Chapter 3

                   

I stare at the lifeless body in front of me. The whole celebration turned into chaos, their happiness turned into fear and shock. 

"S-sino naman ang gagawa nito?"

"Tingnan nyo ang leeg n'ya. May kagat ng hayop." 

Nilingon ko si Crimson na tahimik na nakatingin sa bangkay at namumutla. I rolled my eyes. I know he's scared, he has a weak heart when it comes to this. 

"You know it's a vampire who did this," Dust's voice was full of worry. 

I know, we both know what it means. 

"H-hindi kaya b-bampira ang may gawa?"

Suminghap ang mga tao and I swear I can feel their heartbeat. Tsk, they finally know who did this. I thought they are dumb not to notice, the victim was pale. The vampire sucks it all, even his soul. 

"I-ibig sabihin may bampira sa baryo natin?"

"Kung ganon, kailangan natin itong mahuli!"

"At ano naman ang laban natin sa mga bampira?"

I have to find who did this, coincidence or not, I have to kill whoever did this. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa cotton candy, the excitement that I'm feeling is gone. The culprit is the reason why and I'll make him pay for ruining my moment with the candy-like clouds. Ngunit natigilan ako dahil may humawak sa kamay ko. 

It was Crimson.

"Umuwi na tayo, Master." He smiled as if nothing happened. 

Kumunot ang noo ko. Kanina lang ay takot ito at namumutla ngunit bakit tila okay na ito ngayon? Ganito ba talaga kabilis magpalit ng emosyon ang mga tao?

"Ahhhhh! M-may i-isa pang patay!" 

Nilingon ko ang sumigaw at malapit ito sa kagubatan. Nagkagulo ang mga tao, they're all screaming and panicking. Mahigpit ang hawak ni Crimson sa kamay ko.

"M-master," 

Iginala ko ang paningin ko at huminto sa madilim na parte ng gubat. Because of my fast senses, I saw him. 

The culprit.

He's smiling and the blood in his mouth was the evidence that he's the one who did these killings. 

That bastard.

Tumingin ako ka'y Crimson. 

"Go, go home. Lock all the doors, I know you're scared, slave." I whispered. 

Bumakas ang pagkalito sa mata nito.

"W-where are you going?" 

And as usual, nakukuha pa rin nitong magtanong. 

"Listen, human. There's a vampire in this place, it's not just me. If they catch you, they will not hesitate to drink your blood, so go home." Before he reacts, I raise my hand and everyone in my surroundings stops. I used my power to teleport and when I arrived at the forest, everything went back to normal again. 

"As expected, you're still powerful as ever, Miss Diamond." Nakangisi na wika nito sa akin. 

He knows who I am. I guess he smells my blood, f*ck. This vampire belongs to the low class, he's not that powerful but someone like him can still be a problem to me. At kung sino man, ang may alam na buhay pa ko has one end… and it's death. 

"Look at what you did, creating chaos and killing two people? What do you want?" I asked coldly.

Humalakhak ito at saka dinilaan ang labi, and that's disgusting. He looks like a maniac doing that and I swear, I can't wait to kill him using my hands. 

"It's because of you, they died because you're here." 

Ngumisi ako.

"You dare to blame me for the things I didn't do, stupid low class." 

Sumama ang tingin nito.

"I may not be that powerful but I can be the reason why this is your last time here on earth." 

Tumawa ako dahil sa sinabi nito. This weakling is saying such bullsh*t. 

"How dare a low class like you threaten a high class like me? They can come but they can't kill me, not in this lifetime." I said seriously. "It's stupidity not to run when you see me, don't you know that?" 

His fangs showed and his eyes turned red.

"I'll tell the whole immortal world that you're here, that you're still alive. The price in your head was pretty big. They will come at you," he dangerously said and ran away from me.

Yeah, he's pretty fast but he f*cking forgets who I am. "How foolish of you, thinking that you can come out alive." I caught him and strangled him in the air. 

Nagpupumiglas ito, lumabas na ang mahaba nitong kuko at pinagkakalmot ako.

