Siegfried

Chapter 14

It took me awhile

To realize

How evil you are.

- LhordeJhayceeZuwail

Chapter Fourteen

No rest for the wicked

Itinigil ni Lyon ang sasakyan niya sa harap ng isang malaking hotel. Brizo, iyon ang pangalan ng hotel. We're in the capital of São tomé and Príncipe. Ang kanilang eroplano ay nakatago, thanks to Daelan. He can conceal anything too.

How awesome is that huh?

"Ready?" Lyon asked me while removing his seatbelt.

Tumango ako at mabilis na napabaling sa likod ng biglang buksan nila Felix ang pinto at bumaba.

"Oh! Thank God, fresh air!" madramang sabi ni Felix na nakapamewang pa at nakapikit habang nakatingala.

Siksikan kasi silang lima sa likod, sa buong byahe namin nga reklamo sila ng reklamo. Naaawa nga ako sa kanila, ang lalaki nilang mga lalaki siguradong sikip na sikip sila sa likod. Si Aiken nga sa sahig na nakaupo.

"Just stay behind us, Frances." paalala ni Elric bago bumaba. Bumaba na rin si Lyon.

I looked at the hotel, maraming paroon at paritong mga tao at sigurado akong lahat sila ay nightwalkers.

"Wear this."

I glanced at Daelan, may iniabot sya sa'king itim na tela bago bumaba. Kinuha ko iyon at tinitigan. It's a coat with a bigger hood. I feel like I'm little red riding hood--- nah, it should be little black riding hood. Bumuntong hininga muna ako para kahit pa paano ay mabawasan ang kabang nararamdaman ko bago bumaba.

Elric fixed my hoodie and it slightly covered half of my face.

Maririnig ang sigawan at kasiyahan sa kinatatayuan namin.

"Are you sure you don't want me to hide you?" Daelan asked me na para bang inaasahan nya pang magbabago ang desisyon ko.

Umiling ako saka ngumiti.

"Just always look down then." paalala ni Aiken.

"And don't f*****g sneeze." Dagdag ni Felix.

Tumango ako kahit kinakabahan. We'll be staying here for one or two nights before heading to Port Edward where the red desert is located.

Nagsimula na kaming naglakad papasok. Lyon and Elric are in front while Siege is in my left and Daelan is in my right and Felix and Aiken are at my back.

Nakarinig agad ako ng boses ng mga babae ng makapasok kami sa Brizo at tila nagpapapansin pa sa kanila. Halata ang pagpapakita ng interes ng mga babae doon sa kanila.

Lyon and Elric talk to the female receptionist and damn they even sound ten times hotter speaking the language of São tomé and Príncipe.

I scanned the lobby, dim at nakakahilo ang paligid. Maalinsangan din ang hangin, nakabukas kasi lahat ng pinto at bintana.

Pasimple kong sinilip ang babae, she has a curly black hair na hanggang leeg. She's definitely an African because of her skin color but still she's beautiful and sexy at kulang na nga lang lumuwa ang dibdib nya sa suot na v-neck top.

Nakakunot noong tumingin ito sa kanila Lyon at Elric saka lumagpas ang tingin nito sa kanila, she looked at us.

Kumabog ang dibdib ko. Mabilis na inayos ang suot kong hoodie na para bang maitatago ang mukha ko sa kanya.

Nakahinga lang ako ng maayos ng tumawa ang babae. And she's smiling at Elric. Looks like she likes him.

Napabuga si Lyon na tila ba nabunutan ng tinik. The girl nodded then handed a key at Elric. Napataas ang kilay ko ng mapangakit syang ngumiti at saka may inilagay na papel sa tabi ng susi na hawak ni Elric.

Nakakunot noong nagkatinginan sila Elric at Lyon. Felix and Aiken teased Elric. Lyon just shrugged his shoulder then get the paper and I'm sure as hell that it's her number.

Naglalakad na kami ng biglang humangin ng malakas dahilan para maalis ang suot kong hood. My eyes widened, isusuot ko pa sana ang hood ng mapansing nakatingin na sila sa'min. They're staring at us, especially me. Nahigit ko ang hininga ko lalo na ng mas lumakas pa ang hangin, ang simoy ng hangin at ang pangangalit ng kanilang mga ngipin lang ang naririnig ko.

Then all of their eyes turned to silver and they flashed their fangs at us then growled.

They step closer to me, covering me from them. Naging alerto sila Lyon, mukhang inihahanda ang sarili sa maaaring mangyari. Daelan hold my hand and I'm too scared, too preoccupied by those nightwalkers to even notice him.

"We just came here to rest. We're not going to hurt anyone." Aiken clarified while roaming his eyes around the lobby.

"Siege, control your-f*****g-self." Felix warned him, siguro naramdaman din nito ang paninigas ng katawan ni Siege na maaring may gawin itong bagay na mas ikalala pa ng sitwasyon nila.

