Jashen

"Do you certainly think I can kill the people I save before? Oh come on Jaszy!" I look at her, shocked and a wide smile formed in my lips because I was surprised and happy. I immediately rushed towards her and hugged her tight. I missed her, I really do. 

"I miss you Ate Linne!" sabi ko't umiyak na lang sa kaniyang balikat. Habang nakayakap ako sa kaniya, naalala ko na naman ang masaklap kong nakaraan na ayaw ko nang balikan.

"Mama, Papa saan nyo po kami dadalhin?" tanong ng nakababata kong kapatid na babae.

"M-mga anak, uhhmmm.. a-ano kasi...dito muna kayo sa kuweba ha? M-may pupuntahan lang kami ng papa niyo okay?" Napansin ko na dumadaloy ang luha ni mama sa pisngi niya kaya kahit hindi ko alam ang dahilan ay napaiyak na lang din ako.

"M-ma bakit po kayo umiiyak? Saan po ba kayo pupunta? I-iiwan niyo po ba kami?" umiiyak kong sabi.

"H-hindi namin kayo iiwan mga anak, d-dahil palagi lang kaming nasa tabi niyo. Pero kailangan mangako kayo sa amin ng papa niyo ha?" Dahil isa kaming bata na walang kaalam-alam sa mga nangyari, napatango nalang kami.

"Darating ang araw na baka yayain kayong makipagsanib sa mga Dark Vampires. Ipangako niyong hinding-hindi kayo sasanib sa kanila ha? Kahit ano'ng mangyari, 'wag na 'wag kayong sasanib ha?" nagsusumamong pakiusap ng aking ama. Ten years old pa lang kami ni Josh noon at ang kabaata naman naming kapatid na babae na si Janine ay 9 years old...

"Ma! Ma, ano po ang ibig niyong sabihin?" humagulgol na rin sa kakaiyak si Josh dahil ang mga mata nila'y para bang namamaalam na. Malungkot ito subalit nakangiti ang mga ito sa aming harapan.

Hindi na umimik sila mama at papa saka bigla na lang may bumulogsok pababa. Ngayon ay nanakipag away na ang mga ito sa mga taong nakaitim. Alam namin na malakas ang aming mga magulang pero sadyang napakarami ng mga kalaban nila pagkatapos ng ilang minutong pakikipaglaban ay  bumagsak din ang mga ito

I was devastated. Everything in my mind was chaotic. Tumakbo ako palabas at nilapitan ang aking ama't ina na lupaypay na ang katawan at wala lang kabuhay-buhay. I was crying. Hoping that my tears could bring them back to life.

"Siguro ikaw ang isa sa mga anak ni Johnas at Janina? Haha! Baka gusto mo rin mamatay tulad nila, bubwit?" nakangising wika nito sa akin. I was scared, not because of getting hurt, but because of my sibling's safety.

I only have them, and they only have me. We only have each other. Gumawa siya ng latigo at akmang ihahampas ito sa akin nang may pumigil sa kanyang isang batang babae. 

Tinatagan ko pa ito nang mabuti. Matangkad ito sa akin ng isang dangkal, subalit hindi ako tangkad niya ang nakaagaw ng pansin ko, kun'di ang buhok niyang kulay puti.

Tiningnan niya ako saglit at sumenyas na bumalik ako sa loob ng kuweba. Nakikipagtalo pa ako sa isip ko kung susunod ba ako o hindi, pero sa huli ay sinunod ko na rin siya dahil kailangan ako ng mga kapatid ko.

I was thankful that she saved me, even if Ishe doesn't even know me. Kumaripas ako ng takbo at pumunta sa kuweba kasama ang mga kapatid ko na tanaw na tanaw ang mga nangyayari sa baba.

Mula sa kinatataguan namin ay naririnig namin ang pag-uusap ng mga ito. Sa sobrang bait ng batang babae ay Ate bait na ang tawag ko aa kaniya sa isip ko.

"Who the hell are you!?" sigaw ng lalaki gamit ang pinasindak nitong boses.

