Flame 26 - Afraid of Losing

Makaraan ang ilang araw, naging maayos naman ang lahat sa New Wellington. Naibalita ang nangyari sa Phyto kaya naman naging off limits iyon pansamantala. Hindi na rin nagpakita matapos noon si Opium Scatterella. Naging tipikal ang mga araw para sa Silver Flame at sa kanyang Master pero may hindi maintindihan ang dalaga.

"Krauser..." tawag nito sa kanyang Master matapos nilang makalayo sa kaibigan nitong werepanther.

"Hmm?" he seemed confused of why they have to stop, tila nagmamadaling umuwi ang binata dahil sa napakabilis nitong mga hakbang.

"Why did you turn down Annielyn's invitation? You're always going to that party, right?"

He looked at her intently and let out a sigh. "I don't feel like going to that party. Annielyn said she understood. She's just going to explain everything to Earl," he replied and turned around.

Hindi maintindihan ni Katherine kung bakit may napapansin siyang kakaiba sa Master niya ngayon. Lately, they've been nowhere but the Vaughaun Mansion. She tried to sneek in and go to NWPD but she never had the chance. Of course she wanted to look for the seeker and to know how the investigation in Phyto was going. She wanted to ask Krauser about it but she doesn't know why she can't ask him straight. Parang hindi nila iyon napag-uusapan at tila ilag ang binata tungkol dito.

She breathes in before opening Krauser's door. Kakatapos lang nitong maligo at may towel pa sa ulo, wearing just a shirt and gray pajamas. May dala siyang pagkain at inilapag niya iyon sa study table.

"Stay here first. Hindi ba may quiz ka bukas?" he asked.

"Ah? Nag-aral na naman ako eh. Okay na yun!" pagpapalusot nito. Balak niya kasing umalis ng palihim para puntahan ang Aunt Judith niya.

"No.You're staying here."

Nagpout pa si Katherine at padabog na umupo sa upuan, katapat ang kanyang Master. Hindi man lang nagsalita si Krauser sa buong oras na nag-aaral sila. She would yawn, stretch and practically do random things because she was bored. She gave up and closed her notes. Her attention was diverted to Krauser, he's typing something in his laptop.

His face was serious and she can't ignore the fact that he'd gone cold these days. Before, nagkukwentuhan pa sila from what happened the whole day at school but now...

"Stop staring at me..." he said at agad napaiwas ng tingin ang dalaga. She tried looking around and up the ceiling.

She heard him sigh and agad itong tumingin sa kanya kahit naiilang siya. "S-Sorry..." she apologized.

"Antok ka na ba?"

"Ah— hindi pa naman! Sige na, aantayin ko nalang na matapos ka."

"You can take a nap if you're sleepy. Dun ka na sa kama ko."

Namula agad ang mukha ni Katherine nang sabihin iyon ng kanyang Master. This is not the first time that they shared a bed together dahil nangyari na ito sa Dorell Forest Annual Camp but the thought of it makes Katherine's whole body shiver.

"N-No! Hindi pa naman ako inaantok, Krauser," she smiled and shook her head. She's wondering if the redness was too obvious but covering her face might just make it worst so she's just praying that he'll not notice it.

"Okay. Bahala ka. Matagal to."

"Di ba pwedeng umalis na ako?"

"Hindi. Dito ka lang," parang bata na sabi ni Krauser sa kanyang butler. Ilang araw na niyang pilit na pinaghihintay si Katherine to get his job done but his school work seemed endless. Gabi-gabi itong busy kakatype ng kung ano man.

Katherine obeyed and waits for him to finish but minutes later she was fast asleep and snoring.

Krauser looked at her and rolled her eyes. Istorbo ang paghilik ni Katherine sa paglalaro niya ng isang online game. He stood up and carefully lifted her. Inihiga niya ito sa kama niya at kinumutan. Once she was on his bed, she curled up and snuggled into one of his pillows. Natawa tuloy si Krauser.

