The Devil's Bride

BLOOD 8: Milk and Oreo

IT WAS ALREADY morning but the room was still a bit of dark. The garnet colored weighty curtain adorned in tassels was slightly opened and only a little rays of sun could pass through the huge lancet windows that directed to the thick, cathedral castle Gothic canopy velvet tufted bed where a sleeping beauty was laid.

On the contrary, a man on a shirtless and no more than a black jeans sat on the top of the bed close by. Titig na titig siya sa mukha ng dalagang natutulog. Pinagmasdan niya ito at pansin niya ang namumukod tanging kulay ng buhok nito.

Crimson as blood. Bagay na bagay ito sa maputing balat ng dalaga na siyang sinangayunan niya. He hadn't been amazed like this for the entire of his life.

Halos makabisado na niya ang angulo ng mukha ng babae sa paulit-ulit niyang pagtitig. Wala naman kasi siyang magawa kundi ang hintayin itong magising. He was so excited when Hal---his familiar reported that this is the day that she will be awaken after what happened at the forest two days later.

At sa paghihintay niya, ganito palagi ang ginagawa niya. He'll checked the woman from time to time and had no idea why was that. Ang alam lang niya ay may humihila sa kaniya na puntahan palagi ang babae. And now, he felt something different from those days. He felt like he already know the woman.

Something tells him na nakita na niya ito at hindi lang talaga niya matandaan kung kelan o saan. A feeling that is so familiar. Alam niyang naramdaman na niya ito dati pa at magkatulad nga ito.

Isipin man niya ng lubos ay hindi pa rin niya maalala kaya sumuko na lang siya. Tumingin siya sa pendelum clock na pinalagay niya pa kay Hal sa living area ng kwarto kahit na rinding-rindi siya sa tunog nito. Magtatanghali na at hindi pa rin gumigising ang babae at nababagot na siya.

Nagawa na niyang mahiga sa tabi nito habang nagbibilang ng mga tupa sa isip. Paulit-ulit na din siya sa pagpatay-sindi ng mga kandila na nakapatong sa chandlier at maging pag-ehersisyo nagawa na din niya.

"Ang tagal ng babaeng 'tong magising. Tch. Hindi ba 'to nagugutom? It should be by now, dapat gising na 'to pero bakit ang tagal? Hal, is always accurate pagdating sa mga ganitong bagay so hindi pwedeng magkamali siya. Just...maybe I should wait a little bit more. Yeah, that's it Vlad. A little bit more," He deeply thought while holding his chin and shook his head for agreeing to himself.

Naka-indian sit siya sa tabi ng babae at ngumunguya ng kinakain na oreo. And without warning, Shana moved slowly na tila magigising na ito. Dali-dali namang nilunok ni Vlad ang kaniyang kinakain at kumuha ulit ng oreo.

"Finally, I'll be having a breakfast with someone." Untag niya sa sarili habang nilalapitan niya ang mukha ng babae.

Shana gradually winch up her eyes until it was fully opened. At ganoon na lang ang pagka bigla at paglaki ng mga mata niya nang tumambad sa kaniya ang mukha ng isang lalaki na masayang nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Hey, you want some oreo?" Agad na sambit ni Vlad pagkagising ni Shana.

Nagkasalubong naman ang mga kilay ni Shana at napasigaw pa nang makita niya ang lalaki na walang saplot na pang-itaas kaya't sinuntok niya si Vlad ng wala sa oras.

"Ouch! Are you crazy? Why did you do that? Ugh! s**t! You hit my nose." Vlad fell down on the floor and rubbing his nose with both hands.

"Hinintay kitang magising and offer you an oreo tapos ito ang gagawin mo? Dammit!" He cursed. His face got annoyed and thought to pinch his nose gently.

Napaupo naman si Shana sa kama at hinimas-himas ang kaniyang kamao pagkatapos ay winaglit-waglit ito sa ere. "Kasalanan mo 'yan saka isa pa nasakatan din kaya kamay ko, ouch!"

Napasulyap naman ng tingin si Shana sa lalaki habang ganoon pa rin ang ginagawa. "Ay, teka...'kaw 'yong---ba't 'andito ka? You---" Pagpuputol niya sa sariling sinasabi at doon lamang siya nagkaroon ng malay nang napagala ang kaniyang mga mata sa paligid. She carefully roamed her eyes in every corner of the room.

