THE ASWANGS AND THE SIGBINS
The waiter, Mauricio, loomed over the table, his handsome face twitching as his monstrous features fought to break through the surface.
"Seriously?" Jin Ae challenged, leaning back despite the danger. "Are you going to make a scene? Your restaurant will lose every customer if you continue this."
Mauricio snarled, but before he could transform, a cool, commanding voice cut through the air.
"Mauricio, stop!"
A mysterious woman appeared from the shadows of the kitchen. She carried an air of effortless authority. "Do not cause trouble. These are our guests—even if they are a Bellator, a Banshee, and a Witch. How fascinating to have all three races in my humble establishment."
Jin Ae, Catherine, and Jasmine traded panicked looks. They hadn't revealed their identities to anyone.
"Forgive me. I am Meriam, the owner of Maria Casa," the woman said with a slight bow.
"I'm Jin Ae. These are my sisters, Jasmine and Monday," Jin Ae replied cautiously.
Meriam clapped her hands twice. Immediately, her staff rushed to the table, whisking away the gruesome bowls of human meat. "My deepest apologies. We didn't mean for you to be served... specialty food meant for our other kind."
"You called us a hunter, a banshee, and a witch," Jin Ae pressed, her hand hovering near where a weapon would be. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
Meriam let out a soft, melodic laugh. "It's simple. You are a hunter, she is a banshee, and she—"
"Enough!" Catherine interrupted, standing up abruptly. "This talk makes no sense. Jin Ae, we're leaving."
"Not before you eat," Meriam insisted as new, steaming plates were placed before them. This time, the scent was heavenly—pure and untainted. "Check it with your lime, girls. Go on."
The staff handed each girl a fresh slice of lime. As the juice hit the soup, the broth remained clear and golden.
"I can assure you it is safe," Meriam said, her voice dropping. "You can use your powers to check for illusions, but I promise you will find none."
"I don't need to check," Catherine said coldly. But as she turned to leave, Meriam reached out and gripped her arm. The moment their skin touched, Meriam's eyes clouded over with a vision.
"You are in grave danger," Meriam whispered, her grip tightening. "The King of the Black Kitsunes is hunting you. You must be careful."
"You're hurting me! Let go!" Catherine cried out.
"I am not your enemy," Meriam hissed, her intensity growing. "All of us are in danger. If the Black Bellator captures the Sigbins, they will gain an everlasting power—one that will crush even the most powerful witch covens in the coming war."
"You're crazy!" Catherine shouted.
"Miss Meriam, let her go!" Jasmine jumped in, and Jin Ae stood ready to fight.
Meriam suddenly released her grip and smoothed her dress, the terrifying intensity vanishing as quickly as it appeared. "Enjoy your food, girls. It's on the house. Consider it a gift for our most special guests."
As Meriam turned to walk away, she leaned close to Catherine's ear, whispering words that made the girl's blood run cold.
"The war is coming. You must protect your coven; it is the Nogitsune's true target. I am an Aswang, yes, but I have the blood of a witch. If you need help, cast the summoning spell. Your Lola Ester tried to defend me before the coven forced me out... but that is a story for another time. It was nice to see you again, Catherine."
Meriam disappeared into the back of the restaurant, leaving Catherine trembling and speechless.
"Monday? Are you okay?" Jasmine asked, shaking her friend's shoulder. "What did she say to you?"
Catherine blinked, pulling herself back to the present. "Nothing," she lied, though her heart was racing. "Let's just eat. We need to get back to Lennard's place immediately."
Ethan and Akihiko finally stepped through the threshold of their home. The air felt lighter here, though the shadows of the past were beginning to lengthen.
"Finally, you're back, Apo," his grandmother said, her voice trembling with relief. Ethan didn't say a word; he simply pulled her into a warm, lingering hug.
"Ninong Jeff, can we talk?" Aki asked quietly. His godfather nodded, and the two moved toward the corner of the room, keeping a safe distance from Ethan and his grandmother.
"Ninong, how long have you known?" Aki's voice was low. "About Ethan... and my true identity?"
Jeff sighed, the weight of years visible in the lines on his face. "Lola Ignacia and I were both part of the White Dove. We are Bellators, Aki. We hunt to protect the innocent and save the creatures caught in the crossfire. You were saved by Ethan's father during the war in your homeland. And Amelia... she was the apprentice of Ethan's mother, Calista."
Lola Amelia looked up, her eyes misty. "I can feel that my Master is still alive," she interrupted. "I've been asking the wind and the plants to guide me to her. Apo Ethan, the whispers told me your mother was last seen in the Forest of Selvage. But the messages have stopped. Someone is blocking my magic."
The Forest of Selvage
Deep within the heart of the forbidden forest, Calista stood at the balcony of a hidden mansion, her fingers dancing through the air as she wove a spell to silence the nature around her.
"I know what you're doing, Miss Calista," a voice said from the shadows. Maverick stepped forward. "What if the Dark Lord finds out?"
Calista offered a faint, tired smile. "I am not afraid. If you wish to tell Kaito, you are free to do so."
Maverick looked at her, his bravado fading. He pulled back his shirt, revealing a jagged, glowing mark on his chest. "Miss Calista... please. Can you free me from this curse? I just want to go home to my realm."
A third figure, Daisuke, emerged from the hallway, his expression grim. "We are both prisoners of that crazy Nogitsune, Maverick. Miss Calista has tried to break my mark a dozen times. No magic can erase it."
"Then what do we do?" Maverick asked, his voice cracking.
"For now, we obey," Calista said, her eyes turning toward the distant horizon. "But do not lose hope. The wind tells me my son is both a Sigbinan and a Bellator now. He is the one who can save us from the fox."
Suddenly, she gasped, her hands dropping. A single leaf had escaped her barrier, carrying a fragment of her magic toward the outside world.
"What happened?" Maverick asked, stepping forward.
"The whisper... it's going to reach Amelia," Calista whispered, her face pale. "I am not ready to face my son. Not yet. And we know how cunning Kaito is—if he intercepts that message, he will use it to lay a trap."
REUNIONS AND RECRIMINATIONS
Back at Lennard's place, Jin Ae and her friends arrived to find a surprising guest. Baekhyun was already there, deep in conversation with Lennard and his father.
"Brother? You're here?" Jin Ae gasped.
Baekhyun turned, his expression stern. "Where have you been? Are you enjoying your little stroll through town?"
"It wasn't much of a stroll," Jin Ae countered. "We had a run-in with an Aswang."
Baekhyun's eyes widened, his protective instincts flaring. "What? Are you girls okay?"
"We're fine," Jasmine chimed in. "Monday saved us before we could eat the 'special' soup they served. Good thing she had that lime from Lennard's garden."
"It's true, sir," Lennard added. "My father warned them about that place."
Baekhyun's hand went to the hilt of his weapon. "Well then, let's go back and hunt them down."
"No! Please," Catherine cried out, her voice desperate.
"Why, Monday?" Baekhyun asked, confused by her reaction.
Before Catherine could reveal the truth about Meriam and the coven, Jin Ae stepped in, placing a hand over her friend's shoulder. "It's already been handled, brother. I've sent a signal to the other Bellators. They'll be dealing with that restaurant soon. There's no need for us to turn back."
Baekhyun studied her for a long moment before nodding. "Fine. In the morning, we continue our journey to Mount San Cristobal."
"We'll be ready," Catherine said, her voice barely a whisper. Jin Ae and Jasmine squeezed her shoulders, a silent promise to keep her secret for just a little longer.
TO BE CONTINUED...