The Devil's Bride

BLOOD 19: Hate And Love Collide

Vlad was resting on his red chase lounge having his scarlet velvet robe open. His legs were aristocratically crossed while grasping a wine glass filled with milk. Iniisip niya ngayon ang nakita niya sa mata ni Shana. What was that exactly? He had seen a blue triangle that inserted to an eye-shaped which appeared on Shana's left eye.

"Why do you have that, Red?" pagtatanong niya sa sarili na paminsan ay sumisimsim sa basong may gatas.

"And your blood...why it taste exactly like her?" He brushed his hair using his free hand and rest his two arms on his thigh. He was now having a deep thought about Shana. Nalalasahan pa din niya ang dugong nakuha niya sa dalaga at hindi maiwasang maalala ang babaeng tinutukoy niya.

"Bakit ba ayaw mong tuparin ang kahilingan ko? Gusto kong habambuhay tayong magkasama pero bakit..."

"Hindi tama ang paraan mo. You know I can't do it to you. You can't be one of us."

"H-Hindi mo na iintindihan. Alam kong ikaw ang kaligayahan ko. Ikaw ang umaalis dito sa nararamdaman kong kalungkutan. Ikaw lang 'yon at ang tanging paraan para mawala ito ay maging isang imortal katulad mo."

"I won't do it. This is not the solution you were seeking for. Hindi ko matutupad ang sinasabi mo---"

Vlad was seized up from recalling the past and lifted his head once he heard a knock.

"Master Vlad?" A man's voice appeared behind the door. Napaupo naman ng maayos si Vlad at inilatag ang wine glass sa side table.

"Come in, Hal," tipid niyang sagot at iminuwestra ang braso sa dibdib.

Hal came in pushing the steel food cart at Vlad's direction.

"Oras na po Master para sa gamot mo."

"Ah, ghad. How I hate medicines."

"Master, I've also have your result about your behaviour earlier and a letter from Lord Aulus."

"Letter na naman sa matandang uling na 'yon? Tch. Ano ba ginagawa niya? Parang iisipin ko tuloy love letter eh. Pwe! Anyways, tell me first about the result."

"According to my findings, your weird behaviour was a mere reaction to a drink with high contained magic. Parang katulad ng sa isang posion."

Natigilan si Vlad at agad na hinablot ang letter kay Hal at mabilis itong binuksan.

Vladivostok,

How was the effect of the Kiss Above The Clouds? Fellin' hot and steamy, aren't yah? I really made it just for you. Your welcome, man!

Vlad closed his eyes in annoyance and burn the paper in his hands.

"Putang ina mo talaga tanda! I'll make you pay with this you freakin' old ager!" He looked up the ceiling and shouted in frustation. He was also clenching his hands and tried to drink all the milk on his glass. Pinag-experimentuhan na naman aksi siya ng matanda.

"Kaya pala iba ang pakiramdam ko nang madaling araw. Ghad! I might really be weird earlier. Why didn't you tried me to send in my room?"

"I tried to, Master but you refused. You said you want to see Milady Shana," matamang sagot naman ni Hal.

"Sinabi ko 'yon?! Bakit?" kunot noong tanong din ni Vlad.

"You didn't say anything Master." Hal shook his head.

Natahimik si Vlad at hinay-hinay na kinuha ang gamot sa food cart at nilunok ito ng walang tubig. "Hal, y-you didn't see and hear anything, okay? Wa-Wala din akong ginawa. Wala!" pagkukumbinsi niya at tila wala lang naging reaksyon si Hal.

"Siya nga pala, Hal. I wanted you to do a research about this symbol." Iniabot niya ang papel kay Hal.

"As you wish Master." Agad namang kinuha ni Hal ang papel na 'yon at yumuko kay Vlad bilang pag galang.

"If I to remind you also Master, Milady Shana is now packing her things up."

"Ano? Nag-iimpake na talaga siya? Teka, anong oras na ba?" pagtatanong ni Vlad na tila balisa at bago pa man makasagot si Hal ay agad na siyang umaalis ng kwarto para puntahan ang dalaga.

Vlad immediately went to Shana's door. He opened it with a sudden loud noise and he went inside abruptly. Nakatingin lang siya sa dalagang nakatalikod at panay impake ng mga gamit. He knew what he did earlier. He could remember it clearly on how he looked at the young woman. Nag de-deny lang talaga siya sa harap ni Hal.

How he was amazed by her with no exact reason. He slowly walked having an hesitant feeling which he was wondering why he was experiencing it. And there is this vision again, that it feels like everything got in slow motion.

He could sharply see every tiny details with the woman. Flipping her hair that made his body pound. Pulling her sleeves to her elbow and putting her hands on her tiny waist that filled him wonder.

Nangunot din ang noo niya kung bakit namamalayan niya ang sarili na nakangiti kaya napahawak pa siya sa bibig at bi-ni-nat ito.

"Oh Jett, tapos ka na ba---Vlad?" Shana puckered her eyebrow once she noticed that the one who opened the door was Vlad and not her friend.

"So, you were expecting Jett instead of me huh." Vlad walked towards Shana narrowing his eyes in distrust.

