Flame 17 - Split Up

Sa gitna ng maalon na dagat, naglayag ang yate ni Opium Scatterella sakay ang Silver Flame, ang Vaughaun Telepath at ang kanyang nakababatang kapatid.

Both Krauser and Olivia crossed their arms and faced the two, somehow waiting for some explanations on why all of a sudden, the four of them are on a yacht trip to Mermius.

"Well, dear brother? Do I have to ask?" hindi napigilang sabi ni Olivia Scatterella.

"O-Olivia—" he was stammering dahil hindi talaga siya handa sa kung ano mang mangyayari. He wants to cowardly run back home but he's torn about helping Katherine with the Cronus warnings. And he doesn't want to risk Olivia's safety.

Huminga ng malalim si Olivia at padabog na tumayo at pumasok sa loob. Hinilamos ni Opium ang kamay sa kanyang mukha bago sundan ang kapatid.

After the two Scatterella left the deck, Katherine and Krauser were left alone on the deck. Mahangin na at medyo malamig. Maririnig mo pa ang hampas ng alon sa pampang dahil hindi pa ganoong kalayo ang tinatakbo ng yate.

"What's this all about?" ang panimulang tanong ni Krauser na nagbigay ng kakaibang gulat kay Katherine. "Is there something I need to know? May dapat ba akong malaman? Where are you two heading?" hindi magkamayaw na tanong ng binatang Vaughaun sa kanyang butler.

"K-Krauser—" tila umuurong ang lahat ng salita para kay Katherine. Masaya pa rin siya dahil ligtas ang kanyang Master pero nasasaktan siya na makitang galit ito sa kanya.

She wanted to say everything. She wanted to explain the whole purpose of this journey pero—

"No," biglang nagsalita si Krauser. Tumayo siya at tsaka huminga ng malalim. He bit his lips and turned around. "Don't explain. Just forget it. I don't think it's my right to know any of your business anyways. Sorry." Aalis na sana ito pero pinigilan siya ni Katherine.

"Krauser—kasi— ano—" Katherine was frustrated and out of words as she speaks in front of him. Dahil sa lamig ng panahon sa beach, mas lalong namumula ang labi ni Krauser na mas nakadagdag sa distractions ng dalaga.

He smiled and pats her head. "It's okay. I understand if you can't say it. And after all, you don't need to explain why you're with Scatterella. Hindi ako ang Master mo ngayon, remember?" he said.

"B-But—"

He shrugged and went to the side so that he can clearly see the view.

As Olivia tried to walk out of the deck, Opium followed her and was caught up when he pulled her wrist and pinned her to the walls of the navigator's area. Malaki ang loob ng yate ni Opium, may tatlong maliliit na kwarto, kitchen at isang banyo. It's almost a nice place to live in.

"What the hell! Let me go!" Olivia yelled as she struggles to break free. She can feel his hands tighly holding her thin arms. She can't even manage to fight back dahil napakalakas niya.

"Let me explain first, Olivia!" he said as he kept his hands on her arms to stop her from getting away.

She slowly stopped fighting back and calmed down. Her face was still wrinkled and obviously annoyed as Opium's face titled, slowly closing their gap. She can feel his breath and his nose where touching hers too.

Olivia never likes her brother this close. Those lips of Opium make her knees wobbly.

"Olivia..." he whispered huskily.

Before anything goes absolutely wrong, she pushed him off with all her strength. He flew right up and broke the walls covering one of the mini rooms inside the yacht.

She smirked and walked in front of his brother who is now covered with rubbles and broken pieces of wood. "I don't know what you and that Silver Freak have. I'm just making sure you're not running away from your Coven duties. Don't even think that I followed you because I'm jealous."

Masakit man ang likod mula sa pagkakatapon ay hindi mapigilan ni Opium ang matawa. Tumayo siya at pinagpag ang ilang alikabok sa buhok at damit nito.

"Olivia, we just have a special mission in Mermius," paliwanag niya dito wearing a naughty smile.

"Special? With over a hundred years, Opium! A hundred years that you are alive, you have never been a part of a special mission! And now this Silver Freak shows up and you treat this stupid yacht trip special?!! Tell me what makes her special, huh?! Tell me!" she said almost about to cry.

"Nothing." He calmly replied and looked at her straight.

