STRINGS AND CHAINS

CHAPTER 20

I'm looking at the big trees here in Roscoe hacienda. It's been a long time since I went here with my parents. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang naghihintay sa akin doon. But I need to talk to Jan. He's the only one who can help me and provide me details lalo na ngayon at wala si Rai. Nandito ako sa entrance habang nakasilong sa guard house nila. Nakatingin sa akin ang mga guards na tila ba kakatayin nila ako. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang mga tingin nila sa akin. Bakit ba kapag nakikita nila ako eh parang nakakagawa ako ng kasalanan na hindi ko alam?

"Papunta na po si Sir Trojan," wika ng isang guard. Tumango na lamang ako. Hindi kalayuan ay nakikita ko na ang sasakyan ni Jan. Huminto ito sa tapat ng guard house at ibinaba ang bintana ng kanyang kotse.

"Sakay, Maru," utos niya.

Agad akong tumakbo patungo sa kabilang side ng kotse at sumakay.

"What happened?" Iyan agad ang unang tanong sa akin ni Jan.

"I went to the Liverton's," sagot ko.

Tumahimik si Jan at hindi agad umimik. Papasok kami ngayon sa hacienda nila at paniguradong papunta kami sa bahay nila.

"Dala mo naman ang kotse mo, bakit hindi lang tayo sa labas mag-usap?" tanong ko.

"It's too dangerous. Lalo na't pumunta ka pa pala sa mga Liverton," sagot nito.

Kumunot-noo ako. "What do you mean?"

"I was about to go to your house para dalhin ka dito sa bahay. Utos 'yon nila Tito't Tita," paliwanag ni Jan.

"Anong nangyayari?" naguguluhan kong tanong. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng kaba at ng takot.

"Tumakas ka sa mga guards mo at ang akala nila Tito ay nakuha ka na ng mga incubi," sagot ni Jan.

Tumahimik ako. Naguguluhan ako. Sobrang kalat ng mga impormasyon na nasa utak ko and I'm trying my best to fix it, complete the puzzle, and to see the whole point of this mess. Like what Ana's mom told me earlier, my parents are involved with this too. Why and how?

"Bakit damay ang mga hunters sa gulong nangyayari sa Liverton at incubi?" tanong ko.

Jan answered, "They are protecting this place. This is your family's territory."

Now I understand. My parents, who are actually hunters, are involved between the incubi and the Liverton because this is their territory that they need to protect. They will kill just to protect the citizens na wala namang ideya na mayroong giyera sa pagitan ng mga mangkukulam at incubus. Rai said that this place is magical, that there is a thing that draws creatures here. So...

"The cursed weapon you were saying, it's drawing the creatures here. Iyon ang kapangyarihan no'n 'di ba?" tanong ko.

Tumingin sa akin si Jan. Narinig ko ang malalim niyang paghinga.

"Looks like I can no longer hide things from you, Maru. You're too smart," sagot nito.

"The object is called Mystify. And you're right, its power is to draw more creatures to it," paliwanag ni Jan.

Tumahimik si Maru at nakinig sa pagpapaliwanag ni Trojan.

"What does it look like?"

"It's a small blue orb with gold markings. There is a mist inside. Ito 'yong humahatak sa mga nilalang patungo sa kanya. It's intoxicating."

"And what does it do? Can it harm people?"

"Yes, if the wielder wishes to," sagot ni Trojan.

The wielder.... So the incubi want it because they will have to use it, but for what? And the Livertons are trying their best to protect the orb. They had sacrificed two girls just to conceal everything about the cursed weapon. Hanggang kalian sila hindi lalaban para mapuksa ang mga incubi na 'yon? They would just sacrifice themselves and leave the rest to the ones who survived? Is that how weak are they?

"And my parents, saang side sila?" tanong ko. I want to make sure that we are all on the same side.

"Of course, to us and the Liverton," sagot ni Trojan.

Tumingin ako sa kanya.

"And how about you?" tanong ko kaya't kumunot-noo si Trojan.

"How about me, Maru?" tanong niya pabalik, naguguluhan sa tanong ko.

"What are you and your family?" tanong ko.

Trojan only smiled. "You're really smart."

