He fed on chaos like a poltergeist.

But of course, he has much more class that those filthy entities.

Nang dumating na ang iba pang werewolves para tulungan ang kanilang prinsesa, he knew his job here was done. Ibinaba niya ang kanyang bamboo pipe at pinanood ang pagbalik ng kamalayan ni Macednus. Aliw niyang pinagmasdan ang naguguluhang ekspresyon ng lobo habang pilit siyang itinatali ng kanyang mga kapatid.

Mabilis siyang bumalik sa kanyang anyong-tao. His naked physique exposed in the middle of the rose garden.

"B-Brothers? Bakit kayo nandito? Hoy! Bakit ako nakatali?!"

Macednus looked confused and lost.

Like waking up from a trance.

Ni hindi niya alam na kamuntikan na niyang pinatay ang nag-iisang tagapagmana ng kaharian ng Eastwood. Sa kabila nito, bakas rin ang naguguluhang ekspresyon ng Big Bad Werewolves. They exchanged looks, as if they weren't sure how to explain this.

Yes, his job here is done.

"Done for now, that is."

Isang nakakalokong ngisi ang pumunit sa kanyang mga labi. Sa likod ng isang patay na puno sa kabilang bahagi ng hardin, pinanood niya ang pagbuhat ni Lycros sa prinsesa papalabas ng hardin. Hindi na nito dinapuan ng tingin ang nakahahaliang mga rosas sa kanyang paligid. Helisson followed them shortly, knowing he needed to do his job as the pack doctor.

'Pack doctor, huh? Isang kalokohan.'

One by one, the confused yet concerned-looking werewolves exited the crimson paradise.

Maliban na lang kay Acontes na seryosong inilibot ang matalim niyang tingin sa kabuuan ng hardin.

Tahimik nitong sinuri ang paligid.

Pero bago pa man niya mahagip ang pigura ng misteryosong lalaki, tuluyan na itong naglaho sa kadiliman ng mga anino.

*
A few hours ago, she was on the verge of death.

Now, Red Ridinghood found herself laying on the vintage couch, with Helisson gently dabbing a cotton ball against her bruised skin.

'How did I even ended up inside Acontes' solar, anyway?' Sinubukan nang alalahanin ang mga nangyari mula nang isinagip siya ng iba pang werewolves sa hardin ni Macednus. Pero bukod sa pakiramdam ng pagbuhat sa kanya ng isang binata, wala na siyang ibang maalala.

Mahina siyang napadaing sa sakit nang kumirot ang kanyang ulo.

May sinabi sa kanya si Helisson, pero hindi niya ito maintindihan. Sinubukan niyang basahin ang bibig niyo, but Red was never good at lipreading, anyway. Noong mga sandaling 'yon, muli na naman siyang nakaramdam ng takot. 'Shit! Nawawala na naman ang hearing aids ko!' She struggled to catch her breath, feeling another wave of panic flood her system.

Helisson quickly understood and cupped her face in his hands, making her look at him.

His eyes held her in place, as if they were reminding her to breathe.

Breath in, breathe out.

There was always something so calming about him. Hanggang ngayon, nahihirapan pa rin siyang isiping isang werewolf rin ang binata sa kanyang harapan. He's always so gentle and caring. 'May kinalaman kaya dito ang pagiging manggagamot niya?' Hindi maiwasang isipin ng prinsesa.

Maya-maya pa, naramdaman niyang may isinuot ito sa kanyang mga tainga.

"There! Ayos ba, Miss Red?"

Ang hearing aids niya.

'Ang akala ko nawala 'to kanina sa hardin?' Hindi niya makapaniwalang kinapa ang mga ito. The surface felt cold against her skin. Maya-maya pa, bumalik sa kanyang ginagawa si Helisson. Muli niyang dinampi ang bulak sa sugat niya sa binti, his fingers moved like a professional.

"Nang makita kong hindi mo 'yan suot kanina, I immediately searched for them in the garden... After seeing your reaction when you first lost them, alam kong magkaka-panic attack ka ulit kung hindi maibabalik sa'yo ang hearing aids mo." He simply stated.

Naka-concentrate pa rin ito sa kanyang ginagawa.

