DEPARTMENT OF THE SUPERNATURAL, Manila

Dani and Zephyr were seated comfortably on leather chairs inside Solano’s office. Solano’s secretary, Lucas, went inside.

“What would you like while waiting? Coffee? Tea?” He asked.

“If you have ginger tea, I’d have that.” Dani then looked to Zephyr.

“Water is fine,” Zephyr said.

As Lucas went outside, a tall figure went inside. Lucas and her exchanged looks and nothing else. She sat on a chair at the side. 

Zephyr couldn’t help but stare. She had an hourglass figure which was highlighted by her black sheath dress. Her skin was a pale brown, almost as if she lacked exposure from sunlight. She bore beautiful local features which she emphasized with her makeup. Her expression looked ethereal.

She looked back at Zephyr in which he looked away. He heard her giggle. She was probably used to people staring at her. 

Dani, however, faced the woman and greeted her. “Hello, Jude. It’s been a while. Are you still in the Foundation Hospital?” 

“Yes, it’s been quite peaceful there. I heard you’re a family physician now to the Sidapa couple.”

“Not much to check on nowadays,” Dani said.

“Immortals don’t have much going on,” said Jude. “If you’re bored, you can always come back with me. It’ll be like old times.”

“I like where I am now,” Dani smiled, looking at Zephyr. 

Solano entered the room and was surprised to see Jude. He fixed his expression and pretended to not see her. “How is the couple?” He asked.

“In sweet, marital bliss.” Dani said.

“They are safe and will be returning to the Sidapa house in Manila this week.” Zephyr said.

“That is good to hear.” Solano said.  “Now-” 

Lucas barges in with the beverages. He brings it to the table. Solano looked annoyed to be disrupted by something trivial, but after Lucas was done, he continued. 

Solano cleared his throat. “As I was saying, Dani said she found an interesting engraving on the bullet.”

Dani pulls out from her pocket then unwraps from her handkerchief, the bullet she found from the wedding reception.

“An engraving of a hawk,” Zephyr remarked.

“It’s the mark of Matang Lawin.” Solano said.

“Who’s Matang Lawin?” Zephyr said.

“Matang Lawin is a group of contracted assassins. But they don’t kill humans. They’re paid to kill vampires.” Solano said.

“Vampires…” said Dani.

“We tried to interrogate the shooter that Xavier brought in, but he poisoned himself with acid and his throat was damaged in the process, rendering him unable to speak.” Solano said.

Solano pushed back his already slicked back hair. “We don’t know who paid him or what they want, but whoever did it certainly didn’t want that wedding to happen. The best thing we can do now is to keep the married couple safe.”

“We will keep watch.” Zephyr said. 

Solano dismisses them. 

As he shut the door, Jude speaks. “They didn’t know? About Matang Lawin?”

“I’m sure Dani knows. She’s been associated with the Sidapa crime family since I could recall. There’s a lot of things that girl plays dumb about. Zephyr on the other hand…”

“He’s an interesting fellow. He was a human at some point.” Jude smiles. Sometimes Jude’s smile scared Solano. She inched closer to Solano. She put her hands around his waist and used this position to lock the door behind them. “Humans are quite the creature. Fascinating.” 

“Just shut up and kiss me,” said Solano. 

She did as she was told and as they pulled away to catch a breath, she said “Quite the scandal you are in, Secretary. Having a fling with the Mayari clan’s doña?”

“What can I say? You’re irresistible.”

She laughed and kissed him again.

────── ⋆⋅ 𖤓 ⋅⋆ ──────

At the front of the building, Lucas was seeing Zephyr and Dani off. He took Zephyr aside and asked, “How’s Sophie?”

Zephyr sighed. “I think it’s time for you to let go. You're a young man in his prime! Go out and have fun. I promise you, if you just don’t think about Sophie, you’ll forget about her in a month.”

“She’s all I ever think of.” He said, in a small voice. He then looked at Zephyr and clenched his fist. “It doesn’t bother you that she's married to a-”

Lucas stopped at his words. Zephyr was taken aback. “What, Lucas? A monster?”

Zephyr looked at Lucas, intensely. “To answer your question earlier, Sophie is happy. I’ve never seen her happier. So I suggest you forget about her.”

Dani drove in and Zephyr entered the passenger seat. 

“Don’t you think you were harsh?” She said as she drove. “I’ve seen that kid visit Sophie ever since he turned eighteen. When he learned she was to be wed, he was crushed.”

“I thought you didn’t like him either.”

“I don’t like him. I’m just explaining that feelings can’t just turn off like how you said.”

Zephyr would never admit this to Dani, but she was kind of right. Zephyr was being a hypocrite when he said that. He still sometimes thinks of his lover centuries ago. She’s dead and Zephyr still dreams about her. Zephyr hasn’t been with anyone since. I’m just as pathetic as Lucas, Zephyr thought. 

Zephyr’s silence signaled Dani’s triumph in argument and she smiled the whole way back to the Sidapa House.