Flame 30 - Coven's Research

Celestine Hubbert have this one dream in mind when she was younger— and that is to be a chef. She wanted to share her food to the world. She wanted people to taste her passion. Iyon ang pangarap niya noon, but when her brother came into her life, she have to forget about it. Cedrick was everything to her... because Cedrick is the only one left of her.

Masayang naglalakad pauwi ang magkapatid na Hubbert mula sa eskuwelahan. Ulila na sila at kailangang magtrabaho ni Celestine upang matustusan ang pang-araw-araw na gastusin nilang magkakapatid. Kailangan nilang lumipat sa New Wellington dahil hindi naging maganda ang naging karanasan nila sa Gregordelle, isang maliit na bayan sa dulong hilaga ng New Wellington.

"Ate, bakit parang ang saya mo? May nangyari ba sa school?" tanong ni Cedrick.

"Hmm? Oo. Meron. May nakilala kasi ako, akala ko masama siya pero hindi naman pala," she kneeled down and pinched his nose. "Kaya ikaw, Ced, huwag kang basta-basta manghuhusga ng kapwa hangga't hindi mo sila nakikila ng mabuti, okay?"

"Opo!" nang makapasok sila sa bahay ay agad dumiretcho si Celestine sa kwarto upang magbihis nang makarinig siya ng sigaw galing sa kanyang kapatid.

"Ateeeeeee!!!" sigaw ni Cedrick na agad namang nagbigay ng kilabot sa kanya. Dali-dali siyang pumunta sa kusina at naabutan doon ang kanyang kapatid na nakatingin sa isang lalaki na nakatayo sa tabi ng refrigerator. She dragged Cedrick and made him step back. Kumuha siya ng kutsilyo sa counter top at unti-unti itong itinutok sa lalaki pero natigilan siya ng mamukhaan niya ito.

"Opium Scatterella?" tanong nito na may halong pagtataka.

Ngumisi ang bampira nang humarap siya sa magkapatid at sinarado ang fridge pagkatapos kumuha ng isang bote na may lamang sariwang dugo. "Sino ang bampira sa inyong dalawa?" he asked casually.

Wala siyang nakuhang sagot. He sighed and opened the bottle. Celestine raised the knife at him while her brother was clutching her leg.

"What do you want? Why are you here?"

The vampire removed his jacket and throw it to her. "You might want to wear some clothes first, I'm kind of distracted. Lalaki pa rin naman ako, okay?" he slyly smirked and grinned.

Celestine almost forgot that she was changing her clothes and forgot to put on a shirt before running in the kitchen. She's just wearing her black bra on. Nahihiya man, sinuot niya ang jacket at huminga ng malalim bago bumalik sa posisyon nito kung saan ay nakatutok ang kutsilyo sa bampira.

"Now tell me, what do you want from us!"

"Whoa, calm down, itatanong ko lang kung sinong bampira sa inyong dalawa," he asked and smirked.

Agad nagtaas ng kamay si Cedrick at bumitaw sa pagkakakapit sa binti ng kanyang kapatid. "Ako po! Ako po ang bampira!" tsaka ito ngumiti.

He grinned and walked towards the boy na agad namang hinarangan ni Celestine. "Paano ka nakapasok dito?" galit na tanong niya sabay tutok ulit ng kutsilyo.

Tinuro ni Opium ang basag na bintana sa gilid ng kusina nila gamit ang kanyang nguso. "Oh, and I kind of broke your window because your doors are locked. Ibabalik ko sana yung cake na binigay mo saken because your brother was asking it early this morning. Medyo nagtaka nga ako kung bakit sa akin mo ibinigay instead of just bringing it home. Ilalagay ko lang sana sa fridge yung cake when I smell blood. Inubos ko na yung dalawang bote at pangatlo ko na toh," he explained.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Celestine at tumakbo papunta sa fridge. Oo nga, naubos na nga ng bampira ang tatlong bote ng dugo na para sana sa kanyang kapatid.

"Wow! Cake!" masayang sabi ni Cedrick ng makita ang box sa loob ng fridge.

"Ced..." pipigilan pa sana ni Celestine ang kapatid pero hinayaan nalang niya ito.

She glared at the vampire while chugging down the third bottle of blood. She grabbed his arm and dragged him in the living room.

