The Devil's Bride

BLOOD 11: Visiting Team

PABALIK-BALIK si Shana sa pag-iikot ng kusina at tila hindi nauubos ang kanyang lakas sa paglilibot ng malaking espasyong 'yon. Bawat mataas na kabinet ay pilit niyang inaabot at binubuksan. Meron siyang hinahanap at 'yon ay hindi gatas.

Panu ba naman? Malaki nga ang ref ng mansion pero panay gatas at oreo lang ang nakatambak. Wala na nga yata siguro ibang kinakain itong si Vlad kundi puro flat cake. At kung saan man nakakakuha si Vlad ng pinaghahanda sa kanila ni Jett ay di na niya 'yon alam.

She was looking for an alcohol beverage. She wanted to drink by this time. Iyon ang naisip niyang pangpakalma sa gimbal niyang sistema. Hindi pa rin niya mawala sa isipan ang mga ipinagtapat ni Jett.

She felt responsible at pakiramdam din niya ay patong-patong na ang kasalanan niya sa kaibigan. Una, ang pagkawala ng memorya nito at pangalawa, ay ang pag-walk out niya no'ng marinig nga niya ang sinabi ni Jett.

Hindi niya gustong saktan ang kaibigan pero hindi lang talaga niya alam kung panu siya mag-re-react sa oras na 'yon.

Isang kabinet na lang ang hindi niya pa natitignan at 'yon ang sa pinakadulo. She lift her body at pumatong sa may lababo at parang batang pilit na ipinapatong ang dalawang braso sa loob ng kabinet; at inuusog ang sarili.

Lumiwanag ang kanyang mukha nang may makita siyang isang mamahaling bote ng alak. Inabot-abot niya ito pero hindi niya makuha. Napapaungol na nga siya sa hirap ng sitwasyon nya.

"Milady..." Napapitlag si Shana at kamuntikan pa siyang mahulog nang may tumawag sa kanya. Napalingon siya sa gilid, si Hal pala. Nakaramdam tuloy siya ng hiya dahil sa nakikitang sitwasyon sa kanya.

"Anu po ang ginagawa ninyo?" pagsesegunda ng lalaki.

"Uhm...exercising?" pagpapalusot niya and swing her two feet like a child in the mid-air.

At sa madaling salita, naibaba si Shana ni Hal at nabigyan na din siya ng hinahanap niya.

Pagkatapos ng isahang pag-inom ni Shana ng alak ay agad niya itong binagsak sa lamesa. At nagpapasalin pa ito ng isa pa kay Hal na ngayon ay kaharap niya.

"Tingin mo Mr. Hal, Why is life so damn unfair?"

"Milady I'm not allowed to use my mind reading ability kaya anu po ang problema?"

"Look Mr. Hal, frustrated ako diyan sa oreo-monster na si Vlad. Imagine? Siya na naman ang panalo sa x-box?! I swear he is a living monster cheater. Binasa ko naman ang manual and even the games kung papanu 'yon laruin pero still he won against me! 'Yon na nga lang sana ang way para makalimutan ko ang lecheng pag-hang ng laptop ko. And then, here comes Jett." Kinailangan niya pa munang isabay si Vlad bago masambit si Jett. Sa katunayan, nag-aatubili talaga siya.

"What will I do Mr. Hal? Anu ba dapat kong i-akto sa harapan ni Jett? Katulad pa rin ba ng dati? Like I don't know his feelings? Like same old friend and workmates? Ugh!" napasubsob siya sa lamesa at inuntog ang noo ng paulit-ulit.

"When someone sends you an affection, it is right to take it. But taking it doesn't mean you have to be responsible for it. Adoration is not always meant to be reciprocated. You just have to acknowledge it. Hindi mo din po dapat siya iwasan Milady dahil hndi mo po alam kung ganu dinanas niyang hirap at lakas para lang magtapat."

Bigla namang napaangat ng ulo si Shana sa sinabi ni Hal. Hindi niya inaasahan na magsasalita ito ng gano'n. Manghang-mangha siya sa lalaki lalo na ng umiwan ito ng tipid na ngiti. Ngiti nga ba? 'Yon ang unang pagkakataon na nagawang ngumiti ng normal si Hal at ang gwapo pala nito.

Pupurihin sana ito ni Shana kaya lang naunahan na siya ni Hal na magsalita ulit saka ibinalik ang dating blankong ekspresyon.

