KABANATA 4
1259 Words
Queen Denise Morgan
I drove my Mustang fast the moment I received Butler Mae’s text.
“What happened?” tanong ko agad pagdating ko sa Thanatos Palace.
“Queen.” sabay-sabay na bati ng mga naroon bago yumukod sa’kin.
Hindi ako nagsalita. I simply scanned the room—tatlong binatilyo ang nakaluhod sa harap ko, duguan, halatang pinahirapan.
I adjusted my mask slightly, then averted my gaze the second I caught sight of too much blood.
“Nahuli po namin silang tatlo na nagmamanman. Hindi namin alam kung gaano karami ang nalaman nila, kaya dinala namin sila rito sa loob,” paliwanag ng isa sa mga bantay.
Tumango ako, then assessed them with a calm, clinical stare.
Ang isa sa kanila—may mga matang malamig, almost the same as mine—diretsong nakatingin sa’kin. No fear. No pleading.
I smiled—small, dangerous.
“Kill them.” utos ko, then I turned my back and left the palace as if it was nothing.
Akala ko kung anong emergency—mga daga lang pala na naligaw.
I drove straight to the mansion. Hindi na ako babalik sa school today. Bukas ko na lang itutuloy ang mga papeles na kailangan ng pirma ko. Wala namang mawawala sa’kin.
“Stupid.” I muttered when I saw a nerd trip and almost crash into someone.
Biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang nerd na ‘yon.
Hindi ko akalain na tatawagin niya akong bampira—tanga talaga.
I glanced at myself in the mirror and shook my head.
Porket maputi, bampira na? Tsk.
I kept driving until I reached the mansion. Pagpasok ko, diretso agad ako sa room ko.
I lay down and stared at the ceiling, letting silence wrap around me like expensive silk.
Then—suddenly—may gumalaw sa sikmura ko.
Parang nasusuka ako pero hindi ko maintindihan. My vision spun. Ramdam ko rin ang init ng hangin na lumalabas sa ilong ko, heavy, wrong.
My body dropped back onto the bed. Before I blacked out, I pressed the red button—hard.
Dr. Ramirez
Agad kong kinuha ang puting coat at susi ko nang makita ko ang emergency alarm na nakakunekta sa cellphone ko.
Mabilis akong lumabas ng Morgan Hospital, started my car, and drove like hell—while dialing Butler Mae.
“Yes, hello, Dr. Ramirez,” bungad niya.
Tumikhim ako bago nagsalita.
“Code D.”
Biglang tumahimik ang linya. Then I heard the sharp clink of keys.
“Okay. I’m on my way,” sabi niya, then binaba niya agad ang tawag.
Code D. The code used kapag emergency at masama ang lagay ng Reyna.
Queen Denise Morgan is like a daughter to me—kaya ganito na lang ang pag-aalala ko.
Bata pa lang siya, ako lang ang doktor na hinahayaan niyang lumapit. She never trusted people easily—mailap, guarded—so earning her trust wasn’t simple.
But she gave it. Somehow.
Pagdating ko sa mansion, dali-dali akong bumaba dala ang gamit ko. I saw a motorbike approaching—si Butler Mae.
Mabilis niyang tinanggal ang helmet at sabay kaming tumakbo papunta sa room ng Queen.
Halos mag-unahan pa kami sa pag-tap ng card pass sa lock. Tanging kami lang ang may access na ‘to. The pass only works for its owner—kahit manakaw, useless.
Hinayaan ko si Butler Mae ang mag-tap.
The door slid open.
And there she was—Queen Denise—eyes closed, breathing like she was drowning in air.
Mabilis kaming lumapit. I checked her pulse.
Low. Too low.
Nilagyan namin siya ng oxygen—Butler Mae handled it while I pulled out my flashlight and gently opened her eyes.
Then I lifted her shirt slightly sa bandang tiyan.
“Matigas ang ulo…” I muttered the moment I understood.
I took a syringe containing a blue liquid and injected it slowly.
Her breathing steadied.
The sweating stopped.
She looked like she was simply sleeping—peaceful, expensive-looking even in weakness, like royalty should.
“Nasabihan ko na siya. She has an unusual condition—kapag kumain siya ng sobra, it can trigger this,” sabi ko, shaking my head while staring at her calm face.
“Sino bang kasama niya kumain? Bakit hinayaan siyang kumain nang marami?” I asked Butler Mae.
Walang emosyon ang mukha niya as she looked at the Queen.
“Sabi ni Van, umalis ng school si Queen kasama ang isang nerd,” sagot niya.
Tumango ako.
“Malamang siya ang kasama niya kumain,” dagdag pa ni Butler Mae.
I packed my things. Then I pulled out another syringe—same blue liquid—and handed it to Butler Mae.
Nagulat siya, then looked at me with a question in her eyes.
“Just in case. Baka masundan ka, and I might be far. If it happens again, you need to act fast.” I paused. “Kung mahuli tayo, she won’t make it.”
Butler Mae nodded, grip tightening around the syringe.
“Salamat,” she said.
I gave one last look to Queen Denise.
“Ingatan mo ang Queen.” Then I turned and walked out.
That girl… napakatigas ng ulo.
Pang-ilang beses na ba siyang naturukan dahil sa pride niya?
Queen Denise Morgan
Magaan ang pakiramdam ko nang unti-unti kong binuksan ang mga mata ko. Unang bumungad ang ceiling.
“Good morning, Queen. Inumin mo muna ito bago ka bumangon,” sabi ni Butler Mae pagpasok niya.
I turned a cold stare toward the glass—pulang liquid.
Para naman akong iinom ng dugo.
Biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang nerd. Siguradong magpa-panic ‘yon kapag nakita niya akong umiinom ng ganito. He’ll fully believe I’m a vampire.
I dismissed the thought.
I took the glass.
“Ano ‘to?” tanong ko.
“Juice. It contains vitamins,” diretsong sagot niya—dead serious.
Parang binara ako, but her face didn’t even flinch. So I just sighed and drank it.
Vitamins. Tsk.
I stood and went straight to the bathroom. Narinig ko ring lumabas na si Butler Mae.
Slowly, I removed my clothes and stared at my reflection.
A merciless, ruthless woman—yet I let that nerd escape.
Even if he disturbed my sleep.
I made a deal with myself.
Kung papayagan ng tadhana na magkita kami ulit… siya ang papakasalan ko.
For my grandfather’s last will.
Tss.
I finished my shower quickly and stepped into my closet.
Corporate attire section.
I chose a maroon pencil skirt, paired with a maroon coat and a white long sleeve—clean lines, power, elegance.
After getting ready, I grabbed my keys and left my room.
I was heading to the Twin Building. Tanghali na, so I’ll stop there first before going to school.
Habang papalabas, I saw Butler Mae in the kitchen.
“Queen, kumain ka muna bago umalis,” sabi niya—mukhang magluluto.
“Dinner,” maiksi kong sagot.
Tumango siya. I didn’t look back.
I walked to the garage.
I pressed the remote and a Porsche Panamera answered with a refined purr.
I got in, started it, fixed my seatbelt, and drove off.
Pagdating ko sa Twin Building, diretso parking lot.
I stepped out and left the car blocking the lot—because rules don’t apply to me.
I looked at the guard and tossed him the key.
He understood immediately and nodded.
I was about to enter my private elevator when I heard a familiar voice—pamilyar na tawag.
“Bampira…”
I turned slowly, then smiled.
Oh.
Destiny really is hitting on us.
- Writer
