Flame 27 - New Housemate

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin makapaniwala si Katherine Lovell sa mga nangyari. Hindi niya maipaliwanag, hindi niya nga rin malaman ang mga tamang salita para sa nararamdaman niya! She's lost! Pero isa lang ang nasa isip niya habang naglalakad pabalik sa kwarto niya— dream—kissing her Master was like a dream. At sa tuwing iisipin niya ang nangyari kanina, nanginginig ang mga tuhod niya.

Kissing him wasn't even in her fantasies! She always look up to him, believing that a girl like her—ill-mannered, bossy and practically the person who gave him too many troubles— would actually make the cold hearted Master, care about her. Surreal!

Hindi niya maipaliwanag kung masaya ba siya o maniniwala ba siya o panaginip lang ba iyon! Napahawak siya sa pisngi niya ng maalala niya kung paano pinulupot ni Krauser Vaughaun ang mga braso niya sa kanyang bewang para lang alalayan siya at pigilan na tuluyang matumba sa sobrang panghihina. That move made his kiss deeper and as if she felt how sweet his lips were, and how soft it felt as it was pressed on hers.

She shooked her head just to stop herself from imagining more of what happened. Masisiraan na talaga siya ng bait! That was her first kiss, obviously, kaya naman ganoon na lamang iyon ka-big deal para sa kanya.

She giggled and hummed as soon as she turned her doorknob and entered her room. Kinapa niya ang switch ng ilaw na nasa tabi lang ng pintuan. Masaya pa itong naglakad when she saw someone standing inside her room beside her bed.

She summoned her silver caliber and aimed at the person but it came to her realization that the person standing in front of her was the Scatterella Vampire, Opium.

Confused, she lowered her gun and walked towards him. "What the hell?! Ginulat mo ako! Why are you here?" she asked.

Opium seemed dazed off and tired. His hair was a mess, his clothes full of mud and some blood. "I need to—" before he could even finish, he coughed blood and dropped on the floor.

"Hey!" agad inalalayan ni Katherine ang bampira sa upuan and checked his injured torso. There were scratches and needle shots in his back. "What the heck have you been doing these days? Were you being chased?" agad niyang hinubad ang long sleeves nito at kumuha ng medicine kit.

"S-Sort of..." hirap na sagot nito sa dalaga habang tinitiis ang hapdi mula sa mga sugat na natamo.

"Did you got yourself into a fight?"

"Y-Yeah. I guess that's what you call it..."

"Who?" Katherine looked at him while slowly damping the cotton balls that were soaked in alcohol to clean the wounds.

"My Dad... t—technically the whole coven."

"Oh... okay— wait, WHAT?! YOUR COVEN?" she freaked out and stood up, dropping the cotton balls.

He chuckled after seeing her reaction. "Katherine... please just clean my wounds first then we can talk."

Katherine looked at the injured vampire and sighed. Umupo siya ulit para linisin ang mga sugat nito. It will heal faster but he needs blood, there were gun shots as well kaya naman nanghihina na ang katawan niya. He even asked Katherine to create a silver barrier just to hide him from the vampires.

"I left the coven..." casual ng pagkakasabi ng bampira.

"You what?! But you are the heir of the throne! Bakit ba ang tanga tanga mo?" inis na sabi ni Katherine at idiniin ang cotton balls sa mga sugat niya.

"ARAY! PUTANGINA!" pagmumura ni Opium habang nakapikit. "Shit Katherine! Gagamutin mo ba yung mga sugat ko o balak mong dagdagan?!"

"What makes you think leaving the coven would be a good idea?!" she ignored his complaints and spat at him.

Umiwas ng tingin si Opium at tumingin sa bintana ng kwarto ng dalaga. Madilim na sa labas at ang tanging ilaw lang ay ang buwan. He sighed and he gave Katherine a weak smile.

"After talking with the Phytopian fairies, I conducted an investigation. Before, I met a man named Pius, he's one of the legal advisers of the Roosevelt coven. My mom and him were friends but after the coven war, he left New Wellington. I met him the other day and ask him about the coven. He told me that Dad killed his parents and his brother to get the throne, that's why my Mom decided to cut ties with our coven and thus, igniting the coven war.