"Anyways Milady, Master Vlad told me that---"

Hal was interrupted by a sudden loud noise, and a sharp blow coming from the living area of the manor. Vlad's fuming voice was present too as if he was in an extreme circumstances. Kaya napalingon na din si Shana sa naririnig.

"Teka anong ingay 'yon? Akala ko ba aalis si oreo-monster Bah? Bakit parang boses niya 'yon?"

Hindi lang 'yon pinansin ni Hal and continued.

"As I was saying Milady Master Vlad told me that---" Hal was halted again with another impact sounds and this time it was crashing ang booming ruckus.

Hindi na din mapakali si Shana kaya napatayo na siya. She thought to see on what was happening. Baka naman kasi may magnanakaw na nakapasok o 'di kaya bumalik na naman 'yong babaeng beehive and maybe they were undressing each other now? Shana's eyes widen as she set those ideas.

Naalala niya tuloy ang movie na Dark Shadow. May gano'n kasing eksena na halos masira na ang bahay dahil sa pag mi-make-out nila Barnabas Collins at Angelique Collins. She shook her head but decided to find out.

Umalis siya sa kusina na hindi pinapansin ang pagtatawag ni Hal sa kanya but she could feel that Hal was also following her. Then, Shana's vision broaden as soon as she get in the living area.

There were two kind of species having their black and wide limb at the back. Flapping it up and down. Shana almost stagger once she saw it. She managed to roam her eyes and everything was a mess. Para lang itong galing sa bagyo at attack ng bomba. Anu ba ang nangyayari dito?

"YOU PIECE OF CRAP! I'LL KILL YA!" The man on a bonnet shouted and was infuriated.

"Really scary. But it was just all words right? And how will you kill me? By that rusty and dull garden tool? LAME DUCK!"

"Urgh! So pitiful. Primeval ka pa naman but you don't know much about swords! You blood-sucking philander!"

"Oh yeah? E, Bakit hanggang ngayon ay hindi mo pa rin ako natatamaan ng garden tool mo? LAME DUCK."

"Vlad! You idiot! You'll pay for disrespecting Minerva! You f*****g leech sucker!"

Tumawa lang si Vlad ng nanunuya at tipong hindi nababahala sa kung anu man ang magagawa ng kaharap niyang lalaki. But he was stunned when the man made another sword appeared on its right hand.

"MINERVA, LANCELOT FUSIONEM EXHIBENT!" The two swords merged together wrapped in a huge illumination. The long-bladed weapon was now enormous and large.

"Your penalty for using my name in vain and insolence shall be excuted! PREPARE TO DIE YOU DAMN BAT! LUX HASTAM!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Vlad nang makita niyang papalapit sa direksyon niya ang libo-libong matulis at maliwanag na bagay. He immediately fly to another direction to duck those but to his surprise, the light spears were still coming after him.

And it was too late for him to carry out another bend when he was already cornered and the following things were an earsplitting uproar.

Napahawak naman si Shana ng tainga niya sa lakas ng pagsabog at pagtilapon ng iilang bagay na malapit do'n. Nagpakurap-kurap ang mga mata niya matapos 'yon at dahan-dahan tumayo. Kailan pa nauso ang pag-fifliptop na lumilipad at nagpapasabugan?

At wala ba silang pakialam sa paligid na nagmumukhang kota na ng ISIS? Hindi niya talaga naiintindihan. Buti na lang at nagkukulong ng kwarto si Jett at 'di niya ito naririnig.

"How was that Vlad'diot? Don't take so lightly with my exculibers," pagmamalaki ng lalaki habang ipinatong pa ang higanteng espada nito sa balikat.

Nevertheless, his expression changed when the smoke disappeared and found out that Vlad was not there. Unexpectedly, Vlad fastly come into view in front of the bonnet man and he attempt to strucked the guy with his fire shaped-sword.

Nasangga naman ito ng lalaki gamit ang malaki niyang espada. The two man with both swords was now in great furious, rubbing their weapons against each other.

"GRAVITATE DEORSUM." Nagulat na naman si Shana nang biglang bumagsak ang dalawang lalaking may pakpak at nag-aaway. That voice made the two dropped and it was coming from the entrance of the door. Then, a woman in a brown fitted trench coat and a boots appeared. She has a pale skin, a black bobcut hair with a V-bangs and a very sophisticated look.

"When will the two of you will stop?" Nilapitan nito ang dalawang lalaki at inapakan ang anino ng lalaking naka-bonnet.

"M-Myrtice...H-Hey."