"P-patayin m-mo m-man ako, m-mahahanap k-ka p-pa r-rin nila!" 

I just stare at him coldly while choking him to death but this is not enough. Using my other hand, I get the hair stick in my hand and stab him in his heart. Vampires can be killed by using a wooden stake or anything through our hearts or you can get our hearts inside our bodies. That's the only way we can die. 

Tumirik ang mata nito at nagkikisay.

"They can come and find me, I'm ready to welcome them anyways," I whispered. "Dust," I called her and she easily came out and her small body turned into my size. 

"What do you want me to do?" 

"Check the surroundings, make sure he's alone," Dust's human form is amazing, she's glowing and whoever sees us can think that she's a goddess here. "And one more thing, go back to the immortal world and report to me." 

I need to know what's happening there and I should be more careful from now on. 

"But Diamond," 

"I'm fine, Crimson is here." 

Well, technically, he's my slave. He will do everything that I ask. 

"M-master!" 

My eyes widened when I heard Crimson's voice. He's near, I looked at Dust and she easily vanished.

"M-master, finally." Hinihingal ito at may dalang flashlight. 

"What are you doing here and how come you find me?" He didn't know I'm here, how the heck did he find me? 

He smiled while catching his breath.

"My instinct tells me you're here," he answered. "Y-you have blood in your face." 

I stopped.

That weakling scratched my face. 

Although I know it finally heals, my blood is still on my face. 

"A-and what happens to your shoes?" 

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa mga paa ko. Madumi ito, damn, I didn't notice that I lose my shoes when catching that darn vampire. 

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I told you that there are vampires in the area, you're stupid to go here." 

"But you're still here," he said. "I can't abandon my master, right?" 

"Finally, you're not that weak anymore." 

"I-i told you, I'm not weak." He sulked.

"Whatever, let's go back." Nauna na akong maglakad dito.

"Did you fight the vampire who killed those who died?" 

Huminto ako sa tanong nito. 

"From now on, don't be surprised when they show up. They will come but I'll welcome them and send them back to hell." I've been killing vampires who try to harm me in any way. I became heartless even in my kind. 

A situation where I can't do anything but protect myself against my kind.

"B-but why will they come?" 

"You and your stupid questions but fine, I'll tell you." Lumapit ako rito at tumingin diretso sa mga mata nito. "They will come and kill me," 

He looks shocked because of what I said.

"W-why?" 

Damn it, he still has the guts to ask more. 

"Because of my name, because of who I am. It's both my blessing and a curse." I answered. "And why are you smiling? Are you happy that someone wants me dead?" 

Umiling ito at ginulo ang buhok ko.

"I know you can survive them, it's because you're my master." 

Tsk, here I thought he was happy because if I died, he will be free from me… from being my slave.

Tumaas ang kilay ko.

"Of course, I'm strong enough to be your master. You should be proud," he just laughed but I stopped when he carried me.

What the…

"Y-yah, what are you doing?" 

"Shh, I'm just doing my job, Master." And just like that, we went down the forest with him carrying me. 

He's not that weak at all, he has a strong body. 

Enough to carry me.

—---

"Did you listen to me, Master?" 

Bagot na tiningnan ko si Crimson. 

"You should stop thinking about drinking other people's blood and be friendly. I will go to work and you have to behave," paulit-ulit na paliwanag nito sa akin. 

Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin. "Who's the master again, slave?" 

Kumamot ito sa ulo.

"If you want to drink blood and eat, I have to work. So, please?" Yeah, he's working as a farmer. He's so hardworking yet he's not rich enough to buy me tons of blood. 

"I get it, f*cking get out now before I kick you in the face." Iritadong sigaw ko. "You keep on talking as if I can't handle myself. I won't eat your neighbors,"

He smiled widely and messed up my hair.

"Good girl, I promise to go back with ox's blood." He said at tumalikod na.

What's good with animal blood? I crave something, tsk. Narinig ko pa ang motor nito tanda na umalis na ito. And now I'm all alone, Dust is not even here because I ask her for a mission. 

What to do now?