Gusto ni Dad na siya na rin ang mamuno sa Roosevelt but my Mom did not want to. Hindi ko alam ang mga iyon dahil nasa ibang lugar kami nila Olivia at Oraion. My Dad lied to us, hindi niya sinabi ang totoo. Ang alam namin, kami ang balak sakupin ng coven na iyon. Nang makalipat na kami sa New Wellington ay hindi na pinagusapan pa ang tungkol doon. Pius helped me with hiding Mom in Santa Monica too."

Katherine cleaned up the medicine kit and sat beside Opium. "Your mom was telling the truth then. Your coven is a coven full of lies," she said.

"Hindi lang iyon, dahil pagkatapos ng coven war, when all there's left was to appoint him as Coven Lord, may isang elder na nagsabi na nakakita siya ng pangitain. Natakot si Dad na baka hindi siya pagkatiwalaan ng coven kaya pinatay niya iyon at itinago ang pangitain at ang tungkol sa immortal ng Oracle sa buong coven."

"Immortal na Oracle?"

"Apparently, the Roosevelt coven elders foretold it much earlier, kaparehas ng pangitain ng Phytopians, tungkol sa Underworld Threat. Hinahanap din nila ang isang immortal na oracle na siyang magbibigay ng babala sa buong lahi ng mga bampira."

"But your Dad..."

"My Dad hid that from the coven and let them think that our coven is strong, that there's no threat. I despise him so much!" he hissed as his fist balled.

"We have to find the Oracle."

"We have to, before Dad kills the Oracle."

Kilala ni Opium ang kanyang ama. He thinks he can save the whole coven on his own, he thinks he's the strongest just because he have this army of vampires that will act as his shield. Kahit pa immortal ang kanyang ama, he looked at him as a weak, self seeking, blood sucking bastard since he was born. He's a good for nothing son of a bitch and he will never bow down to him.

Kinabukasan, magkakasamang nag-almusal ang Scatterella. Tahimik lang ang lahat at hindi umiimik. Halata sa mukha ni Gifford Scatterella ang pagkairita habang nakatingin sa bakanteng upuan ng mahabang hapag na may nakalagay pang plato at mga kubyertos.

"There's no point in putting that on this table. Alisin niyo iyan! There is no room for any traitors in this family!" utos nito na agad sinunod ng mga katulong.

Malungkot na tumingin si Olivia sa kanyang ama. Gusto nitong magsalita pero hindi niya alam ang mga tamang salita. Natatakot siya na magkamali at masigawan. Napahawak siya ng mahigpit sa tinidor at bread knife niya at nagpatuloy na lang sa pagkain.

"Lord Gifford..." bumukas ang pintuan at pumasok ang limang guild leaders. Magkakasamang lumuhod at nagbigay galang ang lima sa pinuno ng coven.

"Good morning Guild," kumuha ng table napkin si Gifford at ipinahid ito sa kanyang bibig. "Napatay ba ninyo si Opium?"

Olivia bit her lips and felt her heart beating fast again. Narinig niya kagabi ang mga nagngingit-ngit na utos ng kanyang ama, gusto niyang patayin si Opium dahil sa ginawa nito. Ni hindi niya alitana na marinig niya iyon, o kaya ni Oraion. All he wants is to kill him, that's all.

"Bigla nalang po siyang nawala. Even the traces of his blood suddenly disappeared. We fired tranquilizers and bullets but he's still alive and was able to evade," Franco Baltimore, one of the guild leaders, reported.

Gifford angrily slammed his fist on the table, startling Oraion. "That bastard! He will pay for his mindless acts last night! I will not tolerate this!"

Olivia swallowed the lump on her throat, along with all her worries. Buhay pa si Opium... he's alive.

"Hayaan niyo nalang siyang mabuhay, but if he ever interferes again, hindi ko na siya hahayaang mabuhay pa!" tumayo ang pinuno at iniwan ang lahat sa dining room.

