Flame 24 - Moonlight

Isang linggo nang hindi napasok si Opium Scatterella sa Larkworth kaya naman hindi na magkamayaw ang professors na nangungulit kay Olivia. Pinagbabantaan siya ng mga ito na ibabagsak ang kanyang kapatid sa mga subjects.

"Sa tingin mo I give a damn if you drop my brother? Huh! Nagsasayang lang kayo ng oras. Or are you asking him to kill you? Gusto niyo na bang mamatay? Then fine. Go ahead!" inis na lumabas ng Faculty Room ang dalagang Scatterella. Nakaabang naman ang mga kaibigan niya doon.

"What happened, Via?" one of her friends asked.

"Nothing, just a bunch of worthless peasants who'd like to drop my brother due to his absences," naiinis na sagot ni Olivia. Kilala ang grupo niya sa buong campus at kitang-kita kung gaano sila kaimpluwensya dahil lahat ay napapalingon habang naglalakad sila sa hallway.

"Hey! Olivia!" napatingin ang lahat ng may tumawag kay Olivia. Nakatuxedo ito at nakabrush up ang buhok.

Olivia was surprised to see Zirco here in Larkworth kaya naman napataas ang kilay nito. "Zirco? Why on earth would you be here? Pinapunta ka ba ni Dad because of Opium?"

He chuckled. Some of Olivia's friends were delighted to see him smile. "Hindi. Actually I'm working as a butler for the mean time."

"Pero Dad told me na aalis siya at pupunta sa training guild together with the other members of the coven. Hindi ka ba kasama?"

"No. Naiwan ako dito sa New Wellington."

One of Olivia's friends whispered to her. "Who is he? Pakilala mo naman kami, Via!" and they all giggled.

Umikot ang mata ni Olivia at smiled. "Zirco, meet my friends. Chantelle, Dominica and Deronna. Girls, he's Zirco Hudges. He's the Head of Assault and Tactics in our coven."

Zirco pleasantly bowed his head in front of them. "Pleasure to meet you ladies. Oh paano? Mauna na ako. See you around, Olivia?"

She happily nodded. Ang mga kaibigan naman ni Olivia ay hindi magkamayaw sa kilig. Nagtataka man dahil sa pagiging 'butler' ni Zirco ay hindi na lamang niya iyon pinansin.

Kinagabihan, lumabas naman ng Scar Mansion si Opium Scatterella. He goes out every night and feeds to any human he can find lurking in the outskirts of New Well. Alam niyang mali iyon pero hindi niya mapigilan. He considers himself useless after the death of his mother.

Sa ngayon, napunta siya sa isang masukal na parte ng kakahuyan na hindi kalayuan sa kanilang mansion. Nakaramdam siya ng mga kaluskos mula sa lupa kaya agad siyang nagtago. Pinagana niya agad ang matalas niyang pandama at paningin.

Sa di kalayuan ay may kung anong mga ilaw ang nakikita niyang nakalutang sa ere. Nang tinignan niya iyong mabuti ay may naalala siya.

"What kind of f*ckery was that? Anong gagawin natin sa mga symbols na iyon? We don't know what are those!"

"Cronus never gives warnings that are easy to understand. We have to look for those symbols for us to fully understand what the Cronus is trying to say."

Natauhan siya at agad hinabol ang ilaw na nalutang pero hindi na niya iyon naabutan pa. Hinihingal niyang inalala ang nakita kanina at pilit na umiling.

"Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali. The six symbols. I have to see the Silver Flame."

Kinabukasan, nagmadaling bumaba si Olivia dahil late na siya nagising. Nag-aayos pa siya ng buhok niya ng makita si Opium na nakatayo sa labas. Hindi niya maiwasang mapatitig sa suot nito, hindi siya nakacoat dahil hindi naman gaanong malamig ang panahon. Nakatiklop din ang long sleeves nitong uniform hanggang siko at magulo ang buhok niya.

"Good morning sis, late ka yata ngayon ah?" he said and gave her a sly grin.

Hindi niya sinagot si Opium at dire-diretchong pumasok sa kotse. Sumunod si Opium sa loob at padabog na umupo katabi ang kapatid.

"Ah! Ang sungit mo, hindi mo ba ako namiss?"

Olivia bit her lower lip trying her best not to talk to her brother. Pinag-alala siya nito ng sobra at ngayon ay magpapakita nalang sa kanya na parang walang nangyari.

"I missed you Olivia," natigilan ito ng maramdaman niya ang ulo ni Opium sa kanyang balikat. She can smell his manly scent and the smell of his hair makes it hard to breathe. Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya at nag-alala siyang baka marinig iyon ng kanyang kapatid.

