Please don't hurt me, Stephen.

Iyon ang mga huling salitang binitiwan ko kay Stephen. Pagmamakaawa. Dahil ba sa mga nasabi ang mga salitang iyon kaya naalala nito ang masalimuot nitong nakaraan?

"Marcus," pagkuha ko sa atensyon niya, "kagabi, tinawag akong Eliza ni Stephen. May kahalintulad ba ako sa kanya? Magkamukha ba kami? Are we similar in some ways?"

"Have you not notice the common behavior Stephen's other women have?"

I let out an unlady-like snort. Yes, their common behavior was ridiculous. "They are all devastatedly in love with Stephen."

"Yes. That is exactly what they have in common. And that is exactly why Stephen chose them. Because he seeks the love and adoration he never received from Eliza."

"And so he likes collecting women who are hopelessly in love with him. And yet here I am, one of his prisoner and slave. I don't even find him attractive."

"And that is exactly why he chose you: Because you remind him of Eliza in some way. That is what you have in common with Eliza—you both don't have any feelings for him. And he is intrigued as to why you don't behave the way others do around him. Siguro may gusto siyang malaman. O kaya naman ay nakikita nga ni Stephen si Eliza sa 'yo. Maybe it was because of your arrogance? Or perhaps the kind of exulted air you exude, like as if everyone is beneath you?"

I never acted like that! I never looked down on people. But that time, when I met Stephen, I could not help but behave otherwise.

Bigla namang ngumiti nang nakakaloko si Marcus. "Oh, you have to be very careful around Stephen."

"And why is that?"

"Maybe he bought you so he could have his vengeance on you since you remind him of Eliza." His grin became even broader, smiling as if the possibility of Stephen extracting his vengeance on me excites him.

My once promising plan of freeing Stephen from his dark past was slowly dissolving into utter nothingness. My situation was now hopeless. Vengeance was something that could not be easily broken and thrown away. It was something already etched inside the heart, a driving force, a fuel to live as long as one can until retribution had commenced and acquired.

"I understand." But the truth, I could never grasp this hatred Stephen had for Eliza. Why couldn't he just move on and let go of the past?

Umiling si Marcus. "No. I don't think you do. Do you have any other question?"

"Yes." I was curious about something. "Sabi mo vampires are made. So, when a vampire and a human have—uhm—sexual intercourse, hindi nabubuntis ang babae?"

"Of course not. When we were reborn as a vampire, pro-creating has already been taken away from us. Sabihin na lang natin na the seeds that comes out of me are all dead."

"Pero you still feel gratification after... after... You also..."

"Come like our mortal counterparts?"

I blushed at his words.

"We ejaculate Elizabeth. Why do you think vampires aquire the services of blood slave? You slaves provide us immediate gratification. Besides, ang semilya ko ang patay hindi ang aking..." He glanced down at his crotch—his bulging crotch. "Believe me, it's very much alive."

I gave him my most murderous glare. Pareho sila ni Stephen na walang preno ang bibig pagdating sa usapang sex at slaves. Pervert. Pero siguro nga ay kasalanan ko iyon dahil ako ang nagbukas ng usapang ito. Ang kuryosidad ko ang nagpapahamak sa akin nang madalas.

"I better go," sabi ko habang inilapag sa mesa ang tea cup na hawak ko. "But before that, let me give you a warning: Jane is my best friend. And if you ever hurt her in any way, Marcus, I'll make sure to hurt you even more."

Ngumisi lamang ito. "Feisty. I like it."

I ignored his mockery and started to stand. Ngunit biglang nakaramdam ako ng pagkahilo. Napabalik ako sa pagkakaupo sa sofa.

"I don't think you'll be going anywhere, Elizabeth."

Biglang umikot ang aking paligid. Pakiramdam ko ay lumulutang ako sa ere. The swirling continued and my vision began to blur on the edges. I started to sway and as I fell to wherever I landed, dread consumed my whole being as I realized I would be helpless to defend my self. The vampire drugged me. That was why he kept on stirring that tea before he gave it to me. As total darkness consumed me, I had never felt so helpless like this before.

