Monsterstruck

CHAPTER XIV: BITTERSWEET MEMORIES

        Samuel leaned his face closer to her. He held her chin and brushed his temples on it.

        “What… are you doing?” Adela asked as her face etched with confusion.

        He pressed his lips gently onto hers. The damp moisture of her lips knocked him over. She closed her eyes and reciprocated and threw her arms around him. He wrapped her hands around her waist. The sky was dusted with stars and the moonbeam overhung the Heinville’s area bathed with its luminous spell.  The crescent shape amulet was casted by the moon beam, and it glowed.

        Their lips parted and they both mused over the luminous spell of the amulet.

        “This is the first time… I’ve seen this amulet glowed like this,” he rasped as the light almost blinded them.

    “Why did you kiss me, Samuel? I thought you never love me anymore?” Adela asked.

     “To bid you goodbye,” he answered candidly. But Adela wasn’t convinced.

    “This is the last time I’m going to ask you this. Do you still love me?” Adela asked, with bated breath.

    He clasped the amulet and it shone brilliantly. Then Adela could feel a voltage zapping in her body, coursing deep down in her. She shrilled ferociously.  Samuel flinched as he witnessed her slowly morphing into a yoma then in the twinkling of an eye, she was back again into a human form.  He was dazed as he could feel his heart drumming hyperactively as the amulet continued to glow and cast a blinding light that was refracted by the full moon.

         “What was that?” Adela asked faintly.

        “I don’t know either Adela. I saw you became a yoma for a few seconds you’re back again into human form. Is it always like that?” He asked, still dazed.

    “No… I’ve never seen myself quickly resumed into a human unless I want to.”

    They both looked at the amulet with their hearts sputtering.

******************************************************************************

    “Thanks, Mrs. Marcia, for having me tonight. It was a pleasant evening.”   Craig said as smile flitted across his face.

    “Oh, no problem Craig. I’m very thankful for what you did to my Vylet. You’re very welcome here anytime.”

    “Bueno, Vylet, Mrs. Marcia. I’ll guess I’ll see you next time. Goodnight and goodbye.” He bid and flickered his eyes to Vylet. “You take care Ms. Pokerface,” he jeered.

    “Good luck,” Vylet mumbled.

    “Goodluck?” He c****d his head in confusion.

    “I mean…to your driving.” She replied with an impish grin.

    He shot her you’re-crazy-look and stepped out in the gate and waved goodbye to the two ladies. In the twinkling of an eye, the Black Savannah was out of sight. Vylet was at sea as he left.  Blaze rammed the chop of woods sprawled around the rooftop. He was watching Vylet from afar. This Craig was indeed a thorn on his side.  He wanted to shrill as anger started to flood all over him. He quickly transformed into a yoma as his mind schemed up into something.

        “What if I kill that bastard? It would be a cinch,” he thought. That would be a dandy idea.

        “What do you think you’re doing? Holy crow Blaze! Don’t ever pick on Craig! I’ll swear to death. I’m gonna kill you!” Vygnet seethed who just appeared from nowhere. He whirled around to face her. Her face is contorted with enmity.

    “You’re such a wet blanket Vygnet,” he purred.

    She lunged at him, but he dodged out.

    “Knock it off kids! You guys seriously need to brush up to your mind that yomas don’t have a license to kill each other!!” Verona chided and started to unveil her hood.

    “Sorry,” Blaze rasped as he flinched.

    “So, what’s up now?” Vygnet piped in.

    “Like what we talked about earlier in the field, we need to get that crescent shaped amulet.” Verona countered.

        “Who else aside from Craig owns that stupid amulet?” Blaze asked petulantly.

    “And how can we get that amulet?  It’s like putting ourselves in the lap of danger.” Vygnet added.

        “We need to figure that out. I know someone back when I was at your age also owns that amulet. They call that amulet “cresclunar”. They believe that it will protect them away from danger, especially from our our kinds. In ancient times, our kinds fought with all the might and main against those cresclunar warriors.  Everytime yomas get near to that amulet, they go weak. The power of that cresclunar is at its finest during full moon. That’s when they attack at us, and many of us were killed by the power of that cresclunar but not all of them got killed by that flimsy amulet. Some monsters have this sheer luck to survive.” Verona related as memories of Tim washed all over her.

****************

         “Why do you have that?” Verona asked as her nose wrinkled at the sight of the cresclunar.

        Tim just shot her a brooding dark gaze.

        “This is a cresclunar. It was given to me by my father. I am so lucky to have this,” he marveled.

         “Keep that away from me!” She mouthed, feeling nauseated.

        Why would I? It will protect us away from danger. Especially now you’re conceiving our child,” he feigned and cracked an impish grin.

        Verona was starting to feel giddy. She knew that it’s because of that amulet that brought her squeamishness to her senses.

