Nefarious

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Alondra

May posibilidad mang hindi na muling makita ang susi ng bahay na siyang tanging matutuluyuan ko rito sa Legada ay mas matimbang pa rin ang kaalaman kung sa isang kastilyo nga ba talaga nakatira si Konstantine. Kahit ang mapuntahan lang ang sinasabing kastilyong pinagmumulan ng malas at pinamamahayan ng kung anu-anong mga halimaw kagaya ng pagbibintang ng bayang ito. Kating-kati ang balat kong tumapak sa loob ng kastilyo dahil marahil ang isang linggong pagtanaw rito ay naapektuhan ako kahit hindi ko man gustong aminin.

I wanted so much to step a foot inside that forbidden place, the place where the town was so scared of that they resorted to hatred and anger instead. The place where I at least wanted to visit before I die so my mind might have a rest from dreaming about it so much.

The moon was unseen tonight, hiding behind the shadows of the dark clouds and the mountain so large that it looked like a sleeping giant from a distance. It was the second time that I ran towards the dark forest. Deliberately and most intentionally. My feet were repeatedly pounding unto the ground each time I took a step.

Wolves howled in the distance. The loud gushing of a waterfall echoed with the sound of hooves prancing around the area. With the mist and moist, I took a large exhale, my lungs burying the biting cold inside my body so that the forest could live within my veins.

Tumakbo ako nang tumakbo hanggang sa malagpasan ang pusod ng kagubatan dahil doon na lote kung saan napuputol ang linya ng mga puno at nagsisimula ang malawakang bakuran ng dambuhalang kastilyo.

Huminto ako sa pagtakbo. Nakaharap ko ang matataas na mga itim na bakal na nagsisilbing guwardya sa kabuuan ng paligid. Nang pakawalan ko ang malalim na buntong-hininga ay nagsimula akong tumingin mula sa mga talahib na nagtataasan paakyat sa ladrilyong pinagpatong-patong ilang libong taon na ang lumipas. Patungo sa mga bitak-bitak na pader at bintanang halos kasing tangkad ko, pataas at pataas pa hanggang sa tuluyan nang maabot ang mga tore ng kastilyo.

The clouds up above were the darkest I had ever seen, moving around the dark sky that was sending lightning bolts on both wings of the castle. Deep rumbling of thunder penetrated my eardrums that it might pop all of sudden. A shiver ran through my spine repeatedly as I looked at the marvelous yet hauntingly elegant masterpiece looming at the whole town of Legada de la Reina.

And at the bottom of it all, there he was. Standing on his full height and dominance, his cape flaring behind him as the thunder rumbled. Lightning ripped the black sky into a blinding white turmoil. He stood at the center of it all.

Konstantine.

Kahit malayo at madilim ay kitang-kita ko kung paanong mas tumayog ang kaniyang tayo nang makita ako. Unti-unting umukit ang kurba sa gilid ng kaniyang mga labi na hindi ko kayang pangalanan kung tuwa o galit ba. Para bang inaasam niyang magpunta ako rito at nang mapagbigyan ang hiling ay mas lalo lang tumapang ang loob.

Konstantine, the master and king of the castle that stood on the very edge of a terrible precipice, waited all night for this.

The look in his eyes was phenomenal, making me feel like I was more than this humongous masterpiece itself. His dark eyes became larger, pupils dilating in the dark and zooming in at the very breath that I released. His broad chest cladded in black triple piece ensemble heaved up and down, the veins on the side of his neck pounding wildly. Konstantine stood there and looked at me like I was his most prized possession, the last remaining jewel on earth that he would lock up to his dungeons and guard for the rest of his life.

Napatakbo ako laban sa mga talahiban at maputik na daan. Malayo pa lang ay unti-unti nang bumubukas ang malalaking rehas, lumalangitngit nang napakaingay na tila ba unang beses itong gumagalaw pagkalipas ng ilang libong taon pagkakahimlay. Kumaripas ako ng takbo papasok sa kastilyong may lumalagablab na mga kidlat sa itaas.

Under the heavy rain and thunder, I ran the path that would lead me to the man living in the shadows. We met in the middle like long-lost lovers, and the night existed only to be the witness of it all.

“I would like to ask you if you could help me find my house keys but its raining and its dark and…” I whispered, biting my lips as I looked up at him.

Hindi uubrang kagatin ko ang labi para pigilan ang umuusbong na ngiti. Kumislap ang kaniyang mga mata habang sinusundan ng tingin ang bawat patak ng ulang tinatalunton ang aking buhok at mukha.

“I am deeply honored to help you find your lost keys but not until this heavy rain stops." His voice was low, his cold breath mixing with mine. "Would you like to come in?”

“If it’s okay with the man of the house,” I answered but a small grin broke on my face. 

“The man of the castle,” I corrected.

A deep rumble escaped his throat as he chuckled. It was gruff, sounding more like a groan of a large beast.

“Having you as my guest will always be a dream come true."

