Nefarious

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Queen

Everything was in slow motion, the broken recorder playing a timeless classic from the back of the house.

The angry mob raised their pitchforks and torches high up in the sky. Their mouths hung low in desperate cries as tiny bits of saliva jumped in the air. One big ripe and red luscious tomato was flying in the air with the sole purpose of blowing up like a cannonball to literally paint my face red. Even my eyes took how many seconds to look up at the harsh streaks of water slowly crashing in mid-air after it was purposely thrown at my way.

The broken record screeched to a halt. As soon as the jolly melody ended, my dress was already drenched in cold water and my face in red, sticky juices. And for the cherry on top, an egg catapulting through the air landed on my head with a loud, solid c***k.

Everyone was here. In my house and giving me such tasteful presents. It was a happy birthday to me.

"Mangkukulam! Demonyo ka! Lumayas ka rito sa Legada!"

"Ikaw at si Alondra! Magsama kayong dalawa sa impyerno!"

"Hindi ako papayag na makuha mo ang mga anak ko sa akin! Patayin mo muna ako!"

Kating-kati na ang lalamunan kong magsalita para sa sarili ko pero nanatili akong tahimik. Sa halip na patulan ang kanilang mga walang kakatotohanang akusasyon ay pinunasan ko ang mukhang tinutuluan na ngayon ng pinagsamang likido ng itlog at kamatis. Nang ibukas ko ang mga mata ay umaamba na naman ang mga tao.

"Hindi ako magkukulam dahil kung totoo ngang mangkukulam ako ay matagal ko na kayong pinatay lahat! Kung alam ko lang kung paano kayo lahat patahimikin ay hindi na sana ako nagtiis sa inyo!" buong lakas kong sigaw.

Marahas ang aking tingin sa ibaba kung nasaan halu-halo ang mga nagpunta sa aking kaarawan para kumain at ang mga nagpunta sa aking bahay para manggulo. Gusto kong sabihin sa kanilang hindi ako ang demonyo, na tumingin sila sa salamin dahil sa galit nila ay sila ang mas mukhang sinasapian.

"Mangkukulam ka! Mangkukulam!"

Tumalim ang tingin ko kay Mayor Benjamin sa gitna, hawak ang anak na si Benny at nanlilisik ang mga mata sa akin. Tahimik man ay binabalot ako ng kakaibang galit mula sa kaniya.

"Lumayas kayo sa pamamahay ko! Hindi ko kayo tatanggapin dito kahit kailan! Layas!" sigaw ko.

Isa-isa kong tinitigan ang kanilang mga matang kung hindi nanlilisik ay umuurong. Si Alejandro at Therese na tanging nanatili sa aking likuran ay nagmistulang mga palamuti sa bahay, nakadikit lang sa pader at walang imik.

"Kung sino gustong manatili ay malugod kong tatanggapin at pagsisilbihan. At kung sino naman ang may galit sa akin ay umalis na sa pamamahay ko ngayon din dahil hindi niyo gugustuhing makita kung paano ako magalit," bulong ko sa tensyunadong ere.

Nanginig ang kanilang mga hawak na panuhog at kalaykay.

"M-M-Mangkukulam---"

Nilingon ko ang kaisa-isang nagsalita. Halos mabitiwan nito ang dalang sulo.

"Lumayas kayong lahat! Layas!" muli kong sigaw, nararamdaman ang panginig ng lupa at pagbuo ng madilim na alapaap.

Nagtakbuhan ang mga tao paalis. Mas lalong lumakas ang nadedeliryong hangin. Nag-agaw ang liwanag at dilim pero sa maikling panahon kong paninirahan sa Legada ay alam kong laging nananalo ang huli. Umugong ang kagubatan, dinadala ang mainit na hangin papunta sa akin at papasok sa aking bahay.

Tuluyang nilamon ng dilim ang liwanag at sa dilim na iyon ay nakita ko ang unti-unting paglitaw ni Konstantine.

We met face to face, the prince of darkness himself. And he didn't look a bit pleased.

"I'm sorry but the party is over. However, I will throw an after-party just for you." In my displeasing state as of the moment, I grinned at him.

Konstantine didn't react, his eyes going high and low as it inspected my appearance.

"No?" I tried to smile but considering how awful and constipated I must have looked, I settled for a shrug instead.

The tension on my shoulders fell away even though the air was still thick of it. I excused myself to clean up, only going inside to grab some shirt and jeans before indulging myself in the make-shift bathroom outside.

Nang matapos ang paglilinis ay hinarap ko si Konstantine na kanina pa nakaupo sa aking maliit na sofa at naghihintay. Hindi siya bagay sa aking marumi at lumang sofa o sa loob ng aking bahay. O sa bayan ng Legada sa kabuuan.

"Start talking, Celeste..." His icy voice loomed over the entire house.

I looked at the small open window where both Alejandro and Therese were poking their noses in. A harsh wind shut it close.

Pinaglaruan ko ang mga daliri. Having Konstantine in my home shouldn't feel like I was once again inside the principal's office and defending myself from its outrageous incrimination. Nakababa ang tingin ni Konstantine sa akin, diretso ang mga kilay at umiigting ang panga.

