Blood Sucker

Blood 4

"P-pinagloloko ninyo ba ako?"

"Mukha ba akong..." The girl's voice trailed off as she leaned closer to her. Elisse took a step back in defense. "Nagbibiro?"

She gulped at the awkward contact. Hindi siya sanay na may lumalapit sa kanya ng ganoon except for her mother and her best friend, Asha. But she knew that it's not the time to think about those things.

Naiilang man, pinilit niyang tumingin sa mga mata nito. She can see her own reflection on the girl's pale black eyes and it's giving her the chills for some unknown reason.

At the same time, it gives her fear—fear that she might be telling the truth. Napailing si Elisse, she's trying to take a good grip of herself. "No, this is..."

Ibig sabihin, yung nakita niyang student kanina na naging pula ang mga mata, hindi niya 'yon...malikmata lang?

Her chain of thoughts slowly became shallow. Her judgement to reality whether to believe the girl or not was the worst thing to do.

Umatras si Elisse. Gusto na lang niyang umuwi.

Walang paalam na tumakbo siya paalis ngunit hindi pa man siya nakakalayo ay nasa harapan na niya agad ang dalaga na para bang kanina pa ito sa pwesto.

What, paanong...

"Elisse," The black-eyed girl held her on both shoulders and she almost flinched because of her touch. She realized it was not warm, the coldness of the girl's skin was undeniable. She could feel through the fabric of her clothes. "Relax."

She closed her eyes. Her whole being was shaking with the fact she can't escape. She's shivering with fear. Ayaw niyang paniwalaan ang mga nangyayari.

"Am...am I dreaming?" she asked instead.

Siguro nananaginip pa rin siya. Siguro nasa bahay pa rin talaga siya habang nakahiga sa sariling kama. Siguro kasama niya pa rin talaga ang ina. Hindi totoo ang mga nakita niya, panaginip lang ang lahat.

But everything felt surreal and vivid. The brown-eyed girl can't even distinguish the reality from fantasy.

The girl shook her head and cupped her face. Elisse gasped. Napaatras siya sa ginawa nito pero hinapit lang siya nito sa baywang palapit.

The black-eyed vampire leaned her face closer to Elisse. She can't move according to her will. She can't do anything but to close her eyes and wait.

Why was she closing her eyes? She didn't know.

Soon enough, a pair of soft lips touched Elisse's as she opened her eyes. Her mind quickly went blank. What's happening? She can't think straight.

A girl kissed me and I...

The girl lips slowly traced her lips, cheeks, and up to her ear. "Sleep," she whispered.

She suddenly felt her eyelids getting heavy, she felt weightless. Her mind and body seemed to be in the clouds.

The silence became comfortable and relaxing. Unti-unting nanlambot ang katawan niya, naramdaman niya ang mabagal na pagbaksak ng sariling katawan at ang pagsalo sa kanya ng taong kaharap.

The darkness welcomed Elisse when she opened her eyes. She can't see anything. The place was too dark for her.

Nagmistulan siyang bulag.

Sinubukan niyang maglakad at mangapa sa dilim. Fear crawled to her system. She's scared. She's alone. She can't take it. "M-Mama..."

"Hail for the chosen one..."

Napalingon siya sa pinanggalingan ng boses. The voice sounded familiar.

Nakakatakot.

Nakakakilabot.

She walked forward, following the voice. "Who are you?"

"Hail for the chosen one..." the voice repeated.

She felt like her head was going to explode because of the voice. Parang pati sa kaloob-looban ng ulo niya ay naririnig niya ito.

"Who. Are. You!" she yelled.

"Hail for the chosen one..."

She caught herself breathless when a pair of blazing crimson eyes appeared right in front of her. Napaatras siya at mas lalong kumalat ang takot na nararamdaman sa buong sistema.

Unti-unting lumiwanag ang paligid. Elisse's eyes widened when she realized who was the owner of the blazing eyes. It's from the man who tried to kill her. A monster—

A vampire.

"Hail for the chosen one..."

She took a step back. Paanong nabuhay ito?

Umagos mula sa bibig nito ang masaganang dugo ng bumuka ang labi nito. "Hail for the chosen one..."

Hail for the chosen one? Kanina pa nito iyon binabanggit pero hindi niya alam kung bakit.

He looked at her. Sinundan ni Elisse ang pagbaba ng tingin nito, napatingin siya sa sariling kamay and she almost vomited because of the sight.

She's holding a bloody heart—his heart. She's holding his heart just like the last time.

Bumalik ang tingin niya sa lalaki at napansin ang butas sa dibdib nito. He smiled at her—a horrific one. "Hail for the chosen one..."

