Feared

Unexpected

CALISSA

Nakarating kami dito sa garden nila nang matapos niya akong hilahin. May isang picnic table dito at dalawang upuan na kulay puti. After he released his grip on me, I glanced at him for a few seconds bago nagpasya na umupo sa isang upuan dito. Pinakiramdaman ko ang paa kung may masakit ba pero wala naman, kahit two-inch lang ang sandal na ito ay manipis pa rin kaya posibleng mapigtal ito anytime. Ano ba ang kailangan niya sa'kin? Does he know me?

Nakatalikod sa akin ang lalaking bampira. Parehas nakalagay ang kamay nito sa dalawang pocket ng kaniyag black cape. Given his muscular physique, I wouldn't be surprised that I couldn't break free from his grip.

"What do you need?" I asked calmly. Kailangan ko na makaalis dito dahil paniguradong hinahanap na ako nila Morwena, pati kung nasa loob na si Ama ay kahit paano makakalapit ako sa kaniya. As a well-known business man, my father values his image and reputation. Everyone knows he has a daughter, so he has no choice but to introduce me to his other clients or colleagues.

When he turned to face me, it was only then that I got a proper look at his appearance. His presence commanded attention, striking fear into the hearts of those who dared to meet his gaze. But it was his eyes that truly captured my attention, piercing, mesmerizing, but lifeless. They held an unearthly black hue, like the depths of the abyss itself.

His features, framed by the contrast of his pale skin and those captivating eyes, were chiseled and refined. His high cheekbones cast deep shadows upon his face, emphasizing his otherworldly allure. His physique was both statuesque and muscular, a testament to his supernatural strength. Broad shoulders tapered down to a narrow waist, conveying a sense of agility and grace. His hair is a raven black color.

"You," he simply said. Malalim talaga ang boses niya, tuwing magsasalita siya ay mararamdaman mo na para ka niyang inuutusan at dapat lang na sundin mo yon. Naglakad siya papalapit sa'kin ngunit huminto rin nang nasa tapat ko na siya.

"Scratch that, what do you need from me?" Once again, I averted my gaze from him because I couldn't resist the intensity of his stare. Instead, I looked down at his black leather shoes.

Napalingon ako sa kamay nito nang biglang itinukod niya ito sa picnic table. When I looked back at him, our faces were only a few inches apart. I could smell his perfume up close due to his proximity. It had a combination of roses and... baby cologne? Alam ko ang amoy ng baby cologne dahil yon ang gamit ni Morwena hanggang ngayon.

"You heard me,"

I used my index finger to gently tap his shoulder, trying to create some distance between us. He didn't resist and eventually moved away. He simply walked towards the chair in front of me but didn't sit down.

"Do you have anything else to say?" Tanong Ko. Tumayo na ako mula sa pagkakaupo habang ang paningin niya ay sinusundan ang bawat pag galaw ko. If he had nothing more to say, I would take it as my cue to leave.

Hindi siya sumagot at ilang segundo pa kaming nagtitigan. I couldn't help but let out a slight laugh. His forehead furrowed in response to my reaction. Naamoy ko na naman kasi ang pabango niya. He smelled pleasant, but it was surprising to see a man like him using that particular fragrance.

Cute.

Naglakad na ako palayo. Wala naman kaming kailangan sa isa't-isa kaya mauuna na akong umalis. I could feel his gaze on my back, but I chose to ignore it. I gave him the opportunity to speak up about what he needed, but he remained silent.

"Stay," kusa anong napahinto nang marinig ito sa kaniya. Lumingon ako sa kaniya na ngayo'y nakaupo na sa kaninang kinauupuan ko.

"Why would I?" I replied. As I waited for his response, I heard Morwena's voice from a distance, shouting my name. I was about to take another step away when I suddenly felt a swift gust of wind by my side, and I realized that the man was now standing in front of me. Napansin ko ang pagtiim ng kaniyang panga habang mas sumama ang tingin sa akin. Anong ginawa ko? Gusto ko lang naman umalis sa lugar kung nasaan siya.

"Come with me," bigla siyang nawala sa harapan ko. As I searched for him, I found him standing in a dark area behind the mansion. It was a particularly dim spot, further accentuated by the night.

