Chapter 47: Red

Nothing was more satisfying than watching someone who'd always had everything under his control lose his cool by catching him off guard. He only had the chance to play with me because I was up to it too. I let him. But the game was over now.

"I want to say I'm surprised. But there's nothing to be surprised about a Cardinal." He shrugged and roved his eyes around. Everyone was just watching us. "You truly have the mighty blood of Lord Severo."

"You still don't know me after all, huh?" I slowly closed the gap between us while staring into his eyes. "You know what I hate the most? When I am being recognized only because of my family name and my father."

"You are nothing without your father, Nathalia."

Napahinto ako. Hando's eyes flickered red, recognizing the danger that was about to fall upon him. He regretted saying those words as soon as they escaped his mouth.

"What have I done to you?" malungkot niyang tanong sa akin. Mas halata na ngayon ang nginig sa kanyang mga salita. "I have always treated you like my own daughter. I was there when nobody else was. I have always been there for you, Nathalia."

"Now, that's a lie," Dylan said as he took a step forward. Sumimsim siya sa alak na hawak bago ngumiti sa akin. He already looked drunk. "Hando just used you to gain more wealth. We all know that."

"What the fuck do you know?" Hando scoffed at him. "Huwag kang magsalita sa isang bagay na wala kang alam, Dylan. You are not part of this!"

"Pinagtatanggol ko lang si Nathalia," nakangisi pa ring sambit ni Dylan. "Baka sakaling mabago pa ang isip niya tungkol sa akin."

"Can you stop now, Terrence?" Humakbang sa tabi ko si Hestia. "The game is over. We have arrived here. Lahat tayo ay nakapagpasya na."

"Linta ka pa rin hanggang ngayon, Hestia." Humalakhak si Terrence. "You are a parasite in the form of a friend. How bold of you to assume you are even part of this?"

Hestia hastily attacked him and shoved him down the table. Bumagsak ang lamesa at nagkalat ang mga alak sa sahig. Mabilis na kumuha ng bubog si Hestia at tinutok ito sa leeg ni Terrence.

Now, that was quite a scene.

"If I am a parasite, then are you a pest. You have no benefits," Hestia hissed.

"Hold on!" Jackson swooped down, yanking Terrence away from Hestia. "I didn't come here for this mess. Saka may mga tao sa paligid. Stop behaving like fucking animals!"

"This is not a party, is it?" Hando assumed, shrugging his shoulders. "Cool. Human parties are boring, after all. I miss vampire parties."

Still acting cool, huh?

I smiled. "Good. Can we take our seats now?"

Nauna na akong umupo sa pabilog na lamesa sa pinakagitna. Mabilis na may lumapit sa aking waiter at sinalinan ako ng alak sa baso. Tumabi sa akin si Hestia na nag-aayos ng buhok na nagulo.

"Damn. The party barely started," she murmured.

"That was a move," I complimented.

"Thanks!" she giggled.

"Fucking bitch!" singhal ni Terrence kay Hestia saka inalis ang black coat na natapunan ng wine. Nung mapansin niyang namantsahan din ang puting t-shirt na panloob niya ay nag-alab ulit ang galit niya.

Before Terrence even attacked Hestia, Jackson had twisted his arms on his back, halting him from going any farther. Terrence snarled. His eyes changed to intense deep red, and fangs protruded behind his lips.

Napansin kong kumunot ang noo ni Hando. Pinagmasdan niya ang mga tao sa paligid na tila walang pakialam sa amin kahit na halos magpatayan na kami. Saka pumirma sa akin ang mga mata niya.

"Is there a problem?" I asked him.

He didn't respond.

"You don't want to anger Miss Nathalia," Jackson whispered at Terrence, who was still aggressive. He gently tapped his shoulders, calming him down. "Chill out and take your seat."

"I can fight, you know that, right? Mr. Cheater?" Hestia rolled her eyes at Jackson. "I'm not scared of him."

