CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Marahas na naitulak palayo ni Caitlin ang kanyang ama, kusa naman itong bumitaw na katulad niya nagulat sa muli nilang pagkikita. Nang tuluyan siyang makaalis sa bisig nito mas lalong nanlamig at namanhid ang buong katawan ng dalaga. Nanglulumo na awtomatikong yumuko ang ulo ni Caitlin habang napako sa kanyang kinatatayuan. Ilang sandali lamang ang lumipas at naramdaman niya ang biglang paglabo ng kanyang paningin at namalayan na lamang niya na nagsi-unahan na ang pagpatak ng kanyang mga luha. Hindi na niya napigilan ang impit na hikbi na kumawala mula sa kanyang bibig.

Nanatili namang tahimik ang nag-iisang dahilan ng kanyang pag-iyak ngunit ramdam niya ang tensiyon nito ng mga sandaling iyon dahil sa kakaibang awra nito. Ramdam din ni Caitlin ang matinding paraan ng pagtitig nito sa kanya. Mariing kinagat niya ang kanyang labi para pigilan ang sarili sa pag-iyak sa harapan nito. Mabilis niyang pinahid ang kanyang luha pagkatapos ay hinanap ang kaibigan. Nang makita niya si Lors animo'y papanawan na ito ng ulirat dahil sa pamumutla ng mukha nito habang nakatingin ito sa kanilang dalawa.

"Lors, let's get out of here" pilit pinatatag ang boses na saad ni Caitlin sa kaibigan. She's thankful that her voice didn't break. Nanlaki naman ang mga mata na tumitig ito sa kanya. It's like Lors is telepathically cursing her while she couldn't properly open her mouth. Makailang ulit na nagbukas at sara ang bibig ng kaibigan ngunit walang namutawi na mga salita mula dito. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit ganoon na lang ang reaksyon nito. Napapailing na lumapit si Caitlin kay Lors at hinila ito palabas ng biglang magsalita ang kanyang ama.

"You're not going anywhere" mahina ngunit madiin na utos nito. Lumipad ang tingin niya dito at matalim itong tinitigan. His father's eyes turned back to the normal shade of violet just like hers but she couldn't help but think that the color of his eyes is much darker than the last time she'd seen it. He also feels colder and distant than the last time she'd seen him.

"You don't have a say in anything. Besides, you said so yourself, the next time we meet you won't be my father anymore. If you're not my father, then you're basically a stranger!" hindi na napigilang singhal ni Caitlin.

Gumuhit ang sakit sa mga nito ngunit katulad ng dati agad nitong nakontrol ang ekspresyon ng mukha nito. While looking at him, nothing really changed much not his physical appearance or his personality. During her childhood, there are only two things that she's always familiar with his father that is when he smiles to hide what he truly feels and when he smoothen his face into a blank expression when he's trying to shut himself from everything. Just like what he did right now. He looks like a perfectly carved cold expressionless sculpture. Despite his attractive appearance that can seduce just about anyone, in that moment Caitlin feels scared instead because as of that moment she is slap by the realization that she really doesn't knowing anything about the real him. It really feels like he became a total stranger to her.

Animo'y naeeskandalo na pumagitna si Lors sa pagitan nilang dalawa. Madiing hinawakan ni Lors ang kanyang kamay. "Anong ginagawa mo? Don't be disrespectful like this! You're literally asking for your death, you idiot!" natatakot na pangaral sa kanya ng kaibigan. Nagtatakang tumingin si Caitlin ng biglang yumuko ang kanyang kaibigan sa harapan nito at magalang itong binati.

"My apologies, Lord Delacroix. This servant here doesn't seem to know who you are, please over look her impertinence"

Nagpanting ang tainga ni Caitlin sa nadinig ngunit nagpatuloy ang kaibigan. "We don't want to disturb you any longer, so we will take our leave"

"Raise your head" sagot nito sa maawtoridad na boses. Dahan dahang sumunod si Lors ngunit nanatiling nakatutuok ang tingin nito sa ibaba.

"You must be one of Cain's witches. You can go but leave Caitlin here"

Napamaang si Lors sa nadinig. "Pardon? How did you know—"

"NOOOO! We're leaving!" hindi na napigilang sabat ni Caitlin sa pag-uusap ng dalawa kahit parang luluwa na ang mata ni Lors dahil sa ginawa niya.