Umatras si Elisse at lumayo sa kanya. Tumakbo siya ng mabilis. Pilit niyang kinakalimutan ang imahe nito sa isip.

She ran and ran until she felt herself falling in a deep pit...

Napabalikwas siya at napabangon sa pagkakahiga. She's panting heavily at pawis na pawis. She sighed and massaged her temple.

"Nightmare," She muttered before brushing her hair due to frustration.

She's thankful that it's not true.

"Buti naman at gising ka na," a cold feminine voice said. Napatingin siya sa katabing kama at nakita yung babaeng humalik sa kanya. Prenteng nakaupo lang ito. She's smirking at her.

Bumaba ang tingin ni Elisse sa mga labi nito at napalunok. She remembered how those soft plump lips touched hers. It should felt forbidden and wrong but it feels so right—

What the hell.

Heat rushed up to her face. Nababaliw na yata siya. She will admit, it was her first kiss. But was it counted as a kiss knowing that she got it from a...girl?

But a kiss was a kiss, Elisse thought.

"For a girl like you," The girl whispered, saka niya lang namalayan na sobrang lapit na nito sa kanya. Elisse smelled her breath. "You think too much. You know that?" She leaned closer, violating her personal space. Sinubukan niyang umatras ngunit napahiga siya sa kama kaya tuluyan itong umibabaw sa kanya. "You tend to space out, just like now."

"P-pwedeng lumayo ka?" pakiusap ni Elisse sa kanya.

She's nervous and she couldn't stop her heart from wreaking havoc inside her chest. This girl was a vampire and no matter how many times she denied it to herself, she can't hide the truth. She heard and saw everything. She can't do anything but to believe everything.

Mama, why did you bring me here? She asked in silence.

"You're spacing out again." bulong nito sa kanya. It made her feel funny and weird.

Kinuha niya ang mga kamay ni Elisse. She slowly pinned it above her head gamit lamang ng isang kamay. She straddled her.

Kakaiba ang titig na ibinibigay nito sa kanya. Para siyang binubutas—dina-dissect. Was that even the right term? It felt like the black-eyed girl was staring right through the deepest part of her being.

The vampire unbuttoned the two buttons of her polo shirt. She gasped. She tried to struggle out of panic. "W-what are you..."

Unti-unting naging pula ang kaninang itim na mata ng babae na siyang nagpahinto kay Elisse. Mabilis na gumapang sa kanya ang pinagsamang kaba at takot. "A-ang...m-mata mo..."

Was she going to bite her and suck all of her blood? Was she going to drain her to death?

Katulad lang din ba ito ng halimaw noong gabing 'yon?

Parang bigla itong natauhan. Lumayo siya kay Elisse at pumikit nang mariin. The girl sighed heavily. Sunud-sunod ang ginawa nitong paghinga na para bang kino-compose ang sarili.

Bumangon si Elisse at inayos ang damit nang hindi inaalis ang paningin sa kaharap. Her eyes slowly turned to normal and she let out a shakily sigh.

The girl's acting weird.

She looked back at Elisse, showing no hint of emotion. Naging malamig na naman ito tulad ng kanina. The brown-eyed girl's fear subsided. "Mag-ayos ka na. May pupuntahan tayo."

"S-saan tayo pupunta?" Elisse asked.

"Stop asking," the girl ordered, "Just follow me. Or, if you want..." She smirked, giving Elisse an odd look, like the look she gave her a while ago. "I can help you fix yourself."

Pinanindigan siya ng balahibo sa paraan nito ng pagkakasabi.

"We can start in undressing you. I will give you a nice, hot, bath..."

"N-no." She breathed. "No thanks, I mean. K-kaya ko na ang sarili ko." she declined. Elisse didn't like the idea.

Parang bumbilya na nawalan ng ilaw ang mata ng babae, even her smirk vanished, too. She's quick to change expressions, Elisse noticed. "Okay. I'm giving you fifteen minutes para mag-ayos. Hurry up dahil tapos o hindi tapos, bihis man o hindi, papasukin agad kita."

"W-wait, why do you—"

"Timer starts, now." she cut. The vampire used her extraordinary speed para makalabas agad ng silid at para hindi na makakontra si Elisse.

"Why does she have to be so bossy?" She muttered to herself habang nagmamadaling naghubad para maligo.

Mabilis naman siyang natapos. Elisse went to the closet to get some clothes. She didn't even had the time to choose what to wear because her time's running.

Pumasok yung babae sa kwarto eksatong tapos na magbihis si Elisse who's wearing a plain black shirt and white denim shorts. Nakapagsuklay na rin siya ng buhok.

