Siegfried

Chapter 8

This is my confession

As dark as I am

I will always

Find enough light

To adore you to pieces

With all of my pieces.

- Johny Nguyen

Chapter Eight

Children of the Damned

I've been avoiding them for weeks. Ang mga katulong lang nila ang naghahatid sa'kin ng pagkain. They never tried to talk to me after that incident in the sala. At hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin humuhupa ang galit ko sa kanila.

But as the thoughts ran through my mind, the eagerness to know everything, why they drag me to this hell. I came to a decision and that is to face and talk to them.

"Your breakfast is ready, miss Frances... Are you sure you want to eat downstairs?"

Tumango ako kay Leah. Inihatid nito sakin kanina ang breakfast ko pero ipinabalik ko dahil gusto kong kumain sa baba. Kahit gaano ka-engrande at kaganda ang silid na ito, nakakasawa din.

Bumuntong hininga ako bago lumabas ng silid.

"Miss Frances---"

"I'm okay"

I know she's worried about me or maybe scared to be punish by them.

Napakalamig ng kastilyong iyon, para bang matagal ng walang nakatira.

Buntong hininga ito ng buntong hininga na tila ba may bumabagabag dito. Nauna syang maglakad sa'kin at nahalata ko na parang sinasadya nyang bagalan.

"Leah, look, I'm really hungry."

"Apologies, miss Frances" saka sya sunod-sunod ng yumuko.

I just roll my eyes.

Hanggang makarating kami ng hapag ay tahimik sya. Sa entrada ng kusina ay natigil ako ng makarinig ng ingay na nanggagaling sa loob.

"Leah---"

Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko ng yumukod sya pagkatapos ay nagpaalam at umalis.

Nagdadalawang-isip ako kung tutuloy lalo na ng makarinig ng ungol. Pinagpawisan ako.

"Lord S-Siege" I heard a female voice whine.

Out of curiosity, nagtuloy-tuloy akong pumasok.

What if he's hurting that girl? He's a vampire, what if he's draining the blood of that girl?

I blink as my lips parted when I saw Siege and Mary--- one of the maids, standing next to the kitchen island, and witness Mary's horny face while biting her lip and her rapid, shallow breaths as Siege, well I don't know, maybe kissing or biting her neck and he's pressing his arousal against her while stroking her boobies.

Napasunod ang mata ko sa kamay ni Siege ng pumasok iyon sa skirt ni Mary.

Mariin kong ipinikit ang mga mata ko ng mas lumakas pa ang ungol ni Mary. Ugh, I hate you Leah. Why didn't you inform me about this.

Napakadaming kwarto sa kastilyong iyon, tapos dito pa talaga sa kusina.

When I opened my eyes, Siege's already staring at me with his flaming red eyes again and blood dripping down his chin.

Fear consumed me.

He lick his lips and I think my mind is playing with me coz I caught the corner of his lips quirked up before he let go of Mary and turned his back to wipe his mouth.

Namumula ang pisngi ni Mary habang inaayos ang sarili at hindi makatingin sa'kin.

"Yo-Your breakfast, miss--"

Napaatras ako, nakaramdam ng takot lalo pa ng humarap ulit sa'kin si Siege.

"Sit" he commanded with his sluggish voice.

I awkwardly smiled and shook my head as I turned my back. "I-I'm not hu-hungry---"

"Sit"

Mabilis akong humarap at umupo, baka magalit pa ito pag hindi ko sinunod.

"Where's Felix? Them?" Mahinang tanong ko kay Mary.

"Jogging" kiming sagot nya.

Aktong aasikasuhin nya pa ako ng pigilan ko sya.

"I-I can manage, Mary" I said, dismissing her.

Yumukod sya, nakuha pang lumingon kay Siege bago umalis.

What? Because he touched you 'there', sa tingin mo seseryosohin ka n'yan? Trust me, hindi ka n'yan seseryosohin.

Kumunot ang noo ko ng mapansing madaming nakahanda sa hapag at may dalawang plato.

Nasagot ang katanungan sa isipan ko ng umupo si Siege sa kaharap kong upuan at nagsimulang kumain.

Maang ko syang tiningnan. He has a small blood stain on his shirt too.

Nabitin sa ere ang pagsubo nya ng mapansin na nakatitig lang ako sa kanya.