It was his father's turn to glare at her."Listen to me. It is dangerous for you to go out now. There are people out—"

"You mean people like you?!" Caitlin feels like she was kicked in the stomach for saying something horrible. She balled her hand into a tight fist. Hindi ito ang panahon para maging mahina siya. "Lors, do you know how to teleport or something?"

"Huh? Teka! What the hell is going on?!"

"Can you do it or not?"

"Well, I kind of know how but—"

"If you get me out of here, I will make your favourite double chocolate mousse tart and napolitan ice cream cake roll as compensation"

"Deal" animo'y robot na sagot naman nito. Caitlin smirks. Lors did a double take. "Woahhh! Wait! I didn't just say that!" naguguluhanng bawi nito. Nagpapabalik ang tingin nito sa kanilang dalawa hanggang sa biglang umalingawngaw ang pamilyar na boses na panandaliang nakapag-panigas sa kaibigan.

"Lorelei! Are you still in there?!" pabulyaw ng tawag ni Minerva dito.

"Shit" Lors muttered harshly. Mabilis pa sa kidlat na hinawakan ni Lorelei ang kanyang kamay at hinila siya ng kaibigan palayo sa kanyang ama. Bahagya itong yumuko sa direksiyon ni Lord Delacroix para humingi ng paumanhin bago muling itinuon ang atensiyon sa kanya.

"Close your eyes" sumunod si Caitlin sa iniutos ng kaibigan. Caitlin can feel his father's stare urging her to look at him but she refused to take one final glance despite what she truly feels. At that moment, Caitlin just wants to get out this place immediately. "Don't follow me" mahinang turan ni Caitliin dito. She feels relieve that he didn't reply. She doesn't want to hear his voice.

Mayamaya lamang ay nakaramdam siya ng kakaibang sensasyon na bumalot sa kanyang buong katawan. It felt both tingly and ticklish. After that, she felt the urge to vomit. Nahihilo na napakapit si Caitlin sa kanyang sentido. "Pwede mo ng buksan ang mata mo" nang iminulat no Caitlin ang kanyang mga mata , dobleng mukha ng kaibigan ang rumehistro sa paningin niya. Caitlin blinks a few times and wipes her eyes.

"That's a normal reaction for first timers like you. It will pass, just take a deep breath" agad naman na sinunod ng dalaga ang utos ni Lors. After a few minutes, unti-unti ng nawala ang sakit ng ulo niya. Nang humupa na ang pagkaliyo na kanyang nararamdaman, agad na pinasadahan ng tingin ni Caitlin ang lugar ngunit dahil sa sobrang madilim sa lugar na kinatatayuan nila hindi niya maaninag ang paligid. Hindi pa nakatulong na walang bituin sa kalangitan at bahagyang natatabunan ng ulap ang buwan. Subalit sa kabila ng lahat na iyon hindi makapagkakailang tuluyan na silang nakalabas sa kastilyo.

Lumipat ang tingin niya kay Lorelei. "You really can use magic" gulat na saad ni Caitlin. Hindi sumagot ang kaibigan bagkus ay inilibot nito ang tingin sa paligid.

Caitlin decided to let it go, for now. "Where are we?"

"In the back garden, it will be just a short walk from Luce's location" itinuro ni Lors ang kanlurang bahagi ng hardin kung saan mayroong makikitang malabong ilaw sa may di kalayuan. Nagsimula ng maglakad si Caitlin patungo sa direksiyon na itinuro ng kaibigan. "Let's go! We need to hurry"

"Sandali! Mayroon akong kailangang itanong sayo!" humahangos na saad ni Lors habang sumasabay ito sa malalaking hakbang ng kanyang mga paa. Hindi niya pinansin si Lors at nagpatuloy lamang siya sa paglalakad.

"Caitlin!"

"Stop shouting! Someone might hear us. Hindi ba pwedeng sa susunod mo na lang ako tanungin?"

"Hindi pwede. It has to be now! Paano mo nakilala si Lord Delacroix?"