Samantala, sa Vaughaun Mansion, hindi makapaniwala si Krauser Vaughaun na makita si Opium Scatterella sa kitchen. Nakabukas ang fridge at kasalukuyang nakuha ng gatas ang bampira ng abutan niya ito.

"What the hell??!" hindi mapigilang mapasigaw ni Krauser.

"Yo. Good morning, Vaughaun," nakangising bati nito.

They both heard footsteps running and Katherine came in the kitchen panting. "Ah! I told you stay in the guest room until I told him about you!" she said and slapped Opium's arms.

"What? Alam mong nandito siya?!"

"Look, I can explain! Kagabi pa siya nandito and—"

"KAGABI?!"

"Listen to me! He was at my room and he was—"

"IN YOUR ROOM?!" he blurted out.

"Yes! He was injured! He said he left the coven and he was being chased by the vampire guild. I had to treat his wounds, after that he slept in one of the guest rooms. Sasabihin ko naman talaga ang tungkol sa kanya ngayong umaga eh!"

Napahawak sa noo si Krauser at agad hinila si Katherine palabas ng kitchen. Napapikit nalang ang butler dahil siguradong pagagalitan siya nito. Once they are in the hallways, Krauser let go of her hands and crossed his arms.

"Krauser—"

"I can't let him stay here. Kapag nakita siya ni Dad, he'll flip out!"

"But—please! Just for a week! Krauser, Opium is my friend! Tinulungan niya ako sa Cronus riddles."

"Hindi ikaw ang may-ari ng bahay na to, you can't just decide without my permission!"

"I was going to seek your permission, naunahan mo lang ako! Please!"

"No. He will leave today," he firmly said and walked out. Walang nagawa si Katherine kundi ang bumuntong hininga. Naramdaman naman niya ang pagpatong ng kamay sa kanyang ulo at nakita sa kanyang tabi ang bampira.

"That's okay, Katherine. I wasn't expecting him to agree with it either. I guess I'll just find a temporary house for now. You better follow him, malelate na tayo sa school."

"Wait— papasok ka?" she asked, obviously surprised.

Opium grinned and jumped out of the window.

Nakarating sa school si Olivia na lutang ang isip. She's wondering if Opium already had his breakfast. Kilala niya ang kapatid niya, he'd want fresh milk in the morning and he'd rather eat in the countertop than join them in the dining hall.

"Via," tawag sa kanya ni Dominica na kakapark lang ng kotse niya.

"Oh, hi Dom," walang gana nitong bati sa kaibigan.

"You look like you haven't eaten breakfast! Don't tell me nagda-diet ka na naman?!"

"No. I'm fine." Hindi na niya napansin pa ang ibang mga kaibigan at agad dumiretcho sa una niyang klase. Pataas ang classroom nila at sa third row sila nakaupo. Ibinaba niya ang bag niya at lumingon sa pangalawang row kung saan nakaupo si Opium. Kaklase niya ito sa subject na iyon, but she's not expecting to see him today.

She was thinking if he even bothered cleaning the wounds he got last night. She knew Opium was a lazy ass and would rather bleed to death than clean his wounds.

"I didn't know Opium came back?" Deronna gushed. The three of them looked at Olivia who was dazing off while all of them are busy talking about something.

"Via!" they called out and Olivia came back to her senses.

"H-Huh?" her round eyes looked cute as she stared at her friends.

"Kelan pa bumalik si Opium? Hindi mo naman sa amin sinabi!" Chantelle said.

Her forehead wrinkled and rolled her eyes. "What are you saying? Why would I talk about him? He's such a waste of time!" mataray nitong sagot.

The three of them shrugged. Deronna giggled and said, "Okay Via, chill. Nagulat lang kami na bigla siyang pumasok ngayon. Nakakapanibago eh."

She was confused and looked again at Opium's seat and was surprised to see him sitting there. Napatayo ito na agad namang nakakuha ng atensyon ng buong klase, including her brother.

"Is there any problem, Miss Scatterella?" tanong ng professor na nasa harapan na pala.

"N-Nothing po. Sorry for interrupting," hiyang-hiya itong umupo at tumungo. She can see Opium chuckling at the side.

