The Devil's Bride

BLOOD 13: Letter From Aulus

MIX-UP ROOM,

Tangled fabrics,

Wedding gown dump carelessly on the chair,

Pillows thrown offhand,

And the piercing agitation, uttered in fear.

"W-WAIT!" Shana shouted in anxiety.

"Anu na naman ba, Red?!"

"I-Ilang dugo ba ang kukunin mo?"

Umupo muna si Vlad at nag-isip. "Lets see...since this is the first bite then, I'll have 100ml of your blood." Lumipat ang tingin nito kay Shana habang nakangisi.

"H-Ha? T-Then how would I know na 100ml lang ang kukunin mo sa 'kin?"

"Tinatanong pa ba yan? Don't you trust me? Marami na ako naging experience sa mga ganito so, you don't have to worry. I won't cheat on you maubos man ang oreo cookies ko."

"H-Hindi ba puwedeng mamaya na lang?"

"It can't wait Red. And I'm not good at waiting. So any other questions, suggestions and complaint? None? Lets do this," mabilis na tugon ni Vlad at dumapa ito agad sa ibabaw ni Shana.

"TEKA!"

Napapikit si Vlad sa inis. He gritted his teeth and roughly brush his hair. "Again?! Ugh! What else would you want to ask? Hindi mo ba binasa ang contract?"

"N-Nakalimutan ko na. P-Pag kinagat mo ba ako...hi-hindi ba ako magiging bampira tulad mo?"

Vlad let out a deep sigh and turned back to his sitting position. "Look, this is not like the books you were reading. Biting doesn't mean you'll be one of us and that's a sin for us vampires. Why would we search for brides kung magiging katulad lang naman namin sila? We don't drink our own race and I'm telling you, that's gross! And just look at Evette. She's still a human. Haven't you thought about that idea? Tch. Sometimes being a human is somehow irritating huh."

Yeah human who's acting more like an insect, Pagkakausap ni Shana sa sarili nang maalala niya ang beehive lady.

Napabalik si Shana sa diwa nang mapansin niyang bumalik na ulit si Vlad sa pwesto nitong nakadagan sa kanya. Hindi niya alam kung saan ang pagpapawis niya at kung pwede lang talaga na takpan ang mga mata niya ay ginawa na niya.

She can't stay away her eyes looking at Vlad's half-naked body. It looked so full, bulging and well-built at higit sa lahat ay parang kumikintab ito. Parang ang sarap lang nitong hawakan. Nakadagdag din ng attractiveness ang mahaba nitong kwentas na may cross pendant at lumalaylay sa dibidb niya.

Vlad lifted her chin and gazed at her which made her uncomfortable. She don't know what feelings had contained her but she's aware how her heart beats fast. There's something in Vlad's uneven eye colors and it was so blurred that she couldn't pinpoint it well.

Then, a lopsided smile appeared from the man's lips. She felt nervous. He smelled her neck slowly down to the collar bone and above part of her chest.

"I'll tell you a secret, Red before doing so." Vlad spoke seductively and his lips were still near at Shana's skin.

"W-What secret?"

"I have this feeling right now that stimulates me very much. I just don't know pero parang may katulad ito. It makes me raise even in your smell only."

Raise? What raise? Napakunot ang noo ni Shana sa narinig. "Anu ako magnetic field? Gano'n?"

"Hmm...I know there's something that made me this." Vlad turned his eyes to Shana's upper part chest that was covered with a silk sleeveless loose outer garment.

Sinundan naman 'yon ni Shana and she was astound by the time Vlad touch it. Flipping the above part of Shana's dress in her top portion. He was smirking and waiting to what he will see inside Shana's. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Shana sa ginagawa ni Vlad.

"Wha-What are you doing you jerk!" Bigla niyang hinampas ang sariling kamay sa mukha ni Vlad at pwersa itong tinutulak palayo.

"I-I was just searching for an a-answers---hey!"

"'Nyeta kang oreo-monster ka! A-Anong answer pinagsasabi mong manyak ka!"

"To-totoo nga naghahanap ako ng sa-sagot at ito na 'yon. Sa-Sandali kasi..." And a rough slitting sound occured. Sabay pa sila napatingin and found out that the top of the dress was already ripped in half that made Shana's scarlet lace brassiere shown.

"I knew it! That padded thing that looks like a small version of cushion made me stimulate especially when it's red."

Mabilis namang kinuha ni Shana ang kumot na malapit sa kanya at pinangtakip niya ito. "Siraulo ka ba?! Urgh! Or maybe you're a gay. Hayaan mo mamaya mag-o-order ako online ng ganitong bra at ipapasuot ko sa 'yo 'tang-ina mong manyak na bampira ka!"