Hindi siya lumingon sa direksiyon ng kaibigan. Hindi niya alam kung anong hitsura ng mukha niya ngayon but she doesn't want to show others how vulnerable she feels right now. Thankfully, it's dark right now. She bit her lip hard to stop it from trembling. "He's supposed to be my dead father" Caitlin said in a clear, quiet voice.

Biglang hinablot ni Lors ang kanyang braso at pilit siyang pinaharap dito."No way! Vampires can't have children"

Iniwas niya ang tingin sa kaibigan. "Well, I guess he's no—t my re—real father then" Caitlin's voice can't help but shake a little. "Can we not talk about this, please?" nagmamakaawang pakiusap niya dito. The desperateness in her voice must have gotten through her because Lors suddenly let go of her hand and started to walk quietly ahead of her. Caitlin followed, thankful of the short repose. Habang tumatagal pakiramdam ni Caitlin mas lalong lumalamig ang temperatura ng lugar. Although she's dressed warmly, she can't help but feel cold inside and out. Bahagya niyang niyakap ang sarili para pigilan ang panginginig ng kanyang katawan.

It almost took them about ten minutes to reach their destination. Tumambad sa kanyang paningin ang isang lumang mansiyon na mayroong dalawang palapag. Halos katulad ang disenyo ng mansiyon na iyon sa kastilyo kung saan ginaganap ang pagtitipon. There's also a pair small creepy looking gargoyles standing at the entrance. Ngunit ang lugar na iyon ay siguradong hindi napagtutuunan ng pansin dahil sa mga agiw na makikita sa may entrada ng mansiyon.

"There's a door in the back that could lead us straight to the basement" tumango si Caitlin at tahimik na sinunandan si Lorelei.

"What about Devon? Or the guards?" biglang naalalang tanong ni Caitlin sa kaibigan. Suddenly, a loud sound of a horn shattered the eerie silence of the night. The moon also chose it's perfect timing to reappear in the night sky. Lorelei quietly stand still as if basking in the spectacle before turning to her.

"The party is starting and they have to pay their respects to the elders. Let's move while everyone's gone"

Nang makarating sila sa likurang bahagi ng mansiyon tumambad sa kanila ang malawak at mataas na damuhan. Bahagyang yumuko si Lorelei para hanapin ang lagusan na papasukan nila samantalang naiwan naman siya para magbantay. Mayamaya lamang ay sumenyas ito sa kanya. Agad siyang lumapit dito, at tinignan ang itinuro ng kaibigan. Hidden amids't the overgrown lawn is a locked metal door on the ground. Lors took out an old-looking key to open it.

"Tulungan mo akong buksan ang pinto" ani Lors. Agad na tumalima si Caitlin at tinulungan ang kaibigan sa paghila at dahil sa kalumaan hindi naging madali ang pagbukas niyon. Nang sa wakas ay mabuksan nila ito habol ang hininga na sumunod siya sa kaibigan ng sinimulan nitong tahakin ang madilim at maliit na espayo papunta sa loob. Mabuti na lamang semento ang hagdanan na nilalakaran nila. Nabawasan ang pag-aalala ni Caitlin pero hindi niya maiwasang hindi hawakan ang damit ni Lorelei. The place is eerily quiet that all she can hear is her hard breathing, it feels like ears hurt because of the silence. However, everything changed in an instant when she finally take the last step of the stairs. Hindi pa man nakakabawi si Caitlin sa kabang nararamdaman bigla namang umalingawngaw ang makapanindig balahibong ungol sa bawat sulok ng lugar. Nanigas si Caitlin sa kanyang kinatatayuan at hindi niya magawang maihakbang ang kanyang mga paa.

Naramdaman ni Lors ang kanyang paninigas at napahugot ito ng isang malalim na buntong hininga. "Just ignore it, they're locked up so they won't be able to do anything"

May kinuha ito sa gilid ng pader at sa isang iglap lamang ay biglang lumitaw ang apoy sa hawak nitong sulo. Caitlin stares at the rows of door in both sides of the wall. The sound of growls and scraping of walls became even more distinct.

"How many of them are here? Are they all—"

Lorelei cut her off "Hindi mo na kailangang malaman, you can't do anything to help them. We just have to get Luce out of here" seryosong saad nito. Caitlin couldn't give a retort because Lorelei is just stating a fact. She is in no position to help anyone when she can barely do anything without her help. Caitlin decided to quietly follow her trying drown out the sounds until they arrive at the end of the basement.

