Reese went down to her car and opened the umbrella she had with her. She went to the front of the restaurant she and Kier had talked about to meet.
She closed her umbrella and she was greeted by the waiter as she entered. Hinanap niya kung saan nakapuwesto si Kier at nang mapansin niya na mayroon nagtaas ng kamay, kaagad niyang napansin na si Kier iyon.
Reese immediately went to where he was sitting. Nilapag niya ang libro na kinuha niya sa library at umupo.
"Do you know what language was used in this book?" Walang paligoy-ligoy na tanong ni Reese kay Kier.
Kier chuckled and took the book. "Calm down, Reese. How about a cup of coffee? Would you like some? I'll order ---"
"I don't need a freakin' coffee, Kier. Stop fooling around and answer my question." Deretsang wika ni Reese.
Tipid na napangiti si Kier at nilapag ang libro sa lamesa. "Let me ask you something first," Wika ni Kier at napasandal. "did you read something that might link to you?"
"Yes!" Reese exclaimed. "The necklace I have is a goddamn talisman. What is this? Why the hell am I related to these kinds of things." Wika ni Reese at napahilot sa sintido. "All I could read was the name of the necklace, wala akong alam sa epekto niya o kung ano man."
"I see…" Mahinang wika ni Kier. "Well, I know how to read the language."
"Then tell me about it!" Reese exclaimed.
Kier sighed and gave a chuckle. "Why are you so hot headed?" Mahinang wika ni Kier at binuksan ang libro.
Kier pointed out the sketched necklace she has on the book and he looked at the text written in the book. Reese waited for whatever he would say and see if she'll get anything from what will Kier say to her.
"That talisman was passed through generations of new kings. The effect of the talisman to the holder will depend on the holder itself. The necklace was about a hundred of years older." Wika ni Kier at tinignan siya.
Mahinang natawa si Reese sa sinabi ni Kier. "I don't really get it! Kings and whatnot, what does it have to do with me? Is this some kind of fairytale, what a joke." Wika ni Reese kay Kier.
"So you mean to say, you have only seen this page? You didn't browse further?" Pagtatanong ni Kier sa kanya.
Reese looked at Kier who sounded really serious. "Yes." She simply answered, "I can't even understand a word so why would I waste time browsing? It would be a lot easier if you had told me everything already." Reese added.
Kier gave Reese the book and showed another page from the book, instead of seeing texts of a language she doesn't know, she instead saw sketches like pictures on the book and it made her feel like she was back in history.
The castle that was shown was ancient, Reese couldn't help but to find familiarity with it.
She flipped the next page and she almost stopped breathing as soon as she saw something she felt chills with. She gently touched the sketch-like picture on the book and she could really see a spitting image of her in the book.
Reese was staring at the photo and it's as if she's slowly getting hypnotized by the eyes she was staring. The woman she saw looked a lot like -- she was with a man, it's as if a wedding photo of someone and they were wearing victorian-like clothing.
Reese then looked at the man and saw that he was wearing the necklace Reese has. She was in a state of shock and she immediately closed the book.
"What the hell…?" Reese mumbled and took a deep breath. "What kind of book am I reading? This is not some kind of prank, right?" Wika ni Reese.
"The book you are holding was the book of vampires." Kier said in a very low voice but it was enough for Reese to hear.
"V...Vampires?" Reese sounded horrified.
"You saw the woman in the book? Hindi ka ba nagtataka kung bakit halos mag kamukha kayo?" Kier said with a smirk. "Come on, Reese. Connect all the clues." Dagdag ni Kier.
"I think it was just a coincidence… What I'm more worried about is the man beside the woman, he was wearing the necklace I have right now." Wika ni Reese at bumuntong hininga.
"Well, I think it's not." Mahinang wika ni Kier. "You can think anything you want for the moment, you should go and ask your grandfather the rest." Wika ni Kier at tumayo sa kinauupuan.
"You really can't tell me everything right now? Ayoko nang mag paligoy-ligoy pa, Kier ---"
"I can't. You should do your things on your own now, Reese. This is the only thing I can help you with." Wika ni Kier at akmang aalis na nang tumigil ito. "The woman's name was Rachel." He then said and left without looking back anymore.
