“Oh, the ache in my heart is more devastating,

than the throbbing pain in my head!

Alas! My ugly brothers, do you feel the same,

after we’ve been fooled by a princess in red?”

Silence.  

‘Eh? Anong problema nila?’

Linus dramatically turned to look at them, pero mukhang walang may planong pumansin sa kanya. Wala ngang nag-react nang tawagin niya silang pangit, which is very odd, indeed. Madalas kasi kapag nilalait niya ang kanyang mga kapatid, Linus will end up : a.) getting attacked by Carteron and Macednus until he’s forced to take it back; b.) suffering another “untimely need” to go to the restroom, courtesy of Helisson sneaking something into his food; or c.) a combination of the two.

Linus shuddered at the thought. Just a couple of decades ago, nang maisipan nilang i-prank si Helisson (sa paglalagay ng mga insekto sa kanyang medicinal herbs sa infirmary), halos hindi na sila umalis ng restroom kinabukasan dahil sa sakit ng kanilang tiyan. At kahit pa inosente itong tumanggi sa mga paratang nila, Linus knew Helisson put something in their wine!

Sneaky bastard.

Isang golden rule na talaga sa kastilyong ito ang ‘wag na ‘wag galitin ang pack doctor, kung ayaw mong magkasakit nang wala sa oras. He swears, Hel’s even more dangerous than their snobby alpha!

At ngayong nabanggit na natin ang tungkol sa “pagkakasakit”, dumako ang mga mata ni Linus sa kapatid nilang mukhang anumang oras ay maghi-hysterical na sa ipinapainom sa kanya…

“W-WHAT?! No, no, no, no, no! I am NOT drinking that!”

Lycros sneezed and grabbed another tissue. Tumalim ang mga mata nito sa manggagamot, mukhang hindi talaga magpapatalo. “That ‘thing’ is a cup of poison! Freshly-brewed in hell with sprinkles in top! NEVER! Magkakamatayan muna ta—a-a-ACHOOO!”

Napailing na lang si Helisson. He was usually the calm one among them, pero mukhang malapit na ring maubos ang pasensiya niya. Ilang oras na nilang pinipilit si Lycros na inumin ang gamot niya, but he just stubbornly crossed his arms over his chest and glared at him with defiance. Nagkalat sa sahig ang mga ginamit niyang tissue paper. Unlimited ang supply nila ng tissue sa bewitched tissue box, pero halatang pati ang tissue nai-stress na rin sa kapatid nila.

Damn. Paniguradong pagagalitan na naman sila ni Acontes kapag nakita niya ang mga ito.

Helisson sighed and tried to hand him the cup once again.

“Lycros, marami pa akong kailangang gawin sa infirmary and I still need to check on the blueberry vines the elves harvested. So stop acting like a kid, and drink your goddamn medicine!”

From the other side of the room, Macednus looked at the heap of tissue papers in disgust. “Tsk! Seriously… kung kanina mo pa ininom ‘yan, baka nabawasan pa ang lilinisin natin dito. What’s so bad about a cup of medicine, anyway? “

“EVERYTHING!”

Nasapo na lang nila ang kanilang noo.

In any other circumstance, baka hinayaan na nilang mamatay ang isang ‘to. Well, it’s not like he can actually die, because he’s a werewolf and all… pero dahil sa exposure ni Lycros sa rose quartz kagabi, they literally had to drag his wolf ass back to the castle! Buong magdamag itong nanginginig at sumusuka. Kani-kanina lang din bumaba ang lagnat nito.

‘Lycros is always like this whenever he’s near a rose quartz. Noong unang beses niyang nadiskubre ang kahinaan niya, it was a lot worse… maybe that’s why he doesn’t like medicine.’ Helisson thought.

“Iinumin mo o iinumin mo?”

“Nah. I-I’m fine! See? Healthy as a three-legged Tartarian horse!” Ninenerbyos itong natawa at tumayo sa sopa, pasimple siyang naglakad papalabas ng pinto. 

Pero hindi niya napasin ang lubid na nakaabang sa kanyang gilid.

“Well, I guess I’ll be off now! Kailangan ko munang magpaha---”

Hindi na natuloy ni Lycros ang kanyang sasabihin nang biglang pumulupot sa leeg niya ang lubid. He started coughing and kicking but the rope only pulled him higher into the air. Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang werewolf na kanina pa pala nakasalambitin sa kisame.

Carteron’s wicked grin and crazed eyes greeted him.

“HAHAHAHAHA! Gotcha!”

Walang kahirap-hirap itong bumaba at nagkipag-apir pa kay Macednus.

“Ang akala ko kung saang impyerno ka na naman napadpad,” Macednus commented as Helisson was forcing a stubborn Lycros to drink his medicine. Dahil nakalingkis pa rin sa leeg niya ang lubid, wala nang nagawa ang lone wolf. Samantala, nagkibit naman ng balikat si Carteron, “Nah. I was just ‘hanging’ around, ya know. HAHAHA!”

