Nefarious

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Crucifix

Konstantine led us both as we waltzed on the dance floor, the air heavy with enticing rhythm. The candle lights looked like they were floating in mid-air as we danced, and the moonlight seeping through the window followed our every steps. It was the delightful yet hauntingly dark music ringing on my ears that I was able to feel the entire castle humming with it. Together, we danced through the night lit by the moon herself and in a castle that stood at the edge of a precipice.

“You’re a fast learner,” Konstantine whispered, swaying my body a little bit.

“Thank you and I’m sorry,” I replied, giving a sheepish smile.

“What for?”

“For stepping on your toes for a million times now.”

He chuckled, the deep sound tickling my ears. I fought the urge to smile.

“It’s quite tolerable. I can take it.”

“So, I really was stepping on your foot. I’m so sorry, Konstantine…” I felt my face burning brightly.

The fact that I was really enjoying dancing with him and had even forgotten about the lovely dinner waiting was what made it all embarrassing. I tried to put some space between us, my hands pushing his chest where it once sat comfortably. The step I took back from him felt almost painful.

Konstantine immediately noticed, his eyes gliding down my waist as he held both my wrists and pulled me back to his arms. Gently and slowly, almost too carefully, his hands grasped my neck and began to explore my sides, stopping only after he placed it back to where it was previously. His eyes met mine as we swayed once again to the music.

He was just so tall and the ceiling was too low. I craned my neck to reach his eyes that was looking down at me. My eyes trailed on his long, midnight hair framing his face, to his aristocratic nose, to the dark bushy brows that always seemed proud and cunning, to his cheekbones, and finally to his Cupid’s bow lips.

When I looked back up to his eyes, it was glinting with humor and something that deep and dark.

Muli kong naramdaman ang pag-iinit ng mga pisngi. Mas matangkad siya sa akin at mas malaki ang katawan kaya kahit na sumusuot ang lamig ng gabi ay hindi ko nararamdaman o baka hindi niya lang gustong iparamdam sa akin. Para bang alam na niya ang susunod kong gagawin at mas humigpit ang hawak sa aking bewang nang sinubukan kong umatras ulit.

“No…” I whispered softly, angling my head away from his prying eyes.

I felt that if he looked at me right now, he would now what I was thinking about. Maybe even the things I thought about at night while looking at his castle.

Seeing that I couldn’t move away, I tried to hide myself by stepping a little closer and burying my face on his chest. Its hard planes and contours were evident against the soft fabric of his vest.

“Celeste…” came his smooth voice that was both a warning and a plea.

I didn’t listen, chose not to listen because it was making me feel tingles everywhere. My hands remained on his chest. I could feel his breath on top of my head, making me sleepily and lightweight. With only an eye cracked open, I tried to look at the flight of stairs up above where I saw shadows swaying with the music.

I closed my eyes and sighed softly.

The guttural groan Konstantine released almost sounded feral. It was low, coming deep from his throat. My tummy felt fuzzy.

“You need to eat, Celeste.” He pressed his fingers a little tightly on my waist.

“Ikaw? Hindi ka kakain?” inaantok kong tanong.

“I will join you but mostly to accompany you. Food isn’t a need for someone like me. An enjoyment rather. At least the normal human food.”

Napahagikgik ako sa narinig. “Normal human food? Are you serious?”

“Yeah…” Taimtim pakinggan kahit pa ang kaniyang mga halakhak.

I sighed once again, trying to engrave each and every detail of the night where I stayed in a castle and danced with its master under the moonlight.

“Bakit ang dami mong mga kasama sa bahay?” tanong ko.

Konstantine swayed me gently with only little movements.

“They are my servants. They help me keep this castle alive and in return, I let them live here for free.”

“Ayaw nila tumira sa labas? Sa bahay?”

“I'm afraid not. There's a reason why they chose to stay here with me. Under my roof and under my care." Umigting ang kaniyang panga.

Napakunot ang noo ko ngunit muli na lang sinandal ang ulo sa ibabaw ng kaniyang dibdib. Wala akong naririnig na tunog mula roon. Kahit isang t***k ng puso o pintig ng ugat.

“What?” I couldn't help but to ask. 

“This town is… how do I put it…” Konstantine seemed to be deep in thought. “They’re very old-fashioned. They like to keep things their way. Adapting to change will be their destruction. My servants only wanted peace so I gave it to them by letting them stay here in exchange of their services to me.”

“You know what I think?”

“What?” He chuckled lightly.

“I think you like these servants of yours. You don’t anyone harming them but you also like their company. Your big castle already looks lonely from the outside so you ended up inviting all these people to live with you.”

I slightly looked up at him. Konstantine looked impressed.

He hummed in approval, saying no more.

Dahan-dahan akong ngumiti at muling ibinalik ang ulo sa kaniyang dibdib. Marahan ang pag-ugoy ng aming sayaw, nakakaantok sa sobrang lambing. Tanging ang nanunuyong mga mata lang ni Konstantine ang aking tiningnan. At kahit ayaw kong tumigil ang gabi ay alam kong may katapusan ang lahat ng bagay.

Kinabukasan ay tinanghali ako ng gising. 