"What?" He glowered.

Umiling ako at nagsimula na ring kumain.

"I don't have the right to enjoy life now? Huh?"

I roll my eyes. May sinabi ba ako?

"Yeah! Right!" I whispered reminding about what I just witnessed earlier.

Tahimik kaming kumain at nararamdaman ko ang panaka-naka nyang pagsulyap sa'kin pero hindi ko na iyon pinagtuunan ng pansin.

Nakaramdam ako ng kaba at pagkailang pero pilit ko iyong nilalabanan at nagpatuloy lang sa pagkain.

Akala ko aalis na sya ng matapos syang kumain pero nakaupo lang sya doon.

I glared at him. "Wh-What?"

He tapped his fingers on the table.

"Just eat."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. "Yo-You know it's rude to s-stare."

"I'm not." he said cynically.

Inirapan ko sya at nagpatuloy na lang sa pagkain, nang matapos ay tinawag nya si Mary para magligpit. I insisted pero parang wala syang narinig kaya dumeretso na lang ako sa sala para doon hintayin sila Felix.

I'm bucy staring at the paintings when Siege popped up at umupo sa isang sofang napakalayo sa'kin.

What's with this freak?

Nakalagay ang isang magazine sa kanyang kandungan habang binabasa nya iyon. Looking at him, he's so cool, so calm while me... Hindi mapakali sa kinauupuan ko. Naaalala ang naabutan ko kanina sa kusina.

Ano ba kasing ginagawa nito dito? Bakit hindi sya sumama sa mga ugok na iyon?

"Magagalit kaya ito pag binato ko?" Bulong ko sa sarili.

Natigil sya saka ilang segundo pa bago nag-angat ng tingin sa'kin.

Namumula ang pisnging nag-iwas ako ng tingin.

What now? You have super-hearing too?

Hinanap ko ang boses nila Felix ng marinig ang asaran nila, napatayo ako ng pumasok sila sa sala. Doon lang ako nakahinga ng maluwag ng makita sila.

Being with Siege will be the death of me, I can't stand his presence. His eyes. It's intimidating me. It's scaring me.

They're wearing sweatpants, jacket, sneakers and baseball cap. They're all sweating but hell, they're still hot.

Hello, Franchesca, you're supposed to be mad at them.

"Frances?" Si Elric ang unang nakapansin sa'kin.

Lahat sila napatingin sa'kin.

"Something wrong?" Daelan asked and glanced at Siege.

He's still reading that magazine at parang walang pakealam sa mga bagong dating.

Umiling ako.

"Woah! At last, what? You got bored in that f*****g room?" Felix mocked.

Kahit anong iwas ko, napapatingin talaga ako kay Lyon lalo na ng punasan nya ang mukha at leeg gamit ang bimpong hawak.

Shit.

I cleared my throat, I tried to ignore him, but damn. Uminom pa ng tubig sa bottled water na tila ba isang commercial model.

Namumula ang pisnging napatalikod ako sa kanila.

"What is wrong with you?" Aiken asked.

"You're acting weird" si Elric at umupo.

I breath in and out before I faced them but I avoid looking at Lyon's direction.

"Where's Edrei?"

"She's safe... You don't have to worry." si Lyon pa talaga ang sumagot.

"We're kind of interrogating her" dagdag ni Daelan.

"You really waited for us huh. Why didn't you asked Siege, he's there." Felix pointed Siege then start undressing himself.

I heaved a sigh. "I want to know everything and when I say everything... It's E-VE-RY-THING. Every... Details."

Tumaas sila para makaligo at makapagpalit kaya naiwan na naman kami ni Siege sa sala.

My fear towards him is not good, tinatabunan ko na lang iyon ng galit. Galit sa pagtangka nyang saktan ako. Galit sa pag-iwan nya sa'kin sa devil's lair. Galit dahil sa muntikan na nyang pagpatay kay Edrei.

Wala pang isang oras ng isa-isa silang bumalik. Basa pa ang buhok at ang natural nilang amoy na pinaghalo ng ginamit nilang shampoo at sabon ay kumalat sa sala.

