Flame 20 - Ignite Feelings

Both Katherine and Krauser stared at each other while trying to sink in everything that they found out. One. Krauser's new ability and how his eyes turned green. And two, the hidden Vaughaun hall that was discovered because of Krauser's new ability.

"We need to get to that secret passage," Krauser said and hurriedly pulled Katherine but she did not let herself get caught by his hands and stepped back.

"But we need to know first why your eyes turned green!" she insisted.

"Well, okay." He grabbed the nearest thing he can hold on to which is a cookie jar. He closed his eyes and concentrate on trying to get some scenes that happened with the cookie jar like he did with the broken pieces of vase and Katherine's pen.

He frustratedly opens his eyes and grunted. Katherine looked unsatisfied. "What? Why'd you stop?!" inis nitong tanong.

"I can't! I can't do it anymore! I think your silver blocked that ability!" he said.

She sighed and sat at the stool just beside the counter top. Krauser did the same. Yung mga mukha nila hindi maipinta.  They both looked unsatisfied.

"When did you find out about that secret passage?" biglang naitanong ni Krauser.

Katherine was lost. She did not know how to answer his question. "I—I... your Dad... I saw him entered that passage after you got grounded. I was about to ask you but we all got busy with Mermius, nakalimutan ko na. Kaninang umaga ko lang naalala when we were about to go to school."

Krauser sighed and stood up. "Fine. Tara, puntahan natin."

"But—"

"It is my right to know that, Katherine. Bahay ko 'to. You don't need to keep this as a secret."

"Paano yung Dad—"

"Dad's busy with a murder case in a nearby city. He's not going home tonight."

Sinamahan ko siya papunta sa secret passage. You can see how surprised Krauser is as he looked around the empty hall. Agad ding napukaw ang atensyon niya sa painting ng lalaki na may berdeng mata. Lumapit siya dito at hinawakan ang painting. Marahan niyang tinignan ang texture ng pintura at ang buong canvas. Ang insignia na nasa painting at ang letrang 'G' dito.

"You told me on your first night here that you met an old Gresham somewhere, right?"

Katherine nodded. "Yes, at Oakdale General Hospital. He was old and he said he was about to die any time. Alam ko ang tungkol sa mga Gresham at telepaths dahil itinuro iyon sa akin ni Mom, and all the other creatures in the Underworld."

Katherine heard a long sigh from her Master. She was sure enough that Krauser wanted to know more about the telepath clan pero... she cannot tell everything dahil wala na siyang iba pang impormasyon tungkol sa mga nilalang na iyon.

"Telepath clans tend to isolate themselves from other creatures. Minsan, they leave the clan and live as normal people. But most of them do not understand their powers and end up having brain defects dahil sa exposure sa madaming tao at hindi makontrol ang kakayahan nila."

"Ganun ba?" he said while still looking at the painting. Bakas sa boses ng binata ang pagkadismaya at ang kyuryosidad.

"We better get going, Master Krauser. May pasok pa tayo bukas," pag-aya ni Katherine. He obliged and followed her. Nanatiling tahimik si Krauser hanggang sa makabalik ito sa kanyang silid.

Kinabukasan, tanghali na nagising si Katherine at agad naghanda para pumasok. She was running the hallways of the Vaughaun Mansion when she saw her Master standing at the bottom of the stairs. He was absolutely dashing even when he's covered with a thick trench coat and his hair wasn't nicely combed.

"Why aren't you wearing your uniform?!" pagbungad niya sa kanyang Master.

"We're not going to school."

"What?! Hindi pwede! You need to go to school! Papagalitan ako ng Dad mo!"

"Ayoko nga," umirap siya. Nagulat si Katherine ng hawakan niya ang braso nito at ngumisi pa.

"Just shut up and don't tell Dad!" he pulled her all the way outside.

Nakita ni Katherine si Hansel na nag-aantay. Ngumiti lang sa kanya ang driver, Krauser opened the shotgun and pushed her inside harshly. Nakita niyang umikot si Krauser papunta kay Hansel at iniabot naman ng matanda ang isang susi.

"Mag-iingat kayo, Master Krauser, Lady Katherine." Nakangiting sabi ni Hansel bago sumakay si Krauser at agad paandarin ang sasakyan.

"Hey! Ano ba! Tell me! Where are we going?!!" she said.