She stopped and looked at him, obviously clueless. "W-What? What do you mean nothing?!"

"Nothing. I don't have anything to tell you about being special. You don't need to know how to be special. Always keep in mind that there's nothing and no one but you. Nothing. No one. Just you."

Unti unting namula ang mukha ni Olivia at kulang nalang ay magpaypay siya ng kamay sa sobrang init ng mukha niya.

'Kilig? Is this kilig that my friends are talking about?! It feels uncomfortable!' sabi niya sa sarili.

"And I can't risk you out here Olivia. Mermius is dangerous! Have you seen the news?" hindi niya pinapansin ang patuloy na pagsermon ng kapatid dahil hindi parin ito makamove on sa sinabi niya kanina. "Olivia! Ano ba!" pagsigaw nito.

"Okay fine! I know how to take care of myself! Don't even underestimate me! Scatterella blood runs in my veins, we both have that blood so I know how to protect myself," sabay nag pout pa ito.

Opium rolled his eyes. "Hindi. Once we landed on Mermius, maiiwan ka sa yacht." Huling sabi ni Opium tsaka lumabas siya sa may deck.

Katherine was sitting there alone. Tumabi si Opium sa kanya. He chuckled after seeing her face. "How did it go?" he asked her.

"I was terrible, Opium. I didn't even get to say a single word." She sighed and looked at him. "I can't say it. I can't let him be involved in this Cronus stuff. I can't put him in danger."

"Seems like, talagang malakas na ang tama ng Vaughaun na iyan sa iyo. Malala na 'yan!"

Katherine punched him in the shoulders aggresively. "Pwede ba? Hindi ka nakakatulong," naiiritang sagot ng dalaga. She closed her eyes and feel the gust of wind from the peaceful ocean.

"Every time I am near that telepath, it always feels like I have to protect him. Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling yung urge na protektahan siya. He's a brat. He never listens to the rules. Ginagawa niya lang kung anong gusto niyang gawin. Pero hindi ko pa siya ganoong kakilala. I don't know kung anong natakbo sa isip niya. I wanted to be honest with him, Opium... pero I am afraid—"

"You're afraid he might not care?" pagpatuloy ng bampira.

Katherine smiled at him and slowly nodded.

Just then, nakaramdam ng biglang paglakas ng alon ang barko. Saglit itong tumagilid na nagpawala ng balanse sa kanilang dalawa. Opium stood up, using the railings to help him control his balance as the waves hit the yacht. Katherine looked for her Master na nasa ibaba lamang ng top deck.

"Krauser!" nakita niya ang Master na nakaupo din sa sahig at hindi makagalaw sa lakas ng mga alon. "Hang on! I'm coming!" dahan-dahang tumayo ang butler para bumaba pero nakita niya si Olivia na nasa hagdan ng top deck at halatang natatakot siyang bumitaw sa stair railings.

Napapikit si Olivia nang biglang kumidlat at kasunod ang maingay na kulog. Lalo pang lumakas ang hangin at tila nasa gitna sila ng isang bagyo na biglang sumulpot sa gitna ng dagat.

"Olivia!!!" tawag ni Opium sa kanyang kapatid habang dahan-dahang nalapit sa stairs. Nagsimula nang umulan at agad nagpasyang bumaba si Katherine. Habang pababa ay nakatingin siya kay Olivia na nakakapit pa rin sa hagdanan. She seemed scared kaya babalik sana siya sa top deck para tawagin si Opium ngunit pinigilan siya ng bampira.

"Don't even dare telling Opium that I'm here!" she warned her, both of them now soaked in water because the rain was pouring hard.

"Pero—"

"Just don't—" bago pa man matapos ni Olivia ang sasabihin niya ay biglang may malaking alon na humampas sa side ng barko kung nasaan ang stairs.

Katherine lost her balance while Olivia lost her grip.

"AHHHHHH!!!" sabay nilang sigaw.

"Olivia!" huli na nang maabutan ni Opium ang nangyari at agad itong umambang tatalon sa masungit na dagat para sundan ang dalawa nang pigilan siya ni Krauser.

"Are you insane?! We have to plan this—"

"Vaughaun!" he growled and burning red eyes were visible even underneath the heavy rain. "I NEED TO SAVE MY SIS—" isang malakas na alon ulit ang humampas sa yate at agad tumilapon ang dalawa sa nangangalit na dagat.