Agad din siyang bumalik sa study table para maglaro sa laptop niya. Kanina pa siya hindi makaalis sa level 67 kaya naman hindi niya matigilan ang paglalaro.

Katherine woke up sniffing her pillow. Napangiti siya dahil sa amoy nito. Ang manly kasi ng amoy, naaalala niya si Krauser at ang malambot nitong buhok. She stretched her arms and pulled the pillow to her. Dinikit niya pa iyon sa mukha niya at inamoy pa iyon ulit. The smell was irresistable, she can't stop sniffing it.

"Katherine..." she heard someone calling her but she ignored it and clutched the pillow, hugging it tight.

"Five minutes..." she whispered.

"Okay..." she heard the voice replied and she smiled. After a few seconds, her mind slowly recognized the voice that was calling her and slammed herself up just to realize that she was sleeping on Krauser's bed!

"Tangina!" she blurted out a cuss and fixed her hair. She rubbed her face and wipe off her mouth.

Krauser went inside the room coming from outside, he was dressed already in his uniform.

"Oh good. You're awake. I told Hansel na malelate tayo kasi hindi ka pa gising." He said calmly while fixing his necktie.

"What? Why did—"

"Just go and fix yourself already," he said and Katherine jumped off to bed still embarrassed of what she did.

The whole day in Larkworth was boring until dismissal came and both of them had to see police cars across the street, a group of people piling up to a grocery store nearby the school gates.

"What's the ruckus about? Tara silipin nat—" but Krauser holds her hand tight while his other hand was busy scrolling his phone. "Ano ba! Titignan ko lang naman eh!" she said.

"Hansel will be here any minute. Huwag ka ng umalis dito sa tabi ko," he scolded. Walang nagawa si Katherine kundi ang humalukipkip.

Just then a police car stopped and the windows rolled down. Katherine glowed seeing it was her Aunt Judith. Driving the car was Officer Dawson. Once the lady officer was out of the car, she quickly gave her a tight hug.

"Auntie!!! Bakit kayo nandito?" she cheerfully asked while nodding to Officer Dawson.

"There's a reported robbery just a few blocks away from here," her Aunt replied.

"We can help, right Krauser?" she looked back at her Master but he seemed uninterested. Katherine turned to Officer Dawson and noticed that he was holding an envelope.

"Is that for Master Krauser?"

Officer Dawson nodded and handed it to Katherine. "Yes. I'm so glad I brought that, I've been planning to give it to him but I was too busy. I'm surprised he's not dropping by NWPD as often nowadays," he smiled weakly at Krauser.

"Sorry, I had to stop helping out investigations for a while, nakakahalata na kasi si Dad," he replied with a straight face.

"Ganun ba? Okay lang yun!" Officer Dawson chuckled. "Oh paano? Mauna na kami. Hopefully one of the cases will get your attention, we need some help with those ones."

After waving, she looked at Krauser who seemed not even interested seeing Officer Dawson after a long time. She shrugged it off and waited for Hansel. Just then, Olivia Scatterella appeared at the main gate holding her red hand bag and fixing her hair. Katherine approached her with a smile.

"Olivia! Alam mo ba kung nasaan si Opium?"

Olivia looked at her and glared. "No. And I don't know where he is, maybe he's burning in hell right now. I don't care!" she spat.

"He's not yet going to school since Phyto Band fest. Hindi ba kayo nagkikita sa bahay?"

Olivia rolled her eyes. "I haven't seen him after Phyto Band fest either. Maybe he's dead already. Well that's fine. Good for him."

Katherine sighed at the answers Olivia just gave. I guess she's kind of pissed off about Opium and that she's not the right person to ask about his whereabouts. Hindi na kasi nagpakita sa kanya ang binatang bampira and they need to look for more clues about the Underworld Threat.

It seems like neither Krauser nor Opium wants to help her about it. This makes her worried.

When it was time for Katherine to check on Krauser, she knocked on his door a few times but no one is answering. She opened the door and saw his bathroom light open. She shrugged and went inside while holding a tray of cookies and a glass of milk. She also placed her notes on the study table. Krauser's laptop was also there so she flipped it open and checks if he's almost done with his reports.

