"Damien... will die?" I mumbled to myself, narinig ko ang pinag-usapan ni Headmaster at ni Augustus. Napasandal ako sa pader na malapit sa pintuan ng Office ni Headmaster...
Bigla na lamang akong nagtatakbo paalis ng Headmaster Residence ngunit nung bababa na na ako ay nakita ko si Damien na pumasok sa isang kwarto tila nanghina.
He will die...
Ayoko mawala si Damien, ngayon naiintindihan ko na ang pinagdadaanan niya hindi madali sa kanya ang maging half human at half vampire... Hindi ko alam na hindi pala Level E ang pumatay sa mga magulang niya kundi ang Pureblood kaya pala ganon na lamang ang galit niya kay Augustus.
"Damien" I called, as I followed him in the room.
Napaupo siya sa sahig habang nakasandal ang likuran niya sa pader tila nahihirapan siya sa paghinga at sobra ang pawis niya.
"A-Anong ginagawa mo dito?!" He asked weakly as he hold on to his throat, nagsimula ng lumabas ang kanyang pangil at namumula na ang kanyang mga mata.
Binuksan ko ang isang butones ng uniform ko at ibinaba ko toh ng kaunti.
"A-Anong ginagawa mo?! Carmela umalis ka na pakiusap ayoko ng maulit! Pakiusap" He said when he suddenly loses control and one thing I know hawak-hawak niya ako mula sa likuraan, hawak niya ang baba ko at marahan na inilingon niya sa kanan. Naramdaman ko ang pagdila niya sa leeg ko hanggang sa bumaon na ang pangil niya.
I gasped.
"D-Damien" I called weakly, he pinned me against the wall at patuloy siya sa paginom ng dugo ko, I hold on to his back tightly wincing in pain.
--
Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita nung may maamoy akong pamilyar na amoy ng dugo napalingon ako, hindi gaano kalayo yung amoy. Malapit lang.
"What's wrong?" Headmaster asked.
"The smell of blood" I said as I immediately run, para hanapin kung saan nanggagaling ang amoy.
"Augustus!"
Nung makarating na ako sa lugar kung saan ko naamoy nakita ko si Carmela at Damien. Tumutulo ang dugo ni Carmela sa leeg.
"C-Carmela I" Damien said while shaking, hindi siya makapaniwala na nagawa niya ulit kay Carmela yon.
"Carmela" I called as I walk closer to them, namumuo ang galit ko sa puso ko nung makita ko ang ginawa ni Damien kay Carmela.
"A-Augustus?" She called as she turn her head and look at me.
"So out of craving for blood, you've turn into a beast, Damien Devries" I said as I turn my gaze on the man with blood dripping on his lips.
Pumunta ako sa harapan ni Carmela at hinarap siya pero biglang hinarangan niya si Damien.
"Please stop, Augustus" She said but then she passes out in front of me, agad ko siyang sinalo at binuhat.
"Carmela?" Damien called as he was shocked when Carmela passed out.
"You sucked a disgusting amount of blood, didn't you?" I asked as I glare at Damien. "So much that Carmela can't even stand."
"Was her blood that delicious, Damien?" I said with anger but I remain as calm as I can be.
Napahawak siya sa mukha niya at napasandal sa pader nung marealize niya ang kalapastanganang ginawa niya.
Umalis na ako at iniwan siya sa kwarto na yon habang buhat-buhat si Carmela.
"Headmaster..." I said, nung makasalubong ko siya alam na niya ang nasa isip ko nung sinabi ko yon.
"I know..." He replied.
Dinala ko si Carmela sa Infirmary ng Academy, dahan-dahan ko siyang inihiga sa isang bakanteng kama, matapos ko siyang ihiga ay doon na siya nagkamalay.
"The bleeding has stopped, but it's deep" I said while checking the mark of the bite on her neck. "He really bit into you"
"Carmela" I called, when suddenly biglang tumulo ang luha niya napatingin naman ako sa kanya.
