Chapter 18
1690 Words
"Isabel?"
Parang tanga lang akong nakatingin sa kanya. The Isabel I know love pastel colors. Not... black. She's wearing a black dress and coat paired with a black boots too.
Ang kilala kong Isabel ay sweet at maamo ang hitsura. The Isabel standing in front of me wears a heavy eye liner and a black liptint.
"Oh come on Cassy! Its me! "
humalakhak siya.
"Dont act so shock cousin. Wala ng mas nakakagulat pa sa idea na isa kang half blood." Ngumisi siya at naglakad palapit. Pero naramdaman ko ang braso ni Vander na humarang sa katawan ko na tila prino protektahan ako.
"Let me Vander. She's my cousin."
"And she's a newborn vampire!" He hissed.
Pero ibinaba ko ang braso niya at naglakad palapit din kay Isabel.
"You look prettier and mature. Suit you perfectly "
She smiled sweetly. I can't act normal lalo na at hindi normal ang sitwasyon.
I can't hear my judgement right as of now. I am contemplating on wether she brings harm or no.
"Paano ka naging bampira?"
Isabel shrugged and look at the other vampire who's busy swinging in the monkey bar at the playground.
"Rhoan Romanov. Call me Rho"
Wika ng lalake habang hindi nakatingin sa amin at nanlambitin sa bar.
"Pero you hate their kind!"
Naalala ko kung paano niya inilabas ang galit sa pag kawala ng kasintahan niya dahil sa mga bampira. She stayed in mistletoe and never came back at Deniva para mag mukmok at magtago.
"Cass, as they say if you can't beat the enemy. Join them!"
She's looking at me intently. Dumaan ang katahimikan. Nagpapakiramdaman. Dumaan ang hangin at nasa harapan ko na si Rhoan.
"You really are a half blood? This is cool. You look beautiful. "
We heard a growl and I gasped when Vander pull me towards him.
"Hmm, so it's the alpha" nakangiting wika ni Isabel at nilapitan si Rhoan.
"I just know then there's something going on between you two." Malapad ang ngiti na wika ni Isabel.
"What do you need Isabel? You know the truce right?" Wika ni Vander na tinignan ang lalake na kasama ni Isabel.
"Of course Mr. Alpha. A vampire can't enter if a place is guarded by werewolves. But I believe you'll thank us later for coming."
Inakbayan niya si Isabel.
"Cassy we have a news for you. As much as I love to feed and be with you like the old times you need to know this"
The ambience became serious naramdaman ko ang tense.
"Rhoan brought me to the highest vampire council in Roma after he converted me. I met the king vampire and his council. They were all busy creating an army. And busy for searching..."
Lumapit siya sa akin. Sa kabila ng presensiya ni Vander sa tabi ko na ngayon ay yellow green na ang mga mata at nakalitaw ang mga mahahabang kuko.
"They were looking for you.. a half blood."
What?
Nakaramdam ako ng kakaibang kaba.
"I wasn't the only half blood sabel."
"I know but they were specifically looking for the son or daughter of Jane. The king's daughter. Cassandra I saw your mom's picture in there. She's with the king and yes, she's the princess Vampire and you are the half blood they're searching to kill."
I can not digest what she's talking about. No... I can't... my.. mom can't be a princess Vampire? Kung siya nga bakit siya pinatay ng mga bampira noon sa gubat? Paanong...
"What the hell are you talking about Liceo. May patunay ka ba sa iyong mga pinagsasabi?"
Wika ni Vander na ngayon ay mahigpit ang kapit sa akin.
"I have."
Lumapit si Rhoa at ibinigay kay Vander ang isang sulat.
"I'm a retired vampire army head. Pinalitan ako ng hari sa isang baguhan na bampira. So I decided to just travel and thats how I met Isabel. But the king wanted me to be part again with what he calls the blood feast. He's building an army to rule the world and stop the prediction, the extinction of our kind. That letter is his order to send out vampires and convert potential humans into our kind and search for you Cassandra Jane Maristrè Felvis, the daughter of late princess Almira Jane."
My head spinning. Nakaramdam ako ng matinding sakit ng ulo.
"Cassandra!!"
Narinig ko ang mga tinig pero nag dilim na ang akin mga tingin.
"Wake up janie."
Hmmm, napaungol ako sa mga malamyos na tapik.
"Anak gising na. Handa na ang breakfast. "
"Maaga pa"
"Janie, wake up anak."
Napamulat ako.
Anak?
What's happening? Nagmulat ako ng mata at bahagyang muling pumikit dahil sa liwanag na tumatama sa mukha ko , may babae na nakatayo sa bintana at hindi ko masyadong makita dahil sa liwanag .
"Gising na Cassandra jane magagalit na ako."