"What? Online game? I thought he's working on a project?" she wondered. Sinubukan niyang i-scroll ang laptop niya and clicked on his document files but the laptop was clean. There are no other files than the basics.

She heard the doorknob turned and saw Krauser drying off his hair with a towel. She glared at her Master while still holding on to his laptop.

"Krauser..." she called out. Krauser was a bit shocked to see her inside his room. Nanlaki ang mata niya when he saw that she was in front of his laptop.

"Hey! Don't touch that—"

"You're lying! You said you're working on a project but you're not! You're just playing this stupid online game?!"

Krauser snatched his laptop away from her and he cannot look at her straight. He did not even bother answering her question.

"Pwede ba? Huwag mong pakielaman yung mga gamit ko?"

Katherine glared at him. "You're not the real Krauser. Krauser will never turn down Officer Dawson especially when he needs help. Officer Dawson treated you like a family after you saved him from being charged of a crime he did not do. He even said to me that he treats you like a friend. And the Krauser I know will help those in need. You told me that right? You told me that you are using your ability to help those creatures! Why all of a sudden you backed out?"

Krauser can't look at her straight in the eye. Silence was his only answer.

"You can't just back out. You told me you're helping me with the Cronus! The Underworld Threat!"

"I can't..."

"You can't?"

Krauser pursed his lips and turned around. "I can't—I can't let you face that seeker again."

"What? Krauser—"

"Whoever that seeker is, balak ka niyang patayin Katherine! That person wants to kill you! If it weren't for the Phytopian fairies you're dead!" he grabbed her arms while his voice was choking and almost going to cry.

"Krauser..."

"You'll just stay here... where it's safe. I don't care about anything anymore. Dito ka lang sa tabi ko." He pulled her for a tight hug. Katherine wanted to push him but she felt the pain from his voice. It was like needles piercing through her heart. She wasn't expecting for him to be like this at all. She let him hug her for a while but she decided to push him gently.

"Krauser... I am the last burning silver flame of the Lovell clan. The underworld needs me. Now, if you can't let me protect them..."

"I am your Master, you will obey me. And if I say you will stay with me, you have to stay."

"Unless I resign..." she stepped back and turned her heel. Kahit pa tinatawag siya ni Krauser ay hindi ito lumingon at agad lumabas. Krauser was left there alone.

Kinabukasan, Katherine went to Larkworth early. Hindi siya sumabay kay Krauser. Hindi siya pumasok sa klase at nanatili siya sa isang bahagi ng campus na napapaligiran ng maraming puno. Umakyat siya sa puno at umupo doon habang pinapanuod ang langit.

Suddenly she heard someone calling her. "Hey! Katherine!" she saw Leeroy Nixon smiling widely at the bottom of the tree.

Umakyat si Leeroy at tumabi kay Katherine. "This is my spot. But don't worry, you can come here anytime," he chuckled.

"Sorry, lugar mo pala to. I just need a little fresh air, hindi ako magtatagal."

"N-No! Stay here until you want."

They smiled at each other. Leeroy sighed and stretched his arms. "Leeroy... can I ask you something?"

"Hmm? What is it?"

"If you would choose to protect someone or do the right thing, what would you do?"

"Both! Well it depends on the circumstances, what if doing what is right could mean of risking your love one's safety right? If that would be the case, I will choose to protect that person."

"Is that a male thing? Being selfish?"

Leeroy Nixon laughed. "You're funny, Kath. Siguro. But it doesn't have to involve gender, as long as you know what to prioritize in life. Guys, we sometimes have this huge pile of pride and ego within ourselves and if we let this pride and dignity go then we might actually care about that person so much. Technically ang mga lalaki, they actually sacrifice a lot, hindi lang iyon napapansin ng iba but we do! We have to decide on things too, hindi lang naman babae ang nagawa nun."

Katherine sighed. "He's so stubborn. Guys are so stubborn," he mumbled.