When Lorelei opened the heavy door, Caitlin's heart dropped at the sight of an unconscious Luce. Even with the small light coming from the torch, she could clearly see the deplorable state that she is in.

Marahas na bumaling ang atensiyon ni Caitlin kay Lorelei. "What the hell did you do? She's skin and bones!"

Lorelei's face remains unreadable. At nagtangis ang bagang ni Caitlin dahil sa blangkong ekspresyon ng mukha nito. Nagsimula siyang naglakad patungo sa direksiyon ni Luce ng bigla siyang pigilan ni Lorelei.

"It will be dangerous to go to her right now"

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"She needs to eat but she refuses to drink the blood given to her that's why she in that state right now. You overheard their conversation, right? Devon already turned her into a vampire"

Caitlin's hand turned into a tight fist. She want to punch something but it won't do anything to change the current state that they are in. Pumiglas siya sa pagkakahawak ni Lorelei. "Just…let's get her out of here"

"Hindi natin siya kakayanin na buhatin ng tayong dalawa lang"

"Then, just do what you did earlier"

"I can't do long distance teleportation Caitlin, they will definitely catch up on us"

"Then what are we supposed to do?!"

"Almost all fledglings has low probability of survival and Luce is on the brink of death. Mas lalong lumala ang kanyang sitwasyon dahil hindi tinatanggap ng katawan niya ang dugo na ibinibigay sa kanya"

For a moment Lorelei became quiet, staring intently towards Luce who's still unconscious and when she finally opened her mouth, Caitlin stiffened in response. "Let her drink your blood"

Lumipat ang atensiyon nito sa kanya at matiim siyang tinitigian ni Lorelei habang dahan-dahang binakas ng kamay nito ang kurba ng kanyang leeg. Bahagyang nanginig si Caitlin sa paraan ng paghawak ng kaibigan "I heard from Devon, there's something about your blood that drawns them in. Maybe, if it's you she will accept your blood" bahagyang ngumiti si Lorelei at may kakaibang ningning na ipinapahiwatig ang mga mata nito, na animo'y hinahamon siya.

Napalunok si Caitlin. If it's the only way, then she's willing to do it. "Alright, I will do it" pagkasabi niyon ay lumawak ang ngiti ni Lorelei. Biglang sumulpot ang isang punyal sa kamay nito at iniabot iyon sa kanya. Nangatog ang kamay na kinuha iyon ni Caitlin at hindi naman iyon nakaligtas sa paningin ng kaibigan.

Kinakailangan niyang sugatan ang sarili and Caitlin doesn't have any idea where she will slice herself. Will her hand be enough?

"Do you want me to do it for you?" Caitlin shakes her head. She doesn't understand what's going on inside Lorelei's head and she doesn't have the time to decipher it. She just need to focus on one thing and that is to help Luce.

Dahan-dahang naglakad si Caitlin sa direksiyon ng kaibigan na kasalukuyan pa din na walang malay ng mga sandaling iyon habang nakasandal sa pader at duguan ang suot ng damit. Luce is still wearing the same dress she wore when they were together at dahil sa biglang pagbawas ng timbang nito halos mahubad na ang damit nito dahil sa sobrang luwag niyon. Her shiny black hair already lost its original luster and all she can is her frail body with her bones portruding because of her stretch out skin while her ankle is tied with a metal chain sticking to the wall.

Caitlin took a deep breath. Bago pa man siya tuluyang mapanghinaan ng loob, she stick out her left hand and slice her palm deeply. Caitlin watch as if in a trance while blood pour out of her hand. Even though only a few seconds has passed, she hears a low growl and when she look up at Luce her eyes collides with a pair of blood red eyes. Nanghihina ang mga tuhod na tuluyan ng napaluhod si Caitlin sa harapan ng kaibigan. Dagli niyang ipinikit ang mata, resigning to her fate. It doesn't take too long when she feels something slippery licking her and a sudden sharp pinprick on her hand. What happens next became a blur but all she can remember is when Luce's teeth sink ravenously to her neck and drink her dry. And Caitlin has to fight with all she'd got to just stay conscious and survive.