Is there an end to madness? 

Kani-kanina lang ay akala ni Red na naranasan na niya ang lahat ng kababalaghan sa mundo. Ang buong akala niya wala nang mas nakakabaliw pang pangyayari ang gugulat sa kanya matapos ang ilang linggong pananatili niya sa puder ng Big Bad Werewolves. But, of course, life just has to prove her wrong again with an even more bizarre truth...

'An evil witch living inside my head?'

If she were in any other situation, Red would probably laugh it off and consider it a sick joke...

Right now?

She knew it was true.

Hindi natural ang ganitong sakit ng ulo. Bakit ba ngayon niya lang ito naisip? Binalikan niya ang mga pagkakataong kagaya nito. It didn't take long before she remembered that a similar migraine tortured her the night she saw Miss Evelyn. Ang buong akala ni Red ay dahil sa Eteilla ang palagiang pananakit ng kanyang ulo. Ngayon, unti-unti nang nagiging malinaw sa kanya na may kinalaman nga ito sa mangkukulam.

She remembered what the werewolves told her before...

Miss Evelyn communicates through dreams.

'Maybe that's why she was giving me nightmares,' Red thought in between gasps of pain.

Hindi na niya nakayanan pa ang kanyang panghihina. Namalayan na lang niyang nanginginig na pala siyang nakahiga sa makintab na sahig. She was thrashing wildly and screaming in agony, feeling like her head was about to explode any minute now

Lancelot just stared at her emotionlessly.

Suddenly, the music stopped.

The Pied Piper appeared beside her, crouched down with a small red jar. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Red nang makita 'yon. May kung anong nagsasabi sa kanyang hindi niya magugustuhan ang laman nito. But before she could even muster up the strength to protest, marahas na hinawakan ng musikero ang kanyang panga.

A smirk played on his lips.

"Don't worry... You just need to swallow this. Para sa ikabubuti mo, hindi mo na dapat alamin kung ano ito."

Despite the torture of her migraine, Red Ridinghood struggled to get away from him. Sa kasamaang-palad, mas malakas sa kanya ang musikero. He pinned her down to the floor. Walang kahirap-hirap nitong binuksan ang kanyang bibig at pwersahang ipinakain kay Red ang kung anong kinuha nito sa garapon.

It smelled rotten and it almost tasted like...

'M-Meat?!'

Sinubukan niya itong iluwa, but it was too late. The princess was already choking on it. The bitter taste lingered on her tongue. Ilang sandali pa, sunod namang kinuha ni Piper ang isang botilya at ipinainom sa kanya ang laman nito. She was trembling as he forced the liquid down her throat, her eyes stung at the rustic taste of blood.

Human meat.

Human blood.

Maya-maya pa, napasigaw muli sa sakit ang prinsesa.

"AAAAAAAAAHHH!"

An ear-piercing noise that shook the kingdom. Her body trembled and her mind went blank. Narinig na niya ang malakas na pagtawang nagmumula sa loob ng kanyang isipan. An apparition appeared in the air, formed from the black smoke that was escaping her mouth.

Unti-unti, nagkaroon na ng anyo ang usok at lumitaw ang huling mangkukulam ng Waite bloodline.

*

"AAAAAAAAAHHH!"

That scream pulled him out of the darkness.

'Red.'

Sa kabila ng mahikang dulot ng musika ni Piped Piper, pinilit niyang magmulat ng mga mata. His muscles still burned with pain, but Lycros forced himself to ignore it. He can ignore everything just to make sure she was safe. Hindi na maganda ang pakiramdam niya sa mga nangyayari rito. Kailangan niyang ilayo sa kanila si Red Ridinghood. Kailangan niyang...

His green eyes widened at the scene.

Red Ridinghood laid on the floor, her body was convulsing. Kapansin-pansing pinipigilan pa rin nitong umiyak sa kabila ng sakit na nararamdaman niya. Lancelot and Piper watched her suffer.

"N-No...kitten, p-please. Hang in there!"

Lycros voice was hoarse. He doubts that she heard it. Mahina siyang napamura nang mapagtantong hindi niya maigalaw ang kanyang katawan. Kung anumang itim na mahika ang ginamit sa kanila ng musikero, sinigurado nitong hindi sila makakaistorbo sa mga gawain nila.

'Fuck this! Kailangan ko siyang iligtas...'

Maya-maya pa, napuno ng tensyon ang buong silid nang kumawala ang itim na usok mula sa bibig ng dalaga. Unti-unting hinulma ng usok ang imahe ng matandang mangkukulam. Kumawala roon ang isang malakas na pagtawang nakapagpabalik ng mga alaalang pinipilit na niyang ibaon sa limot.

Indeed, this was the same horrible laughter they heard moments before the curse manifested.

Pigil-hininga nilang pinanood ang paglinaw ng imahe.

The translucent smoke figure soon twisted to form flesh and bones. Miss Evelyn's features became clearer, a sinister look in her elderly eyes. Kulubot ang kanyang balat at lumulutang sa hangin ang mahaba't puti niyang buhok. Suot niya ang mga lumang damit na may mga palamuting nanggaling sa iba't ibang parte ng katawan ng mga halimaw na matatagpuan sa Tartarus. The scent of decay faded when her feet landed on the marble floor.

She was alive again.

"You did a good job, servants." Miss Evelyn turned to the fortune-teller and the musician. Nang dumako naman ang kanyang mga mata kay Red, marahan na lang siyang napailing; as if the unconscious girl was nothing more than a waste of space. "Hindi ko sukat akalaing makukulong ako sa isip ng isang dalagang may kapansanan. Eteilla really knows how to disrespect me..."

