2 | Augustus Raganzo

I once asked the heavens,

For this curse that don’t make sense.

My shadow makes them more tense,

Making me the monster at their expense.

-G

-==-

Silence was something Augustus craved. Yet he rarely got it, not when his six brothers were all present at the dining table as they munched their meats. All were trying to talk at once and no coherent words reached his ears, grating his nerves even more. Just when he thought he have the peace he was longing for in his lifetime, fate seemed to challenge him once again. As if the curse running inside him was not enough joke, another tragedy lurked at the corner. The Moon Goddess must have been testing him, maybe mocking his patience. He didn't like it. Not one bit.

The seven Raganzo brothers had been inhabiting Earth for quite sometime now. If Augustus would count it, adding all the years since he was born, then he would be three-hundred-seventy something now. Actually, he was not someone who keep up the count. He had more important thoughts in his head than his age. To say the least, he had endured wars, battles of different races, and he was tired to be on the line to fight for peace. To fight for their race. And their race? Well, it was something not written in every history books in the world. Theirs were more ancient, more of an abomination, the kind that could start war over again when exposed.

They were a living dead, the cursed ones. They craved for dead human bodies, like vulture on its prey. They draw strength from the full moon, almost like a fairytale but it was far from that. Humans in twenty-first century would maybe call them gifted because of their strength and unmatchable intelligence. But they weren't.  Not for him, though.  What kind of gift would that be? Augustus had a more fitting adjective for what they were. The damned. The living embodiment of nightmare.

They were the Primes, descendants of cursed werewolves. An ancient race, a fruit of sins and wars.

Augustus Raganzo was the palest of the family. He had milky skin, eyes pensive, staring blanky but sharp. His silky black hair was longer on top and all seven of Raganzo brothers rocked an undercut style, making half the male population in the university copy their looks. He was the second eldest, the father figure of his siblings but the shortest. Although his height was just an inch shy from his brother's 6-feet towering stand.

"What should we do about it? We should retaliate sooner than later." It was Vannix, the second youngest of the family. His curly hair complimented his sharp features with his perfect nose and expressive eyes. He stared at Ram, the one they looked up to in leading the pack’s wars in victory.

Jamuel, Vannix's twin, cleared out his throat, wanting to throw his opinion on the table as well. "If JP's insight is correct- "

"Which is always," Kiba chimed in, chewing his food while pointing his fork at his older brother JP.

JP shrugged his shoulder, agreeing with their youngest. His kind eyes sought Ram's reaction, trying to keep his cool. After all, it was him who knew the prophecy made a long time ago. A prophecy that when fulfilled, would end their existence. "We all know this is something we can't risk."

Augustus crossed his arms over his chest. From his peripheral, he could tell Ram was looking at him, waiting for him to say something. Three of them wanted to take action the soonest.

Kiba raised his hand. "Let's take a vote, shall we?"

Ram spoke then. "G, what do you say?"

All eyes shot at Augustus then. "I say we take it easy before mustering grand plans making another war. This is our race and life we are talking about here. I say we should use our head planning an action rather than counting votes."

Algene, the eldest of them, nodded his head in agreement.

Ram leaned on the chair, resting his back, looking at the faces of all his brothers. "We know this will happen one way or another.  This time will come. The only question left is, are we all willing to fight and risk our adapted life now? Or are we going to delay it again? Do we still have the same goal- to be cured of this curse?"

Algene slightly pushed his plate, his food still untouched. "I think we are over reading this a bit. JP, what you see in the mirror could be something completely different."

"But he never failed reading the mirror before," Kiba stated, his endearing doe eyes sparked excitement and anxiety.

"I'll go to the tunnel tomorrow before sunrise." Augustus' voice muted them all. "It's the best first step we can make. Again, the world's different now. We can't be hasty and dumb like the hunters. One wrong move and we can endanger this town and the humans. We can’t always run, anyway. It’s better to face them head on and do what is necessary."