"Does it hurt?" I asked.
"Huh? O-oh" She seems spacing out when she respond to me.
"Are you scared of Vampires now?" I asked while looking at her.
She shake her head as she wipe her tears away.
Nung bigla kaming makarinig ng katok sa pintuan.
"Augustus, would you mind going back to class?" The headmaster said. "The smell of blood is agitating the Night Class"
"Alright" I replied, as I gently pat her head before I take my leave. "Take care, Carmela"
--
Hinayaan ko lang si Headmaster na lagyan ng bandaid yung parte ng leeg ko kung saan ako kinagat ni Damien.
"I took Devries to his room at the dormitoy" He said while fixing the bandaid on my neck. "He has calmed down now"
"Nagulat ka siguro nung malaman mo ang katotohanan na hindi Level E vampire pumatay sa magulang niya kung hindi Pureblood" Nakinig lamang ako sa sinasabi ni Headmaster habang nakaupo at nakatulala lang.
"I'm sorry it turned out like this, Carmela"
"I never once thought na mamamatay si Damien dahil sa sitwasyon niya, kaya ko inoffer dugo ko sa kanya dahil ayoko na mamatay siya" I said worriedly as I teared up, napahawak ako sa palda ko ng mahigpit at napatingin ako sa ibaba.
"12 years ago, at the same day nung pinatay rin magulang mo, his parents was attacked and killed by the Pureblood except for his twin brother na sumama sa Pureblood na pumatay sa magulang nila" He said.
"And he, alone, barely survived that time hanggang sa napadpad siya dito at yun na yung araw na nagkakilala kayo" He added.
Naalala ko kung gaano kaduguan ang damit ni Damien non, kita ko sa mga mata niya ang galit.
"When he was found, he had a deep fang marks on his neck" He continued.
"You think it's a folklore that a human who is bitten by a vampire will turn into a vampire. But... It does happen" He said. "There are vampires who can turn a human into their kind"
"Just a handful of them, vampires known as "Purebloods." He added.
"Purebloods?" I asked.
"So, you don't have to worry because Damien is not a Pureblood" He said. "So you won't turn into a vampire"
--
Pinatakan ko ng blood tablet na hinalo ko sa tubig ang lamesa ko sabay ginawa itong yelo.
"The smell of blood earlier...We didn't get any sort of explanation after all" I said habang nakapalumbaba gamit ang isa kong kamay.
Phoenix walk half naked with a towel placed on his shoulder. Dinaanan niya lang ako sabay tingin sakin.
"I'm not interested" He said.
Patuloy ko ng binuhos yung blood tablet na humalo na sa tubig ko sa lamesa tapos ay ginawa ko itong yelo sabay binasag ko ito sa kamay ko diniinan ko lang ang paghawak.
"That was the smell of Carmela's blood" I said as I was bothered by the smell of it. Curious ako kung ano ba talaga nangyari.
"I prefer na hindi na makinig sa sinasabi mo baka madamay nanaman ako at malagot ulit tayong dalawa kay Augustus" Phoenix said while drying his hair using the towel, nakaupo na siya sa kama niya.
"Hindi ko talaga maintindihan, ano bang meron sa babaeng yon at grabe na lang siyang protektahan ni Augustus" I said as I face Phoenix.
"As if naman may idea ako kung anong meron" He replied, he seems unbothered which is annoying. Bakit ako lang ba may pakialam sa nangyari? Bakit?
"Imbis na itulog mo na lang yan kaysa isipin ng isipin ikaw lang maiistresa" He said as he put on his blouse na katerno nung pants niya na pantulog. He slowly buttons it at tapos ay nahiga na.
"Tulog na ako at medyo pagod pa ako" He said.
"Pagod? Eh naglaro ka lang naman ng video games ah! Saan ka naman napagod?" I said irritatingly sabay binato ko siya ng unan nang biglang sinunog niya ito nung matitigan niya.
