currently embraced by Aiah.

“Are you really gonna sleep na?” Aiah asked again, this time her voice was a lot softer.

“Hmm, yep. Pinagod mo ako eh.”

“Yeah, pinagod kita ng halik ko–Aw! So sadista naman.” Aiah giggled when Stacey pinched her back. “Earlier lang you wanted my ki–okay! Okay, titigil na ako.”

“Stop teasing me.” Stacey pouted even though Aiah couldn’t see her face.

“Okay, I’ll stop na.”

“Kulit mo, parang ‘di ka nawalan ng dugo.”

“I don’t mind it as long as it’s you who drinks it.”

“Sige nga, isa pa.”

“Sure,” Umakto naman ito na aalisin ‘yung buhok na nakatabing sa leeg pero kaagad itong pinigilan ni Stacey. 

“Huy! Tigil. Nagbibiro lang eh.”

“I'll give you whatever you want, Stacey. Even if it meant draining me.”

Stacey’s heart skipped a beat. 

“Ayoko naman na mamatay ka ‘no. Jojowain pa nga kita.”

“Am I not your jowa yet?”

Stacey giggled. “Depende…”

“What?”

“Depende kung masarap ‘yung breakfast na ipapakain mo sa’kin bukas…”

A comforting silence lingered between them after that. Aiah could hear Stacey’s heart returning to its normal beat while her breathing was slowly turning shallow.

“Alright. I'll make sure na you'll make me your jowa once you take a bite on the breakfast na I'll prepare for you.”

“Hmm… Good night, Aiah.” Stacey scooted closer to Aiah as her consciousness slowly drifted. “Love you…” She mumbled. 

Aiah was still awake for a while. She just watched the sleeping figure beside her, observing how her forehead creases when a strand of her hair falls down on her face, how she would mumble some incoherent words before her soft snores, and how she would go back to burying her face on Aiah's neck when she would feel that the latter is too far away from her. 

All these little things are remembered by Aiah. Treasured by her as long as she lives. 

Her voice that could chase her even in her dreams, echoing along the corners of her silence, evoking all that's hidden inside of her. 

Her antics that would make her laugh—making her remember her childhood memories, and the connection she shared with everyone she encountered. 

Her words could carve a knife in her throat and she'd be willing to accept it without hesitation. 

Her beauty, an enigma. Almost like a siren, luring her into the deep seas, and she would be a willing victim just to catch a glimpse of her mystery. 

And if she has to wait for another month or years for her to acknowledge her love for her, she'd do it patiently 

She'd wait for Stacey to own her heart, to make it hers, even if it would take centuries and decades. 

She would make sure to make Stacey feel like a queen who deserves everything in this world. 

Aiah wouldn't need to ask for more assurance when Stacey let her take a bite, even if it meant death. 

She didn’t need another confirmation when hearing Stacey telling her how she loves her was enough proof of their bond. 

It was enough that she was here beside Aiah, sleeping peacefully as the night continued its haunt for another lover. 

Maybe, in the morning, she'd cook her pancakes and make her smile as always. 

“Sleep well, baby,” She whispered gently at Stacey’s sleeping figure as they cuddled.

“I love you.”