The Nobles

Chapter 3

CLAUDIUS, TOGETHER with Adelaide went home with Devian, the child. Tulog na ang bata nang makarating sila sa mansion.

He placed him carefully on the bed, in one of the guest room. Hindi niya maiwasang maawa rito, sa batang edad, naiwan itong mag-isa.

When he go out of the room to search for Lady Adelaide, he found her on the Gazebo outside, drinking her hundred years old wine.

"Aking binibini." He bowed a little before he sat on the chair in front of her.

Ramdam niyang marami itong iniisip, sa hula niya, tungkol ito sa nangyari kanina at sa mga maraming pagbabago na kaniyang natuklasan.

He poured a wine on his wine glass. Sinasamahan ito sa katahimikan.

"Claudius Aeneas Lawyart." He don't know, but when she mentioned his whole name, it made him stiffened.

"How's the Nobles?"

He drink a little before speaking, "After the Half bloods emerge and emerge, the Nobles became silent. Most, stayed there."

She eyed him again, he already know she wants information.

"The treaty between the races..." He gulped a portion of the wine again, "It happened to cease the war before. His Excellency, accepted the offer of the humans, later on the Half bloods accepted it too when they knew they are going to lose. But we know Half bloods, their Head can't control most of them. They are aggressive, and greedy for long life."

He can still remember how humans lose a lot of lives. Half bloods dying in the hands of Nobles, and vise versa. Those times, it flooded blood.

And the King, it was his difficult times, without the help of the strongest Noble, the Leaders are at chaos. Naayos lang ang lahat nang magkaroon ng treaty, ilang taong natahimik ang tatlong lahi, ngunit ngayon, bago pa man bumalik ang kaniyang pinaglilingkurang Binibini, madalas ang hindi pagsunod ng mga Half bloods, kahit ang mga batang Nobles.

"We are going there tomorrow." Biglang sabi nito sa gitna ng kaniyang pag-iisip.

He immediately get her point. A while ago, the C Class half bloods told him about the location. Nandoon pa ang bangkay ng mga magulang ni Devian.

"H building, it is one of the famous apartments around here. Most of College students live there."

Claudius can sense that Lady Adelaide is alarmed. Half bloods mingling with humans, that's odd.

So when they woke up next morning, they immediately readied themselves to go to that place. Isinama nila si Devian dahil walang ibang kasama sa mansion, bukod sa kanila.

Sa harap ng isang malaking gusali sila bumaba. The place is huge, hindi alam ni Claudius kung saang parte hahanapin ang bangkay.

The lady he is serving didn't even flinch when she walk passed him. Dire-diretso ito papasok sa loob. Agad itong kinausap ng isang guard na nagbabantay, napabuntong hininga na lamang siya.

Wearing her black heels and black elegant dress, he went by her side, he was like a common body guard beside her. Napakamot siya ng batok, ang isang kamay hawak ang tahimik na bata sa gilid niya, kuryoso itong nakatingin sa paligid.

Pinakita niya ang isang pin sa guard para papasukin sila. Isa itong palatandaan na mataas ang posisyon niya sa bansa, madalas mga negosyante o politiko ang may hawak, but in his case, dahil ito sa pagiging Noble niya. Yes, there is that kind of privilege, it was made by humans, and even though he benefits from it, he knew it emphasizes difference of status between humans or even Nobles. It was unfair for the poor, but that is reality, most of the time, wealthy people hold more power.

Before fully entering he asked a question.

"May mga kakaiba bang nangyari rito?"

Saglit napaisip ang guard, mukhang may naalala pero hindi alam kung sasabihin ba ito sa mga estrangherong tulad nila.

"We are here to help." He tried to persuade the guard.

"May mga reklamo ang ibang tenants sa 24th floor, 2nd hallway, may hindi raw magandang amoy, ang iba sa kanila, may ingay na naririnig. Pero hindi ito todo kaya hinayaan na lang."

Agad silang pumunta sa elevator para umakyat sa sinabing palapag. Sumusunod lang sa kaniya si Lady Adelaide, nahihiwagahan sa sinakyan nila. Habang kinarga niya naman si Devian na hindi pa rin nagsasalita.

