Soulless Descendants

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this story/novel may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.

© 2019 M.P.L. Jaime

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Prologue

They said a person’s life is just a cycle. Some say that after our present life, our soul will either be summoned by hell or heaven depends on how you live your life on earth. But for me? I don’t believe in any of it. I just believe in a thing’s origin, how they did start and how it spreads. It is typically easy for me to say that I am ready to die anytime. Since we are all going there.

“Where’s your destination this time?” the known face of a homeless blind man asked me, smiling. Even though he cannot see me I stretched my lips to give him a sincere smile before standing right in front of him.

“Philippines.” He is the only person that I have been talking to since the first I arrived here in Louisiana. I just came out of the Inn this very moment. I have finished my mission here. I found out what really happened with the execution of Bonnie and Clyde. It would have been easy if I had used the internet and do my research there for hours, but I am the kind of person who would not be contented with what the internet would give me.

“Aye, going back to your country?” There’s an emphasis within his strong Louisianan accent. I gently patted his shoulder before responding.

“Well, I feel like I haven’t been there for a while.” I took a deep breath. How many years have I been out of the Philippines? Three? Four? I don’t know. I haven’t really paid attention to the time I spend in one place especially when I am too busy looking for data, facts, and information.

"What's for you this time?" I leaned over him before whispering…

"Vampires." I organized the suitcase I am carrying. As well as, the travel bag I have in my back while listening to his laughter and his cane, tapping over the paved road where we’re standing.

"Interesting one, aye? A'ryt. So long. Bye-bye little Beattie." I smiled. I grabbed the wallet on the back of my pants before I took out the money and placed ut on the fedora next to him.

"Bye-bye Aries."

I started to walk away from him. There are a lot of people like him that I’ve met in every country that I’ve been to. But I always end up befriending a homeless person like Aries. If not, I will be friends with the owner or the receptionist of the hotel. Since they are easier to approach and talk with. All of them, they only have one same question for me…

Why am I doing this?

Am I getting paid enough for doing this job?

Well, it isn’t a job. This is my hobby, my own interest. I started being an adventurer slash explorer when I turned 20. I asked my parents about this. They both agreed since they know that I am at the right age. I never had any issues with them because of what I do. They are my biggest supporters.

I took a glance at the book I have in my hand. I bought this yesterday since this is the next research that I will be doing. It contains some basic information about them. Like what the old Aries said. It is an interesting topic, learning about them is common these days. There are TV shows and movies about them too. So, why not learn about their origin? Why not learn if there are vampires in my own country?

The vampire is always a foreign topic, now I am thinking, why don’t I go back home and see for myself if we have or had our own version of them?

According to this book. Vampires are soulless, they sacrificed their soul to Satan in exchange for eternal life. They are originated from Eastern Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries.

"Is vampire your obsession?" asked the woman sitting beside me. She wore a pencil cut skirt while wearing a black blazer on top of her white blouse and a screaming Quay brand is embossed on the side of her large sunnies. I’m guessing she’s a Filipina like me. I smiled at her before shaking my head.

"It's my hobby. I mean, studying the origins of things like them." She nodded and then a comment followed…

"Interesting."

"I'm Leila, by the way, Leilinda Baldivino, and you are?" I reached out my hand to her.

"Beattie. Beattie Rose Rana." She smiles and shakes my hand for recognition. I suddenly felt awkward. So, when I got the chance to escape from that I took the opportunity to arrange my travel bag in the compartment above our heads. I only sat down when we are about to take off. I stayed quiet for the whole trip. She did not bother to talk to me as well until the plane landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“So, I’ll see you when I see you?” She joked. I just smiled and nodded. Then, I took my bag from the compartment and followed her out. We were near the door when she stopped. I looked at her, wondering.

She took off her sunnies then break my confusion afterward, “Uhm, if you need their origin from here. Apayao is the best spot for research.”

My eyes shone. Now, my research work is somewhat diminished because of this. She just told me where I can start my research and that’s a big help. I grabbed the small notepad from my pocket and wrote down the place. I couldn’t help but wonder, so, I looked at her again for clarification.

“Wait, how did— “

“They are not just things Beattie. Vampires are goddamn real.” She winked at me before she continued walking out. I was momentarily stiffened. I know she won’t say it just because she wanted to mess with me. Because of those words, she said my curiosity about those things grew so much more at this very moment.

I just shook my head and get off the plane.

