The Devil's Bride

BLOOD 18: Dig Down Deeper

It was a bright day and little by little, while climbing the Acropolis of Corinth, the breeze of the wind got cold also. A lot of tourists people were present and very enthusiast about the spectacle place. It was built of massive and tall block solid rocks in a lofty fortress hills.

It was a perfect archaeological site which Alphonse decided to come up with since it was also the final place he hadn't check and hope that it was the right location where his purpose and the notebook he was holding should brought him.

Ilang buwan na din kasi siya nanatili sa Greece at halos naikot na niya ang puwedeng mapuntahan para sa hinahanap niya. He was following his wife's written words which put into a notebook and kept for a long time.

He must find it soon, the thing that was printed on the notebook.

Itinigil niya ang may kalumaang RV van na sasakyang hiniram niya. He opened the door and went out to check the place. He fixed his brown fedora hat including his leathery jacket and the sling bag where he carefully kept the notebook.

"Kórinthos, the ancient greek city huh," bulong niya sa sarili habang tinatanaw ang malawak na lugar.

He started to walk through the gate of the place and he was crumpling his forehead when he saw a group of people were getting out already. Nevertheless, he still continued to walk and when he's about to enter, a guard seized him.

"Sir, the place is going to close by now."

"Why? I just got here and I need to get inside."

"Sorry sir but you got here late. Touring hours is until 5pm only."

"W-Wait, 5pm? But it's just---Aish hirap mag-english dito ah."

The guard man chuckle as soon as he heard Alphonse. Napakunot noo naman ang lalaki sa narinig niya sa guard. "What?! Naiintindihan mo ako? Alas dos pa lang ng hapon kaya paano mo nasasabing 5pm na, ha? Alas dos pa lang! 2pm, okay?"

"Sir, naiintindihan ko po kayo taga-Pilipinas din kasi ako."

"Talaga? Aba! pinahirapan mo ako do'n ah."

"Oho Sir. Pasensya na pero alas singko na ho kaya hindi na talaga puwede."

"Pero alas dos pa lang dito sa---" Alphonse gritted his teeth the moment he saw his wrist watch that it wasn't working anymore and it stayed at 2 o' clock time.

"'Nak naman ng relo oh. Sira pala 'to. Hindi ba puwedeng mag-extend ng kunti lang?"

"Hindi po talaga sir puwede. Nagsisi-uwian na nga ho 'yong iba oh kasi hanggang alas singko lang ho talaga. Bukas na lang ho kung puwede."

"Anu ba gusto mo ha? Sige na ipuslit mo muna ako sandali. Para namang matatagalan ako do'n. Sayang naman ang pagpunta ko dito oh," pagpupumilit niya na nilapitan pa ang guard na parang may binubulong.

"'Di po talaga puwede Sir." Alphonse gave a convincing and begging looked to the guard but he was just answered by a shooking head of disagreement.

He scratch his hair in irritation. He let a deep sigh and walk away form the guard without saying anything at all. Hindi na siya makikipagtalo. He went inside of his van, slammed the door and an idea came to him.

"If there's a will, there's a way," sambit niya sa sarili at marahang ngumiti.

Alphonse drove his RV van to a far distance from the entrance of the place. Naisip niyang tumago sa medyo mapunong lugar doon. He was going to wait there until the night comes thinking to trespass the place.

There was no way for him to wait until tomorrow because he couldn't afford to lose her too. Alam niyang ilang buwan na lang ay darating na 'yon at hangga't makakaya niya ay pipigilan niya mangyari 'yon.

Kinuha niya ang kanyang binocular para matignan ang nangyayari sa lugar. There were almost no people in the field and a bunch of them drove their vehicles away. Nakita niya pa na nag-check muna ang guard sa paligid. Skies were turning dark already and the guard man decided to locked the gate and went to his guard house.

"It's time to make an Idiana Jones move," he whispered under his breath and stroke his nose with his thumb.