"What did you just call me?" umalma si Jackson sa tinawag sa kanya ni Hestia.

Hando also took a seat on the chair across me. He casually sat down and poured himself a glass of wine. Saka niya ininom 'yon nang nakatingin sa akin. Naupo na rin sina Terrence at Jackson.

We finally settled down on the round table with one seat apart. The servers entered and eventually served us some meats aside from drinks. The food looked so good just to be ignored.

Tahimik lang kaming kumakain. Si Hando ay tanging alak lang ang iniinom. Masama pa rin ang tingin ni Terrence kay Hestia. Habang si Jackson ay naghihintay lang ng hudyat mula sa akin.

"So... you are really the CEO?" asked Hando. "Gaano na katagal?"

"Hmm..." I swallowed my food first. "After I signed my contract with you. You told me about your ambition to become the CEO of this empire. Pinagkatiwalaan mo ako nung mga panahon na wala pa akong napapatunayan sa mundong ito. I was planning on giving it to you one day."

Nakaramdam ako ng panghihinayang. Hando trusted me. I trusted him, too. It's just frustrating that not only humans tend to be blinded by money. It's such a shame that even vampires fall into this trick.

"Do you think I don't deserve it anymore?" he asked.

I turned to Jackson and gave him the signal. Tumango naman siya sa akin. Kinuha niya ang isang remote control sa bulsa. May pinindot siya roon kaya bumukas ang isang malaking screen sa gitna.

A phone conversation played.

"Dylan? What's up?" Hando asked on the line.

"I was just wondering about one thing."

Hando chuckled. "Is it about Nathalia? You are really into her, huh?"

"I would do anything to have her," Dylan responded. "Since you are handling her career. May I just ask if you happened to possess a scandalous video of her? What would you do?"

Hando took a moment to respond. "What do you have?"

"I have the recorded video of Nathalia recording the viral scandal of Kathlysse Merlington. Hindi naman siguro lingid sa kaalaman mo na siya ang may pakana ng pagkalat no'n, hindi ba?"

"Of course not. I've always suspected it was her. That bitch would do anything to ruin anyone who gets in her way. What do you want me to do?"

"That's my question," Dylan said, chuckling. "As her manager, what do you want me to do with it?"

"Oh!" Humalakhak si Hando. "You know, Dylan. Even famous people want to be more famous. There's always a fear of being left out."

"You perfectly described her fear."

"I know you are aware that a lot of fans are shipping you with her. Why not try to use that card to entice her into that idea? What do you think?"

"Shit. Why hadn't I considered that?" Dylan laughed. "I don't think it will work. But it's worth the try."

"If you are really up to this idea and if that plan fails, I can make another reason for her to agree with this idea. Just tell me if you are still up for it."

"I'm always up for anything involving her."

That's how the phone conversation ended.

There was a complete silence after. Pagkalingon ko kay Terrence ay pigil na pigil itong humalakhak. Hando was completely muted. Nakatitig lang siya sa black screen.

Hestia stood and splattered the wine on Hando's face. Hindi umalma si Hando. Pinunasan lang niya ang kanyang mukha saka umiling.

"You are a fucking asshole!" Hestia clenched her teeth. "You only care about wealth and fame. You have no sympathy for your models!"

"Should we proceed to the next one?" Jackson smirked.

Isang video pa lang ay napanuod ko ay sobra na akong naapektuhan. Alam ko naman na maruming mag trabaho si Hando. Hindi na dapat ako nagugulat nang ganito. Pero dumagdag siya sa mga dahilan kung bakit ang hirap magtiwala ngayon.

How could something so valuable as trust be so easily overlooked? As if it was easy to earn. As if it was the same price as money. As if it was nothing.

Even without my approval, Jackson played the next video.

Hando had just gotten out of his car and was on his way inside the burning building. Napahinto siya nung makita kami nina Dylan na lumabas ng exit. He took a picture of us before he came to pick me up. As if he was there to come and rescue me.