Samantala, lalo namang bumalot ang takot sa puso ni Lycros.

Ngayong nakakawala na ang mangkukulam, lalong nalalagay sa panganib ang prinsesa. Who knows what that witch plans to do to her? Kaya sinubukan niyang gumapang sa kinaroroonan ni Red Ridinghood. His body felt numb, but that will never stop him from trying to protect her.

Matagal na nakatitig ang mangkukulam sa kaawa-awang prinsesa. She was of no use to her. Not anymore. Kung anuman ang dahilan ng Eteilla sa pagpili sa babaeng 'to, wala na siyang balak pang alamin. Miss Evelyn had already cheated death, and now she's willing to cheat on whatever prophecy they needed to fulfill in order to break the curse. Hindi niya hahayaang magtagumpay si Red Ridinghood sa kanyang misyon.

Ilang sandali pa, bumaling siya kay Lancelot.

"Nasaan ang punyal?"

The new king took the sheathed dagger from his side and handed it to her. Nang makita niya ang kanyang repleksyon sa talim nito, tumalim rin ang mga mata ng mangkukulam. Her black eyes darted to the helpless girl.

"Poor girl... You will be reunited with King Ronan and General Simon soon."

Agad siyang lumuhod sa gilid ng prinsesa at itinarak sa dibdib nito ang punyal.

Blood splashed over the marble floor...

But it wasn't hers.

In a split second, Lycros managed to catch the dagger with his hand. His jaws clenched in pain when he realized that it was the silver dagger owned by Socleus---ang parehong punyal na hinahanap nila kanina bago magsimula ang ritwal. Hindi niya alam kung paano ito napunta sa kanila, pero hindi na 'yon mahalaga.

The old witch paused.

Mukhang hindi ito nagulat sa nangyari.

"The lone werewolf saves the princess, huh? How pathetic."

"Hurt her and I'll fucking burn you at the stake myself." Lycros growled, canines flashed dangerously.

Forest green eyes glared at the witch as he shoved the blade away from his Red's body. He wrapped his arms around her, in an attempt to shield her from any more attacks. Tangina. Magkakamatayan muna sila bago nila masaktan ang prinsesa. And even if he dies, Lycros will probably still find a way to save her. Nakaasar lang dahil hindi pa rin siya makakilos nang maayos. Ni hindi siya makapagpalit ng anyo!

Damn this.

Ayaw man niya itong aminin, but they were at a disadvantage.

"Get your filthy hands off her!"

Walang-gana namang lumayo sa kanila ang mangkukulam. She was carefully assessing him. "Handa kang mamatay para prinsesang 'yan, kahit na alam mong hindi niya masusuklian ang pagmamahal mo. And if ever she 'feels' the same way, you know that it's not of her own free will... You're aware of that little match-making Eteilla set, right?"

"Shut up."

"Pitiful. You're burning yourself for someone who will never love you back. It will only be a matter of time before you realize you should never have played with fire, werewolf."

Lycros gritted his teeth in anger.

Pero sa kabila nito, masakit pa ring isiping totoo ang sinasabi ng mangkukulam.

The chose maiden was destined to be the alpha's mate.

Back then, he didn't even care. Nang sinabi sa kanila ni Acontes ang maliit na detalyeng 'yon, he just shrugged it off. Pero nang makilala niya si Red Ridinghood, unti-unting naunawaan ni Lycros ang kahulugan ng detalyeng 'yon. To be honest, there was a time when Lycros was even a bit guilty for wishing that he was in Acontes' shoes just to be with her. Hindi naging madali ang tanggaping hindi siya kayang mahalin ng kaisa-isang babaeng pinapahalagahan niya, but Lycros was content to know she'll be happy with his brother...

But that was before Acontes died.

And now that he's the new alpha of their pack, imbes na matuwa, kabadong inaalala ni Lycros ang ipinahiwatig sa kanila noon ng Eteilla. In the end, Red Ridinghood will only love him out of obligation because their new connection. The mating bond might stir her feelings, but Lycros knew that it will never be a choice made by her heart.

It was a strong temptation, but he doesn't want that.

Lycros wants her to choose him because she loves him, not because of his status or some stupid mating bond.

"Even if I have to burn myself over and over again, if it means I'll get to see another glimpse of a smile in her amber eyes... I will never regret anything. My love isn't demanding anything else but the happiness she deserves."

Binalot ng sandaling katahimikan ang silid. Napasimangot na lang ang mangkukulam sa sinabi ng werewolf. Kalaunan, lumayo na ito sa kanila.

"Kung ganoon, hayaan na nating apoy rin ang pumatay sa prinsesang 'yan," mahina niyang sabi bago binalingan sina Lancelot at Piper. "Lock her in a tower. We'll burn her at the stake at sunset. Make sure the werewolves are half-conscious when we do it..."

Her demonic eyes met his, a mocking glint in them.

"...let's make them watch their precious maiden die."

Lycros' eyes widened in horror. He started begging them to spare her life. Mahigpit siyang nakayakap sa walang-malay na prinsesa, natatakot na tangayin nila ito papalayo sa kanya. Natatakot sa mga posibilidad. Pero huli na ang lang lahat mapakinggan niyang muli ang musika ng Piper Piper. Lycros cursed under his breath as he felt drowsy again...

Soon, there was an emptiness in his arms as the fortune-teller took her away.

---

Her gaze hides from reality
because she is here, but her soul was not.

She has the ability to look straight through beings
while defining the sense of seeing
as she keys her energy into this moment of bleeding.

---"Her Death Stare", David Irvine