"Mom?"
Doon siya humarap sa akin. Sa kabila ng matinding liwanag pinakatitigan ko siya.
"Mommy?"
"Yes? Come on janie. Bangon na." Nakangiti siyang lumapit at hinila ang kamay ko patayo.
This.. this.. is just a dream...
"Hayan nagluto ako ng favorite mong hotdog. "
Inilagay ni mom ang plato na puno ng hotdog sa mesa.
Inilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid. We're in an old bungalow house. Nakita ko sa bintana na tila nasa gitna kami ng gubat. Is it a hunting cabin?
"Dalaga ka na janie.."
My eyes went to mom. Naramdaman ko ang pagpatak ng mga luha ko.
I miss her so much...
"Your dad would be so happy to see you grew into a fine lady"
She's smiling but I can see the sadness mirrored in her eyes.
"Mom?"
Pinahid ni mommy ang tulo ng luha sa kanyang mata at nakangiting tumingin sa akin
"Where is daddy?"
She look at one side. I followed her stare. Nakatingin siya sa isang picture frame. Larawan niya na may kasamang lalake. Maybe it was dad
Tumayo ako at naglakad palapit sa larawan...
"You got his eyes Janie. Cold and brave."
He look handsome to me. So much.
Hinawakan ni mommy ang buhok ko.
Napatingin ako sa salamin na nakasabit sa tabi ng larawan. I saw my reflection there. With mom. We look alike. Pero hindi ko mapigilan mapakunot noo ng unti unting nag iba ang hitsura ko sa salamin. Slowly I became my 8 years old self. Mom still looking at me.
"If my father haven't found out about us he's probably still with us."
"What happened mommy? Please tell me."
She smiled sweetly.
"Come. I'll tell you a story about a princess who fell in a deep well."
Nagtungo kami sa isang upuan at doon umupo. Hawak ni mommy ng mahigpit ang kamay ko.
"There was a stubborn princess who live in a far flung castle found in the midst of a forest. She was locked in her room so that she wont be playing outside because it was forbidden by her father king. But she's stubborn. One day She found a way to get out and play.
Her fast running feet brought her to the depth of forest. In there she found a deep well. She heard about the myth about it. That well was believe to be the main source of crystal and sweet tasting water of creatures like werewolves , fairies etc. So she wanted to taste it . She's about to fetch a water when while trying to reach the pot she accidentally fell off. Fortunately she was able to hold on a vine. She screamed her breath out to ask for help., and then a young man came. He looks rebellious plus he's naked!"
My mom giggles, I smiled at the sight of her like that.
"The young man save the princess and they became friends. The princess found out that her friend Augustus is actually a werewolf her immortal enemy because she is a born vampire. But they kept their friendship secretly. Until they realize it wasn't just friendship anymore. Its already love."
I can see the shadow of past. Its my dad and mom's story.
"But the king found out about this forbidden love between his vampire daughter and an Alpha son werewolf . So he did the worst he ordered the death of Augustus. But Love is powerful. The vampire princess and the werewolf elope. They went away and live happily specially when they had a baby, but that happiness was short while. Augustus went for a hunt in a far continent and he was away for awhile and the princess and now a 2 years old baby left alone together with the werwolf tribe. Vampires army found the princess and start a battle . Many werewolves died but the princess and baby was saved by Aunt Glenna. The nanny of the princess in her old life. They went away. They haven't heard a news about Augustus because he never search for them the princess thought her husband's got killed by vampires already. They live peacefully in the middle of forest happily with the absence of Augustus, the baby was a young lady now and the princess is now an old mother to her daughter. But they happy. Always."
"Mom? I don't think daddy is dead. He's still with us."
I saw confusion in her eyes.
"He's here" I pointed out my heart
She smiled and hug me tight.
"Yes Janie. He's always with us."
Nakarinig kami ng katok. Doon kumalas ng yakap sa akin si mom at naglakad tungo sa pinto.
"Oh Alfredo! Ikaw pala. Pasok ka" narinig kong wika ni mommy.
Then I realize this isn't a dream. Its a memory. My memory.
Nakita ko si daddy.. his younger version.
"Cassie come here. Say hi to your tito Alfredo Novalez"
"Hello " I said shyly
"Hello there darling. I have a son about 4 years older than you he'll love playing with you youre so pretty"
"Oo pala how's Charlie, Alfredo?"
Ugh! Aahhh! Napahawak ako sa ulo. I can feel it again. The pain.
" Cassandra!"
Naramdaman ko pag ikot ng paligid at narinig ko ang mga tinig. Ramdam ang marahan pag yugyog sa katawan ko.
"Baby please! Hear me"
"Vander.."
I whisper before everything again turns black.
- Writer
