The Devil's Bride

BLOOD 22: One-Eyed Illussionist

THERE WAS A minute of silence. Vlad frozen a bit but still continued to walk and pull Shana's arm. Shana couldn't stop thinking what Vlad had called her. She never heard him calling her like that, in her name.

"How come you called me by my name? At paano ka napunta dito? Are you...Are you really Vlad? No! You're not Vlad!" She suspected in instant.

The guy halted and remained on his back and stiffen. He was still gripping Shana's arm with force which his finger nails were almost sinking at the young woman's skin.

"Grinch. You found out too soon. What a clever b***h," Isang nakakahindik na boses at tawa ang namuthawi sa bibig ng lalaki. He was laughing like a monstrous beast.

"S-Sino ka? Why're you doing this? Ibalik mo na ako sa bahay ko!"

"How? When I am you and you are me," muli itong humalakhak at biglang umikot ang ulo nito sa likuran at nakaharap na kay Shana. The woman was utterly frightened and tried to pull away her arm from the man but it just made more tight. She screamed in so much panic.

The man made another ridicule laugh and slowly rotate his body and what made Shana to shout in a piercing sound again was, his appearance was horrible. Puno ito ng nangingitim na ugat sa buong katawan at mukha. His skin was dry and his flesh was gradually taking off. Blood was running from his head and made Shana to struggle more until the man's hand was cut off and still clutching on her arm.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Shana at sumigaw ulit siya sa kamay na putol. And when she lifted her head, she was horror-stricken once she saw the man's left eye became a black hole and a lot of crawling insects came out of his eye.

"Live in tears, die in fear!" Umi-echoe ang salita ng halimaw.

Nagpaatras-atras si Shana sa sobrang gimbal at naisipang tumakbo. She run as fast as she could, flowing her tears and confused mind until she was shifted into another space. She found herself in a funhouse mirrors.

"I-Itigil niyo 'to..." she pleaded in fear.

Nagpalingon-lingon si Shana. There was nothing in her surrounding but a lot of mirrors. All she could see was her reflection. Napuno na yata siya ng takot dahil hindi siya mapakali.

"Itigil niyo 'to...itigil niyo 'to," she started to cry and an image of a man came on her mind. "V-Vlad...Vlad... tu-tulungan mo ako...."

"No one will help you. None!" malakas na sigaw ng isang boses. Napaangat ng ulo si Shana at nakita niyang wala nang repleksyon niya sa funhouse mirror bagkus ay isang palipad-lipad na animo'y itim na usok ang nakikita niya sa mga salamin.

"Haven't you recognized this? This is what you are made of," wika muli ng boses at hindi alam ni Shana kung saan niya itutuon ang mga mata.

"A-Anong sinasabi mo? Stop this!"

"This is what your heart looked like." Nalipat ang mata ni Shana sa harap niyang salamin at nakita ang isang malayo at maliit na repleksyon ng babaeng katulad sa panaginip niya. The woman who had the same face as her.

Shana's body shaken in anxiety and widen her eyes again. The woman on the mirror was sluggishly walking towards her. It had the similar blank face and a black hole eye which made Shana to grasp her left eye too. She could feel the same torment pain again.

"S-Stop!"

"Come back...come back..." The identical woman spoke in the most terrifying voice and as she walk, her reflection in the mirror became bigger too until she went out of the mirror.

"S-Stop...'wa-wag kang lumapit," natatakot na sabi ni Shana at napapaupo na siya sa nararamdamang sakit. She was crouching in a violentl physical sensation in her left eye.

"Come...back," anya ulit ng babae nang makalapit ito kay Shana. She raised Shana's head and put her hand on Shana's left eye. "Live in tears, die in fear!"

Shana screamed in discomfort and blood was coming out of her left eye. Hindi siya makagalaw at tila nababaliw siya sa sakit nararamdaman niya hanggang nakita ng isang mata niya ang pagbabagong anyo ng babaeng nasa harapan at hindi pa rin tinatanggal ang mga kamay nito sa kaliwang mata niya.