Saglit niyang pinaliwanag ang tungkol sa "elevator" habang paayat sila.

Nang makarating sa tamang palapag, he knows, something is wrong.

Nagtakip ng ilong si Lady Adelaide gamit ang kaniyang itim na panyo. Her nose is that sensitive.

Nilapitan ng kaniyang pinaglilingkuran ang batang nasa bisig niya. Nakatingin naman si Devian sa kaniya na punong puno ng kainosentehan.

"Sleep." It was a soft whisper from Lady Adelaide, the child immediately fell asleep on his arms.

Siya naman ay tinalian ng panyo bilang pantakip sa ilong at bibig ng bata para hindi maamoy ang kasangsangan kapag pumasok na sila sa unit na pinakapinanggagalingan nito.

A woman went out of one of the unit. Agad nalipat ang tingin nito sa kanila, lalo na sa kaniya. He knows that kind of stare.

Wew.

Napangisi siya at napailing bago ito lapitan.

"Good morning, Beautiful. Do you perhaps sense something weird around here?"

He saw how her cheeks blushed.

"U-um, we faintly smell a bad odor around here. These past nights, we hear a faint scratches."

Magsasalita sana siya sa katabi ngunit wala na ang kaniyang Binibini. He sigh once more, nauna na naman ito.

He went towards the door where he felt her presence. Mabilis siyang pumasok dito. Napahawak siya sa ilong niya dahil hindi maganda ang amoy sa paligid. But weird thing is, the unit is clean.

May pakete ng sigarilyo sa lamesa, but cleanly arranged. Nang pumasok siya sa isang kwarto, iyon ang medyo marumi, may damit ng babae at lalaki sa kama at sa sahig.

Sa kabilang kwarto naman ay may iba't ibang gamit. He even saw some human made weapons.

But there are no signs of dead bodies.

Hinanap niya ang kasama, nakita niya ito sa tapat ng malaking aparador. Nakatitig dito.

"The smell comes from here." She said when she felt his presence.

Inayos niya ang pagkakakarga kay Devian bago inurong ang aparador. Just like what he expected, it is a hidden room. Agad lumabas ang masangsang na amoy. At doon nila natagpuan ang ilang bangkay.

There were middle aged man and woman, teenagers and even a child. His anger rushed through his system.

Fucking animals!

He gritted his teeth. Many lose their lives again, many lose their family once again. f**k.

Nagulat siya nang biglang kunin sa kaniya ni Lady Adelaide ang bata sa kaniyang braso.

He blink repeatedly when she glared at him, she rarely does that!

Doon niya napansin na naglabas siya ng kapangyarihan sa kaniyang braso. Ilang beses siyang napamura at tumingin sa bata.

"s**t. Did I hurt him, my lady?" He panicked.

"No." That was cold.

She checked the surroundings carrying Devian, while he examine the victims. Damn, how can his lady handle the smell, it's suffocating him.

Sa tingin pa lang, alam niya nang half bloods ang gumawa nito. Bruises on the necks, signs of strangling, definitely them.

Half bloods targeted the neck because the pulse around there is an opening to absorb humans life force.

"There are more than three half bloods involved." Napatingin siya kay Lady Adelaide nang magsalita ito.

He noticed it too. Bukod sa tatlong nakalaban nila kagabi, mayroon pang ibang kakagaling lang dito, the shower is also wet, patunay na may gumamit pa nito bago sila makarating.

"There is a receipt here, my lady." Sabi niya, nakita niya ito sa isang gilid.

Oddly, bukod sa may bakas ng half bloods, parang may nag-imbestiga na rin sa lugar. There are receipts under one the table, but he found one in the corner, near the door.

"It is a receipt for a train ticket. We need to hurry up."

Ipinagbigay alam nila ang nangyari sa staff ng apartment, bago pa sila makaalis, narinig na nila ang wangwang ng mga pulis. Nagmamadaling pumasok ang mga ito, halos mabunggo pa sila na paalis na.

He drive towards the train station. Halos paliparin na niya ang kotse sa pagmamadali. Nagising na rin si Devian na umiiyak dahil sa takot.

