BLOOD SLAVES

CHAPTER FIVE

"Unexplainable"

Alexander walked to the table and checked every drawer. Hinalughog niya ang loob nito hanggang sa makita nito ang hinahanap niya. It was the records of every transaction that Philip Tan made with his connections for the past months. Philip Tan was also the dead man lying on the floor, the owner of a secret underground market here in the country. Every transaction here was illegal dahil ipinagbabawal na nila ang mga Blood Slaves.

Alexander had been on a hunt ever since Lauren left them here in the human world to rule. Now if they couldn't clean these illegal transactions in the vampire community, they might as well kill themselves because they couldn't really face Lauren's wrath.

"Humans, vampire, and the Tan. Common and boring," wika nito saka ito tumingin kay Andi na tahimik na nakatayo sa gilid. She still looked flustered dahil sa huling sinabi ni Alexander sa kanya. The look on her face made Alexander smile.

"What do you think, Andi?" tanong nito sa dalaga, curious sa kung anong tumatakbo sa isipan nito tungkol sa buong sitwasyon.

"Do you think I'm a bad guy?" tanong muli ni Alexander.

Hindi ito sumagot agad at tila nag-iisip ng tamang sasabihin. He saw her biting her lip and that wasn't really a good move for Andi dahil mas lalo lamang siyang nanabik na iuwi ang dalaga. At kung bakit? He didn't know. He couldn't describe the feeling. For now, he just wanted to keep her safe.

Umiling si Andi sa kanya. He also shook his head at tumingin nang nagtatanong sa dalaga.

"Kung pumapatay kayo ng katulad niya, sa tingin ko ay hindi ka masamang tao... o bampira," sagot ni Andi sa kanya.

"But I still kill vampires. Doesn't it make me the bad guy?"

"Kung pumapatay ka ng masamang nilalang katulad ng bampirang nakahilata sa lapag at kung ang rason mo sa pagpatay sa kanya ay ang pagtigil ng mga ilegal na transakyon dito sa lugar na 'to at kung nagliligtas ka ng taong katulad ko, bakit sa tingin mo ay ikaw ang masama rito?"

Alexander smiled again, pleased with her answer.

"But I'm also thinking of doing bad things to you. Aren't you afraid?"

Muli niyang tiningnan si Andi. There was a serious look on her face. Her eyes were sad like it was almost empty. And her answer made him think again if he was doing a good job for the past years.

"Nagawa na nila sa akin ang lahat ng mga karumal-dumal na bagay na posible at imposible sa mundong 'to. Kung ano man ang gagawin mo o iniisip mong gawin sa 'kin, nagawa na iyon ng ibang bampira at tao."

And that answer kept his mouth shut. He tapped the table with his fingers while still looking at her. What should he do with her? He still wanted her so bad but he couldn't just take her and throw her in his bed. He wasn't really a jerk, but the more he looked at her, the harder it was to control himself. Nagagawa ng babae na palabasin ang pagkagago niya at iyon ang hindi niya maintindihan. He was, in fact, a gentleman but he couldn't discern how the woman's charms make him go wild.

Tumayo s'ya at naglakad palabas ng kuwarto.

"Follow me."

Sumunod naman ng tahimik si Andi sa kanya. Naninibago pa rin ito sa pangalan na ibinigay ni Alexander sa kanya. No one really bothered to give her a name. She had a name before. Pero dahil ilang taon na rin niyang hindi ito nagagamit, nawala na rin ito sa kanyang isip. She didn't need a name because the vampires who bought her treated nothing. She was no one like they said. Walang katauhan at tanging laruan lamang sa kanilang mga bampira.

They made their way out of the underground. Bawat lugar na nadaanan ni Andi at Alexander ay punong-puno ng mga bangkay ng mga bampira at mga lapag na binaha ng mga dugo nito. Huminto si Alexander at lumingon sa kanya.

"What can you say? Isn't this a massacre?"