Gusto niyang mainis pero hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit hindi niya iyon magawa, she wanted to look at him more, see if he was real... to check if the wounds have healed... to beg for him to come back.

Natapos ang klase at agad tumayo si Opium para umalis. Hindi na niya nilingon si Olivia, masaya na siyang makita ito after seeing her cry before leaving last night. Sa school na lang niya pwedeng makita ang kapatid kaya naman may dahilan na siya para pumasok.

Olivia quickly grabbed her handbag and followed Opium. Nang makalayo na sila sa classroom, mas binilisan niya pa ang lakad para mahabol si Opium but someone grabbed her arms.

"Lady Olivia..." she saw one of the five guild leaders, Stan Berkley, holding her arms. He was also with Zirco Hudges.

"Stan? Zirco? Teka si Opium—"

"Forgive us, my Lady, but Lord Gifford gave us security orders. Pinagbabawalan niya kayong lumapit kay Opium Scatterella."

"But he's my brother—"

"Lord Gifford orders, my Lady," Zirco said. Hindi pa rin binibitawan ni Stan ang braso niya at pilit siyang isinasama palayo but Opium was in front of them.

"Anong meron dito? Hudges? Berkley?" he said to the two guild leaders coldly.

Si Zirco ang humarap kay Opium at humarang si Stan habang hawak pa rin ang braso ni Olivia para pigilan ito sa paglapit kay Opium.

"Opium, Lord Gifford ordered us to secure Lady Olivia. This is part of the security measures that the Lord is implementing."

"Ah talaga? Nilalayo niya pala ako kay Olivia? That's just plain bull," natatawa nitong sabi.

"We advise you to do the same. You are not part of the coven anymore Opium and the Lord even tagged you as a threat to the coven from now on. It is better to stay away from the Royals," Stan said.

Opium glared at Stan and gave him a frightening smile. He stepped back a little after seeing that smile, it was intimidating and he felt like he was warning him to shut up.

Olivia cannot move, with Stan still holding her arms, but she can clearly see how annoyed her brother was while looking at Stan.

"You know what I hate the most, huh Stan?" Opium scratched his head and chuckled sarcastically. He took a few more steps and got closer to him.

Olivia felt Stan's hand holding her arms tight while stepping back but Opium was quick enough to grab him by the throat. Susugod pa sana si Zirco but Opium grabbed his collar and threw him to a wall. Nawasak iyon, Zirco now covered with rubbles.

"Opium!" sinaway ni Olivia ang kapatid habang nakikita nitong namumula ang mga mata niya at ang mahahabang kuko nito ay unti-unting bumabaon sa leeg ni Stan.

"No one touches her, do you understand?!" he growled as he was slowly choking the guild leader.

"Ackkk— O-Opiu—"

"Opium I said stop it!" agad bumitaw si Opium at ibinagsak ang katawan ni Stan. Nawalan ito ng malay at agad ding bumalik ang anyo ni Opium sa dati. Tinignan lang nito si Olivia at naglakad na palayo.

Olivia chased after him, leading her to another empty hallway. "Stop following me, Via. Mayroon na palang ganoong utos si Dad pero lumalapit ka pa rin sa akin," he turned around and Olivia stopped.

"Where are you staying? Did you even have breakfast? Who'll do your laundry now? May pera ka ba?"

He smiled and looked at her. "Nag-aalala ka ba saken?"

Olivia snapped out of it. Nakalimutan niyang magpanggap. Sa sobrang pag-aalala niya, hindi na niya ito naitago pa. "H-Hindi ah? G-Gusto ko lang malaman kung gaano mo pinagsisisihan ang pag-alis sa coven. No one will serve you, no one will provide your needs! Good riddance! This is my chance for that throne! You're nothing but a complete whack who threw away everything!"

"Okay. You're just having fun throwing me all those insults. Nakaka-offend ka na."

Humalukipkip si Olivia at tumingin sa ibang direksyon. She was holding back the tears. She thought she cried enough last night pero hindi pa pala ubos.

