Chapter 4: Hybrid

“WHY are we always transferring from one place to another, Mom? Don’t you get tired of it? This is so frustrating. I can’t get any friends because of this! We just moved here five months ago and now, you want us to move again?” Thirteen-year-old Mikaela complained while watching her mother packed her belongings in a hurry. Ever since the latter received a call this morning, she had been acting out of character.

“Honey, do you still remember the story I told you about the hybrid?” Sylvia asked instead. Her face was still pale.

Mikaela frowned. As if she could forget. Her mother would sound like a broken record night after night. “You never gave me a chance to forget him, Mom. You tell me about him every night even if I tell you to stop. I told you that was not a fun bedtime story. I’m not interested in some wicked supernatural being. I like fairytales better.”

“But that is not a simple bedtime story, Ela. I’m telling you the hybrid is real. And he is coming to get me, to get us. He has become so powerful now. If we don’t hurry, he will catch us and he will take you and your Dad away from me.”

Mikaela waited for Sylvia to laugh and to blurt out that she was just kidding. But no, her mother remained serious. In fact, she looked frightened. Her eyes were watery, and her lips were trembling. “Mom, what are you talking about?”

Sylvia just looked away as she zipped the suitcase. According to her, this male Vampire-Wolf hybrid was a Prince and was originally from North America, he was the son of the Vampire King there while his mother was the chosen child of the moon which made her the strongest werewolf in their pack. He inherited his parents’ strength and power and became the strongest supernatural creature alive. He was also the only recorded hybrid in their community which made both the Vampires and the Wolves yield to him.

And because of his immense power, the people could not freely mention his name for fear of their presence being detected by him. He would know when people were talking about him. That’s why no one could casually mention his name. Even writing about it was forbidden out of fear of being traced. Her mother said that the hybrid had that kind of ‘gift’ to be able to sense people in extreme ways.

The hybrid used to be a good guy. He did not let injustice prevail and had led the war against the rebel supernatural beings in order to protect his kin and the humans. He ruled both the Vampires and the Wolves in the North and became the crown prince at the age of fifteen. Under his family’s decree, all the supernatural beings lived peacefully.

Everything was going well until the hybrid’s family died the night he was away on a mission to fight the Rogues. Since then, he had changed and lived a life of debauchery. He became an ill-mannered man who eliminated anyone who dared to cross him. He killed them in the cruelest possible way and would even flaunt the bodies of his victims to serve as a warning to everyone and was later on regarded as the “Devil of the North”. He would always join the rebel hunting because he became a person who enjoyed seeing blood bath.

Sylvia did not mention how or why the hybrid’s family was killed. She just said that the person he trusted the most betrayed him. When Mikaela used to ask about it, her mother was always quick to change the subject. All this time, she thought the hybrid was just a product of someone’s incredibly wild imagination. After all, Vampires and Werewolves were a hot topic these days since there were so many books and movies made about them.

But now, her mother was saying that the hybrid was real? Worse, he was out to get her and her Dad? What kind of joke was that? It was not even funny.

Mikaela sighed. “What’s really going on, Mom? Please be honest with me. Did you have a fight with Dad that’s why you are being like this?”

Sylvia just stared at her daughter for a long time. She took a deep breath before responding, “That’s right. You can just think of that as another bedtime story. I should not have said those words in the first place. You are too young to worry about these things. Yes, your Dad and I just had a fight. But don’t worry, it’s not something we can’t solve. We are moving to your father’s hometown. We will be safer there.” Sylvia sat beside Mikaela and hugged her. “Forget about the hybrid from now on. I will not tell you stories about him anymore. You will be fine. Mommy is going to protect you. I am not going to lose you.” She sobbed. “I love you so much, honey. You and your Dad are my life’s greatest joy. Always remember that.”

“I love you, too, Mom,” Mikaela replied even if she was still confused.

Mikaela stirred. She would not have remembered that story had she not dreamt of it tonight. After her family moved to La Union when she was thirteen, her mother had never mentioned anything about the hybrid anymore. They settled in La Union afterwards. She was not a fan of those kind of stories that’s why she had forgotten about it as time went by.

But tonight’s events must have triggered that memory.

Wait. Events?

She gasped when Landon’s image popped in her mind. Right. She remembered running away from him. She immediately opened her eyes and was relieved to find herself lying on a bench with her head on a stranger’s lap who was looking at her as if she was some sort of a specimen.

Their gazes met.

Mikaela’s eyes widened in disbelief. She remembered that face. It was the same face that haunted her from the first time she saw him at her birthday party. And it was not only because he was the hottest man she had ever seen in her life, but also because his aura was the only one she could not see. She had been curious about him since then but due to some mishaps that took place at the party, she did not get to see him again.