***

I found myself looking at Jan's house. It is still big as ever. Mas lalo lang atang naging mayaman ang pamilya nila. It was different back then. Iba na ang interior design at gamit ng buong bahay nila. I feel like my eyes will go blind. Everything is shining. Just how much did they spend just for this all? Well, no doubt, afford naman 'to nila Tito't Tita. They own this whole hacienda. Ilang farms ang mayroon sila. At kilalang-kilala ang pamilya nila sa buong bayan. But still they won't join the politics. They are just living peacefully here.

Or not.

Pumunta kami sa living room nila. Umupo ako sa sofa at ini-relax ang sarili ko. Act as if it's your home, at least. Makapagpahinga lang. So sumandal ako at ipinikit ang mga mata ko.

"Smells like shit," wika ng isang babae. Idinilat ko ang mga mata ko at tumingin sa dumating. Pinsan ni Trojan. Her name is Vanilla. Weird, isn't it? Baka mahilg ang mga magulang niya sa flavour na Vanilla kaya ang ipinangalan nila sa anak nila ay Vanilla. Still weird. No offense, but weird.

I just stared at her habang binibigyan niya ako ng tingin na kulang na lang ay katayin ako on the spot sa kinauupuan ko.

"Who?" I asked.

"You," dikretang sagot niya.

Kumunot-noo ako. "Hindi naman ako pinagpawisahan ng husto sa pagtakbo and I used my perfume tapos I smell like shit?"

"Yes," sagot niya ulit habang naghihimutok sa galit. Now, what did I do?

"Ooh, it really smells like shit," sagot ko kaya siya naman ang kumunot-noo.

I sniffed at tumingin sa kanya. "You smell shit. Your face, body, and personality shouts shit."

Ngumisi ako nang makitang pasugod na siya sa akin nang pumagitna na si Trojan at agad na inawat ang pinsan niyang kinulang sa tamang asal. Asal bulok, asal tae. Sinong mas amoy shit sa aming dalawa? Wala akong ginawa sa kanya pero siya 'tong tahol ng kung ano-ano.

"You fucking get out of this house, you whore!" sigaw nya sa akin. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"Me? Whore? Saan banda?" tanong ko.

"You fucking reek of that bastard. His smell is all over your damn skin, you slut! At may gana ka pa talagang tumapak sa pamamahay na 'to after what you've done? You're engaged and you still fuck with other men. And you know what's really worst? You're fucking with a bloody vampire. How awesome is that, really, Maru?" pagsasarkastiko niyang sagot.

Okay, I am shook. Now dahil sa mga sinabi niya ay may ideya na ako kung ano ang pamilya nila Trojan. Napangiti ako ng hindi makapaniwala kay Vanilla. I almost laughed kung hindi lang talaga ako nakatingin sa naghihimutok niyang mukha.

"Oh so that's why lagi akong nakakakuha ng mga deadly stares sa inyong pamilya dahil sa amoy ni Rai, is that it?" tanong ko kay Trojan.

Tiningnan lang ako ni Trojan at umiling nang makitang mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti ko.

"Maru, calm down," awat din sa akin ni Trojan habang hawak-hawak ang pinsan niya.

"Do you really want to know how awesome it is to be in bed with that bloody vampire? Sit down and I can talk for hours just for you. Detailed pa. Game?"

"You fucking whore! I'm going to kill you!" sigaw ni Vanilla. I saw how the color of her eyes shifted to amber. I swear to god rinig na rinig at kitang-kita ko ang paggalaw ng buto niya. She was shifting and I was left with my mouth hanging from shock.

"Van, calm the fuck down!" sigaw ni Trojan. Sa lakas ng sigawan ng dalawa ay tila nagulo namin ang tahimik na hacienda ng mga Roscoe. The next thing I saw, someone came and held Vanilla down on the marble. He helped Trojan na pakalmahin si Vanilla bago pa man ito magtransform sa kung ano man ang tunay na form nila. I was scared for a second but then I remember she offended me first.

"Calm her down," rinig kong may nagsalita na lalaki sa likod. Lumingon ako at nakita ko sila Tito Maria and Tito George. Tumingin sila sa akin at ngumiti.

"Hello, Maru. Welcome back," wika sa akin ni Tita Maria.

"Forgive me for Vanilla's attitude. She was just, well, angry," wika pa ni Tita Maria.

"Who wouldn't?" wika naman ng lalaking dumating. He was big. Sobrang laki ng katawan niya. He's tanned. And he's smoking hot. I just don't get why ganito ang genes ng Roscoe?