The day turned night and everything got really dark. Few stars could only be seen in the sky and insects started to squeak. He prepared his recorder, flashlight and a pen that produces a laser beam which he invented and a skater board that could drive fast like an engine.

He went out again to his van and used the skater board to reached the location. He resolved himself to break the fence rather than getting inside by the gate. Fortunately, he was able to get inside without fail.

Nagmadali siyang tumakbo sa loob at ginamit ang skate board dahil medyo malawak ang paligid. At last, he reached the Acrocorinth's entrance which is a slope.

"This is it. Exactly at 11pm, I'm already here at the Acrocorinth. The mountain is tall and I am going to find out kung ito na ba ang tinutukoy ng notebook," he started to use his recorder.

He begun to roamed the area while using his flashlight. He was also holding his fedora hat that almost stolen by the wind that passing the wall. Kinuha niya ang notebook at tinignan nito ang nakasulat na mapa doon na kasabay ng iilang sulat.

"Nasa may itaas na ako at hindi ko pa rin nakikita ang sinasabi ng asawa ko. Kahit kailan wala talagang sense of direction ang my loves ko." Napatawa siya sa sarili habang ni-re-record ang sinasabi. Naalala na naman niya ang asawa.

"Siguro tinatawanan mo din ako ngayon dahil hindi ko mahanap 'tong sinulat mo. Paano ba naman parang kahig ng manok kasi ang penmanship mo. Ha ha," pagkakausap niya sa sarili at bigla na lang siyang nagulat nang lumakas pa ang hangin.

"My loves 'wag mo nga akong tinatakot. Heto na nga hinahanap na ni papa ang sinasabi mo. Kahit anong mangyari hahanapin ko ang lunas sa anak natin." Malungkot siyang napangiti at bumuga ng hangin.

Isang palakad-lakad pa ang ginawa niya hanggang napadapo ang atensyon niya sa isang underground chamber. Tinignan niya muna ang hawak-hawak niyang kwaderno at maka-ilang ulit na nagpabalik-balik ang mata niya mula sa chamber papunta sa kwaderno.

He smiled widely. "My loves ito na ba 'yon? Akalain mo naintindihan ko 'yong drawing mo," He talk to himself again and a whooshing sound of the wind answered him.

Alphonse begun to stride down the stairs. And slowly it became more narrow as the ground approaches. Umangat ng tingin si Alphonse at tantsa niyang 6 feet below the ground ito at mas madilim din sa loob nito.

"Okay, found the underground chamber and now, lets find the coffin of that ancient woman."

Kinapa ni Alphonse ang dingding bakasaling may secret room pa ito ngunit wala naman siyang nakita hanggang sa may maapakan siyang parte ng lupa na bigla na lang gumuho.

"My loves naman, kanina hangin ngayon lupa na naman? Baka mamaya may zombie dito ha." Alphonse started to turned his flashlight to the ground where it collapsed. He was crossing both of his eyebrows while confirming it until his eyes widen in disbelief.

"A co-coffin..." sambit niyang hindi makapaniwala. Hinukay niya ito lalo gamit ang mga kamay niya dahil medyo malambot naman ang pinagtabunan no'n. Napaupo siya sa sahig habang humihingal at nakatingin lang sa isang ancient na kabaong.

"Totoo nga my loves. 'Andito ang kabaong niya at wala sa Hungary." Nilinisan niya ang ibabaw nito. He thought to open the coffin since he felt hope and was yearning this too long ago. He pushed hard the lid of the coffin which made from heavy cement until it was fully opened. He leaned his head to looked at it until he was taken aback by the black butterflies that flew oustide of the coffin.

Nagkalat sa paligid ang mga paru-paro habang nanatiling lumilipad. Saglit lang 'yon tinignan ni Alphonse at muli niyang sinulyapan ang kabaong. He was astonished the minute he gazed at it, there was nothing there.