Mikaela had assumed that he was her parents’ guest, but she did not get to ask any of them after they had an argument about her bodyguards. She could not completely remember what happened a while ago, but this man must have been the one who saved her considering how they were together now.

Where were they anyway?

When Mikaela looked around, she noticed that they were in a park. And the only people around that area… were the two of them. After what she had gone through with Landon, she knew she was supposed to be wary of this stranger. Yet, she felt strangely calm by his side. She had never felt this relaxed towards anyone before, not even towards her friends. Something about him seemed to pacify her heart.

“Well, hello there, Sleeping Beauty. You passed out after your encounter with your dog-I mean, stalker. Don’t worry, he will not be able to bother you anymore. I made sure of that. How are you feeling now? You were asleep for half an hour,” the stranger said in a voice that would give disk jockeys a run for their money.

“You saved me,” she said instead, still dazed by his immaculate beauty. Everything about him was perfect that she almost found it unfair. Even the mole below his left eye looked appealing. In the darkness of the night, his curly blonde hair that reached his shoulders and his deep-set emerald eyes seemed to glow. If only she had her camera with her, she would not let this glorious sight go to waste.

The stranger just laughed. And when he did, a bunch of black and white butterflies appeared around them. Still amazed, Mikaela reached out to touch them, but they vanished. She blinked. Were her eyes just playing tricks on her?

“Are you aware that you are looking at me as if I am the most handsome man you had ever laid eyes on?” he said as he lightly touched her cheek and yet, she already felt feverish against his palm.

“But you truly are the most handsome man I have ever met,” Mikaela replied without thinking. She blushed when the stranger chuckled. He was looking at her with pure fascination as if he had never seen anyone like her before.

“I’m flattered. I like your honesty, Mikaela. It’s unlike the woman you resemble so much.”

Mikaela’s forehead creased. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing. I’m just appreciating the fact that you are different from your mother,” the stranger said as he leaned closer that Mikaela could almost inhale his minty breath. She wanted to keep asking, but with his face this close to her, she could not think straight. She swallowed when their noses almost touched.

This was a dangerous position. A slight movement and their lips could touch, too. And she could not believe how much she anticipated it. Mikaela had never been this bold and this needy before. His thumb on her cheek was tingling her, it was sending a delightful shiver in her body that she was almost tempted to close her eyes.

There were so many unexplainable things that happened to Mikaela tonight and this man’s touch was like a sweet comfort she badly needed. She held his hand. “Thank you for coming to my rescue, Sir.”

His thin, pinkish lips curved into a smile which made her heart race as if it was on a marathon. “The world had changed. Nothing comes for free anymore, Mikaela. If you want to thank me, do it properly.” He gazed at her lips. “Go out on a date with me.”

People rarely called her by her real name. Even her parents would call her through her nickname or through an endearment. And that was fine to her until she had heard how good her name sounded on his lips. In her head, for some unknown reason, she could suddenly hear her mother’s stories about the Devil of the North and the old man’s warnings. Their words were ringing in her ears that it was almost deafening.

And yet, Mikaela found herself nodding her head. She chose to focus only on the voice of the man in front of her.

“Say it, Mikaela.”

His eyes seemed to be compelling her to only look and listen to him, to focus only on him. And she could not say no to those eyes. Mikaela flashed her sweetest smile. “A date it is then. I will give you my calling card later.”

A knowing smile appeared on the stranger’s lips. It was as if he knew something she didn’t. “Good girl. I’m Blaze, by the way. Blaze Stevens.” His thumb went further down until it reached her lips. He stared at them for quite a while before grinning.

How? How could he cause a ruckus in her heart just with that?

“Just so you know, I am not a very patient man. I make the ones who owe me pay their debts as soon as possible. So, since you owe me a lot tonight, is it okay if I ask for the payment tomorrow night at seven? I have a meeting near your village tomorrow so I can pick you up afterwards.”

Things were happening so soon. Under normal circumstances, Mikaela would hesitate. But she had a feeling that if she would say no now, she would never get to meet someone like him again. And for that reason alone, she would risk it.

She cleared her throat. “It’s okay. I will make myself available tomorrow night.”

“I’m liking you more and more, Mikaela. You are quick to pay unlike most people I know. Anyway, it’s getting a little late. I did not send you home right away. Your parents might freak out if they were to see me with their daughter in a bad shape. Do you feel better now, or do you need more time to lie down?”

Only then did Mikaela realize that her head was still lying on his lap. She blushed once more. “I-I’m fine now. Thank you for worrying.”

