It's been two days since the Arcadian Knights that's been under Raven's command was found lying unconsciously outside Cytherea.
At sa two days na yun ay naging palaisipan para sa amin kung paano sila nakauwi ng Cytherea at kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay wala parin silang malay. Pero pare-pareho lang kami ng iniisip.
Light's vampire scent was the last thing we felt on that day.
Alam naming si Light ang nag-uwi sa kanila pero pagkatapos nyang mai-uwi sa Cytherea ang anim na Arcadian Knights ay agad din syang umalis.
Lucian said that he didn't went home because he knows that the seal that his brother put on him is slowly wearing off.
Light is having a big battle.
He is a having big battle within himself.
Hindi sya pwedeng umuwi dahil alam nyang pwede syang makagawa ng mga bagay na pagsisisihan nya knowing na nasa loob parin ng katawan nya si Alexander.
Just the thought na nahihirapan sya ay pakiramdam ko ay mas lalong tumitindi ang kagustuhan kong makita sya.
Light, I miss you.
At kahit alam kong pwede nya akong saktan ay hindi mawawala nun ang kagustuhan kong makasama sya uli.
Ang dami kong gustong itanong sa kanya...
Ang dami kong gustong sabihin...
Pero paano ko magagawa ang lahat ng iyon kung hanggang ngayon ay hindi parin sya nagpapakita sa akin?
But either ways, I need to save him.
I need to save him from himself.
All my life, he's been protecting me. And so it's my time to protect him too.
But how?
Paano ko ba matatanggal ang masamang ancestor na yun mula sa katawan nya?
Napapikit nalang ako mula sa kinahihigaan kong kama habang iniisip ang lahat ng iyon. And for the past few days, ang tanging nararamdaman ko lang ay ang matinding frustration sa dibdib ko dahil kahit anong pilit kong maghanap ng kasagutan ay hindi ko parin mahanap ang lahat ng iyon.
Nayakap ko nalang ng mahigpit ang unan na katabi ko nang dahil sa tindi ng sakit at frustrations na nararamdaman ko.
"Good morning..." I heard that soft voice from my back.
Si Lucian.
Sa tindi ng mga iniisip ko ay nakalimutan kong katabi ko pala sya sa kama ngayon.
It's just sad...na kahit sya ang kasama ko...ay ibang lalaki naman ang laman ng isipan ko.
Am I cheating?
Am I cheating on Lucian for loving Light like this?
Naramdaman ko ang pagyakap nya sa akin at ang paghalik nya ng batok ko mula sa likuran ko.
He inhaled deep like he's smelling the scent of my blood from my neck.
"I love you..." he whispered.
But I can't answer him.
Punong-puno na ng kasinungalingan ang buhay ko at ayoko ng dagdagan pa yun.
Bloodmating is so unfair.
Yes. Lucian owns me and my blood. But why he can't own my heart and my mind?
Alam kong minahal ko sya noon sa mundo ng mga tao. Minahal ko sya bilang si Dylan. Pero bakit ang laki ng nagbago mula nang bumalik na ang lahat ng alaala ko? This is so unfair especially on Lucian's side.
"Lucian..." I called his name.
"Yes?" he breathed on my neck.
Lumingon ako sa kanya at hinarap ko ang mala-anghel na gwapo nyang mukha.
He's just so beautiful that I have this urge to touch his face.
The sweet light of the morning has added this wonderful reflection into his handsome face.
And while looking at him, I asked.
"Why did you love me?"
Oo. Natatandaan ko na bata pa ako nang ikasal kaming dalawa. And you can't also change the fact that he's centuries older than me. Nakasama nya pa ang original vampire ancestor sa mga laban noon at isa sya sa pinagkakatiwalaang general ng lolo ko sa panahon ng gyera laban sa mga tao noon. So how can he love me? How can he love me so unselfishly like this?
He just gave me that usual sweet smile on his face then he touched my cheek.
And like usual, I saw that tender loving expression on his face at sa tuwing nakikita ko yun sa mukha nya ay mas nadadagdagan ang guilt ko.
"Because I love you..." he whispered. "And if you're asking for explanations then I can't give you that. Love is something that vampires would just instantly feel without any reason. The first time I saw you is when Eries let me hold her firstborn newly born baby, I held you so close and when I looked into your eyes...I know from that second, that my blood will always be belong to you."
Hindi ako makapagsalita.
And right now, while looking at his eyes that is full of love, ay mas lalong tumitindi ang guilt na nararamdaman ko.
