Enchant Luna

Chapter 2

The Cortez family home, Pinto de Roca, once filled with lively conversations and laughter, now felt strangely quiet. The weight of Selena's death still lingered in the air, and with each passing day, the house seemed more distant to Luna—as if it was hiding something just beyond her reach. Even the usual family routines—dinners of adobo and sinigang or the easy conversations that used to fill the house—felt quieter now, like the warmth had slowly drained from them, leaving everything a little colder.

Around the dinner table, the atmosphere was tense, though everyone tried to push forward. Josef sat at the head, staring blankly at his plate, his hands resting motionless beside it. He hadn't spoken much since Selena's death, and though his expression remained composed, grief weighed heavily on him. Across from him, Auring, ever the pillar of strength, quietly sipped her salabat tea, her sharp eyes watching over the table, silently acknowledging the change in the house.

Natalia sat beside Luna, her movements deliberate as she spooned food onto her plate, though she barely touched it. She tried to break the silence with small conversation, asking Josef about the estate and offering to help more with the family business, but even her usual confidence felt dimmed. Her voice, steady but quieter than normal, carried a note of strain, as if she, too, was holding everything together for everyone else.

Rosalie, after taking a small bite of rice, tried to ease the tension in the room. "Kuya, I'm here to help," she said softly, placing a reassuring hand on Josef's arm. "You don't have to do everything by yourself. I'll stay as long as you need."

Josef nodded, offering a faint smile, though his mind seemed far away. "Thanks, Rosalie," he muttered. "It's good that you're here."

Luna, sitting quietly between her father and grandmother, barely touched her food. Selena's death had left her not only heartbroken but restless, with more questions than answers. She glanced toward the kitchen where soft whispers floated from the helpers—Aling Nena, Lola Laba, and Fe. Their conversations had been hushed for days, their usual chatty nature replaced with something darker.

"They found blood near the market," Aling Nena's voice carried softly, just loud enough for Luna to catch. "Elmer didn't just disappear... something took him. They say it happened around midnight."

Lola Laba clucked her tongue, her tone lowered but urgent. "My lola used to tell me about creatures that hunt at night—those that fly, looking for human prey."

Fe, wide-eyed, leaned in closer. "You think it's like in the stories? A—"

"Shh," Aling Nena quickly hushed her. "Don't say it, but yes... I think something's out there, and it's hungry."

Luna's heart skipped. The tension from the kitchen seemed to stir something inside her—those fragmented visions she kept seeing ever since her mother died. Wings, large and leathery, casting shadows in the night. Red eyes, glowing with hunger. She could see the pieces, but they still didn't quite fit together.

Before Luna could dwell on it any longer, the doorbell rang. She heard Fe answer, greeting someone at the door. A moment later, Father Rafael entered the dining room, his calm presence instantly grounding the room.

"Apologies for the interruption. I didn't mean to come at the wrong time. Should I wait for you in the study, Auring?" Father Rafael asked with a polite smile.

"No need to apologize, Padre," Lola Auring replied, waving him over. "Join us for dinner. We can discuss our business afterwards."

The parish priest, a long-time family friend, nodded and took a seat beside Auring. He offered the family a warm greeting, though his expression grew more serious as he settled into his chair.