Chapter 3 The Truth

"Uncle, why don't you tell Aurora you're here in Manila? I'm sure she misses you, especially after what happened. How long do you plan to keep your secret?" Jethro asked Rodrigo. "I know she's in good hands. She needs people who can truly help and protect her, especially when she's still unable to defend herself. I know the four men can protect her. It's just a matter of months before she discovers her true identity," Rodrigo replied, sighing to clear the lump in his throat. "My only prayer is that when she finds out the truth, she won't despise us, me and Eleanor." Over two decades had passed, but Rodrigo's memories of the night they first saw Aurora remained vivid. They were heading home from Obando, Bulacan, at dawn when a stranger approached them, carrying a baby. The man was tall, wearing a long black coat that covered his face. Without hesitation, his wife accepted the baby when the stranger handed it over. He knew his wife had been longing for a child, so he agreed to her decision. The baby was beautiful, fair, and plump, sleeping peacefully like the night. Before the stranger left, he said something that stuck in Rodrigo's mind: "Take good care of the baby. When the child reaches the right age, four men will come... They're the only ones you can trust, but don't tell them about the child's secret. Let them discover it themselves. Love the child and treat her like your own. We'll meet again!" The stranger's voice conveyed a sense of urgency. The couple was surprised when the stranger suddenly vanished before their eyes. Rodrigo wanted to be scared, but his love for his wife and the baby overpowered his fear. They watched over Aurora's growth, naming her after the dawn, symbolizing the new life they had been given. They loved her dearly, hoping that the day she would leave them would never come. As Aurora grew up, she had a normal life like other children. They were happy to see her grow into a kind and compassionate person, especially towards the less fortunate. However, strange dreams began to haunt her, and she would sometimes scream in the middle of the night, leaving Rodrigo worried about her well-being. ************* Aurora gazed at the sky when Gray approached her. "You're quiet today, I'm not used to it." He sat beside her and handed her a flower. "I miss them. I think my dad has forgotten about me. He hasn't called like he did when I first arrived. Maybe he's forgotten me, and it hurts me to think that, so much..." She took a deep breath before continuing. "Why did this have to happen to us? My mom's gone, and I'm not with my dad. If only I weren't weak and could defend myself, my dad and I would be together now." Aurora had always relied on her parents, so she didn't know how to cope with the pain she felt. There were many "what ifs" in her mind, many unanswered questions, and many wishes that couldn't be granted. Gray looked at her before speaking. "Why? Aren't you happy here with us?" "Of course, I'm happy, but I'd be happier if my dad was here with us." Thor suggested, "If you want, we can teach you basic martial arts so you can defend yourself in case you're in a tough spot." Aurora looked at the three men, admiring their good looks. Fiel smiled at her, and she noticed he hadn't been stern with her since they got caught in the rain together. "Maybe I won't be able to handle it." Leron chuckled, "We're not going to beat you up, you know." "Okay, as long as it's free, huh?" Aurora joked. Fiel smiled and replied, "We can discuss that." Aurora was grateful that only the moonlight illuminated the area, or else the men would have seen her blushing. "Let's start next week; we have something to take care of," Gray said. Aurora nodded, and Gray added, "The sky is clear and bright, perfect for playing hide and seek." Leron chimed in, "We used to play hide and seek before." Thor asked, "Don't tell me we're going to play hide and seek?" Gray replied, "Why not? It's a good way to unwind." The men agreed, and Fiel looked at Aurora with a smile. "You can join us, Aurora." Aurora hesitated, but the men teased her until she agreed to play. From a distance, Uerwan watched the four beings happily playing with a fille mortelle. He couldn't believe his eyes, but he knew he wasn't hallucinating. A mortal woman was playing with four foolish vampires! He had been tracking the four men for a long time but couldn't eliminate any of them since they always moved together. He had formed an alliance with another creature. After a few more minutes, Uerwan left the area with a smile on his lips. “You will be the reason for the mortal's death!” He glanced at Aurora one last time before disappearing.