Flame 25 - Phytopia

Opium Scatterella was looking all over the place for the Seeker. The plan was not really the same as with Katherine and Krauser but he was determined to find out the connection of the Seeker to what seems like a mere danger according to the Cronus. Hindi niya maitatanggi ang takot na baka mangyari ulit ang massacre sa Dorell Forest kaya hindi na niya pinapunta pa ang kapatid na si Olivia, but Opium was a little bothered with their confrontation.

He never wanted to hurt her nor lay a finger on her. Mahal niya ang kapatid niya, whether it is because of blood attraction or way more than that. His affection was clear to him pero he cannot tell her or even show it to her. He had asked himself for years, why of all people... bakit si Olivia pa?

He shook his head and continued to observe the event. Everyone was jumping as the band in front was performing. Kasabay nang unison chant ay ang pagtaas ng mga pulang baso at pagsigaw. Yes, liquior was absolutely available, making it even wilder than ever.

He turned to see crows flying around in circles sa hindi kalayuan, and his heartbeat suddenly raced.

"He can't be here tonight..." he said to himself rushing toward the direction of the crows. Napunta siya sa madilim na bahagi ng Phyto. Open grounds iyon pero ang parteng iyon ay masukal at madaming puno.

"I know you're there... crowman... mysterious fcking guy in a cloak with a bunch of crows and a horse! Show yourself!" he screamed and it echoed.

He was startled to hear crows flying in front of him encircling and like making a torpedo. Nanlaki ang mata niya realizing a figure slowly showing inside the whirlpool of crows.

The crowman!

Natigilan siya when the mysterious man raised both of his hands, holding something shiny only to realized they were daggers.

"What the f—" Opium managed to ducked and avoid the daggers, giving the man more time to escape. "Hey!!!" Opium chased him but they disappeared from the darkness.

He combs his hair with his fingers and kicked some rocks but then his eyes noticed something shiny. The daggers where shining because of the moonlight. Lumapit siya sa mga iyon na nakadikit sa isang puno.

One of the daggers has a note, sufficed to say, another mysterious note from Crowman. He opened it and read it.

The coven is a lie. -Rider

Nanginig ang buong sistema ni Opium ng mabasa niya ang nakasulat sa papel. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit siya kinilabutan. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit ito pinakita sa kanya ng lalaki na nakasakay sa kabayo. This is exactly what his Mom was telling for 18 years.

"Was he just confusing me? How did he know about this? Does she know who my Mom is?" Confused and frustrated he folded the note and shrugged. "Rider? That's his name? He's lame."

"Ahhhhhhh!!!" naalarma si Opium ng marinig niya ang sigawan mula sa Band fest. His eyes flickered seeing a huge Cerberus charging its three mouths to innocent civilians. Agad siyang tumakbo para tumulong. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit may naligaw na Cerberus sa mismong grounds ng Phyto.

"Ahhh!!!" he saw a girl almost going to get swallowed and hurriedly ran to save her.

"Gotcha!" agad silang lumayo and Opium can see the girl staring at her.

"Oh. My. Gosh. You're Opium Scatte—"

He rolled his eyes and looked at her. "You will forget about me saving your stupid and ugly ass. Now go home," inis nitong utos sa babae matapos gamitan glamour. He read her thoughts and she fell in love with him within 1.25 seconds which Opium thought was pathetic.

"That girl is so stupid, dapat pala pinakain ko nalang siya sa Cerberus." Umiling siya ang continued to clear the people in the grounds.

Once he's done, he turned to the Cerberus and he transformed. He takes down the beast within a minute and leaves everyone amused.

Natigilan siya nang makita niya ang nakahigang Cerberus sa lupa. Naalala niya noong inatake din siya noon at iniligtas siya ni Olivia. He was weak enough to fight the monster but Olivia made him drink her blood to gain his strength and kill the beast. Her blood was his favorite of them all. He would ask himself from time to time if he will still have a chance to taste Olivia's blood, but the idea was so surreal he'd just shook his head.