"I-Imposible. A-Anong ibig sabihin nito? Bakit wala dito ang katawan ni Elizabeth?" The black butterflies flew to his drection and it was pointing him the wall on the left side of the coffin. His eyes narrowed as he was puzzled by the insects behaviour. Tumayo siya at tinignan niya ito gamit ng flashlight niya. There was a ancient calligraphy written on the wall and since he was a historian and knew a lot about ancient handwriting, he read it.

"Troubled blood with sleep's unease

Remove the cause of this disease.

Sleep eternal, nevermore

And shift the source of illness borne

To this poppet whom none shall mourn."

The ancient calligraphy illuminated right after Alphonse read it. It was a striking yellow light that made the man covered his eyes by his arms.

"Ambrogio?"

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

"WHERE ARE YOU?... WHERE ARE YOU?...." Nagpalingon-lingon si Shana sa paligid. Naririnig na naman niya ang boses na 'yon ngunit nasaan ba siya? She looked her surroundings, it was pitch-dark and she was just wearing a long white nightgown.

"Where are you?..." The voice kept on questioning like it was pulling Shana to find her. It was a lone voice of a woman that continue to bounce in all areas. Hindi mapigilan ni Shana na malungkot sa boses na 'yon. Gusto niya itong hanapin ngunit wala siyang makita.

"'Asan ka? Sabihin mo pupuntahan kita," She tried to talk to the voice but she heard no response and because she couldn't resist anymore to help her, she initially walk with no direction at all. Nagpalakad-lakad siya kahit wala siyang makita.

"Hello? Sabihin mo kung 'asan ka. 'Wag ka matakot. 'Andito ako." She continued her walk and still talking to the voice which never replied her back until she heard a sobbing voice.

Nakaramdam siya ng pag-aalala kaya nagpatakbo-takbo na siya sa kadiliman. And suddenly she was halted by the instant she saw a young woman crouching and weeping. Shana thought to went near her but she was impeded by a huge glass that stood between them.

"Hey, naririnig mo ba ako? 'Andito na ako. 'Wag ka nang umiyak," kinausap niya ito ulit habang kinakatok ang nakaharang na salamin sa pagitan nila.

She keep on knocking the glass until the young woman stopped crying. Napatigil din si Shana hanggang nakita niyang unti-unting tumatayo ang babae habang nakayuko ito at natatakpan ang mukha ng mahabang buhok.

She could do nothing but to stare at the woman till it tilted her head and look her fixedly. Shana's eyes widen in shock as she was looking at the woman with the same face she had. It was walking towards her without any expression.

At ang mas ikinagulat niya ay wala itong kabilang mata, tanging isang black-hole lang ang makikita sa kaliwa nitong socket. She wanted to screamed but there was no voice getting out from her till she felt her left eye was aching.

It felt like there was something digging her eyes out from her socket. It was an absolute pain that she might die from it. Nakita niya ang babaeng malapit na sa kinatatayuan niya. Nagpaatras-atras siya habang nakadampi ang kamay niya sa kaliwang mata. She felt terrified while looking at the young woman whom her black-hole eye was dripping of bloods.

"AHHH!" She screamed at top of her lungs, surprised that she could now hear her voice and the glass started to broke into pieces. And in an instant, the young woman appeared infront of her, just one inch away from her face.

"Come back,"

NAGISING SI SHANA na malalim ang hinugot na hininga. Napahawak pa siya sa kanyang dibdib.

"Ghad...I thought it was all real," She whispered and realized that her left eye was shading in tears. She held her eye and wondered about it. It was several times she had been experiencing about it anyway but she couldn't think what does it mean.

"Papaanong nakita ko ang sarili ko sa ibang katawan?" tanong niya sa sarili pero nagpailing-iling na lang siya at pinilit na kalimutan iyon. She thought to went out of the bed and get a water to drink.

Madilim pa ang paligid dahil madaling araw pa lang 'yon. Naisip din niya si Vlad. 'Asan na kaya ito? Ang akala niya ay babalik agad ito ng gabi pero mukhang natagalan yata.

