Sorry for not updating in a long time. TDYSG is back on track with chapter 3. I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Van Helsing!

Chapter 3: Enemy in Mortal Disguise

That night…

"Cayetana, where do I go to sleep? I am quite sleepy…" Bartholomew, the cowardly friar said. "I'll lead you to your rooms now. You two should not have eaten too much during supper. Anyway, did you like the food?" the noble equestrienne said. "I'm never leaving the Philippines unless I have a one year supply of your Aunt Teresa's cooking." Felipe said. "You'll have more of that in the days to come." Cayetana said, chuckling as they went up the grand staircase.

At the second floor…

"Uh, Cayetana, do your beds here have mosquito nets?" Bart asked. "Don't worry, friar, you won't be bitten by those mosquitoes. Welcome to your room. The bathroom is at the end of the hallway if you need a bath. Enjoy your room." She said, opening the huge wooden door. She left the two.

Felipe stepped in and was blown away by the sheer luxury of the room. Bartholomew couldn't help but stare. The room had two grand beds with mahogany posts, velvet drapes and durable mosquito nets. Beside the beds were two oil lamps on ornate acacia tables. Two armoires balanced the walls. Beside the door were two mirrors which have frames gilded with gold. The wood and capiz shell windows had screens to prevent mosquitoes from coming in but let in the cool breeze. Above all, the cozy room was illuminated by a sparkling chandelier.

After unloading their luggage, Bartholomew said a short prayer then slept. He looked quite tired after all. Felipe took a large washcloth and headed to the bathroom. He saw that the bathroom had a light in it but the door was not locked. He thought nobody was inside until he opened the door.

"What are you doing here, pervert!" Cayetana said, defensively covering herself with a large towel. Her hair was filled with suds and her feet were not rinsed yet. "I'm sorry, it wasn't locked!" Felipe said apologetically. "You're still a pervert! You dare enter a bathroom like that…and you say you're a knight! What kind of knight are you? Get out! Get out!" she said, raising a fist at him. He scurried outside, and ran to his room. The aristocratic lady continued her bath but she felt guilty talking to Felipe like that. After washing herself clean, she dressed up in her room and knocked on his door.

Felipe's room…

Felipe was dressing up, for he had bathed shortly. As he fastened the last button on his shirt and fixed his pants, he heard a soft knock on his door. "Oh, it's Miss Privacy." The knight said, frowning as he answered the door. Cayetana leaned on the doorpost, facing sideways. She avoided his angry gaze and saw that Bartholomew was fast asleep on his bed. Guilty eyes looked downcast, expressing how sorry she was for that.

"What are you here for? You want to snoop on me the same way I did to you? Then fine! I'll show you my nakedness!" Felipe said, unbuttoning his shirt. "That's not what I want to tell you…" she said, almost whispering. The knight fixed his clothing and his anger turned into mercy.

"Look, I'm sorry. It was my fault that you got in there. I'm sorry if I shouted at you. I was just trying to defend myself but okay…it was my fault. Are you happy now?" Cayetana said, staring at him. A moment of dead silence came upon them. "I'm sorry too. Maybe I should have been more careful and more sensitive. Pardon me, my lady." The knight said, taking the woman's hand. "Your apologies are accepted. Well, good night, Felipe. The hunt starts tomorrow. Get some rest." She said, walking towards her room.

Felipe smiled to himself as he went to bed. He blew out the lamp and locked the door of the room. He went under the sheets and slept on the soft pillows and mattress.

At 12 midnight…

Aunt Teresa finished the final stitch of the tablecloth that she had put so much effort into. She smiled in satisfaction as she folded the cloth. She opened her window to gaze at the stars but she did not see the stars. She saw the horrid face of one of the manananggal sisters as she floated by her window.

"Isn't the night so lovely?" the vampire asked her. "Why are you here?" Aunt Teresa said. "Let's say that we sisters have no more food tonight. The flesh and blood of someone as devout and pure as you would taste good." the vampire named Linlang said. Without warning, she snatched the defenceless old lady with her sharp claws and they flew off in the night sky. Aunt Teresa screamed for help, praying to God that she would be saved.

Cayetana was awakened by the screams. "Aunt Teresa!" she said. She hurriedly dressed up in her clothes for battle and took her weapons. She looked outside her window and saw her aunt being carried by Linlang in the cold night sky. She shut her window, got her keys, blew off all the candles and lamps, locked her door and silently went out of the house. She rode on her trusty horse, Blanco and left for the dark forest where the manananggals lived.