"Fasten your seatbelt," utos ng kanyang Master.

"No! Tell me, where are we going?!" humalukipkip siya at hindi sinunod ang Master.

"You're so stubborn," he said and sighed. Itinabi ni Krauser ang sasakyan and leaned over to her. Katherine was stoned as Krauser was fixing her seatbelt. She can smell his scent because his neck was in front of her face. Hindi niya maiwasang hindi iyon amuyin. Ang manly ng amoy!

But she shrugged those thoughts and shook her head. Iniwas niya kaagad ang tingin as soon as he's done. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya dahil kinakabahan siya. Baka kasi napansin ng Master niya ang pasimpleng pagsinghot niya  kanina.

"There. Now, be quiet. Medyo malayo ang biyahe papunta sa Oakdale. If you want, you can sleep."

"O—Oakdale?"

He nodded. "I want to know more details about that old Gresham you met a few years ago."

"Pero—"

"Please... I want to know about the Gresham clan. Baka doon, malaman ko kung bakit ako iniwan ng mga magulang ko."

Katherine felt the sadness from his voice. "Fine, but we need to go back in New Wellington as soon as we have information. Hindi tayong pwedeng magpagabi."

Krauser smiled and nodded like a little kid. "Okay! I will." Agad niyang pinaandar ang sasakyan. Nakaramdam ng antok si Katherine at unti-unting bumigat ang pakiramdam ng kanyang mata.

She woke up feeling the warm gust of wind in her face. Marahang tumatakbo ang kotse nila sa gitna ng malawak na palayan. She glowed with joy as soon as she recognized the place.

"Oakdale!" she exclaimed.

Napansin niya ang coat na nakapatong sa kanya and noticed Krauser wearing a white shirt only. Hindi tulad sa New Wellington, medyo mainit ang panahon sa lugar na ito. She folded the coat and looked at the huge rice field from side to side.

"Ang tagal mong natulog. Puyat ka?" Krauser said and bluffed.

"What? H-Hindi ah," she said. "Stop laughing!" humalukipkip ito at umirap.

"You hungry? Nag-drive thru ako kanina. If you're hungry just say so, nasa likod lang yung pagkain."

She looked at him while he's still busy driving. She finds it sweet na may caring side din naman pala ang Master niya. He even put his jacket on her para hindi siya lamigin. Kahit naka-white shirt lang siya, gwapo pa rin. Napapangiti tuloy siya ng walang dahilan.

"Well? Nagugutom ka ba?" he asked again.

"N-No! Mamaya na. I know one place where we can eat lunch!" she said cheerfully.

"Really? Where?"

Nakarating sila sa isang kubo na nasa gitna ng malawak na palayan. Oakdale is known for its agriculture products. This place is suitable for planting crops and grains. Most of the people here are farmers too. Bukod doon, wala ding bampira dito. Palaging mainit sa Oakdale kaya naman hindi ito magandang lugar para sa kanila.

Pumunta si Katherine sa likurang bahagi ng maliit na kubo. Damuhan ang lugar na iyon at agad umupo ang dalaga sa isang parte. Sumunod si Krauser sa kanya habang dala ang mga pagkain at pinagmasdan lang si Katherine. Nagpalabas ng puting apoy ang butler niya at ipinatong iyon sa damuhan. Umapoy ang lupa at lumabas mula sa ilalim ng lupa ang dalawang malapad at hugis parisukat na silver. Unti unting nagkakasulat ang dalawang silver habang patuloy iyon sa pag-apoy.

Celestine Ivonne Rousburg-Lovell

Kristoff Dmitri Copenhen-Lovell

"This is your parents'—"

Katherine smiled bitterly. "Yes. My parents' grave. This is where I lived before I became your butler." She said and turned around to look at him. "Come, I will introduce you to both of them." She offered her hand to him.

Krauser smiled, held her hand at lumapit sa umaapoy na puntod ng kanyang mga magulang.

"Dad, Mom, meet the most stupid Master ever lived. Krauser Vaughaun."

"If you're trying to be funny, it's not working," he whispered, irritated.

Hindi maiwasang matawa ni Katherine. She clings to his arms and smiled. "Just kidding! Meet my Master, Mom and Dad!"

Krauser bowed in front of their grave as a sign of respect. Doon na din sila kumain ng lunch.