It was dark, well-decorated with opulent detail and decorative patterns. The wall was pasted with a black wallpaper and a pattern of damask that added to its elegance and bold.

A lot of heavy and grand fabrics and textiles were present in either bed or in the window. A wrought-iron chandelier with bulky candles was hanging in the middle of the molding ceiling. Some grotesque carved faces, carved stone and a wood statue of gargoyles were also found.

Hindi ito ang kanilang kwarto!

"This is not our room! Where am I? Ba't 'andito ako? Papaano---"

"Wait! Can't you just make it slowly? Ang dami mong tanong at ganyan ba talaga kayong mga babae? After you were saved by your knight-in-shinning-armor, you'll throw those lame questions? I thought it only happen on tv drama," Sabat naman ni Vlad na kasalukuyang dahan-dahan na tumatayo.

At nang umangat siya ng tingin kay Shana nagtaka siya dahil ganoon na lamang ang pagkagulat at pagkabilog ng mga mata ng dalaga. Sooner, he realized what was it about.

"Nagulat ba kita? Sorry I didn't mean to startle you. Lumalabas talaga 'to kapag nagugulat ako like what you did earlier but don't worry bumabalik naman 'to sa normal. See?" He calmly said and streched his lips wide open. He was pointing his fangs that slowly became a normal teeth.

"Y-You're a v-vamp---" Shana couldn't stop but to widen her eyes in great extent. Gulat na gulat siya sa nakita at hindi makapaniwala na isang bampira ang nasa harapan niya. She was frozen at napaawang pa ang kaniyang bibig.

Napakamot lang naman sa batok si Vlad nang makita ang reaksyon ng dalaga. "Yes I am. At wala akong balak na itago sa'yo. Doesn't it make you happy?"

Unti-unti namang umaatras si Shana sa kama nang magkamalay sa mga pinagsasabi ng lalaki sa harapan niya at nag-cross sign pa gamit ang daliri.

"Don't come near me. I know your weakness. I know how to kill you. I'm warning you."

Vlad had blinked his eyes twice sa hindi niya inaasahan na gano'n ang magiging epekto nito sa dalaga. He had silent for few seconds and suddenly bursted out of laughter.

"Really? By what? By those garlics and stupid cross like what you are doing right now? Seriously? C'mon it only happens in a book. Ang gagaling din ng mga writer noh. They're making us like weaklings and simply easy to dispatch. Ah, humans are the worst. Telling a whole big fat lies. And there were also some idiot authors who gave us some ugly descriptions. Just look at me and tell me how do I look. Probably you'll say I'm gorgeously handsome right?" Dire-diretsong salita ni Vlad.

"Alam mo bang nakakasira 'yon ng reputasyon at dignidad? Mabuti na lang at merong mga katulad ni L.J Smith at Stephanie Mayer ng hustisya ang kagwapuhan ng mga bampirang tulad ko pero syempre mas gwapo pa rin ako kay Edward Cullen and Stefan Salvatorre or even to Damon Salvatorre." He added more while his face was dreaming and trying to make a good angle.

Pinagmamalaki nga talaga niya ang kaniyang itsura. Well, that's actually a basic for a vampire having their good looks. Masyado lang talaga ini-emphasized ni Vlad ang kung anung meron siya.

Natigil naman ang ginagawa niya nang magsalita si Shana and still making a cross sign from her fingers. Andoon ang kaba sa kaniyang dibdib kahit pa na isa siyang writer ng katatakutan pero iba pala talaga ang makakita ng tunay na bampira.

"A-Ah basta! 'Wag kang lalapit kung ayaw mong masunog! I knew it! There's something weird about you. 'Kaw 'yong weird guy named Silence sa bar." Pag-aakusa niya sa lalaki habang usog ng usog siya sa higaan at pinang-aalis ang mga kumot na nakaharang sa paa niya.

Napataas naman ng dalawang kilay si Vlad at naisipan nitong lumapit kay Shana. "And you were that kind of woman who love to stare at a man's collar bone. Aren't you a pervert?"

Gumagapang na siya papalapit sa dalaga and on the other side of his mind he thought of something. She remember that pero hindi niya naalala ang pagligtas ko sa kaniya? Tch. Unbelievable!

"H-hindi noh!" Pag de-deny naman ni Shana at kasabay ang pamumula ng mukha. Naalala nga niya ang sinabi ni Vlad at napalunok siya nang makita ulit iyon sa kaniyang isipan.

