M I L L E R

"Gumising na ba siya?" una kong tanong nang bumalik na kami sa silid kung saan nagpapahinga si Axel.

Umiling-iling si Kristoff. It might not be good news but at least the worries and sadness are gone to his face. Pero hindi ko tuloy alam kung dapat pa rin ba akong masiyahan. Kristoff is not showing negative expression, yet he is showing an ominous one. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi magiging magandang ang darating sa akin na balita.

However, part of me is still glad. Again, Axel is getting well.

"May inutusan na si Papa na maghanap ng ingredients para sa antidote ng lason ni Master," pahayag sa akin ni Kristoff.

"Akala ko ba si Axel lang ang may alam kung paano gawin ang gamot?"

"Oo," tango niya, "did you see the small notebook na binabasa namin? Kay Master 'yun, sinusunod lang namin kung ano ang nakalista na mga sangkap. Kung ano ang kaya naming makuha, hinahanap na namin. Sa ganun na paraan mas mapapadali ang trabaho niya paggising."

Surely, Axel is very lucky to his servants. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pamamaraan nila sa kanilang mansyon but I can tell that their servants are loyal. I also remember that there was no one other than Axel in that mansion. I did not see any family members. Sa sitwasyon ni Axel noon dapat ay may kapamilya na umintindi sa kanya. I know there was Martin, but how about a sister? Or a brother? Now as well, this is my second time here pero bakit hindi ko naabutan ang pamilya niya? Don't they want to see Axel? Hindi ba sila nag-aalala sa kanya?

I stop settling for wondering about these. I am way too curious to let it be so I started asking, "Kristoff, nasaan na ang pamilya ni Axel?"

Kristoff stood frozen. Hindi na muna siya nagsalita, he just gaped as if the answer was right in his mouth yet he was reluctant to utter it.

I am willing to wait, and he is on the verge of answering me when a loud knock echoed in the room. Kasunod nito ay ang pagbukas ng pinto. It's a single-way door, yet it is at least three-inches larger (on all four sides) than the regular doors.

"Sir Miller," bati sa akin ni Martin sabay yuko. Sa likod naman niya ay nakasunod si Mateo. His eyes are on the floor, almost as if he has his eyes close. At nang iangat niya ang paningin niya his glare directly went on me. It was intense and serious, but it is not intimidating or angry. It's just seeming that he has something in his thoughts na dahilan kung bakit hindi niya maikalma ang kanyang mukha.

Now, I just noticed na pareho sila ng suot na ekspresyon ni Kristoff.

"I'm glad you accepted my invitation," said Mateo, wearing a neutral expression now. Tila ba lumuwag ng bahagya ang intense na ekspresyon sa mukha niya. What's left is his serious face.

"Nothing to mention. I originally planned to come back here."

"Oh, really? I don't think a certain someone has mentioned that to me," sambit niya habang dahan-dahan na inilipat ang tingin sa gawi ni Kristoff. Hindi na ako nagsalita, ganun din si Kristoff na umatras ng bahagya sa likod ko. Mateo just cleared his throat then said, "Anyway, that doesn't matter anymore. I guess my decision still favors your plan." He closed his eyes then a silent breathing came from his nose.

Silent. Yet, strangely, I can hear it well.

"Ano ang kailangan niyo sa akin?" Hindi na ako nag-paligoy-ligoy pa at kaagad nang ibinigkas ang katanungan na ito.

Naglakad paabante si Mateo, habang pareho naman na pumunta sa gilid ng silid ang mag-ama. Bahagya rin akong lumingon kay Axel pero tulog pa rin siya.

"I asked you yesterday; how's your feeling? You said, you're fine," Mateo began as he crossed his arms. "Yet, I can sense that you are lying."

I was taken aback... which I shouldn't be. Lumingon ulit ako ng bahagya sa kama para icheck si Axel. I did not realize this until now, but I guess I don't want him to know about my vampirization yet.

Ayos lang sa akin nung malaman ko ang tungkol sa panggagamit nila sa akin. I am fine being specimen number two. But then, I realized that if I become a vampire, a creature just like him. Wouldn't the time he won't be needing me come faster? It won't be the same when I was a human where he will constantly seek me for my blood.