It took me another 12 hours of travel for me to reach Apayao. I decided to go straight here. I don’t know what has gotten into me and I instantly trusted Leila. Some part of me is telling that I should, because she looks like she knows what she’s saying but some part of is opposing telling me that Leila and I just met so I really can’t trust her.

When I reached the bus terminal. I had to take a tricycle to get to the Inn I rented. Tricycle is the most common transport here if you want to go somewhere, according to my research. Or if not, you can take the jeep, the fare is cheaper compared to the tricycle.

“We’re here miss.” I handed the payment to him before going down with my suitcase and travel bag. I examined the surroundings. There were almost no houses near this Inn. Well, this is always my nature. I feel like I won’t be able to focus once I’ve got distractions around me. At least, here, the houses are far away from each other and the Inn is just surrounded by these beautiful farms before me.

The cold breeze of wind brushes against my skin brought by the tall trees towering over me.

“It’s good to be back,” I said to myself.

This is not a modern Inn. It is way old compared to the Inns I’ve seen while I am on my way here. I opened the low rustic gate, it creaks as soon as I tried to open it. The main structure is two storey built, constructed with two different materials. The second floor was of wood while the lower floor was of concrete. Having said that, I feel like I went back to the place where Maria Clara and Crisostomo Ibarra were dating.

I noticed the window open upstairs where an old lady peered. She didn’t seem to be that old. I’m guessing she’s around late 50’s or earlier. She smiled as soon as she saw me.

“You’re Beattie?” I nod. She quickly disappeared from my sight until I saw her step out of the main door below to meet me.

“Come in. Come in.” She said while gesturing her hand then followed her inside.

“You’re the only customer here for now but there will be a group of youths who’s staying here later from Manila. Tourists, I guess.”

“Oh, I just came from Manila as well,” I stated. She looked back at me.

“Oh, do you live there?” I shook my head in disagreement.

“I was born in Bataan. But I’ve been out of the country for a few years now. I just came back today.” She looked at me, confused.

“Why is that?” she asked while I’m observing the whole place. Even the interior is vintage. It seems that nothing has changed since it was built. It’s just a guess. Since it is impossible these days to build or plan these kinds of architectures. People are now more hook to the modern style when it comes to house design.

"I was traveling abroad. After I graduated from college, I decided to explore the world.”

“Unbelievable.” She exclaimed in disbelief. I ignored that. As I continue looking into the antiques, the large painting in front of me caught my attention. I stopped to study its details. This is maybe the largest painting out of the other paintings inside this Inn. Unlike any other Inns that has tons of rooms for you to check-in, this Inn is house-type. There is a living room, kitchen, a staircase that will lead you directly to the rooms on the second floor.

“Sorry, but would you mind me asking if who’s the woman in the painting?” I asked randomly. She was beautiful, the woman in the painting. Her clothing is majestic, it is like a baro’t saya but way more majestic compared to the normal ones. The dress was partnered with a red necklace. She had this beautiful smile and promising round brown eyes.

Damn. It’s hypnotizing.

The old woman stopped beside me.

“I don’t have any idea, child. The only thing I know is that she was the first owner of this house. The last owner just decided to sell this house to my grandma.” I heard her sigh.

“We wanted to get rid of that painting but my Grandma believed that the painting was cursed so she was never up for it.” I quickly turned to look at her.

“Cursed?”

“Yes. Cursed. I asked my Grandma why, but she didn’t want to tell me. She said sometimes it’s better not to know than to know things.” She shrugged her shoulders. I stared back at the painting and it took me so long when I started to feel the warmth and sweat casing up my body.

“Anyway hija, the first room upstairs will be your room. Don’t worry that you might miss it because there are only five rooms upstairs and two here.” I nodded not minding the warm and sweat.

“I’ll excuse myself now if you won’t mind. I need to cook lunch for you and dinner for the guests for later.”

"Ah, sorry, just a minute. Do you have a WIFI here?" I asked her.

“Oh.” She said. She fished a torn paper out of her dress’ pockets and gave it to me.

“That would be the WIFI’s password. The signal is quite weak since this area of Apayao is isolated. Just keep your patience high.” She chuckled. I nodded. She went to the kitchen and I decided to go upstairs to fix my things.

When I finished, I started doing my primary research about these so-called vampires. I started typing in…

Philippine's vampire legends

I smiled with excitement, "here we go Beattie." I said to myself.