CHAPTER FOURTEEN

AFTER all that said and done, Caitlin still has no clue of Luce's whereabouts. Kung saan-saan na siya nakarating. Pinuntahan na niya halos lahat ang mga posibleng lugar na pwedeng puntahan ni Luce ngunit hindi niya pa rin ito natagpuan. Kabilang na rin sa mga pinuntahan niya ang ilang acquaintances nito sa mga club na sinalihan nito pati na rin ang mga kakilala niyang classmates nito ngunit walang nakakaalam kung nasaan ang dalaga. All that's left on her list is this store. Nakarating na siya dito dati pero sa sobrang tagal simula ng pagpunta niya halos maligaw siya. Buti na lang maraming nakakaalam sa lugar na iyon kaya ng nagtanong-tanong siya agad na naituro sa kanya kung nasaan ang lugar.

Napabuntong hininga si Caitlin. Of course—maraming nakakaalam. It must be because of the weird name of the store.

Organic Kitten.Napangiwi si Caitlin. She was expecting an organic kitten lounging at the shop's doorstep. Though what could be an organic kitten looks like?

Noong sinamahan niya dati dito si Luce—hindi siya pumasok sa loob. So she's not familiar kung ano ba talaga ang mga binebenta ng may-ari. Though, Caitlin thinks that it's just a normal looking creaky old store made with washed out and mouldy wood. It looks haunted but she wasn't scared—though she's a bit creeped out because of its weird name. Siguro dahil iyon sa mahilig siya sa pusa. Biglang niyang naalala si Cleopatra.

Caitlin bit her lip hard to wake herself up from the sudden painful spell. It can't be helped. Caitlin's pretty sure Luce has a good explanation why Cleopatra's body was mangled like a broken doll but unlike Tita Matilda—Cleopatra has bitemarks all over her body. When Caitlin last called Luce—hindi nakaligtas sa pandinig niya ang mga kaluskos ni Cleopatra na parang nagpupumilit itong kumawala sa kung kanino—she even heard an animalistic growl in the background that got her imagination in an overdrive. At that time, naramdaman na niyang parang may mali. Na parang may nangyayaring hindi maganda kay Luce at Cleopatra but due to shock of how Luce reacted—Caitlin kind of fell off the grid and decided to ignore it. That was a mistake on her part.

Mas lalo sana siyang nagpumilit na kausapin o puntahan man lang ito. But she didn't and things happened. Caitlin swallowed the humungous lump that sudenly formed in her throat. She wanted to believe that it's not too late. She can still figure things out.

Nilipat ni Caitlin ang kanyang atensyon sa pulang pinto ng Organic Kitten—the only thing that was brightly painted. Mayroon pa ngang skulls and crossbones designed windchime na nakasabit sa may pinto. Speaking of skulls and crossbones—malapit na ang Halloween. And the day after tomorrow—it would be her 18th birthday. Though, there's no point in remembering it—since she couldn't possibly have the time to celebrate considering the circumstances right now. Hindi na nga niya sigurado kung may oras pa siyang dalawin ang puntod ng Papa niya.

Caitlin sighed. She needs to focus her attention to more important matters at hand—one's things for sure, patron si Luce ng store na ito. And if she remembers correctly—she's quite close with the owner too. The owner probably knows something.

As if actually sensing her presence—biglang bumukas ang pinto ng shop at tumambad sa kanya ang isang lalaki wearing a black cloak, a witch hat on his head with matching pointy black shoes. Caitlin just stood there—mouth agape.

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata nito ng makita siya. The next thing Caitlin knew—he's already right in front of her.

"Welcome! Welcome! My, my. What an unusual visitor we have here! Kamusta na Caitlin Rose?" masiglang bati nito. Bigla siya nitong niyakap ng mahigpit. Nanigas si Caitlin.

Hey! Hey! What's going on? I don't even know you!

Naramdaman siguro nito ang paninigas niya dahil agad siya nitong binitiwan.

"Oops! Sorry, I got carried away"

Caitlin cleared her throat. "Kilala niyo po ako?"

"Oo naman sino bang hindi nakakakilala sayo?"

Natigilan si Caitlin. Biglang niyang naalala si Romulus pati na rin si Basil—lalong lalo na ang isa pang...Hep! Hep! Stop thinking about them!

