{26} Hush, Howl

Darren

I ran through the trees as fast as my feet can take me, the falcon must’ve reached the house any second by now. Adrian now knows my weakness, I can never let him get to Sapphire—if it ever will be the last thing I’ll do. But I know by the howl that I released a few seconds ago, it would have alerted them. They have to be gone by now.

I arrived at the house only to find a huge hole marked on a wall. A body was laid on the floor, swimming in its own pool of blood. I was shocked to see Sapphire’s flute buried in its chest. Other than that, I saw nothing more. There was a trace of Sapphire’s smell, Rosy’s, my mom’s, and Zoe’s.

After sniffing around the room and detecting no presence but the dead body in here, I shifted back into my human form and crouched down beside the corpse. Nudeness is common to us wolves, we are not ashamed of our body because we pretty much had a good one—and we have shifted often in front of others, so it’s no big deal.

I examined the body in front of me. There were shards the broke the skin of his face, a few of it still buried. I gripped Sapphire’s flute and pulled it out, only to be greeted by a sharp blade protruding out of the crown—or the hole by the other end of the flute. For a moment my eyes widened in shock, but I wasn’t more surprised when the blade retracted back and disappeared.

Where did Sapphire get an instrument like this? I stood up and looked around some more. The front doors were left open, but I can see Zoe’s car gone and Rosy’s Volkswagen remained. I felt a smile tug on the corner of my lips. I hope they’ve gone to the safe-house—no one knows that place except my closest friends and family.

I looked down at the silver flute of Sapphire in my hands, wondering what kind of instrument would have a sharp blade as such. Another thought crossed my mind, how could Sapphire even get this? After all those years and days she played this, I can never guess it would be this lethal.

I should mind the flute later, getting back to the war would be my first priority right now. Hopefully, Sapphire, Rosy and my family would be safe. I placed it down on top of an end table and proceeded out of the door.

I just hope the girls would be able to travel safely all the way back to North Carolina.

The Aves would never suspect that. They’ll be back in our old town, yet, stay in a safe-house that’s only open for the most trusted persons only. Still, it would be best if they do not come back. The situation we’re all in is dangerous.

And I’m certainly going to end all of this now.

I ran back into the battle currently going on after shifting back to my wolf form. I spotted a couple of my pack members lying on the floor—either dead or unconscious. Aves flew off almost everywhere, dropping wolf bodies from high up in the air, and releasing them so that they’ll fall off in the ground ruthlessly.

I spotted Daniel. An Ave was clawing his body with its talons, flapping its gigantic wings and slowly progressing on flying higher.

I shifted my gaze around and growled low. Running towards them as the Ave snapped its beak, I opened my jaw wide and jumped aiming a good shot at a strategic location. I bit its leg—causing it to scream in shock and release Daniel into the ground.

Daniel whimpered as he fell on the floor with a small thump. His fur caked with blood, cuts running across his kin, his hind, right front-leg injured mostly. So I think he could not move that much—but he’ll be able to heal.

A squawk came above me and sharp talons scratched my back, causing me to whimper in shock. I stumbled over and slid off onto the ground with a loud thud.

I felt the broken tissue behind my back struggle to repair the damage. Slowly standing back up on all four, I growled at Adrian who had his wings flapping in the air while turning to look down at me. He was quite far and high, but that did not hinder me from seeing his pupils dilate at the sight of me.

“Did your little girl die, Darren? Maybe—“ I cut him off.

“Your little falcon is the one who died.” I told him, looking up.

That silenced the mental conversation we had.

The next thing I knew, he spread his wings wide and glided down straight for me. His wings were furled to his back while he began charging for me in an incredulous speed.

I stood in stance, pulling back my lips and preparing myself into a fighting stance.

The moment he flew down to strike me with his sharp beak, I dodged his blow and aimed for his leg. At his failed attempt, he shot off back into the sky, but this time I managed to bite down as his leg as he took off into the air. I clenched my jaw, tightening my hold around his bony leg. My action caused him to squawk, but I pretty much got this all planned out.

As we were high enough into the sky, he tried shaking his leg despite of the pain his actions brought in the attempt of making me fall off. But I held on tight and did not let go.

He twirled in the air, wings spread wide then plunged down towards the ground. The move caused strong winds to blow against my fur—but he did wrong.

Ejecting my claws, I struck him by the upper-limbs and pulled my teeth out of his flesh. Using my claws to cling into him, I slowly climbed his back, plunging my sharp nails into his flesh while I did so.