"Hey—"

"Who told you to barge in someone else's house? And I gave you that cake, bakit mo binabalik sa akin? Dapat nireject mo nalang kanina if you're planning to give it back!" she said, still with the knife aiming at his throat.

"Hindi ako kumakain ng cake, how stupid of you to give me a cake," he gently holds the knife and he effortlessly bend it using one finger. "May kapatid ka pang bampira na hindi miyembro ng coven," he looked at her brother who was happily slicing the cake inside the kitchen.

"That's because he's not from your coven!" she hissed, making sure her brother will not hear their conversation.

Natigilan si Opium sa sinabi ng dalaga. "Then from what coven does he belong?"

"He doesn't belong to any coven. He's a Chiropteran. The vampires of the menace," she said and turned around.

Opium sighed and placed the empty bottle on the table. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to barge in. Aalis na rin ako, I'll pay the blood that I—"

"No it's fine. Alam kong wala ka na sa coven so how can you pay for it if you don't even have any money. Kalat na sa buong school ang nangyari sa iyo. You don't need to pay for it, just leave, and stay away from us," malungkot na saad ng dalaga.

Palabas palang ng pinto si Opium ng tumakbo si Cedrick at yakapin nito ang binti ng bampira. "Thank you po sa cake!" nakangiting sabi ng bata habang puno ng chocolate ang pisngi nito.

Opium smiled and nodded. "You're welcome, kid."

Kinabukasan, kasama si Officer Dawson ng NWPD, pumunta sina Krauser at Katherine sa isang abandoned warehouse na nasa daungan ng New Wellington, ang Port O' Well. Ito ang nakita ni Opium sa apartment ni Pius Demascus. Katherine summoned one of her gun and went inside first. Once she cleared out the building, Officer Dawson and Krauser went in after.

Natigilan si Krauser nang makita niya ang abandonadong warehouse. Isa itong research facility. Bakas sa lugar ang mga ginawang karahasan doon. May mga bakas ng dugo sa pader at sahig. Basag na kagamitan na nakakalat at ang iba ay sira na. May masangsang na amoy rin na nanggagaling sa isang kwarto. Nandoon nakatambak ang ilang katawan na inaagnas na.

Agad nagsuot ng masks ang tatlo at gloves. Katherine scanned some of the files pero bago lisanin ng grupo ang lugar ay sinunog muna nila ang mga maaaring mapakinabangan bilang ebidensya.

"I guess the Scatterella Coven is having underground research," Officer Dawson said as he found some test tubes with blood. Maingat niya iyong nilagay sa isang test tube rack at ipinasok sa isang container box.

"Research about what?" Krauser asked while also scanning some other things that were left in the place.

"Vampire breeds. They're cross-breeding vampires. The normal breeds of vampires are being tested with different vampire breeds to create a stronger type of vampire," Katherine said as she showed some files she found that weren't burnt.

Krauser scanned the files and he found blood types of different covens and the three types of Insanes. Insane vampires are different that coven types. Vampires that are categorized as insane cannot control their innate abilities and only become vampires during full moon.

The three types of Insanes in the file are the vampires of juvenile, Macedonian Vampires. Originated in the South who were results of an experiment from a justice juvenile facility thousands of years ago. They are wiped out of extinction, according to the file.

The second type are the vampires of oblivion, Hummerion Vampires. They are beastly and are a counterpart of werewolves with hairy skin, chunky teeth and sharp claws. The only difference is they cannot do a full transformation like what shapeshifters do. No records were collected according to the file that they had.

And the last of them are the vampires of menace, Chiropterans. Krauser knows more about Chiropterans because it has the largest number from the three types. It is also the last kind of Insane that exists. He saw a Chiropteran attacked Downtown a few months ago.

They are the closest form of a normal breed vampire but they are out of control every full moon. Same supernatural strength, speed and transformation but different in mindset. Krauser thinks that the reason why there are still Chiropterans is because of the similarities from normal ones and the ability of it to protect itself unlike other types that only has basic strength and ability. The only fall back of this kind is when Chiropterans transform, they forgot about who they are and they will just continue to drink more blood until the full moon is over.

Nakalagay sa files na on-going ang status ng research tungkol sa breeding ng Chiropterans. Hindi maiwasang magalala ni Krauser dahil kung bakit balak ng Scatterella Coven na gumawa ng ganitong uri ng nilalang. May pinaghahandaan ba sila?

"We better get going before your Dad finds out you're skipping classes again," Officer Dawson interrupted.