"I'm sorry if I let you worry about me," he whispered.

"P-Pwede ba? Hindi a-ako nag-alala n-noh! Pake ko ba s-sayo?!" she tried, she tried so hard to look like she's saying the truth. But the stammering got her so bad.

Opium chuckled and remained in that position until they reached Larkworth.

Meanwhile, Krauser Vaughaun and Katherine Lovell are having an argument along the hallways of Larkworth Arts and Sciences Building. Everyone's looking at them but they did not even bother to give a crap.

"Well we have to find out the connection of the symbols and with the Phyto Band fest so we really need to go and watch!" Katherine said as she was walking.

"Manunuod ka lang sa askal na 'yun eh!" singhal sa kanya ng kanyang Master habang magkasalubong ang kilay.

Napatingin tuloy siya dito at umirap. "Oh come on, Vaughaun. Grow up!"

"Hey! Don't talk to me like that! I'm your Master!"

"Shut up, Master!" she said with a sarcastic tone at iniwanan na si Krauser doon. Naiirita siyang naglakad at pumunta sa kabilang building while mumbling out her stress. "Lagi nalang napupunta doon ang usapan! Why is he making this a big deal? Leeroy and I are friends! Yun lang! The nerve—"

"Silver Flame..." natigilan sa paglalakad at pagsasalita na mag-isa ni Katherine. Agad siyang lumingon at nagulat na makita si Opium Scatterella.

"YOU!" turo nito sa kanya.

"I know, gwapo pa rin ako. Walang nagbago. Medyo gumanda din ang kutis ko, been feeding on a lot of human blood for a couple of weeks. See?" he showed his arms to her and grinned.

"Gago!" sabay binatukan niya ang bampira ng sobrang lakas. "Pake ko dyan sa complexion mo? Tagal mong nawala tapos puro kabaklaan mo ang ibubungad mo saken? Gago ka! Bwiset!" she spat.

"Aray naman!" nakasimangot na sabi ng bampira sa kanya habang hawak ang ulo. "Grabe ka! Pumasok nga ako dahil sayo eh tapos ganito pa igaganti mo saken?"

Umikot lang ang mata ni Katherine at humalukipkip siya. Opium scratched his head and thought how hard it is to deal with girls.

"Look. I went back for the six symbols." Agad naagaw ng mga salitang binitiwan ni Opium ang atensyon ng dalaga.

"Six symbols? Pero may lead na kami ni Krauser."

"Really? Well? What are those?"

"Those are six elemental symbols representing the land, sea, wind, fire, trees and heart. The elements are said to be controlled by the Seeker."

"Seeker? What kind of crap is that? Is that a dragon?"

"No," Katherine answered with a straight face.

"A seeker is a human? Like a wizard? A mage?"

"We don't have any idea of it. It can be one of those you mentioned pero pwede ring iba."

Napatigil si Opium at agad napaisip. "If that's the case then I guess yung nakita ko kagabi was the Seeker itself lurking around," he said.

"What?! You saw the seeker?!"

Opium nodded. "Last night, while I was looking for someone who I can feed on. Nakita ko ang symbols na nakalutang sa ere and it reminded me of the Cronus signs. I guess it was also a sign that I need to pull myself back together after what happened to Mom," he said.

Katherine smiled. "Well I'm glad your back, Opium. And thank you for helping me with the Cronus."

Nagpalitan lang ng ngiti ang dalawa pero naagaw ang atensyon ni Opium sa lalaking nakatuxedo na naglalakad kasama ang isang lalaki.

"Teka— that's Zirco."

"Kilala mo siya? Last week pa siya dito. Butler siya ni Ludwig."

Napatingin si Opium sa lalaking kasama ni Zirco at agad kumunot ang noo niya. "Sino yung kasama niya?"

"Si Ludwig Harris. Yung binubully mo palagi."

"Stop joking around, Katherine. Kilala ko yung sinasabi mo. That's a lame joke. Sino nga yung kasama ni Zirco?"

Hinampas ni Katherine ang braso niya at umirap. "I'm telling the truth! Hindi yun joke!" nagmartsa palayo si Katherine at iniwan si Opium na hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita niya.

"Ludwig Harris? Yung nerd na lagi kong inaapakan ang salamin? Kelan pa nauso sa kanya ang contact lens at gym? Huh!" He shrugged and walk to his next class.

Inulan ng katakot takot na sermon si Opium sa kanyang pagbabalik sa Larkworth galing sa kanyang mga professors. Kinalikot nalang niya ang tenga at humikab ng ilang beses bilang sagot sa mga iyon.

