The Devil's Bride

BLOOD 21: Home Service

In the highest peak of the Indian pueblos houses was the High Priestess' house. They were having a little discussion about the information that will be given by Constance but unforturnately he was on his nap. Bakas sa mukha ni Eilidh ang pag-pipigil ng kanyang galit sa pinapakitang ugali ni Constance kahit pa nasa-harapan niya ito.

Nagpatawag kasi siya ng agarang pagpupulong pagkadating ni Constance upang malaman ang dala nitong balita galing sa Avalon ngunit hindi man lang ito natinag sa inuupuan nito habang tulog.

"Godwin, bigyan mo ako ng magandang dahilan para hindi ko paalisin ang lalaking 'to sa Coven natin!" inis na sabi ni Eilidh.

Pakamot-kamot na si Godwin dahil hindi din niya alam ang gagawin. Hindi naman kasi niya magisinng si Constance. "Ah...eh..Kalma lang po High Priestess. Alam niyo naman po si Reiji."

"Kahit kailan hindi ako masasanay sa lalaking 'yan! Gisingin mo siya!"

"Eilidh, huminahon ka. Malayo rin ang pinuntahan ni Constance kaya maaaring kumukuha lang siya ng lakas," Elder Cicero pleaded while on his sit.

"Pero Elder Cicero..."

Mayamaya ay sabay-sabay na lang sila napatingin sa gawi ni Constance dahil may tumunog doon at siya ding pag-gising ng lalaki. He pulled the cuff of his sleeves and looked unto his wrist watch and click the side button of it.

"Ano 'yon?" Nakunot noong tanong ni Eilidh at nilapitan pa si Constance.

"Alarm clock on a wrist watch," Constance answered in a deadpan voice and face. Umaayos siya ng upo.

"Saan mo nakuha?" sunod ulit na tanong ng dalaga na pilit sinisilip ang relo sa palapulsuan ng binata.

"From Aulus."

"Ang Seraphim?!"

Hindi na sumagot si Constance at bagkus ay pumasada lang siya ng walang ekspresyon niyang mukha. Eilidh closed her eyes in frustration but convinced herself to calm down. She gazed at Constance and pasted a fake smile.

"So, since gising ka na. May we start our meeting?"

"Hindi pa pala tapos?"

"Hindi pa dahil hindi mo pa sinimulan ang pagbibigay impormasyon at kanina pa kami dito naghihintay---"

"The signs of pandemonium...it's true," pagpuputol ni Constance sa nag-aalburutong dalaga.

"Anong ibig mo sabihin, Reiji?" Godwin asked in curiousity.

"The Cherubim had finally spoke about it. Ang pagdami ng phantoms ay ang mga nakatakas ito sa kulungan ng Avalon. Someone broke the dungeon's barrier and the black mist is one of the signs."

"Kung gano'n nagsisimula na ang delubyo," may pangambang wika ni Elder Cicero.

Nagtiim ang panga ni Eilidh. "At ang anak ni Odessa?"

"Nagpadala ang mga Angelos ng Knight Templars sa mundo ng tao," Constance continue to answer.

"Ibig sabihin hindi pa nila nahahanap ang anak ni Odessa?! Hindi puwede ito! Ilang buwan na lang mula ngayon ang Blood Moon kaya kailangan na natin siyang mahanap!" Eilidh hit the table with her hand.

"Kikilos na tayo Eilidh," wika ulit ng matanda.

"Ipapaalam ko ito sa ibang nating kasamahan at sisimulan na natin ang paghahanap sa anak ni Odessa." Eilidh eyes were filled of determination and in an instant she disappeared in a green mist leaving the three people inside of her house.

**********

"TINITITIGAN MO na naman ang litrato niya," Godwin teasingly said. Nasa bahay sila ni Constance ngayon matapos lang ang pagpupulong nila. Nakita niya ang lalaki na nakatayo sa pader at titig na titig ito sa litratong hawak.

"None of your business." Mabilis naman na tinago ni Constance ang litrato sa kanyang bulsa at ginapos ang mga braso sa harap ng dibdib.

"'Wag ka mag-alala. Makikita at mas maproprotektahan mo na din siya kapag dumating na ang kaibigan ko. Ilang araw na lang darating na siya para sa isang impormasyon."

"You know, I'm following your words not because you're my mentor. Ginagawa ko ito para sa kanya. And just be sure that she'll be unharmed," walang tinging sagot ni Constance.

"Naiintindihan ko Reiji. Kaya nga hindi natin sasabihin kung sino at nasaan ang anak ni Odessa. Her daughter has a big purpose not only taking Elizabeth's curse. I believe on that." Nakahawak si Godwin sa kanyang baba at naupo ito na nakatuon sa direksyon ni Constance.

"Ang lalaking bampirang 'yon...naaamoy ko sa kanya ang anak ni tita Odessa," pag-iiba naman ni binata. He was thinking deep about it ever since he met that guy.

"Sino?"

"Ang pangalawang anak ni Barnabas. 'Ando'n din siya sa Avalon."

