The Devil's Bride

BLOOD 20: Smoke and Mirrors

EARLIER...

Dark was approaching and the eerie atmosphere was present. In a secret basement which was made of most resilient material and bricks, a series of torches were hanging on the walls and in the middle was a throne seat where the cloak man with a cylinder mask was sitting.

His fingers were lace up and was just looking at the smoke entity which had an image of a drastic woman, and was also bursting in anger, drifting in the midair. Palipad-lipad ito sa buong parte ng lugar at tila hindi mapakali.

"AAHH! Naiinip na ako! Nauubos na ang pasensya ko!" Malakas na sigaw ng babae.

"Take it easy. Everything has a perfect timing at trintrabaho ko na 'yon. We just have to wait a little more," the cloak man explained in a calm tone.

"Hindi! Hindi! Hindi na ako makapaghintay pa! You have to find her soon! Dahil hindi ko magagamit ang katawan niya kung hindi siya buo!"

"I know. Kunti na lang, mapapasakamay na natin siya. Besides, iisa lang ang layunin natin kaya kailangan mo munang huminahon."

"Bilisan mo dahil malapit na ang Blood Moon. Gusto ko na ulit mabuhay sa katawan, Ambrogio. Gusto ko na makita ang pagdanak ng dugo nila!"

"I'm doing it, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth had a long steady look at Ambrogio, leaning her head near at the man's face. She narrowed her eyes in irritation while Ambrogio was just having his reactionless face. Hindi nagtagal ay nainis ang babae at sumigaw pa ito bago tuluyang bumalik sa taul na pinagmulan niya.

Ambrogio rolled his eyes and breathe out. He sense someone's presence and he was also expecting it.

"Come out, Friore," he commanded in a deadpan tone.

And from far dusky part of the area, a man on a pantalone mask come into view. He had his sexy smile again while gazing at his master and slowly walking towards him. He also brought Mikaela--his life-sized doll creation.

Friore's excitement was all over his face seeing his master that he was expecting he could finally see the face of the man behind its mask. He knew he will since he had a good news to tell.

"Master," Friore greeted the cloak man, taking off his black top hat.

Tumingin lang saglit si Ambrogio sa lalaking na sa harap niya at napadapo ang mga mata sa kasama nitong manika. His eyes were full of longing but was changed into hatred and disgust by the time he remembers the agony he had suffered.

"What do you have now?"

"I came here to give you an information. Mikaela, ibigay mo na kay Master," Friore instructed his little girl doll to give the glass jar containing a blood stained white rose inside. Ngunit bago pa maiabot ni Mikaela ang dala, ay kinuha na agad iyon ni Ambrogio sapamamagitan ng pag gamit ng psychic ability niya. Inilutang niya ang jar sa harap niya.

Ambrogio give a questioning look at Friore and returned his sight to the glass jar, floating in his front. "Ano ang magagawa ng bagay na 'to? Anong meron?"

"It has the same smell of the blood you were seeking for. Ngunit hindi ko natukoy kong kanino dahil wala akong makuhang impormasyon. Hindi ko magamit ang kapangyarihan ko sa dugong 'yan."

"Good. Pero saan mo ito nakuha?"

"Sa Montgomery town. Sa loob ng kagubatan no'n, ang block 13 na maraming phantoms na naninirahan."

Napangisi si Ambrogio. "Look how the fate, help us."

"Nahanap ko na rin master ang kinaroroonan ng Rosewood Coven. I am just waiting for your signal," proud niyang sabi.

"Terrific. We will execute our plans sooner. I'll look to this rose first."

Napakagat naman ng ibabang labi si Friore bago matuloy ang tanong niya. "Ma-Master...nabalitaan ko rin na nagpakawala ka ng wanted phantoms, ang S-class. Pero bakit? Am I not enough to serve you?"

Ambrogio stare at the man with such a weight, occupied with strong power."I will do whatever I want, Friore. Besides, magandang paraan 'yon kung sino ang iiwan kong buhay sa inyo. That will make a way for me to see of who are worthy under my power."

"Sisiguraduhin ko na ako lang ang kailangan mo, master." Friore look down and clasped his fist. On the other hand, Mikaela was just staring at them at the whole time.

Ambrogio laughed to his amusement and started to walk down in a few stairs from his throne seat. He gave a chilling breath from his cylinder mask, sounded as if it was under the water hardly inhaling. He gradually took off his hood which made Friore to feel more thrill. He can't wait to see his master's face until Ambrogio strip off his cylinder mask and that made Friore to widen his eyes.

"Lets see that, Friore," tanging sambit ni Ambrogio na merong lumalagablab na mga mata sa galit habang hindi naman mapigilan ni Friore na ngumiti ng malawak at mamangha sa ganda ng mukha ng kanyang master.