Katherine and Krauser nodded and grab hold of all the things that might actually help with the investigation. They left the warehouse and went back to Larkworth.

Busy sa pagkukwentuhan ang mga kaibigan ni Olivia habang papunta sa Cafeteria. Lunch break na at wala sa mood makipag-usap ang dalaga sa kanila. Kilala na nila si Olivia, kapag bad mood ito ay hindi na nila binabalak pang kausapin. They occupied an empty table and started buying food. Olivia was left behind and zone out. She's still thinking about Opium and how all of a sudden, he changed.

Hindi malaman ni Olivia kung siya pa rin ba ang Opium na nakilala niya noon. Mas kilala niya ang ugali ng kapatid kumpara sa kahit sinong tao, pero sa mga nangyayari ngayon ay hindi na niya alam kung siya pa rin ba ang kapatid niya.

Her senses ignited and she can feel Opium nearby. Ganito ang pakiramdam niya sa presensya ng kapatid, dahil sa blood attraction.Tumingin siya sa pintuan ng Cafeteria at nakitang papasok ang kapatid. He was walking straight and Olivia followed him. Her eyes widen as soon as she saw her brother approaching a table with some girls quietly eating lunch. Nagngitngit ang mga ngipin niya when a familiar girl was also sitting on that table, the girl who gave him the cake yesterday.

The table was a little far from Olivia but she can hear the conversation because her senses are much stronger than a normal person.

"Anong ginagawa mo? Didn't I told you to stay away?" tanong ni Celestine sa kanya. The rest of her friends ran for their lives. Nagulat ang lahat nang hindi ito tumakbo at sa halip ay nagpatuloy lang ito sa pagkain.

"I need to talk to you after class," Opium said as he leaned on the table and looked at her green eyes. Hindi maipagkakaila ng binata na magaganda ang mga mata ng dalaga. Kahapon niya pa ito napansin.

"May trabaho ako after class, bakit ayaw mo pang sabihin ngayon dito?" mataray na sagot ni Celestine.

"It's something important and I want to talk about it in private. Sige ganito nalang, I'll drop by at your house tonight and—" natigilan saglit si Opium sa pagsasalita when he heard a loud banging sound.

"Oh my gosh!" Celestine gasped and saw some tables flipped and broken. One table was at the wall, the students ran out of the Cafeteria.

Napailing nalang si Opium when she saw his sister walking out. Itinuon niya na ulit ang atensyon niya kay Celestine na nabigla pa rin sa mga nasirang upuan at lamesa. "So as I was saying—"

"That's your sister, right? She just throws the Caf tables and wiped off the rest of the tables up to the wall!" she was in awe.

"Yes, don't worry that's normal. She throws tables when she's in a bad mood. So where was I— oh yeah, I'll drop by your house after class? Pwede ba 'yun?"

Celestine rolled his eyes with what the vampire said. Hindi iyon normal para sa kanya at sa tono ng pananalita ng bampirang kaharap niya ay wala lang ito.

"Bahala ka Scatterella," she gave up.

"Good, see you later," he winked at her tsaka tumayo at umalis. Lihim na napangiti ang dalaga at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

Opium on the other hand, took out a sheet of paper containing the evidences that Krauser Vaughaun found in his Dad's secret research lab. Nang nalaman niya na may kasamang Chiropteran sa mga ito ay agad niyang kinuha ang papel at nagpasyang makipagkita kay Celestine. Napangisi siya dahil mukhang napapanahon ang pagkikita nila ng dalaga at ng kapatid nito na isang Chiropteran. Mas magiging madali ang pag-iimbestiga nila dahil sa magkapatid.

May nakakasalubong siyang mga estudyante na natakbo papunta sa Cafeteria para siguro makiusiyoso. Ang iba naman ay natakbo palayo doon dahil sa takot. Habang naglalakad ay nakita niyang paalis ng school si Olivia. He sighed and watched his sister drove off. "Mukhang masama ang gising ni Via or I guess she's having a really bad hair day," sabi ng binata sa sarili.

Tumayo sa harapan ng pinto si Opium at nakaabang na sa mismong bahay ni Celestine Hubbert nang matapos ang klase nito. Naka-lock ang pinto at hindi na niya inabala ang sarili na pumasok doon at sirain muli ang bintana nito. Baka hindi na siya makipag-usap sa kanya.

