Catalina

THE Siren point series: book 1

A Manananggal in New York…

Daisy Scott, a tabloid reporter in Queens, discovers that a manananggal (a winged, shape-shifting Filipino monster) may be responsible for mysterious deaths in NYC. To land the scoop without losing her life, she'll need the assistance of some new Pinoy friends, including a kooky anthropologist and a posh monster hunter. 

  • “They’re so cute!” Jordan said.

    Daisy looked down to see a mother mouse in a cage, feeding a litter of babies in a bed of pine chips.

    “Wow, they’re adorable,” Daisy told Catalina. “Are you breeding them? Or was the pregnancy an accident?”

    “I’m breeding them. But they’re not pets,” Catalina laughed. “They’re for him.”

    She opened a pair of curtains next to the table to reveal a display case with an enormous reptile habitat, elaborately decorated with multi-level rock features, plants, and a scenic photo backdrop. At first Daisy was confused, because the giant tank looked empty. What was the point? Then her eyes noticed the change in pattern along the top of the rocks. A huge bearded dragon was sprawled across a rock ledge near the top of the habitat, basking under a lamp which spanned the top of the tank.

    “This is Gimbal,” Catalina said.

  • Eagle opened the Louis Vuitton briefcase to reveal a monster-hunting kit straight out of a vampire movie. There was even a crucifix. On closer inspection though, Daisy noticed the assortment of items carefully strapped inside or nestled in form-fitting cushioning was peculiar. A whip took up much of the area and there were many small vials of chemicals or potions. She saw several pieces of jewelry or stones.

    “Are you gonna use those necklaces for something?” she asked.

    “Those aren’t necklaces,” Eagle said, sounding offended. “They’re amulets.”

    Daisy hoped she’d have a chance to look through his briefcase later because it looked fascinating but one inclusion in the case demanded an immediate answer.

    “What’s with the doll?” Daisy asked, pointing to a tiny figurine of a Wonder Woman-type superhero figure.

    “Never leave home without Darna,” Eagle said, patting the doll on the head.

  • A loud crack ignited in the air and the manananggal squealed, releasing its vice grip on Daisy’s arm, allowing her to stagger to her feet and see what had freed her.

    It was Eagle, and his whip. Daisy noticed something was attached to the end of the weapon–

    A stingray’s tail.

    “Sorry, Granny,” he said to the manananggal. “But it’s not your night.”

    He recoiled the whip and lashed at the creature again, striking it with the sharp tip of the tool, leaving a deep wound across its collarbone. It screamed in pain and began flapping its wings again. In the enclosed space, the gusts became like a wind tunnel. It was hard for Daisy to even stand her ground.

    Once the manananggal was fully airborne, it turned to face the closed balcony doors, and then accelerated, crashing right through them, busting the door frame and shattering a glass panel. The creature disappeared into the sky.