"Annah, I love you without any reason..." he whispered then his eyes saddened. "So I won't ask you the same thing of why you love Light that much..."
Pain shot through me.
Gustong-gusto kong sabihin na mahal ko rin sya.
Gustong-gusto kong sabihin na pareho kami ng nararamdaman.
But not lying is the least thing I can do for him.
Not lying is the only thing I can do for him. And so I chose not to answer. Siguro masasagot ko rin sya pero hindi pa ngayon.
"I know..." he whispered at tuluyan ng napalitan ng sakit ang ekspresyon ng mga mata nya. "I know babe..."
Alam kong hindi sya nagsasalita.
Pero alam kong alam nya ang tumatakbo sa isipan ko ngayon.
Bloodmates can read the minds of their mates. But Lucian just chose not to talk about everything that's been going inside my mind dahil alam kong mas lalo lang syang masasaktan.
He chose not to talk about feelings dahil alam nyang dehado sya.
He just smiled at me.
"You will love me too..." he whispered then touched my face. "...and I'm willing to wait for that time"
I smiled back at him and kissed his forehead.
I love Lucian. But it's just not the same thing with what I'm feeling for Light.
Nasa ganuon lang kaming posisyon when suddenly, an unfamiliar cold feeling slowly creeped into my body.
Dahan-dahan akong nagtaas ng mukha at napatitig sa natitigilan na mukha ni Lucian.
And while looking at his face ay alam kong pareho kami ng nararamdaman sa mga oras na ito.
"L-lucian..." I whispered his name.
I was terrified.
At hindi ko alam kung bakit.
The surroundings just suddenly gave this fearsome and cold aura that I can feel into the air.
"W-what is this?" I asked, still terrified.
And I can see from his eyes this fearful expression na minsan ko lang makita sa mga mata nya. At dahil doon kaya mas kinabahan ako.
"This can't be..." he whispered.
Then he suddenly stood up from the bed at mabilis na lumingon sa akin.
"They are here" he said with a shock expression on his eyes.
Natigilan ako.
"Who?"
And I can see the little cold sweats that slowly forming into his forehead.
But he didn't answer my question. Bigla nalang nya kinuha ang kamay ko and before I knew it, we were running out from that room at mabilis kaming tumakbo sa hallway na iyon.
Samantalang wala ako ibang magawa kundi ang hayaan syang hilain ako.
At hindi ko alam kung bakit mas lalong tumitindi ang panlalamig ko habang papalapit kami sa harapan ng mansion ng Cytherea.
What is this feeling?
Fear.
Authority.
That's all I could feel inside my blood while he continue to led me on the way.
And then we stopped from running.
Tumigil kami sa harapan ng Cytherea at magkatabing napatayo sa harapan ng mahabang field ng red roses na iyon. Mukhang naramdaman din ng mga Elders ang kakaibang vampire scents na pumuno sa hangin kaya ngayon ay katabi na namin sila nina Lucian sa harapan ng Cytherea.
I can hear the growls of the other Arcadian Knights na mukhang naghahanda sa kung ano mang pag-atake.
We all stood up in front of that endless field of red roses and waited.
But what I saw next made me tremble with this unfamiliar fearsome and powerful aura that I can feel in the air.
There they are.
They were walking with full of pride and authority in the middle of the red roses. Humahangin ng mahina at nakadagdag yun sa matinding takot na nararamdaman ko habang nakatitig sa dalawang bampira na palapit sa amin.
I know that they are no ordinary vampires.
Because no type of vampire can have this so powerful and fearsome aura that the air is bringing all around us. At alam kong nararamdaman din nina Lucian at ng mga Elders ang nararamdaman ko because I can feel their fear too in the air.
They don't belong in any of the four types of vampires.
I know that they are something else kahit na ito ang unang beses sa tanang buhay ko na nakita ko ang dalawang bampirang iyon.
The one vampire is a girl and she has this silky long black hair that's simply blowing with the cold air. Her beautiful red eyes can freeze and entire ocean for its coldness and she has this frightening emotionless expression. Nakikita ko rin na may bitbit syang isang maliit na kulay puting stuff toy habang hindi natatanggal sa amin ang mga mata nya. At hindi ko alam pero...pakiramdam ko ay nakita ko na sya pero hindi ko lang maalala kung saan at kailan.