"We vampires could read human's thought. You know that, it's a basic," He informed. Lumapit pa siya sa dalaga hanggang isang pulgada na lang ang distansya ng kaniyang mukha kay Shana.

Isinangga naman ng babae ang daliri nitong nakahugis krus at iyon ang ipinangtapat niya kay Vlad. Mas lalo din lumaki ang kaniyang mga mata dahil buong-buo na niyang namamasdan ang mukha ng lalaki lalo na ang mga mata nitong magkaiba ang kulay.

"Y-Yeah but d-don't accuse me. I'm not looking at your---" Naputol na ang kaniyang sinasabi nang makita niyang ngumiti ng nakakaloko si Vlad. She was firm and stiff as if it drowns her to the bottom. Ganoon na nga ba ang epekto ng tingin at ngiti ng isang bampira?

Napalunok din siya ulit nang kumalat ang tingin niya sa upper body nitong walang damit. Kitang-kita niya kung panu gumalaw ang mga muscles nito sa braso at pati na rin ang nakahaing magandang hubog na mga abs nito.

"Oh, yes you are honey." He then licked Shana's cross-sign fingers at ikinagulat iyon ng dalaga kaya't napahiga siya and Vlad was now on her top.

Vlad dragged himself sluggishly down to Shana's face while wearing his perverted smile. He loves to tease people with such a weak block. At habang papalapit na siya sa mukha ng dalaga ay mas lalong nakuha ang pansin niya sa leeg nito na agad namang nahalata ni Shana kaya napapikit na siya.

"No. Please don't bite me." Pagmamakaawa ni Shana. She could now feel the warm breathe of the man dahil nasa may leeg na niya ito. Hindi niya maiwasang matakot.

Ngumiti ulit si Vlad. He smelled Shana's neck and licked it. "You really smell good but I won't bite you... not until you become my BRIDE."

Vlad's action and words brought Shana into astonishment. Parang nanlambot ang buong katawan niya sa ginawa ni Vlad pero nakayanan pa rin niyang manatili sa sarili. Pinaulit-ulit din niya ang sinabi nitong gusto siya maging bride ngunit mukhang hindi niya makuha ang tinutukoy nito. At papanong siya?

Natuon naman pareho ang kanilang pansin sa pintuan nang biglang pumasok si Hal ng kwarto at tumikhim ito. Naglakad siya paunahan saktong nasa-gitna ng kwarto.

"Master. She's still on her recovery process," Pagpapaalala nito na nakatayo lang.

"Nah. She's fine now. Nasuntok na nga ako kanina eh. I was just giving her a good morning greetings," Vlad explained at tuluyan na itong bumababa ng kama at naiwan namang tulala si Shana.

Naglakad siya papuntang chaise lounge niya at kinuha ang fur robe niyang ipinatong doon at isinuot ito. "By the way, kamusta na 'yong lalaki?" Tanong niya at naupo ito.

Tumikhim naman muna si Hal bago magsalita. "Nasa maayos na po siyang kalagayan pero kinakailangan pa ng isang linggong pamamahinga."

At sa narinig ni Shana, napabalikwas siya sa higaan dahil naisip niya ang kaibigan. Naalala niya ang nangyari sa kanila sa Block 13 at noong nagkahiwalay sila. She also remember how she was hit and strucked by the monster at hanggang doon lang ang natatandaan niya.

"Are you talking about Jett? Where is he? I need to see him. Anung nangyari sa kaniya?" Sa sobrang pag-alala ay napatakbo pa siya papunta kay Hal at nakalimutan na rin na mga bampira ang nasa-paligid niya.

"Please tell me. Nasaan si Jett?" Humawak na siya sa braso ni Hal na puno ng pagmamakaawa. Kung hindi niya pinilit ang sariling kagustuhan at nakinig siya sa kaibigan marahil ay hindi sila mag kakaganito. Marahil ay hindi masasaktan ang kaibigan.

Sa tinagal-tagal ba naman ng trabaho nila ay ngayon lang sila naabot ng ganito. Ngayon lang sila pumalpak.

"Milady, you need to rest now." Iyon lang ang tanging nasabi ni Hal na nakapagpaiwan ng labis na pangamba kay Shana. Ni ayaw niya pang bumitaw sa braso hi Hal.