“Tara na! Ang lakas ng ulan!” Hinila ko na ito papasok.

Something told me that I wouldn’t be able to drag him all the way inside if it wasn’t by his choice. Nevertheless, the large double doors opened on its own, and the streaks of light from the raging storm outside went in. A single torch lit up on our entrance that was followed by another and another until the walls of the castle were lined up with it.

Kahit na basang-basa ang buhok at suot ay nalaglag ang aking panga nang ilibot ang tingin sa kabuuan ng malawak na bulwagan. Gusto kong isigaw sa bulong Legada na mali silang lahat sa kanilang mga pamahiin at paniniwala dahil sa nakikita. 

Napapatingala ako, hindi kinakaya ng maliit na katawan ang kabuuan ng lugar.

The spacious marble floor of the great hall was shining spotless, reflecting the fire-lit torches hanging on the walls. Gold and silver were everywhere, highlighting every little detail on the large room. The banisters of the imperial staircase, the chandelier that glinted with the ridiculous amount of diamonds in it, the classic picture frames hanging up above that were so large they were enough to be picturesque windows, and even on the door knobs of the thousands and thousands of doors. The high ceiling was painted with a vintage color palette, the home of the cherubs playing with the clouds wearing nothing but their little halo and wings as they held either a flute or a harp.

The great hall wasn’t made for it to be kept hidden for so long. It needed ball gowns and leather shoes dancing on its marble floors. It screamed for people to go inside to have the time of their lives. A ball or better yet, a masquerade one.

Iniisip ko pa lang ay napapapikit na ako sa saya. Manghang-mangha ako sa bulwagan ng kastilyo, ang tanging palapag na tinapakan ng dalawang maputik kong mga paa.

“This is your home?” I faced Konstantine, my eyes bulging out from its sockets.

He chuckled, eyes squinting as it tried to trace the heavy walls and high ceilings. A small house wouldn’t suit him indeed. A castle that was made only for him would be the only option.

“Yes, it is. It’s quite big, isn’t it?”

“Are you kidding me? It’s huge! This is a freaking castle!” I motioned the great hall with both my arms open. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the idea when I pointed my fingers at him. “You live in a castle! My neighbor is living in a castle!”

Konstantine only gave a humble smile.

Abalang-abala pa ako sa katitingin ng malaking bulwagan nang mapatalon dahil sa lumapit na aso sa aking paanan. Isang malaki at kulay na itim na asong pagalaw-galaw ang ulo na abot ang aking bewang.

“Oh, s**t!” I exclaimed, stepping back from the large beast.

Parang aatikihin ako sa puso at mamamatay na nga talaga sa loob ng kastilyong ito. Ayos lang dahil sa tanan ng buhay ko ay hindi lang nakakita ngunit nakatapak pa sa loob ng isang kastilyong kasing enggrande nito. Tuluyan ko na yatang malilimutan ang nawawalang susi ng bahay dahil pwede kong ipasok ang bahay na iyon dito at magtanim pa ng mga rosas sa paligid. Sobra-sobra pa rin ang luwag.

“Cerberus! Down boy!” Konstantine used a harsh voice, its deep baritone echoing within the halls and down to the dungeons of the entire castle. I flinched a bit.

He easily noticed and tried to ease the knots that formed on his forehead. Konstantine sighed but flicked his two fingers lightly. The large dog that I might as well call a wolf wiggled its long tail and went to its master.

Bagama’t hindi naman ako tinatahulan o inaangilan ng aso ay nakakagulat pa rin ang laki. Dahan-dahan na akong kumalma nang makitang inaabot ni Konstantine ang panga nito.

“May aso ka pala. Hindi mo sinasabi sa akin.” Napanguso ako.

Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Konstantine, hinihimas pa rin ang ulo ni Cerberus.

“He wasn’t here for a few days. I thought the beast had wandered off somewhere but he came back again tonight. Maybe he searched for food.”

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa malaking aso. Nakatingin na ito sa akin, naninigas ang buntot. Tumagilid ang ulo ko rito. Tumagilid din ang ulo nito pabalik. Unti-unti akong napangiti.

“Sorry for shouting at you. You scared me earlier so…” I bent low, whispering on its pointy ears.

The dog was looking at me like I was some strange inanimate object. It left Konstantine’s touch and slowly circled me, sniffing at me and looking at his master once more.

“I think he likes you.” Konstantine looked impressed, his mouth slightly turning upward. “There are only a few people that he’s already fond of at the first sight.”

“And when he doesn’t?” I looked at the beast’s ruby red eyes.

“He bites their heads off so they would certainly know,” came his deep chuckles.

Nakatingin pa rin sa akin ang aso, tila ba gulong-gulo sa mukha ko. I patted his giant head.

Malakas na sumarado ang malalaking pintuan. Napadiretso ako ng tayo nang magkatinginan kami ni Konstantine. I shivered and he noticed, immediately trying to remove his cape but a loud, shrilling voice startled the entire household.

“Alondra?! Aking reyna! Alondra!”