Once I reached his back, I sank my teeth into his neck, causing him to scream in the pain I brought and flap his wings furiously while we were in air. He slowed down and plunged back into the sky, gliding up in the air before twirling down with a failed attempt of me falling off.

I felt him tense and panic under me. He drove down once again, this time we crashed on something hard, causing the fragments to explode and turn into rubble. I was practically thrown off him. The blow was so hard it sent me flying towards a wall, creating cracks in it as a result.

My brows were curved own into an angry frown, twitching from the force I exerted on my muscles. I slowly stood up from my position, gritting my teeth as my body automatically shifted back to my human form.

My knees shook underneath me, blood dripping in the corner of my lips. I glanced at Adrian under my lashes to find him holding the flute of Sapphire in his hands, a smirk playing on his bloody lips. My eyes widened as he shifted back into his bird form and took off from the big hole above him.

I realized we crashed in her Auntie’s house, and that since Adrian had taken hold of Sapphire’s flute, he will be able to track down her scent and find their location. Not only will that endanger Sapphire’s life, but some of the closest persons to me and to her as well.

I ran out of the house after grabbing some clothes and slipping them on. I grabbed the keys to my motorcycle which I had absentmindedly placed on top of the coffee table and ran out of the house.

I inserted the keys into ignition and twisted them, making the car rumble to life. I stepped onto the gas and sped off.

Hold on, Sapphire. Here I come.

Sapphire

Z2’s eyes diverted to my direction while I felt myself hung my head low. Even those constant screeching of the car tires when Rosy swerved the car to another direction swayed me side to side, I stared at my lap—feeling an incredible wave of sadness wash over me.

“I’m sorry, Sapphire. But we’re gonna have to do this.” Z2 sighed loudly. “I also want to thank you for saving me a while ago. Aves are sensitive by their chest are—actually, that’s their weakest point. And you even managed to hit bull’s eye! I didn’t even think it would manage to stab the bird with its bluntness, but yours I think might have a sharp end.” She said.

“Maybe it’s made for defensive purposes, too.” Rosy quipped, stirring to the right. “Are you really sure we need to pass that trail? It really brings up bad memories . . .” Rosy left the sentence hanging, hesitating to finish it.

“It really is necessary. That’s the only safe place I know. The Aves would not find us there.” She answered. “And what did you mean by defensive purposes?”

“What?” Rosy bit her lip as she shifted gears and accelerated the speed of the car. “It’s nothing. Don’t mind it.” She told her. “Saf, I want you to brace—“ she was looking at me through the rearview mirror while finally slowing down the car’s pace. I raised my hand to signal her to stop talking. Flashing a reassuring smile, I heard her sigh while she made a U-turn.

“What’s so bad about that way anyway?” Z2 asked, looking at me in the corner of her eyes. Z1 was settled on the front passenger’s seat, leaning back against her chair. She looks like she was trying to relax. Aunt Farris was doing the same beside Z2 in the other side of the car. She had her closed while muttering incoherent things to herself, trying to calm her wracked nerves. From all of the things that happened today, it’ll be compulsory for us to have some rest. Even I was shocked from the previous encounter.

You can handle it, Sapphire. This will only be a single pass, you can make it. But . . . I don’t think I’ll be able to control the tears. Despite of how good Darren’s advice rang in my ears, there is still something missing . . . something which needed solving. It was like my parents won’t give me peace until the crucial question is answered.

Why did they die? Was the car accident really an accident or was it done in purpose? If yes, who did it? If ever those questions are answered, I think I can finally have peace.

“We should probably let the topic drop, Zoe.” Z1 said, looking at us over her shoulder as the car accelerated a few meters and we slowly neared the dreaded destination.

“Hey, why are we going through that way when we can find some other way to go there?” Aunt Farris suggested, her head snapping up. She looked at all of us, her eyes wide with her opinion.

“We don’t have much time, you see. The Aves will catch up with us. They’re really fast, you know?” Z1 answered.

Aunt Farris sighed and leaned back in her seat. She must be confused on how we ever got ourselves into this situation. She must really be disappointed by how Rosy and I got into trouble. Boy, we surely will be in a hell of trouble when everything’s over. The whole supernatural occurrences are hard to accept. What more if you receive the blow like slap on the face? All in one day? Forced to take it all in so that you can be safe? Aunt Farris isn’t in a very good situation right now.

And so am I.

Why do all the tragedies must occur to this day? I’m starting to consider it a bad-luck-prone day.