I stared at Siege when he didn't listen to Felix. Aktong hahawakan ang kamay ni Siege para sana kumalma ito but Daelan grip my hand.

"Am I going to conceal her?" Daelan asked.

Napakurap-kurap ako, mukhang ano mang oras ay handa na silang makipaglaban. But we're not here for that.

"Just wait." Aiken whispered.

Nagulat na lang kami ng biglang sumigaw ang babaeng receptionist. "Brace yourself, nutheads, and get lost."

Nagsimula namang magsialisan ang mga tao doon, hinintay naming mawala ang mga ito saka lang kami mabilis na sumakay ng elevator.

Felix heaved a sigh. "Wew! That was f*****g close."

Inalis ko ang suot kong hoodie saka kinapa ang dibdib ko kung nasaan ang puso kong dumadagundong sa sobrang kaba. That was intense.

Sumandal kaming lahat sa wall ng elevator. Felix is in my right and Lyon is in my left, kaharap naman namin sila Elric at Siege at sa dulo ay si Aiken at Daelan.

Ipinagkrus ko ang mga braso saka isinandal sa pader ang likod ng ulo at kinapa ang braso ko na may tattoo.

What's really the use of this, Azalea, huh?

"That receptionist like you, Elric." Aiken teased him.

Lahat kami napangisi at tinitigan ito.

Elric just roll his eyes, his attention is in his phone.

"She's actually hot, did you saw her..." Itinaas ni Felix ang kamay at nag-korte ng hugis ng dibdib ng babae pero natigil ito nang mapansin atang nakatingin ako sa kanya.

He smirked at me, nakuha pang kumindat. Inirapan ko na lang sya.

Lyon handed a paper at Elric. "Come on, text her."

Definitely the receptionist's number.

Mas lalong lumaki ang ngiti ko ng makitang namula ang pisngi ni Elric na mukhang naiinis na.

"Get her address or get a room, I know she's into you." Daelan urged then he jammed his hands in his front pockets.

Felix raised his hand. "Someone will be get laid tonight."

I ran my hand through my hair as I rubbed my forehead. Alam kong pulang-pula na ang mukha ko sa mga pinaguusapan nila.

I mean, seriously? Hello! I'm just seventeen, a teenager, the only girl here and definitely a bit conservative about this kind of topic. So, maybe we should all be more discreet and a little consideration won't hurt, right?

"There's no problem about having a little pleasure, Elric." Siege said in a deep tone, he crossed his arms then leaned on the wall and closed his eyes.

I shot him a disgusted glance.

"Shut up and leave me alone." Elric snapped.

Dapat iyan ang ginagaya nyo, matino. Hindi basta naaakit.

Natigil lang ang asaran nila ng tumunog ang elevator at bumukas. Lumabas kami at tinungo na ang magiging silid.

"I thought Azalea gave you the tattoo to make you safe?" Aiken asked while we're all walking in the hallway.

"Yeah," Daelan wondered. "What happened? How did they smelled you?"

Napahawak ako sa braso ko.

"Did you, you know, Frances... Did you take a bath---"

Namilog ang mata ko saka mabilis na sinapak sa braso si Felix.

"Of course, I took a bath... Jerk!"

Humalakhak sya habang hawak-hawak ang brasong sinapok ko.

"So, here we are." Elric announced when we stopped in front of a door then he looked at me. "This will be your room."

He opened it at pumasok na ako ng mabuksan niya.

"This is Siege and Elric's room." Lyon pointed the door in front of my room. "The left door will be Aiken and Felix---"

"What the f*****g what?" Felix complaint.

Aiken grimaced. "Do you think I want to share a room with you?"

Lyon didn't pay attention to them. "And the right door will be my room and Daelan."

I nodded then I looked at Siege when he starts walking to my direction. Napaatras ako.

"What the hell, Siege?" Daelan spat.

Siege stared at the door, every edge's of it then tried to walked in but it looks like something is blocking him that he can't enter.

"Just testing if it's really working" Siege mumbled then he stared at me as he step back.

Hindi ko talaga inaasahang gagawin niya iyon.

I bit my bottom lip, my heart bounced when he glanced at my lips. Mabilis kong pinakawalan ang labi ko at iniwas sa kanya ang mata.

"This is all your stuff." Ibinaba ni Aiken ang may di kalakihang bag sa sahig at gamit ang paa ay itinulak nya iyon paloob sa kwarto ko.

Nginitian ko ito at mabilis na kinuha ang bag.

"Magpapaluto kami ng pagkain mo mamaya, susunduin ka namin after..." Daelan looked at his wrist watch. "An hour or two, so take your time. Take a bath or sleep, rest... Do whatever you want, Frances."

I nodded again.

"Just open the door if one of us is knocking, Frances... Don't you ever leave your room and don't go to the balcony."

Sunod-sunod akong tumango sa paalala ni Lyon. Like a daughter obeying his father.