His siblings exchanged looks.

"I'll go with you, then," Ram said.

"But you have to facilitate the orientation tomorrow at uni." Augustus knew Ram wanted to go with him but he also knew that his brother was anticipating the event at school. He was the one who adapted the life of the humans the most. "Don’t worry, I’ll comeback in one piece. I'll be back before sunset."

"Do you want me to go with you?" Kiba asked, his tone eager.

"Do you want to?"

Their youngest nodded at once.

"Only if you promise to obey my orders." Augustus smirked, knowing too well how to control each one of his siblings.

Kiba almost rolled his eyes. "You know I do. I'll go prepare for tomorrow."

Algene waved his hand, stopping him. "Hey now, it's your day to do the dishes. Clean up."

One by one, they chuckled and stood up, avoiding the eldest's eyes. Everyone hated washing the dishes.

Kiba ran his hand down his face, frustrated. "Damn. I don't get it why we have to do this, Gin. You can easily wave your hand and do the dishes."

"I ain't using my damn gift so you can be a brat. Go wash the dishes."

Augustus brushed past Kiba, a ghost of smile in his lips. "Do it, baby brother. See you later."

His whine followed him as he reached the stairs and heard Algene still running his mouth to Kiba. Augustus couldn't help but letting himself smile. Times like that reminded him how happy they could all be if given a chance to normal life. What he wouldn't do just to reach that dream. The goal of dying in peace rather than being cursed to follow evil biddings for the rest of their existence.

They were the last of the Primes, an ancient blood of werewolves made to be a puppet of warring tribes. And Augustus vowed to protect his brothers no matter what. He had no time to waste now. He needed to think fast on how to break their curse and be human to find peace they had been seeking for what seemed an eternity now. Yet he knew it wouldn’t be easy. Nothing in their life was.

Distraction would do him no good. Entering his room on the third floor, he pulled off his hoodie over his head, realizing something was in the front pocket. Reaching for it, he stared at an I.D., reading the student's data.

Francesca Carolla. Twenty. Vinja Country Club, Peterson Town.

The girl moved far from her roots to attend workshop in their university. Either she was bored to enroll in summer or... really bored and not into beach vacations and chose to spend time to another school. Looking at her ID photo, she sure was a pretty sight. Refreshing. A bit ballsy too, considering she felt like she was entitled to have a badge to Mulvar Chamber. Was she any good? But she was clumsy, as if seducing trouble.

Like how she didn’t realize she forgot to take her I.D. Maybe she was pretty but dumb.

“Whoa, she’s beautiful,” Algene commented over his shoulder, leaving the door open behind him and tossed himself to the bed. “I didn’t know you have a girlfriend.”

Augustus swiftly slipped the I.D. in his bag and closed the door. “Not my girlfriend.” He then stared at his eldest brother who was already lying at ease on his bed. He could tell he was worried about the prophecy too but he became too good in hiding his emotion. “You know I don’t like it when you do that.”

“Whose girlfriend is she then?” his brother asked, propping up his elbow and resting his head on his hand.

He sighed and seated at the edge of his bed. “I don’t know, Gin. Do I look like I’m up for that now? Especially now.”

Algene chuckled, shaking his head. “Hey, of us seven, you’re the least enjoying this life. Look at the twins and Kiba, and even Ram, all have lovers. Women have their way heating us up, you know that. Maybe it’s time to find your mate.”

Augustus clicked his tongue. “The boys are just playing. The only one who got all serious is you. And look what happened. You got all broken and emotional. If that’s what lovers do to a person, I’m not interested.”

An amused smile crossed his brother’s lips. He got up from the bed, tapping his shoulder. “We don’t know what’s at the end of this curse, brother. We existed this long, might as well live it up to the fullest. We’re getting older and tomorrow might be our final end. You’re not one to regret things. So go enjoy this damn existence. You deserve it, Augustus.”