CHAPTER TEN

"WHAT'S the situation?" anang baritonong tinig ng bagong dating at isa sa pinakamatandang miyembro ng samahan. Kaswal na naglakad ito patungo sa ibang miyembro habang kritikal na pinasadahan ng tingin ang kabuuan ng lugar na kasalukuyang iniimbestigahan ng kanilang organisasyon.

Everyone stand in attention ng mapgtanto kung sino ang nagmamay-ari ng boses na iyon. Nagkatinginan ang isang hilera ng kalalakihang nakasuot ng itim na kasuotan mula ulo hanggang paa at nababalutan din ng itim na tela ang ibabang bahagi ng mukha ng bawat isa —at sa bawat kasuotan ng mga ito ay nakatatak ang simbolo ng organisasyon—ang Trinity Cross.

"We lost them, Sir" matatag ang boses at lakas loob na imporma ng isa habang diretsang nakatitig sa kanilang pinuno.

Nanaig ang mahabang katahimikan—nagsisimula ng balutan ng tensyon ang buong kapaligiran. At ang bawat isa ay hindi maipapagkailang nagsisimula na ring makaramdam ng takot na nagmumula sa presensiya lamang ng kanilang pinuno. Hindi na dapat sila nagulat pa. Kahit gaano man nila katagal at maingat na pinaghahandaan ang bawat misyon hindi maiiwasang may mangyayaring ibang hindi inaasahang pagkakataon na maaring makasira o makatulong sa kanilang misyon—at ng pagkakataong iyon ang kanilang hindi inaasahan ay nagdulot sa kanila ng pagkabigo.

Alam nilang lahat iyon ngunit—ang misyon na iyon ay napaka-importante na ang pagkabigo ay hindi kasali sa pagpipilian.

"All of them?" dumagundong ang boses na kumpirmang tanong ng lalaking animo'y kidlat na tumama sa kalupaan at sinilaban ng buhay ang bawat taong nandoon ng mga sandaling iyon.

"Ye—s si—r" nauutal na sagot nito.

"I specifically ordered to catch those bloodsuckers at all cost!" he roared jolting everyone in their positions.

"The—re's no excu—se for our failure" nahihirapang sambit nito sa mga katagang mas lalong nagkumpirma sa sitwasyong kinasasadlakan nila.

"Keep searching"the leader commanded in a quiet voice—too quiet that stilled everyone in their place as its coldness takes hold their contained fear.

"Ye—s sir"

"Move!" he commanded without preamble. "Get moving now!"

Nagmamadaling kumilos ang bawat isa ngunit maingat at alertong pumasok sa loob ng abandonadong building—ng masiguro niyang ginagawa na ng mga ito ang kanya-kanyang trabaho tsaka lang nagawa ni Lucas ang humugot ng isang malalim na hininga upang pakalmahin kahit papaano ang sarili. He cursed silently. Damn those bloodsuckers! To think that they were able to escape!

Lucas stared up the dark sky with seething anger. The moon looks as imposing as ever as it stared him down.

"Bloody hell!" Lucas cursed loudly.

"Now, now calm down Lucas. It can't be helped. You can't possibly think that we can outmatch the council no?" a voice suddenly popped up at his side.

Kilala niya kung sino ang nagmamay-ari ng boses na iyon.

Appearing at a place like this of all time...

"What the hell are you doing here Theodore?" he muttered without taking off his eyes from the moon.

"Not happy to see me?"

He's still a happy go lucky old fool as ever. Lucas glared at his friend then and comrade for countless years with their countless and endless battles together. He's wearing the same clothes as everyone else, letting him only see his wise old eyes reflected in his own.

"Si Zed?" Lucas suddenly asked.

"Don't worry he's still alive" Theodore playfully answered.

"I'm not the least bit worried. He is my son" seryosong sagot naman niya dito.

Theodore shrugged.

"Well, you're right about that. Anyway, ang akala ko makakahuli na tayo ng higanteng isda kaya lang naunahan na naman tayo ng konseho ganunpaman hindi pa rin nasayang ang pagpunta ko dahil I had obtained an even more valuable information I could ever hope for"

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" nagtatakang tanong ni Lucas sa kaibigan.

"You didn't know?"

Nagsalubong ang kilay na tinitigan niya ng masama si Theodore.

"About what? I don't have time to play your mind games Theodore"

"Then—did you really know what happened tonight at this very place?"

Lucas answered despite his annoyance. He gritted his teeth.

"I know. To think that I messed up this mission. Were only supposed to be here to catch those leeches who've been kidnapping young girls these past few months using them as their blood slave but to think na meron pa pala silang mas malaking planong niluluto. It was too late ng malaman namin ang totoong plano nila. You can laugh now. That bloody leech Cain Dior Calvados had woken up from his freaking slumber. Nanatili na lang dapat siyang tulog panghabang buhay"

"Mukhang ang kanyang punong babaylan ang may pakana ng maaga niyang paggising"

"They broke the covenant"

"Yeah that's why the council is coming after them. They may be monsters but they are self-righteous monsters Lucas. It's a serious crime that can't be overlooked by the council. Kaya sa tingin ko mas wais na wala muna tayong gawin sa ngayon"

Walang gawin? Letting those bloodsuckers loose is a crime! But Theodore's right, for now they shouldn't do anything drastic.