He saw Celestine's brother skipping down the alley and when he saw him, he happily ran and greeted him. "Hello! Inaantay mo po ba ang Ate ko?" tanong ng bata.

"Yeah, akala ko kasama mo siya?"

"Pinatawag kasi siya agad para mag-duty kaya hindi na niya ako nahatid dito sa bahay. Antayin mo nalang siya sa loob," his little hands grabbed Opium's pants and pulled him inside the house.

Opium sat down the sofa and turned on the TV. Tumabi naman sa kanya si Cedrick nang makapagbihis na siya. Napatingin naman ang bata sa bampira at matiyaga itong pinagmasdan.

"Stop staring at me, kid. Baka gusto mong mabulag?" he said without looking at the child.

"You're violent and hot-headed. I don't like guys like you to date my sister," he said and furrowed his little eyebrows.

Opium rolled his eyes and looked at the little guy. "I am not dating your stupid sister. May itatanong lang ako sa kanya, okay?" sagot niya.

"Hey! My sister is not stupid! Take back what you said!" tumayo ang bata sa sofa at pinaulanan ng suntok ang ulo ni Opium pero parang wala lang ito sa bampira na bored na bored habang naglilipat ng channels sa TV.

"Mapapagod ka lang, kutong-lupa," he said and yawned. Patuloy pa rin sa pagsuntok ang bata sa ulo at braso nito.

"You're mean! No one will love you! I will not let Ate date someone as bad as you!"

Umikot ang mga mata niya at tumingin ng masama sa bata na napatigil sa pagsuntok ng makita na unti-unting nagiging pula ang mga mata nito. "I swear I will not let you in grade school if you hit me again, you will die young, you annoying midget!" galit na sigaw nito.

Nag-pout ito at umupo nalang. Napailing nalang si Opium dahil nagsimula na itong umiyak. The kid is really testing his patience. Kung pupwede na niyang patayin iyon ay nagawa na niya. He looked at the kid who was crying and sniffing beside him. He rolled his eyes and switches the channel to a cartoon channel. Agad lumiwanag ang mukha nito ng makita ang nasa TV.

"Oh! Oh!" masaya niyang turo sa TV kahit basa pa ang pisngi nito ng luha sa pag-iyak. Agad nakalimutan ng bata ang pag-iyak at nanuod hanggang sa maramdaman ni Opium na may nakasandal sa braso niya. Nakatulog na pala ang batangChiropteran at nakasandal sa kanya.

Tinignan niya ang bata at napangiti na lang. "You're annoying... like Oraion," sabi nito at inayos ang pagkakasandal nito sa kanya. Nakaramdam siya ng antok at ipinikit saglit ang mga mata niya.

Celestine came rushing to the door as soon as she arrived. Naalala niya ang usapan nila ni Opium Scatterella sa school at kung ano-ano na ang pumasok sa utak niya na ginawa ng bampira sa kanyang kapatid. Hindi siya nakaalis ng maaga dahil sa dami ng customers sa pastry shop na pinapasukan niya. Agad siyang dumiretcho sakwarto ni Cedrick at lalo siyang kinabahan na wala ito sa kama niya.

Tatakbo pa sana siya sa labas pero natigilan siya ng makitang bukas ang TV at natutulog si Cedrick sa sofa habang yakap niya ang braso ni Opium Scatterella. She let out a sigh as soon as she saw her brother safe... safe in his arms... literally.

Ibinaling ni Celestine ang atensyon niya sa natutulog na bampira. He is dashing even when he's sleeping, she can't deny that fact. I guess, her first impressions are slowly fading every time she gives the vampire a chance to prove himself to her.

Napangiti siya habang tinitignan ang kapatid niya na mahimbing ang tulog habang nakayakap sa braso ng bampirang Scatterella. Opium looked helpless, sleeping soundly while still holding the remote. Napailing si Celestine at lumapit para kuhanin iyon at mapatay ang TV.

"H-Huh—" napatigil siya sa paglapit ng biglang nagising ang binata na saktong sobrang lapit niya dito.

Agad napabalikwas si Celestine at lumayo kay Opium. "K-Kukunin ko lang yung remote!" she defended herself.

Nakarinig lang ng ungol ang dalaga at nakita si Opium na nahikab. He looked at Cedrick and felt annoyed by the fact that he's drooling on his arm. "Ah! Disgusting midget! Nilawayan pa braso ko! Kadiri!" he said. Agad namang kumalas sa pagkakakapit ang bata habang mahimbing pa rin ang tulog nito.