With tears in her eyes, the equestrienne rode off in top speed as she bravely went into the dark forest. She was determined to rescue her Aunt Teresa. Her aunt was the only family she had left. She didn't mind the things that came her way. All she wanted was to save her aunt.

The next morning…

Felipe woke up the next morning with a smile. His bed was comfortable and gave him a good night's sleep. The sun's rays peered into the room, providing a warm glow. He woke Bartholomew up.

"Wake up, sleepy friar! The hunt starts today." Felipe said. "Yeah, yeah, sure." Bart said trying to get up. They went out of the room to find Cayetana and Aunt Teresa. "Cayetana! Cayetana!" the knight shouted but he didn't find her. The two went to her room. Bartholomew peeked in the keyhole but found nobody inside.

They went to Aunt Teresa's room and found it a total mess. Her embroidered tablecloth lay messily on the floor. There was no sign of the two women anywhere until one of the servants went to them with a terrified look on his face.

"My friend, you seem terrified!" Bartholomew said. "Blanco…the horse is gone! And if the horse is gone, then mistress Cayetana is gone!" the servant said. "Gone? Where did she go?" Felipe said. "I don't know…and I haven't seen Mistress Teresa too." Apolinario, the servant said. "They're both gone!" the friar said.

"Let's eat and bathe first before we look for them." Felipe said as the servants cooked them some breakfast. They bathed and dressed up for battle. Bartholomew brought his holy items while Felipe checked his weapons before they left the manor.

They heard a knock on the mansion's door before they left. Felipe opened it and he found Cayetana at the door, her hair unruly, with scars, wounds and gashes covering her clothes and body.

"Cayetana? What happened to you and where have you been?" Bartholomew asked. "Aunt Teresa was captured by those monsters. They took her to the forest but I couldn't find her. Blanco and I were attacked by wild boars and other animals when we went back here." She said in between sharp breaths as she entered the house.

"Don't worry, we'll find your aunt. Take care of yourself and rest." Felipe said, reassuring her. "Before you go, take this. This is a sword with a blade made out of a stingray's tail. This will help you fight them. Be brave." Cayetana said, handing him her sword. "Do you have a bottle of coconut oil?" she asked. "Yes, we do have a bottle of it. The parish priest gave it to us yesterday morning." Bartholomew said.

"Thank you, Cayetana. Apolinario, make sure your mistress is taken care of while we're gone. We'll be back by dusk." Felipe said as he and Bartholomew rode on two horses into the dark forest.

The shutting of the door signalled the departure of the knight and the monk. "Come now, mistress, we must get your wounds bandaged." Apolinario said. "Thank you, Apolinario. I can handle this on my own." The lovely equestrienne said, giving a faint smile.

She slowly took a basin of water and a few washcloths and quietly entered her room. She winced as she placed the boiled guava leaves on her skin. It burned like hell. Her body was almost cut into pieces by the vicious manananggals but she wouldn't have escaped without her trusty steed, Blanco. After treating all her wounds and bruises, she slept, for she was drowsy and had lacked sleep throughout the night.

In the dark forest…

Two steeds trotted into the dark forest, each with a rider. "Felipe, can't we turn back? It is a bit scary here." Bartholomew said. "No, friar, we made Cayetana a promise. There's no turning back here." The gallant knight said, as he kissed the cross hanging on his neck. He noticed that the bottle of coconut oil hung conspicuously on the friar's neck. "You'd better keep that, if you don't want them to kill you." "All right, Felipe." Bart said, keeping the vial.

As they went deeper and deeper into the jungle, they became thirsty and tired because of the tropical climate. I wonder how these Filipinos survive this kind of climate. It's hot and humid! Bartholomew complained at the back of his head. But then, he saw a small hut in the middle of the clearing.

"Felipe! Look! There's a hut. Maybe they can give us some water." The friar exclaimed. "I am quite thirsty…" Felipe said as they rode on to the clearing.

At the hut…

The two dismounted their horses and hitched them to a dao tree. "Anybody home? We're thirsty travellers. May we have some water?" Felipe asked in Spanish. Presently, a petite young lady went down the bamboo steps of the hut. She brought two coconut shells filled to the brim with water. "

"I believe you have travelled so much, masters. Come stay with me and my sisters. I am Linlang, the youngest." The lady said. She had small brown eyes, a slightly flat nose, thin pink lips pressed into a smile and wavy black hair that framed her face and shoulders.