"Sabi ko nga tatahimik na ako" I said as I turn around and just focus on making crystal gamit yung blood tablet na hinalo sa tubig.
Nang mapagdesisyonan kong tumakas muna sa kwarto. Gumawa ako ng susi gamit ang yelo.
Paalis na sana ako nang marinig ko boses ni Elizabeth.
"Bakit Augustus? Bakit ayaw mo na sa dugo ko? Hindi ba dati naman iniinom mo toh bakit ngayon hindi na?" Elizabeth said as she grip on Augustus polo. Pero tiningnan lang siya ni Augustus na walang emosyon.
"Dahil ba sa babaeng yon? Kaya ginaganito mo na ako?" She said referring to Carmela.
"Can you please stop dragging her into this, wala siyang kinalaman dito" Augustus spoke as he glare at Elizabeth.
"Then why? Bakit nilalayuan mo ako sa tuwing nalapit ako. May nagawa ba ako na hindi mo nagustuhan? Please atleast tell me dahil hindi ko kayang ginaganito mo na ako ngayon" Elizabeth said s she kneels, sobrang bigat ng nararamdaman niya. Tumulo na ang luhang matagal na niyang kinikimkim.
"Stop being so desperate Elizabeth" Augustus said as he leave.
Dali-dali kong nilapitan si Elizabeth na nakaluhod ngayon. She seems so hurt and sad at the moment.
"Elizabeth" I called as I help her to stand up.
"Leave me alone!" She yelled as she run into her room and slams the door.
Hindi lang pala ako ang nakakapansin sa inaakto ni Augustus pati rin pala si Elizabeth...
--
Matapos akong gamutin ni Headmaster ay napagdesisyonan ko na munang maglakad-lakad sa hallway ng tirahan niya hanggang sa napatigil ako nung marinig ko boses ni Augustus na nanggagaling sa Office ni Headmaster.
"How long do you intend to keep him in Day Class" Augustus asked.
Augustus?
"Oh well... A student has never been transferred from Day Class to the Night Class" Headmaster replied.
Palihim naman akong sumilip sa pintuan at nakita kong nakatayo si Augustus sa harap ni Headmaster.
"Who cares about the precedents?" Augustus said. "In this case, you have no choice but to transfer him to our side. Ayoko ng may iba pang estudyante ang mapahamak kapag umepekto nanaman sa kanya ang blood lust"
He will put Damien in Night Class...
Tumakbo na ako pabalik sa Sun Dormitory, pagkarating ko don ay napatingin ako sa bintana ng dorm ni Damien...
Naiintindihan ko na kung ano ang balak ni Augustus...
Pero ano naman ang mararamdaman ni Damien, alam ko kung gaano niya kinamumuhian ang mga bampira to the point na enough reason na yung hate niya para pumatay ng bampira.
Nanlaki mga mata ko nung marealize ko na.. He must have hated himself all along too.
Kinabukasan
"What is the square of..."
Hindi ako makapagfocus sa klase dahil kanina pa ako nakatingin sa upuan ni Damien. Hanggang ngayon wala pa rin siya, nasaan na siya.
Hanggang sa magtapos na ang klase sa Math pero wala pa din siya
"What happened to Damien kanina pa siya wala nakakapanibago, he never skip classes before" Isabel said while putting her notes inside her bag.
"I know... Medyo masama kasi pakiramdam niya mula kagabi" I replied as I scratch the nape of my neck.
"May nangyari ba?" She asked. "At napaano yang sa leeg mo parang ganyan yung nakita ko dati ah sa zumba ba ulit galing yan?"
As she pointed the part where Damien bitten me.
"Ahh hindi, kasi habang nagbabantay ako kagabi may biglang sanga ng puno ang nakakalmot sa leeg ko alam mo na nung tumalon ako" I said as I chuckled.