Impis magulat ay awtomatikong napataas  ng kilay si Ate Bait. She raised both of her hands and into my surprise she built a shield in the cave we are hiding. Pagkatapos ay kinumpas niya ang mga kamay niya't dahan-dahang may namuong ipo-ipo sa pagitan nilang dalawa.

"One life in exchange of two? How unfair." Kung kanina natakot ako, ngayon naman nagsitaasan ang balahibo ko dahil sa lamig at kakaibang kilabot ng boses ni Ate Bait.

Her voice was cold,warning everyone not to mess with her even if she's just a mere child.

Susugod na sana ang lalaki nang bigla na lang itong natumba kahit wala namang ginawa si Ate Bait sa kaniya. Buhay pa siya pero naghahabol ito ng hininga hanggang sa hindi na nito nakaya at nawalan ito ng malay.

Hindi kaagad ako nakapagsalita. The whirlwind, it caused the air around her get thin, that's why he had a hard time to breath.

Pagtingin ko sa baba wala na si Ate Bait kaya lumungkot ang mukha ko. Kung gaano siya sumulpot na parang bula ay ganoon rin naman siya nawala nang walang bakas. Hindi ko man lang siya nagawang pasalamatan.

Paano na 'to ngayon? Wala na si mama at papa. Nabigla na lang ako nang may tumapik sa balikat ko kaya napaharap ako kung sino man ito.

"Are you alright kid?" Sabi niya sa akin. Nanatili lang akong nakatitig sa kanya, at sa hindi ko malamang dahilan ay napayakap na lang ako sa kaniya habang nag-uunahan sa pagdaloy ang luha mula sa aking mga mata.

My brother and sister hugged her too, but she didn't hugged back.

"A-Ate ano'ng pangalan mo po?" Janine, my little sister asked.

"Fireilline. " she answered shortly.

"Can I call you Ate Linne?'' tanong ko habang sumisinghot-singhot pa dahil nagihirapan na ako sa paghinga dahil may nakabara sa ilong ko.

"Alright Jaszy." Her lips suddenly twitched into a smile. Ngumiti na lang din ako kahit na hindi ko alam kung paano niya nalaman ang pangalan ko.

"K-kuya Jas! Saan tayo pupunta ngayon?  W-wala na si mama at papa!" naiiyak na sigaw ni Josh.

"Come with me..." Sumunod na lang kami sa kaniya. In just a flick of her finger, a portal opened. Namangha ako, dahil kahit bata siya tulad ko, matanda siguro ng tatlo o apat na taon, ay nagagawa na niyang gumawa ng portal. 

She said we should stay there because it's safe. May kumupkop  din sa aming isang matanda at ang sabi niya ay kilala niya raw ang batang babaeng 'yon at kami ay naroon sa White Vampire Village.

"Quit sniffing me like a dog." Nabalik ako sa realidad nang marinig ko ang malamig na boses niya.

Nakayakap parin ako sa kaniya't amoy na amoy ko pa ang buhok niya. Ang bango, at nakakaadik.

"Get off." Napasimangot na lang ako. Masungit talaga siya. Kumalas ako sa yakap at siya naman ay nakatingin lang sa akin nang seryoso.

Napalunok na lang ako, nakakatakot siya tingnan. Kahit maganda siya, sadyang nakakatindig balahibo ang paraan ng pagtitig niya sa akin. Parang kinikilatis niya ang buong pagkatao ko't pati kaluluwa ko ay nakikita niya mismo.

"Tell me, who sent you here?" she asked while twirling her metal flute on her left hand.

"Hindi ko po alam e. Si tanda naman ang nakakaalam kung sino 'yon. 'Yong lalaking hukluban kanina na matanda! I was just following orders." walang pagaalinlangan kong sagot. 

Tinitigan lang ako ni Ate Linne saglit at maya-maya pumikit siya saglit at pagmulat ng mga mata niya nakarinig ako na parang may bumagsak sa likod ko. Lumingon ako at nakita ko si Josh na nakasalampak sa sahig habang sapo-sapo ang balakang niya. Ikaw ba naman ibagsak ng apat na metro mula sa ere?