Kumunot ang noo ng prinsesa habang nakatingin kay Helisson. "I thought you're a 'doctor'. Hindi ko alam na acting psychiatrist ka rin pala ng Big Bad Werewolves." 

He smirked. "Bilang 'doktor' sa kastilyong ito, hindi lang ang physical health mo ang kailangan kong ingatan. Mental is also important, Miss Red. Never forget that."

If only it were that easy.

Nang matapos si Helisson sa paggamot ng kanyang mga sugat, agad siyang inabutan nito ng isang baso ng kakaibang inumin. "Umm... Ano 'yan?"

Seriously, is he trying to poison her?

"That's called Ogre juice. It's home-made so it might taste a little better than the ones available in Tartarus. Mabisa 'yan para maghilom agad ang mga sugat mo."

"Herbal medicine?"

"Hmm.. You could say that," Helisson shrugged and handed her the cup.

Napalunok na lang si Red nang makita ang kulay berdeng likido. Malapot at may durog na paminta pang lumulutang doon---err...kung paminta nga ang mga ito. Honestly, she's not really sure. 'Wala ka namang magagawa, Red, eh!' She reminded herself before gulping it down.

Kamuntikan na niyang maibuga sa mukha ni Helisson.

Red Ridinghood quickly pushed away the cup and coughed. Her throat was still burning from the odd sensation. Nanunuot pa rin sa dila niya ang mapakla nitong lasa. Her amber eyes glared at him. "HELISSON, THAT WAS FUCKING TERRIBLE!"

Damn. Gamot ba talaga ang Ogre juice na 'yon?!

Mula sa direksyon ng pinto, narinig niya ang malakas na pagtawa ni Carteron.

"HAHAHAHA! Well, at least you now know what to drink if you want to commit suicide, Your Highness."

"If you like the idea of dying so much, then why don't you drink it?" She challenged.

Sumalubong na naman sa kanya ang nakakakilabot nitong ngisi. "Death by hanging is more appealing, ya know. Mas nakakaaliw mamatay nang nakabigti. Try mo!"

Red sighed.

'Wala na talagang pag-asa ang isang 'to.'

Sa kanyang tabi, napapangiwi na lang si Lycros. "Are you alright, kitten? Tsk! Kaya ayoko ng gamot, eh! See? I have a valid reason to hate them! Kadiri talaga..."

Napailing na lang si Helisson at umayos ng tayo. "Don't be a fool, brother. Hindi naman lahat ng nakabubuti sa'yo magiging paborito mo. Medicine reminds us that a good life comes with bitter dosages." Bitbit ang kanyang medic kit at ang tasang pinaglagyan ng "gamot" (hindi pa rin talaga kumbinsido si Red na gamot nga 'yon), the gentleman walked passed them and out of the room.

But not before sparing Red Ridinghood another smile.

'Weird werewolves.'

Huminga nang malalim ang dalaga at bumangon muna sa pagkakaupo niya sa sopa. Kinuha niya ang nakasabit niyang red cloak sa sandalan. It was a bit torn at the seams, but nothing a little needle work can't fix. Hindi niya alam kung anong kababalaghan ang nangyayari sa kastilyong ito, but she won't just sit around and waste the rest of her day like this.

Kung gusto niyang makaalis agad sa lugar na ito kailangan niyang alamin kung ano ang kahinaan ng iba pang magkakapatid.

"Acontes gave us strict orders to never let you leave this room, Your Highness. Kailangan mo raw munang magpahinga at hintayin ang pagbabalik niya," nakasimangot na sabi ni Carteron habang hinaharangan ang daan niya. Baka pare-pareho pa tayong lunurin 'non sa lawa kapag nagpasaway ka. Then again, that seems like a good idea... HAHAHAHA!"

What the hell?

"The last time I checked, I'm a guest, not a prisoner inside this castle. Hindi niyo ako kontrolado."

Mabilis niyang nilagpasan ang binatang nagsisiraan ng bait at ipinukol ang masamang tingin sa kasama nito. "So, are you gonna try to stop me, too?"