She walked through the hallway until she reached the kitchen. She was yawning while passing the kitchen counter till she heard a cracking sound and yelped nervously.

"Ay! Anak ng tatay at nanay mo! Ano ba namang---Oreo-monster?" Binuksan niya ang ilaw sa kusina at nakita ngang si Vlad ito.

"Yor ishtil awayk, Red?" pagtatanong nito habang nakatalikod kay Shana at panay kain ng oreo.

"Ay hindi nag i-sleep walking ako. Teka, bakit ngayon ka lang? Saka bakit panay oreo 'yang kinakain mo? Hindi ka ba kumain? 'Yong itsura mo din---napano ka ba?" Humarap ito kay Vlad at hindi namalayang malapit na pala ang mukha niya sa binata.

"Bhakit anjami mong tsanong? And why all of the shudden, you're too near at me? Why? did you missh me?" papungay-pungay ang mata ni Vlad habang puno ang bibig niya ng kinakain na oreo.

It was then Shana realized that she was indeed too near at Vlad. Bakit ba bigla-bigla gumagalaw ang katawan niyang hindi niya namamalayan? She felt shy and turned her back at Vlad.

"Ugok ka ba? Ano naman ang ma-mi-miss ko sa 'yo? Saka ano ba ginawa mo? Lasing ka ba? Pero hindi ka naman amoy alak eh. Anyways, ipagluluto na lang kita mukhang gutom ka eh."

Hindi na sumagot si Vlad and instead continued to full his mouth with his oreo in a weary movement. Hindi din kasi niya alam kung bakit ganito ang katawan niya. Parang pakiramdam niya ay lasing lang siya.

He took a glance at Shana who was cooking at that time. He gazed her back and was amazed how the woman had such an exquisite rear part of the body. He was looking at her like all she was in slow motion, that everything she does were simply remarkable.

He also observed how Shana put her hair in one side until he captured the woman's neck. He gulped several times as if he was lured. He felt a sudden impulse and his body was like pulling him to Shana.

"Nga pala 'wag ka magrereklamo kung ito lang ang niluluto ko ha. Sosyal pa naman 'yang bituka mo---" Nabitawan ni Shana ang hawak na sandok nang maramdaman niya ang pagyakap sa kanya ni Vlad.

"A-Anong ginagawa mo?" kinakabahang tanong ni Shana. Pero wala siyang narinig kay Vlad kundi ang pag-aamoy nito sa buhok niya hanggang naramdaman ng dalaga ang mainit nitong hininga sa leeg niya.

"Hmm...You're shoo shweet. I could do this like foreveeer." Vlad was sniffing Shana's nape until in the side of her neck. Mahigpit din ang hawak niya sa beywang ng dalaga na iki-na-iilang naman ng dalaga.

"Siraulo ka bang oreo-monster ka? Ano ba ang trip mo ha? Bitawan mo nga a-ako! Sinasapian ka yata ni Anabelle. Bi-Bitwa--!" Shana was ceased by the time Vlad lifted her like a sack of rice on his shoulder.

"H-Hoy! Ano ba?! Ibaba mo ako! Ibaba mo ako!" Halos maubo na siya sa kakasigaw pero hindi pa rin siya inintindi ni Vlad hanggang sa isang kurap ay namalayan na lang niya na nasa kwarto na pala sila.

Vlad layed her down to the bed which made Shana to be more anxious. She swallowed the lumps in her throat and don't know what exactly to do especially that she's seeing Vlad, taking off his shirt. And before she could react, the man was already on top of her.

"A-Anong gagawin mo?" She nervously asked again.

"Hindi ko tsalaga alam kung anong nangyayari sha 'kin but you really are alluring me. You're ishmell... it's driving me nutchs."