"Ate Linne naman kasi! Ansakit tuloy sa pwet!" parang bata nitong reklamo. Hindi maipinta ang mukha nito sa sakit ng pagkakabagsak niya. Natawa na lang ako.

"Ah, buhay ka pa pala?" biro ko sa kanya kaya kaagad niya akong binatukan.

"So gusto mo akong mamatay ganun?!" pag-iinarte niya. Hinawakan niya pa ang dib-dib niya na para bang nasasaktan nang sobra sa sinabi ko.

But who am I fooling around with? I care for him. Nilukob ng galit ang buong pagkatao ko sa pag-aakalang patay na siya kanina. Naalala ko pa kung paano magdilim ang paningin ko't kung gaano ko siya gustong patayin sa ginawa niya.

And that hit me. I saw how she choked him, how his breathing stopped, how his body turned limp and how he turned into ashes. But he's alive? How did it happened? What trick did she do to fool all of us?

"Is that an Illusion?" takang tanong ng isang lalaking kulay pula ang buhok, at kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay siya si Alcantara. Xai Lune Alcantara to be exact.

"Fire! Sino sila? Hindi ba kalaban sila? bakit kayo magkakilala?"  naguguluhang ani ng babaeng nagngangalang Sena.

"They are White Vampires." walang gana nitong pahayag.

"White Vampires? E kanina nga lang halos mag kamatayan na kayo sa paglalaban tapos ngayon-" Hindi na nito natuloy ang sasabihin nang biglang sumabat si Ate Linne.

"Shut up. It's a fucked up long story, Lune." she spat as she gave him a stern look. I stared at her.

I'm happy I met my saviour once again.

Xai

"Shut up. It's a fucked up long story, Lune." I grimaced.

Baka ayaw niya lang talaga sabihin? Kasi siya ang traydor? Simula nang dumating siya rito, 'yon rin ang simula nang pagkawala ng mga gems ng mga estudyante. Her relationship with these vampires are unknown too, but the way they talk to each other, it seems like they are close. Dark Vampires or not, they still tried to take away our gems, and I'm not letting it go.

"Cera, let's go to the spare dorm. I know you're the only one who understands it all." malamig nitong wika bago maglakad palayo sa amin.

Napatingin na lang ako sa likuran niya habang unti-unti siyang naglalakad palayo. Bakit siya lang ang nakakaintindi? Bakit hindi niya magawang ipaintindi sa amin?

Is she really the traitor or what? Damn it, she's leaving a mystery.

Fire

"Ate Linne, sure ka ba na spare dorm lang 'to? Bakit sobrang laki naman yata?" I rolled my eyes. Let me count, he asked me that question for like, more than ten times already.

"Huwag ka ngang maingay, Josh! Hindi ka ba nauubusan ng laway ha?" Cera growled like a beast. Looks like I'm not the only one getting pissed.

"E bakit ba parang kanina ka pa naiirita, Ate Shandice?" Jas asked her. After our so called fight earlier, she started asking so pissed! She even banged the door before we got in.

"Hindi lang ako makapaniwala!" she unbelievingly mumbled.

"Na?" Josh asked while touching the flower in the table.

"Those guys! Sa tingin ko nagsisimula na silang maghinala na traydor si Fire! Kahit hindi naman totoo! Hindi nila alam ang buong pangyayari!" I don't give a damn. I don't even care what they think about me.

Well, I just don't really care.Go ahead and suspect me or anything I wouldn't dare to care. If they are worth it being the Legendary ones they should have a brain, and if they have a brain though, they will discover it all by themselves without suspecting anyone.

"E hindi naman nila sinabe na traydor is Ate Linne e!" he countered lazily.

"Have you seen the look on their eyes? Josh, base on their reactions parang sinasabi nila na traydor siya! Ang bilis naman nilang mawalan ng tiwala!" I sigh and stood up, I'm going to the kitchen. I had enough of their voices.

