2025-06-09 23:56:48After speaking with his sister, Zoriel decided it was time to head back home.
Zenaida tried to stop him, wanting to go with him after she finished something first. But he still had a big problem—his jeep. He needed to figure out a way to get it back. As soon as he got off the tricycle, he noticed several neighbors staring down the alley where his house was. Zoriel ignored them and kept walking. “Zoriel! Iho! Where have you been?” Zoriel paused as one of their neighbors, Judith, came up to him. She was the owner of the small convenience store at the corner. “Why?” he asked. The old woman clucked her tongue. “Oh no! Jessa’s there, Zoriel! She's hauling your things out! And she brought the police with her!” Zoriel’s mouth dropped open. He rushed into the alley to see what was going on—and sure enough, just like Judith said, people were carrying out his belongings. There were also policemen standing in front of the house, talking with some of the neighbors. He hurried to one of the officers. “Sir! What’s going on?” he asked, confused. The officer looked at him, frowning as he recognized him. “Are you Zoriel Del Cruz?” Zoriel swallowed hard before nodding. “Is something wrong? Where’s my wife?” The officer glanced toward the house. Zoriel looked too—just in time to see Jessa stepping out of it. Her eyes flared when she saw him, and she pointed a finger at him. “You! It’s about time you showed your face, Zoriel!” she yelled angrily. She marched up to him and slapped him across the face. “You animal! What did you do to us, huh?!” Zoriel was even more confused. “What? You’re the ones who tried to kill me, weren’t you?” Jessa’s eyes widened. “Hey! Watch what you’re saying, Zoriel! You assaulted us! You tried to rape me! You’re the reason the mayor’s in a coma right now!” She turned to the officer. “He’s the one, Sir! He was the last person we talked to before both Mayor Santiago and I passed out. He couldn’t accept that I left him, so I’m sure he planned all of this! Plus, he tried to rape me before that!” Zoriel shook his head in disbelief. “W-Wait, Sir! That’s not true! I didn’t do anything to them! Jessa, please, just tell the truth!” Jessa smirked and crossed her arms. “I already gave them the evidence, Zoriel. So I’m sure you’ll rot in jail this time.” Before Zoriel could protest, two other officers grabbed his arms, pulling them behind his back and cuffing him. “Wait, Sir! This isn’t right! I didn’t do anything wrong! Jessa! Tell the truth! You’re the ones who planned to kill me!” He struggled, but the officer he had spoken to earlier began reading him his Miranda rights. Zoriel felt like the world was crashing down on him. Was it really that easy for them to arrest him? Just because he was nothing more than a jeepney driver? Most of all, he couldn’t believe how much pain his wife was putting him through. Didn’t she even remember everything they’d been through together? “Jessa! Please! Tell the truth!” Zoriel cried. “I am telling the truth, Zoriel! And now you’ll pay for everything! This house? It’s mine now!” Zoriel shook his head in disbelief. “No! You can’t do that! That’s all I have left from my father!” “You really think you can stop me once you’re in jail? I will have both of your houses!” “N-No… Wait! Jessa! Okay! Fine! I agree! I already signed our divorce papers! I’ll give them to you—just stop this!” Jessa narrowed her eyes and stepped closer to him. “I know. And I already have the papers.” “Then why are you still doing this?! Why keep making me suffer?! If you want to leave, fine! I just want my jeep back!” Jessa just sneered. “Because your family took something important from us. And I will only get that if you are gone!”
