Being a registered supernatural citizen came with surprising perks.
"Let's see," Glad read from her benefits guide. "Access to government-supervised blood banks. Emergency services for supernatural physiology. Voting rights in the Supernatural Council. And..." She squinted. "Discounts at participating creature-friendly establishments?"
Rigen grabbed the guide excitedly. "Discounts! Tita, this is huge! Look—20% off at The Bleeding Bean, 15% at Ben's Blood Brownies, even deals at human places like—" She paused. "SM Supermarket?"
"Apparently they have a 'mythical beings' discount card. Who knew?"
Colene, filming everything for her vlog, zoomed in on the guide. "This is incredible content! 'Government Benefits for Aswangs'—people are going to lose their minds!"
"Please don't make me trend again."
"Too late. You're always trending."
The biggest surprise came in the form of a check.
"What's this?" Glad stared at the envelope from the Department.
"Open it," Kim urged.
Inside was a check for a surprising amount of money, accompanied by a letter:
Dear Ms. Samotiloy,
*As a newly registered supernatural citizen, you are entitled to back-payment of community funds allocated for Manananggal welfare since 1901. No one of your species has ever claimed these funds, so interest has accumulated.*
Congratulations on your registration.
Sincerely,
Department of Supernatural Affairs
Finance Division
Glad did the math.
Then she did it again.
Then she sat down very suddenly.
"Tita?" Rigen rushed over. "Are you okay? Do you need blood? Should I call Ariel?"
"I'm rich," Glad whispered.
"You're WHAT?"
"Rich. Apparently, no Manananggal has ever registered, so the government just... saved money for us. For 123 years. With interest."
Kim grabbed the check, eyes wide. "This is—Glad, this is—you could buy a house. A nice house. With wing-friendly ceilings!"
"I could buy TWO houses!"
"With blood delivery subscriptions for life!"
"With premium Netflix!"
Anino watched the chaos with satisfaction. He'd always known Glad was destined for great things. Or at least, well-funded things.
That evening, they celebrated at The Bleeding Bean with the whole crew—Kim, Rigen, Colene, Ariel, Ben, even Mang Berting (who'd become a regular, having discovered a taste for hemoglobin horchata).
"To Glad," Ariel toasted. "Officially supernatural. Officially wealthy. Officially the most famous aswang in the Philippines."
"Hear, hear!"
Glad looked around the table at her friends—human, creature, and everything in between. A year ago, she'd been alone. Hiding. Scared.
Now she had a community. A purpose. A benefits package.
"I have a question," she said suddenly. "The Supernatural Council. When's the next election?"
Ben's eyes widened. "You're thinking of running?"
"Maybe. If I'm going to be famous, I might as well be useful."
Ariel squeezed her hand. "You'd be amazing. The first Manananggal council member."
"The first publicly known one, anyway."
"Still counts."
Later that night, flying over Dumaguete with Anino perched on her shoulder (he'd learned to hold on during flight), Glad felt truly free.
Below her, the city sparkled. Cars moved. People lived their lives.
And somewhere out there, other creatures were watching her story, wondering if they could come out too.
"Anino," she said, "I think we started something."
Anino purred.
Something big.