Shana witnessed how the woman's skin torn apart and melted like a candle and it changed into an ugly and horrible monster. Its head was huge single round mass of eye. Its body was slender and sculpted like a man's physical form but its leg and hoof was similar and shaped into a wolf or a horse leg. Its arms had a nasty long tentacles and its spine was visible and extended up to its belly part.

"Now be a good girl..." the monster mentioned in a whispering voice. "And let me drain your blood." Itinusok nito ang galamay niya sa gilid ng leeg ni Shana at sinimulan nito ang unti-unting pagsipsip ng dugo ng dalaga.

Nanatiling mulat sa gulat at takot ang mga mata ni Shana. Marami siyang nakikita sa isip niya. She was seeing and hearing things also that made her feel more anxious and scared. The monster laughed in amusement seeing the woman's situation until he was ceased when a great light was ripping his field of darkness like a paper.

Lumabas doon ang tatlong nilalang na ikinatakot niya ng sandali. Pinulupotan niya agad si Shana at inalayo sa mga kalaban. Nawalan naman ng malay ang dalaga.

"Ping! You hide really hard huh," the bonnet man carrying a huge sword on his shoulder said and even wink at the monster with a hand formed in gun-like.

"You stinky, ugly, improperly formed fetus or whatever! You'll pay for touching and tricking that red-riding-hood! I'm the only one who are capable and has the only right to do that to her!" Myrtice on her v-bangs spoke.

"Only? Please Myrtice, Mon ange's only is me! She's entitled to me," Paris insisted.

Hinarap naman ni Myrtice si Paris. "Shut up Paris! You don't even know what I am saying!"

"Why if isn't the three musketeers," the monster butted in the conversation of the three familiars.

"Correction unsightly creature, the high-class familiars. Now, if you don't want to be pulvurized in atoms, get off your ass from that red-riding-hood and give her to us." Bumalik ang atensyon ni Myrtice sa kalaban.

"Not a chance, blabbermouth," the monster replied.

Napatikhim naman si Brix sa narinig . He wiped his nose using his thumb. "Then, you leave us with no choice. Hard way is actually my specialty, S-Class phantom."

"Lets see that. OMNES APPARUERIS MIHI LUMINA MILLE (All ye thousand eyes appear before me)." The monster spoke in a latin language and immediately a vast group of huge eyeballs with a leathery wings like a bat appeared everywhere.

"Destroy them!" the monster commanded the flying eyeball monsters. Agad namang sumugod ang mga ito papunta sa direksyon ng tatlo. Pinupuntirya sila nito gamit ang laser beam sa mata kaya naghiwa-hiwalay sila para mapuksa ang mga halimaw.

"MINERVA, LANCELOT FUSION EM EXHIBENT!." Nagsimulang gumamit ng ability si Brix at dahil isa siyang artisan user, ipinagsanib niya ang dalawa niyang exculiber. An immense bright begin to exist and the huge, sturdy sword appeared on Brix's hand.

He started to use his black wings also and dodge all the enemies attack. He was actually grinning to the situation. Ito ang gustong-gusto niya, ang makipaglaban.

On the other hand, Paris began to use his psychometry ability too. He made to call out again his entity, Freya.

"Cut them into beautiful slices, Freya." Isang kakaibang ngiti ang binitawan ni Paris habang akto itong nakaupo at naka-crossed-legs sa ere. Lumusong naman ang nilalang niya at sa isahang atake lang ay nagkaputol-putol ang mga matang lumilipad.

"What a lovely and scenic view is this," Paris uttered with delighted eyes. Bumulusok siya sa mga kalaban at para lang itong nakikipaglaro sa ginagawa at bawat madaanan niyang halimaw ay agad itong nahahati gamit ng kakambal ng psychometry ability niya, ang hangin.

"Santa Ana," sambit niya and in instant a strong hot dry wind from the deserts appeared and it killed the monster that were surrounding him.

Oppositely, Myrtice was having her own circumstances also. She used her gravitational ability. Napatigil niya ang pag-gagalaw ng mga kalaban at nagkahati-hati ito na parang cubes. Ang iba naman ay nagawa niyang magpatayan ito sa isa't isa.