That's how the second video ended.

"Hindi ako ang nagsunog ng building!" madiin na sambit ni Hando. "Nalaman kong nasusunog ang building kaya mabilis akong pumunta."

"Lagi akong extra ah?" puna ni Terrence.

"I swear, Nathalia. I didn't burn the building—"

"Pero ikaw ang kumuha ng picture namin," putol ko sa kanya. Kumuyom na ang mga kamao ko. "You were the one who leaked the disgusting picture of me in my lowest point!"

"That was so low of you, man," nakangiwing sabi ni Jackson kay Hando. "Your dirty tricks are cheap and childish. I always thought you were better."

"Can we stop it now?" ani Hestia na umiiyak na. "Stop now, Nath. You are just hurting youself."

"There's one more," ani Jackson.

"Stop now!" Hestia screamed.

"All right..." Jackson shrugged. "The next video was just another phone conversation between Dylan and Hando. You know? He leaked the photo so Dylan could appear like a hero and help you."

Hando flipped the table over and hastily ran to the exit. I just sipped on my drink as I watched the door close. The curtains were drawn. The lights went red. My green dress permanently turned black, like a shadow.

"You cannot do this in front of many people, Nathalia!" Hando screamed from the other side. The betrayal and agony were seen in his bloody red eyes. "Have you forgotten? You are still a fucking vampire. We have rules!"

"I am aware..." I stood up. "But these are all my guests. They are all just like us. Vampires who have come here to witness your end."

"Holy crap. This is it," Terrence said.

"Let me out," Hando dared to say. "I will forget about everything. Hindi na kita guguluhin pa. I promise, Nathalia. You won't hear anything from me anymore."

"I still believe in promises," I stated calmly. "But if it comes from your lips, that's just another bullshit. Hindi ako ang unang naging biktima mo. Pero ako na ang huli."

Hando kneeled. "P-please. I will never, ever do it again. To anyone."

"Pity. Not even mercy could save you from her," Terrence said, laughing.

"How dare you try to do to me the things you did with your previous models? How dare you underestimate me by assuming I would be just another victim of yours?"

"Slow down!" Humarang sa harapan ko si Jackson. "Wala sa usapan ang ganito, Nathalia. You are just here to reveal how evil this man is."

I couldn't take my burning gaze away from Hando. Nakaluhod pa rin siya at halos halikan na ang mga paa ko para lang isalba ko ang kanyang buhay. You knew how much you fucked up when you suddenly resort to kneeling instead of fighting. You knew you were hopeless.

"No. I'm not going to let a bloodbath break out in this place," Jackson said, blocking my way. "Not under my watch. Hindi lang ikaw ang mapapahamak. Maging kami ay madadamay."

"Can we get more wine on this table, please?" Terrence announced. "If you could bring a human, that would be much appreciated."

Hinawakan ko ang kwintas sa leeg saka ito pinigtas. Mahigpit ko itong hinawakan bago hinulog sa sahig. Lumunok si Jackson at halatang nasindak, pero hindi pa rin siya umalis sa harapan ko.

"I will only tell you this once..." I brushed my fingers through my hair, still holding back. "Move out of my way."

The second he didn't move, I abruptly appeared in front of him. Bago pa tumama sa kanyang mukha ang kamao ko ay nagawa niyang iharang ang table. My fist pierced the wooden table and still hit him on his face. Napaatras siya saka binato sa akin ang table, pero winasiwas ko lang 'yon ng braso ko kaya nawasak.

"Go back to your senses, Nathalia!" he shrieked at me, wiping the blood off his lips. "It's been a long time since the last time I fought another vampire. Please don't make me do it again."

"Tragic..." I chuckled. In just a blink, I vanished from his sight and appeared on his back. Tinutok ko sa kanyang likod ang nahawakan kong kahoy mula sa nasirang lamesa. "I am not just another vampire."