NAKAKARINIG SI Shana ng iilang boses na nag-aalala. At sa kabila nito ay ang mga kaibigan niyang naghihintay na magising siya.

"What just happened? Why she isn't waking up yet?" Jett worriedly asked.

"Chill down bro. She just fainted," Brix replied.

"We just have to wait. Sabi ni Hal mamaya pa raw siya gigising. Pero dapat magising na dapat siya bago dumating si Vlady. Tch. He's not in the mood pa naman," saad din ni Myrtice.

"This is the first step of mon ange's suffering," wika naman ni Paris.

"Ano ibig sabihin mo Paris?"

Paris took a quick look at Jett and returned his attention to the small cup in a saucer he was holding while his legs was crossed. He sipped the tea and just gave a smirking face without an idea of replying back to Jett's question.

Napaigting lang ang panga ni Jett sa inakto ni Paris at bigla na lang nakuha ang atensyon niya nang makarinig siya ng mahinag pag-ungol ni Shana. Unti-unti minulat ng dalaga ang mga mata at tumambad sa kanya ang mukha ni Jett na puno ng pag-alala.

"Jett?" kunot noo niyang tanong.

"Shana, mabuti at gising ka na. Akala ko kung anu na nangyari sa 'yo."

"I loss again my consciousness?"

"Exactly red-riding-hood. How annoying at kailangan ka pa namin bantayan. Tch," singit ni Myrtice sa dalawa.

"Hey Myrtice you really have a foul mouth. Kapag nalaman 'to ni Vlad, for sure tapos na papel mo sa kanya. You wouldn't do cute things infront of him or call him like, Ah, Vlady---OUCH!" Brix was halted the instant nang pingutin ni Myrtice ang tainga niya.

"'Ka-Kaw na knitted-head ka! I am de-definitely not like that!" medyo nahihiyang sabi ni Myrtice.

Tumawa lang si Shana nang makaupo na ito. Sanay na nga siyang makakita ng ganitong senaryo kapag sila ang kasama niya.

"Okay ka na ba?" may pag-aalalang tanong ni Jett.

"Yeah. Sorry at pinag-alala ko kayo," nakayukong sabi ni Shana at natigil naman ang pag-ra-rumbolan ng dalawa. They turned their attention to Shana. "Hindi ko din kasi alam kung bakit ako nahimatay kanina. Siya nga pala, 'asan si oreo-monster?"

Nagkatinginan ang lahat sa tanong ng dalaga. "He's with that girl," panimula ni Myrtice na may halong inis.

"Sino? Si Leila? Oo nga pala 'asan sila?"

"So, you've memorized her name already huh? Yeah. Mag-uusap sila ni Vlady. Ugh! How I hate that girl! She really irritates me!" masungit na sabat ni Myrtice at nakahalukipkip ang mga braso sa dibidb.

"Hey, Myrtice back again to your foul mouth. Mamaya marinig ka ng Scion," Brix warned while leaning on the wall with his hand on his back head.

"Why? I just don't want her to see. Sinaktan niya si Vlady---" Hinarap ni Myrtice si Brix na naiinis.

"Bakit? What's going on them?" takang tanong ulit ni Shana. She had a lot of questions about this since she barely know Vlad's background.

"Leila Foxe was the (former) brid--I mean ex whom Vlad had a relationship with," Paris butted in while still on his seat and calm atmosphere.

Sandaling natulala si Shana sa narinig. Naalala niya ang sinabi noon ni Myrtice sa kanya. Si Leila ang tinutukoy nito. But what she don't understand was, her heart gets tight and she felt pricking inside of her chest.

"But that was too long ago Chum Shana. They're just going to talk things about you," Brix answered.

Nagpalipat-lipat ang mata ni Shana sa mga kaibigan. "Tu-Tungkol sa 'kin?"

"Yeah. Leila felt gulity about you. 'Yong nahimatay ka, natakot siya at nag-alala. She felt responsible of that thing. Gano'n kasi siya kaya hindi ka na niya pinuntahan dito dahil takot nga siya na baka mahimatay ka ulit kung makita mo siya and instead, si Vlad ang kinausap niya para humingi ng patawad sa nangyari. That's how she is," mahabang paliwanag ni Brix sa dalaga.

"Wa-Wala naman siyang ginawa. It's not her fault. Why would she---"

"That girl is complicated. She have that innocent look yet so frail and unidentified. I don't get her attitude. Ang hirap niyang intindihin at si Vlady lang ang nakakaalam. Ugh!" Hindi napigilan ni Myrtice ang pag-igting muli ng inis niya.

"So, this Leila and Vlad had something before huh. Teka hindi ba 'to sinabi ni Vlad sa 'yo Shana?"

"Hi-Hindi," may kalungkutang tugon ni Shana. Why was she feeling this anyway? Ano ang kinalulungkot niya? Why do she felt she was cheated?