She also used different kinds of her gravitational techniques. She also manipulate her shadow ability by bending and shaping it to a several spears and hit the flying eye monsters. She would also use her shadow to wrapped the enemies and squeezzed them to death.

Ang ikinagulat lang ulit ng tatlo ay mas dumami pa ng mga halimaw. It was even numerous and loads of them appeared against to how many they killed earlier.

"Bullshit! Don't f**k with us!" Brix shouted in annoyance. Halos pakamot-kamot na din siya sa inis dahil mas dumami ulit ang kalaban.

Their attention were caught also when the S-class phantom laughed and was just levitating and watching the action scene.

"Kahit anong gawin ninyong pagpatay diyan, dadami pa rin 'yan. I could make a lot of them anytime I want."

"So that means, since you're the master of these bullshits, ikaw na dapat ang pinapatay!" Nagtiim ang panga ni Brix at pabulusok na sana siya sa pagsugod papunta sa phantom, ay pinigilan naman siya ni Myrtice.

"Hold your horses, knitted-head."

"Get out of the way Myrtice. I can't let that bastard take our Chum Shana," naiinis na litanya ni Brix.

"Your anger won't do anything. Naiintindihan mo ba?! Leave it to me and just lure and killed all that ugly, horrible pieces! You too Paris."

"What?! But I badly want to blow that bastard's s**t! And don't boss me around! I'm the team leader---OUCH! Ye-Yeah...I-I get it." Hindi na na ituloy pa ni Brix ang sasabihin nang pingutin siya ni Myrtice.

"Good. Now, lets do it!" Myrtice yelled in determination and each of them took their route to fight the monsters.

Myrtice fastly hover to the S-class phantom's direction and used her shadow ability by throwing a lot of spears. It was avoided by the phantom and all he did was laughing and still grabbing Shana who were unconscious by now.

Sinubukan din ni Myrtice na gamitin ang gravitational ability niya ngunit bigo siyang magamit ito bagkus ay siya pa ang tumalsik pababa. Madali naman siyang nakabangon ngunit nagtataka siya kung bakit nag repel ang atake sa kanya.

The phantom was amazed also. Hindi din siya nakapaniwala sa nangyari dahil hindi pa naman siya gumamit ng kapangyarihan niya. He gazed at the young woman who he was holding. He took a devilish smile. He knew it right away.

"This is my lucky day. Your attack would just be in waste, blabbermouth."

Mytice flew up and face the phantom not too far. "Return to hell asshole!" Once again she tried to use her ability but it just attack her back. Tumama siya sa pader at pinilit na lumipad ulit.

"I told you and I'm sure you're asking now." Tumawa ang phantom. "This little girl is quite a rare and a treasure. At tama lang na siya ang biniktima ko dahil may kakaiba sa dugo niya. She's protecting herself unconsciously at habang nasa akin siya hindi mo ako masasaktan. And, I'll get her blood to have that power!"

"Y-You think you can ju-just do that? You pest!" galit na turan ni Myrtice.

"Of course," isang nanunudyong tawa ang binigay ng phantom. Myrtice, oppositely, annoyance was all over her face. Anong meron kay red-riding-hood? Sa isip niya. Hinihinalaan niyang may kakaiba sa kaibigan pero hindi niya alam na ganito ito kalakas. All of the sudden, she was caught up with the huge booming sound on the other side and by the time the smoke lessen, she saw Brix and Paris. Mukhang naubos na nito ang mga nagliliparang matang halimaw.

"Myrtice! We did it!" Brix shouted while hovering towards Myrtice's direction.

"You look...defeated." Nagiba ang mukha ni Brix nang mapansin ang natamo ng kaibigan. He pointed his furious sight right away to the enemy.

"Don't do anything idiot. I got this by myself. All my attacks are repelling back to me," pagpapaliwanag naman ng dalaga.

"Bakit?" Paris asked.

"Red-riding-hood, she's doing it. And that ugly monster is using her as shield."

"I knew there was something about mon ange. Her saccharine scent is an evidence. Interesting." Isang maliit na ngiti ang pinakita ni Paris na tila nahuhumaling ito sa nalaman.