Macednus rolled his eyes. Akmang aalis na sana siya para diligan ang mga rosas niya sa hardin nang maalala ang isang bagay, “Teka, nasaan nga pala si Nyctimus? I haven’t seen that silent pup all morning.”

Nagkatinginan sina Helisson at Carteron, na para bang ngayon lang nila naalala ang bunso nilang kapatid. Linus shrugged and recited.

“Hindi na bagong nawawala ang ating bunso…
O baka naman tuluyan na siyang naging multo?”

Well, you can’t really blame them, can you? Madalas kasi nagkukulong lang si Nyctimus sa kanyang tore na parang isang damsel in distress—of course, they learned to joke about it when the magician’s out of earshot. Delikado na at baka lumobo na naman ang mga bibig nila. Hindi pa nakatulong na ipinaglihi pa yata sa bato ang kapatid nila. Halos hindi nila maramdaman ang presensiya nito. Magugulat na lang silang bigla na lang sumusulpot na parang kabute si Nyctimus.

But this morning is different.

Dahil magmula nang maka-recover na sila sa kani-kanilang mga kahinaan (caused by a certain raven-haired princess), hindi pa nila ito nakikita. Usually, Nyctimus would be there when something dramatic happens, kaya nakakapagtakang wala ito ngayon.

“Hindi kaya nalaman din ni Miss Red ang kahinaan ni Nyct?” Helisson mused.

Umiling naman si Carteron, “Does that bastard even have a weakness? Hindi nga siya nakakapag-transform, eh. Plus, none of us even know what his weakness is! It’s unfair, ya know. He can beat our asses any time he wants!”

“What do you mean?”

Carteron stared at them. “Alam ni Nyctimus ang lahat ng kahinaan natin.”

Dahil dito, natigilan silang lahat. Maging si Lycros na nakasalambitin pa rin sa ere ay nakinig na sa usapan, kahit pa namumutla pa rin siya sa sama ng lasa ng gamot.

Hindi na nakakapagtakang ngayon lang nalaman ng iba nilang mga kapatid ang tungkol sa bagay na ito. Acontes only informed Carteron about this…50 years ago? 60? Nakalimutan na niya.

At first Carteron didn't understand the necessity of this piece of information. Wala naman siyang pakialam kung alam ng kanilang bunso ang kahinaan nila. Nyctimus knows a lot of things, so that’s not really surprising.

But back then, Acontes’ words made him realize the weight of this…

“Among us seven, you’re the next eldest, Carteron. Mas maigi nang malaman mo ang mga bagay na ito nang maaga. Kung sakaling mang may mangyari sa’kin, I trust that you know what will happen.”

Carteron can remember that day quite clearly. He can remember the blood draining from his face from the sudden realization. Agad niyang naunawaan ang ibig sabihin ni Acontes. Just in case something “unexpected” happens to their present alpha, because he’s next in age, by default he’ll be the acting alpha of their pack. Unless someone stupid enough will defy his authority and waste their time battling for the position, of course.

Wala sa sariling inilibot ni Carteron ang kanyang mga mata sa silid. As much as he doesn’t fancy the idea of being the next alpha, alam niyang wala rin namang magtatangka sa kanilang kunin nang pwersahan ang titulong ito balang-araw. None of his brothers are foolish enough…

But then again, there’s the fool’s card laid on the table.

“Nyctimus probably just wants to isolate himself, again. Wala tayong dapat ipag-alala.” Lycros finally loosened the noose around his neck, and landed on the floor on all fours. Kapansin-pansin na para bang nagbago ang ekspresyon nito. Agad silang nilagpasan ni Lycros at naglakad papalabas ng living room.

Helisson called him back, “Leaving already? Mas mainam kung magpahinga ka na lang muna dito hanggang sa gumaling ka na. The effect of rose quartz on you is still---”

“I’m fine. Besides, I don’t even belong here anymore. I’m a lone wolf, remember?”

There was a hint of sadness in his voice.

Wala na silang nagawa pa kung hindi panooring maglakad papalayo ang kanilang kapatid, hanggang sa tuluyan nang maglaho sa madilim na pasilyo si Lycros.

*

He wasn’t in his solar.

He wasn’t in the meeting room, either.

Nang kumatok naman siya sa kulay itim na pintong nasa ikalawang palapag, tanging mga paru-paro lang ang bumungad sa kanya.

Lycros sighed and scratched his head, “Nasaan naman kaya ang isang ‘yon? Tsk!”

Nang pababa na siya sa may hagdan, tsaka lang napansin ng werewolf ang multo ng isang reindeer na sumasabay sa kanya. His eyes narrowed in recognition. ‘Ito yung reindeer kagabi, ah? Yung tumawag kay Macednus,’ isip-isip niya. Ano naman ang ginagawa nito rito?

Tumigil sa paglalakad si Lycros at tinanong, “Do you know where that asshole is?”

Nagpakurap-kurap lang ang reindeer na para bang iniisip nito kung sino ang tinutukoy niya. Nang akala ni Lycros na nasisiraan na siya ng bait dahil sa pakikipag-usap niya sa mga espiritu, the ghost started leading the way.