I grabbed a knife and put a little cut in my finger. I saw a tinsy- winsy dot of blood. I squizzed it, and this time the cut went big, and by blood flowed. I let it drop in the two glass of water and mixed it with water.As I walked in their direction I saw Josh and Jas looking at the two glass of water that I was holding. I look in their eyes, and it was turning red.

As if on cue, their long fangs imerged. Blood lust was evident in their eyes. Are they that thirsty? They are eventually preventing themselves from attacking me. I know, my blood smells like a lotus flower. The most fragrant blood any vampires would die to taste. They can still smell it even though it was already mixed with water. That's how fragrant it is.

"A-ate dugo mo b-ba yan?" Josh pointed at the glass that I was holding. His voice was trembling, and he's trying his best not to lose control.

"A-ate you s-should stay away from u-us." His twin added.

So they really can't control it. Both of them closed their eyes, and when they opened them they are still red as a crimson moon. Even Cera looks nervous when she saw the twins changing into their vampire forms.

"Control yourselves, or I'll cut your heads off?" As if on cue their eyes turned in their normal color and their fangs also fade away. They sit near me nervously while still looking at the glass.

I handed them each glass and they took it with their hands trembling. They look confused.

"Drink it." I commanded them and their eyes went big. It's as if I just something so absurd and crazy.

Typically once vampire drank your blood and they weren't satisfied with it they will suck your blood until you die, maybe that's why they're nervous thinking that maybe they will kill me. No, can kill me perhaps.

"Drink it or-" With no hesitation, they drank it immediately and toast it like it's the most expensive wine in the world.

Well, who on earth wouldn't want a blood if you're a vampire?

Drinking my blood would be good for them. It will be for the best.

"It taste. It taste...like a... very exquisite wine!" Josh said amusingly while Jas remained with his jaws literally dropped.

"Ate bakit parang may lasang tubig 'to? Pero bakit masarap pa rin? Can't you just give us a flesh one without the water mixing it?" I stared at Jas who looks very curious.

"Do you want to die?" He quickly sat properly and shook his head from left to right, meaning he dont want to.

"If it's the flesh of my blood that you want, then you could've died." I said while walking up the stairs. I'm tired. I feel like sleeping.

"And that's because my blood is thicker than your's. "I added.

"Ang ibig niyang sabihin hindi niyo 'yom makakaya dahil mas malakas ang dugo niya sa inyo. There are substances from her blood filled with overpowering constituents of magic that you won't be able to handle." Cera explained.

"W-we can die? Kahit maadik pa ako kung gaano kasarap 'yan, titigilan ko na bago pa ako mamatay nang maaga." Josh blurted out while touching his lips.

"We could have died? What's the reason? Why do you want us to drink it?" Jas suspiciously asked while looking at me seriously.

He's the sharper than his brother, I can say.  He's straight to the point that's what I like about him, while Josh he's a little bit slow.

"Everything I do have reasons. Both of you drinking my blood will make you become like us. You will no longer be a vampire but a  wizard like us. "

Silenced covered up the dorm. The look in their is like they have seen something really spectacular.

"You mean, we're not a vampires anymore?" I was taken aback when the both of them hugged me.

"You are still, every full moon in 12th midnight you will be a vampire again." They are smiling widely like they won a freaking lottery.

"I don't want to be a blood sucking monster anymore." I heard Jas whispered.

"Ayaw na po kasi namin maging bampira! Pumapangit ang gwapo naming mukha 'pag natubuan ng pangil! Thank you!" the other one exclaimed.

Joshua, Josh  is handsome. He's cute, with his black mysterious eyes, blond hair and his childish attitude which is the exact opposite of Jashen or Jas. He's also cute, with his grey fierce eyes and pitch black hair. Typically the serious one, but at the same time childish at times too.

Why I am describing them anyway?

I can actually make them a wizard for the rest of their lives but they should drink my fresh blood. However, I know they won't be able to handle it.

" Get off me." Out of their will, they immediately get off. I rolled my eyes and went to sleep.

What a long and tiring day.

To be continued...