***

Kulay pula na dingding.

Isang malaking salamin na may gintong frame na nakatayo sa isang sulok.

Isang mahabang sofa sa tapat ng kama.

Isang aninong nakatayo sa likod ng sofa, nagmamasid, nakatitig lamang sa akin.

Pamilyar ang lugar na ito. Nasaan na ba ako?

Alam kong nakahiga ako sa isang malambot na kama, ang amoy ng unan ay pamilyar sa akin. Tuliro pa rin ang utak ko, bahagyang umiikot pa rin ang aking paligid. Para akong lasing—hilung-hilo ako at tila naghalo-halo ang laman ng utak ko. Papaano ba ako nakarating dito, kung nasaan man ako?

Pinilit kong gisingin ang aking diwa. Gamit ang aking mga palad, pinilit kong itayo ang aking katawan. Bahagyang nanginginig pa ang aking braso na para bang kulang ako sa lakas at enerhiya na iangat ang katawan ko.

Ang anino mula sa likod ng sofa ay nagsimulang gumalaw hanggang sa naaninag ng ilaw na nagmumula sa lampshade ang mukha nito.

"Stephen," I said, almost breathlessly.

"Elizabeth."

Hindi ko mabasa ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha. Dahan-dahan niya akong nilapitan hanggang sa nakatayo na siya sa may paanan ng kama. Tinitigan lamang niya ako, at nang nagtama ang aming mga mata, hindi ko napigilan ang pagsinghap ko nang nakita kong pula ang mga mata niya, parang apoy na nagliliyab.

His eyes suddenly roamed my face, to my neck, to my body... There was something with the way he was staring at me. As if he was undressing me with his eyes. As if he was eating me, consuming me with his eyes. It was sensual, and at the same time it was terrifying.

I snatched the covers and drew it closer to my chest, hoping atleast the blanket could serve as my shield from the fire in his blazing eyes.

"Curious little Elizabeth," he said. "Do you know what I do to curious little girls?"

"W-what?" I stammered.

"I eat them whole. Do you want me to eat you whole, Elizabeth?"

I swallowed the non-existent lump in my throat. I was in deep trouble. "N-no, Stephen."

Nasaan na ba ang tapang ko kung kailan kailangan ko ito? But I knew the Stephen in front of me right now was not the Stephen I would want to cross with.

His face still expressionless, though his eyes were burning with intense fire, he said, "So tell me, what was it you were trying to do back there in Marcus' house?"

"May gusto lang akong malaman."

"Malaman ang tungkol saan?"

Alam kong alam na niya ang napag-usapan namin ni Marcus. Pero sinagot ko pa rin ang tanong niya. "Tungkol kay Eliza."

"Ah. Ang aking nakaraan. Si Eliza."

"Stephen... Please..."

"Please what, Elizabeth? What is it exactly you want?"

"Please let me go. Please cancel the contract. I can't live like this anymore."

Ipinikit niya ang kanyang mga mata at huminga nang malamin. Ilang Segundo pa bago niya minulat ang kanyang mga mata. Wala na ang apoy sa mga mata niya, bumalik na rin sa normal na kulay ang mga ito. Ngunit ang apoy ay napalitan ng isang emosyong hindi ko maintindihan. Lungkot? Pagsisisi? "I can't, Elizabeth."

"But why? You can't keep me locked up here and... and be your slave! What you're doing is not humane! Stephen, hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa mga ninuno ko para tanggapin ang isang kasunduan mula sa inyong mga Elites. Pero kaming mga babae, we are not commodities that you can use for trade."

I saw his jaw clenching, as if he was trying to keep himself in check. "I can't let you go, Elizabeth. I have already decided to keep you and make you mine."

***

#BloodLustMine

#MaxineLaurelStories