"That Vlad...Tch. He just making you feel like this," Jett murmured while clenching his fist in irritation.

IRRITATION WAS all over Vlad's face by the time he entered the room with nothing but the two of them only--him and Leila. He don't even know why on earth he had to talk to her and he immediately said yes to it. His teeth was clasping and he even brushed his hair with the uneasiness ambiance.

Nakatalikod siya sa dalaga at pinilit na kalmahin ang sarili.

"A-Alsh?..." pagtawag nito sa kanya na tila may pag-aalangan.

Alsh...Alsh...Napupuno ang utak ni Vlad sa pangalang 'yon. Ito kasi ang madalas na itawag sa kanya ni Leila.

"What did you do to Red?!" malakas na tanong niya nang humarap sa dalaga.

Leila widen her eyes upon seeing Vlad in a scary face. Hindi niya ito inaasahan na makita sa lalaki. "Uhm..."

"Tell me! What did you do to her?!" pag-uulit ni Vlad at hinawakan na niya ang dalaga sa magkabilang balikat na hindi niya namalayang nasasaktan at natatakot na niya pala si Leila. He was just able to calm down when he saw how Leila's eyes covered with fear and sorrow.

"I-I'm...Sorry," napabitiw siya ng hawak sa dalaga at lumayo ng kunti.

"I-I didn't do anything to her...I didn't want her to...." paputol-putol na paliwanag ng dalaga. She was tilting down her head and almost in the verge of crying. She was just trying to hold it back but unfortunately it won't follow her.

Napaangat na lang ng tingin si Vlad sa kanya at nakaramdam ng lungkot habang nakikita niyang umiiyak si Leila. And the next thing he knew, he was already hugging the woman which made also Leila to be surprised.

"Ssh..Sorry. Stop crying now."

Sumukli din ng mahigpit na yakap si Leila sa lalaki at mas ibinaon ang mukha sa dibdib nito.

"Sorry din, Alsh. Sorry for everything.

"Yeah. Forget it."

Tumingala ang babae at lumapit ito lalo sa mukha ni Vlad. She slowly closed her eyes and Vlad was stiff at the moment until he realized he must not do it. He put Leila far from him and turned his back again while still confused to his feeling.

"Alsh...bakit?"

"Stop! Magiging asawa ka na ni (kuya) Lestalt."

"Pe-Pero...Siya ba? Si Shana? Who is she? What is she to you?"

"She's got nothing to do with this."

"I don't believe you, Alsh...Sabihin mo sa 'kin kung sino siya," lumapit ito sa lalaki na niyakap pa sa likuran.

Humarap naman si Vlad at matamang tinitigan si Leila sa mata. He couldn't see now the fear on its eyes but full of sorrow at may pag-aalinlangan.

"This is not you and I won't tell you about her because she's only mine," nagtiim bagang si Vlad matapos itong sabihin at sa isang iglap ay nawala siya sa paningin ni Leila.

Leila was left astonished and almost crying again. Naramdaman niyang may kahati na siya sa puso ng tunay niyang mahal.

"HOW WAS IT, DEAR?" tanong ni Lestalt nang makapasok si Leila sa guest room na pinahintulutan sa kanila ni Vlad. He was pouring brandy while waiting for Leila's answer.

Lumakad lang ang dalaga papuntang higaan at tahimik itong naupo. Lestalt immediatley noticed it and face her wife-to-be.

"What's wrong? Something happened?"

"His selfish. Tama ka Lestalt. Hindi pa rin nagbabago ang kapatid mo."

"So, it didn't went well? Hindi pa rin naging maayos ang closure niyo?"

"I hate him. Tama lang na ikaw ang pinili ko. I don't need him. I don't need---" Leila stammered as her tears started to roll down her cheeks. Napayuko siya at mahigpit na hinawakan ang comforter ng kama.

Lestalt made a sneaky smile and walk towards the woman. Inilagay niya muna ang inumin sa side table bago siya lumuhod sa harapan ng babae.

"Don't make that tears for him. It won't bring you anything and it's kinda make me jealous." Lestalt held Leila's chin to face him.

Namula naman ang babae sa narinig niya. "So-Sorry..." nagpunas ito ng luha na parang bata.

"Pero nagustuhan mo ba? Na nakita mo si Vlad? After a long years?"

"Hi-Hindi...Hindi na...dahil ikaw lang ang mahal ko, Lestalt."

Ngumisi naman si Lestalt at dahan-dahan nitong inihiga si Leila sa kama. He was now on top of the woman, gazing her with so much wonder. Nanatili din nakatitig ang dalaga sa kanya.

"Of course ako lang ang dapat ang mahal mo," Lestalt responded as he was leaning down to Leila's face. He kissed the woman and brought her to sleep.

"YOU'LL BE WAKING UP SOON," he whispered and after that, Lestalt left a devious expression.