Nang sinundan ni Lycros ang multo sa pinakadulong bahagi ng kastilyo, agad niyang nalaman kung saan siya nito dinadala. The ghost stopped just at the mouth of the tunnel. Huminga nang malalim ang werewolf.

‘Bakit ba hindi ko naisip agad ang lugar na ‘to?’

He was about to thank the ghost reindeer when he realized it was no longer there.

'It's funny how things can disappear easily, as if they never existed at all.'

While he was walking through the dimly lit tunnel, hindi maiwasang alalahanin ni Lycros ang mga dalagang dinala niya sa lugar na ito. Kung tama ang pagkakaalala niya, nagmula sila sa iba’t ibang kaharian. Least do people know, the Eastwood forest has a short cut to every road leading to other neighboring kingdoms.

It made it easier for Lycros to do his “task”.

Years ago, when he became a lone wolf, the alpha actually gave him a chance to redeem himself. Nakipagkasundo siya kay Acontes bago siya lumayas ng kanilang kastilyo. Magmula noon, naging trabaho na ni Lycros ang mangalap ng mga dalaga at ihatid sila rito. Yes, in a way you can call it “kidnapping”, but Lycros doesn’t like that term. Tinatawag na lang niyang “task” ang kanyang ginagawa para hindi siya masyadong makonsensiya.

Hindi niya alam kung gaano katagal na niya itong ginagawa at, nakakahiya mang aminin, hindi na niya matandaan ang pangalan ng mga babaeng dinala niya rito.

For all he cares, Lycros just takes them back to the castle, and let’s his brothers deal with them.

It was necessary.

Nitong mga nakalipas na mga taon kasi, naging desperado na silang tuldukan ang sumpa. They needed to find the maiden who will help them end this curse. Kaya’t taun-taon, dinadala niya rito ang mga babaeng kinukuha niya mula sa gubat para sumailalim sila sa pagsubok. They needed to determine whether or not Eteilla selects them. But, unfortunately, they haven’t been successful in their search. Lycros already tried everything, and even “kidnapped” the princesses.

Hindi na niya maalala kung ilang henerasyon na niyang ginagawa ang pagdakip sa mga prinsesa o kung sa aling mga kaharian sila nagmumula (again, the Eastwood forest is a short cut to many many kingdoms), but he’s pretty sure that he already gained a reputation for it.

Ang alamat ng Big Bad Werewolf.

Yes, Lycros gained popularity over the years, but there’s more to that legend than meets the eye. Unang-una sa lahat, hindi nila alam na hindi lang siya ang werewolf na dapat nilang gawing panakot sa mga prinsesa.

‘Kapag nahanap na namin ang dalagang pinili ng Eteilla, only then will Acontes formally accept me back into this pack.’

And what happens to the maidens who were “rejected” by Eteilla?

They either die inside this castle or die in the forest while trying to find their way home. Alam ni Lycros kung gaano kalawak ang kagubatang ‘yon, kaya hindi na nakakapagtakang maraming naliligaw roon. Lycros wasn’t a gentleman like Helisson, kaya hindi siya nag-aabala pang ihatid ang mga ito.

He doesn’t even care what happens to those girls.

He never gave a damn…

Until Red Ridinghood came along.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Lycros at marahang umiling. The thought of her only brought another wave of pain in his chest. He cursed under his breath and averted his attention to the man standing in the middle of the chamber.

Nakatalikod ito sa kanya, habang pinagmamasdan nito ang pitong arkong nakapalibot sa silid. Nang maalala niya ang “eksena” kagabi, wala sa sarili niyang ikinuyom ang kanyang mga kamao. As much as Lycros wants to punch him in the face, he can’t. Baka lalo pa siyang hindi tanggapin.

He pushed that jealousy aside and spoke, “I’m heading out. I’ll try to bring another maiden here within the month.”

Dahil wala na ang huling dalagang dinala niya rito, wala na ring dahilan para manatili sa kastilyo si Lycros.

Hindi siya pinansin ni Acontes.

Lycros huffed and was about to leave the chamber when the alpha’s next words stopped him…

“There’s no need.”

Kumunot ang noo ni Lycros at agad na binalingan ang kapatid. Nang sinulyapan niya ang pitong arko, noon lang niya napansin ang matamlay na liwanag na nagmumula sa mga ito. The light coming from the oculus above them bathed the chamber in a warm glow, as the image of a red-haired maiden stared back at them on the stained glass. Kalakip nito, nararamdaman na rin ni Lycros ang paglakas ng mahikang bumabalot sa silid, confirming something he had been suspicious of since the day he lost himself in her amber eyes…

Acontes turned to him, a satisfied smirk on his lips.

“Welcome back to our pack, Lycros.”

 ---

And truth to tell, I fear lest you should find,
Among us here, no lover to your mind;
Which of these hearts beat for the smile you gave?
The charms of horror please none but the brave.

---"The Dance of Death", Charles Baudelaire