Deucalion

Chapter 8

I was fearful of the monsters,

So I became monster too.

- Anonymous

Chapter Eight

I am my demon

"When I have an idea like that, please iuntog mo ako para maliwanagan ako." Sabi ko habang nag-aagahan kami sa veranda ng kanilang palasyo.

Tanaw sa kinauupuan namin ang luntian at napakagandang lugar ng Darkstone Castle, sa di kalayuan naman ay lake. Isama pa ang magandang panahon, masarap na simoy ng hangin at mga bulaklak na ang iba'y ngayon ko lang nakita.

Lyon's attention is at the food in front of him. He's eating with gusto like he's really hungry. Basa ang buhok at napakasimple sa suot na pulang sweatshirt pero lutang pa rin ang kagwapuhan.

"Nah, I'd rather kiss you."

Namilog ang mata ko, bahagyang nabilaukan at napaubo. Hinamig ang dibdib at mabilis na uminom ng tubig. Ramdam ang pamumula ng pisngi ko.

He smirked at my reaction, I acted like I'm not affected by what he said, by his blazing stares even the truth is I'm uncomfortable and little agitated.

He chuckled sexily when I stayed silent and continued eating, he's staring at me intently. Mukhang pinagsawalang-bahala na ang kanyang pagkain at ibinuhos na ang buong atensyon sa'kin. I can't eat properly and I can't swallow my foods. I feel like my heart is going to jump out from my mouth.

Napapitlag ako ng tumunog ang cellphone nya na katabi lang ng kanyang plato. Akala ko makakahinga na ng maayos at makakalaya sa titig nya pero hindi dahil inignora nya ang cellphone. Nang tingnan ko sya ay napalunok ako ng magtama ang mata namin.

"Yo-You should answer that." I said nervously, I feel like I'm being hypnotize by his slate-blue eyes.

Damn it! I never felt this nervous before. This weak, this hopeless. This... Crazy.

"It's nothing," he get his phone and showed it to me.

I saw Santi's grumpy face, I laugh. Seriously? That's his contact photo of Santi? I bet that was taken abruptly and swiftly. And Santi's contact name is sinto-sinto.

"See, it's nothing."

I eyed him. "Lyon, baka importante. Answer it."

"Is there more important than this? Than us?"

Nag-init ang pisngi ko at natulala sa kanya. My lips parted while my breath hurdle and my heart is hammering inside my chest. Napakurap-kurap ako saka sunod-sunod na tumikhim. Kinakalma ang sarili kahit mabaliw-baliw na.

"A-Answer it," napapaos kong sabi.

He heaved a sigh before answering it.

"What? This should be important, Santi" Medyo iritado nyang sabi.

Pinandilatan ko sya pero supladong inirapan nya lang ako. Nagulat ako doon at hindi na napigilan ang pagsilay ng namamanghang ngiti. I tried to capture his eyes but he's really persistent to ignore me.

I giggled but I immediately covered my mouth using both of my hands when he glanced at me darkly. He looked away again while listening to whatever Santi's saying.

"I-loudspeaker mo." Mahina kong sabi sa kanya na sinunod naman nya.

"... None of us wants to be a driver--- Wait--- What the f**k, Lyon? Who's that? Nambababae ka?"

"Why? Are you jealous?" Lyon mocked.

"f**k yourself! I don't want to say 'f**k you' so just f**k yourself." Santo paused and utter a cursed. "Did I really say f**k you? Oh! s**t! I said it again."

"Well, I don't want to say 'go to hell' too because you're already are, just suffer and die."

I tilted my head and eyed him but he just smirked.

"Knob! We're in the middle of fuckin' nowhere trying to find those imbecile witches while you... You abandoned us, you motherfucker. Si Kael, nag-iinarte akala mo chicks while Daelan is manipulating us. That asshead! And Elric is just irritating."

Lyon rubbed his forehead. "Where's your minions? Why don't you order them to find those witches?"

"They are useless like Felix and I'm getting bored with my new ability. It's fuckin' boring. At ang mga kasama ko naman ay mga baliw. Where the hell are you? Bakit bigla ka na lang naglaho? Gago ka, wala kang pakisama."

Marami pang sinabi si Santi pero hindi ko na naintindihan dahil ang tumatak sa isipan ko ay ang tungkol sa pag-iwan ni Lyon sa mga ito. I'm just staring at him until they're done talking.

"We're going home?" I asked him after our breakfast.