***

Nagising si Opium Scatterella dahil sa sinag ng araw at sa maalat na panlasa sa kanyang mga dila. Agad kinapa ng bampira ang singsing niya sa kamay na nagsisilbing pananggala niya sa init ng araw. Pero kahit pa wala ang singsing ay kakayanin niyang magtagal basta malakas ang kanyang katawan. Hindi maitatanggi ng kahit sino na ang maharlikang dugo ng Scatterella ay napakalakas at makapangyarihan.

He squinted his eyes and tried to look around. Nakita niya ang napakagandang tanawin ng dagat at ang bukang liwayway. Unti-unting naaalala ng binatang bampira ang huling pangyayari at—

"OLIVIA!" pabalikwas siyang tumayo pero natigilan siya ng makita si Krauser Vaughaun sa di kalayuan.

Madungis na ito at puro puting buhangin ang nasa damit at ulo nito. "Vaughaun! Wake the fck up!!!" sipa nito sa likod.

"Ugh--" unti-unting nagkamalay si Krauser at nagtatakang tumingin sa bampira. "T-Teka— si Katherine?! Asan na tayo?" hindi maintindihan ni Krauser ang mga nangyari kagabi.

Ang huli niyang maalala ay bago siya mahulog sa dagat dahil sa pagtaob ng yate ay nahipan niya ang shell na dapat sana'y pantawag sa merman na si Lincoln.

"Where the fck are they?!" hindi mapakaling tanong ni Opium habang naglalakad pabalik. Sinubukang kapain ng bampira ang bulsa pero wala na doon ang phone at wallet niya.

Krauser tried to stay calm and think. What happened last night was definitely weird. Nacheck niya ang weather forecast at maayos ang panahon kagabi. Imposibleng magkaroon ng bagyo sa gitna ng dagat.

"I am in this stupid island and I am stuck with you!" inis na sigaw ni Opium sabay hinila niya ang collar ng binatang Vaughaun. "We need to find Olivia!!!" he growled at him as his sharp teeth were showing.

"I'm also worried about Katherine. But we will not find them if you keep on growling at me!" he said.

Opium loosens up and dropped Vaughaun. He sighed and looked back at the peaceful blue sea. "Okay then, I'm calm. How do we find them? Do you know this place?!" he said and looked around.

They are on an island, and what's weird is that, nakikita mo ang New Wellington mula dito. But both of them were sure na walang matatanaw na island sa New Well beach.

"You are in Mermius." Napalingon ang dalawa nang biglang may nagsalita. Isang lalaking nakabahag lang at may kwintas na kapareho ng shell na hawak ni Krauser.

"You're—"

"I am Lincoln. At ako ang nagdala sa inyo dito. Hindi ko alam kung paano ninyo nakuha ang Merman Shell ko pero—"

"I'm Annielyn's friend," pagpapakilala ni Krauser sa Merman. "My name is Krauser Vaughaun. Sorry if I called you out with such short notice."

Mermaids and mermans all have the ability to have legs if they desire. They use their tails to swim fast, they can breathe underwater and they can control water of any types.

Opium rolled his eyes, getting impatient of all the worthless introductions. "So you brought us here? By any chance you brought his butler and my sister here too?" biglang singit ng bampira sa usapan.

"Be nice to them, Opium. You are in their territory." Pabulong na sabi ni Krauser.

"Sorry, pero kayo lang nadala ko dito. May mga kasama pa ba kayo?" tanong ni Lincoln.

Opium's eyes glowed and out of nowhere bigla niyang sinugod ang Merman tsaka ito sinakal. Krauser hurriedly grabbed Opium and tried pulling him away but he was just too strong.

"Listen, fish boy! My sister is out there! And she would be here with me if your stupid sea did not wreck our yacht and drowned us all!!! It's all your fault!!!" he was in raged and was uncontrollable pero biglang  nakaramdam ang bampira ng isang malakas na pwersa na nagtatanggal sa pagkakakapit niya sa kawawang Merman.

Krauser saw a girl holding a long golden cane. Her hair was blue greenish and has this pearl white skin that glows when hit by sunlight.

"INTRUDERS!" sigaw nito sabay naglabasan ang mga iba pang lalaking nakabahag at itinali sila.