Lumingon ako kung saan puwede akong makita ni Morwena at lumingon rin sa puwesto nong lalaki. I was unsure whether I should follow him because for what purpose? He hadn't explained to me what he needed. Isang tanong, isang sagot pa sya.

I took a deep breath and utilized my ability to quickly reach Morwena. One of the abilities vampires possess is their speed and strength.

Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng paggamit ng ability ko nang may biglang humawak sa'kin and I was startled by the intense pain that surged through my body. I stopped using my ability and exerted all my strength to free myself from the grip. It was excruciating, as if I was being electrocuted, at pakiramdam ko ano mang oras ay matatanggal ang kamay ko.

"Would you please stop bothering me? I don't know you!" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sigawan siya, yung lalaki pa rin ang may gawa nito sa'kin. He ignored me and walked towards a door. As he opened it, he glanced back at me, his gaze urging me to follow, as if warning me that if I didn't, I might experience the same pain I felt earlier. I had no choice but to follow him.

Sanay ako na nasa masyon lang namin at laging mag-isa, iniingatan ako ng mga bampira doon but this man didn't even hesitate to hurt me.

The path was narrow, allowing only one vampire to enter at a time. I composed my facial expression and filled my mind with happy thoughts. I wanted to distance myself from this man dahil kung hindi kami nasa madilim na lugar ay nasasaktan naman ako ng dahil sa kaniya.

"Where are we going now?" I asked. As usual, I didn't get an answer from him.

After a while, he opened another door, and I followed. Bumungad na sa aking paningin ngayon ang maliwanag na paligid, kahit saan ako tumingin ay may nakikita akong maliliit na flower vase. They were filled with roses, predominantly red, but there were also white, pink, and yellow ones.

Sinusundan ko kung saan napunta ang lalaki pero ang paningin ko ay nasa malayo. Tinatanaw ko kung nasaan kami at hinahanap na rin sina Morven. Panigurado ay pinapagalitan na ni Morven ang kapatid dahil nawala ako nang kasama ko si Morwena. Alam kong nasa unang palapag lang kami ng mansyon pero wala akong nakikitang mga bisita na dapat ay nandito, malayo pa ba kami kung saan ginanap ang okasyon?

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang muntikan na naman ako tumama sa kaniya pero this time sa likod niya ako tatama. He had a firm grip on the doorknob, his gaze fixed on something ahead while standing by the door. I peered over his side to see what he was looking at.

"Hmm ah," napatakip ako ng mukha gamit ang dalawa kong palad.

Wala kang nakita, Calissa. Wala kang nakita.

"Hmm ahh ah," mabilis kong tinakip ang isang kamay sa tainga ko habang yung isa nasa mga mata ko. Narinig ko pa rin kaya dalawang kamay na ang nilagay ko sa tainga at mabilis na pinikit ang mata ko.

"You're here. Want to join us?" A female vampire and a male were on the bed, both completely naked. I caught a glimpse of their expressions while they were engaged in that act earlier. I felt a sudden rise in my hair and couldn't get the image out of my mind.

Nilagay ko ulit ang isang kamay sa mata habang kinapa ang nasa harapan ko dahil may takip ang mata ko. I didn't want to open my eyes for fear that they might still be naked. Nahawakan ko ang lalaki pero mahina ko siyang hinampas. As I reached for the door, I quickly turned away from them.

Hinanap ko kung saan ginaganap ngayon ang okasyon. I went back to my previous position several times, pero hindi ko pa rin makita. I decided to go upstairs in the mansion to check there. Nang may makita akong double door ay binuksan ko na ito.

Napapikit ako dahil sa nakakasilaw na ilaw na tumama sa'kin. Nakita ko ang karamihan na bampirang nakatingin sa'kin, ang iba pa ay mukhang balak akong lapitan ngunit iniiwas ko lang rin agad ang paningin ko para ipakita na wala akong interes makipag-usap.

"Lady," narinig ko ang pamilyar na boses ni Morven kaya nilingon ko siya. He swiftly walked towards me, with Morwena following closely behind, wiping away her tears.

