THE SIDAPA RESIDENCE, Manila

“We didn’t do it.” said Xavier. 

The vampire that coordinated with the mafia to bring food to the wedding reception was standing once again before Zephyr and Dani. This time, his hair wasn’t neatly gelled, and his wildness was dominating his character. He was wearing a simple black button down with matching black slacks. Every time he spoke, Zephyr could see his fangs peeking. 

“We believe you. But we need solid evidence.” said Dani, pressing against the table. 

“You know we don’t work with guns. And since you know there are gunmen stealing livestock you can check the bullets for the mark of Matang Lawin.” He said.

“Fine,” said Dani. “We can look at it now,”

“What? Like, going to the farm? With Xavier?” Zephyr said.

“I know we shouldn’t bring the Ikapati clan near the farm but we need Xavier’s help to catch these gunmen. He’s the only one fast enough.” Dani said.

Xavier looked at Dani with a confused expression. Dani firmed her look at Xavier and he looked away. Zephyr figured they had known each other before like the many other vampires Dani knew. “Uh, yeah. I can be fast.” Xavier said.

“Zen Vita Farms is up north, barely outside Manila.” Dani said. “Let’s move at night, for Xavier’s sake. I’ll make a call to Zen Vita Farms.”

Dani dialed the telephone.

As she did that, Xavier lit up. “They know how I look, so I should probably shift into my lesser known form.”

Xavier shifted to a female form, with long dark hair. Her eyes still carried the same ferocity but she was not as tall in this form and was less muscular. Zephyr would even say that she could look like a movie star with her beauty. 

Xavier must have noticed Zephyr getting used to her as she said, “Hey, quit staring or Dani might get jealous.”

Dani, who seemed finished with her call, rolled her eyes. 

“Don’t worry, Dani. I only have eyes for you.” Zephyr winked.

Dani snickered. “Don’t you joke around like that.”

Dani wouldn’t meet his gaze. Zephyr wondered if Dani was actually conscious of how she looked compared to Xavier. 

────── ⋆⋅ 𖤓 ⋅⋆ ──────

PLARIDEL, Bulacan

Xavier drove the car. The province was a different view from Manila. There were more horse-drawn open carriages, along with jeepneys from the war. The car they drove was a Chevy which garnered the attention of the people walking along. It didn’t help that Xavier changed to a more fashionable dress with sunglasses. 

Dani and Zephyr rode in the back as they piled most of their needed equipment in the shotgun seat beside Xavier. They were nearing the open grasslands and the sun began to set. Soon, it was nighttime and the air began to cool. 

Xavier had no problem with the cold, being a cold blooded creature herself. Dani, however, was sitting on her hands in an attempt to feel less cold. Zephyr took off his coat and gave it to Dani. Dani, still feeling cold, tried to exhale warm air into her hands. Zephyr took her hands.

“Allow me,”

He cupped her hands into his, and exhaled warm air into her hands. 

“You do this a lot to girls? Must be cold where you stayed back in America.”  Dani said.

“Why do you always think I’m some kind of flirt? I have not been with a woman in like, three hundred-something years.”

“That’s a sad brag,” Xavier said, still focusing on driving. “I’m here, you know. And I can hear you guys from the back.”

Dani pulled her hands away. “I didn’t need to know about your love life,” she said, in her usual uninterested manner. She still, however, stayed in Zephyr’s coat.

The car reached the open fields. Herds of cows were being controlled by dogs. Zen Vita Farms was a huge corporation. They were a staple in the meat section of supermarkets.

“Holy crap, look at all those cows.” Xavier said. She realized what she had said, and assured the two, “Not that I’d wanna eat them. I actually prefer pork blood. And I’d buy it in an ethical way. Not casually stealing it from a huge corporation.”

Xavier and the word “ethical” didn’t always exactly go hand in hand but Zephyr and Dani understood.

Dani introduced herself and the other two to the farmers and they led them to the grounds where they saw the trucks stealing cows at night. The farmers left the three to do whatever they needed, in fear of getting shot by the gunmen in the trucks, themselves.

The farmers explained to Dani that the trucks would appear from midnight to early morning. The three had decided to wait beside a nearby shed until the trucks arrived.

They sat on the grass. Occasionally, a herd dog would go near them and lick Zephyr but it would keep away from Dani and Xavier, then go back to the cows.

Zephyr could feel his eyes wanting to shut. He didn’t want to lean on the shed with all the mold and muck coming from its walls. Dani noticed his eyes closing, then Zephyr realizing he almost fell asleep then waking up again. She laughed at the sight of it.

“You can lean on me, if you’re sleepy. They won’t be here yet, it’s only ten. I am, after all, the taller one among us.” 

“You are not!”

“Quit arguing and just go to sleep. You’ll need it. And don’t worry about the gun in your holster, I won’t touch it.”

Zephyr leaned and fell asleep on Dani’s shoulder. Zephyr wasn’t sure if he was just dreaming, but he could feel an arm around him.

It didn’t feel like any time passed when Zephyr heard the gunshot that woke him up. He wobbled as he stood up and looked around. There was a bullet shaped hole in the shed. They were seen.

Xavier ignored the heat of the bullet and quickly picked it up to inspect it. “It doesn't have the mark of Matang Lawin. But still… I smell a human scent.”

Xavier, in an incredible speed, rushed forward to where the bullet’s direction came from. Zephyr saw the trucks start to move in, and more gunshots were being made. Xavier, dodging all of them, reached the gunman and went behind him.

“Move an inch, and I’ll tear you to shreds.” Xavier said, viciously, almost as if her voice growled. 

Dani and Zephyr ran to Xavier. Zephyr pulled out his gun but it didn’t seem like the other men by the trucks had guns.

“Who are you working for? Matang Lawin? Some other corporation? Tell me!” Xavier shouted.

“Xavier,” Zephyr said, in an attempt to calm her down.

Xavier, panting, tried to ease her breath. “Dani, get backup. Take them. Take all of them to the basement.”

Author's Note: that was a long chapter and it was really fun to write. I'm glad to write more about Xavier. Also, thanks a lot for a hundred+ views!! Please check my IG, @adrien.liu.16 for a 100 views special. I also draw official art on the characters. I hope to update more frequently!! Who so far is the most interesting character?