The vampire crossed her arms and smirked, checking her out. She suddenly felt exposed. "Nice. Now, come on."

"O-okay." Elisse nodded and followed her.

Inabot no'ng babae sa kanya ang duplicate key ng room nila na ipinagpasalamat niya. She gulped when the girl held her hand. "H-hindi naman ako maliligaw kung susundan kita. P-pakibitawan naman ng kamay ko."

She stopped, giving Elisse an intense stare. She leaned closer. The girl held a few strands of her hair, twirling it around her finger. "Hindi ikaw ang magsasabi sa akin ng mga gagawin ko. I will do anything I want. Clear?"

Hinila na siya ulit no'ng babae bago pa siya makasagot. Sana hindi na lang ito nagtanong. She felt the girl's grip tightened on her hand. Elisse stared at her expressionless face. And her hand was so cold.

If vampires are blood sucking monster, then why this girl had to be so gorgeous?

Her reddish-brown hair fell perfectly below her shoulder. Maganda pa nga yata sa kanya ang buhok nito. She had this beautiful pair of black orbs framed up with long eyelashes, a pointed nose, and soft red lips. She's pale white but she's so beautiful nevertheless. Wala na rin siyang masasabi sa katawan ng babae. She's fit and sexy.

"Your name," Elisse whispered. The girl looked at her. "I want to know your name."

The girl nodded and smiled a little that made her heart jolted a bit. "Adrienne."

Adrienne.

Huminto sila sa tapat ng isang pinto. Binasa niya ang nakasulat.

Student Council

Pinihit ni Adrienne ang doorknob at sabay silang pumasok sa loob. Apat na magagandang babae ang bumungad sa kanyang paningin.

They all looked at Adrienne and then to her. Binitawan ni Adrienne ang kamay niya. "Meet Elisse Ayaka, the human."

Sabay na ngumiti sa kanya yung dalawa sa apat na babae, kambal yata ang mga ito dahil sobrang magkahawig sila. Sabay rin silang yumakap kay Elisse.

"Onee-chan!"

She heard that term before. It's a Japanese word for big sister. Somehow, the endearment made her smile.

Bumitaw sila kay Elisse at magkahawak kamay na nag-bow.

"Please to meet you, I'm Rin!"

"And I'm Len!"

Ang hyper nila parehas, 'yon agad ang naging conclusion niya sa kambal. She stared at them. Parehas silang maganda at maiikli ang buhok. Elisse's a few inches taller than the twin.

Rin had blue eyes, blue rin ang highlights nito sa buhok. Len's eyes were close to violet—which was her first time seeing one—at pink naman ang highlights ng buhok. They looked so adorable.

"They are the Etheridge twins, also the member of the Student Council." The other girl who's wearing an eyeglass said. She's holding a book entitled The House of Hades.

She stood up and went closer to the twin. Rin and Len snaked their arms to the girl and giggled childishly. She smiled na mas lalong nagpaganda sa kanya.

Napakasimple niya lang tingnan pero may appeal. The girl wearing an eyeglass looked at Elisse again. "I'm Samantha West, Sam for short. And that girl..." She trailed off, pointing her lips to the other one who's looking on the window. Para itong may sariling mundo.

She had a long, blonde hair. Kapansin-pansin din ang mga bracelets at singsing na suot nito. But there's one thing that Elisse noticed, the girl's eyes mirrored melancholy.

"She's Diamond. Diamond Thales."

"Ni-nice to meet you all." she greeted, "I'm Elisse." She bowed slightly.

"We all know who you are." Sam said in a matter of fact tone, "You're the first human here—a special one to be exact."

Elisse was confused. Special? How?

"Aside from being the body of the Student Council, mas kilala kami sa tungkulin namin bilang Guardians."

"Guardians?"

"Yes." Sam nodded. "We are the chosen vampires na itinalaga ng Monarchy. All of us came from different descendants, different bloodlines. We're the fifth generation of vampires, bound to be the guardians of the chosen one who will fulfill the Oracle's prophecy."

Natigilan si Elisse. Chosen one—it's what the vampire had said in her dream. Ano ba ang meron sa chosen one na iyon?

Napatitig sa kanya si Sam at napailing, halata sigurong nagtataka siya. She looked at Adrienne but the latter just shrugged her shoulders.

"Uhh..." She took a step forward. "Sorry, pero...wala akong maintindihan sa mga sinasabi mo."

"Well..." Sam tapped both of her shoulders repeatedly. Umakbay ito sa kanya, leaning closer to her ear. She felt Sam's breath and felt awkward, uncomfortable even. "Let's just say na ikaw ang taong tinutukoy sa prophecy."

_____