"Malamang kasi aalis na nga kami 'di ba?" Nakapameywang na sabi ni Shana.

"I told you to stay here a bit longer." Ginaya din ni Vlad si Shana.

"Hindi nga kasi pwede. Kailangan ko na munang magreport sa office at tatapusin ko pa 'yong nobela namin. I need a lot of time for that since malapit na din ang due date no'n."

"Is that really your reason? Or maybe..." Mabilis na lumapit si Vlad sa babae at na-corner niya ito sa upuan. "You just wanted to avoid me at maging malayo, is that right? You know I could use my reading mind ability if you don't answer me right."

Napatukod naman ng kamay si Shana sa couch na sa ngayon ay nagmumukhang nakahiga siya dahil nakadagan naman ang lalaki sa kanya. "A-Ano ba sinasabi mo? I am saying the truth. Saka siraulo ka ba? Wala sa kontrata na hindi ako pwede lumayo sa 'yo. Hello, ma-co-contact mo naman ako kapag iinom ka na ng dugo." She averted her eyes.

Vlad gave a grinning face and held Shana's chin to look at him. "Then, why is your heart beating so fast? Why are so tense? Hm?"

"I-I'm not. I'm ju-just..."

"Lets change the topic. What did I do earlier? I can't seemed to remember." Mas lalong lumapit si Vlad sa mukha ng dalaga.

"Wha-What?" naiilang na tanong ni Shana. She could simply smell again Vlad's masculine scent which she don't know why is it so good to smell though. Pakiramdam din niya nagsitaasan na din dugo niya sa mukha. She could easily see Vlad's twosome mismatch eyes that as if it was taking her souls out.

"Wala akong maalala kaya ipaalala mo sa 'kin. And it's better to get detailed for me to retained that fast." Vlad gave an insolent smile to the woman.

"Ka-Kailangan pa ba 'yon? At pa-para saan naman? Ka-Kahit hindi mo na 'yon itanong, hindi naman 'yon mahalaga. Kinagat mo lang naman ako. 'Y-Yon lang. Tapos!" She stummered while explaining.

Napataas naman ng kilay si Vlad at ngumiti ng nakakaloko. "Really? Hindi ko ba 'to ginawa sa 'yo?" Vlad started to kiss Shana's neck which made the woman to shiver in astonishment.

"And this?" nagpatuloy pa si Vlad sa paghahalik hanggang baba ng leeg ni Shana. Makailang beses din napalunok si Shana sa ginagawa ng binata at sa nararamdaman niya. Hindi siya makasagot at parang naputulan lang siya ng dila.

"This one too?"

"Vla-Vlad..." mahinang boses ni Shana.

"Teka saan pala kita kinagat? Dito ba? Ow, yeah gotcha. So, here?" Vlad stroked Shana's skin until he found the part where he bit her.

"V-Vlad...S-Stop."

"I'll make this mark, invisible."

"V-Vlad..."

Vlad was now licking Shana's chest part where he had his mark. But why was he doing this again? Hindi naman siya nagugutom pa. Epekto na naman ba ito ng gamot? He couldn't restrained himself from getting near at Shana and he was tempted again to bite her. And upon thinking about he's doing, the door opened without warning.

"Sha--na?"

Napatigil si Vlad sa kanyang ginagawa at nanatili sa kanyang puwesto. Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Shana nang marinig ang boses sa pintuan.

"Sinabing 'wag!" bulalas ni Shana at agad na binatukan si Vlad na nakapagpatumba sa sahig.

"I...So-Sorry to interfere," Jett tilted his head down in dejection and turned his back to went out of the room.

"N-No. Jett wait. H-He was just trying to remember things," Shana tried to stop her friend.

"Talaga? But it seems that it's not what he's doing."

"Ha-ha. Ha? Ano ka ba Jett? Kung anu-ano diyan sinasabi mo. So, tapos ka na mag-impake? Na ready mo na din ba 'yong sasakyan natin?" pagpapalusot niya.

"Dude. Believe her. She's really saying the truth. I am just recalling something so, I have to do that with her. You know? Caressing and stroking her." Vlad butted in once he got back on his feet.

"You what?!" Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Jett.

"Caressing and stroking," pag-uulit naman ni Vlad na tila wala lang sa kanya ang sinasabi.

Naipikit ni Jett ang mga mata niya sa inis at ibinibilog na din niya ang kamay at nang magsasalita na siya ay bigla namang dumating ang tatlong apostle ni Vlad sa likuran niya.

"What's with the heat here?" Brix butted in while looking at Jett and Vlad. Vlad was just shrugging his shoulder and averted his eyes away while Shana was really holding her annoyance at Vlad.

"Stop asking some stupid question, knitted-head. More importantly is this red-riding-hood. So, aalis ka na pala?" Myrtice spoke.

"Ah, oo eh. Kailangan ko na talagang umuwi. May trabahong at boss akong terror-nasaur na naghihintay. Baka gawin na ako no'ng panggatong pag wala pa akong naipapakita,' paliwanang naman ni Shana.