An inch before I pierced the wood on Jackson's back, I felt my right arm get stung. I heard Hestia cry in terror as she immediately pulled me away from Hando, who bit me.

I winced and examined my bitten arm. You could easily distinguish a bite between a vampire and a werewolf. The bite on my arm has a scar of both.

Fuck!

Hestia was terrified as she whispered, "Y-you are a hybrid..."

Hando dangerously smirked at us. His eyes switched color from dark red to golden yellow. His nails grew an inch longer, and I could sense him gradually transforming into a wild wolf.

I felt the crowd surrounding us get tense. The mere existence of a hybrid was enough reason to tremble in fear. A single bite from a vampire-werewolf hybrid could numb your entire body. It was lethal and would linger in your system like poison until your body weakened. But he was also a vampire. He would take the same fate as I do.

"How fucking dare you!" Inakate ni Terrrence si Hando. Bumagsak sila sa sahig, nagpagulong-gulong habang inaararo lahat ng lamesa. Hando received a hard punch from Terrence and he punched him back.

"Let's leave, Nathalia." Hestia tried to grab my hand, but I resisted. "We must find a cure as soon as possible. Habang hindi pa gaanong kumakalat ang lason."

I stood there watching Terrence and Hando fight for their lives. Dehado si Terrence dahil mas malakas si Hando, pero hindi niya ito tinigilan. Napansin ko rin na may kagat na ito sa leeg. He wouldn't last anymore. Gano'n din naman si Hando. At this point, all of us are in grave danger.

"Nathalia!" sigaw ni Hestia sa akin nung hindi ako kumilos gaya sa gusto niya. "Please come with me. Kailangan nating malunasan ang sugat mo."

Sa isang banda ay nakita kong tumatakbo si Jackson papunta sa bintana. Bago pa man siya makatalon at makatakas ay nahawakan ko siya saka hinagis pabalik. Bumagsak siya sa isang lamesa na nawasak pero mabilis na bumangon.

"What the fuck do you want?" he hissed, tense. "My job here is done. I don't fucking care if you don't bring my girlfriend back to her consciousness. Just let me fucking go!"

"I am not the law," I said, my right arm throbbing. "But I can't just let a serial vampire killer like you on the loose," I was gradually feeling the stinging effect flow inside me.

Jackson shook his head. He glared at me. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"All of your missing wives and girlfriends are not missing at all. You killed them all..." I said quietly, slowly closing the distance between us. "Vampires. Humans. Lahat ng pinagsawaan mo ay pinatay mo. You are wreaking havoc on the human world."

"Don't pretend to be a saint here, Nathalia. You did the same thing just to survive!"

He attempted to flee once more. But as soon as he moved past me, his feet came to a halt. Napaluhod siya habang nakahawak sa butas niyang dibdib.

I smirked as I squeezed his heart against my palm. Pumapatak sa kanyang nakatingalang mukha ang sariling dugo na galing sa kanyang sariling puso.

"I hope you will change in your next life, Jackson."

I turned my back and left him lying there, heartless, as he deserved.

Naabutan kong tahimik na ang paligid. Nagtakbuhan na ang lahat. Si Hestia ay nakatulala lang. Sinundan ko ang tingin niya. Nilalapa na ng asong lobo ang dibdib ni Terrence na naliligo sa dugo. He wasn't moving anymore.

Hando growled, showing his bloody sharp fangs. He has wholly shifted into being a wolf. I may not be that knowledgeable about werewolves, but I knew that the moment they turned into a wolf, they no longer had control over themselves.

"Step back, Hestia," I mumbled, not taking away my eyes from the wolf. Tila natulala na lang si Hestia kaya ako na mismo ang humila sa kanya. She was sobbing as she looked down at Terrence.

Terrence was dead.