Biglang hinablot ni Vlad ang kumot kay Shana and he slowly crawl near at the woman wearing his smirking face. "Who says I want that padded thing? I was just teasing you because I actually wanted to see more of your skin."

"B-Bakit?" Biglang nilamig ulit si Shana at pakiramdam niya nagsitaasan mga balahibo niya.

"Because I wanted to bite you in here." Itinuro ni Vlad ang daliri niya sa kaliwang bahagi ng dibdib ni Shana. He lightly slit the woman's skin using his sharp finger nails that created a slight wound and the small blood was coming out.

"Diyan ka kakagat? Akala ko ba sa leeg?" Parang istatwang sabi ng dalaga.

Walang narinig na sagot si Shana mula sa lalaki at napalunok na lang siya nang makita niya itong unti-unting lumalabas na ang mga pangil. Vlad tilted his head down to Shana's chest and was ready for biting. The blood was luring him. And just about to sink his teeth, Shana had halted him again.

"A-Anu ang feeling ng kinakagat?"

Vlad broadly smiled. "Well, just like the doctor says, It's just a bite of an ant."

Shana frantically gulped as soon as she felt the warm breath of the man which also sends her to shiver. She closed her eyes and waited to be bite. She knew that whatever alibi she'll do, she could not still run away from this since she had already agreed but a knock interrupted them.

Vlad gnashed his teeth in frustation. s**t! Sasapakin ko mga disturbong 'to!

"I-I think there's someone wants to talk to you?" She hoped.

"Nah, it was nothing. Now, where was I?" He returned back his attention to Shana's body.

Napapikit muli si Shana at napakagat na rin ng labi. And again a loud knock from the door barged in and cut Vlad to what he was going to do. Hindi na niya napagilan pa na magmura at umalis sa itaas ni Shana.

He irritatingly stood up and was forced to walk to the door. Napabuntong hininga na rin si Shana. Parang naalisan siya ng tinik sa lalamunan at dibdib.

"I was getting annoyed with the bullshit repeating knock. Who did it?" Vlad asked impatiently covering his right fist with fire after he opened the door and found his three familiars.

Inihipan naman ni Paris ang nag-aapoy niyang kamao. "Why don't you open the door wide? I was hoping to see my mon ange."

"Hindi kayo papasok sa kwartong 'to Paris. Anu ba kailangan niyo ha? Haven't you see this?" He referred to the sign board that hung in front of his door.

"JUST MARRIED. DO NOT DISTURB. Mahirap ba intindihin 'yon?"

"But you haven't married. It was not a human marriage ceremony, Vlad."

Tinitigan ni Vlad ng masama si Paris samantalang wala lang ito sa lalaki. Nang hindi umubra ang titig niya kay Paris, inismiran niya ito at nalipat ang mga mata niya kay Myrtice at Brix.

"Bro. Chill ka lang. I did the knocking on the door," Brix butt in.

"So, my Knight piece Brix did it huh? Bakit?! Siguraduhin mo lang na may katuturan pang-iisturbo mo."

"Here bro. Take this first. Oreo Ravel Cake Shake." Two shake drinks appeared on Brix's hands and he gave the other one to Vlad. Inabala din niya ang sarili para uminom.

"W-Where did you buy this oreo stuff?" Vlad amazingly took and slurp the beverage and made him calm.

"Cake frost of course. We went downtown and Myrtice said we should buy one for you since---ARAY!"

"Brix! You good-for-nothing knitted head! 'Di ba sabi ko mamaya mo na 'yan ibigay kay Vlady?!" inis na impit ni Myrtice habang pinipingot niya ang tainga ni Brix.

"O-OUCH! S-Stop it Myrtice. Ma-Matutunaw 'yong shake 'pag 'di ko binigay agad kay Vlad."

Napahilamos naman ng mukha si Myrtice sa inis. "Fine! Anyways, we're here to report about the mission you've given us, Vlady," pagtutukoy niya kay Vlad.

"So, what about it Bishop Myrtice?" kaswal na sagot din ni Vlad habang sumisipsip sa straw.

"We should talk about this in your private room. It's about the phantoms."

*********

THE SMALL meeting gathered in a dark oak and leather-clad rooms filled with solid furniture, built-in bookshelves from floor to ceiling. Displaying all the fitted and well-used books with a library ladder, trophies and other things that it looked like a library.

Paris was playing the piano at the side of room, Brix was sitting at the couch while placing his two feet above the table and Myrtice was impatiently tapping her foot at the floor, crossing her arms.

"Are you finished? Pwede na ba magsimula ang pag-rereport namin Vlady?" pigil na galit ni Myrtice. Ayaw man niya magalit pero nakakainis ang ginagawa ng lalaki.