Tumingin si Andi sa paligid. Tumango siya rito.

"Do you pity them?"

Andi looked at him, straight in his eyes, and told him the truth.

"Hindi," sagot nito kaya't dito na natawa si Alexander.

Huminto ito sa pagtawa at tumingin muli sa kanya. "That's right. Do not feel guilty. They deserved it," sagot nito saka ito muling ngumiti sa kanya.

They heard someone walking toward them. Lumingon si Andi upang tingnan kung sino ang taong 'yon. It was the man who actually saved her. His brother, the vampire named King. His body was still showered with blood but he had a big smile plastered on his face. Natutuwa sa nangyari, natutuwa dahil tapos na ang misyon nila rito.

"Call our men and tell them to clean this up," utos ni Alexander.

"I've already done that," sagot ni King.

Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ni Andi sa dalawa.

"Are you finished?" tanong muli ni Alexander. Tumango naman si King.

"Every room, every rat's hole, and every corner are cleared and checked. Everyone's dead. No one survived. I made sure of that."

Tumango si Alexander. "Good work."

"Now can I go and have some fun? We're done here. I believe."

"For now. I'll call you for the next task."

"All right. Keep me updated. And..." Tumingin si King kay Andi at ngumiti.

"Take care, milady," wika nito saka ito kumindat sa dalaga. Sa isang iglap at sa kanyang pagkurap, nawala ng parang isang bula ang binata. Ilang beses niyang ikinurap ang kanyang mata at tiningnan mabuti ang kinatatayuan ni King kanina. Hindi niya maintindihan kung paano iyon nagawa ng binata. Alam niyang may kakaibang lakas at bilis ang mga bampira pero ang gano'ng klaseng abilidad ay ngayon niya lamang nakita sa tanang ng buhay niyang nakakulong sa kamay ng mga bampira.

Tumingin siya kay Alexander. Dalawa lamang silang sumugod dito sa Underground. Si King ang gumawa ng trabaho. At base sa narinig niya, wala itong iniwang buhay. Ngunit paano? There were hundred vampires who gathered at the place or maybe more than that. How did King manage to kill all of them? Who were these vampires? Who were Alexander and King? And what kind of vampires were they?

"Now, that's what I want to see. That look in your face," komento ni Alexander sa kanya.

"Are you now afraid?" tanong nito saka ito muling ngumiti sa kanya.

Hindi sumagot si Andi sa binata.

"Let's go."

"Saan?" tanong ni Andi.

"Sa bahay ko." Alexander answered without looking at her.

Napalunok na lamang si Andi at hindi maiwasang matakot at kabahan sa mga posibleng mangyari sa pamamahay ng lalaki. Sinundan niya ito hanggang sa makalabas sila ng Underground. Isang sasakyan ang biglang huminto sa tapat nila. Binuksan ni Alexander ang pinto at lumingon sa kanya.

"After you."

Tumingin siya saglit sa binata saka sumakay ng sasakyan. Sumunod naman si Alexander at tumabi sa kanya. She was not talking the whole ride. Gano'n din ang lalaki. Nakapikit lamang ito buong biyahe. Tumingin na lamang din sa labas si Andi at pinagmasdan ang mga lugar na kanilang nadaanan. Tahimik niyang tinitingnan ang mga nadaanan nila nang mayroon siyang napagtanto. She was in fact happy. It was the first time na makita muli ang kapaligiran niya, na makita ulit kung anong mayroong sa labas. Ang mga puno, gusali, mga sasakyan, at daan.

Simula nang mapunta siya sa kamay ng mga bampira ay hindi na siya muling nakatapak pa sa labas at makita ang mga nakikita niya ngayon. Most of the time ay kinukulong siya ng kanyang Master sa kuwarto. Lalabas lamang siya kapag kailangan na nitong uminom ng dugo. Kung nasa sasakyan man siya katulad ngayon ay tuwing ihinahatid lamang siya patungo sa susunod na may magma-may-ari sa kanya. Ang magkaroon ng pagkakataon na pagmasdan ang paligid niya ay isang malaking bagay na para sa kanya.