"Katherine!!!" agad narinig ni Opium ang sigaw ni Krauser Vaughaun sa hindi kalayuan.

He hurriedly ran and saw Krauser almost going to jump in a hole. He ran and stopped him from jumping.

"Let me go! Katherine!!!" naiiritang pinigilan ni Opium si Krauser habang naiyak ito na parang bata. Opium was shocked to see Katherine lying at the bottom of the hole with her silver and blood all over her.

"K-Katherine..." nanlumo ito at binitawan si Krauser. Pinigilan niyang tumalon si Krauser and sighed. "Ako na ang bababa. Stay here."

He jumped into the hole, with Katherine's body curled up because it was not that huge enough and the smell of her blood was powerful.

"Don't even dare thinking of—"

"Tanga ka ba? Who would want to drink her blood? It would definitely not be me, Vaughaun!" he spat and shooked his head. Out of all the people he'd thought of having interest in her blood, siya pa talaga?

He checked her pulse and he can feel a tiny heartbeat but it was about to fade any minute. "Katherine, you're not that weak right? Hold on please... you just dropped in a hole, do you want me to write that in your tombstone? The cause of death would be dropping into a hole of bullshit?! You want that?" he said angrily while tears were piling up in his eyes.

Over at Krauser's situation, his tears were endless. He wanted to see Katherine's face and hold her hand. Everything happened so fast... and they had to take her away from him that fast too. He felt pain and sadness.

"Katherine!" he shouted as Opium carefully carried her. He looked up to him and gave Krauser a weak smile. He lunged back on top creating a hole at the bottom of the hole because of his force.

Opium laid her on the ground, his arms covered with blood and silver. Krauser was shaking while holding Katherine's bloody cheeks. Her hair soaking in blood and silver, his ability shuts down as soon as his hands were covered too.

"Katherine... wake up. We're going home," he whispered.

But the sound of trees getting blown by the wind was the only answer. The moonlight makes her silver blood shine.

"I checked her pulse and—"

"Shut up!" he yelled. "We're going home. Dad will get mad at us for going home late," he seemed desperate, pulling her lifeless arm to get up.

"Krauser, tama na—"

"No!" he faced Opium. "We will go home now, Scatterella." For a moment, Opium seemed to relate to Krauser's grief. He understands the feeling. Everything seemed fresh for him but he can handle the pain, unlike Krauser.

"Krauser we need to bring her to the hos—"

Krauser dropped down and cried like a kid. He cried even he was in front of Opium Scatterella. He did not even bother thinking of what he'd say.

"I'm weak... I'm so weak I did not even save her..."

"But it's her job to save you... she's your butler, Vaughaun..."

He sniffed and looked at Opium. "No... she was more than that and you know it."

Both of them looked at Katherine's lifeless body, almost pale after losing so many blood. Opium bit his lower lip thinking if he'd turn her into a vampire before it was too late. But how will he do that if it would kill him?

"Oh my!" Suddenly, a tiny voice was heard by the two boys. They looked around and saw a golden light flying around.

"I knew it was a Silver Flame! Her blood is very pretty!" namangha ang dalawa ng makitang isa itong Fairy. May matulis siyang tenga at gintong pakpak. Kasing liit lang siya ng mansanas habang nalipad siya paikot sa katawan ni Katherine.

She landed on her cheeks and sat on top of her nose. Tumingala siya sa dalawang lalaki na hindi pa rin makapaniwala.

"I'm Astrid," she introduced herself briefly and placed her hand on Katherine's forehead. Her hand seemed like a dot because it was too small.

"Wrap thee in cotton bind thee with love protection from pain, surrounds like a glove. May the brightest of blessings surround thee this night. For thou art cared for, healing thoughts sent in flight..." she whispered and her hand lit up.

Opium slowly realizing that the fairy is a Phytopian. Phytopian fairies are medics, naalala iyon ni Opium because the last coven war, fairies were an ally of the Roosevelt Coven, providing medical attention to injured vampires.