        Then, Tim’s phone buzzed.

        “Yes. Mr. Watts. Sorry I have to cancel my flight.” Tim said warily looking at Verona.

        “Why didn’t you tell me about that flight huh?” Verona snapped.

        “I’ll guess I’ll talk to you later. Bye” He hung up.

        “Verona. Please. Could you stop being cranky?” Tim pled in a soft voice.

        “Sorry. It just ticks me off knowing that you’re now keeping secrets from me,” she said wryly.

        Tim gulped as twinge of guilt surged up on his face.

        “No… I’ just can’t tell you because I don’t want you to be sad,” he bluffed.

        But Verona wanted to choke on what she just said knowing that she was also the one who was keeping secrets from him. She looked at the cresclunar clutched in his hands.

        “I’m not leaving you, okay? I just need to talk personally to my publisher there. I’ll be gone for only a week. Stop overthinking things,” he lifted her chin, the amulet glowed as it brushed against her pallid cheeks. It radiated a zapping feeling against her skin.

        “Keep that away from me!!!” Verona roared and pushed him away.

        “Why you’re averting this cresclunar huh?” Tim asked suspiciously.

        Verona’s face was cold and bleak. She couldn’t utter a word. Suddenly, a hollow voice chimed in.

        “I’m just so fed up with your fictitious show Mr. Marshalls. Can you please put an end to this and roll the credits?” A pixie haired woman emerged from the open window, with a wicked glint in her eyes.

            “Who are you?”  Tim purred.

        “Barbara?  What the hell are you doing here?”

            Barbara c****d her head sideward and let out a raucous laugh. Waves of memories flashed back to Tim as he recognized the face of that woman. It was the one who attacked him in his place! He shot a panic glance at her and warded her off with his cresclunar.

        “I know you. You were the one who attacked me last time!” He seethed.

        “Such a brilliant author Tim and also an actor as well!” Barbara applauded him.

        “What the hell are you talking about Barbara?” Verona asked as she held her gaze on Tim.

        “Stupid b***h. How could you be so gullible with all this c**k and bull show? He conspired this all along! He even planted a hidden camera in your house just to videotaped you transforming into a ya!  And when he succeeds, he’ll fly back to Canada and will compile that s**t along with his works and he’ll be known in the whole world that he’s not just as a mediocre fiction writer!“

        Verona couldn’t believe it. She was now fuming as rage swamped her.

        “Go away!!!!!” Tim roared as he held out the cresclunar and aimed it to her face. Barbara dodged. Then she transformed into a yoma and a snarl escaped from her salivating mouth.

        “And obviously, that cresclunar is keeping him safe from you. I told you, he is just as fictitious as his works. You should’ve listened to me from the very start!” Barbara reprimanded.

         A pool of emotion splashed at her. Her lips trembled as she could feel the hot liquid threatening to trickle from her tear ducts.

        “I trusted you… and I’ve loved you. You’re the first man I’ve ever loved so crazy that I wanted to give up everything for you…even my whole identity on what I really am. But you betrayed me. Was there anything awful that I did to you to treat me like this huh??” Verona erupted, hot liquids streamed down at her burning cheeks, burnt with so many emotions.

        “Your kinds killed my father! You’ve killed him!!!” Tim thundered and held the amulet upward as the light of the full moon sailing outside bathed it with its gleaming immaculate light that almost blinded them.

        Verona shielded herself with her arms. She could feel the stinging feeling that started to creep in her human form. It was like her body was plunged into a thunderbolt splinting her nerves, ebbing her human body away.

        “I ‘m sorry Verona I am ought to do this. I know that you’ll do the same thing if you were on my shoe. I have to admit that you caught me off guard when I met you.  I know your modus Verona, after those cheap thrills you had with your poor customers, you’ll hound and kill them. But you can’t outsmart me. How did I know that you’re a yoma?  Plain easy, I’m good at auras. The moment I held my eyes on you on that cheap brothel, I saw this purple color in you, and that’s the color of the aura of a yoma.  It varies on purple, gray, or even burgundy. Then I stalked you since then, hoping that I could get into you. And with mere luck of stroke, we got acquainted. We didn’t meet by serendipity or destiny. It was all a ploy.” Tim said brazenly with a sinister grin plastered across his face.

        “I should have killed you from the very first place!” Verona roared; her body was convulsing in anger.

        “You think you can kill me in a cinch? Hah! I have this cresclunar.” Tim cackled.

        “Well, you have to make a choice now Tim. Give me your cresclunar or I’ll chunk this tape containing the footage?”  Barbara prompted as she held the tape in her hand.

        Tim blanched and clenched his jaw.

        “How did you get that?” He asked in a low, serrated voice.

            Barbara just smirked. “Doesn’t matter. Make a choice your career or that cresclunar?”