Nakita niyang masayang pumasok sa classroom nila ang isang lalaki na may dalang tickets para sa Phyto Bandfest mamaya.

"Hay! Buti nalang umabot pa ako sa tickets! Nagkakaubusan na nito eh!" sabi nang lalaki sa kanyang mga kasamahan.

Tumayo si Opium at agad dumiretcho sa table ng lalaki at kinuha ang isang ticket. Gustuhin mang umangal ng lalaki ay hindi niya magawa. Binasa ni Opium ang ticket at agad niyang napansin ang mga simbolo na nakapalibot sa ticket na tila kaparehas na kaparehas ng simbolo ng seeker. Walang pasabi na inilagay iyon sa kanyang bulsa.

"P-Pero—akin ya—"

"May problema ka?" maangas na tanong ni Opium sa lalaki.

"W-Wala naman, Scatterella! Sabi ko nga pipila ulit ako para bumili ng ticket ko!" pinagpawisan agad siya ng malamig at agad tumakbo palabas ng classroom.

Palabas na si Opium sa school ng makasabay niya si Krauser at Katherine. Umikot lang din ang mata niya dahil nakakarindi ang pagtatalo ng dalawa.

"Leeroy is my friend kaya naman manunuod ako para suportahan siya okay?"

"What about the investigation about the symbols? Iiwan mo lang yun for a stupid dog?!"

"Leeroy is not a dog! Ano ba?!"

"Yes, he is a dog!" umikot nalang ang mga mata niya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Umalis ng maaga sila Olivia kaya naman maglalakad nalang siya pauwi. Papuntang parking lot ang dalawa kaya nauna na siya.

Kinuha niya iyong ticket para sa Phyto Bandfest at tinignan ng maigi ang mga simbolo. Hindi niya alam kung bakit may kakaiba siyang pakiramdam dito. All of a sudden he heard a disturbing sound of a crow. He saw the crow on top of a light post. He saw the sky about to get dark as the sun goes down, that crow will blend in the darkness too. He shivered, confused of what he's feeling. Binilisan nalang niya ang lakad para makauwi na.

He immediately saw Olivia fixing her hair and all dressed up. His eyebrows rose up and he glared at her sister intently until she noticed him.

"What?" mataray na tanong ng kapatid niya at nakipagtaasan din ng kilay.

"Where are you going?" he asked while giving a quick scan from head to toe. She's wearing pants with rugged scratches and a sleeveless white top. Naka flats din siya and she's using her black satchel to carry some of her stuffs.

"Pake mo ba? Mind your own business, dear brother." Aalis na sana ito pero humarang pa rin si Opium sa pintuan. "Ano ba! Get out of the way! Malelate na ako eh!" she said, almost losing patience.

"Saan ka malelate? Do you mind telling your dearest brother?"

She rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "Phyto Bandfest! My God! There! Masaya ka na? Now get out!"

"Oh? Pero hindi makakapunta doon kapag wala kang ticket? May ticket ka ba?"

"Duh! Of course I have!" she opened her satchel and shows it to him. "See? Hindi naman ako stupid! Now can you let me— hey!!!" biglang hinablot ni Opium ang ticket ni Olivia and tore it to pieces. She was in awe after what he did.

"So how will you go now? Wala ka ng ticket." He chuckled and walked away pero natigilan siya when he felt something was thrown at his back. He turned around to see her black satchel on the floor.

"Why are you doing this?!" Olivia approached her while tears are running down her cheeks. Her fist balled because of anger. "You managed to disappear and not show yourself for weeks and then you showed up like nothing happened! Sa tingin mo ba magaling ka ng kapatid dahil hindi mo ako papayagan sa bandfest na iyon? Are you happy now that you ruined my night out with my friends? I have been worried sick about you and this was supposedly the only time I can unwind and have fun but you managed to ruin everything within seconds before it even started! Ang galing galing mo talaga!" she applauded mockingly while still weeping.

"Olivia I—"

"Shut up! Hindi porke't namatay ang Mom mo doesn't mean you can make everyone else's life miserable like yours! So kung hindi ka masaya dapat hindi na rin kami masaya? Okay fine, you selfish beast! You won! I will stay inside this stupid house and just lock myself in my room! Good night!" she marched back upstairs and left Opium pulling his hair out of frustration.

"Kuya?" he sighed as soon as he heard that annoying tiny voice.

"What?! Can't you see I'm not in the mood to talk to a worthless piece of crap like you?" he said to Oraion who is wearing his pajamas a bit too early.

