2025-06-09 20:22:08Zoriel brought the girl to the hospital first before heading to the impounding center.
He didn’t even know her name—they couldn’t find any ID in the bag she carried. So, he left his number with the hospital, just in case she woke up and needed help. “You should really help her, Zoriel. You can’t just let that creature take her!” Lily said. Zoriel waved her off. “Yeah, yeah. But I need to get my jeep back first.” Lily shook her head. “You don’t get it, Zoriel. She might be the key for you to awaken your power!” Zoriel took a deep breath. The longer she talked, the more she started to get on his nerves. He didn’t expect that even unearthly beings could be as annoying as humans. He rushed out of the hospital and hopped onto another jeepney. Not long after, he arrived at the impounding center. There, he immediately spoke with the front desk and showed them all his documents. “Yes, the jeep with that plate number is here,” the woman at the counter confirmed. Hope flickered in Zoriel’s chest. “Ma’am, my papers are all here. Everything’s complete. My license and permit are updated too. So I really don’t understand why my jeep was taken.” The woman sighed, clearly annoyed. Zoriel tried to ignore her attitude—he was used to people like this in government offices. He handed over his documents, which she barely glanced at. “Yes, but according to the system, you have several violations,” she said. Zoriel frowned. “Violations? What violations? I’m a careful driver, Ma’am. I’ve never even been ticketed by traffic enforcers.” She just gave him a blank look, then turned to her computer, clicking and scrolling through the screen. “Zoriel Del Cruz, right?” “Yes, Ma’am.” She nodded. “According to this, the officer files a case against you for reckless driving. You are wanted for hitting a commuter and running away from it.” Zoriel’s jaw nearly dropped. “What? When?! I never did any of that, Ma’am! Can you check again? Or maybe tell me who reported those violations?” The woman sighed again and stared at him. “Sir, everything is in the system. So I’m sorry, but we can’t release your Jeep. If you want it back, you will need a lawyer and a permit from Mayor Santiago. And you’ll have to pay a twenty-dollar fine.” It felt like the ground crumbled beneath Zoriel’s feet. Where was he supposed to get that much money? Also, to get a lawyer? He didn’t even make a hundred dollars a day from driving. And now he had to beg the mayor for a permit? After what happened at the municipal office earlier, he was sure the mayor wouldn’t give him one that easily. Zoriel tried to reason with the woman, but she just waved him away. She even called security and threatened to call the police if he didn’t leave. Not wanting to cause more trouble, Zoriel decided to walk away, shoulders slumped. “Oh, poor Zoriel. What should you do now?” Lily asked. She had been quiet the entire time, only now choosing to speak. “If only I could return to Biringan. Money wouldn’t be a problem then! I could bring you more gold!” Zoriel let out a frustrated breath. He didn’t have time for her fairy tale promises.
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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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