"I threw a party," I started.

He crossed his arms, straining it even more so despite the posh material of black ensemble.

"To my surprise, everybody came. Some even gave presents that I rather not keep."

In my opinion, the party was a success if the crazy mob didn't come all the way here and ruin it. I didn't know how they got a word of it but I sure as hell didn't invite all those people including the creepy mayor. Nevertheless, it was still an unforgettable one because not every year you spend your birthday in a faraway town, and some people barges in, demanding you're a witch or the devil's spawn.

My only concern was that almost everyone I knew and didn't were here except for the one that I expected the most.

"Everybody came... Everybody except you." I looked up at Konstantine.

Namatay ang hangin sa loob ng bahay pero nabuhay naman ang linya ng aming tingin. Gusto ko mang ibaba ay hindi ko magawa dahil baka hindi na maulit at ito na pala ang huli.

Konstantine heaved a sigh, his tensed shoulders relaxing. His dark eyes retained the midnight flame in them yet the tenderness was also present. I fought the urge to properly look at those two orbs and to bask under such rare beauty.

May kung ano itong binunot mula sa kapa at inilapag sa ibabaw ng aking mga hita. Tumagilid ang aking ulo sa maliit na kahon.

"I didn't forget your birthday nor did I refuse your invitation. This is for you," he breathed low, his long fingers lightly tracing its edges.

Para bang nakalimutan ko ang hindi nito pagpunta at pagdating sa aking selebrasyon. Napalitan ang tensyon ng sayang pwedeng ipantay sa isang batang nagbubukas ng regalo tuwing Pasko.

My fingers dug into the small box like I was a hungry predator ravaging my prey. The deep crimson suede material of the cover was soon shredded into pieces, falling on my carpet like red snow. I pulled out a thin silver necklace, its chains glinting pure and white in my hands.

"What's this?" I touched the little vial acting as its pendant. Red drops of liquid trampled themselves over in the tiny glass.

"That..." Konstantine gave it a little push using his index finger, the red liquid shaking even more under our gaze. "Is my blood."

Napakunot ako kaagad ng noo. Malapot at pulang-pula ang likido. Buhay na buhay sa dulo ng aking mga daliri.

"It is only right to give it to you. My blood is very rare and holds key to many discoveries that is yet for mankind to unfold. Even a single drop can grant you the immortal life."

My forehead knotted in confusion. I knew Konstantine was no ordinary man but the promise of an immortal life was a little too much. Maybe he was speaking in metaphors but his voice was so smooth and deep that I couldn't afford to miss any word he spoke.

"I give my blood to you, Celeste Ambrosia. My blood and my trust. Don't waste it."

Matagal kong tinitigan hindi ang maliit na boteng naglalaman ng kaniyang dugo ngunit ang kaniyang mga matang maaaring naglalaman ng mga bagay na higit pa sa kaniyang mga sinabi. Hindi man nabigyang boses ay unti-unti kong naintindihan ang lahat habang nilulunod ang sarili sa dalawang dumidilim man na mga mata ay alam ko pa ring may posibilidad na lumambot at manuyo. Kagaya ng ginawa niya sa akin ngayon.

I tore my eyes off of him, holding the necklace once again by its elegant silver chain and studying the vial.

"Legada de la Reina?" Naguguluhan kong binasa ang maliliit na nakaukit paikot sa ginto nitong takip.

"Such sharp eyes..." Konstantine chuckled.

Inunat niya ang likod sa pagkakaupo. Hindi ko tuloy napigilan ang pag-iinit ng mga pisngi dahil kahit anong gawin niya ay hindi siya magiging komportable dahil malaki siya at maliit ang aking upuan, ang sala at ang buong bahay.

He lazily spread out his arms at the back of my sofa, each fingertip tapping on its old suede material that didn't come close to the lavishness of his furniture back in his castle. His other hand tapped the back of the couch twice before dropping it on top of his thighs that were wide apart. Konstantine looked like the medieval version of a billionaire demanding how much is your price, you and your whole trivial life.

"I was one of the founders of this city. The plans of the entire land from the bottom of the sewers up to the highest structures came from my mind. Legada can turn into ashes but I can rebuild it from scratch. Wiping it from the map is not entirely a bad idea for a town like this shouldn't destroy any other life except theirs."

I couldn't understand what he was saying. All that I knew was the piece of him I was holding in my palm was enough. I spun the little vial of life as if I was trying to hold him down but I knew I wouldn't be able to. No one could.

"I named this town Legada de la Reina myself..." he whispered.

I carefully lifted the necklace and placed it around my neck. The silver chains felt like feathers on my skin. Just above my heart did the vial sit, moving in sync with my chest as I breathed. Dahan-dahan kong inangat ang tingin kay Konstantine. Hindi ko na kailangan pa itong tawagin dahil sa tuwing titingin ako ay sumasalubong at naghihintay na ang kaniya.

"And what does that mean?" I asked softly, eyelids feeling heavy.

"Arrival of the queen," he answered in his deep, enchanting voice.