"What did I tell you Brix? Didn't I tell you to not mess up with my Vlady?! And look at this place you dumbhead! Aayusin mo 'to!"

"Y-Yeah sorry. I just can't take this dummy who used my beautiful name."

"Your name is a nuisance if you didn't know. Mukhang panis na laway," Vlad mocked at the bonnet man while gaining his weight to stand up and withdraw his black wings.

"Stop! This isn't what we here Brix Silence Robins."

"Right j-just move back and don't step my shadow," anya ng lalaki na ngayon ay hirap at kasalukuyang nakadapa.

Tinignan muna siya ni Myrtice ng nakakamatay bago nito alisin ang paa sa anino ng lalaki. Isa kasi ito sa kanyang ability ang shadow at gravity manipulator kaya kung sino man ang maapakan niya ay hindi makakagalaw at mawawalan ng gravity.

Nakatayo si Brix at agad na nawala sa kamay niya ang espada nito. Tinignan niya si Vlad ng masama. Pagkatapos ay bigla na lang ito ngumiti ng malawak at nagyakapan ang dalawa.

"Bro, it's been a while. Leche ka! Ilang taon ka na hindi umuuwi sa Europe at hindi nagtatrabaho."

"f**k you dude sinira mo ang living area ko dahil sa welcome greetings mo."

And then the two made a fist-bomb like everything didn't happen. Brix and Vlad were known to be blood brother since they grow up together. At sa minsan nilang pagkikita ay ganito talaga ang nangyayari. Malaking pasabog. Isang paraan nilang dalawa para magbatian.

"Bonjour, mon ange." A man on a fringe hair along with its feminine eyes and with a french accent appeared in front of Shana; and already grasping the woman's hand, kissed it like a gentleman.

At sa sobrang gulat ni Shana ay napasigaw siya. She caught everyone's attention and turned their heads to her direction. How did this man get close to her? Ni hindi nga niya namalayan na nasa-harapan na pala niya ito.

Napakagat siya ng labi lalo nang nakita niya si Myrtice na kakaiba ang tingin sa kanya. Para ba siya nitong gustong sugurin.

"Such a beautiful face you have mon ange. So alluring and your smell..." The man was tracing Shana's face with his hands down to the woman's lips. Hindi naman nakagalaw si Shana hanggang lumapit ito sa mukha niya at inamoy ang leeg niya.

"Enough with that Paris. What is mine is only mine." Napapitlag si Shana nang makaramdam siya ng bigat at init ng hinga sa kabilang leeg niya. Nakaakbay na pala si Vlad sa balikat niya. Now, she's in between with this two beautiful men and still don't know what was happening.

Nagkaroon ng titigan ang dalawa na para bang may tensyon na namamagitan pero pagkatapos no'n ay dumistansya na si Paris habang nakataas ang dalawang kamay na parang sumusuko.

"I don't intend to. I was just checking your new toy. I was wondering if where did you get this mon ange."

"You know I always get the best, Paris."

"Really? She's interesting. I don't see any history from her. She's a blank page." Paris gave Vlad a profound look and used telepathy to talk. Nagtiim bagang si Vlad at pilit itong balewalain. He don't wanted to be talk at ayaw niya itong pag-usapan kahit na meron din siyang nararamdaman na kakaiba kay Shana.

He knew what does Paris tell, alam niyang may laman ang sinasabi nito dahil ang ablility ni Paris ay Psychometry---abilidad na makapagbasa ng history ng kahit anung bagay o tao kapag nahahawakan niya ito.

Vlad go under into deep thinking as Paris was smirking at him and he was just transported back again when Shana voice out.

"A-Anong nangyayari? S-Sino sila?" Nangunot naman ang noo ni Vlad habang tinitignan ang nalilitong mukha ng babae. Lumipad naman ang tingin niya papunta kay Hal.

"Hal, I told you to inform Red about this right?"

"Yes master pero hindi ko na po nasabi dahil bigla na lang po kayo nagkagulo at----"

"Vlady, don't worry about that. Leave it to us," Myrtice butt in and deliver a sharp look at Shana."

Napalunok si Shana at nagpalipat-lipat ang mga mata sa tatlong nilalang na nasa-harap niya. Mula kay Mrytice, kay Brix na malawak ang ngiti at nakapameywang and Paris who was brushing his hand through his hairs and yield a seducing look to Shana. This is chaos!

IN THE DARK dungeon where wanted phantoms were kept, among them were two S-rated. A leviathan monsters who were hungry for human souls and life. They despise humans who stay alive and enjoying it. They live for killing and human sins and was targeting to use their spiritual possession in order to have a human body.

