Flame 5 - Bewitched

Imbes na homework ang inaatupag ni Krauser Vaughaun ay witchcraft books ang kanyang binabasa. Hindi na maiaalis sa binata ang pangingielam sa murders na nangyayari sa New Wellington. Hindi na niya kayang isantabi ang mga pagpatay lalo pa't alam niyang meron siyang kakayahan para mahanap ang salarin.

"Master, magdinner na— ay nako! Akin na nga yan!" agad na kinuha ni Katherine ang librong binabasa ng kanyang Master.

Nagtitimpi nalang talaga si Krauser sa pagiging pakielamera ng babaeng butler niya. Dahil sa kanya, hindi niya nalaman kung nandoon ba sa kumpulan ng mga tao ang witch na gumawa ng ritual.

"Ibalik. Mo. Yung. Libro. Ngayon. Din." He glared at her intently.

"Nope."

"Katherine Lovell! Ano ba!"

Namula si Katherine ng isigaw ni Krauser ang buo niyang pangalan. "Aww~ alam mo kung ano ang buo kong pangalan. Aww~" sabi niya habang nakangisi. :3

"I'm serious! Give me that book!" sigaw ng Master niya.

"Ano ba kasing mapapala mo when you try to solve these murder cases? Yes, maybe you want to help but why not let the NWPD handle this? Krauser—"

"Why do you care? You're just my butler! Stop telling me what to do!" tumayo siya at lumabas ng kwarto.

Katherine sighed and looked at the book she was holding. She felt sad about being disregarded by her Master. She felt that sudden twitch when she was reminded of her place.

'You're just my butler!'

Katherine shook her head and placed the book on Krauser's study table and walked out of his room.

Kinabukasan, palihim na pumunta si Krauser sa Library para magbasa ng libro tungkol sa witchcraft. Isa sa mga kaibigan niyang pulis sa NWPD na si Officer Dawson ang nagbigay ng ilang detalye tungkol sa pagpatay.

Ang pangalan ng biktima ay si Charm Kunis. 2nd year student ng Larkworth College. Ayon sa paunang imbestigasyon, lately nainvolved si Kunis sa witchcraft activities dahil sa mga kaibigan. Sabi din na may nakilala siyang grupo ng witch at inimbita siyang maging parte ng grupo nila.

Witchcraft is serious shit. May naencounter na ding ganitong kaso si Krauser pero kakaiba ang isang ito. Bukod kasi sa sunog ang katawan ay hubad din ito at maraming sugat sa braso.

"Hindi kaya, may foul play? Maybe the bruises in her arms were signs of her resisting," kausap ngayon ng binatang Vaughaun ang kaibigang pulis sa phone habang nagsa-scan ng libro.

{"I believe so. The burning of the body might have done to cover up a murder. Pupwede ang naisip mo Krauser, pero ngayong sinasawalang bahala nalang ito ng Dad mo at gusto niyang ideklara na isa lang itong witchcraft offertory ritual, mukhang hindi na natin mapapalawig ang imbestigasyon."}

Krauser bit his lower lip because of anger. "Dad never cared about them anyways. I'm not surprised," he said.

{"Hindi naman siguro, Krauser. Sa tingin ko mas maganda na kung ganoon ang isipin ng mga tao dahil baka matakot sila sa mga witch."}

Krauser did not reply nor agreed with what Officer Dawson said. His Dad never cared about anything at all. He never knew his intentions or for who does his father stands.

"HULI KA!" nabitawan niya ang libro ng bigla siyang ginulat ni Katherine. He tried to gather himself from being startled.

"Damn b1tch! Stop shouting! We're at a fvcking Library for fvck's sake!" naiinis na bulong ni Krauser.

"Ah? Okay. Sorry. Tara! Lunch na tayo! Gutom na ako!" nagpout ang butler niya at kumapit sa braso ni Krauser. Pansamantala siyang nabingi dahil sa physical contact niya sa Silver Flame.

Napangiwi nalang siya sa inaasal ng butler niya. Daig pa ang girlfriend kung umasta. "I'm busy. Eat on your own, silver freak."

"How 'bout you? Hindi ka pa maglalunch? Sabay na tayo!"