"You lived here alone?"

"Yup."

"Hindi ba boring?"

"Hindi naman. But it got boring as soon as Aunt Judith left to study criminology in New Wellington. She did not let me go with her dahil sa kaligtasan ko. But after that, I think narealize niya rin na I have to go out and face my fears out there. I can't just hide all my life, right?" she chuckled as her hair was softly being blown by the warm wind.

Krauser was just staring at her. The more he spends time with her, the more he understands her. Nang malaman niya ang tungkol sa Cronus, hanggang sa mga magulang niya... hindi niya maiwasang magtaka on how she can manage to be strong after all the things that happened.

"Minsan nga... naiinggit ako kay Aunt Judith. She can do whatever she wants kasi wala siyang dugo na tulad ng sa akin. She can choose the life that she wanted. Mom said, this blood and silver that runs through my veins is a gift that I should be thankful for..." tears ran down from her cheeks but she was still smiling as she continues.

"...but how can I be thankful if that same blood and silver that runs through my veins is the same reason why our clan died. The same blood and silver was after by those people... gusto nila kaming mawala... that's why they had to kill all of us."

Krauser smiled and pats her head which made her stop crying. "It may be the cause of such deaths... but that blood and silver you're talking about... saved me a couple of times already. If it weren't for that silver, I would have been dead as shit right now."

She giggled as she wiped her own tears away. "Yeah. You're right because you are so weak and unable."

Bigla namang nawala ang mga ngiti sa labi ni Krauser at ngumuso ito. "Hey!" he said that made Katherine laughed.

"Just kidding!" she grinned.

He ruffled her hair and looked at the grave of her parents. "There are things that are still needed to be thankful for. Always remember that, Katherine."

After having their lunch, they went straight to the Oakdale General Hospital. They weren't able to find a certain patient with Gresham as his surname.

Lumabas sila sa ospital na bigo. They sighed as they were walking back to their car. Nasayang lang ang pagpunta nila sa Oakdale, but as Krauser saw Katherine walking towards him, he cannot stop smiling. Oo nga, wala nga silang nakuhang impormasyon, but he was able to spend the whole day with his butler.

"Haaay! Sayang lang ang oras natin! Mas mahaba pa yung biyahe kesa sa tinagal natin sa Oakdale," she said as she rested her elbows on the car window.

"At least we tried," he replied and tried to look at her while he was driving. Nakangiti si Katherine habang nakatingin sa sunset na makikita sa malawak na palayan. He smiled and continued driving.

"Pwede ko bang ilabas ang ulo ko?" Katherine asked him.

"Yeah sure, basta mag-iingat ka." Excited namang tinanggal ng butler ang seatbelt niya at inilabas ang ulo sa bintana habang mabilis ang pagtakbo ng kotse.

"Wooooooooo!!!"

Hindi mapigilan ni Krauser na matawa. Isip bata talaga ang butler niya kahit kelan and he really have to get used to it. Tinignan niya ang orasan and it was almost 6:30 PM. Gagabihin sila at sana ay hindi sila mahuli ng kanyang Dad.

"That was fun!" sabi ni Katherine nang pumasok na ulit siya sa loob ng kotse at inaayos ang buhok niya.

"You had fun?" he asked her.

She gave him a wide grin and nodded. "Surprisingly, I did! Hindi naman tayo pumunta dito para magsaya but I ended up enjoying the trip. Thank you, Krauser."

Umirap si Krauser at natawa. "Para saan naman yung 'Thank You'? Hindi libre yung lunch mo, oy. Bawas yun sa sweldo mo."

Hinampas niya agad yung braso ng Master niya at natawa. "Grabe! Minsan na nga lang manlibre eh! Akala ko pa naman, mabait ka na talaga!"

"Akala mo lang yun," they both looked at each other and laughed.

The drive all the way back to New Wellington was a breeze. Krauser had to put on his coat again dahil malamig na ulit ang panahon. He had to close the windows and turn on the heater while Katherine was sleeping. Nang makarating sila sa Mansion ay wala pa ang kanyang Dad. He unbuckled his seatbelt and looked at Katherine na hanggang ngayon ay natutulog pa rin.