Blaze just chuckled. She felt electrified when he laid a hand on her shoulder and waist to help her stand. “My car is right there. Come on.”

She gasped when she saw the shiny white Ferrari just a few steps away from them. She could swear it was not there a while ago. She would have noticed it because of its color. Or was she imagining things because her mind was still unstable after what she gone through with Landon?

Mikaela pressed her forehead.

Maybe I’m just tired.

“Is something wrong? Are you in pain somewhere?”

Through the light from the electric post, Mikaela could see his worried expression. She shook her head and stood properly. She realized that the pain in her ankle was gone. She had so many questions, but she would worry about them later. “No. I’m okay.”

Blaze opened the door for her like a true gentleman.

“Thank you,” she said before getting in the car.

He drove so smoothly, so gracefully. The whole time he was driving, her heart did not stop pounding so much that she was afraid he might hear it. She sneaked a glance at him. He was stunning in whatever angle.

“We saw each other back at my birthday party, right? I’m assuming you know my parents,” she said after a while.

“I do, especially your mother. She and I know each other very well.”

That sparked her interest. Her mother had never told her about him. “Really? How?”

There was a mysterious glow in Blaze’s eyes when he glanced at her. “You can ask your mother about it. I’m sure she would be thrilled to tell you our story.” He pointed the road with his mouth. “There she is.”

Mikaela had no time to reply after seeing her parents. All the lights in their mansion were on as Blaze parked his car. The gates were wide open. Her parents were outside along with the guards whom she escaped from. She bit her lip out of guilt. She had almost forgotten about her situation after meeting Blaze.

She quickly got out of the car. Her parents immediately ran to her.

“Where have you been, Ela? What happened to you? Your Dad and I tried contacting you several times, but we couldn’t reach you! Didn’t I tell you not to leave without your bodyguards? I told you it’s dangerous for you to be alone!” Sylvia yelled as she held Mikaela’s shoulders while anxiously checking if her daughter had any bruises. A lot of things were happening for the first time that night. Her mother had never yelled at her before.

“Calm down, Mom. I’m perfectly fine. And it’s all thanks to Blaze. He saved me from Landon earlier.”

“Good evening,” Blaze butted in before her mother could ask. He turned to her father. “I am Blaze Stevens. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Governor Dela Cerna.”

Rodrigo’s lips parted. “Blaze Stevens? Your name rings a bell. Are you the one who owns the-”

Sylvia cut Rodrigo. “You? Why are you with my child? What did you do to her?” She pushed him away and blocked him from getting close to her daughter. “I told you to spare my daughter! Please leave us right now!”

“Love, calm down. The neighbors will hear us. We can talk this out-“

“You don’t understand, Rodrigo! None of you understands!” She yelled as she glanced at Blaze. Terror filled her eyes. “You are not needed here! Get out of my daughter’s life! Get out of our lives!”

Mikaela gasped. Her mother was usually soft-spoken. She was the epitome of a perfect woman who was full of grace. She was always composed and rarely got angry that’s why seeing her like this felt like seeing a stranger.

“Mom, what are you doing? I told you that Blaze was the one who saved me from Landon. I admit it was my fault for escaping tonight, but you didn’t have to get angry at Blaze, too. Without him, I don’t think I would have survived. Why are you being so harsh on him? He didn’t do anything to me!”

“He is-“ Sylvia paused and held her throat as if something had stopped her from talking. She was fuming as she turned to Blaze. It was as if both of them knew something and none of them was willing to share it. Her voice mellowed when she spoke again. “I don’t like him. I will never like him. Don’t ever meet him again. Get inside, Mikaela.”

Mikaela felt embarrassed as she looked at Blaze’s direction. “I’m sorry. My Mom’s just worried about me. She’s not usually like this.”

“It’s okay, Mikaela. I completely understand where she’s coming from. She was right anyway. We are living in a dangerous world. We really ought to be careful at all times.” Blaze turned to Sylvia afterwards. “The truth is your daughter was in a grave danger a while ago, Mrs. Dela Cerna. She met a very terrible person on the road, and she was almost devoured by him.”

Sylvia clenched her hands. “How dare you talk like that-“

“Mom! Stop it, please! Blaze is not the enemy here! You’re embarrassing me!” Mikaela raised her voice for the first time. Her mother looked at her, shocked.

Sylvia’s tears fell. “And now you are embarrassed of me? I am just protecting you! Besides, why are you still here? I told you to get inside right now!”

“Don’t make me hate you, Mom, please,” Mikaela begged and glanced at Blaze. “Please leave for now, Blaze. Tonight is not a good time to talk to my parents. Thank you for everything you did for me. I really appreciate it.”