Buti na lang, napatahan ito ni Lady Adelaide. She just mumble words he cannot hear, tumahan agad ito.

Napailing siya, minsan talaga nakakatakot ang pinaglilingkuran niya, baka kung ano ano ang sinasabi sa bata. Natawa siya ng bahagya sa iniisip.

He knows how much she's awkward towards children.

Malapit sa train station, nagulat sila nang may tumilapon na lalaki sa gilid ng kotseng sinasakyan nila.

Agad silang nagsibabaan. Of course, his Lady made sure the child didn't see the body's awful state. It's clearly a half blood, but who tortured him like this?

Agad siyang tumingin sa paligid. Near an alley, there was a silhouette of a man.

He run towards that place, sumunod sa kaniya si Lady Adelaide.

That quiet alley lead them to a man in black. He is wearing a cape with a hood. Hindi kita ang mukha, nakatagilid ito, patalikod na sa kanila.

"Show yourself." Agad niyang sabi.

He is hundred percent sure he is a Noble. He can sense it.

Napahinto ito sa pagtangkang umalis. One swift move he is in front of him. Natatabunan naman ng katawan niya si Lady Adelaide sa likod.

"Damn! Claudius Aeneas Lawyart!"

He was shocked when he heard his voice.

The f**k, this is...

Hindi niya natuloy ang naiisip dahil biglang nagpakita ang kaniyang Binibining pinaglilingkuran.

ADELAIDE revealed herself to the very familiar Noble, one of those who are close to her heart.

Muntik pa itong matumba nang makita siya. Tinanggal nito ang hood na nakaharang sa mukha. She finally saw his blonde hair and golden eyes after so many years.

Guillaume Alexander. One of her Four Guards.

Teary eyed and shocked, he bowed down to acknowledge her presence.

"M-my Master... I-I" He stutter, umubo ito ng peke para ayusin ang boses, "I didn't know you're already released... I-I waited for so many years..."

"Yes, Guillaume, I am back." Her lips lifted, welcoming him again in her life. One of her treasured Nobles.

His eyes widened at the mention of his name, this time, his tears fell.

"Damn, Guillaume, kinikilabutan ako sa'yo!" Claudius reacted.

Tiningnan naman ito ng masama ni Guillaume.

"You didn't even inform me she's back! Traitor!"

Her right hand man smirk, "You didn't even visited me for hundred of years, why would I?"

It was Guillaume's turn to smirk, "I didn't know you will miss me, my dear Lawyart."

She just stare at the both of them when they continued to argue in front of her.

Kids.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Devian at tumungo sa kotse, nilagpasan lang ang bangkay ng half blood.

Maya maya pumasok na rin ang dalawa, natahimik dahil hindi maganda ang nilalabas niyang presensya.

"S-so why are you around here?" Claudius tried to speak.

Her Guard, Guillaume, cough a bit, "I was investigating those half bloods. I didn't know it will lead me to the both of you."

Pinagmasdan niya ang batang katabi niya habang nakikinig sa usapan ng dalawa.

"So you were the one who went there to investigate before us." It was Claudius.

"Yes, I found out that aside from the three other that I cannot locate, there was one who tried to escaped."

"I killed the three."

Napasipol si Guillaume. Lumingon ito sa kaniya at sa batang kanina na nagtataka sa presensya nito.

"Master, why are you with a human child?"

Claudius answered him for her, "Her parents are included in the victims, I'm planning an adoption."

Tumaas ang kilay ni Guillaume, she knew what will happen next. "Tinatanong ka?" Pampipikon nito sa kaniyang kanang kamay.

Like expected, nag-away na ang dalawa. It is not even a portion of chaos when the Four Guards are complete. It will be another story. She don't want to remember how loud they are.

But those were good times.

She wonder where are the other three. For sure, their paths will cross again someday.

Lumingon siya sa labas ng bintana ng kotse. Sa isang glass wall ng isang building, nakita niya ang Noble na kilalang kilala niya. The King.

He's eyeing her, standing full of elegance. Saglit nagtama ang mga mata nila, bago naglaho itong muli.

Your Excellency...