Pinaghihintay sila nito dahil hindi pa raw nauubos ang Oreo Ravel Shake niya. Vlad was making a loud sucking noise while drinking his shake. 'Yong tipong wala nang laman pero pinipilit pa rin niya simutin.

"Wa-Wait---!" Vlad burped. Hindi lang yata isa kundi nakatatlo itong dighay na nakapagpakunot sa noo ni Myrtice.

"Man, that was good! Next time pag nag-downtown ulit kayo bilhan niyo ako ng ganito."

"Listen Vlady. This report is urgent kaya please lang you should be serious this time. A-And would you please take your shirt first?" Nahihiyang sambit ni Mrytice. Sino ba naman kasing babae ang makakapagsalita ng maayos kung ang kaharap niya'y isang half-naked.

"Tch. I forgot it in my room. Anyways, go on with your report. You're taking my biting time so it's better be good."

Myrtice tried to do unwavering eye contact to Vlad. "Dumadami na ang phantoms na lagalag and some of them are wanted. They're getting strong also. At ang akala ko mas lower rate ngayon ang kaso nito but this is too surprising."

"Mrytice is right Bro. This is alarming. Alam natin na ginagawa ng mga Angelos ang trabaho nila specially finding the wanted phantoms pero nakakapagtaka at dumami sila," pagsasang-ayon ni Brix.

"Have you annhilate them?" Sumeryuso ang mukha ni Vlad.

"Not all of them. Nakakapagtakas na sila ngayon ng mas mabilis. The forest isn't cleared yet. We found out that mas marami doong wanted phantoms and they're coming in this direction buti na lang your whole place is covered with barrier against them," Myrtice added again.

"And the missing people?"

"Negative. But let me show you the things happened earlier. FREYA, OSTENDE NOBIS PICTURAS."

Paris stood up and used his psychometry ability to emit or show the scene previously by a smoke. The smoke created a miniature of the place and even the phantoms who were fought by the three familiars; repeating the memory taken from the area.

It lasted for few minutes and the smoke disappeared in the air.

"Hindi ba kayo nakakuha ng impormasyon tungkol sa may kagagawan nito?" tanong ni Vlad.

"We can't. Lahat ng napatay naming phantoms ay walang history kahit hawakan ko, wala akong makita." Paris explained calmly.

"This is weird Vlady. This might took a real destruction to human world."

"Bro. You know you could just go back to Europe and seek help to the Sovereign, your dad."

"We don't need him. We can clean these shits by ourselves." Nagtiim bagang si Vlad at malalim na nag-isip. Alam niyang isa lang ang iisipin ng ama niya sa mga kaganapang ito kapag pinag-alam niya. And he don't want any bloodshed to happen.

"But I was wondering if the Rosewood Witches are also having this problem or...maybe...."

"Paris, Rosewood has nothing to do with this," mahinahon niyang sabi.

"It was just a hypothesis. You know that they bring harmful effects and misfortune!"

"I said they're not!" Vlad yelled in rage at mabilis na natutunaw ang mga kandila sa mga nakatayong candelabrum.

Natahimik ang tatlo sa pag-alingawngaw ng boses ni Vlad sa loob ng kwarto. Everyone was motionless until a knock from the door cut off the silence.

"Master, a letter from Avalon just arrived." Hal came into view as he opened the door to hand over the gold colored packet.

Napatikhim naman si Vlad sa nangyari na kahit siya mismo ay nabigla rin sa pagsigaw niya.

"From Avalon?" Nakakunot noo niya itong binubuksan at tahimik lang na tumitingin ang tatlo.

Dear Vladivostok,

'Tangina mong gagong bampira ka! 'Asan ka na? Ilang beses na kitang tinatawagang hayop ka! Pero hindi ka sumasagot! Pesteng may meeting ngayon at kailangan ang katawan mo ditong hinayupak ka! At kapag hindi ka pumunta dito animal ka! Ako pupunta diyan at pupugatan kita ng ulo!

PS: 'Wag mo kakalimutan ang alak at sigarilyo ko kung hindi libo-libong espada ang dadaanan mong demonyo ka!

Ang papatay sa 'yo,

Aulus

Walang humpay ang pagkunot noo ni Vlad hanggang matapos niya mabasa ang sulat pagkatapos ay sinunog niya ito sa sariling kamay.

"Anong problema Bro?" takang tanong naman ni Brix.

Vlad leaned his head from side to side and his muscle sounded like cracking. He stretched his two arms and he was snapping his fingers.

"I think I'd like chicken buffalo later." 'Tanginang siraulo talagang 'tong Aulus na 'to. Mababalian ko siya ng pakpak!

And everyone got confused.