"Do you want to stay?"

I really want to say yes with wide eyes full of excitement and cheerful voice, but I think they really need him.

"Can we stay?" Imbes na tanong ko.

"Yeah! As long as you want."

I want to stay here forever, Lyon, with you. Medyo malanding sigaw ng utak ko.

Kumunot ang noo ko, tinatago ang tunay na nararamdaman. "How about Santi? I think they need you."

"They can do it without me,"

Inabot nya ang kamay ko at unti-unti hinila papuntang sala.

"So, you want to stay?"

I slowly nodded then smiled.

Seryoso ang mukha nyang nakatingin sa kamay namin saka sya biglang bumagsak sa sofa kaya napasama ako. Mahinang napatili at agad na napakapit sa kanyang balikat, nag-init ang pisngi sa ayos namin.

"Gusto mong libutin ang palasyo?" Bulong nya sa tenga ko.

Patagilid akong nakaupo sa kandungan nya, namigat ang mata ko, naliliyo. Ang attention ay nasa kanyang kamay na nakapatong sa hita ko at ang nasa bewang ko. I'm just wearing a simple sundress, mayron na iyon sa silid na ibinigay ni Lyon sa'kin.

"Jane," he bit my lobe. "Gusto mong libutin ang palasyo?"

"Huh?" Malamlam ang matang nilingon ko sya, nahigit ang hininga ng muntikan ng magdikit ang mga labi namin.

He chuckled and stared at me amusingly.

"O-Oo." Namamaos kong sabi na sa labi nya nakatingin. "Hmm, nga-ngayon na ba?"

"Ikaw?" He said huskily. "Kailan mo ba gusto?"

"I-Ikaw? Kailan mo ba g-gusto?" Nakagat ko ang labi ng matanto ang sinabi.

Tumawa sya pero mabilis ding sumeryoso at napatitig sa labi ko. Napasinghap na lang ako ng hilain nya ako palapit sa kanya, our lips are just an inch away when his phone rang but he ignored it and kissed me. Napakapit ako sa balikat nya, pinapantayan ang halik nya. He's lips is so warm, he taste so sweet. So soft. So addictive.

Pero ang kanyang cellphone ay nag-iingay pa rin.

"I think, you should a-answer that, Lyon." I said between our kisses and pushed him.

He growled and kissed me harder then he buried his face on my neck. Mabigat at habol ang hiningang tulad ko.

"What again?" I heard him talking to his phone. "Can you just f**k off and die already, Santi Blacdemorth."

Mahina akong natawa, niyakap na lang sya. Nagpaalam syang aalis pero babalik din naman agad kaya pinayagan ko na at isa pa, wala naman akong karapatang bawalan sya.

Naglakad-lakad ako sa hallway, this is my first time in a castle so I'll just enjoy it. Im staring at the paintings that were hanged on the wall. May nakasulat na pangalan at taon sa ibaba ng painting, past kings and queens of Darkstone castle. On the other wall, I saw a painting of four men with their royal red and white suits. I smiled when I recognized them.

Si Lyon, nakaupo sa royal throne at seryosong nakatingin sa'kin samantalang si Felix ay nakatayo sa likuran ng upuan at si Siege habang nakapamulsang nakatayo sa kaliwang bahagi ni Lyon at ang isang lalaki ay sa kanang bahagi naman at nakangisi.

They have a brother? Like them, he is blue-eyed too. Their hair were long, their faces were ruthless and their eyes are cold.

Saludo ako sa puminta sa kanila. Talagang kuhang-kuha, mula mukha, pananamit at emosyon ng mata. It felt like I'm in a museum and they're part of the world's history. That's how unreachable and untouchable they are.

"Wala pa ba si Lyon?" I asked one of the handmaiden that Lyon assigned to assist me when I entered the room he gave me.

Sa labas pa ng silid ay may iilan pang mga katulong.

"Wala pa ho, miss Jane." Nakayuko nyang sabi.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"E-Edrei ho, miss Jane."

How they treat me is too much, ilag sila sa'kin at parang takot pa. Maybe my face, may nagsasabing may pagkasuplada ito. With my arched eyebrows, chestnut almond eyes na matalim daw makatingin and thin lips. Sa pangangalaga naman ay hindi nila ako pinapabayaan, they pampered me so much that it's so suffocating.