I can't even go outside, Dust is not here to give me clothes and shoes. I end up wearing Crimson's big shirt and I'm barefooted. Mabilis na pumunta ang paningin ko sa pintuan, someone is knocking on the door. Tumayo ako at binuksan ang pintuan, only to regret it. 

These old ladies.

"Hi, Diamond." 

"Nako, ang ganda mo naman."

Tsk, what the heck do they want?

"You should stop thinking about drinking other people's blood and be friendly. I will go to work and you have to behave," 

"Be friendly." Damn that man.

I forced a smile.

"A-ano ang kailangan n'yo? Wala dito si Crimson," 

Nagkatinginan ang mga ito.

"Naku, hindi naman si Crimson ang pinunta namin dito."

"Oo, iha. Ikaw talaga." 

F*ck what?

"B-bakit p-po?" 

Arghh, this is not me. But come to think of it, being human is like this, I just have to practice. 

Tumawa ang mga ito.

"Ah kasi, iha. Hindi ba at may namatay kagabi sa atin, nagdesisyon kami na gumawa ng mga armas para sa mga bampira."

"Oo, kaya kailangan natin magtulungan."

"At tska, sa gabi magpa-patrol din tayo. Iikutin natin ang buong isla para sa ligtas na kapaligiran." 

And they want me to participate? F*ck, aren't they aware that I'm a vampire?

"Yeah, sure." 

Palihim akong umirap dahil pumalakpak ang tatlong babae. 

"Tara na!" I cussed when they pulled me outside. 

"Saan nga kayo nagkakilala ni Crimson? Sa bayan ba?" Wika ni Tandang Marites.

"Naku, mukhang mayaman si Diamond sa kutis nya. Hindi kaya noon lumuwas si Crimson?" Ani naman ni Tandang Marisol.

And lastly. "Bakit, gwapo rin naman si Crimson. Bagay lang sila." Si Tandang Marta. 

They're the three old ladies who rule this small place. 

I smiled.

"We've met in the dark alley, may espesyal sa kanya na wala sa iba."

He has special blood.

"Ay, nakakakilig naman!"

"If you want to kill a vampire, you have to make a wooden stake," I said.

I never thought that I would tell them about our weaknesses. But I will turn into a human soon and they won't find out who I am. And they can be useful when vampires come here to get me. 

"Wooden stake? Ano naman 'yon, iha?" Tanong ni tandang Marta.

Kinuha ko ang hawak nitong kahoy at kutsilyo. I skillfully shape the wood like a pencil, a sharp pencil. 

Ngumisi ako.

"If you stab them in the heart using this, they will die." 

"Wow, magaling ka pala sa ganito, Diamond!" 

"Pero mamatay ba agad sila pag sinaksak natin sila sa puso?" 

I looked at Tandang Marites. 

"Hindi, pero pag sinaksak mo sila sa puso gamit ito, hindi nila magagawang bumalik. They will die if this wooden stake stays at their heart, they will vanish in the air."

Nakanganga ang mga ito sa akin.

"Umamin ka nga, Diamond." Tumayo si Tandang Marisol at inagaw sa akin ang wooden stake. "Nakapatay ka na ba dati ng bampira?" 

Sh*t, I thought she knew something. Tumawa naman ang dalawang matanda.

"Ano ka ba, Marisol. Sadyang madami lang alam ang kabataan ngayon kaysa sa atin." 

"Oo nga, pero sigurado ba kayo na bampira talaga ang pumapatay? Ikaw, Diamond?" 

Ngumiti ako.

"Sa palagay nyo tao ang may gawa?" 

"Pano kung oo? Hindi bale, Marites, Marisol at ikaw Diamond. Tayo at ang mga kababaihan dito sa atin ay aalamin ang totoo! Kailangan natin protektahan ang ating tirahan, kung tao man o bampira ang may gawa!" 

Napailing na lang ako sa sinambit ni Tandang Marta. This is why humans die, because of their stupid curiosity. If they feed their curiosity, it will just turn out to be one thing. 

Death.

That's why the mortal world and the immortal world are far from each other, some things should remain mysterious and unknown to the world. If you try to seek it, you'll just seek danger in your life.