“Remember that song, Saf?” Rosy’s voice snapped me out of my line of thinking. I looked at her, my ears receiving the familiar beat of the music. The crooning voice of the singer wept in the background. As the song progressed on and on, the intensity of the music increased. “That was the last song you ever sung.” She said, pausing. “I just wish I could hear you sing again. Really—after all those years, I miss that chatty, hyper, little girl who got a pretty ironic mystery behind her name.” She chortled, shaking her head at the memory.

Her statement made me smile. How can I be named after a dark, blue gem when my hair is of fiery red color and my eyes are a deep shade of rich hazel? My mother suggested I be named Ruby as resemblance to the red hair I inherited from her. But my father argued I be named Sapphire, no matter how opposite it means to my appearance. He told me he chose it because I was calm like a tranquil sea. And even though I was red, the perfect color for me is blue. A deep, royal blue to symbolize how important I am to him—because I was his little princess.

A weird, short story—but sweet. Just that memory made me smile.

“I would tease you when we were young, remember? And you would bicker with me about that same old story and then you would call me rosy-cheeked Rosy?” A laugh escaped her throat. “I used to blush a lot.” And you still do until now.

The mood in the room was replaced from worry, fright, and concern, to reminiscing happy times and smiling at the memories. The tension was quickly eased off by the cheerful topic.

“Why are you both named Zoe?” Rosy asked, after we broke a few laughs from the story-sharing she did.

“Uh . . . mere coincidence?” Z2’s brows creased on her forehead.

“I’m pretty sure Daniel said you,” She pointed at Z2. “Were named after her.” She pointed at Darren’s mother next.

“When?” Z2 asked, looking at Rosy suspiciously. Her scrutiny caused a faint blush to appear on Rosy’s cheeks. Z2 laughed loudly at her reaction. “Rosy-cheeked Rosy!” She teased in a singsong voice, causing laughter to bubble inside the room.

When the laughing died down, Z2 spoke once again. “Yep. Pretty much it. Momma Zoe here helped my mother at the time when she was in labor and they were both in the middle of nowhere,” She could not help but allow another laugh. “So Momma Zoe helped my mother get through. And also, to express her gratitude, she named me after her.”

“One, cute tale.” Aunt Farris piped up.

I smiled genuinely.

I shouldn’t be happy, I know I shouldn’t be. Not now.

But come to think of it. Panicking for the impending dangers nearing in the future will lead to a major disaster and a horrible outcome. That was the thing that happened to my father. When he suddenly knew that he lost control of the break, he panicked—that is why we crashed. Learning to be calm and developing a peace of mind to be used in tensing situations will do a big help.

“Am I going the right way?” Rosy’s voice brought me out of my trance.

And then out of the corner of my eyes, I saw and heard Z2 answer, “Yes, you are. Just keep going straight. We’ll be there in no time.”

I zoned out of their conversation and continued to stare out of the window of the moving car. I was worried about Darren. I was silently praying to god for him to be kept safe. The thought of him dying was unimaginable. I can’t seem to force myself to believe he’s gone—and I know he’ll never be gone. He’ll be victorious.

The car rode over a huge rock, making it shake. I bumped my head slightly against the window, snapping me out of my line of thinking.

“You all need to hold on. This is going to be a bumpy ride.” Z2 exclaimed, buckling herself on her safety belt and clinging onto it.

After many, long years, I still managed to recognize it. This road still wasn’t fixed. It was still bumpy.

The shaking continued for a few minutes until we were able to reach the smooth road. I felt the car taking twists—familiar twists. Like what I would always count and would always wait until the next one.

Right . . . left . . . right . . . left.

I leaned back against my seat and sighed, closing my eyes. This motion brings so many memories, both good and bad. Either way, I felt like crying—again. But Darren’s word came to me, and so I managed to control it.

But what I thought about wasn’t what Darren told me.

‘Do not live your past. What important is that you’re still here with the people you love. Do not waste your time regretting something you did not do, go on with your life—leave all the bad things behind, let the good ones stay. For each sweet, short moment with the people you love, you’ll cherish them forever—no matter if they are away. The past is your history, your future is a mystery, but today is your present—a gift that you should always treasure. Because you’ll never know when you’re time in the world will end. Do live your life; it is something which you won’t be able to take back again once you lose it. Take advantage of all the opportunities that’ll come your way.

‘Time . . . is an illusion.’

My eyes snapped open when an irritating screech came above us, and the thin layer of metal serving as the roof of the car was torn off. I looked up, seeing talons plunge down.

This distracted Rosy, causing the car to sway into different directions. I held on tight against the handle attached on the car door to prevent myself bumping all around.

We just escaped, and now, we’re being attacked once more.

Where are you Darren?