Taste of Poison

Kabanata 31

Warning

With all these things that happened, I don't know what to do now. Pakiramdam ko blanko ang isip ko habang tahimik na nagkukubli sa likod ng aking bintana sa silid, nagmamatyag sa malawak na dalampasigan.

The white thin curtains kept on swaying as the cold breeze entered the room. I could hear the gentle waves from afar, the swoosh caused by the air, and the birds chirping.

At this time, all I wanted was to play on the shore and feel the coldness of the night. Feel the rough sand on my bare feet, let my body soak in saltwater.

But where I am? Waiting for the enemies.

"Come here, Emory..." tawag ni Azar.

Tumuwid ako ng tayo at binalingan siya. He was smiling, lying on the bed with his hands underneath his head.

As usual, he's shirtless. Animo'y wala kaming kinakaharap na problema sa kasalukuyan.

I leered at him. He lost weight, yes. His ribs are showing and his skin is pale white than before. Kita ko rin ang pagod sa kaniyang mga mata.

My eyes turned soft.

"You should rest," I said.

He shook his head, smiling. "Nope."

"I can manage here, Az..." kumunot ang aking noo.

"Nope," ulit niya. "I can also manage."

I rolled my eyes and sat on the chair. Nilapag ko sa mesa ang pana at humalumbaba sa upuan.

I wonder if he knows.

"What do you know?" I asked indirectly.

Noong una ay kumunot ang kaniyang noo. But then, realization hits him. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin kapagkuwan ay tumikhim.

He picked the pillow near him. Nagpalit siya ng position at patagilid na siyang humiga yakap ang aking unan.

Then he closed his eyes, dismissing my question.

I arc my brows. "Trying to avoid my question, eh?"

I sat straight. Umungol lang siya roon na ikinailing ko.

The window was just near my position so, I slightly part the curtain to peek outside through the glass window. Nanlaki ang aking mga mata nang makitang may lumipad na bato patungo sa direksiyon ko.

Mabilis akong umalis sa puwesto at yumuko. Rinig ang pagbasag ng salamin sa buong silid dahilan upang mapabalikwas si Azar.

"What the! Emory!"

In a split second, Azar made his way in my direction. He enveloped me in his arms as we lurked into the cement wall, away from windows.

"They're here—"

"Yes! And you didn't even sense their presence!" gigil kong bulong.

"I can't sense them! Even now!" balik niya.

"What? So they have the ability to hide their presence?!" sabay irap ko.

"Who knows?"

Muli akong umirap. I tucked the strands of my hair behind my ear while calming my heart. That was close! Tiyak na narinig ng iba ang ingay rito sa silid ko.

We were not gathered together, obviously. We stayed in our room and target whoever we find suspicious.

"The weapon, Az."

Agad niyang inabot sa mesa ang pana. I slowly crawl on the floor to get in closer to the window.

I could see one vampire from afar with the help of my small binocular hanging on my neck.

Kumuha ako ng palaso na may halong pilak sa dulo na nakalapag lang sa sahig at pinosisyon ang pana sa bintana.

"Count one to three, luv."

Azar groaned. "One, two, three..."

On his last count, I released the string and immediately hide behind the cement wall.

Kunot ang noo akong tiningnan ni Azar.

"Do you have a gun?"

My eyes darted to my bed. The frame has a drawer and Tita Mau mentioned that every room in this house has guns hiding on the bed frame.

Tinuro ko iyon. "I think guns are there."

Mabilis siyang kumilos. Honestly, I don't know what weapons those vampires outside are using. Do they have guns? A bomb? An archer or something that would protect themselves from us?

O baka sarili lang ang dala nila. Well, they have fangs and their speed is no joke.

"Got it. Do you know how to use a gun?"

Nag-alinlangan akong tumango. "Siguro?"

"You don't know how to use a gun," he emphasized. "At a situation like this, guns are better than archers."

"Huh!" I flicked my tongue. "You don't know what you're saying. You're talking to me, Az. Watch your words," kunwa'y seryoso kong saad.

He chuckled and check the magazine.

"Silvers," he looked at me. "Are these guns legal?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Ask Tita Mau."

May narinig kaming ingay mula sa labas. I was about to take a look when Azar held my head to stop me. Mayamaya pa ay may lumipad na palaso sa gilid namin at tumama ito sa pinto ng silid.

It was the same arrow and it has blood on the edge. May kulay puti rin na papel sa dulo ng pana.

"I think they sent us a message," I mumbled.

Hinayaan ko si Azar na sumilip sa sirang bintana. Then, he used his speed to get the paper and handed it to me.

"Today's just a warning," I read out loud.

"That means they won't attack us for now."

"I know," I said. "So, we're safe now."

"Temporary."

I bit the side of my cheek. "Your father's a dick."