I stared at my room, it's still dim even there's a lamp.

Naligo ako pagkatapos ay nakatulog lang siguro ng saglit dahil pakiramdam ko may nakatingin sa'kin. At tama nga ako dahil sa balkonahe, may isang uwak na nakatukdong sa barandilya at nakatitig sa'kin.

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa nakabukas na pinto ng balkonahe.

"Shoo, shoo." Pagtataboy ko dito. Gumawa sya ng nakakatakot na tunog. Gusto ko sana itong lapitan pero naalala ko ang bilin ni Lyon.

Nakahinga rin ng maayos ng lumipad na ito palayo sa balkonahe. I heaved a sigh as I stared at the view of São Tomé.

I shrink when I heard a knock. Gamit ang daliri ay sinuklay ko ang buhok ko bago sumilip muna sa peephole bago binuksan ang pinto.

"Hey! Ikaw lang, Lyon?" I asked him, medyo nailang kasi titig na titig sya sa'kin.

I cleared my throat and closed the door. Kumunot ang noo ko ng ngumisi sya.

"Come."

Tumalikod sya at nagsimula ng maglakad kaya sumunod na lang ako kahit nagtataka. Tahimik kami sa elevator hanggang sa makababa. Ang mga nightwalkers sa lobby ay parang hindi kami nakikita.

"Where are we going?" Tanong ko ng makalabas kami sa Brizo at dumeretso sa isang sasakyang ngayon ko lang nakita.

He opened the door and looked at me. "They're waiting for us, come on."

Naging sunod-sunuran ako, this is Lyon. I trust him, I know hinding-hindi nya ako ipapahamak. Siguro may sorpresa na naman ang mga ito sa akin pero bakit ako kinakabahan ng ganito?

"Where are we really going, Lyon?" Hindi ko na napigilang magtanong ng mapansing ilang oras na syang nagda-drive.

He stopped his car in front of a gate then the gate opened and he maneuver again his car to get in. Kinabahan ako pero pilit ko iyong iwinawaksi.

Bumaba na ako ng bumaba na rin sya. I followed him inside a two-storey house.

I stared at him, the way he walked. Moves. Talked. His behavior.

"Do you need anything?"

Nakatalikod sya sa'kin habang may kung anong kinakalikot.

Napaatras ako. Natutop ko ang bibig ko. Oh! My god!

"You... Are not... You are not Lyon."

At pag harap nya sa'kin ay hindi na sya si Lyon, kundi si Daelan minus the mustache and beards.

I chuckled and sigh. "How dare you, you got me there. Kailan ka pa nag-ahit?"

Mas lalo syang gumwapo at bumata pa.

"Where are the others?" Inilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid pero nahinto din ng may napagtanto.

Takot ko syang tinitigan saka napaatras.

"How? Daelan's ability is to be invisible... So how did you... How did---"

"Because I'm not him..." He scratched his nose then sat down. "Simple as that."

"Who are you then? Why are you copying Lyon and Daelan?" I babbled.

Itinaas nya ang paa sa mesa saka sumandal sa kinauupuan at ginawang unan ang mga braso.

"Trust me, this is the real me."

Umiling ako. Hindi naniniwala dito.

"And I can do this,"

Then his appearance changed to my mom's face.

My lips parted. Tumulo ang luha ko ng matitigan ang mukha ni mom kahit alam kong hindi naman sya talaga ito.

"And this,"

Natutop ko ang bibig ko ng gayahin nya si Harry.

Napaatras pa ako.

"Though, any of this looks familiar to you?" He asked lazily.

I blink and when I realize what he was talking about, I glared at him.

"You copied my mom and Harry when I was in La Trinidad." I pressed my lips together, calming myself. I know he's a vampire and I need to be careful.

Bumagsak ang balikat ko at sunod-sunod na tumulo ang luha ng maalala ang mga masamang inisip ko patungkol kay lolo.

"Believe it or not, it's up to you... But this is my real face."

Napaangat ang tingin ko sa kanya, back to his Daelan face again.

He has emerald hard eyes, ebony hair that was tied properly. A snarling lips, turned-up nose, lean muscular body, clean-shaven high cheekbones, dark eyebrows and alabaster skin.

Yes, he's alive but he looks lifeless. The way he moves, parang walang gana. His face, it's strange and emotionless. The way I stared at his eyes, it's creepy. His voice, it's flat.

"I..." I cleared my throat. "I-I want to see your eyes... Let me see the color of your eyes."

Kumunot ang noo nya but still, sinunod nya ako. And he has red eyes.

Just like them.

Nanghihinang napaupo ako sa sofa. Then I remembered their picture. Umiling ako.

No, no, no... It's impossible!

Tinitigan ko sya, balik na ulit sa dati ang kulay ng kanyang mata.

"No, D-Daelan's twin is dead... You are not him---"

"Yes I am... I am Daelan's twin."

He growled, making his eye color turned to blazing red again.