"Anong pong ibig niyong sabihin?"

"Oh! My bad. Wag mong masyadong isipin yung sinabi ko. Ang ibig ko lang naman sabihin e lagi kang nababanggit sa akin ni Lucia pati na rin yung isa niyo pang kaibigan na si Lorelei"

"Ahhh..."

"Oh where are my manners!"

Mabilis na hinubad nito ang suot nitong witch hat na bahagyang tumatakip sa itaas na bahagi ng mukha nito. Contrary to the creepy feeling she's having just by looking at the constume he's wearing—his face tells a completely different story. Caitlin thinks he's in his late 20's—he has this innocent looking face and doe-like eyes that made him looked somewhat younger but despite that there's something in his eyes that made Caitlin feel a bit uneasy. Dahil ba sa parang pamilyar ang mukha nito o dahil sa sinasabi ng mga mata nito—like he knows everything there is to know just like an old wise man. It also matched with his confident stance and lanky body. Just by looking at him made her feel calm but at the same time anxious.

"By the way I'm Conrad but you can call me Carina" Caitlin stared—completely baffled with what he just said. From Conrad to Carina? Hinila siya ni Con—er Carina sa braso.

"Dali! Pasok ka! Anong maipaglilingkod ko sayo my lovely rose? Anong gusto mo—" Conrad just kept on talking habang naglalakad ito patungo sa bawat shelves kung saan nakalagay ang mga binebenta nito. Caitlin followed suit she but tuned him out. She grimaced.

Calm huh? She takes it back. Maybe not so much. Though he's pretty much making her feel anxious right now. Pinagtuunan na lamang ng pansin ni Caitlin ang loob ng store and she can't help but heave a huge sigh of relief. It's pretty normal. Mabuti naman. There were row of shelves in every corner made of red wood and there are fragile looking glasses in it that contains herbs and spices with different labels. Marami-rami din ang paintings na nakasabit sa dingding at karamihan doon ay puro paintings depicting nature. Just by looking at the place—it has an ambiance of nature itself. From the color of the rug—kahit sa nakahawing deep emerald curtains at ang colorful potted plants and flowers na nakalagay sa window sill ng store. Sa may pay-out counter naman ay may nakalagay na iba't ibang knick-knacks as well as candies and lollipops na mukhang ibinebenta rin ni Mr. Con—er Carina.

"Herbs and spices are my specialty. Namana ko ang passion ko na ito sa nanay ko. You know she's a certified naturopath. Kung sana nga lang nabubuhay pa siya ngayon sabay naming patatakbu—Caitlin Rose? Are you listening?"

"Huh?"

"Ayos ka lang ba?"

"No—I mean yes po. Nakikinig po ako"

"That's not what I was saying but anyway what kind of herb are you looking for?"

"Well I'm not really looking for any— "

"How about calamint" biglang bulalas ni Mr. Conrad.

"Cala—calamint?" naguguluhang ulit ni Caitlin. Muli siya nitong hinila sa braso at dinala sa tapat ng shelve kung saan nakalagay ang tinutukoy nito. Calamint huh? It looks just like any other normal looking leaves out there—though a bit smaller

"Calamint, let's see. It is a highly aromatic herb—kaya pwede siyang gamitin sa paggawa ng tea. It is really helpful in treatment of colds and influenza. Gamot din siya sa sakit sa tiyan and stiff muscles but you know what Caitlin, what makes it even more amazing is during the ancient times it is used by herbalists as a medicine para maka-recover tayo from our emotional pains dahil pinapawi daw nito ang kalungkutan na nararamdaman natin. By the way, pwede mo din siyang ihalo sa kahit anong putahe, it tastes like mint."

"Ahhh—er—well that sounds really promising but— "

"Nakakatulong ito para magkaroon tayo ng brighter outlook in life because it also induces happiness. Ahhh...how magically wonderful" animo'y nagde-daydream na saad nito with matching pikit pa ng mata at pinagsalikop ang dalawang palad nito.

Caitlin smiled. She thinks that it got nothing to do with magic—that calamint must have some properties that affect a specific hormone in our body or something like that, ngunit hindi na iyon isinatinig pa ng dalaga.