Umikot ang mata ni Krauser sa kakulitan ng butler niya. He picked up the book he dropped and sighed. "I can't believe this. I'm like babysitting a 4 year old," naiinis niyang bulong.

Habang naglalunch sila biglang umupo sa tabi ni Krauser si Annielyn. Nasa tapat nakaupo si Katherine. Automatic na tumaas ang kilay ng butler as soon as she saw the werepanther.

"Hi Krauser. You heard about the witchcraft offertory ritual death yesterday?"

Tumango lang si Krauser at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. "I talked with Officer Dawson a while ago. We both think na murder iyon at hindi ritual."

"I'm surprised that you haven't caught the culprit yet. I'm sure nasa crowd iyon gaya ng dati."

Krauser glared at his butler. "Yeah right. Thanks to my goody-two-shoes butler, the culprit escaped."

Nagpout si Katherine while looking at both of them. "What? I was doing what your Dad said. Stop making me feel like I'm the one to blame here!"

"Ikaw naman talaga eh," Annielyn said and rolled her eyes.

"Sige magsalita ka pa, silaban kita dyan ng Silver Flame ko para lalo kang hindi makapagtransform ulet! Leche!" inis na pagbabanta ng butler kay Annielyn.

She leaned over to Krauser. "Krauser oh! Your butler is threatening me!" sumbong nito pero tila malalim ang iniisip ng binatang telepath.

Nilapag ni Katherine ang tray na may isang pitchel na juice at baso. Nakatitig lang siya kay Krauser. He's deeply engrossed with this witchcraft ritual case.

"Krauser—"

"Iwan mo na lang dyan. Leave," sagot niya ng hindi nalingon sa nakatayong butler. Hindi maiwasang magpout ni Katherine.

Napatigil naman sa pagsusulat si Krauser tsaka binaba ang hawak ng pen at hinarap si Katherine. "What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?"

Huminga muna ng malalim si Katherine bago ngumiti sa Master niya. "Kung hindi ka madaan sa mahinahong paki-usap then you leave me with no choice but to do this." Lumabas mula sa kamay ni Katherine ang puting apoy.

Nalaglag ang panga ni Krauser ng makita iyon. Yes, hindi pa siya sanay. Natrauma din siya dito at alam niyang manghihina siya with that white flame.

"N-No! Stay away silver freak!!! I said stay away!" pagtakbo nito para makalayo.

Umikot ang mata ni Katherine. "Stop running. Mapapagod ka lang." Her flames crawled as if like may sarili itong isip. Humaba iyon at naglakbay papunta sa binatang Vaughaun.

"Ahhh! S-Stupid flames! Ahhh!!!" sinubakan niyang harangan pero napaso siya. Isa pa, parang vacuum ito na humihigop ng lakas.

Krauser felt weak and dropped on the floor, struggling to get out from the circle of flame na pinaikot ni Katherine sa katawan niya.

"Rest. May pasok ka pa bukas. Kailangan mong magpahinga after I drained all your energy." Tatalikod na sana si Katherine ng marinig niya ang marahang pagtawa ni Krauser. Kunot noo niyang nilingon ang Master niya.

"Y-You're really my father's pet. A dummy. A puppet. Huh?" he said while smirking.

"Kahit ano pang sabihin mo, hindi ako naaapektuhan. I'm just doing my job. Wala kang mapapala sa ginagawa mo. You're wasting your time! Why would you keep pushing yourself in a world na hindi ka nababagay," malamig na tugon ng dalaga.

He looked at her and grinned kahit iniinda nito ang pagsakip ng ulo at pagkahilo. "Ikaw? Sa tingin mo, nasa mundo ka na nababagay sayo?"

Hindi sumagot si Katherine at nanatiling nakatayo.

"Ako? I'm searching for my purpose. Mabuti ka-- you were created with a purpose. You have a family you can turn to-- you have an identity you can claim as yours. Eh ako? I'm an empty canvass. And that empty canvass doesn’t even know why he existed."

She looked at the other way. Somehow, dodging his meaningful stares.

"I help them hindi dahil gusto ko lang. It's because with this I can be useful. I have a purpose. I can read what they're thinking, their inner feelings, their torment, their pleasures— even their last memories before meeting death. Lahat yun. Naririnig ko lahat. And these creatures existed because of a purpose too. Pero dahil mas kakaiba sila kesa saken, they're being judged, being discriminated, being picked on. And when Dad deprives me to help out, he's also depriving them of a person that has the capability to understand them."