"Miller, you must tell us the truth." Mate sighed. "Fine. It would be hypocrisy if I keep demanding the truth from you despite also lying."

"What lie?" I asked. "What lie do you have for me?"

"The truth to why Axel still insists you stay with him is not only for your blood." Mukhang alam ko na kung saan ito patungo. "You probably know about his experiments, don't you? He actually made you one of those, a specimen to be specific. While you are staying with him, he is observing your body's constitution. He has data and results in his lab that will show changes in your body. This is the reason why despite your resistance to tell us the truth, you can't fool us." Nagkaroon ng saglit na katahimikan sa silid.

How do I tell them that I already know about that?

Magsasalita na sana ako kaso hindi pa pala tapos si Mateo sa pagsasalita. "Besides, it has become a common knowledge to us vampires that no human can stop the entrance of vampire essence in their body. For a human who has been bitten by Axel several times and certainly received vampire essence larger than any other vampirized humans. It is impossible for your body to not change."

Just like what I have expected.

Sabagay, hindi ko na rin naman kayang itago ang mga pagbabago sa katawan ko.

"Okay, fine. Fine," I uttered as I raised my hands. Para akong kriminal na nahuli sa akto. "Wala akong sinabi na magsisinungaling ako sa inyo hanggang sa huli. I am only trying to see things. I am only testing the water. I do feel weird, like hunger or thirst that is more often and more severe than before. Pero hindi ba't parang normal lang 'yan? And my senses are normally great. I am a healthy human after all. But these past few days. I am more... more sensitive. I can even hear your sigh early," banggit ko sabay turo kay Mateo. "Akala ko ayos pa. Mapapalampas ko pa. But yesterday, my wounds healed on their own..." I paused then breath. I was about to continue when Mateo spoke.

"Congrats, you are in your vampirization process. Great honesty," bati niya.

He doesn't seem surprised nor angry. He just looks at me with serious eyes. At para bang may nakalaan na siyang plano. He then proceeded asking, "Do you think it would be fine to you to meet the Supreme? Oh, Supreme is the person who leads the vampires."

Hindi dapat ako papayag. I should just wait for Axel to wake up and help me. He would know what to do. I know. But he himself is still in danger. Hindi pa naalis ang lason sa katawan niya. And he is still lying there unconscious.

I don't want to be a burden to him. And if becoming a vampire also signifies that he won't need me to keep him in check with my human blood that... that should be fine, right?

This attachment began because we were always together. Axel has extraordinary charm that drags the people around him. I am just one of those people. Isa pa, sanay na rin akong mag-isa. It is not like I really plan to stay with him forever... I guess.

"How's it, Miller?" tanong ulit sa akin ni Mateo.

I smirked. "I think my opinion won't be much necessary. Sa palagay ko no matter what my response would be, you will still do what you ought to do. Magkikita at magkikita pa rin kami ng Supreme niyo," I told him with confidence.

I thin and lopsided smile carved on Mateo lips. "Great. You're quite right about that." Ikinumpas ni Mateo ang kanyang kamay saka siya pumalakpak ng isang beses. "Now, it's settled! Follow us here, Mr. De Leon."

Oh. That's a swift decision. So, I am about to meet their leader tonight.

They call the place a mansion, pero sa laki at lawak nito at mistulan na itong castle.

Dahil nag-teleport si Kristoff patungo sa silid ni Axel kahapon, hindi ko nakita at natitigan ng maigi ang buong lugar. Nasa ground floor ng mansyo pala 'yung lugar na una naming napuntahan ni Kristoff. 'Yung tila living room na may malalaking picture frames. And we are on the third floor, sa palagay ko. The place is square in shape at nakikita ko ang railings ng dalawa pang floor sa itaas.

Hindi na kami nag-teleport patungo sa Supreme nila. We just exited the room through the door and walk in the hallway. May mga nadadaanan kaming iilang mga tao... or bampira. They are obviously wondering who I am. Kitang-kita sa mula ulo hanggang paa nilang pagtitig sa akin. Para bang inaanalisa kung tama ba na nandito ako sa lugar nila.

"Just keep walking," sabi sa akin ni Mateo na nasa harapan ko.