"Excuse me, Mr. Con—I mean Carina— "

"I also have Amaranth here. According to the myth, in ancient times it is also used for summoning spirits as well as for healing broken hearts. Ahhh, ang epidemya ng mga sawi sa pag-ibig"

He's not listening to her and beside it's nothing but grains. Carina moves on to the next herb. Caitlin gritted her teeth.

"While Bluebell is known to be the flower of grief and mourning. Also, in ancient times it is incorporated into rituals of the dead to comfort and eases the sorrow of the family that was left behind. Is this what you need?"

Caitlin stopped short, irked by the assumption. "No one's dying so I'm perfectly sure I don't need it" Caitlin snapped.

Makahulugang tinitigan lang siya saglit ni Mr. Conrad pagkatapos ay nagpatuloy pa ito sa paglalakad at pagsasalita. Caitlin groaned.

"Hmmm... Well I have have some foxglove he—" She wasted too much time already. She needed to end this conversation fast!

"Mr. Conrad I'm not here to buy anything. And I think that I'm not feeling sorrowful right now and I certainly don't need to heal my nonexistent broken heart so you can just keep it" Caitlin cut off.

"Well you're wrong"

"Huh?"

"Foxglove is used for protection of our home but it is also used in rituals in order to commune with those from the Underworld"

Caitlin blinked. "Underworld? As in hell?"

Mr. Conrad smiled. "As in the land of the dead"

"Bakit ko naman kakailanganing makipag "commune" sa patay?" Caitlin asked as she made air quotes.

"I thought you wanted answers" walang paligoy-ligoy na tugon naman nito

"Wala akong sinasa—" natigilan si Caitlin. What the heck is this man talking about? He's been saying a lot of weird things simula pa ng pagdating niya! So weird—it felt like he can see through her. Napahugot siya ng isang malalim na hininga. Kung gusto nito ng ganoong klaseng usapan, then she'll indulge him a little bit. "And youre saying that I can get answers from dead people?

"Maybe...maybe not. I think you should find out for yourself"

Namamanghang napatitig siya dito. "You're kidding right?!"

"Everything is not what it seems.You may find the answers that you're looking for from someplace or someone you least expect it to but the million dollar question is—are you ready to accept it?"

"Bakit hindi mo na lang ako diretsahin?" Muli itong ngumiti. Habang tumatagal mas lalong nagiging creepy sa paningin niya ang mga makakahulugang ngiti nito sa kanya. "Ibigay mo sa akin kamay mo" Hindi na nagprotesta si Caitlin—nag-aalangang inabot niya dito ang kanang kamay niya. May ipinatong naman ito doon. Napamata si Caitlin.

"Garlic?"

"Yup. Commonly na natin itong nakikita sa mga kusina natin but did you know that garlic also has it's magical uses, aside from healing and protection ginagamit din ito for exorcism and purifications of objects but its most commonly use to repel vampires...— pero siyempre alam mo naman yun hindi ba?"

Caitlin just nodded. Dumbstruck.

"Then, do you believe in vampires Caitlin Rose?" Napalunok si Caitlin. Actually, naka-ilang ulit na siya ng lunok pero hindi pa rin maalis-alis ang bara sa lalamunan niya. Mr. Con er—Carina watched her carefully and then out of the blue he winked.

"See, even dead people can talk" biglang makahulugang saad nito. Pakiramdam niya biglang nadikit ng superglue ang bibig niya. And for a moment it even felt like she stopped breathing. She feels numb. That's jus how shocked and weirded out she was with their conversation.

Nabalutan ng katahimikan ang paligid nila. Caitlin even feels a bit faint.

"Kung gusto mo nito—I'll give you a discount"

Discount? That jolted her awaked from her sudden stupor. Caitlin laughed—but it sound too force even to her.

"No thanks. We have tons of garlic in our house—ano kasi—si Mama kasi mahilig magluto. Ha.Ha. Ha." Nagkibit balikat si Mr. Conrad. Kinuha nito ang garlic mula sa may kamay niya at ibinalik na rin nito sa shelf ang iba pang mga hawak nitong herbs kanina lang. Pagkatapos ay naglakad na ito pabalik sa may pay-out counter.

Caitlin sighed in relief. Sumunod siya dito.

"Kung hindi ka pala bibili ano pa lang kailangan mo? Do you need any help with something?"