"She was badly hurt. I think we need to go to my Father. Is it okay?" she asked.

Krauser hurriedly sat down. "Will she live?" he worriedly asked the fairy.

"We will try our best. For now, we need to get back to Phytopia." Itinaas niya ang kamay sa harap ng dalawa ng lalaki at biglang umilaw ang paligid. Opium and Krauser opened their eyes and realized that they were small like her, their ears also pointed and they had a pair of black wings.

"Now all done! Let's get her to Phytopia, boys."

***

The dark and uninviting Phyto from the outside is incredibly opposite once you are inside Phytopia, which is the sacred land of the Medic Fairies. Everything was gold and white and almost everything sparkles.

Opium is not even enjoying the idea of bright things surrounding him while Krauser was just worried solely for Katherine's condition that he doesn't have the interest to look around.

Sa gitna ng kaharian, may malaking bahay na nakalutang sa ibabaw ng ulap. It was pure gold and the door was open as if everyone is welcome.

"Dad! Dad! I need your assistance!" Astrid rushed to a man with a white beard and white hair. He was drench in white and a red cross at the left side of his coat.

"Saglit lang. I need to—" he was stunned the moment he saw Opium Scatterella. "What is that vampire doing here?!" he angrily spats at his daughter.

"Dad!!! A silver flame was badly injured!"

Astrid's dad was even more shocked with what she told him. "A silver flame but I thought—"

"She's the last burning Silver Flame. Please... save her." Krauser begged.

He sighed and bowed to the both of them. "Very well then... I am King Winslow of Phytopia. She is my only daughter, Astrid. We shall provide medical care for the silver flame but we advise you two to stay in a lounge area until the process."

The two boys nodded. Other fairies lead them to the lounge area but they were both uneasy. Opium had to walk around, back and forth while Krauser waits beside the door, looking inside through a small window.

Krauser was startled when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He saw Opium and gave him a weak smile.

"She's going to be alright. I know these fairies, they're incredible."

But Krauser cannot fully trust his words, he wanted to see for himself that his butler is nowhere in danger... or death.

***

Katherine woke up feeling dizzy. She noticed how bright the room is and how it irritates her eye sight. She saw someone at the side of the bed, sleeping. She knows it was Krauser.

Agad niyang inabot ang buhok nito at dahan-dahang sinuklay. She cannot remember a thing but whatever happened, she was glad her Master is safe.

Saglit pa at tuluyan nang nagising si Krauser at agad lumapit sa kanya. He seemed in a panic which made her giggled.

"What do you need? Water? Food? Are you going to pee?"

"H-Hindi. Bakit ba atat ka?" she said and smiled.

Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit ganoon na lamang ang mga tingin sa kanya ng kanyang Master. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang mainit na pakiramdam na makitang nag-aalala sa kanya ito... na may nag-aalala para sa kanya. Mahigpit ang hawak nito sa kamay niya na parang hindi na siya bibitaw. Inilapit ni Krauser ang kamay niya sa kanyang pisngi at idinampi iyon doon.

"You don't know the things I would trade for me to see you smile like that again, Katherine."

Nagsalubong agad ang kilay ni Katherine sa mga sinabi ni Krauser. She cannot explain the weird feeling inside her stomach. It was disturbing enough to make her smile.

"I can't remember a thing... but I would do the same for you, Master Krauser."

He smiled and kissed her hand. He leaned to her and kissed her forehead. "Rest. I will explain to you when you've recovered."

Katherine felt that warm kiss on her forehead was as effective as hot milk to make her fall asleep. She was wishing for it not to be a dream but she can't fathom the thought of it as reality no matter how much she wanted it.

Krauser and Opium was invited by Princess Astrid in the Phytopian Hall. Sa pagpasok pa lang nila ng bulwagan, napukaw na agad ang atensyon ni Krauser ng insignia na nakalagay sa gitna ng bulwagan na iyon.