Pero imbes na makipag-away, mahinang natawa ang binatang may kulay berdeng mga mata at iminuwestra pa ang daanan sa harap niya. He suddenly reminded her of those chaperons back at the palace whenever they'd open the carriage's door for her.

"Actually, sasamahan pa sana kita." Lycros winked at her mischievously.

Wala nang nagawa pa si Red Ridinghood kung hindi hayaang sumama sa kanya si Lycros. Oo, iniwan nila si Carteron.

"Your eldest brother will probably get mad. Sa tingin mo ba kakayaning magpaliwanag sa kanya ni Carteron?"

The blonde laughed, "Of course not! Baka nga umalis na rin 'yon. Bahala nang magalit si alpha. He's been around for as long as we have, kaya dapat kabisado na niya kami. Hahaha!"

It suddenly made her curious. Ano nga ba ang dahilan kung bakit naging "ganito" ang Big Bad Werewolves? Hanggang ngayon, nananatili pa ring isang palaisipan kay Red kung bakit sila naisumpa. 'Kaya ka napapahamak Red, eh. For once, can you just stop being so fucking curious?'

Kung madali nga lang sana.

Red Ridinghood just decided to focus her attention to her surroundings. Katulad ng ibang mga pasilyong nadaanan niya kaninang umaga, agad na nakapukaw sa kanyang atensyon ang mga moon-shaped lanterns na nakahilera sa magkabilang gilid ng pader. Now that she got a closer look on them, she realized even the black iron details followed the shape of a wolf---heck, the spherical lantern itself was trapped in a black iron wolf's mouth!

'Talk about details,' she absent-mindedly took note.

"TEKA MUNA, KITTEN!"

Nagulat na lang si Red nang bigla siyang hinigit papalayo ni Lycros. Bago pa man siya makaangal, iginiya na siya nito sa gilid ng pasilyo. He was trapping her against the wall.

"Damn it, Lycros! Ano bang problema?"

The green-eyed wolf just pointed at something behind him. Nang lingunin naman ni Red ang itinuturo nito, lalo lang siyang naguluhan nang wala siyang makita. Soon, Lycros chuckled at her confused look and explained, "Padaanin muna natin 'yong invisible marching band. Ayaw nilang may humaharang, eh. It affects their performance!"

What in the world?

"Carteron told me about them yesterday...ang akala ko niloloko niya lang ako."

Because what are the odds that there's really such a thing as an invisible marching band? Dahil dito, lumawak ang nakakalokong ngiti ni Lycros. His care-free smile and forest green eyes never failed to bring an air of mystery to the space.

"Of course, they're real! Marami ka pang hindi natutuklasan sa kastilyong ito, kitten. Anyway, mabuti na nga lang at hindi natin naririnig ang musika nila. Macednus doesn't like the sound of wind instruments. Na-trauma kasi 'yan noon..."

"Tsk! Sana naman hindi nakamamatay ang mga matutukla---teka! A-Anong sinabi mo?" Bumilis ang pintig ng kanyang puso dala ng kaba.

Tama ba siya ng dinig?

"Ah, 'yong tungkol ba kay Macednus? Uh.. Yeah. That bastard doesn't like the sound of wind instruments. I think he has problems hearing it." Kumunot ang noo ni Lycros. There was a suspicious look in his eyes. "Bakit mo naman natanong?"

Sandaling natahimik si Red.

Muli na naman niyang naalala ang nakakapanindig-balahibong musikang narinig niya sa hardin. Ang musikang nanggagaling sa isang bamboo pipe. 'Of course! Damn. Bakit ba hindi ko ito agad naisip kanina?' Mukhang nauunawaan na ni Red kung bakit nagwala kanina ang isa sa magkakapatid.

With that, she couldn't keep a tired smile from escaping her red lips.

"Nothing... I just remembered something."

Two down, five to go.

---

Out of the mid-wood's twilight
Into the meadow's dawn,
Ivory limbed and brown-eyed,
Flashes my Faun!

He skips through the copses singing,
And his shadow dances along,
And I know not which I should follow,
Shadow or song!

O Hunter, snare me his shadow!
O Nightingale, catch me his strain!
Else moonstruck with music and madness
I track him in vain!

---"In The Forest", Oscar Wilde