Naitirik ni Caitlin ang mga mata. "Nagbabaka-sakali lang po ako na baka nakita niyo si Lucia. I mean—hindi ko po siya ma-kontak. I just thought that she would probably be here"

"You should have said so earlier!" biglang palatak nito. But you keep cutting me off—kaya hindi ko matapos tapos ang gusto kong sabihin kanina pa!

"So, alam niyo po ba kung nasaan siya?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen her since her last visit"

Caitlin balked. That was fast! She got crushed in an instant. She should have expected this much—pero hindi niya maiwasang umasa. Caitlin thought that atleast there could be something here that could point her to the right direction.

"I think ang huling punta niya pa dito ay bago pa ang sembreak ninyo"

"Do you have any idea where she could possibly go?"

"I'm sorry Caitlin Rose pero wala akong ideya kung saan siya pwedeng pumunta"

"Ganoon ba. Salamat na lang po."

"May problema ba? May nangyari ba kay Lucia"

"Nothing!" agap na tanggi niya. He didn't have to know. "Nothing really! I just need to talk to her about something!"

"Alright then, kapag napadaan siya dito—I'll give you call"

"Thanks. I'm sorry for taking up too much of your time"

"Don't mention it"

Nanghihinang naglakad palabas ng store si Caitlin. Saglit siyang napasandal sa pinto ng Organic Kitten pagkatapos niya itong maisara para ma-steady ang sarili. Pakiramdam kasi niya para na siyang liliparin ng hangin sa sobrang panghihina niya. Nanlalabo pati paningin niya. She can't see well. Is she going to faint? She need to rest a bit—maybe she should stay in a coffee sh—Caitlin almost flew off to the other side of the road ng biglang bumukas ang pinto sa may likod niya. Thank God—she caught herself before that happens. Though, it felt like she was stabbed in the back because of the force. Caitlin wheezed in pain.

"Oh! Wait Caitlin! Meron pala akong ibibigay sayo" nagkakandarapang saad ng may sala habang tumatakbo ito papalapit sa kanya. Napahawak na lang si Caitlin sa may likod niya at banayad itong hinimas-himas. "I told you, I don't need your garlic" ani Caitlin habang abala sa ginagawa niyang paghihilot. Napapikit si Caitlin sa sakit na nararamdaman.

"Hindi! Hindi ito bawang!" sigaw naman ni Mr. Conrad sa kanya "It's a talis—"Mr. Conrad's voice suddenly drowned out and Caitlin's eye snapped open—and the next thing Caitlin knew he found him lying on the road. Napakaripas ng takbo si Caitlin sa tabi nito. "Nasaktan po ba kayo?!" Nangingiting umiling lamang ito. Inalalayan niya itong umupo. "No I'm fine. I just tripped" pabalewalang tugon ni Mr. Conrad.

"Ikaw!—how can you trip when there's nothing on the road?"

"You're such a meanie!" idinungdong nito sa mukha niya ang isang maliit na bato. "Ito ang may kasalanan kung bakit ako nadapa" Naitirik ni Caitlin ang mga mata. That's just a freaking pebble!

"Anyway, ito nga palang ibibi—" bigla na lamang itong tumigil sa pagsasalita at natutok ang atensyon sa may leeg niya.

"Bakit na naman?"

"My. My. What a beautiful iris you have there" Awtomatikong napahawak si Caitlin sa kwintas niya.

"No wonder you faintly smell of irises and yes, I'm certain of it now. You smell of a certain someone, like death."

"As in the grim reaper?!" nanghihilakbot na bulalas ni Caitlin. Nagsitayuan ang lahat ng balahibo niya sa katawan

"Kanina ka pa Carina! Kanina underworld ngayon naman grim reaper!" Natatawang tinapik siya nito sa balikat.

"Did I scare you? Wag kang mag-alala. That's not what I meant. It's just that—that necklace it's given by someone closed to you right?"

"Yeah. It's from my Dad. Don't tell me...ang ibig mo bang sabihin na "death" was my Dad? He died when I was still a kid. Siya ang nagbigay sa akin nito"

Though she is not going to tell her na biglang parang magic na nag-appear ang kwintas na ito sa leeg niya. "Yeah. That must be what I'm sensing. I don't think you won't need my talisman then. You already have one to protect you"

"You're right. It's my protective charm. Wait—wag mong sabihin you do "witchy" things too?"