"Paris!" Inis na saway ni Brix.

"Well, anong gagawin natin? TEAM LEADER?" sarkastikong sabi ni Paris.

"Lets attack all at once. Perv Paris and Myrtice, set go!"

Tumango silang tatlo at sabay-sabay na umatake sa kalaban ngunit isa-isa din silang nagsitalbugan.

"I won't get tired of this." Insultong litanya ng halimaw habang tumatawa ito.

Hindi lang sumagot ang tatlo bagkus ay umulit sila ng pag-atake. Paris made a whirling wind, Myrtice tried to wrapped the enemy with her shadow and Brix used his robust strength and sword but sadly none of it made the opponent to had even a little scratch.

Tumawa muli ang kalaban. "There's nothing you can do for I am invulnerable with this little girl. And now, lets end this." Sumeryuso ang mukha niya at ngumiti lang ng mala-demonyo pagkatapos ay biglang siyang dumami. He cloned himself into group surrounding the three familiars.

"Gumamit siya ng illusion. And these might be strong as him," wika ni Paris.

Ngumiti lang ng malapad si Brix. "We won't know if we won't try."

Sabay-sabay na umatake ng laser beams ang mga clones at lumaban naman ang tatlo."Paano kayo ngayon? Ni hindi niyo ako kayang hanapin. Mamamatay kayo!" Humalakhak ulit ang kalaban.

Nagngitngit naman si Myrtice sa inis at nasapo na ang dibdib sa pagod at mabilis na paghinga. "You one-eyed junk---" Nanlaki ang mata niya nang mapayuko habang umiiwas sa pag-atake ng kalaban. She saw someone's shadow. Parang biglang may ideyang luminya sa isip niya. Clones doesn't have any shadow but not the original one. Napangisi siya. Magagamit niya ang ability na hindi nito nalalaman.

Napakunot noo naman ang halimaw sa nakitang ekspresyon kay Mrytice. "Have you lose your mind now?"

"Buy me time Paris and Brix." Saglit lang lumingon ang dalawa at ginawa na rin ang sinabi ni Myrtice. "Looks like you're too easy to read, ugly!" She raised her eyebrow. Nagtaka naman ang kalaban ngunit mayamaya pa ay biglang may humablot ng paa niya at pumulupot ito sa kanya. Panic striken him.

"Pa-Paano..."

"Probably because I'm good? Don't mess with my shadow ability. It's like a speed of light also so, hindi na nagawa pa ni red-riding-hood na mapansin 'yon. She's confused I know, because you're putting her an illusion."

"Hi-Hindi ito pwede...." Nanatiling hindi makapaniwala pa rin ang halimaw.

Tumaas lang ng kilay si Myrtice. "Yes it is." She raised her one hand and the black shadow was wrapping the phantom's body. Hindi siya makagalaw at nabitawan din niya si Shana na pinalutang naman ni Myrtice gamit ang gravitational ability niya.

All the clones were wiped out and gone. Napalingon sila Brix at Paris sa kinaroroonan ni Myrtice.

"At alam mo ba kung saan nababagay ang tulad mo?" Ngising tanong ni Myrtice.

"Oh no Myrtice, you're not going to make that technique again," Paris worriedly said.

"Hindi!" sumigaw ang halimaw at sa natitirang lakas ay nakaya pa nitong lumabas ng laser beam. Hindi iyon inaasahan ni Myrtice ngunit bago pa man ito tumama sa kanya ay lumabas sa gitna nila ang isang black hole.

The black hole was slowly dragging the monster inside. Everyone was stunned while fighting also the gravitational force.

"Myrtice, this is way too much. Balak mo bang ikulong din kami ni Paris sa black hole na 'yan?" anya ni Brox na sinusubukang lumipad papalayo.

"I-I didn't do that," Myrtice stammered. Hindi siya makapaniwalang lumabas ang black hole na hindi pa naman niya ginagawa.

"The-Then who?" sabay pang tanong ni Paris at Brix.

Nanlaki na lang ang mga mata nila nang tignan nila si Shana. She was standing and levitating in the air and her eyes were nothing but dark.