"Kanina ka pa dito?" she asked, almost whispering to avoid her brother from waking up.

"Ano sa tingin mo? Hindi ba ang sabi ko after class?" mataray na sagot ni Opium tsaka ito tumayo at humarap sa salamin para ayusin ang collar ng kanyang uniporme.

Napalunok si Celestine nang makita nito ang makisig na likuran ng binata. Kahit pa nakadamit ito ay hindi niya mapagkaila na maganda ang pangangatawan ng—

"I hope you're aware that I can read your mind?" he said and looked at her slyly.

Umiwas ng tingin ang dalaga at tumalikod na para pumasok sa kwarto. "I'll just change my clothes. Give me a minute," pero bago pa man ito pumasok ay naramdaman na ng dalaga ang marahas na pagkapit ni Opium sa bewang nito tsaka ito binuhat na parang sako palabas ng bahay nila.

Opium fly off on top of a 10-storey apartment just in front of the girl's house. Gulat na gulat si Celestine sa bigla nitong pagbuhat sa kanya. "AHHHH!!! Hindi pa ako handang mamatay!!! Gagraduate pa ako!!!" pikit matang sumigaw ang dalaga ng maramdaman ang paglipad nila.

"Damn it!" narinig niya ang bampira nang makatungtong na sila sa itaas ng gusali. Ibinaba siya ng bampira habang kinakalikot ang tenga nito. "You're one loud bitch," he said.

"I don't fly off on top of buildings every night you stupid blood sucking jerk ass!" she spat.

Nagkamot na lang ng ulo ang bampira at lumapit sa dalaga. Celestine suddenly felt nervous. Hindi siya makatingin kay Opium at bigla itong nailang. She looked down and tried not to think how gorgeous he is underneath the moonlight.

"I'm Opium—"

"Yes, I know you. You're Opium Scatterella. The royal bloodline and the heir of the Scatterella coven! I know that already! Just say whatever you want to say!" she said without looking at him. She knows about the glamour but although this skill is already known to humans, there's this certain charisma that keeps them staring and falling into their trap. Celestine was determined not to fall into that kind of shit.

"I'm not that—I'm just... Opium. I'm not that guy anymore."

Unti-unting napatingin si Celestine sa bampira. Naramdaman kasi nito ang lungkot sa boses niya. "So? What are you going to ask me?"

"About your brother... he's a Chiropteran, right?"

Kinabahan si Celestine sa unang tanong pa lang. All these years she's been hiding Cedrick from everyone that wanted to kill him. Mali yata na nakilala niya ang bampira ng gabing nanakawan siya. Mali ang lahat... mali... mali—

"Look, it's not what you think. I'm not going to kill your brother."

Somehow, she got a hold of herself and sighed. "Y-You don't have any plans? You're not going to kill him kahit pa isa siyang Chiropteran?"

Opium shooked his head. "No. I was going to ask if ever you and your brother have encountered any of the other vampires in this area. Have you met any vampires who are under the ruling of the coven?"

"W-Wala pa. Nobody knows about him being a Chiropteran... just you. Umiiwas talaga kami sa mga tao at lalo na sa mga katulad mo," she said and looked at him.

"That's good to hear," Opium said as he nodded and thought for a while.

"Tungkol saan ba ito?"

"You'll know soon but for now, its best if you don't know anything."

"What?! Pero paano kapag may nangyaring masama kay—"

"I don't have plans with Cedrick... but the coven has. And I have to protect him at all cost," tumingin sa mga mata ni Celestine ang bampira at hindi maintindihan ni Celestine ang sarili kung bakit tumitig din siya sa mga mata nito kahit pa delikado.

"You... will protect Cedrick?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ng dalaga.

"Yes," he answered.

****

REAL TALK.

Penge ng comments please. Nagmamakaawa na ako. Gusto ko may nababasa ako. Ang daya, nagawa ako nh updates para nay mabasa kayo tapos ako walang nababasa. :( Sadnu. I am very aware na may nagbabasa nito but I can't feel the presence dahil konti lang yung comments (almost none). Para naman sipagin akong mag update, oh. Sobrang saya ko na talaga kapag magcomment kayo. Please? *puppy eyes*

Anyway, Park Shin Hye is Celestine Hubbert.

#SilverButler