He coughed. "He made me."

My forefinger automatically raised to point something above.

"He made you," pagdiin ko.

Napasimangot siya. "Fine. My father's a dick."

I smiled and put my hand down. "He is! So don't be like him, hmm?"

Isang oras ang hinintay namin bago kami lumabas ng silid. We found the others in the living room sitting feeling relaxed as if Leo wasn't here one hour ago.

Or maybe he just sent his allies to give us a warning.

Umupo si Azar sa couch at ako naman ay sa armrest. I just let him wrap his arm on my waist.

"It was just a warning but we should find another place."

"Where?" Mal asked.

"Back to the Philippines," said my mother.

"Jesus! Of all countries," bulong ni Tita Mau.

"We have tons of allies there. Vampires and humans. I still have my contact with some other vampire hunters. They're a big help to us."

"I talked to some vampire leaders, too. They're willing to help."

Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Tito— hindi ko pa talaga alam ang itatawag sa kaniya.

"Leaders?" I blurted out.

"You don't know?" he was curious.

Umiling ako. Narinig ko ang pagtikhim ni Azar sa tabi ko.

"In the Philippines, there's called Vampire Guilds wherein obviously, people living in that community are all vampires and each has a leader. They usually reside in the forest."

"Are you a leader?" Kuya Aamon finally talked.

"Yes," he answered. "And your boyfriend, Emory. He is also leading a guild."

"Oh..." was all I can say.

I felt he squeezed the sides of my waist. I looked at him and he just uttered a sorry silently.

I rolled my eyes and looked away. We really need to talk.

"Leo Madrigal has a big connection when it comes to people. Iba pa 'yong mga tauhan ni Papa. The two worked together so, expect that they will bring battalion to hunt us down. Here in New York," Mama Astrid shook her head. "We don't have people in here but they have."

"Then why are we here in the first place?"

"When he learned that the lab is located somewhere in New York, he started to bring and scattered his people here. Natagalan lang sila dahil hindi nila alam ang exact place nitong laboratory," she continued.

I sighed deeply. "Paano naman sa Pinas? Baka may mga galamay rin pala siya roon."

Tito shooked his head. "Mayroon pero hindi ganoon karami. They built their own group mainly in England."

"And you've built your own in the Philippines."

He nodded. "Yes."

"How come na wala masyado silang tauhan sa Pinas gayong sila naman ang nagkalat ng virus na 'to? If they stayed in England, then why is there a lot of vampires in the Philippines?"

Sabay-sabay silang nag-iwas ng tingin. Napataas ang kilay ko sa reaksiyon nila.

"It was my mother's doing."

Bumaba ang tingin ko kay Azar. "How?"

"Well," he closed his eyes. "I helped her, too. It was just a moment though."

"A moment of what?" I uttered in disbelief.

He didn't answer.

"I'm sure you already met Relani," simula ni Mama na ikinatingin ko sa kaniya.

"Yes, and I heard she's Leo's daughter."

"Adoptive daughter. Relani is his niece, her mother died after giving birth to her."

"Why?"

"Because she's a half-vampire. She didn't make it."

Gumapang ang kaba sa aking puso. I thought of Lia...

"She was dying but, Anna saved her. Bata pa lang ay naglayas na si Relani at doon nagsimula ang lahat. Without her knowledge, she's turning people around her to a vampire by forcing them to drink her blood."

"She's just half..."

"She was born as half. When Anna gave Relani her blood, it was replaced. Dugo ni Anna ang nanalaytay na sa katawan ni Relani. That was why she was capable of turning human into a vampire. After all, Anna was the first vampire in our history," kuwento ni Mama Astrid.

Nakagat ko ang labi. Their blood is really something. Like how?!

"That's how it started..." bulong ni Azar.

Hindi ko siya pinansin.

"So, we are really coming back to the Philippines," ani Tita Mau na bakas ang disgusto sa tinig.

"We have no choice. I already called a friend to fly us back to the Philippines."

The same day, we packed our things. Wala naman akong halos dala na gamit kaya magaan lang ang dala ko. Noong madaling araw rin na iyon kami lumipad pauwi sa Pinas.

"Thanks, Relani..." said Mama.

Napairap ako nang marinig ang kaniyang pangalan. Yes, it was Relani and her human boyfriend who offered to bring us back here to the Philippines.

Napunta sa direksiyon ko ang kaniyang atensiyon at nginisihan ako. I don't know what's with me but, she always irritates the hell out of me!

"b***h!" I uttered. Napasimangot siya.

"You should stay here. It's already late," yaya ni Mama.

Actually, it's almost morning. Hindi na delikado para sa katulad niyang isang bampira.

"It's okay po, Tita. We can manage naman. May gagawin pa rin kasi kami mamaya."

