Blood Hunt : Project Zero

[3] 10. A skill

[Cyrene]

WARNING: Reminder, this is a dark fantasy vampire. Gore and disgusting scenes ahead.

Priscilla, who was said to be a powerful woman in the bible. She could be the epitome of women's empowerment. It's making me think that maybe this is the reason why she's so amused with me, a woman, called Lucifer.

"Tell me, are you here to kill Val?" Hula ni Priscilla, bakas sa boses ang pagiging intriga.

I nodded. "You don't think I can?"

She smirked, leaning forward to me. "I know you can't." Lumayo siya sa 'kin. "For now."

Bumalik siya sa dati niyang pwesto, pumaloob ulit ang malalaki niyang itim na pakpak. The tension disappeared, but her presence is still overwhelming. 

"You really amuse me, child. Say, do you really want to continue—" Winasi-wasiwas niya ang kamay niya, naningkit ang mga matang nakatingin sa 'kin. "—What do you call this, play of yours? Killing vampires?"

"Yes. My hunt," deretsong sagot ko.

She looked disappointed, but at the same time, kind of expecting my answer. "What a shame. Still, if you change your mind, come to me. I'll take good care of you." She grinned.

She pointed her index, gesturing for someone to come. There, the twins appeared again, both could be heard breathing heavily.

"Let's do your bargain. But I want to add one thing." Umangat ang tingin niya sa 'kin. "If you manage to kill Val, I'll take over this town . . .  and I want you to keep your hands off it."

Naningkit ang mga mata ko. She wants me to let this town be, let the vampires living here be. And it doesn't sound like asking for a favor, but an order. Priscilla could see my potential . . . but she also underestimates me. She can see me getting stronger, but not stronger than her.

That's fine. No, that's better. She's making it easier for me . . . for one day, I'll bite her back with her thinking that it will just leave a mark, not biting her whole head off.

I stared back. "As you wish," I answered with empty words.

Napangisi siya, sunod na nilahad ang dalawang anak niya. "I can't give you skills from our bloodline because of course, you're not of us. You won't be able to do it. But . . . "

"In the Eloira Bloodline, we have a tradition," panimula niya. "When an Eloira turns 501, they will undergo a test. A test that will show if they could already control every cell of their body, their durability, their thirst, their strength."

"Of course, during their 500 years, their body will be trained to be sure that they will successfully finish the test."

"For a Nate like you, who just have been turned for not even a month . . ."

"This test, will be the death of you."

Her words are not empty, they are real.

"I'm giving you your last chance now. Be mine, or face death."

I answered without any hesitation. "I am facing it right now."

Lumawak ang ngisi niya. Na para bang kada salitang banggitin ko ay lagi siyang pinapasaya at binibigla.

"Very well, join my children."

━━━ † ━━━

I kept hearing Pricilla's words as I walked, following the twins. We're walking underground in a hallway without any light. But we have no problem seeing what's in front.

Remembering her words, even I doubt myself. This test, to gain this skill, I will die. It's not an exaggeration. What I'm about to experience, will be worse than hell— worse than I ever experienced before.

I heard a heavy metal door opening, the boy twin opened the only door at the end of the hallway. I didn't realize that I stopped breathing.

No wonder why Priscilla's willing to give me this skill. Because she's sure that I won't make it, that this will kill me.

Nakangiting humarap sa 'kin ang dalawang kambal. No, they're not smiling, they're grinning. Nakalahad ang kamay nila sa loob, sa loob ng napakalaking madilim na silid.

Not a single light could be seen inside, nor any furniture. Only a single metal board, like a wall in the middle. With metal chains, thick metal chains for arms and legs. Next to it is a single metal table.

Full of torture weapons.

"To start this test, we have to hurt you." I can hear Priscilla's words again. "Really hurt you."

"After you, sister Cyrene," sabay na sambit ng kambal na pinapauna ako.

Napalunok ako nang malalim, naunang pumasok.

"Don't take it personally, every Eloira experienced this."

Naglakad ako patungo sa bakal na pader. Nilahad sa 'kin ng babaeng kambal ang mga naglalakihang posas. 

"Are you ready, sister?" she gently asked, as if she was doing something lightly. I willingly let them chain me.

"We have to chain you, of course. Please understand, it is to make sure you won't cause any problems. The moment you're pinned at the wall, there's no turning back."

Mabigat ang paghinga ko, mabilis ang pagtibok ng puso. Magsisimula pa lang, pero habang iniisip ang maaring mangyari at ang gagawin nila sa 'kin, para akong masisiraan ng bait.

"Don't worry, you have my word. I swear to my, no, my bloodlines' lives that we won't kill you." As if I'm talking to Priscilla again, I can see her expression as she says those words. Not a single lie could be heard, as if I'm having a deal with the devil.

"But you're going to wish that we did."

They took one weapon each. The other has a saw, the other has a huge scissor.

Even with masks on, I can see them grinning from ear to ear.

"It's part of the test . . . you need to feel pain, you need to lose strength, you need to lose limbs."

My scream filled the big room. From slicing my neck not deep enough for me to die or lose my head, putting pointed screws inside my ears, taking one of my eyeballs and piercing the other, to pulling each of my nails.

"You have to survive without healing. We need to hurt you to the point you can not regenerate."

I could not hear anything anymore. With my enhanced senses, I lost them all. I could only drink my tears and blood, I couldn't even taste it anymore.

"We're not just testing your strength and body . . . but your mind as well. You need to maintain your sanity."

"AHHHHHHHH!!!!"

"Good luck, Cyrene. See you in a year."

━━━ † ━━━