"Hal, leave us for a while." Ma-awtoridad na sambit ni Vlad.

Yumuko naman si Hal sa direksyon ng kaniyang Master at saka bumaling ng tingin kay Shana at yumuko din. Napabitiw na lang ng kusa si Shana sa braso ng lalaki na tila nagblanko ng saglit ang kaniyang isipan habang tinitignan ang papalayo na si Hal; at tuluyan na nang nakaalis.

"No! Kailangan kong makita si Jett!" Pagdemanda niya nang makuha muli ang sarili at tumakbo papuntang pintuan ngunit laking gulat niya na nasa harap na niya si Vlad.

"You aren't going anywhere." Binuhat ni Vlad ang dalaga sa kaniyang balikat at iginaya papuntang higaan.

"Hey! Put me down! Put me down!" Shana shouted habang likot na likot sa balikat ni Vlad.

"Anu ba sabing ibaba mo ako! I get it. Hindi na ako aalis! Ibaba mo na ako kundi sasambunutan kita." She added once more at pinapalo-palo niya pa ang likod ng lalaki.

"O, sige subukan mo at huhubaran kita dito." Litanya ni Vlad na wala kasing takot. Natigil naman si Shana sa pagbabanta ng binata hanggang ibinababa na siya sa kama.

"Sino ka ba talaga? I don't believe na Silence ang pangalan mo. At bakit mo 'to ginagawa? She asked in confusion and abruptly she remember something again.

"I-Ikaw 'yong lalaki sa block 13? Ikaw ang nagligtas sa'kin? But why? Why did you save me...I mean us?" Another query came from her.

Pinalutang naman ni Vlad ang chaise lounge niya and in just one snap, the chair was instantly already behind him. Napapigil hininga si Shana sa nakita niya and shook her head to focus on the answers she's going to get.

"I thought you wouldn't mention that." Naupo si Vlad na nakaharap kay Shana at nag-crossed-legs pa ito.

"I'm Vlad Alsh Harriet Lincoln. Vlad will do at sasagutin ko na lahat ng nasa isip mo. Have you remember that physical touch? 'Yong nagtapik ang balikat natin? From that nabasa ko lahat ng motibo mo. On why you're here at alam kong pupunta ka sa Block 13 and you're not the type of a woman who would listen to someone's warning. Do you? Ang umatake sa'yo ay isang phantom."

"Phantoms? What are those?" Shana asked in curiosity.

"Phantoms are those vampires or other clans of monsters who betrayed from the laws of the Angelos. They were punished and became low-levels. Actually, phantoms are everywhere. Those you can't see are weak and can't harm any people or humans but those who you can see are wanted phantoms. Katulad nga noong sumugod sa'yo at ng kaibigan mo..."

He rested and held an idea to himself. ...Though there's something different about them at natagalan akong patayin sila.

"...Sila ang mga pinaghahanap ng Angelos dahil malalakas sila despite of being punished. For us vampires, option lang ang pagpatay sa kanila as long as kailangan. Trabaho kasi 'yon ng mga Angelos," Vlad explained while getting a glass of milk that placed in the side table of the bed. Tiningnan-tingnan niya ito at sumimsim ng kunti.

Pagkatapos ay naglapat siya ng tingin kay Shana and wrinkled his forehead.

"Ang nakapagtataka lang, you recovered fast after being infected by the monster. Formely, isa 'yong bampira and turned into phantom. She was going to get all your blood at nilagyan ka niya ng lason para madali ang trabaho niya and maybe kung hindi ka nagamot agad, you'll not be able to reach this day."

Shana swallowed heavily right after hearing Vlads collected facts and thought about the wounds she received that night. She put her hand on the side of her stomach where she was injured by the tentacle-like arm of the monster and feel it. Akala niya mamamatay na talaga siya.

"E, papano si Jett?" She recalled her friend. Hindi pa rin talaga niya maiwasan na mag-alala sa kaibigan.

"He suffered also but he'll recover...maybe," Vlad answered in tranquility at patuloy sa pag-iinom ng gatas.

"A-Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"I have an offer to you. You'll have all the informations you want plus the safety and recovery of your friend and oh your ram van in one condition..." Pagkukumbinsi ng lalaki at ipinatong ang glass wine na may gatas pabalik sa side table.

"A-anu naman 'yon?"

Napataas ang gilid ng labi ni Vlad nang marinig niya ang tanong ng dalaga at naghalumabab ito.