Nakaawang ang bibig ni Katherine. Tila nadurog ang puso niya dahil doon.

"We're both alone in this world now. And I'm looking for my place in this world. Sana ganun ka rin. Good night, Lovell." tumayo siya at dahan-dahang naglakad papunta sa kama niya.

Umiling si Katherine at padabog na naglakad palabas ng kwarto ng Master niya.

Kinabukasan, nabatid ni Hansel, ang family driver ng mga Vaughaun, ang cold atmosphere sa pagitan ng Master at butler niya. Kung dati nagkukulitan at nagaasaran ang dalawa ngayon ay tila kaparehas na sila ng lumalamig na klima sa New Wellington.

Mula sa likod ng kotse, narinig ni Krauser ang obserbasyon ni Hansel sa kanilang dalawa.

'Ano kayang problema ng dalawa ito? Kahapon lang masaya silang nagkukulitan ngayon naman— haaay nako. Mga kabataan talaga. Daig pa ang buntis kong asawa sa pagkakaroon ng mood swings,' the driver said to himself.

Napatingin si Krauser kay Katherine na tahimik lang na nakadungaw sa bintana. Krauser is somehow curious on what the butler is thinking. Gusto niyangg payagan na siya nitong tulungan si Officer Dawson tungkol sa murder case and stop interfering.

As soon as they arrived, they parted ways. Nakakapagtaka dahil si Katherine na ang nagsabi na hindi niya dapat iwanan si Krauser. The young Vaughaun shrugged and continued to walk away from his butler.

'Why do I even care? Tss’, he said to himself.

Tuliro pa rin si Katherine matapos ang mga klase niya. Iniisip niya ang mga sinabi sa kanya ng binatang Vaughaun.

Medyo naiintindihan niya na ang gustong gawin ng Master ngunit salungat ito sa utos ng kanyang ama. Hindi niya alam why suddenly she was flooded with this drive to help his Master. Nagustuhan niya ba ang prinsipyo nito? Or was she just smitten by him?

"Jade! Wait!" napatingin siya sa mga babae na nasa locker area kasama niya. Katherine closed her locker and decided to leave when--

"We want to learn witchcraft, Jade!" natigilan siya and hid beside a vendo machine.

"Are you sure? You're all aware of the news right? About our beloved Charm and—"

"Yes! But I find it cool and interesting!"

The girl smirked. "Okay then. Tomorrow. May gagawin kaming welcoming ritual sa Tower. See you there."

"Okay!"

Narinig niya ang pagtakbo ng ilang babae habang naiwan doon ang kausap nilang babae na may mahabang buhok. Napatingin si Katherine nang may isang babaeng lumapit. Magkasinghaba sila ng buhok. Their hair makes Katherine shiver. It was long and creepy.

"Ready na ba?" the girl named Jade asked.

"Oo. But— are we sure about this, Jade? What if--"

"Amethyst, haven't you heard the news? NWPD will declare the incident as a witchcraft ritual. We're safe. And if anything goes wrong, we'll do it again and get away with it."

"But Jade, we don't know if this will work—"

"I don't want to hear any of your excuses. I'll meet you at the Larkworth Tower in 5 minutes."

As soon as nakaalis sila, Katherine immediately followed them.

Nakatayo sa harapan ng school si Krauser Vaughaun habang nakikinig ng music sa headphones niya. Girls swoon over his neat appearance kapag napapadaan sila. Matangkad si Krauser at maputi. Makinis at baby face. Mapupula ang mga labi at may inosenteng mga mata.

"Vaughaun," binaling ni Krauser ang atensyon sa babaeng nasa tabi niya.

"Via?" tinanggal niya ang headphones niya at ngumiti. "Wala pa ang sundo niyo." He's beside Olivia Scatterella. Sometimes, she’s also called Via.

"I know. My stupid brother said to wait for him dahil nasa faculty ito at nakuha ng make-up class."

"Make up class? Hindi na naman ba siya napasok?"

"Napasok. But the assh0le never cared about anything anyways so kahit pumasok siya, wala ding kwenta."