Umupo ako sa pang-isahang sofa samantalang sila ay pinalibutan ako. Felix is on my left side sitting on the long sofa beside him is Daelan who is leaning on the backrest. Si Elric ay nasa kanan ko naman katabi si Aiken samantalang magkaharap kami ni Lyon. Si Siege naman, hindi pa rin sya umaalis don sa kinauupuan nya kanina.

"So, what do you want to know?" Lyon asked and crossed his legs.

I don't know if I can survive this, sitting in front of this men who's eyes and attention are all in me. Pakiramdam ko, isa akong pagkaing nakahain para sa kanila.

Tiningnan ko sila isa-isa. Siguro kung nasa ibang sitwasyon ko sila nakilala. Baka mailang ako, baka mahiya at hindi sila kayang harapin. Baka mautal, kabahan at magtitili o matulala na lang.

O baka kapag sa ibang pagkakataon ko sila nakilala, hinding-hindi nila ako mapapansin. Kakausapin at tititigan ng ganito.

Their presence are different from Harry, Hans, Justin and Luther o kahit sa mga lalaking nakasalamuha ko na.

Their presence is shouting authority, sturdiness and danger. Iyong kahit nakatayo lang sila at hindi nagsasalita ay matatakot ka sa mata nila, maiilang sa presensya nila at ma-i-intimidate sa titig nila.

They're scary but it feels like you are safe with them. It feels like they can protect you from anything. It feels like they can do anything for you.

I bit my bottom lip then exhaled and cleared my throat.

There's something in their eyes, mysterious and dark, tila marami silang inililihim.

They all look like in my age or older, siguro mga nasa 20-25. Are they all married? Pasimple akong napatingin sa daliri nila. No ring. Do they have girlfriends? Damn. Should I ask that to them?

Damn it, Franchesca, that's nonsense!

"So, all of you are... V-Vampires?"

Sunod-sunod silang nagpakawala ng marahas na hininga.

"I thought you're not going to f*****g talk anymore." Felix sarcastically said.

Namula ang pisngi ko sa sinabi nito.

"Yes, we are..." Elric answered. "But we preferred to be called the descendants."

Napatango-tango ako.

"How about nightwalkers?"

"They are mortals who became vampires." tugon ni Lyon.

"I think we should properly introduce ourselves first, eh?" Daelan suggested. "My name is Daelan Blacdemorth."

I nod at him and immediately look away dahil mariin syang nakatitig sa'kin.

"Well, you know me but still I will introduce myself. In case you forgot... Aiken Laurentein." He smirked and saluted at me.

"Elric Glyvendale, m'lady." He slightly bow down his head at me which I find so cute.

Felix fake a vomit while Aiken groaned.

"Lyon..."

Agad na dumako ang tingin ko kay Lyon.

"Lyon Stonesifer..."

Namilog ang mata ko. "S-Stonesifer?"

"Yes, what's wrong." Felix's brow furrowed.

Umiling ako, hindi maalis ang tingin kay Lyon. Nakakunot lang ang noo nito sa'kin.

Stonesifer? He's a Stonesifer? Is he Mr. Stonesifer?

"Honey, look at me... My name is Felix Stonesifer."

I ignore him, I can't take away my eyes from Lyon.

"And this is Siege... Stonesifer"

Napakurap-kurap ako sa sinabi ni Aiken at bumaling kay Siege.

His face is blank while looking at me. His eyes. It's all blank.

Naging malikot ang mata ko, mas nagulhan. Of course Lyon, Felix and Siege is a Stonesifer. They're siblings. Kung ganon, sino sa kanila ang bumili sa'kin sa halagang hundred million dollars? Sino sa kanila si Mr. Stonesifer?

Sino sa kanilang tatlo? Si Siege? Siya ba?

"Vampires have supernatural strength, speed, hearing and they can see in the dark. We're all immortals." pauna ni Elric na nagpabalik sa'kin sa realidad na nandito sila, kaharap ko.

"But we can't compel, just shut off our humanity, control and hide our true feelings." Lyon said.

"Do we have that f*****g thing?" Felix asked, disgusted.

"So, you can walk during daylight?" I asked.

They all shrugged except Siege who looks sleepy.

"Don't know, there's no sun so we can't tell." Daelan answered.

"We're different from nightwalkers, we have ability... Powers, magic, voodoo, blah... Blah... Blah... Call it anything you want." ani Aiken.