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Chapter 32: The Medicine
Zoriel and the others couldn’t help but watch in awe as Zenaida worked with steady hands, blending the herbs with the luminous moonshade bloom. The flower’s sap glowed faintly as it dripped into a clean glass, the liquid catching the lamplight like liquid silver.“Take this. You need to drink it all—bottoms up,” Zenaida said, offering the glass to Agnes.Agnes hesitated, wrinkling her nose as she accepted it. She lifted it slightly, sniffing. Her lips parted nervously.“A-Are you sure this will help me?” she asked, uncertainty lacing her voice.From the corner of the kitchen doorway, Caloy scoffed dramatically.“Of course, Miss! Do you even know we almost got eaten by an aswang just to get that flower?” he exclaimed, throwing his arms up.Agnes lowered her gaze, embarrassed. Noticing her shame, Zoriel cleared his throat softly.“Don’t mind him. We took that flower for you—for your healing,” he said, his tone gentler.Agnes still hesitated, raising the glass closer to her lips. The liq
Chapter 31: The Manananggal
The place was eerily quiet. They could barely see their surroundings through the thick fog. The cold wind seeped into their bones, making every step feel heavier. With each footstep, the crunching sound beneath them made them flinch.“I-I think we should go back, man,” Caloy whispered, his voice trembling. His grip on Zoriel’s arm was tight, almost desperate.Zoriel swallowed hard, forcing himself to appear brave. But the truth was, he too felt uneasy—his earlier courage seemed to have evaporated the moment they stepped into this strange atmosphere.“We can’t leave. Agnes still needs our help!” Zoriel insisted, though his voice quivered.Caloy’s eyes welled up. He wasn’t used to situations like this, and his knees wouldn’t stop shaking.They both froze when they heard a faint flapping sound from above.“What was that?” Caloy asked, tightening his grip on Zoriel’s arm.Zoriel didn’t answer. Instead, he tilted his head upward, listening intently. The flapping grew louder, like a massive
Chapter 30: The Island
“What should we do?” Zoriel asked.They were all gathered in the living room, facing Agnes. Zenaida was busy grinding medicinal herbs in a small stone pounder. She kept pounding until the juices began to seep out. She said she would use it to help heal Agnes.“We need to remove that thing inside her,” Zenaida said, determination written all over her face as she continued to grind the herbs.Lily flew over and hovered in front of Agnes. “Zenaida's right, Zoriel. Besides... it looks like she’s about to give birth!”Zoriel’s brows furrowed. He looked at Agnes’s belly, which still appeared small—barely two months along, if that.“Her stomach’s still small. How can she be about to give birth?” he asked, confused.Both Caloy and Agnes turned to Zoriel at once.“What?! I-I’m about to give birth?!” Agnes asked in shock.“S-She’s really pregnant? How? Why is she giving birth already?” Caloy stammered, eyes wide.Zenaida stopped what she was doing and placed the stone bowl on the table.“When a
Chapter 29: The Unborn Child
They left Zoriel with the beautiful young woman in the small living room of their house. She sat there quietly, waiting patiently for what would happen next. Lily hovered in front of her, flitting through the air as if inspecting every inch of her. Meanwhile, the siblings were in the kitchen, speaking in hushed voices.It was just far enough that they could talk in private while still keeping an eye on the mysterious guest.“Where is she from?” Zenaida asked, her brows slightly furrowed.They spoke barely above a whisper, still watching the woman from the corner of their eyes.Zoriel shrugged. “I haven’t spoken to her much. I just walked her here.”“What did she say again?”“She’s looking for Lolo Santhel. And she said she got pregnant by a tikbalang.”Zenaida clenched her fists at the mention. She stared at the young woman—more specifically, at her belly.“I’ll check her,” she said.Zoriel nodded silently.Zenaida approached first. The girl turned to her and gave her a small, hesit
Chapter 28: Find
Zoriel spent a few more days resting. It was almost miraculous how quickly his wound was healing. There was something strange—something special—about the leaves Zenaida kept applying to it.It was only when he was finally able to stand that he realized the house they were staying in used to belong to his grandfather.The old wooden house was fairly large. Despite its age, it remained in good shape, with barely any damage. There were a few holes in the roof—after all, it was made of nipa and some parts had come loose—but the walls and the foundation were still strong. It was built on four sturdy stilts, raised above the ground, with a space underneath.To an outsider, it might look like someone still lived there. The area around the house was well-kept. Not a single weed could be found—only vibrant, colorful flowers filled the yard.“Did you find it already?” Zoriel asked Zenaida.They were having lunch. Caloy had cooked adobong sitaw, using the string beans he harvested from their yar
Chapter 27: The Coven
Zoriel groaned as a sharp pain pulsed through his side. He could still feel the sting of the claw that had pierced him—like it had gone all the way through to his core.He grunted softly and slowly opened his eyes.The first thing he saw was a ceiling made of woven nipa. The breeze from the sea carried a distinct scent that filled his nostrils. The quiet around him brought a strange sense of peace.“Zoriel! You’re awake!” said Lily.She popped into view so suddenly that Zoriel flinched and sank back into the mat. She giggled when she saw him wince.“Sorry! I’m just really happy you’re okay! I’ll go get Zenaida!”Zoriel exhaled and let her fly off without a word.He gently touched his side. He could feel a leaf placed over the wound and a cloth wrapped around his waist. He was wearing different clothes now.And then the memories from the night before returned—The Bruja.The fight.The voice.“Remember who you are.”He thought it had something to do with being the next Santhigar. But a
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