Napangisi nalang si Krauser sa dalawang magkapatid. They never liked each other. Lalo na si Olivia. She despises her brother so much. Ang alam ni Krauser, anak sa labas si Opium, but the Coven considers him as part of their royal blood line. Strange.

"Sis," bati ni Opium kay Olivia and gave her a kiss on her cheeks. "Sorry I'm late. Ang ingay ingay kasi nung matandang prof namin sa Anatomy. I wanted to throw him out of the window pero baka magalit ka saken."

Tumingin ng masama si Via kay Opium. "Kahit wala kang gawin, I still hate you."

He smirked and looked at Krauser. "Oh! Vaughaun! I think I saw your butler," he reminded of himself.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Krauser. Muntik na niyang malimutan na inaantay niya ang babaeng butler kaya siya nasa harapan ng school.

"Saan?"

"Paakyat siya sa Larkworth Tower."

Agad tumakbo si Krauser. Olivia was in awe after what happened. "Wow. So ngayon, the Master should fetch the butler now?" she asked.

Ngumisi si Opium sa kanya. "Hmm. Siguro. In their case."

"Why would Krauser do that? Ang alam ko he doesn't like to have butlers following him around."

Nagkibit balikat lang si Opium. "Maybe. I don't know."

"Why do I have this stupid thought that he cares for his butler? Is he gay?!"

Opium looked at Olivia with an amused smile. "Damn Via, you're so stupid and cute at the same time."

Namula agad si Olivia and punched her brother. "Shut up Opium!"

"Haha. Krauser's butler is a girl, Via."

"WHAT?!?!???"

Kinikilabutan si Katherine habang nanunuod sa paghahanda ng dalawang witch sa Larkworth Tower. Gumuhit ang isang babae ng bilog na may bituin katulad ng simbolong nakita nila ni Krauser sa plaza.

Sa gitna noon ay may nakataling babae na hubad ang katawan. Lumapit si Jade Ravich sa babaeng nakatali at binuhusan siya. Kung hindi nagkakamali ng hinala si Katherine ay gas ang ibinuhos doon sa babae.

Si Amethyst Ravich naman ay tapos ng gumuhit at agad pinunasan ang kamay na may dugo tsaka lumapit kay Jade.

"Ate Jade... promise me. Kapag hindi gumana ang gagawin natin, we need to stop."

Humarap si Jade kay Amethyst at ngumiti. "Hindi. Hindi tayo titigil hangga't hindi nabubuhay si Sapphire! Naiintindihan mo?!" she roared.

"Pero— Ate—"

"Wala akong pakielam kung marami tayong isakripisyo! I need Sapphire back! We need to bring her back, Amethyst!"

"Ate naman! May kapangyarihan tayo pero hindi natin saklaw ang kamatayan! We can't bring her life back! Alam mo yan!"

"I can! I will!" lumayo siya at kinuha ang isang libro. She started the ritual and the frightening whispers of ancient spells suddeny made Katherine step back— only to find Krauser behind her.

"Shhh," he said at tumingin sa mga witch na kasalukuyang ginagawa ang ritual.

"We need to save that girl," sabi ni Katherine referring to the girl tied up and naked sa gitna ng symbol.

"The Ravich sisters are very powerful. You can't just go there and shoot your gun."

"Eh ikaw? May naiisip kang magandang plano?" walang gana nitong sabi kay Krauser.

"W-Wala."

"Tss. Wala naman pala eh," ramdam ni Krauser na naiinis pa rin sa kanya ang dalaga. He's confused why is she acting like that samantalang siya dapat ang magalit at umiwas sa kanya dahil sa pagbabawal nito.

"Hey. Akala ko ba 'wag na akong makielam sa case na toh? Why are you here?!"

Agad nagisip ng alibi ang dalaga pero sumuko nalang siya. "Okay fine, Vaughaun. May point ka naman talaga. Pero sana intindihin mo rin ang Dad mo. He wants you safe. Okay?"

"That's why you exist right? To protect me?!" he grinned at her. She was taken aback dahil biglang lumukso ang puso niya nang makita niya itong ngumiti.

"In your dreams! It's my job to protect you, but I don't exist just to do that."

He chuckled and scratched his head. "Okay. Sabi mo eh."