"You are a stupid... stupid... monster... leaving like that. You could've told me about it so I have prepared a party!" she said as she cried, still not looking at him.

"Via..."

"And it's a good thing you're not yet dead, because I should be the one who will do that!" inis nitong sabi habang pinupunasan ang mga luha sa pisngi.

"Olivia..."

Tumingin si Olivia sa kanya tsaka nagpout habang naiyak ng tahimik. Medyo nasisira na ang make up nito pero napakaganda niya pa rin sa paningin ni Opium. Her round black eyes, her lips...

He sighed and walked towards Olivia. He stood there in front of her and she reached his face. She gently touched his face and cried even more.

"You're stupid if you died last night, hinding-hindi talaga kita mapapatawad kung namatay ka," she said in between her sobs.

Hinawakan ni Opium ang kamay ni Olivia at niyakap niya ang kapatid. He was ready to get rejected but he felt her hands on his neck, pulling him and hugging him tight.

"Sorry for making you worried... again."

"I hate you!" she weeps and started punching him. Binaon niya ang mukha niya sa dibdib ni Opium and cried like a baby. "I hate you so much! Dapat namatay ka nalang! I hate you!!!" she cried.

Opium gently pats her head and laughed. Hinayaan niya lang na gawin iyon ni Olivia until he felt his phone vibrated. He had to pull away and answer the call.

"Hello? Bat napatawag ka?" it was Katherine on the other line. Olivia remained quiet and listened to their conversation.

"Astrid is here. You better tag along, kailangan mo rin malaman ang sasabihin niya."

"Okay, susunod ako. Thanks." He puts down the phone and looked at his sister. He sighed and walked towards her. "Via, I have to go..."

"Where are you staying?" she asked seriously, looking straight in his eyes.

"I am staying somewhere safe, Olivia. Trust me, alright? Just trust me on this," hinawakan niya ang kamay nito at hinalikan.

Olivia always loved it when her brother does that, but at the same time, she hates the fact that he had to go again, she's always been afraid of not seeing him... no matter how many times she denies it.

Bumalik sa Phyto ang tatlo upang makipag-usap kay Princess Astrid. May bagong pangitain ang mga bituin kagabi na agad namang pinagbigay alam ng Prinsesa sa tatlo.

"The constellations have revealed a new threat... and this is for the vampires." Agad kinabahan si Opium Scatterella sa pambungad na pahayag ng prinsesa.

"Well, technically, something came up. I left the coven," agad na pagsabi ni Opium.

"What? But why?" lumipad ang munting prinsesa papunta kay Opium.

"I discovered that my Dad had been hiding the fact about the Immortal Oracle. Mukhang may hindi nga magandang nangyayari sa loob ng coven, kaya naman nagpasya na akong iwanan iyon."

Napaisip naman ang prinsesa at hinayaan ang sarili na lumutang sa ere. "Immortal Oracle? Ang alam ko kasi isang normal na tao lamang ang Oracle, kaya naman sa nagdaang mga taon, isa sa mga dapat protektahan ng coven ay ang kanilang Oracle. Ngayon lang nagkaroon ng ganitong pangyayari."

"Maybe the Oracle is from the Underworld too... a creature from the Underworld," biglang singit ni Krauser Vaughaun.

"Maaaring tama si Krauser, pero hindi pa rin natin dapat hayaang mapahamak siya. Importante na mahanap natin siya, siya lang ang taong maaaring makapagbigay ng mas madetalyeng pangyayari sa hinaharap."

"Princess Astrid is right. So tell us, what did the stars and constellations foretold?" Katherine asked impatiently.

Princess Astrid looked at the three of them and said, "The Oracle is in grave danger..."

* * * *

WANTED: ORACLE

Well, there you have it. Sino ba kasi ang Oracle? Sana ako nalang, para hanapin ako ni Opium. Hahahaha. Lol. Asa pa ako. Olivia forevs yun eh! *pout*

Guys, seryoso, penge comments oh! Weekly ang update nito, walang palya, di tulad sa AR at CTD tapos silent reader kayo lahat? Unfair! Hahahaha. Okay. Bye.

#SILVERBUTLER