"Si Vlad?"

****************

SHANA WAS seating on her favorite swivel chair, infront of her desk and was tapping her laptop computer the whole time for her novel. Tinatapos na din kasi niya ang kanyang trabaho bago pa siya mabulyawan ulit ni Mr. Buenaventura.

Mabilis ang pagsusulat niya hanggang bigla na lang siyang napatigil dahil nag-blanko ang isipan niya. Napamura siya ng saglit. Why is this happening? She messed up her hair and yelled in frustration. She pinned her back to the chair and let a deep sigh. Tinanggal ang salamin at humablot ng pagkain sa kanang gawi niya na nakapatong sa lamesa.

"Kung kelan matatapos na saka naman dumating ang blank space sa ulo ko. Tch." Isinubo niya ang pagkain at nang tignan ito, napakunot na lang siya.

"Oreo? Oreo pala 'to?" Nalungkot siya bigla. She don't even know why but there's something inside of her that really made her blue. Naalala niya ang sinabi ni Paris.

Leila is an ex-bride of Vlad

It kept on ringing into her head. She can't deny that it had a great impact to her. Pero bakit naman? Kung tutuusin, wala siyang pakialam. Wala siyang pakialam sa mokong na 'yon. Wala siyang pakialam kung sino pa ang mga naging ex-bride niya.

She looked like you

She hurt Vlad

She's complicated and only Vlad could understand her

"Ano ba?! Nagtatrabaho ako dito! Tigilan niyo ako!" She talked to herself. Naiisip pa rin kasi niya ang mga sinabi sa kanya ng mga familiar ni Vlad. And thinking about those were confusing her. She also recall that day when she's about to leave, Vlad was giving a cheerless face and atmosphere. Nawala 'yong pag-kukulit sa kanya at parang wala sa sarili.

"Naman oh. That oreo-monster..." she rolled her eyes and took her glass filled of milk. Pagkakita pa lang no'n, binitawan na niya. "What is happening to you, Shana! Oreo saka gatas? Nahahawaan na talaga ako ng bakulaw na 'yon!" she shook her head in disbelief.

And all of the sudden, her desktop rung. Napalingon siya doon at inusog ang swivel chair niya papunta sa kabilang lamesa.

A message from Jett. Napangiti siya at ni-replayan niya ito. It took several minutes in their chat until she heard her phone ringing. Inusog na naman niya ang upuan papunta sa kabilang lamesa at sinipat ang cellphone.

She forrowed her eyebrow by the time she saw it. Unregistered number was calling her in the middle of the night. She went on various thought about the caller before she answered it. Probably, it's just a frank or either wrong number. She don't even remember giving her contact number to someone she didn't know.

She placed the phone on her ear and she heard someone clearing of voice. "Hello?" She crumpled her head once she heard the husky voice. Hindi naman ito boses killer or naligaw na holdaper na nanghihingi ng ransom. "Hello?! Hello? From the other side? I must call a thousand times."

Lalong nadismaya si Shana sa narinig. Hindi holdaper pero sira-ulo? "Hoy! Ang lakas din naman ng trip mo 'no. Sumisinghot ka ba ng katol? Kung wala kang magawa, tumigil ka na. May trabaho pa akong iniisip."

"Damn. When will I be able to get inside of your head? You really are a bad bride."

"Oreo-monster?!" She was taken by surprise knowing that it was Vlad.

"Wrong. Vlad. I'm Vlad, Red. How many times should I remind you about my name?"

"Papaano---"

"That Jettplane guy is really useful. I read his mind and one of his long term memory was your number."

"Hoy! You don't have to do that! Hindi mo pwedeng gawin 'yan kay Jett. Hindi mo siya gagamitan ng vampire ability mo! Nag-kontrata tayo."

"Well, sorry. It was harmless. Hindi ko naman pinakialaman ang ibang memory niya though I kinda saw a little. He's checking your stolen pictures. Damn that dude. He's a perv one."

"Vlad!"

"Wow. Finally, you said my name," Vlad chuckled.

"Bakit ka ba tumawag, ha?!"

"I called you because I want to continue where we left that day. You know, recalling my memory about---"

"Ibaba ko na."

"W-Wait! Don't you miss me? Tinawagan kita dahil naawa ako sa 'yo. Baka mamatay ka sa sobrang pagka-miss sa 'kin."

"Have to end this."

"NO! Te-Teka...the reason is...kinakalawang na yata ang x-box ko dahil hindi na tayo nakakapaglaro. I got bored kapag ako lang."

"Oreo-monster, puwede ba? 'Wag mo muna akong disturbuhin? Isa pa madami ka naman diyang puwede makalaro. S-Si...Si Le-Leila! Oo siya! Sige. Bye!" Shana ended the call right away and realized what she had done. Bakit niya ba nabanggit ang pangalan ni Leila? It was out of nowhere. Hindi na niya talaga alam nangyayari sa kanya.