Pinatong naman ni Kristoff ang kamay niya sa balikat ko. I looked at him and saw him smiling with his thumb in salutation.

"I'm not that nervous," ani ko sabay hawi ng kamay niya. I noticed him pout, so I said, "But thanks."

Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang sunod niyang naging reaksyon pero hindi na ako gumawi pa sa kanya.

A few steps later we reached a staircase. We reached from 3rd to 5th floor. Nakaya kong lakarin ito na hindi iniintindi ang mga mata na sa akin nakatutok. Kahit saan nga talaga ako tumingin ay parehong kulay itim, pula, at gintong ilaw ang nasa paligid. The only difference would be the pictures hanging on the wall. Magkakapareho lang din ang disenyo at kulay ng mga pinto nila. Although we passsed more than five rooms, I still don't think na 'yun na iyon lahat. May mga corridors pa rin naman sa lugar. I'm sure that there are more to those parts.

Isa pa hindi ko rin inasahan na may mga babae rin pala rito. Nung sinabi nila na isa itong lungga ng mga bampira, I imagined this to be like a military base with strong men warriors are around. On guard and ready to fight against the enemies they kept mentioning about. But instead, the place is no different from an office place. With people in suits and papers on their hands. May mga babae pa nga. Babae o lalaki, they all look reluctant about me and a little bit of ... hostile?

But from time to time may mga nakakasalubong pa rin naman ako na naka-sando lang. May mga pawisan at batak ang katawan. Lalo na nung nasa 4th floor na kami.

Hindi ako sigurado. Sa tingin ko this place has a lot going on.

"We're here," pagpapaalam ni Kristoff sa akin.

I stared at the door in front of me. To all the doors in this mansion, this one is the fanciest and widest. It's very different to others. All the doors have fancy wood designs. Pero dahil sa marami sila at paulit-ulit ko nang nakikita they are not too fancy and unique at all. But the one in front of me now is a double door entrance with golden doorknobs and a pretty huge golden floral carvings. Kulay itim ang pinto kaya may kakaibang effect ang gold color. The carvings seems to be a thorny vines of roses.

Lumingon muna sa amin si Mateo. Unang dumako ang mga tingin niya sa akin bago lumipat kay Kristoff. Tumango siya sa katabi ko, then Kristoff started talking.

"Uhm, don't be too nervous. The Supreme is a kind person. Tatanungin ka lang niya, mag-uusap kayo. Wala siyang gagawing masama sa'yo maliban na lang kung naging agrasibo ka sa harap niya."

Oh. So, it's like a briefing. "Yes, sure," I answered without any problem. Hindi ko masasabi na hindi ako kinakabahan, pero at least I am not a violent person so I guess I am safe from angrying their Supreme.

Hindi rin nagtagal ay itinulak na ni Mr. Martin ang higanteng pintuan. What first welcome us is a large rows of bookshelves. The place is nothing like a bedroom, instead it's a library. A huge library. May second floor pa na puro libro lang din ang naroroon. Nihindi ko na nga makita ang kabilang dulo nito.

"Miller, dito tayo," mahinang sabi sa akin ni Kristoff.

I was mesmerized by the vast collection of books na nakalimutan ko nang sundan sila Mateo at Mr. Martin.

Tumungo kami sa kaliwang bahagi ng silid. A few meters from the entrance , we reach another door. It is smaller than the main door. Kasinglaki nito ang ibang pintuan sa mansyon maliban na lang sa iba ang disenyo nito. It has the same rose carvings in the main entrance.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Ito ang tatlong sunod-sunod na malulutong na katok na ginawa ni Mateo. Wala kaming narinig na sumagot. Hindi na rin naghintay si Mateo at pinihit na ang doorknob.

It seems that their Supreme is really expecting for me.

Sa pagbukas ng pinto, isang malawak na silid na naman ang sumalubong sa amin. This time ay may kama na sa gitna at tila living room sa kanan. In the middle of it, a man with long and way hair welcomed as with a smile. May hawak siyang tasa. Inilapag niya ito sa sandaling mapansin niya kami.

He also has pale skin, and with his pinkish lips he smiled saying, "Good day. What can I do for you?"

Oh. He looks younger than I expected him to be.