"No we're not. Kung ako din yun, gagawin ko yun. You know what, I think I like this girl at school. She is brave and kind and she's such a sweetheart."

Katherine suddenly became hyped to know Leeroy's crush. "Really? Who is she? Kilala ko ba siya?"

"Basta, the minute I saw her, I felt like she was so enchanting. Tinanggap niya ako kung sino ako. She gave me another chance to live my life. She's everything to me, and I would do the same just to protect her if I have given a chance," he said and laid his eyes on Katherine.

Katherine felt that warm feeling inside her. She felt that Leeroy's crush must have been so lucky to have him, whoever she might be.

"That girl... is one hell of a lucky girl," she blurted out.

Leeroy laughed and scratched his head. "Yes. And she has no idea of it. Sige, mauna na ako. I have to attend my class."

"Okay! Thanks for keeping me company for a while."

"No problem, anything for you."

Nakababa na si Leeroy sa puno when she called out Katherine. "Hey! Kath, I forgot to say one more thing!"

"Yeah? Ano yun?"

"The girl I like? She's strong and she can hold a gun and still looks damn beautiful!"

Katherine chuckled and nodded. "Wow! She must be an awesome girl!"

"She sure is!" he grinned before running away from the tree. Katherine just sit there until in was time to go home.

Nakarating siya sa Vaughaun Mansion just in time Hansel arrived. He saw Krauser approaching him and she was about to avoid him when he caught her arms and dragged her upstairs.

"Aray! Krauser ano ba!" she was trying to get his hands off of her until they were in front of his room.

"You will not resign."

"Krauser I just said that last night because—"

She was cut off when Krauser kissed him. Her eyeballs sticking out and her body suddenly shivered. She felt his hands on her cheeks and made her slowly close her eyes. His left hand went down and wrapped itself to her waist, somehow lifting her body up making his kiss a bit harder. Katherine kissed him back but she felt awkward, having thoughts like 'Am I doing this right?' or something like 'Do I have to tilt my head?'

Krauser pulled away from the kiss, panting. He looked at Katherine who was still shocked and embarrassed at the same time but he did not bother any of those expressions.

 "You win. Do whatever you want just don't leave me," he whispered and let their foreheads touch.

Katherine closed her eyes and chuckled as she slowly wrapped both her hands in Krauser's neck.

"Okay. I will not leave," she replied and she hugged him tight.

***

Deborah Beeler fixed her beige dress as she saw her own reflection in one of the Scar Mansion's window. She saw little Oraion Scatterella approaching wearing a cute little tuxedo, his hair neatly brushed up. Kasunod niya si Olivia Scatterella wearing a sexy tube black dress. Her hairs curled with a few diamond accents on her ears and neck. Tonight is the Annual Scatterella sit-down dinner but Opium is nowhere in sight.

"Hindi pa rin ba dumadating si Master Opium?" Deborah asked Olivia.

"I'm not expecting him to be in the sit down dinner, Deborah. I guess he's dead. Good riddance."

Both Deborah and Oraion looked at each other and shrugged. Olivia's mood had been ranging from pissed off to don't you dare talk to me or I will cut you.

Just as when they are going down, Opium opened the main door, looking all dirty, blood stains and mud on his clothes, messed up hair and facial hairs too.

"Wait for me, I'll just change," he coldly said to them as he passed by.

Olivia's face was so red and her fist balled out of utter hatred. She was trying to calm herself down and not pick up a fight with his older brother technically showing himself all of a sudden after being gone again for days.

Moments later, he was gorgeously dressed leaving his bowtie not fixed, brushing his hair up using his fingers. Olivia wanted to stare as much but he was still mad, but she was distracted most of the time during their trip to the Scatterella House. It was a huge mansion where most of the high leagued officials of the coven stay, as well as the Elders and the Guild Leaders.

Opium offered his hand to Olivia when they went down the car but Olivia refused. Deborah and Oraion already went inside and Olivia was still retouching her make up.

"Come on, Via. You're beautiful already. Stop it," he said impatiently.