Sinapak-sapak niya ang sarili at tinignan ulit ang cellphone. Vlad wasn't calling anymore. She couldn't see any number calling her again. It was peaceful but what was with her that she was bothered gazing at the phone so calm.

Inis niyang binagsak sa kama ang cellphone at tumayo. "Mamamatay talaga ako sa nangyayari ngayon! Ugh!" Ipinungos niya ang buhok saka naglakad palabas ng kwarto niya.

"Anak talaga ng tokwa, Shana! Mabuti pang uminom muna," pagkakausap niya sa sarili habang pababa na ng hagdan.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing Paris?! Ako ang naunang nakakita ng remote kaya ako muna manunuod ng palabas. I wanna see that sword man!"

"Please, Brix I'll be glad if you'll use your second name into action now. (french)There's a live show I must see. Ilang oras na lang magsisimula na 'yon. I'm not gonna miss it today."

"Shut up you perv! Mga babaeng naka-bikini lang naman ang panunuorin mo! Mas mahalaga 'yong panunuorin ko! There's no way na may mas magaling pang swordman kesa sa 'kin!"

"When will you two gonna stop?! Ang iingay niyo! I am in the midst of reading something here!"

Nanlaki na lang ang mga mata ni Shana sa nakita at naririnig niyang bangayan ng tatlo. Brix and Paris was fighting for the tv remote and Myrtice was getting red in annoyance and yelling at the two man while holding a book.

How could these three came here without her knowing? Kailan pa? This day was too much for her to handle.

"Myrtice? Brix? Paris? What are you three doing here?" nanatili pa rin siyang nakatayo sa baba ng hagdan.

Natigil naman ang tatlo at sabay-sabay pa kay Shana tumingin. Pare-pareho itong tumayo na parang mga batang nahuli na merong hindi magandang ginagawa.

Myrtice cleared her throat, throwing the timid and bashful feeling within her. She even tucked her hair first before explaining. "Haven't you remember? We, the upper-class familiars who serve our master will also have to dwell with his annoying bride. So, may reklamo ka?"

"Sorry for intruding her Chum Shana. Kailangan lang namin 'to gawin," Brix explained.

"A great oppurtunity for the two of us only, isn't it mon ange?"

Napakamot na lang si Shana nang nakalapit na pala si Paris sa kanya at namalayan niyang sinisipat na naman nito ang kamay niya ngunit agad naman niyang kinuha ang kamay ng lalaki, hinila papunta sa dalawa.

"You guys made me feel happy!" Masaya niyang niyakap ang tatlo. She felt happy in so sudden that made the three surprised.

"Aren't you mad or something? A-And wi-will you please stop squeezing us." Myrtice tried to pulled away herself.

"Definetly not. Natuwa lang talaga ako na nakita ko kayo. Hindi na din dapat pala ako nagulat kasi mga bampira kayo. Seeing you guys made me relieved specially nang makita kong binabasa mo, Mrytice ang libro ko."

Nagsungit lang si Mrytice at nag-iwas ng tingin kay Shana habang nagpipigil ng tawa si Brix.

"Don't misunderstand it. Ang boring kasi dito sa bahay mo. Hindi katulad sa mansyon ni Vlady." Shana just chuckled and gave Myrtice another hug.

PAAKYAT PABALIK NG TAAS si Shana matapos makipag-kwentuhan sa tatlong kaibigan. Ipinaghanda din niya ang mga 'to ng pagkain at masaya ang pakiramdam niya. Pakiramdam din niya nakahugot siya ng inspirasyon kahit na madaling araw na. Kaya na niyang maipagpatuloy ang sinusulat.

Kahit ilang araw pa lang kasi ang nakakalipas mula nang umalis sila ni Jett sa mansyon ni Vlad ay parang nanabik nga siya sa mga kaibigan at kay... She stopped from walking and shook her head. She's definitely not feeling this for him. He was just a big blood-sucking jerk who always tease her so there's no way to feel that way for him. Definitely not.

She made an exhaling sound before gripping the door knob. All of the sudden, she felt her heart throbbing and like she couldn't hear anything. She crumpled her forehead. This is weird but even so, she continue to open the door knob.

And what made her eyes widen was, by the time she step her feet inside, everything got extremely dark. It was like she's not in her room. Kinabahan siya dahil naalala niya ang panaginip niya. Sa ganoong lugar din kasi niya natagpuan ang sarili, sa isang malawak at napakadilim na paligid. But she knew well that it isn't a dream. Nasaan ba siya?

She told herself to calm. She closed her eyes and open it again. Inilibot niya ang mga mata sa paligid kahit wala naman siyang makita hanggang may narinig siyang nagtatawag.

"Shana! Shana!"

She narrowed her eyes pointing at front direction. She could see a little light coming through until she saw who was calling her.

"Oreo-monster?"

"Great I found you. Are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah...pe-pero paano...bakit---"

"It doesn't matter. Tara na, Shana." Naguguluhan man si Shana ay nagpatangay na lang siya sa lalaki habang hinihila ang braso niya.

"Saan naman tayo---teka! Shana? You called me Shana?"