"She smells so bad. Can you at least get her out?" wika pa nito.

They're telling me that I smell so bad. What the hell is wrong with their nose? So kanina pa ako nagtitimpi rito and I don't care kahit nand'yan sina Tita and Tito, sasabog na talaga ako. I'm not doing anything wrong. Hindi ko sila sinaktan o pinagsabihan ng masasakit na salita but they still treat me like shit.

"What the hell is wrong with your nose?" tanong ko pabalik sa kanya.

"You smell death, that is," sagot sa akin ng lalaki.

"You smell of him," dugtong niya.

"Him? Do you mean Raiden?" tanong ko. I guess wala ng point para magtago pa ng sikreto rito kung ganito at nagkanda letse-letse naman na ang lahat.

Tumingin ako kina Tito at Tita. "Are you not in good terms with the vampires?" tanong ko sa kanila. Natahimik silang lahat.

"Why?" tanong ko saka ako tumingin kay Trojan.

"Then, Jan, you're telling me that you are all werewolves, is that it?" tanong ko sa kababata ko.

Narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa ng lalaki. He smirked at me, still looking at me like I'm a big threat to them.

"I'm glad you're not dumb," sagot niya sa akin.

Oh fuck him and fuck Vanilla.

***

I'm sitting on the sofa habang katabi ko si Trojan. Nakaupo sa harap namin sina Tita Maria and Tito George habang nasa likod niya ang dalawa nilang pamangkin na ang sasama pa rin ng tingin sa akin. After the mess, pinakalma nila si Vanilla. Pinaupo nila kami rito para magkaroon ng isang mapayapang pag-uusap.

"Kaya mo bang umupo sa tabi ko habang naamoy mo si Rai sa akin? Sila na nagsabi na amoy kamatayan daw ako," wika ko kay Trojan. He just smiled.

"I still smell you," sagot niya.

Umiwas ako ng tingin.

"So how did things turn out to be this way?" tanong ni Tito George. There are no smiles on their faces right now. They are all serious. They can't help but to frown kung naamoy nila si Rai sa akin. Sobrang baho ba talaga ng amoy ni Rai para sa kanila? I can't understand dahil tao lang naman ako. Still, they shouldn't have offended me. Wala naman akong ginawang masama sa kanila.

"What do you mean, Tito?" tanong ko.

"Paano mo nakilala ang bampirang 'yon?" tanong niya sa akin ulit.

"He's been with me for three years," sagot ko.

"That long?" nagtatakang tanong ni Tita Maria.

"And we only smelled his scent on you last year yet he's with you for more than a year?" nagtatakang tanong ni Tita Maria.

"How?" tanong ni Tito George.

Do I really have to answer everything? Is it okay to trust them? What if kalaban pala sila ni Raiden?

"I'm afraid that remains to be confidential. Tell me why should I trust you?" tanong ko.

"Oh you'll answer," wika ni Vanilla.

"You don't know anything about him, do you?" tanong pa niya. Dito na ako sumeryoso at tumingin kay Vanilla na isang pang salita niya, hahatakin ko 'yang dilang mayroon siya at puputulin ko 'yan. The reason why I am getting angry right now is because she hit bullseye. I do not know anything about Rai except that he's a vampire and he can shift into a dog. He's shape shifter. He was a werewolf before and then he turned into a vampire. That's what I know.

So if he was a werewolf, and if the Roscoe are werewolves, then...

"Do you know that he's dangerous, Maru?" tanong ni Tita Maria.

"How would she even know that?" sagot naman ng lalaki.

"Shut up, Dennis," buwelta ni Tita Maria.

So his name is Dennis, asshole Dennis.

"I know he's dangerous. Katulad ninyo," sagot ko.

"No, no..." sagot ni Tita Maria.

"We are, yes, dangerous, but not as much as him," dugtong niya.

"And what is the difference?" tanong ko.

This time it was Trojan who answered, "Because he's special, like his brothers," sagot niya sa akin.

Like Gregory and King... Why?

"What do you mean special?"

"He's a Frey," sagot ni Trojan.

Naguguluhan ako. What's with the Frey? Anong mayroon sa surname na 'yan?  Why? What makes them so special and more dangerous?

"Anong mayroon sa mga Frey?" tanong ko.