"That insignia..." he whispered but Opium heard it and stared at it too.

"That's the symbol of the Guerilla. Years ago, Phytopia was affiliated with that group. My great grandfather was the first member of Guerilla. The group's objective was to save the Underworld."

Napatingin ang dalawang binata sa prinsesa. "Save the Underworld? But why? The Underworld is ruled by the Overlord, right? He's the mightiest of the mighty. He's the strongest." Opium defended.

"Not anymore. The Overlord died a few years ago and the Underworld is on a rampage. No one is taking in charge of the Underworld now."

We both grew silent. Astrid continued explaining. "After the Coven war of the Roosevelt and Scatterella, your father took over the Guerilla, but he was just using the groups influence to gain power."

I can see Opium clenching his jaw. "I know that. He always wanted power but I never knew he took over the group you mentioned."

"The Guerilla Brotherhood was founded by two persons. They were called L and A. No one in Phytopia or from the brotherhood knows them or even their real names but they were indeed brave enough to save the creatures and innocent humans from the Underworld threat."

Krauser stepped in. "Why are you saying this to us?"

"The silver flame... according to my great grandfather... before the original brotherhood was taken over, their sole mission was to look for a Silver Flame."

Opium clenched his fist. "Don't tell me... the Underworld threat will happen in this era."

Astrid just looked straight at him. "Phytopians are guided by stars to be warned if ever there will be a threat to our kind. And tonight, we have seen a vicious Cerberus ruining a human event. We can control the creatures living in Phyto but the beast was out of control. Hindi namin sila napigilan... as if someone was controlling it."

Krauser thought of everything carefully. So they have been getting signs like what the Cronus keeps on giving. The signs, the symbols... the harsh wind, the branches of trees, the way the land was cracked and made a hole... and the way the Cerberus acted.

"The silver flame has been getting signs too. And the symbols the Cronus gave all boils down to the seeker. The seeker controls the wind, land, water, fire, trees and heart." He said slowly.

Opium's face turned sour. "The seeker was there... he did this... did you saw who is it?!"

Krauser shook his head.

Opium was frustrated with a lot of things. He faced Astrid, "If the whole Underworld is in grave threat, how come the elders do not give orders to look for our Oracle?!"

"Maybe they already advised it but your coven is not looking for it."

"But why would my Father not look for the Oracle?!"

"Why don't you ask him yourself, Scatterella?" she answered fiercely.

He stepped back. He shouldn't talk to her that way especially being in her own territory. "I'm sorry..." he apologized.

"It's nothing. For now, we helped the silver flame because I believed that the Guerilla wanted to protect her too. Phytopians will always support the Guerilla... but not the Scatterella lord."

"I understand that you don't like my father and how he is handling the brotherhood of your great grandfather. Ako na ang humihingi ng tawad sa kanya."

She shook her head and smiled. "I am glad to meet the both of you. And I express my affiliation with the Silver Flame. If ever she needs our help, we will be here to protect her."

Nakauwi na ng Vaughaun Mansion ang dalawa. Krauser told Katherine everything including their conversation about Guerilla Brotherhood. Katherine was still weak so she had to sleep for the rest of the night.

Krauser was left wondering alone of what happened. He looked up and saw how the moon shines bright through the darkness.

"Everyone wants to protect her... Opium Scatterella, Leeroy Nixon, even Phytopians... and I'm here... being weak and useless and pityful. Gusto ko rin siyang protektahan... gusto ko rin siyang—" hindi na niya tinuloy at huminga ng malalim.

He looked at the moon again and smiled. "I never thought that the idea of her gone would scare me to death. I'm just glad she's alive. Thank you for saving her..."

* * * *

Too much information ba? Hahahaha. Oh well. I have laid possible hints, sino kaya ang makakahula ng plot ko? Hahahahaha. Good luck on absorbing the informations, kailangan niyo ang lahat ng iyan to understand and connect the pieces together!

#SILVERBUTLER