"Rachel…?" Reese said in a low voice.
"I'm kind of surprised to see you with another man, Reese."
Hinarap ni Reese ang nagsalita, she was surprised to see her mother sitting across her with this disgusting smile she always wears.
"It's none of your business." Malamig na wika ni Reese at tumayo kinauupuan niya.
She doesn't want to face her mother like this, she would only cause problems and Reese doesn't want to deal with it. Ayaw niyang makipag-away dito. Just like Reema, her mother's the same --- Reese can't handle those two devils.
Calling her own family like a devil is too much, but what can Reese do? Reese received too much suffering and too much pain from them and it was too much for her.
Nabigla si Reese nang may humila sa kanya pabalik at nakita niya na ang ina niya ang humila sa kanya. Bakas ang galit at iritasyon sa mga mata nito, 'yun lang naman ang parati niyang nakikita sa mata ng mommy niya.
"Is that how you treat the person who raised you?" Her own mother half-shouted.
Reese looked around and the people were alarmed because of what her mother did and it was as if she was really aiming to catch the attention of the people inside the restaurant and cause a big commotion.
Hinila ni Reese ang kamay niya at tinignan ang ina niya.
"You should mind your manners, mom. Don't cause a ruckus when you have an image to take care of." Mahinang wika ni Reese. "Don't cause too much trouble when you yourself are in big trouble." Dagdag niya at tinalikuran ang ina.
"You just married into the Lim family and that's how you want to treat me? Your own mother?"
Reese heaved a sigh and she doesn't want to face her anymore, she's really plotting something against her and it's too much trouble. Dinamay pa nito ang pangalan ng pamilya ni Severus, she's really a shameless, cunning woman.
Reese can see how the people inside the restaurant started looking at her with those insulting eyes like they really know what really happened.
"Hey, Reese! I'm talking to you ---"
"Ma'am, sorry but you are disturbing the other guests…" Pagsuway ng waiter sa ina niya.
Reese gave a sigh. "Look, mom. Stop causing too much trouble, hindi ka ba nahihiya?" Mahinang wika ni Reese. "I have things much more important to do than quarrel useless things with you."
Before Reese could even push the heavy glass door in front of her, someone stopped her for leaving for the second time. And this time, she thought that it was her mother, but it was not her.
"Hindi ko alam na ganitong klaseng babae pala ang pinakasalan ni Severus. You're far from what I expect you to be, Mrs. Lim." Lily said as if she was trying to insult her.
Reese looked at Lily with annoyed eyes.
"What do you know, Lily? Mind your own business, fix your manners and the way you get involved with other's problems." Malamig na wika ni Reese dito.
Pain sipped through Lily's eyes.
"Look at your words. Does Severus know about this?" Lily looked at her mother with a smirk. "You're disrespectful with your elders. Is that how a daughter-in-law of the Lim family acts? How pitiful…"
Reese smirked and removed Lily's hand on her wrist.
"Look here, Ms. Annesley…" Panimula ni Reese. "I know you're doing this because you're envious of me, after all, I'm Severus' wife and the daughter-in-law of the Lim family. I'm your former lover's wife and look, I'm much better than you."
Lily froze on what she said and she saw annoyance in Lily's eyes.
"What the hell --- you bitch ---"
"Sorry, but it was your fault leaving Severus for another douchebag. Nakahanap ka na nga ng ginto, pinalitan mo pa ng tanso." Nakangising wika ni Reese dito at mahinang natawa, "Please, don't involve yourself with my husband anymore. I really hate your guts." Pahabol ni Reese at tinalikuran ang dalawa na parang walang nangyari.
"Hey! We're not done yet ---" Hinawakan ni Lily ang kamay niya.
Reese was really annoyed and she brushed off Lily's hand and looked at her with her frigid expression.
"Don't touch me again, you're disgusting." Malamig na wika ni Reese at umalis sa restaurant.
She met two devils at the same place, Reese was really having bad luck.