"It's nothing serious so don't worry" I said as I smile at her.
"If you say so but be careful next time" She replied.
"Alright, let's begin our class. Get into your seats" The Science Professor said as he put down his book on the table.
"Yes sir"
Pero hindi na ako mapakali sobrang nagaalala na ako kay Damien kaya kahit hindi pa tapos ang klase ay nagtatakbo na ako palabas ng room.
"Hey, Ms. Le Blank! Where are you going?!" The Professor yelled but I ignored it as I just continue to run.
I need to talk to Augustus... somehow...
Nagtatakbo ako papunta sa Moon Dormitory, pagkarating ko sa gate ay napatigil ako at tila hingal na hingal.
Nang mapatingin sakin yung bantay.
"Umm. A Disciplinary Committee member can pass through right?" I said as I smiled.
"You're the second one today." He replied. "You must be really curious passing through here so early in the morning"
"Sure, you may go on" He continued.
--
I yawned while sitting on the couch facing two male who is sitting on the opposite side.
"This is something we can only ask of you" He said, "The one who's been called the boy genius..."
"Please help us at our research facility!"
Bored ko silang tiningnan habang sila ay pinagpapawisan.
"If you, the one who wrote that thesis, join us" He added.
"Err.. I'm not interested in "day" work, it's just waste of time and energy so I hope you will be able to find someone else who suits the position best" I said as I crosses my legs.
"I'm still sleepy so please leave" I said as I point at the front door of the dormitory.
Nang magbukas ito at nakita ko si Carmela. Teka, anong pakay niya sa pagpunta niya dito?
"Oh, Carmela" I said. Napalingon naman ang dalawang lalake sa may pintuan na kausap ko.
"Oh.. Lucius?" She replied. She seems worried at parang hindi mapakali.
"Alright, now leave as I have an important person na mas deserve ang oras ko" I excused.
Dismayadong lumabas yung dalawa, hays ano ba yan inaantok pa ako eh.
"Uhh... So bright. I'm so sleepy and irritated" I said as I rub my eyes. "Those guys are to blame"
"I'm sorry to intrude but I have a very important thing to do here kaya naglakas loob akong pumunta dito galing sa kalagitnaan ng klase." She said.
"Ohh, Wait are you here because you want me to suck your blood?" I teased as I lay my arms on her shoulder.
"Nandito ba si Augustus?" She said making me to move away from her.
Just as I thought si Augustus ang hanap niya.
"Oh well, come with me" I said as I begin to climb the stairs.
"Umm. You're taking me to him?" She asked.
Nah, there's no way I'm going to do that.
Habang naglalakad ako sa hagdanan ay inilagay ko ang dalawa kong kamay sa may batok.
"Lord Augustus is only nice to see you" I said. "And everyone follows what he does"
Somehow hindi pa rin niya napapansin na tinanggal ko yung bandaid sa leeg niya.
"Carmela, whose bite marks are those?" I asked as I look at her and stop from walking. Nanlaki naman mga mata niya at tinakpan niya ito gamit ang kamay niya.
Winave ko sa kanya yung bandaid na tinanggal ko. Sabay bumalik ako at lumapit sa kanya.
"Alam mo ba na star of the night yang amoy ng dugo mo sa klase namin kagabi?" I said as I chuckled.
Nakakatawa kasi nanginginig na siya sa takot.
"Everyone is shocked except me alam ko agad na dugo mo yon and I had been wondering kung sino kayang maswerteng bampira ang kumagat at uminom sa dugo mo. Si Lord Augustus ba?" I said as I lean my face close to her but then nagsimula na siyang umurong palayo.
"Alam mo ba kung gaano nalungkot at nagalit si Elizabeth kay Lord Augustus dahil sa inayawan ni Lord Augustus dugo niya na hindi naman ginagawa noon. Pero I guess nagbago na ang lahat nung dumating ka. He acted like an asshole and heartless in front of her na para bang wala siyang pakialam sa nararamdaman ni Elizabeth" I said, as I watch how hurt she was at the moment.