Ang dating alas-syete ng umagang gising ay naging alas-onse na dahil madaling araw na noong nakauwi ako kagabi. Hinatid ako ni Konstantine bago sumapit ang pagsikat ng araw at nagpaalam na bibisitang muli. Ang buong akala ko ay nananaginip lang ako sa haba ng naging tulog pero ang puting bestidang sinuot ko kagabi ay suot ko pa rin, kumikintab at dumadaloy sa aking katawan.

I took a shower before starting half of the day that was left, my plans of fixing my backyard getting delayed. Naisip kong pumunta na lang muna sa flower shop ni Gianna para makabili na ng mga bulaklak. I carefully laid out the beautiful dress on the sofa, thinking I should hand-wash it first before giving it back to Konstantine.

Bago umalis ay siniguro kong ang kinandadong pinto ay may susi na nakatago sa bulsa ng aking jeans. Nakita namin ito ni Konstantine noong pabalik kami. Nasa ibabaw ng malaking bato kung saan ako umupo.

“Magandang hapon, Gianna! Kamusta ka na?” bungad ko nang pasukin ang flower shop.

Inaayos nito ang mga nakasabit na orchids sa ere, nakatungtong sa hagdanang gawa sa kahoy. Muntik na itong mahulog kung hindi kaagad inabatan ng hawak!

“Dios ko, Celeste! Papatayin mo naman ako sa gulat!” Napahawak ito sa dibdib, tatawa-tawa pagkatapos ang muntikang pagkahulog.

“Sorry!” Napakamot ako sa ulo.

Hinintay ko na munang makababa si Gianna at mailigpit ang hagdanan. Nang nakabalik na ito sa kaniyang usual na pwesto sa likod ng kahera ay ngumiti itong malaki.

“Magandang hapon! Welcome sa aming flower shop! Anong okasyon?”

Napasimangot ako sabay turo sa mga maliliit na paso.

“Bibili sana ako. Inaayos ko ang bakuran ng bahay para naman magmukhang may nakatira kahit papaano.”

Nagsimula si Gianna na ibalot ang ilang mga paso ng mga bulaklak na gusto kong itanim. Ang suhestyon niya ay ang pinakamadaling patubuin para sa isang katulad kong beginner. Isang paso ng Santana at isang paso ng Gumamela.

“Mukhang masaya tayo ngayon ah! Anong nangyari?” aniya pagkatapos at pumangalumbaba.

Naisip ko kaagad ang nangyari kagabi pero sa halip na ibukas ang bibig ay ngumiti na lang ako.

“Sus! Ayaw pa sabihin!” irap ni Gianna ngunit namatay ang kaniyang ngisi nang mapatingin sa labas.

Aside from the children playing and the very few people passing through, three nuns wearing white were slowly marching forward while loudly chanting Latin phrases. All three of them were holding rosaries. The first nun at the front was holding a large bible, raising it high up so the people could see while the middle one was casting incense all over the brick red soil. The last nun held a big, silver crucifix, pointing heavenwards.

“Prusisyon?” Nilingon ko si Gianna.

Umiling ito. “Binabasbasan ng mga madre ang lupa tuwing ikalawang linggo ng buwan. Pampawala ng malas at masasamang espiritu. Masyadong maraming bilang ng mga nawawalang bangkay ngayon kumpara noong huling buwan kaya baka dalawang beses sila mag-ikot. Baka mas malapit sa kastilyo.”

“At naniniwala ka roon?”

“Saan?”

“Na nawawala ang mga bangkay dahil sa kastilyo?” tanong ko.

“Bago pa ako ipinanganak ay nakatayo ang kastilyong iyon. Matagal na raw iyon dito sa Legada. May buwang hindi nangunguha ng mga katawan at mayroon ding marami kung pumatay. Lahat ng malas ay naroon sa kastilyong iyon kaya takot na takot ang mga tao.”

Tumango-tango si Gianna habang tinitingnan ang nakalampas na mga madre. May kung ano itong inilabas mula sa estante sabay lapag sa aking harapan sa tabi ng mga binili kong halaman.

“Paano kung… paano kung pumasok ako roon sa loob?” Tumagilid ang ulo ko.

“Dios kong mahabagin! Huwag kang magsasalita ng ganiyan, Celeste! Naku!”

The panic in her eyes was alarming. It was the strong fear and hatred in it that made me shiver.

“Ang sabi ng lolo at lola ko ay maraming nakatira sa kastilyong iyon. Mga nilalang na hindi tao. Hindi rin makatao. Pinamumugaran ng kung anu-anong mga maligno at lamang-lupa. Kaya rin siguro kahit anong kayod ni Mayor Ben para maging kilala ang Legada ay hindi umuubra. Malas ang bayan dahil may mga kababalaghang nangyayari.”

Napatingin ako sa tinulak niyang kwintas sa aking harapan. Gawa iyon sa kahoy at may krus na nakasabit.

“Para sa’yo talaga ‘yan, Celeste. Benindisyunang krus. Binigay iyan sa akin ng Mama ko pero mukhang mas kailangan mo. Delikado ang panahon ngayon. Mag-isa ka pa naman sa bahay.”

“Salamat,” bulong ko habang tinitingnan ang kwintas.

“Sige. Mag-iingat ka, Celeste. Ikandado mo lagi ang pinto at huwag na huwag kang magpapapasok ng kahit na sino. Lalo na sa gabi. Kahit ka-boses ko na nagpapakilalang ako ang tumatawag. Matulog ka na lang at kunwari ay walang naririnig.”