Inabot ko ang cellphone na nasa side table, I want to text him pero ano naman ang sasabihin ko na hindi sya maghihinala na nami-miss ko na sya. Sa huli, hindi na napigilan, I contacted his number. After three rings when finally he answered.

I swallowed down a gulped and shut my eyes then massage my temples. "Hey! Um, L-Lyon---"

"Jane, is that you?"

Gulat kong iminulat ang mata ng marinig ang boses ng isang babae.

"L-Lyre?" Paninigurado ko, tila may bumara sa lalamunan.

She chuckled. "Yeah! May kailangan ka kay Lyon? Oh! Sorry, kanina pa sya nakaalis. Naiwan nya dito sa dorm ang cellphone nya."

I played with my fingers, I can feel my heart faltered and my knees wilted.

"Nandyan siya... Kanina?" I don't know if she heard that because all I can hear is my heartbeat.

"Yup, nasaan ka ba? We've been looking for you."

So, he didn't tell them that I'm here. That we've been together?

"Do you need anything? Sasabihin ko na lang sa kanya."

Umiling ako kahit hindi nya nakikita. "N-No, no... Wala, sige. B-bye."

Then I turned of my phone and sat down in front of the vanity mirror and stared at my face. Namumula ang pisngi ko even my eyes are red. My hand is shaking and my lips is quivering.

"Can I ask s-something, miss Jane." Edrei said then start combing my hair.

I just let her because I'm to weak to stop her.

"Of course," I nodded, trying to forget about Lyre.

I stared at her reflection at the vanity mirror. Her hair is tied in a bun, she's wearing black dress. It has white collar and white apron. I'm not friendly kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit nakagaan ko sya ng loob.

"Kilala nyo ho ba si Miss Frances?"

"Um... Yeah! S-she's a family f-friend. How do you know h-her?"

Kumunot ang noo ko, mas dumoble ang kaba

"Naging kaibigan ko rin kasi sya noong nandito sya. Frances is sweet and nice," may sumilay na ngiti sa labi nya pero mabilis ding naglaho iyon.

"Nalulungkot ako sa nangyari sa kanya."

Frances mentioned the Darkstone castle but she didn't mentioned that she's been here. It's not clear and detailed.

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "She stayed here?"

Of course, Jane, commonsense na lang iyon.

"Ah, oho, ito ho ang dating kwarto nya at ang mga ginagamit nyo ay mga naiwan nyang damit na binili noon nila Lord Lyon para sa kanya."

I know it's not her intention to irritate me. Maybe because of the outburst of her emotions, she's unaware that I was stricken by what she said.

I'm not mad at her, I'm more mad at myself because I never thought that I will feel this intense anger, I never imagined that I have a monster in me, hiding. Just waiting to be unleased. And now, It's awakened by anger the moment she said those words plus Lyre answering Lyon's phone and my monster breakout.

O baka matagal ng nakawala at pilit ko lang iniignora. Maybe the monster me awakened when the eclipse happened and it breakout when my family died but I didn't noticed it because of crying, locking up myself in my room and trying to kill myself.

After all the things happened to me, the monster me intensified, worsened and became darker, wilder. And now, ayaw ng magpapigil at gusto nang sya ang masunod.

The darkness in me is slowly rising in a revolt and blinded me. Hindi ko namamalayan na sa sobrang takot ko sa kadiliman, unti-unti ko na pala itong tinanggap at minahal. And I never thought that I will become one.

"Miss Jane, your dinner is ready." I heard Edrei's voice at my back. "It's already dark, kailangan nyo na hong lumuob."

"I want to be alone, papasok din ako mamaya."

Nasa labas ako ng palasyo, suot lang ang puting roba. Nakapaa. Hinanap ko ang dress na suot noong graduation pero hindi ko makita ang mga iyon.

Sa gitna ng kadiliman ng kalangitan, may bahaging lumiliwanag dahil sa kidlat. Ilang beses ko iyong nakita hanggang sa marinig ang sunod-sunod na pagkulog na tila ba binabalaan ako at wala pang isang minuto ay bumagsak na ang napakalakas na ulan.

Ipinikit ko ang mata ng magsimula ng mabasa.

"Mi-Miss Jane, kailangan nyo hong pumasok. Siguradong magagalit nito si Lord Lyon." narinig kong sigaw ni Edrei.

"Miss Jane," mayamaya'y nakisigaw na rin ang ibang katulong.

But I ignore them. I raised my hand then looked up and closed my eyes. The rain hit my face, it's slightly painful but I accept all of it. Bumigat ang robang suot dahil sa pagkakabasa.