"So, may nagpapahirap na pala sa 'yo?! Sino siya? This can't be! Ako lang dapat ang nagpapahirap sa 'yo, red-riding-hood! I'll find that stinky human. Whoever he is!" Hinawakan pa ni Myrtice ang balikat ni Shana sa inis.

Nag-eksena naman si Paris at kinuha ang kamay ni Shana para halikan ito. "Oh, my mon ange. I will still be waiting for your return. You'll be forever in my heart on ange."

"Tapos na? Puwede na kayong umalis," Vlad annoyingly retorted.

He immediately put Shana behind him but to his astonishment, Jett got Shana's hand and pull the woman away and out of the room. Hindi na nakaimik ang dalaga dahil nagulat din siya.

"Slow down Jett. 'Yong gamit ko pala hindi ko pa nakuha," wika ng dalaga habang hatak-hatak ang kamay niya ni Jett.

"Ako na ang kukuha no'n. Do'n ka lang sa sasakyan," matigas na responde naman ni Jett. Naiinis kasi siya sa ginawa ni Vlad at hindi niya mapigilan kahit alam niyang mag-asawa na ang dalawa.

"Hoy! Dude! Don't just take away Red from me," Vlad shouted.

Hinabol ni Vlad ang dalawa na sa ngayon ay naglalakad na pababa ng grand stair case at nang maabutan niya ang dalawa ay napatigil naman sila nang biglang magbukas ang pintuan ng mansyon.

"How are you, little brother?"

THE LIVING AREA was filled with a fervor atmosphere where Vlad couldn't stay long on his feet having a formal greetings to the man whom he also dislike. Why on earth he forgot that this man will be arriving on this day? And why he has to be on his mansion?

"Why the hell you have to be here in my place?" Vlad asked in irritation.

The man on a black trench coat and a sleek long hair-cut remained calm and gave a wide smile. "Well, I am just granting my soon-to-be-wife's wish. I don't want you also to missed our wedding. Alam kong hindi ka pupunta sa Europe kaya mas mabuti pa na dito namin idaos ang kasal."

"Is that a big deal? Ang hindi ko pagpunta sa kasal niyo? Why am I also required in your stupid wedding?"

"Alsh..." Lumipad naman ang mata ni Vlad nang marinig niya ang boses ng babae. Nakalimutan niyang kasama din pala ito ng kuya niya. The woman had a soft low voice that come together with her faultless features. She had a long straight black hime-cut hair which paired with her emerald green eyes and a snowy complexion.

Naging matalim ang mata ni Vlad sa babae. "You don't have to be sorry, Leila. Fine kung dito niyo gusto pero 'wag kayo ditong tatagal. I have my business."

"Why don't you also introduce your new bride, if I'm not mistaken her. Nabalitaan kung may bago ka," pag-iiba naman ni Lestalt sa usapan na ngayon ay nakatukod ang parehong siko sa armrest ng upuan at nakayapos ang mga daliri sa isa't isa.

"Yes. She is my permanent bride, Red." Vlad immediately replied with an authority and without letting his eyes off with Lestalt.

Shana broaden her eyes the moment she heard Vlad. Ano ang sinasabi nito? Hindi sila nag-usap na panghambuhay siyang magiging bride ni Vlad but even so she acted as if it was all okay to her and raised her head to greet the man in their front. "Uhm.. Shana. Just Shana."

"This is rare to my little brother having a permanent bride. Well then, nice to meet you Shana. I am Lestalt Lincoln, the Scion of Vampire Royalty Clan." Tumayo pa ito para abutin ang kamay ni Shana at halikan ang likod ng kamay nito.

Shana shyly bow down her head. Nakaka-intimidate kasi ang aura ng lalaki. "Hello. Nice meeting you din."

Umiwan lang ang lalaki ng ngiti at agad na bumalik sa kinauupuan at niyakap ang gilid ng balikat ng kasama niyang babae. "And my wife to be, Leila."

Vlad was just gritting his teeth through out the hour while looking at his brother's doing. On the other hand,Leila stood up and went near at Shana. Sa sobrang hiya naman ni Shana ay napatayo na rin siya.

Tinitigan ni Shana ang babae ngunit napakunot noo na lang siya nang biglang sumama ang pakiramdam niya. Unti-unting lumalawak ang sakit sa kaibutaran ng katawan niya at hindi niya malaman kung bakit. Gayunpaman, ay pinilit niya pa rin na magmukhang maayos sa harapan ng babae.

"Hi. I'm Leila Foxe and It's nice seeing you. Congratulations also for being Alsh's permanent bride. Please provide him enough needs."

"Ha-ha. O-Of course. Congrats din sa darating niyong kasal. Ikinagagalak din kitang makita at makilala. Just call me Shana."

Both of them exchange good smiles and when Shana's going to have shake hands with the woman, on the spur-of-the-moment, the pain just rushed up. Nevertheless, they made a hand contact and that her left eye became active again.

She felt the throbbing pain again from her eye. It was a total torture that made her hold it once again and by the time she stare at Leila's melancholy eyes, It felt more stabbing.

And that she didn't know what to do.