Nagkatitigan pa sila ng biglang nawasak ang pinto ng roofdeck. Agad dumapa ang dalawa para makaiwas. Nakalimutan nilang nagmamasid sila sa dalawang witch!

"Krauser Vaughaun?!" nagulantang sila ng makita ang binata habang nasa akto ng pagsasagawa ng lihim at eksperimentong ritual.

"You need to stop doing these rituals, Ravich. Turn yourself over to the NWPD now."

Jade gritted her teeth and whispered spells. Agad natigilan si Krauser at napaluhod. Kasabay ang pagsuka ng dugo. Katherine ran towards Krauser and used her silver flame as a shield.

"What the—" namangha ang witch sa nakita niya.

"Krauser? Hey! Are you alright?" hindi sumagot si Krauser at patuloy sa pagsuka ng dugo. The witch must have cast some sort of spell.

Agad lumabas sa palad niya ang isang silver calibur at pinaputukan ang witch. Saglit na nakahinga si Krauser pero nanghihina na ito. Hinarangan siya ni Katherine habang pilit na pinapatigil si Jade Ravich na bumubulong ng orasyon para manghina pa lalo si Krauser.

Natamaan ni Katherine ang witch at saglit na natigil ang orasyon. Krauser took the opportunity and stood up to head towards the symbol. Pinagpapatuloy parin ni Amethyst ang eksperimentong ritwal habang ang kapatid niyang si Jade ang umaatake ulit kay Katherine. He aimed and kicked the witch, the spell book closed and the light forming at the symbol disappeared.

"No!!!" sigaw ni Jade ng makitang nakahiga ang kanyang kapatid. "You'll pay for this Krauser Vaughaun!!!!" aatake na sana si Jade ng makapasok si Krauser sa kanyang isip.

Wala siyang makita kundi puro masasayang alaala. Kilala ni Krauser ang nakababatang kapatid nila na si Sapphire Ravich. Kamakailan lang ay namatay ito dahil sa isang car accident kasama ang boyfriend. Lubos na ikinalungkot ng magkapatid ang nangyari.

"Sapphire! Huwag kang sumama sa lalaking yan!" sigaw ni Jade habang palabas sila ng bahay.

"Ate Jade, tama na! Gusto ko ng maging normal! Mahal ko si Brent! He's everything to me!"

"Paano kami ni Amethyst?! Ang buong pamilya natin?! Iiwan mo na rin kami? For that useless human?!"

"Oo, Ate Jade."

Sumakay si Sapphire sa kotse at agad umalis. Sa sobrang galit ng kanyang kapatid, she casted a spell of misfortune, their car got hit by a truck. Agad sumunod si Jade doon. Plano niya ito para mapigilan ang kapatid. She was supposed to save the life of her sister at iwanan ang kasintahan nito but Sapphire and her boyfriend decided to stay in the car and die together in each other's arms... away from her sister Jade, away from this cruel and unfair world.

"You killed Sapphire!" sigaw ni Krauser na nagpatigil kay Jade sa pag atake.

"What are you—"

"It was not a car accident! You killed Sapphire! Kaya pala gusto mo siyang buhayin because your conscience is eating you up! Now you're using humans as sacrifice for your rituals and when you failed these experiment rituals, you'll burn them to death. Huh?" he smirked. He finally found a way to manipulate the witch!

"H-Hindi! P-Paano mo—"

"Ate Jade— you killed Sapphire? Pinatay mo siya?" nanginginig na lumapit si Amethyst sa kanya. "You liar! How could you do that to our poor Sapphire!!!"

"I— I didn't mean to..." napaluhod si Jade at umiyak. "I was supposed to heal her but—"

"How could you do this to her!!!!"

Nanatiling nakatayo si Krauser habang naiyak ang magkapatid sa harap niya. Katherine managed to untie the naked girl and cover her up. Unconcious pa din ito.

Krauser reached for his phone and dialled Officer Dawson's number.

"I found the culprit."

* * * *

A/N: Wala akong reference sa witchcraft. Ayokong magresearch. I'm scared. I tried pero ewan, somehow I end up sa demonic or satanic rites chu chu afterwards so ayun.

Anyways, this is pure fiction. I'll just make my own type of witchcraft. Ha ha ha. K. Share lang.

Vote and comment! :3