"Lucas—alam kong mahirap gawin ang sinasabi ko lalo na't si Cain ang pinag-uusapan dito pero—"

Bago pa man matapos ni Theodore ang ibang sasabihin nito biglang lumabas ng building ang squad leader ng team na dinispatch niya at dumiretso sa kanilang dalawa ni Theodore.

"Sir, the place was swept clean. Wala kaming ibang makitang traces na pwede nating gamitin para masundan sila"

"Keep looking" he commanded in a clipped tone.

"Pero Sir—"

"I said keep looking!"

"Si—"

"Enough Lucas. It's the council were talking about here. Of course, there would be no traces left. There's no other choice. Were back to square one"

"Shut up Theodore!"

He's being irritating. He knows he's right but he still can't keep himself from getting irritated.

"What about the human girls they recruited? Did you find them?"

"No sir. There are few traces of blood but we can't find the bodies"

"Sh*t!"

"Of course, wala tayong makikitang katawan. Siguradong—"Theodore butted in again but he immediately cut him off.

"I know! So will you please stop talking Theodore?"

"At least you said please this time. In that case, I'll give you a reward but before that... tell your squad members to go back to the base. There's no point staying here any longer. We can't draw any more attention when we're out in the open like this" malumanay na utos ni Theodore dito ngunit hindi ito kumilos—at nanatiling naghihintay ng utos mula sa kanya.

He sighed in frustration.

"You can go"

"Yes Sir!"

Lucas started walking towards his car. Nagmamadaling sumunod sa kanya si Theodore.

"Saan ka pupunta?"

"Uuwi, hinihintay ako ng asawa ko. Tama ka wala ng saysay ang pananatili pa natin dito" pabalewalang saad niya.

"Pero may sasabihin pa ako sayo"

"Pwede bang bukas na lang?"

"Nope. I don't think it's not something you wouldn't want to know now"

Ano pa bang ibang sasabihin nito sa kanya na mas lalong makakapagpasira ng gabi niya?

Lucas was about to tell him off but one look at Theodore's made him change his mind.

"Alright. You win. I'm all ears"

Sinimula ng paandarin ni Lucas ang kotse—hindi pa man sila masyadong nakakalayo animo'y bigla itong naghain ng bomba sa kanyang hapag-kainan.

"It's Basil Pendragon" seryosong imporma nito.

Muntikan ng mabangga ni Lucas ang kotseng nasa harapan niya mabuti na lamang agad niyang natapakan ang preno ng kotse.

"He's back?" nagtagis ang bagang na kumpirma ni Lucas sa narinig.

Theodore just nodded.

"Bloody hell!"

"And that only means one thing"

"Ang hiyas" nagngingitngit sa galit na sambulat ni Lucas.

Theodore sighed turning his attention outside the car window.

"Most likely this will end up in another bloody war. I wonder who's she's going to choose this time" Theodore added quietly.

"No one. I'll kill her first bago pa niya magawa iyon" determinadong deklara niya.

Theodore stared at him hard. "I'm not fond of killing innocent people—"

"You really say the most outrageous things Theodore. Her existence alone is a sin and to atone for that she needs to die"

Theodore sighed, his eyes turning sad.

"You're turning into a quite a monster yourself, Lucas"

"It can't be helped. In order to kill a monster I need to be one"

"Lucas, she's a mortal this time you know, an innocent mortal. Wala siyang kaalam-alam sa mga nangyayari"

"Alam ko pero hindi na mahalaga iyon. Iisa lang ang mahalaga—at iyon ay ang mamatay siya bago pa mahuli ang lahat"

"I guess it can't be helped then" Theodore muttered almost to himself.

"Tutulungan mo ba ako?" hindi na napigilang tanong ni Lucas sa kaibigan.

"Tinatanong pa ba yan? One of my principles in life is to treat women with utmost care"

"Theodore..." nagbabanta ang tinig na tawag niya dito.

"Regardless, ang protektahan ang mga importanteng tao sa buhay ko ang pinaka-nangunguna kong prinsipyo sa buhay kaya natural—tutulungan kita" puno ng sinseridad na sagot ng kaibigan habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa kanya

"Stop saying embarrassing things" bulong na sambit ni Lucas. He feels his face heated.

"Heh! Nahihiya ka? That's more than enough of a com—natigil si Theodore sa sasabihin ng mapansin ang tinatahak nilang kalsada...teka! Saan tayo pupunta? Ang akala ko ba uuwi na tayo?"

"Change of plans. Were going back to the base. You said you'll help me right? We need to find her as soon as possible. No matter what!"

"Pero gusto kong makita si Caitlin!" nagmamaktol ng saad nito. "Ipabukas na lang natin ito. I want to see Caitlin now!"

"Are you an idiot? And stop harassing my daughter! You pervert!"

"Nooooooo!!!!!!"

Lucas ignored Theodore's cries as they speed off towards the base. Lucas sighed.

Maagang natapos ang date niya at ng asawa niya dahil sa nangyaring insidente ngayong gabi at ngayong may panibago siyang trabahong kailangang asikasuhin—wala siyang ibang choice kundi ang tawagan na lamang ito upang ipaalam na hindi siya makakauwi ngunit pagkatapos niyang ayusin ang problema niya sa hiyas sisiguraduhin niyang babawi siya kay Millicent at Caitlin. Matagal na niyang plano ang pagbabakasyon kaya sisiguraduhin niyang matatapos na ang problemang ito bago pa man mag-umpisa ang summer vacation ni Caitlin.

And they will enjoy the vacation as a family should, just like how he always wanted it to be. Lucas smiled with the thought.