        “I’m not that stupid you redhead monster.  Even if I gave you this cresclunar, I’m sure as hell that you won’t give me that tape because it would be the end of your kinds,” he sneered.

            “How do you know that this will be the end of us? You think you humans could defeat us by mere flash in the pan?” Barbara snickered.

            “The good always win,” he said in a belligerent tone. The cresclunar’s light enveloped the whole room.  The rays of colors dappled as it shone.  A crushing blow struck at the two monsters’ chest, making them flew backwards. They scrambled as they winced in pain.

        Then, the tape toppled on Tim’s toes, and he crouched to get it.  But Barbara had redeemed herself, her face contorted in anger and launched herself to attack him. She leapt and landed towards him. Her pixie red hair was in flaming hue, and it meshed with her angry stance; her fingers curling into talons. She ripped the tape and it smashed it into pieces.

        Adrenaline jolted through Tim as he let out a snarl. With might and main, he ripped Barbara’s torso in a crushing blow with the cresclunar. With each blows, she could feel her life ebbing away. In the spur of the moment, the room was filled with a screeching sound. A thick column of smoke filled the air.  Barbara let out a piercing shriek of agony as her body slowly deformed and with her last breath, her body gave up.

        Meanwhile, Verona was limping, and she tried to retreat.  Tim was laughing triumphantly as he witnessed the death of a yoma he had killed.   He c****d his head towards Verona scrambling on the floor.

        “Don’t kill me. Please Tim….” she whimpered as her body is contorted in deep pain.

         “Is that your last word?” Tim asked and laughed maniacally.

        Verona sank into his teeth and her fingers were still clawed.

        “If you kill me, you’ll lose our child…”

        “Hah! I don’t want to father a monster!” He slurred and stepped toward her.

        “Please,”

        Tim whipped his malevolent gaze toward her.  In the bottom of his heart, something pricked him. Why does he feel like holding back? He had to do this to avenge to their kinds for killing his father. But why does his heart tore seeing her like this?

        “I promise if you spare me… I won’t kill you… and I won’t try… just spare me and go back to Canada. I’ll be fine here.  Just don’t kill me...” she mouthed weakly.

        Tim snickered at her pleas.

        “That’s treacherous, you, w***e!” He spat.

        “My sister needs me… Please. You know that. I know you don’t care about the baby! but please at least for the sake of my sister.”  She pled weakly.

        Tim found himself between the devil and a deep sea. If he kills her, she will lose the baby and her teenage sister will also lose her, leaving her to fend for herself. Though, Adela seemed to be innocent with all this bizarre and with her sister’s stealth deeds.  He couldn’t stomach the fact that he’d be the reason of Adela’s early suffering. He twitched his lips and clenched his jaw. And the baby… though he wasn’t sure if he was really the father of the child, he couldn’t bear the fact that he’ll be the reason of why the child won’t be able to see the world. If he spared her, he might get captured and killed anytime. He couldn’t rely forever with his cresclunar. He’s only human, and he’s entitled to be vulnerable.  Those consequences crippled his heart.

        “Go suit yourself,” he mouthed and about to saunter off the room.

        “I have one last question for you Tim… did you ever felt something for me? I mean aside from lust, of course,” she asked.

        Tim was taken aback by her query. He drummed the question to himself.

            “Any minimal amount of love?” Verona clipped, waiting for him to answer.

*******

        “And what was his answer?” Blaze asked who seemed to be entice by her story

        Verona tried to dispel the bitter pill of misery that started to flood her senses. She clenched her fangs and curled her talons.

        “He is such a total jerk. I’m glad that he didn’t become my uncle. Ughh.” Vygnet grunted.

        Verona was petrified by the blithe comment of Vygnet.   It hit her like a wrecking ball.

            “So what was his answer? Did he say that he didn’t feel any slight amorous feelings for you?” Blaze asked as he read her facial expression.

        “Yeah, and what happened to the baby? Mom didn’t tell me that story about Tim and you conceiving his child.” Vygnet asked quizzically. There was a long moment of pause. Verona heaved a labored sigh.

        “Miscarriage.”

        “So …sorry.”  Vygnet mouthed with sympathy. Then, Verona resumed to her story.

********

        “What do you know about love Verona to ask me a question like that?” Tim asked, chuckling.

             “You made me feel that best feeling Tim, love.  That’s all I knew.” Verona said amorously.

            “I’m willing to forgive and forget everything just tell me that you’ve felt any slightest love for me.” Verona insisted, as anguish etched in her eyes.

        “You’re pathetic!” Tim sneered.

            “Why do I feel like I’m more of a human than you?” Verona asked, disgruntled.

        “Once a monster is always a monster. Please stop this nonsense, before I change my mind.”  Tim warned as he shot her a contemptuous look.