"Kuya, I was just going to say that you're being unfair to Ate Olivia."

"Ano bang alam mo, Oraion? Shut the hell up and go to your room!"

Oraion did not follow his older brother but instead, he walked towards him and snatched out something in his pocket.

"Hindi mo pinayagan si Ate manuod sa Phyto Bandfest pero ikaw pupunta? Hindi ba unfair yun?" he said as he looked at the ticket.

Opium quickly grabbed Oraion from his collar and pulled him close. Lumuhod siya so they would have the same height.

"Listen to me you little piece of worthless crap, wala kang alam dito so shut up!"

"If I tell Ate na pupunta ka sa Band fest na iyon, she'd fumed for sure!"

Nakaramdam ng kaba si Opium, just thinking about Olivia fuming with such hatred and anger at him makes his whole body quiver with fear.

"You would not..."

"Do you want to try me, Kuya Opium?" Oraion said and smirked. Undoubtedly, at a young age Oraion can definitely smirk and melt any girl he wanted. Scatterella genes are ridiculous!

"Oraion... you—"

"Unless you can buy me this new RC chopper... maybe I can think about it."

"Where can I buy that?"

"Haddingtons, the toy store beside the post office in Downtown. I want the yellow one."

"Fine! I'll buy you your stupid worthless chopper!"

Oraion smiled and handed the ticket back to his older brother. "Well, have fun on the band fest. I will stay here and behave!" he said and giggled.

"You better be or I will crush that toy chopper on your small fcking head! Hush up, you got that?"

The little one nodded. "I won't tell anyone, even Deborah. I swear!"

Opium felt a relief after negotiating with his younger brother and head off to Phyto to investigate together with Katherine Lovell and Krauser Vaughaun.

***

The event was jam packed and the crowd was wild as expected. Krauser had to stay behind the woods to avoid too much people. He can't let Katherine shut his telepath powers just yet. Mas madali kung maririnig ni Krauser ang murderous intentions ng taong iyon if ever there will be another massaccre. Hindi na nila gustong maulit ang nangyari sa Dorell Forest kaya naman puspusan ang paghahanda. Nakasaad sa Cronus ang lahat ng banta and with all the symbols involved and the lead, they can stop it from happening.

The Phyto Bandfest was half way and so far so good, everything seemed at peace until he heard someone yelled from the crowd.

"A CERBERUS!"

Napatayo siya at nakita niya mula sa kinatatayuan niya ang dambuhalang halimaw na may tatlong ulo, charging through the crowd and wiping everything off its way. Maraming Cerebus sa parteng ito ng New Wellington dahil sa malawak na kakahuyan pero hindi niya inakala na may maliligaw ngayong gabi dito mismo sa event.

He saw Opium trying to help people and Katherine was practically missing. Gustuhin niya mang tumulong sa umaatakeng halimaw, he felt the need to look for Katherine first. She was nowhere in sight at hindi niya rin mabasa ang iniisip nito.

"Katherine!" tumakbo ito sa madilim na parte ng gubat hanggang sa hindi na niya marinig ang mga taong nagsisigawan.

"Katherine! Katherine!" nakakita siya ng ilaw at agad iyong sinundan. "Katheri—" he halted as soon as he realized that the floating lights where familiar to him...

"The six element symbols..." he whispered to himself. 

He heard a rubble and suddenly the ground was shaking. He can feel the wind blowing harshly making him close his eyes. May kung anong pumupulupot sa kanya until he felt the rough branches wrapping all over his body.

"What the—" the branches were too strong and grab hold of him too fast. He saw a shadow not far from him, standing together with the six symbols. Hindi niya maaninag kung sino.

"Krauser!" he shifted his attention to Katherine who just arrived. "What are you—" hindi na niya natapos pa iyon ng biglang magkaroon ng lamat ang lupa na inaapakan ni Katherine and she fell right into a hole.

Everything happened in a blink of an eye and the trees embracing Krauser loosen up. He immediately ran to the hole and saw Katherine at the bottom, about 8 feet.

It was quiet and there were a few sounds of crows flying around. The moonlight makes her silver blood shine even from below. It was painted evenly while the lifeless body of Katherine Lovell was seemingly weak and broken. He gasped upon seeing it with his own eyes and Krauser can't help but to cry.

"K-Katherine!!!"

* * * *

Oh my Monay! Is this the end for our Silver Butler? Find out in my next update, next week! Thank you sa lahat ng nagbabasa at nag aabang at nawawalan na ng pasensya! We are almost halfway though! Wag kayong bumitaw!

#SilverButler