Napakagat labi naman ang dalaga. Alam niya kasing hindi pa niya tinutupad ang kasunduan nila. "I-If it's the only way for you to stop then..." Ibinababa ni Shana ang kabilang sleeve ng kanyang nightgown na halos kita ang bahagi ng dibdib niya. "G-Go on. Hindi na ako papalag sa pag-kakagat mo sa 'kin,' nahihiyang sabi niya.

She looked away when Vlad was trying to get an eye to eye contact with her. Kumalabog ang dibdib niya at hindi niya alam kung bakit. And the only thing she knew, Vlad was already kissing her neck down to her revealing parts of chest. Naisubo ni Shana ang daliri niya sa sobrang kiliti at kakaibang sensation sa katawan niya. She closed her eyes when Vlad started licking the target part of her.

"Ah-hh..." Naramdaman na lang ni Shana na bumaon na ang ngipin ni Vlad sa laman niya. Napaliyad at napahawak siya sa ulo ni Vlad. Nasa-bahaging dibdib kasi siya nitong kinagat at sinisipsipan ng dugo. She felt a jolt from her body, mixed with pain and a sensual feeling like having satisfying pleasure.

"V-Vlad..." tanging sambit niya habang ugong lang ang naririnig niyang sagot ng lalaki. Naramdaman din niya kung gaano ito nangangailangan ng dugo niya. And slowly she could feel lacking of strength.

Moreover, Vlad halted in drinking Shana's blood. He lifted his head and there were few bloods on the edges of his mouth which he wiped by his hand. Parang natauhan siya sa ginawa niya.

"Red?" Mariin niyang tinawag ang dalaga dahil nakita niya itong nakapikit na.

"A-Are you done?" Dahan-dahan naman ni Shana iminuklat ang kanyang mata. Hindi naman mabawi ni Vlad ang mga mata niya sa dalaga. Para siya nitong na hipnotismo at kakaiba ang tingin niya kay Shana. She was like a pure blooming flower in his eyes but what made him widen his eyes again was, he saw an evil eye symbol from Shana's left eye.

UNTI-UNTI NIYANG minulat ang mata niya nang marinig niya ang boses. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. There was a beautiful woman who was holding his both cheeks She had a lovely golden long wavy hair that stiring in the midair, a face that looked like his wife and a body that remained unseen for it was covered with a dazzling light.

"Hindi ikaw si Ambrogio," sambit muli nito na nakapagpabalik sa diwa niya.

"Pasensya na hindi ako ang tinutukoy mong si Ambrogio. Ako si Alphonse ang asawa ng apo niyo, si Odessa. Hindi ko alam na ikaw ang tinutukoy ng asawa ko sa sinulat niya," mahina at may halong dismaya ang boses niya.

"Si Odessa...kung gano'n ikaw ang tinutukoy na pupunta dito para gisingin ako." Umalis ang babae sa pagkakahawak sa kanya at nanatili itong nakalutang sa hangin.

"Opo. Nandito ako para malaman ang lunas sa anak ko, sa anak namin ni Odessa na katulad din sa sinapit mo."

The woman gave an unwavering look to the man. "Walang lunas ang binigay na sumpa ni Elizabeth. Walang nakakaalam kaya hindi kita matutulungan dahil panghambuhay ito mangyayari."

Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Alphonse sa narinig. "Anong ibig sabihin nito? Mamamatay din ang anak ko? Hindi ba ito ang sinasabi ng asawa ko? Ang hanapin ang lunas ng sumpa?"

"Hindi ko din matukoy ngunit malaking bagay ang pagpunta mo dito. Kailangan kong makausap si Ambrogio. Kailangan ko siyang makita. Ito ang natutukoy kong layon ng pag gising ko."

Alphonse clenched his hand and tilted his head down. "Hindi mo na siya makakausap dahil matagal ng namatay ang asawa mo, lola Selene."

Nagulat ang babae sa inaakala ni Alphonse. "Anong sinasabi mo? Nararamdaman ko ang buhay ni Ambrogio."

And Alphonse lifted his head in confusion.