"I can move objects and individuals by using my mind. It can be channeled through my eyes or hands or what people call nowadays... f*****g telekinesis." Felix smirked then suddenly I feel my hair moved upward. Dancing in the air.

At the corners of my eyes, I glanced at my hair.

"O-Okay, fine. Stop." I glared at him.

Natatawang tumigil naman sya. "I'm really awesome."

I ran my hand through my hair to fix it.

"I can move from one place to another, more or less instantaneously." Aiken said.

"Like... Teleportation?" I asked.

I gasped when he abruptly appeared beside me, sitting on the arm chair habang nakaakbay sa'kin.

Oh! That's the answer kung bakit bigla na lang kaming lumitaw dito noong nasa harap kami ng devils lair.

Tumango ako. "You can go back now to your---"

Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ng bigla syang mawala at lumitaw sa dati nyang upuan. He has this proud smug in his face.

I tilted my head. Humalukipkip na lang.

Elric stretched out his legs in front. "Well, it's just simple... I can stop time but I can't bring it back"

"You can't do time travel?" I asked.

"It's f*****g boring." Felix mocked.

Elric glared at him before looking at me. "No!"

Napakurap-kurap ako ng biglang magkaroon ng sulat sa noo ni Felix na; I'M GAY.

"Time manipulation." Elric proudly said while holding a marker.

Hindi ko na napigilan at tinawanan ko si Felix. I laugh loudly and hardly.

"s**t, Elric." Felix frowned, saka mabilis na tumakbo sa kung saan.

Napahawak ako sa tyan ko, pinigilan na h'wag ng matawa ulit. Using the back of my hand, I wipe the corner of my eyes dahil namasa iyon sa kakatawa.

Namula ang pisngi ko ng mapansing nakatitig sila sa'kin. s**t! Nakakahiya. Sabi pa naman ni Harry, pag tumawa ako dinig ng buong Baguio sa sobrang lakas.

"It's good to see you smile and laugh like that." puri ni Elric na mas ikinapula ng mukha ko.

It feels like he's complimenting me but I knew myself, it's disgusting. It's a humiliation. Alam kong sa mga tulad nilang lalaki, gusto nila yung prim and proper. Mahinhin. Iyong hindi makabasag-pinggan.

"Woah, Elric." Aiken teased. "What's that term, the famous term for playboy this generation?" He snapped. "Ah, ninja moves!"

Natawa ako. "It's not ninja moves, Aiken, coz he's not doing anything... It's simple sycophancy."

They all chuckled except, again, the great Siege. What's really this guy.

Elric groaned.

Bumalik si Felix na nakasimangot habang pinupunasan ang medyo basa pa nitong mukha.

"Don't f*****g do that again, asshole." Felix rant.

"Try me." asar pa ni Elric.

Felix extended his middle finger towards Elric.

Daelan nibbled on his bottom lip. "My ability is to become unseen by the naked eye or... Invisibility."

Napatango ako. Bukod kay Siege, isa pa sya sa nakakaramdam ako ng pagkailang.

Napalunok ako ng bumaba sa labi ko ang mata nya. I turned my face away. Ramdam ko ang pamumula ng pisngi ko.

Tumingin ako kay Siege at Lyon, sila na lang kasi ang hindi nagsasabi ng abilidad nila.

Lyon heaved a sigh. "I can create illusions which alter everyone's emotions, past, senses and perception of their surroundings. Your greatest desire, deepest fear, darkest secrets... I can reveal, destroy and control it."

Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya, sa paggalaw ng kanyang mata at labi... Damn! Is he using his ability on me? Yes! Definitely.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko ng biglang tumayo si Siege.

"This is nonsense." anya at umalis.

"Siege, we already talked about this." Lyon tried to stop him but he didn't listen.

"Don't mind him, since the day of our awaken... He became like that." Aiken sigh.

"Grumpy, ruthless, savage... Dangerous." Daelan propped his chin on his hand.

"Well, we're still thankful that he's here... On our side." Elric sigh in relief.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "T-That's his ability? Grumpy, ruthless, savage and dangerous?"

Ilang minuto silang nagkatinginan bago nagsalita si Felix.

"Oh! Honey, it's f*****g worst than that."

"T-Then what?"

"He can cast instant... Death." Lyon whispered.

Woah!