"Simply be my bride."

"What?! Magpapakasal ako sa'yo? No way! Hindi ba dapat sa kapwa bampira ka rin magpakasal?" Gulat na tugon ni Shana. Napatayo pa siya nang sumagot sa bampira dahil hindi siya makapaniwala.

"Ah...hindi mo pa pala alam ang isa sa pagiging modernized na bampira. This is part of it and it doesn't mean any of your thoughts. Ang mga bampira ay hindi basta-basta sumisipsip ng dugo. Hindi rin nangbibiktima. It depends because we have our rules. We get our food from a Second Familiar and it is called the BRIDE."

"'Wag mo nga ako pinagluluko! I know what a bride is. A woman who is about to marry. A soon to be wife, a spouse, a partner. Kaya anung sinasabi mo diyang familiar? Papanong iba ang ibig sabihin noon sa inyo?"

"Will you just go back to sit and listen? Humans of royalty and high class standings are usually the Pure Blood Vampire's---choice. The contract depends on the vampire they're serving of how long it will take. In exchange, humans are allowed to have a wish. It maybe popularity, power, money or success but it's forbidden to grant an immortality wish." He averted his eyes and an image appeared on his mind.

"Ah, pwede pala but only a pure bloods could do that and once lang in a vampire entire existence." He inserted immediately.

Wala naman sa sariling napaupo bigla si Shana at napalunok sa lahat ng napakinggan niya. Mukhang totoo nga ang sinasabi ng lalaking nasa harapan niya.

"So, you mean I'll be the source of your food?"

"Exactly. Binigyan na kita ng isa sa mga informations na hinahanap mo. So, what's your answer?" Vlad grabbed an oreo from the plate. He separate the side of cookie and licked the vanilla cream.

Napaawang naman ang bibig ni Shana nang makita niya ang ginawa ni Vlad. The man detected Shana's unwavering attention and returned her a spiking gaze.

"What? Vampires could eat human food."

Nagpatango-tango na lang agad si Shana nang matanggap niya ang nakaktakot nitong tingin and instead, she continue to go back to what Vlad had asked her.

"At kapag ayoko?"

"Then, you'll have the consequences. Specially for trespassing my territory," Ngumunguyang sagot niya sa babae.

"Ha? Eh 'kaw 'tong nagdala samin dito."

"Correction, from the moment you entered the Block 13, you already trespass."

"Sa'yo ang whole Block 13?!" Shana responded in surprise.

"Yeah. And yes ako din ang pumapatay sa mga halimaw dito sa Montgomery. Mga bweysit kasi at ginagawang tirahan ang gubat," Vlad replied in uninterested tone.

"Anyways, times up na. I need your answer now. If you say yes then get an oreo, dip it in the milk and have a bite," Dagdag niya pa saka kumuha ng isang basong gatas at oreo. He offered it to Shana.

"Ah, talaga? Kelangan pang gawin 'to? Eh kapag ayaw ko nga, anu naman?" Taas kilay na sabi ng dalaga habang kinukuha ang gatas at oreo kay Vlad.

"Wala ako maisip. You just have to say no then and besides hindi ka naman sasagot ng NO dahil KASALANAN MO ang nangyari sa kaibigan mo." Diin na sambit ni Vlad. He knew that the woman was aware of her wrongdoing and that will help him to submit her to him.

Nag-isip muna si Shana and thought about what Vlad said. Totoong kasalanan naman talaga niya and maybe this is the only thing way left to save her friend. Even she's not sure, she told herself to get an oreo and stare at it.

Oreo, anu ang gagawin ko? Would I say yes or no?

Isasaw-saw ba kita o hindi?

Tatanggapin ko ba ang offer ng ugok na 'to? Pero parang ang sakit yata makagat.

Pero mapapahamak naman si Jett kung hindi ako papayag and I don't want that. Oh please say yes na tama ang gagawin ko.

Mayamaya ay nahulog ni Shana ang oreo sa basong may gatas.

Anak ng---!

She was not prepared yet but she couldn't do anything now and the cookie was already dropped. She heavily breath ang look unto the cookie. She took it and fixedly stare it. Tumingin din siya kay Vlad who's now shaking his head answering her to bite it.

Bumalik ang tingin niya sa oreo na magkasalubong ang kilay and the following thing happened was a crunching sound.