They were kept in years and that's the only thing that hinders their plan. The dungeon was not an easy place to escape since it was made of powerful spell. And that made also their powers to limit. Nonetheless, amidst of their cry, a black hole from the floor emerged.

And it formed into a man on a black cloak with a full-mask on his face that had an opposite cylinder tube. He breathe and sounded heavy and chilling.

The two monsters remained calm but confused on how the man got inside of their cell.

"Who are you?" the woman monster asked.

"I am your Master and you will be serving me for your freedom."

"Master? We don't serve for anyone," She laughed ridiculously.

"Then I'll make you..." Then suddenly the woman monster felt pain on her chest. She was losing air and had difficulty to breath.

"Why? Don't you think monsters should not have a heart instead? They're monster after all."

The male monster widen his eyes as he saw his mate dying. His large veins become visible and his yellow eyes turned wild.

"S-Stop!" the male monster shouted in rage.

The man on a cloak turned an eye to the male monster. "Vow down and serve your Master."

The male monster clenched his jaws but controlling his hand that formed into balls. He couldn't do anything since he sense that the man in front of him is powerful. He gazed at his mate who were helplessly weak and then faced again the man on a cloak. His left leg bend down, kneel and vow. "Master."

The man on a cloak monstrously laughed. He let the woman breath and levitate her to him. He took out a bottle and forced the woman's mouth to open then dropped the red liquid.

"Find me the person who owned this blood and you shall be granted to bring back your powers."

The two become speechless and the next thing they knew was they were already outside. The man on a cloak could nowhere to be found and they were left in the unknown forest. An insidious face molded from them and made a distinctive sound out of eagerness.

A LOUD WHISTLE came from the umpire signaling that another match has come. Napamura si Shana dahil hanggang ngayon hindi pa natatapos ang laro nila. And on the second thought, why was she playing this game? E, hindi nga niya alam kung paanu ito laruin. Nakapanuod na siya ng mga ganitong laro pero sa telebisyon lang.

Kinaladkad kasi siya ni Myrtice sa isang barn field kung saan nalaman niyang gusto pala ito makipaglaro sa kanya ng polo game. Polo game is one of the equestrian sport that uses horse to ride and chase a ball downfield in a match. But in their case, they played it with only two players in each team.

Shana was with Brix na katulad niya ay hindi din alam ang larong iyon at ang lakas pa nito maka-swing ng mallet at tamaan ang bola. Madalas hindi din pinapasa sa kanya at sinasarili lang ito pero buti na lang at nakaka-score pa rin sila. And Myrtice was with Paris who both of them were quite terribly best.

Hindi tuloy siya nakapagpaalam kay Jett. At ang masama pa ay walang pakialam si Vlad sa nagaganap na competition. Imbis na sumali ito as one of the players, eh nag-suggest ito na maging speculator lang at coach raw niya. Pero ayon sa bench at ang sarap ng kain ng oreo.

Sa madaling salita, kasalanan ito lahat ng oreo-monster na si Vlad dahil bumisita ang tatlong kaibigan niya sa kagustuhan ni Myrtice na pulbusin si Shana.

"You're going down little-red-riding hood. Ihanda mo na ang pag-iimpake mamaya once na matalo kita," Myrtice warned while sitting on the horse back.

"Yeah. ONCE na matalo mo ako," pag-uulit ni Shana. Pero sa isip-isip niya eh mukhang matatalo na nga sila at anu pa ba ang magagawa ng panghahamon ng babaeng ito? Samantalang naka-sign na siya ng kontrata kay Vlad.

Inismiran lang siya ng babae and drive her horse away from Shana. Hinayaan lang 'yon ni Shana and returned her helmet to her head. Then, Paris appeared on her front. Malapit na talaga siyang masanay sa lalaking ito.

"Mon Ange, sorry. I'm not cheating on you nor betraying. I was just forced by Myrtice kaya nasa team niya ako. And I am siding her for other reason..." From the dramatic face of Paris turned into grim. "It's because you're a damsell dressed with nightmare."

Mabilis na nakaalis si Paris na parang hangin samantalang naiwan naman si Shana na gulat at naguguluhan. Mayamaya ay nakaramdam siya ng pagbibigat ng kaliwang mata niya. It felt like the pupil of her eyes were moving rapidly and she couldn't control it. Napahawak siya dito at tinakpan ng kamay niya.

"What is happening in my left eye?"

In that point, Shana cried in pain.