The other one is a guy. But unlike with the girl, he's wearing this big grin on his face na para bang natutuwa syang makita kaming lahat. Nakataas pa ang dalawang kamay nya sa batok nya habang nakatitig sa amin ang mga pulang mga matang iyon. He is wearing a black business suit na sa mundo ng mga tao ko lang nakikita. He has this wavy blond hair and he is wearing an eyeglasses.
And then they stopped from walking a few meters away from us habang wala paring nakakagalaw sa aming lahat.
All I could hear is the sound of the wind that's been passing through us and I can see the red petals of the roses dancing around us.
Pero nabigla ako sa sumunod na ginawa nina Lucian at ng mga Elders.
They suddenly bowed into the ground and what they said next froze me from where I stood.
"Welcome back Lady Adelaine and Master Edward"
*******************
I've never imagined it.
I've never imagined in my whole existence that I could get the chance to meet these two vampire ancestors in person.
Naririnig ko lang sila dati sa mga kwento ng Mama ko noong bata pa ako.
I can only read about them in the old books that's been stocked up inside our old library.
Pero ngayon...
Ay nakatayo ang dalawa sa pinakamalakas at pinaka-kinatatakutang bampira sa buong mundo sa harapan ko mismo.
I just can't believe that Adelaine, the Earth Argon vampire ancestor and Edward, the Water Argon vampire ancestor is actually standing a few meters away from me.
It's just so shocking that I can' believe that it's real.
But the only thing that's been telling me that they are real is this unfamiliar fearsome aura that I could feel in the air that's coming from them. I could actually feel this frightening power in their bloods as they stood there and look at us without saying anything.
Edward just gave us a big grin on his face then he spoke.
"Hay naku, kaya nga ayokong umuuwi dito eh dahil ang seryoso ng atmosphere dito" he said then smirk. "Com'on! Why so serious?!"
"It's understandable" Adelaine said with that cold voice that could actually made me tremble with fear. "They don't wanna see your ugly face, dork"
Agad naman syang nilingon ni Edward at napakurap pa ako nang para syang batang sumigaw.
"Hoy! Gwapo ako noh! Pakitaan pa kita ng muscles dyan eh!" he whined.
Eh?
But Adelaine just smirk.
"You're pathetic" she said.
I gulped and I could feel the cold sweat that's been forming into my forehead when her emotionless red eyes turned to me. Her cold stare made me shiver.
Afterall, she's an ancestor so she have this effect on every vampire. Even to a Titanian like me.
"What a pathetic child to have the same blood with the original vampire ancestor..." she said in that cold voice.
I was stunned.
Anong...
Anong ibig sabihin nya doon?
"Ayyy...! Wag ka ngang ganyan sa bata Adelaine!" ang masayang sabi ni Edward saka napatingin sa akin. "Tinatakot mo naman sya eh!"
Napatingin nalang ako kay Edward at nakita kong nakangiti na sya sa akin ng napakatamis.
But before I get the chance to speak ay masaya syang lumingon sa akin at itinaas ang lollipop na yun.
"Hi! Ako nga pala si Edward! Ang pinaka-gwapo, pinaka-hot, at pinaka-gorgeous sa lahat ng ancestors!" ang nakangiting pakilala nya. "Oh! Bago ko makalimutan! May free taste of product akong gagawin ngayon para sa negosyo kong lollipop! At magbibigay ako ng 20% discount sa mananalo sa promo na gagawin ko! Gusto mo?"
I blink.
Huh?
Lollipop?
"Hoy Edward!" ang biglang sulpot ng babaing boses na iyon at nabigla ako when out of nowhere ay biglang sumulpot sa tabi namin ang naka-armor ng puti na babaing yun.
Nanlaki nalang ang mga mata ko nang bigla nyang kurutin sa tenga ang Water Argon Ancestor na iyon.
"Ikaw talagang hinayupak ka! Pati ba naman dito ay dadalhin mo parin ang negosyo mo?! Umuwi ka na nga lang sa mundo ng mga tao at doon ka magtinda ng lollipop!" ang sigaw nya saka sya nakangiting lumingon sa akin. "Hi hija na apo ng bestfriend kong lola na! Mas maganda ka pa sa lola mo! Believe me!"
"Aray! Honey! Ang tenga ko! Aray!!!" ang pagwawala naman ni Edward.
I blink.
Uh...ang weird ng eksenang ito.
Ang Water Argon Ancestor ay kinukurot sa tenga ng taong ito. Yes...she's a human because I can smell her human scent. At idagdag pa na suot nya ang white armor na yun which makes her...
Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ko.
