Always and Forever (COMPLETED)

Chapter 18

It was already noon when we arrived at Valenn. We're supposed to leave at dawn, but my group mates insisted on extending our stay because they liked Greenhill. I can't blame them. Greenhill is not as big and urbanized as Valenn, but its simplicity and peacefulness makes you want to stay. But I need to stay away from there as much as possible. Ayaw kong maulit ang nangyari kagabi. I know I need to take Gale's warning seriously. He's a witch, and he's capable of a lot of things.

"Olivia, let's talk about what happened last night." seryoso sabi ni aunt Vera pagkababa namin ng bus.

Napalunok ako. I thought she forgot about that. She didn't mention anything earlier until now. I already came up with a lie that I will tell her if she ever asks, but I don't know if she will believe me.

Tumango nalang ako sa kanya. I know there's no escaping this. Nagsimula kaming maglakad papunta sa direksyon ng bahay. Hindi pa kami nakakarating doon ay tumigil na si auntie sa paglalakad.

"Put a boundary spell around us." utos niya.

Ilang segundo akong napatulala sa kanya. Hindi agad nagproseso sa akin ang kanyang sinabi.

"What?" nauutal na sabi ko.

Maybe I heard her wrong. Maybe...

"I know you heard what I said." seryosong sabi niya.

Wait. Did auntie's memories come back last night when she was bitten by a werewolf? Technically, being bitten by a werewolf is like almost dying to original vampires. Alam na ba niya kung sino ako?

I did what she asked me to. Walang nagbago sa ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha na tila ba alam niyang kaya ko talagang gawin iyon. She knows I can use magic.

"Before we left last week, my sister told me to be wary of you. She said you're a heretic. I didn't believe her until last night when you unlocked my door using magic."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag sa sinabi niya. Her memories didn't come back. I'm glad. Not that I don't want their memories back. It's just that, I'm still not ready to be killed by my family. Mom taught me not to lie, and I'm sure she'll be so disappointed in me. All of them will, especially because I'm the serial killer who's been ripping people's heads off.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." nakayukong sabi ko.

"That's not what I want to talk to you about. Only my brother's blood and his daughter can heal a vampire from a werewolf bite. How did you do that?" she asked suspiciously.

I gulped before answering. "Your niece gave me vials of her blood before our trip, that's why I was able to cure you."

If she asks Kaylee about this, she will immediately know that I am lying. Maybe I'll try to convince Kaye to lie for me, even though that's impossible. We exchanged a couple of text messages, yes. But I know she still doesn't like me.

Pinaningkitan ako ng mga mata ni auntie. "I heard the two of you don't get along. Why would she give you her blood?"

"We're friends now." pagsisinungaling ko. "You can ask her if you want." matapang na sabi ko.

Please be convinced...

"That's what I plan to do. Let's go to your house." at nagsimula nga siyang maglakad papunta sa bahay.

I am so fucking dead.

I never thought she would ask her this soon.

Hinabol ko si auntie hanggang sa maabutan ko siya. "Are you sure Miss Vera?" paninigurado ko. "Don't you want to rest first?" I tried not to sound nervous.

She shook her head. "I'm sure, and I need to ask my niece about something." her forehead creased. "When I was bitten last night, I saw blurry images of her as a kid with another unfamiliar kid. I can't even see that kid's face clearly because it was blurry. I'm not sure if it was just my imagination so I need to confirm it with her."