No'ng tila nagsawa na si Hando sa katawan ni Terrence ay tinigilan na niya ito. Napako sa akin ang kanyang mga nanlilisik na tingin.

He went after me first. Hindi ko inakalang gano'n siya kabilis. Bago pa man ako makakuha ng kahoy ay nagawa na niya akong lapain. He was on top of me, drooling and eagerly wanting to sink his fangs into my neck.

Hybrids were stronger than us. But the moment his sticky saliva dripped on my face, I felt an intense disgust. I punched him on his side. Tumalsik siya sa pader at nahirapan agad na bumangon.

Bumangon ako saka pinunasan ang laway sa pisngi ko. Madilim ko siyang tiningnan.

"I know you currently have no fucking idea about me," I snarled. I could still feel the sticky feeling on my face, which fueled my rage to end everything now. "Let me remind you who I am for the last time."

Mabilis ko siyang nilapitan. Using the tip of my long nail, I scratched his right eyeball. The blood splattered on my arm and face, and his agonizing scream echoed around.

I just watched him cry in pain. Ramdam ko na rin na halos hindi ko na magalaw ang isa kong braso. My energy was being sapped by the poison.

He tried to attack me again, but I already had blinded his right eye. Lumagpas lang siya sa akin kahit na hindi ako gumalaw. Naramdaman kong umatake na naman siya sa likod ko. Sa sandaling makalapit siya sa akin ay tinusok ko sa kanyang leeg ang hawak na kahoy.

Tumalsik sa akin ang sumisiritsit na dugo niya. I pierced the wood inside him more until he finally stopped resisting. I locked my gaze on him. Through those exhausted and weak eyes, he had finally recognized me.

"I am your last victim, Roman Hando."

Unti-unti ay bumalik na siya sa kanyang totoong anyo. Bumagsak siya sa sahig habang nakatusok pa rin sa kanyang leeg ang kahoy.

I lowered my gaze to him. Lumuhod ako sa tabi niya. Hinawakan ko ang kahoy sa kanyang leeg. I slowly twisted it inside him. His lips winced as he coughed up blood.

"You were there from the beginning of my career. We are also going to disappear here together," I whispered at him. Hinugot ko na ang nakatanim na kahoy sa kanyang leeg.

I brushed my fingers through his hair and beheaded him after.

There was complete silence after. Ang kaninang maliwanag at masayang lugar ay napintahan ng dugo at mga ala-ala ng huling sandali. No'ng natahimik ang aking pandinig ay napagtanto kong natapos ko na ang dapat kong tapusin.

It has finally come to an end.

I looked down at my green dress, admiring how the blood splatter accentuated its beauty. Everything came out exactly as I had hoped. From the green dress that turned black when shone with red, to the setting, the men, and the blood on my dress, everything was perfect.

Everything was red.

I looked at Hestia. Kami na lang dalawa ang narito.

Kami no'ng una. Kami pa rin hanggang huli.

"N-Nathalia..." She was smiling and crying at the same time. "It's finally done. We must treat your wound immediately."

I nodded. Hindi ko na nagawang makatayo dahil nanghihinga na ako. Napaubo ako ng dugo at napahiga sa tabi ng katawan ni Hando. Ramdam ko na ang panghihina. Gano'n pa man ay walang pangamba sa dibdib ko.

I've survived all the ends. A poison would do nothing to me. But I needed to get some rest.

"How do I look?" I asked.

Hestia chuckled. "Your lips are dry. But you really look hot in that bloody green dress."

Using the blood on my hand, I applied some on my lips.

My eyes began to blur.

I was staring at Hestia.

She was walking slowly toward me.

I smiled at her.

She smiled at me, too.

A man suddenly appeared behind her. He pierced a piece of wood on her back. Hestia's hopeless eyes met mine. The blood quickly leaked onto her chest and ran down her body.

My lips parted, but I couldn't move anymore.

I looked at the man who stabbed her.

"K-Kristan..."