Kung ganun...
Isa syang...
"Hi! Ako nga pala si General Carlie ng Exodus! Ang bestfriend ng lola mong si Camel! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Buti hindi ka nagmana sa kanya! Sa ganda mong yan ay alam kong kay Demon ka nagmana! Pangit yun eh at alam mo, mas maganda pa ako sa kanya! Bwahahahahaha!"
Nabigla ako.
Bestfriend sya...ng lola ko?
And wait, did she just insult the bloodmate of the original vampire ancestor? At paano nya nagagawang kurutin ang tenga ng Water Argon ancestor na iyon? I mean, ang dalawang kinatatakutan na bampira sa mundong ito ay tinatrato nya na parang wala lang. She's...weird.
Napatingin nalang ako sa direksyon nina Lucian at ng mga Elders pero nanatili lang silang nakatayo doon at nakatingin lang sa kanila.
Pero agad ding nasagot ang tanong ko na yun nang biglang lumingon sa akin ang Water Argon Ancestor na iyon.
"And she's my wife! Ang ganda nya diba?" ang pagmamayabang nya using that big smile.
At sa totoo lang ay ini-imagine ko na isang nakakatakot na vampire ancestor si Edward. But as the way I see him right now ay para syang bata na napakamasayahin. Malayong-malayo sa nai-imagine kong Edward.
"Psh. What a bunch of morons" ang rinig kong sambit ni Adelaine. "You're so embarrassing"
"Eh?! Naiinggit ka lang dahil hanggang ngayon ay wala ka paring bloodmate! Bleeeeeehh...!" ang pang-aaway sa kanya ni Edward.
Adelaine glared at him.
"What did you just said?"
But Edward just stucked his tongue out.
"Bleeeehhh...! Matandang dalaga! Matandang dalaga! Matandang dalaga si Adelaine! Bleeeeehh...!"
Uh...
So...
Sila ba talaga ang mga vampire ancestors?
"Die" Adelaine whispered at bigla nalang nabuhusan ng sandamakmak na lupa si Edward.
But Edward made a shield of water kaya hindi sya nabuhusan ng mga lupang iyon.
Saka sya tumayo ng maayos at cool na cool na inayos ang eyeglasses na suot.
And with that serious eyes that made me shiver, he looked at Adelaine.
"Oh no Adelaine" he said then smirk. "You know that no one could kill me"
"KYYYYAAAAAHHH!!! ANG COOL NG ASAWA KO!" ang kinikilig na tili ni Carlie saka nya itinaas ang camera na iyon at pinicturan ang asawa. "IPO-POST KO 'TO SA FACEBOOK!"
Agad namang nag-wacky pose sa harapan ng camera si Edward.
"Sige, i-tag mo nalang ako honey at paki-like nalang!" si Edward.
Pero ang weird nila. Promise.
Hindi ko lang ma-absorb sa utak ko na nagfi-facebook din ang mga immortals na 'to lalong lalo na ang vampire ancestor na ito. Just how weird is that?
"Oh! Sya nga pala Annah! Ini-add kita sa facebook! Paki-accept nalang ha at i-floodlikes mo narin ako! Thank you in advance!" ang masayang lingon sa akin ni Edward.
I blink.
"Eh?"
"Master" si Lucian ang unang nakapagsalita sa aming lahat. "Pwede ko po bang malaman kung ano ang dahilan at bumalik kayo sa mundong ito galing sa mundo ng mga tao?"
Nabigla ako.
Kung ganun...
All this time...ay sa mundo lang ng mga tao naninirahan ang dalawang ancestors na ito?
Napatingin ako sa kanila at naghintay ng kasagutan.
There was a silence.
Samantalang nanatiling tahimik lang ang mga Elders na mukhang katulad ko ay naghihintay din ng kasagutan.
Doon naman unti-unting naging seryoso ang kaninang masayang mukha ni Edward. And right now, while looking at his serious face ay doon ko nakita ang totoong vampire ancestor na ini-imagine ko na simula pagkabata. Kanina ay hindi pa ganun katindi ang takot na nararamdaman ko para sa kanya dahil sa tingin ko ay masayahin sya. But now that he looked so serious ay doon ko napatunayan kung gaano nakakatakot ang ancestor na ito.
He looked up and those serious red eyes looked at us before he spoke.
"Gusto lang namin makipag-groupie kasama si Xander. And then after that..." he said and looked directly at Lucian's eyes. "...we'll kill him for good"
to be continued...