He smiled and run his fingers on her soft cheeks. Just by looking at her, Krauser can feel at peace. Hindi niya maintindihan, but he can live just with this. Basta kasama niya si Katherine, he felt contented.

"Ugh!" she grunted and made a few stretches. "Oh! Andito na pala tayo!" she said and giggled.

"Hurry up. Baka maabutan pa tayo ni Dad." Krauser said to her at iniwan na siya sa loob ng kotse. Katherine unbuckled her seatbelt and followed Krauser inside.

Hinubad ni Krauser ang coat niya at ibinigay iyon sa sumalubong na maid. He went straight to his room pero bago pa man niya buksan ang pintuan ng kwarto niya ay tumingin siya sa likod niya.

Mukhang antok na antok pa si Katherine habang nakasunod sa kanya. Her eyes were still puffy ay namumula pa ang pisngi nito habang kusot siya ng kusot sa mata niya.

"May kailangan ka pa ba, Master Krauser?" she said after yawning in front of him.

"Wala na," he said. Katherine shrugged and turned her heel when she felt Krauser pulled her arm and made her face him again. "W-What the— ano ba!" reklamo niya habang hawak yung braso na hinila ni Krauser. "May kailangan ka pa ba?" she said habang napikit-pikit pa sa sobrang antok nito.

Nagulat siya nang mapansin niyang lumapit sa kanya si Krauser and cupped her cheeks. Biglang nabuhay ang dugo niya at unti-unting umakyat sa mukha niya. His nose was touching hers. Kung kanina, halos pumikit na siya, ngayon dilat na dilat siya at halos magwala ang puso niya.

His face moved up and she felt that warm kiss on her forehead. Napapikit siya at napakapit sa bewang ni Krauser, feeling niya nawawalan siya ng lakas.

"I want to help you with the Cronus riddles," sabi niya na agad nagpaatras sa dalaga.

"You what? W-Who told you about the Cronus???!" natatarantang tanong ni Katherine.

"Scatterella.”

"That stupid, ignorant, blood sucking bastard!" inis na inis niyang bulong sa sarili.  Humarap siya kay Krauser and pointed her fingers at him. "You will not get yourself involve in this one. I will not let you!"

"Why not? Bakit si Opium, pwede? Ako hindi? That's not fair!" parang batang pag-angal ni Krauser.

"If I said no, NO."

"Butler lang kita. Ako ang magdedecide ng lahat dahil ako ang Master mo. And if I order you to let me help in that Cronus thing, you will follow me."

Katherine wasn't able to say anything. Krauser held her hand and pulled her to him. He cupped her face again and smiled.

"A master cannot live without his butler... I cannot live without... you... anymore. I can't let you handle this on your own." He whispered to her as he comes closer.

He planted another kiss on her forehead which made her whole body shiver. Gusto niyang sumigaw at umayaw. Hindi dapat siya pumayag na sumali siya sa pagsolve ng riddles ng Cronus! But she can't even move her body, and she can sense that any time she will melt with all these gestures he's doing all of a sudden.

She was startled to see him in front of her again, smiling. She was biting her lips the whole time, preventing herself to scream.

"Are we clear on that, Katherine?"

Wala nang ibang nagawa pa si Katherine kundi ang tumango. He smiled before moving close to her ears.

"Good night," he whispered and then smirked at her before entering his room.

Naiwan ang butler doon na nakatayo. She breathes in deep before going to her own room. As she closed the door, she slowly sat down on the floor while leaning over to the door and holding her chest.

It was pounding so fast and hard. Her knees were so soft and melted like butter on a pan.

"Krauser Vaughaun... you idiot," she said and touch her forehead. Namula siya lalo at napapikit. "Ugggh! Ano ba! Why did he do that?! Kainis talaga!"

Then she remembered what he said earlier.

"I want to help you with the Cronus riddles."

"AHHH! OPIUM SCATTERELLA! YOU DUMB DUMB VAMPIRE!" she yelled and ran to her bed and covered herself with thick comforters.

Naiinis man siya kay Opium Scatterella sa pagsabi ng lahat kay Krauser Vaughaun, hindi niya maialis ang masayang pakiramdam sa dibdib niya. Hinawakan niya ulit ang noo niya at kinikilig niyang tinakpan ang mukha ng comforter.

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#TEAMKK FTW ♥

Penge comments pleaseu~ o(╯□╰)o