"Why do you have to wait for me? Go inside if you want!" she said while trying to put on some mascara.

Opium rolled his eyes and looked at his watch. Once Olivia stepped out of the car, Opium removed his coat and placed it gently on Olivia, covering her shoulders and arms.

"What the— you're ruining my dress!" she said.

"You think I will allow you to wear that?!" he hissed and holds on to her hand. He dragged her inside.

It was an exquisite feast, indeed. Opium never liked the idea of this annual dinner thing. His Father was seated at the very end of the long dinner table, Olivia at the left side and Opium at the right side.

The Elders were sitting across together with Deborah and Oraion. The Guild Leaders were on Opium's side. They all heard a clinking sound, a sound getting the attention of everyone. This dinner will also be an annual report of the Coven Lord about the coven, and it is what Opium came for.

"This year had been a splendid year for the Coven. We had factions not only on the Main Land of New Well but as well as the North and South. We have been producing more factions even from other cities which will be helpful in the future. Another thing I might want to add is that after 18 long years, Roosevelt Coven had finally ended after the death of Scarlet Roosevelt."

The whole coven rejoiced and raised their glasses with blood in it. Olivia saw Opium from across the table, he did not raise his glass and he's just looking down. He hardly even touched his food.

"The coven is... strong and the coven will always be strong! Long live Scatterella!"

"LONG LIVE SCATTERELLA!!! LONG LIVE SCATTERELLA!!!"

Everyone came to a halt when Opium stood up and slammed his hands on the table, stopping everyone from chanting. Olivia's heart was pounding so fast. He looked at his brother's red eyes as he angrily looked at their Father.

"This coven is a lie!" he growled. Roaring echoes of whispers seemed to be the reaction.

"Opium, please sit down," Lord Gifford calmly said but you can see it in his face how pissed off he was.

"The Elders have foretold about the Oracle. Our coven is in grave threat yet you are not looking for the Oracle!"

"The coven is strong—"

"But the coven is lying! This coven is lying to its people! Strong? This whole coven is bullsht! You killed the Elder who foretold about the Oracle and you keep it as a secret to the whole coven because you are afraid that this coven might not trust you!"

Lord Gifford stood up, and with gritted teeth he ordered, "Take him out of this place! Throw him away!"

The guild guards grabbed Opium but he just sends them off flying. He turned the whole table down and grinned at his Father.

"You don't need to order them that. I am done with this stupid coven. I'm leaving."

Lord Gifford clenched his jaw. "And you have the audacity to act like that? You are not a part of this coven anymore!" he yelled.

Opium just shrugged and rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, I don't have plans of staying in this coven any longer."

Olivia looked at his Father and ran to him. "D-Dad! You have to stop him!" she begged.

"Shut up Olivia! Don't tell me what to do!" he angrily said and turned around leaving the finest dinner of the coven, a mess.

Olivia then ran outside to catch up with his brother. "Opium! Opium please! Don't leave Dad! He needs you here!"

Opium stopped and turned around. "You stay here. I will leave."

"But why?" she said as tears were rolling down her eyes.

"No one's brave enough to tell the truth. I have to find the Oracle and protect the Coven... I can't do that while I am with him. I cannot trust him now."

"Please... please don't leave... Oraion and... and me."

Opium smiled. "You'll do fine. No matter where I am I will protect you and Oraion. I will protect the Coven but I have to leave."

"I don't understand..."

"Just trust me, Via. I'll be back."

And with a swift, he's gone. Olivia lost it and weep there holding on to his black coat under the night sky.

* * * *

By far, the longest chapter. And if I'm right, ganito na kahahaba ang mga susunod pang chapters because I am compressing everything because I have to finish it by 50 or 60. Idk. K. Hope you enjoy the KK and OO moments. Teehee. Sorry kung may maling grammar or typo. Kayo nalang magproof read palagay sa comments yung corrections! HHahajahHab! K. Tsaka, penge comments, how is the story going so far? I want to know what you guys think, pleaseeee?!

Lab you guys! Salamat sa reads! ♥