Innamorata

*Chapter One*

Chapter One

NYC, 2019

Ceres Armellini have witnessed modernity as it slowly took over the world. More than a century and a half had passed before her very eyes, but in her mind, memories of her past were still vivid like it was just yesterday. It was year 1850 when she stopped aging at the age of twenty... thus her immortality was both a gift and a curse. A gift because she has lifetime of planning on how to execute her vengeance. A curse for seeing her loved ones grew old and died, following the normal course of life.

At present human and lamia finally learned to coexist. No more primitive blood lust from the lamia, making the world a little safer for the human race. They walk passed each other like it was the most usual thing to do in everyday life. How she wish it were like this even before, how this new set up could have changed her destiny entirely.

Technology brought different kinds of innovations to help simplify the life for earthlings, hence the inventions of cellphones, computer laptops, tablets WIFI, GPS, CCTV, cars, and many other things. Thing was, no one was ever invisible now. Unless you have an invisibilty power of course. Everything and any kind of information can be put out on the internet via social media in a blink of an eye. And that kind of matter frightened the underworld, so to keep their most valuable secret safe at bay, the Maiores Letum had to stop capturing human to become their servus, good thing they now have lots of blood bank all over the world operated by their own kind to provide their needs.

There were some though who finds it hard to abide by the rules... the rogue ones.

Matamang nakatitig sa karimlan si Ceres, bawat himay ng pakiramdam niya ay alerto ngunit kalmado. She needed to remain calm even if all of her just couldn't. She waited, and waited. Waiting for her prey.

A lamia would pass by any moment on that dark alley of Queens. His intention? To prey on a victim. Paano niyang alam? Kanina pa niya sinusundan ang lalaki. Ironically, she would prey on him too.

Ilang sandali pa at ang hinihintay ay nagsimula ng pasukin ang madalim na eskinita, sa mga bisig nito ay isang babaeng tulala. She was compelled for sure.

A prostitute, she told herself as she analyzed the woman in her itty-bitty garments, her cheap perfume and the smell of sex assaulted her senses. But low life or not, she doesn't deserve to be a lamia's dinner for tonight. At dahil hindi na uso ang servus na tumatagal ng limampung taon ang buhay bago patayin, malamang na ikamatay na agad nito ang pagkaubos ng dugo sa gabing iyon.

Mula sa kinaroroonang second floor ng abandonadong building ay tumalon si Ceres pababa, sa mismong tapat ng nagulat pang lamia. Ngunit saglit lang ang pagkagulat na iyon, kagyat na nahalinhinan ng ngisi ang hitsura nito. He surveyed her from head to toe, satisfied with what he sees. Her red long and curly hair hanging loosely over her shoulders, her pefect Maiores Letum violet eyes now covered with her former human emerald green eyes, she can shift the color of her eyes easily, depending on her mood or how she wanted to use them. Black hoodie, black jeans, and black high-cut canvas shoes to complete her ensemble. That wasn't her usual get up when she was hunting though, but then she was not supposed to hunt that night. Nagkataon lang na may naamoy siyang lamia sa paligid habang naglalakad-lakad. Her instinct ordered her to stalk him, now she was glad she did. She was a self-proclaimed vigilante anyway.

"Hey, hey, hey... what do we have here? Threesome, wanna join?" He said without breaking their eye contact, he was trying to compel her too.

Ceres sneered knowingly. "I didn't expect you to hunt here, it's forbidden you know."

Manghang napatingin ang lalaki sa hawak na tulalang babae, saka muling ibinalik ang tingin sa kanya.

"How did you know the rule?" Tanong nito sa nanlilisik na mga mata, his blue eyes immediately turned into blazing red.