"What the—" hindi maigalaw ni Opium ang katawan niya at hindi rin niya magawang makawala sa pagkakatali.

Krauser sighed. "Way to go, Scatterella." He said as they are escorted while their tied up like prisoners.

Katherine Lovell woke up with a roaring stench. Nagising siya sa makulimlim na dalampasigan. May itim na buhangin, ni walang puno sa paligid. Beside her was Olivia Scatterella. Both of them soaked with water and having a bad hair day. Salt water was never hair friendly.

"Hey... wake up..." she gently taps her and she can see that she's slowly opening her eyes.

Tumayo siya and look around, trying to figure out where they are. After they fell from the yacht, they both managed to recover. Yun nga lang nang makita nila ay nasira na nang tuluyan ang yate and they cannot find Opium and Krauser.

And the storm ended up washing them out here in this shore.

"Ugh..." she can hear Olivia. Lumapit siya dito at sinubukang tulungan ito pero tinapik niya ang kamay ng Silver Flame at mag-isang tumayo.

Olivia's head was still swirling but she can manage. Kumunot ang noo niya dahil sa mabahong amoy sa paligid. As she looked around, she can’t stand the view of almost like a polluted sea. She's even wondering if they were washed off so far because as far as she can remember, hindi ganito ang itsura ng New Wellington Beach.

"What kind of crap is this? It smells horrible in here! And it looks horrible either!" hindi mapigilang isigaw ng bampira ang pagkadismaya.

Katherine sighed and looked around as well. "You're right. This place is crap. We need to find Krauser and Opium," sabi niya.

"You find Krauser," lumapit ito at tinaas ang kilay. "And I'll find Opium," mataray nitong sabi. She walked out and went straight the shore to look for a boat.

Katherine was left there looking at the filthy sea. Nanliit ang kanyang mga mata ng makita ang isang isla na may kalayuan mula sa kinatatayuan niya.

"If I'm not mistaken, that's New Wellington. Then obviously, we aren't far enough. Ito na kaya ang Mermius?! Well, it smells terrible." Muli niyang inamoy ang hangin sa lugar at nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa kanyang napagtanto.

"The stench... smells like... dead people."

"AHHHHHH!!!" naalerto ang Silver Flame ng marinig ang sigaw ni Olivia sa di kalayuan. Ibinaba agad niya ang kamay para mailabas ang baril niya tsaka siya tumakbo papunta sa bampira.

"Oliv—" bigla siyang napaatras ng makita ang isang malaking barko na nakaparada sa isang kweba. Mabato ang islang iyon at mayroon ngang kweba kung saan nakaparada ang barko na tila pandigma.

"Captain! Sinuswerte yata tayo ngayon!" sabi ng isa na may hawak ng isang lambat.

Sa loob ng lambat, nandoon si Olivia. "What do we have here? Sirena ka ba?" malambing na sagot ng tinuturing nilang Kapitan.

Olivia was obviously scared and tried to get away from them pero hindi siya makaalis sa lambat.

"Mukhang may bago kang laruan, Kapitan!" sabi ng isa habang tinatanggal ang pagkakatali sa lambat.

Olivia cannot fight back and all she can do is cry… and pray Opium would come and save him from these filthy men.

Hinawakan siya ng Kapitan sa baba at sinubukang paharapin ito sa kanya. "You look wonderful," hinawi niya ang buhok na nasa leeg niya at inamoy ito. "You smell wonderful too," ngisi niya pa tsaka ito tinulak sa mga kasamahan niya. "Itali niyo yan at dalhin sa kwarto ko."

Katherine walked out of the cave. She needs to find a way para makapasok sa barko.

Those men were pirates. Filthy pirates. And she have to save Olivia.

"Krauser... Opium... asan na ba kayo?" she said as she closes her eyes. Pero agad siyang umiling at huminga ng malalim. "Hindi ako dapat umaasa sa kanila. I need to save Olivia." Naghanda siyang pumasok sa loob ng kweba kung nasaan ang mga pirata.

A pirate crew against one girl?

Let's see.

* * * *

Bitin. Obviously. Hi guys! Happy February! Mukhang nagkahiwalay ang Team KK at Team OO sa dagat. Will they be able to find each other?

#SilverButler

I need your vote and comments! (⊙▽⊙)♥