"Gano'n ba?"

"Opo..."

Umakyat na ako sa taas para mag-ayos. We're gathered together in my mother's house in case of Leo's sudden appearance. Si Azar ay kahit anong pigil ko ay umalis pa rin.

I've learned that they also have an empty lab here so, the gentlemen were out to drop the equipment there. Hindi ko lang alam ang eksaktong lugar.

I took a shower and fixed myself before jumping on the bed. Kinuha ko ang selpon at hinanap ang numero ni Yves.

I don't know if I should call him or what. We didn't mean to leave him alone with Audrey. I know he needs us at those times but, we have our own commitments, too. Ni wala kami sa kaniyang tabi, and even on our friend's last day, we weren't there to be with them.

I heaved a deep sigh. Pikit-mata kong pinindot ang call button doon.

It took at least five rings before he answered the phone.

"Yves..." mababa kong bati.

Silence.

"I'm sorry," saad ko.

But he ended the call after I said those words. Malalim akong bumuntong-hininga bago dahan-dahang binaba ang tawag. Our picture together welcomed my sight.

Napatingin ako sa nakangiting mukha ni Audrey. I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I stared at her happy face. I wasn't there... How can I call myself her friend if I wasn't even there on her last day?

Napatingin ako sa pinto ng silid ko na bumukas. Niluwa no'n si Mallory na sumisinghot. She jumped on my bed and stared at my phone, too. Nang makita iyon ay pataob siyang humiga sa tabi ko at doon tahimik na umiyak.

That night, we mourn together.

Kinabukasan ay abala na naman kami. But I chose to visit Lia at their house and I can't help but be shocked upon seeing her.

"Lia..." I covered my mouth with my hands. "What happened? Oh my god..."

Despite her state, she managed to force a smile. "This is why I want you to save me. I don't want to leave my son."

Tahimik lang si Tita sa likod ko na siyang nagdala sa akin sa silid ni Lia. I walked towards her bed slowly. Every step just feels so heavy that I heard my heart breaking into pieces.

Hinawakan ko ang kaniyang kamay na ngayon ay nangangayayat na. She's now bedridden. Her cheekbones, and everything just... gone. Kitang-kita ko ang paghihirap sa kaniyang mga mata pero naroon pa rin ang kagustuhan niyang lumaban.

She knows yet she kept it to herself!

Naiiyak akong tumango. "We will do our best to save you, okay? Just don't give up, Lia. You got this, right?"

Ramdam ko ang bahagyang paghigpit ng kapit niya sa akin. I could see her tears streaming down her cheeks. ang isang kamay niya ay nasa ibaba ng kaniyang tiyan. Ang kaniyang katawan ay kinabitan na rin ng iba't ibang apparatus.

"I can make it, right?" nanghihina niyang bulong.

"Of course, Lia!" Paulit-paulit akong tumango. "You can make it! We're here, okay? Think of your son. Think of Sloan..."

I sniffed.

"I'm so tired. I feel so drained. My baby is too thirsty that he keeps on drinking from me," she chuckled lightly.

Nanginginig ang labi ko nan magsalita. "I will call my mother. Alam kong makakatunlong siya."

Hindi siya sumagot. Binitawan ko ang kamay niya para kunin ang selpon ko sa bag. With my hands shaking, I looked for my mother's number and immediately called her. Ilang ring lang ay sinagot na niya ang tawag.

"Mama..." tumingin ako kay Lia at muling hinawakan ang kaniyang kamay. "Si Lia, Mama. She needs our help."

"We are on our way," aniya.

Nagtataka man kung paano ay hindi na ako nagtanong pa.

Binaba ko ang tawag at ngumiti sa kaniya, pinaparating na magiging maayos din ang lahat.

"You need to fight for Sloan, Lia," I told her firmly. "Promise to fight until the end, okay? Gagawa kami ng paraan para mailigtas kayong pareho."

"Blood..." she stuttered. "A vampire's blood is the only way that would save us."

Tumango ako. "All I ask is to fight. You will get through this. We are here by your side."

Hinawi ko ang kaniyang buhok na tumatabing sa kaniyang mukha. Pati ito ay unti-unti na ring nalalagas.

She turned her head to the other side and stared at nowhere. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from crying.

Simeon, wherever you are, I hope you see how your wife suffer. You should be here on her side, assuring her that everything is gonna be alright.

"I'm so tired..." she mumbled wearily.

"You're not," I said.

Ilang minuto lang ay dumating na si Mama kasama si Tita Mau. They both rushed inside her room with worry on their faces.

"Lia," tawag ni Mama. Gumilid ako para bigyan sila ng daan.

"What should we do?" I asked. Nagpa-panic na pati ang kalooban ko.

"She won't make it," ani Tita. "We need to do something now, Astrid!"