Dahil sa unang pagkatataon naramdaman niyang siya'y malaya sa kamay ng mga bampira.

Sa sobrang tuwa niya ay gusto na niyang maiyak. Ngunit pinigilan niya ang kanyang sarili. Hinawakan niya ng mahigpit ang kanyang kamay at kinagat ang kanyang ibabang labi. Lumunok siya at yumuko. Hindi siya iiyak ngayon. Hindi siya iiyak rito. Hindi niya ito ipapakita sa iba lalong-lalo na sa lalaking nasa tabi niya.

"If you want to cry, go ahead."

Nagulat siya nang marinig ang boses ng lalaki.

"Just cry instead of biting your lip," wika pa nito. Nagulat na lamang siya nang bigla itong lumapit sa kanya. Hinawakan nito ang kanyang baba at inangat ang kanyang ulo papaharap sa kanya. Her eyes were already in tears but she was still suppressing herself not to cry; for she didn't want to look weak and for she kept it in her mind that crying in front of these vampires would only give them the taste of her fear and weakness. That was the last thing she wanted to do. She didn't want to give them the taste of pleasure and fulfillment just because their toy was afraid and crying.

But Alexander... he was different, wasn't he?

"You bit it too hard now it's bleeding," wika nito saka ito mas lalo pang lumapit sa kanya. She then felt his soft lips on her lips. Lumayo ito ng kaunti upang tingnan ang dalaga. Andi was just looking at him with a nervous look. He then smiled again and claimed her lips. He tasted and claimed every part of it. He gently moved on her upper lip and then down to her lower lip. She was doing the same. He couldn't even stop smiling.

Lumayo s'ya ulit at nagtanong sa dalaga, "Do you still feel like crying?"

Naka-ilang kurap si Andi saka ito umiling. "Good. Now I know how to make you stop crying."

Tuluyan nang lumayo si Alexander sa kanya kaya doon na nakahinga ng maluwag si Andi. Muli siyang tumingin kay Alexander na ngayon ay tahimik na nakatingin sa labas ng bintana. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit ganito ang lalaki sa kanya. Pinagtri-tripan o pinaglalaruan lamang din ba siya nito? Katulad din ba siya ng iba o tama bang sumunod sa sinasabi ng utak niya na iba si Alexander sa mga tao at bampirang nakilala niya?

Tama nga kaya ang sinasabi ng utak niya? At tama rin bang magtiwala rito?

She stared at him for too long until Alexander looked at her again. He didn't say anything but instead, he also stared back at her.

"You've been staring for too long. Malulusaw ako, Andi."

Andi didn't know how to respond to that kaya't umiwas na lamang siya ng tingin sa lalaki. Alexander smirked on the other hand and looked outside the car window again. It was a long drive. He was tapping his index finger on his left thigh. He was getting impatient. He just wanted to go home and bring Andi to his room.

And after that...

Yes, after that he wondered... what should he do next?

Muli siyang tumingin kay Andi na tahimik ding nakatingin sa labas ng bintana. She knew how this works. She had experience or rather terrible experience and he didn't want to make her remember it again. So what he should do? Why was he taking an extra effort here? If it was just another girl, he would usually just throw the woman on the bed and bang her like there is no forever. Why was he taking extra care of a girl—He looked at her again. She was definitely not a girl, not anymore. She had a body of a woman; an incredible body that no one could ever resist. And he couldn't resist, that was why he was getting more and more impatient.

Andi was giving him a hard time. Then he thought about it carefully. He was thinking; thinking of ways to make her comfortable, calm, and most importantly, trust him; that he was no threat and he wouldn't harm her.

How would he be able to make Andi safe?

Oh, he knew what exactly he needed to do.

He just smiled at the thought of it.