"Ayos ka lang ba? Are you hurt?" Yes. He asked with concern, placing his hand on my shoulder, nilayo ko ang balikat ko. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya.

"No,"

Morwena approached me and hugged me tightly. I gently stroked her back as I could still hear the rapid beating of her heart.

"I'm sorry. Sana pala ay hindi na lang ako sumabay kanina kina Silas," bigla siyang pumiyok sa kalagitnaan ng pagsasalita niya kaya napangiti ako.

"It's alright, Morwena. You don't have to blame yourself. We're safe now, and that's what matters," I reassured her with a comforting smile.

Nang mahimasmasan siya ay tiningnan niya ako from head to toe. Humarap siya saglit kay Morwen para makapag paalam na pupunta kaming comfort room, hindi pa nga sana papayag si Morven dahil baka mawala na naman daw ako pero nagpumilit rin si Morwena dahil kailangan niya daw i-retouch ang make-up ko.

"Why do you need to retouch my make-up?" I asked her as we arrived at the comfort room. We had walked quite a distance earlier, as we had asked the waiters for directions and ended up getting lost. Buti na lang ay may isang kasambahay na sinamahan kami sa comfort room.

"Magpapakilala tayo mamaya sa harap ng hari at reyna," she said as she applied press powder on me.

"Are we allowed to do so? I mean, they're the king and queen," hinawakan niya ako sa balikat para iharap sa mirror. Hinawakan niya ang buhok ko para ayusin ito.

"Oo, ayos lang. Kasama naman natin mamaya si Mr. Delcour," I nodded in agreement. My mood lightened up again upon hearing that.

"Is my Father here?"

"Kanina pa. Nandoon sa mga client niya,"

"Okay. We'll go to him after this," nang matapos niya akong ayusan ay saglit niya lang rin niretouch ang make-up niya at lumabas sa comfort room. Hindi na kami naligaw nang bumalik kami kung saan ginaganap ang okasyon.

Nakaabang sa amin si Morven pagpasok naming muli dito. He gave his sister a stern look before his expression softened when he looked at me.

We walked towards where Father was, passing through the crowd of vampires dressed in suits. Some of them were even wearing shades despite the absence of sunlight. It's strictly forbidden for vampires to go out in daylight, but some managed to do so. I knew that only those who were over eight hundred years old were able to walk under the sun.

As my father noticed us, he paused his conversation with the others. His smile faded when he saw me, but I managed to give him a smile in return. Maraming kliyente si Ama ngayon dito at ayokong isipin nila na may hidwagaan na nagaganap sa amin ni Ama.

"Good evening, Father," lumapit ako kay Ama para tumungo sa kaniyang harap ng ilang segundo. I then turned to face the clients and acquaintances surrounding my father, acknowledging them with a nod of my head.

We didn't stay long in that spot and proceeded to the center where a red carpet was laid out. I glanced at my father, hinihintay kong ayain niya ako na ilagay ang kamay sa palad niya.

"Father, everyone's watching us," I said with a smile. He looked at me for a moment before extending his hand, inviting me to place mine on his palm.

I felt a tear welling up, but I took a deep breath and looked at the vampires gathered before us with a serious expression. I walked confidently, head held high, towards the king and queen of this city.

"Magandang gabi mahal na hari at reyna." Saad ni Ama. I curtsy before them for a few seconds before lifting my face.

I was about to greet them too nang maramdaman ko ang isang braso na yumapos sa akin. I glanced at the hand resting on my waist before furrowing my brows to look at who it was. Hanggang dito ba naman ay manggugulo siya? Right in front of the king and queen?

"What are you doing?" mahina ngunit madiin kong sabi sa kaniya. Sinigurado ko na kami lang makakarinig nung sinabi ko.

He ignored me and continued to lock eyes with the king and queen. What was he up to? I glanced at my father's expression, but it was unreadable, while the king and queen maintained a serious gaze on us.

The man turned his gaze towards me. We locked eyes for a few seconds, as he continued to stare directly into my eyes.

"I'm Rion," he said, hindi inaalis ang tingin sa'kin. Afterward, he shifted his attention back to the king and queen.

"And we're engaged, Calissa."

Wala kang narinig, Calissa. Wala kang narinig.