"I wouldn't call it like that—but I guess that's the closest word you could describe me with"

"You're not just a typical herbalist. You and Luce are on the same wavelength then"

Natawa na lang si Caitlin. "Anyway—mauuna na po ako"

"Sorry for keeping you"

Tumayo na si Caitlin—aalalayan rin sana niya itong tumayo but then she stopped short when she saw his hand "You're hurt. Your hand is bleeding"

"Huh? Dugo?" mabilis pa sa alas-kwatro na napatitig ito sa kamay niya at ng makita ang nagdudugo nitong kamay nanghihilakbot na napatili ito. His eyes almost popped out of its socket at pakiramdam din ni Caitlin mahihimatay na ito dahil sa sobrang pamumutla ng mukha nito.

"Dugo! DUGO!!!! Nasaan na ang panyo ko? Panyo? Ang panyo ko!" Mr. Conrad shrieked in panic, hindi na ito magkandaugaga sa paghahanap ng panyo nito sa may side pocket ng suot nitong damit. Nang mahanap naman nito iyon ay kinuha niya mula sa nanginginig nitong kamay ang panyo nito at dinampi iyon sa sugat nito. Saan kaya ito nasagutan? Wala namang matulis na bagay na pwedeng makasugat sa kamay nito. Though the wound is not deep, Caitlin still feels anxious because of how freaked out Conrad is.

"Do you have a first aid kit?" He just nodded. She guessed he's too shocked to talk. Caitlin smirked. He's afraid of blood huh?

"Let's get inside then" Inayos ni Caitlin ang pagkakahawak niya sa panyo para ma-press niya ng maayos ang sugat nito. Nang itupi niya ang isang side ng panyo—Caitlin almost dropped it when she saw something she didn't expect. Blood roared in her ears, her heartbeat quickening. Hindi na siya makagalaw—animo'y napako siya sa kinatatayuan. Hindi siya pwedeng magkamali. It's the same overlapping triangles she remembered.

"Bakit ka tumigil?" nagpa-panic ng tanong nito sa kanya. She's panicking right now too.

"This symbol..." Caitlin said hoarsely. Sinilip ni Conrad ang tinutukoy ni Caitlin.

"Ahhh that, it's nothing really. That hanky, someone just gave it to me"

It's not nothing! Caitlin shouted inside her head. She recognized it! It's the same symbol from the picture of Luce's bedroom—the one drawn in blood.

"Do you know what this symbol means? Please tell me!"

"Pumasok na muna tayo sa loob. Mas importante pa ba—"

"Mas importante 'to! Please, sabihin mo sa akin! I need to know!"

"Ok! Ok! Huminahon ka. And please stop pressing hard! It hurts. Awww!!" Agad na binitiwan ni Caitlin ang kamay ni Mr. Conrad but without letting go of the hanky. On the contrary, humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa panyo nito.

"Wait lang, let me think. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali that symbol is called the Sigil of Lucifer which represents Lucifer, the prince of the fallen angels himself. It is also magical symbol na ginagamit ng mga taong nagpe-perform ng black magic to summon demons. My friend just gave it to me. Satisfied?"

"Where did he get this?"

"Hindi ko alam kung saan niya nakuha ang panyong iyan! Pero malamang binili niya sa department store?"

"Hindi lang ito basta galing sa department store! It looked like it was personally stitched in here there's even an initials!"

"I really don't know pero parang nakita ko na rin ang sigil na iyan sa may private club na pinuntahan namin last time—the symbol looked similar from the one inside the club though I'm not sure if it's a souvenir or—"

"Paano pumunta doon?"

"Ha?"

"I need to go there"

Napakamot ito sa ulo. "Well you see. It's not a place you could just go if you want to. You have to be invited"

Invited? This situation is getting familiar by the second. "I'm still going. Just give me the name of the place at kung paano pumunta doon"

"Well, hindi ko na matandaan kung paano pumunta ulit doon but if I remember correctly the name of the place is called Devil's Paradise"

Devil's Paradise. Those two words echo in her ears incessantly, constantly drilling in her mind and sparking a fire in her heart. It's the same Devil's Paradise that Lors was talking about. This was no coincidence. It was a clue left behind for someone to find—and there's only one thing that she needed to do and she needed to do it fast.

She needed to get inside Devil's Paradise no matter what.