"Why, thank you. Well, we need some local help in finding the manananggal sisters." Bartholomew said. Inwardly, Linlang flinched but she didn't let the men know. She just gave a frown and said, "I am sorry, we cannot help you. But if you want to stay, you are welcome." She said.

"I would want to meet your sisters, Linlang. Please introduce them to me." Felipe said as the seemingly harmless lady went inside to fetch her sisters. Bartholomew pulled Felipe aside, behind one of the narra trees. He took out the bottle of coconut oil. It bubbled and boiled.

"They're the manananggals, my friend! We must kill them now while they are in human form!" the friar said. "No, I think we should gain their trust first before we attempt anything. They might suspect what we're up to." Felipe said as they went to the hut again. There was Linlang, with her two older sisters who seemed to look like her. Bartholomew noticed that there was a gash on the middle sister's throat.

"These are my sisters, Saksak, and Takutin." Linlang said, pointing to her sisters. "A pleasure to meet you, sirs." Saksak said. "Please, just call me Ildefonso." Felipe said, hiding his name. Nervously, Bartholomew said, "Oh, please, uh, call me Epifanio. Excuse me, young lady, I think the gash on your throat looks horrible." He pointed to Saksak.

"Well, I was wounded by a stingray barb. I almost died until my sisters rescued me." Saksak said glumly. "Who did this to you?" Felipe said, feigning concern. "The one who did this to me was the daughter of the gobernadorcillo of this town. She is one of the prominent members of the Agoncillo clan, a clan of equestrians and equestriennes." She said, words dripping with venom.

A chord struck within Felipe when he heard Cayetana's surname. He almost charged the woman in front of him. But instead, he said, "Oh…that is very disappointing."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Ildefonso and Epifanio. I hope you will enjoy your stay here. Well, I shall be off to cook lunch. Linlang will be chopping the firewood…alone. Saksak shall draw water from the river." Takutin, the eldest said.

"Well, we'd better be going. Our 'sister' is very, very sick." Bartholomew said, so that he and Felipe would not be tempted to stay long there. "No, please, stay with us." Linlang said, holding Bartholomew's hand. "I'm sorry, my good lady, but our sister needs us both." The friar said, as he and the knight unhitched their horses and rode to town.

At the Agoncillo manor…

"Can you repeat what you said?" Cayetana said, glaring at Felipe. She had been well for the time that they were gone. Though covered in bandages, she was not hindered by the wounds. "We went to the forest. We just tried to know what they were up to…and I found the one that you almost killed with the stingray barb." He said.

"They seemed friendly." Bartholomew said. "Aren't all of the traitors like that at first? They took my father…then my aunt Teresa. Would you consider them friendly? Huh?" Cayetana said, choking the friar. "No...No…no!" the friar said as the temperamental aristocrat drew her hand back and sat on her bed.

"Cayetana, we can still find your aunt Teresa. I know she's just out there." Felipe said, sitting beside her. "By God's grace, she might be safe, or she may have escaped." Bartholomew said, squeezing her shoulder.

"I'm sorry if I acted rashly, it's because I don't want to lose my aunt. She stood as my mother through all of the 21 years of my life. She was my first teacher before I attended the Ateneo Municipal de Manila and the University of Madrid. She was the one who hung all my medals on my neck and even cried as I gave the valedictory speech." She said, crying.

Felipe and Bartholomew nodded at each other. "Cayetana, will you allow Bart and me to find the manananggals by night? We will avenge you." "This is also my battle. Let me come with you, Felipe." "But, you're hurt." Bart said. "No, not even the deepest of scars and wounds can destroy the spirit of honor." Cayetana firmly said.

"Well, then, we must be ready tonight." Felipe said as they all prepared for the coming night.

Guide to some stuff:

Linlang- this is a verb in Filipino which means "betray"

Saksak- another Filipino verb meaning "stab"

Takutin- Filipino verb meaning "to scare"

Stingray barb- the tails of stingrays were said to be potent melee weapons against manananggals and aswangs

Gobernadorcillo- this was the equivalent of a town mayor in Spanish colonial times

Thanks for reviews! Flames allowed.