Nung natahimik siya isa-isa kong pinatay ang mga kandila gamit lang ang tingin ko at napatingin naman siya sa paligid niya, She looks like a helpless weakling human at the moment nakakatawa lang.
"Geez nakakainis" I said as I hold on to the handle at ginawa kong itong yelo gumapang ang yelo hanggang sa pati paa ni Carmela ay naging yelo na.
"Just what are you to Lord Augustus?" I said.
--
My feet are frozen to the ground kahit pinipilit kong makaalis ay hindi ko magawa dahil sa yelo na nakadikit sa paa ko.
Ito ata yung nabasa ko sa isang libro, ito ang isa sa mga special powers ng high-ranking vampire.
"Say, Carmela... Just what are you to Lord Augustus?" Lucius said nung lumapit siya sakin.
Tinatanong pa ba yan?
"I owe my life to him!" I said as I glare at him. Dahil nung panahon na muntik na akong patayin siya ang nagligtas sakin hanggang ngayon sa tuwing napapahamak ako nandiyan siya para iligtas ako!
"He saved my life from the Level E vampire labing dalawang taon ng nakalilipas" I said.
"Really? So ayon pala ang nangyari?" He replied. "So, Lord Augustus is your knight shining armor, kaya mo ba pinapainom dugo mo sa kanya?"
Naoffend ako sa sinabi niya never ako sinaktan ni Augustus o kahit inumin dugo ko. All he do is to save me in times na nasa kapahamakan ako.
"Paalala lang, ayaw ni Lord Augustus na may kahati siya so kapag pagmaayari ka niya, sakanya ka lang dapat" He said as he touches the bite mark on my neck.
"But I didn't think na sa kanya ang kagat na ito" He added while looking at it.
"But I know one day, your neck will be touched ever so gently by Lord Augustus lips...And his fangs will slowly pierce through the flesh." He said seductively.
"When you hear Lord Augustus drinking your blood, you are sure to get a thrill, Carmela" He whispered.
"Well yes, you should ask him right away and tell him "Please drink my blood, Lord Augustus" it would be fun" He said.
Hindi na ako nakapagtimpi at nasampal ko siya.
Nanlaki mga mata niya sa gulat at tiningnan niya ako.
"Who do you think you are para sampalin ang napakagwapo kong mukha?" He yelled as he glare at me.
Sasaktan na sana niya ako pero biglang may narinig kaming dalawa na sigaw galing sa itaas.
"LUCIUS!"
Napatingin kaming dalawa ni Lucius sa pinakadulo nung hagdanan sa itaas at nakita naming nakahawak si Augustus sa hawakan ng hagdanan. Unti-unting natunaw ang yelo na kanina lang ay nakapalibot sa paa ko.
"L-Lord Augustus" Lucius said as he begin to shake.
"What have you done Lucius, are you out of your mind?" He said as he walk downstairs and hold Lucius neck. "One more time you dare to lay your hands on her again, you will not be able to step on this academy ever again!" as he glared at Augustus and let him go.
"I was out of line, forgive me, Lord Augustus." Lucius said as he kneel and bow in front of him.
"Go" He said as Lucius obeyed him and go upstairs.
"That was an unpleasant situation. My apologies on behalf of Lucius, Carmela. Did he hurt you somewhere or something?" He said worriedly as he check on me.
"Oh no, it's alright" I said.
When he suddenly cup my cheek and look down at me. "I'm glad you are not hurt" He said as he sighs in relief.
"Just stay who you are because you are different from the others." He said.
I blushed at what he said while looking back at him.
"The only one who bring warmth to my life is YOU"
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A/N: Hello Blairebears! Sana nagustuhan niyo ang chapter na ito! Abangan niyo ang susunod na Chapter!
"Hatred and Betrayal"