"Lo-Lord Lyon"

Naimulat ko ang mata ng marinig ang pangalang iyon at mabilis na napalingon. Sa paligid ko ay mga katulong at tauhan niya, ang iba'y basa na rin sa pagtangkang paglapit sa'kin. Nakita ko si Lyon na kinuha ang payong kay Edrei at naglakad palapit sa'kin.

My heart fluttered with anger. Sa mga narinig kay Edrei, sa pagsagot ni Lyre sa kanyang cellphone at sa pangako nyang babalik din sya agad.

The monster me is going to explode, it's blinded, already deaf and ready to attack.

"Huwag kang lalapit," sigaw ko saka napaatras kasabay ng pag-angat ng kamay para pigilan sya. "Huwag mo akong lalapitan. Lumayo ka sa'kin"

Natigilan sya, ang mata'y puno ng pagkalito. Pinasadahan ng tingin ang kabuuan ko saka kinuyom ang kamao.

"What's wrong, Jane? You can tell me what's the problem." He narrowed his eyes at me. "C'mon, kailangan mo ng sumilong, basang-basa ka na."

Humakbang sya palapit sa'kin.

"Sabing huwag kang lalapit."

Tinabig ko ang kamay nya, siguro sa gulat kaya nabitawan nya ang payong.

"We can talk about this inside, Jane."

Mabilis na nabasa ang ulo nya at tumulo sa buhok nya ang ulan pababa sa suot na v-neck.

"We can talk inside, come on, baby"

Saglit akong huminahon sa sobrang kalmado nya kahit hindi iyon ang nakikita ko sa mukha nya. What happened to him? Dati naman nakikisabay sya sa galit ko.

But the darkness won't listen, it won't yield, it won't let him dominate me. I stepped back and shook my head.

"I want to go home, just take me home."

"I will, but we need to get inside first. C'mon, baby."

Umiling ako, nanlalabo na ang paningin sa pinaghalong luha at ulan. Hindi na kayang pigilan ang  damdamin.

"How dare you, Lyon. Lahat ng pinasuot mo sa'kin, iyong damit, sapatos... Gamit lahat ni Frances. Pati iyong silid, it's all her's"

Umigting ang panga nya at tumalim ang mata. "We can talk about this inside, Jane, you're already wet. You're still a mortal, there's a possibility that you get sick."

"Oh! I don't care at all. Nakamamatay ba ang ulan? If yes then, I will stay here all night."

"Janina!" He boomed angrily like the thunder in the sky.

He was like a lion ready to attack but looks like he's just controlling himself not to. Tulad ko, he's wet too. His abs, chest and muscles are evident because of his wet shirt. My lips quivered, ngayon lang naramdaman ang lamig. Naglaban kami ng titigan hanggang sya din ang sumuko.

"I will buy you anything. What do you want? What kind of brand? I will buy anything you want, just get inside, baby--- Chester, purchase all the expensive and beautiful clothes in the world---"

I cut him off. "I want you to buy my clothes."

Gumalaw-galaw ang kanyang panga. I followed his hand when he raked his fingers through his hair. In this kind of situation, the rain was falling so hard plus the tremendous flash of lightning followed by the roared of thunders. I'm wet all over, trembling, cold, mad and yet here I am, still admiring him.

Huminga sya ng malalim, mukhang nauubusan na ng pasensya pero sa huli ay tumango pa rin.

"Gladly and about the room, it's safer there, baby."

"I want a different room." I rebuked abruptly.

"Okay, you can take mine then." his breathed hardened, slowly walking to me. "We really should get inside, baby."

Umatras ako pero nahagip ng kamay nya ang bewang ko at agad na binuhat. Nagwala ako at pinaghahampas sya kaya nabitawan nya rin ako pero mabilis na hinawakan ang mga kamay ko.

"I hate you! I hate you!" I shouted in his face and tried to shove his hands but he hug me, he lift me up and my feet automatically step on his shoes.

"Hand me a robe," sigaw nya sa mga tauhan at mayamaya'y naramdaman ko na lang ang pagbalot sa'kin ng panibagong roba.

"Don't you dare use Aiken's ability on me, Lyon. And I swear, I'm going to go back on planning how to kill myself." I warned him ruthlessly.

"Of course, baby, I won't. I promised." He said softly that making my heart trobbed painfully then I just felt his lips on my forehead and... I calmed.