Chapter 3: The Prisoner

Witches are humans who engage in the practice of witchcraft. They are humans but far from normal ones. Not everyone can manipulate dark energy and summon it to reality. It's not genetically inherited, either. They are chosen.

Witchcraft can be performed in different ways. That's what makes them hazardous. You will never know when they are planning to attack. You will just know when it already happens to you.

They may be one of the most powerful beings, but that also poses a great danger to themselves. One wrong spell. One wrong whisper. One error. It can bounce back to them and kill them instantly.

They are somehow fascinating, except it takes enormous energy for them to take down a vampire. That also means they cannot just wield their power over us anytime they want.

Kung gano'n ay hindi nga magandang ideya na basta na lang kaming pumasok sa Caligo Clan. Even though I don't know very much about that woman, I do know that she will keep an eye on me from a distance. If this peace talk didn't end well, they would most likely use her ability against us.

The following day, I sent a letter to Lord Caezar Bolido of the Caligo Clan. Bago ring lumubog ang araw ay nakasagot sila sa akin. That letter confirmed two things. The first is that they are willing to let us in. The second is that they are confident in their force if ever we have a hidden motive, which is true.

Our main intention for visiting that clan is not for a peace talk at all. We need to have a complete understanding of the power that resides inside that group. The information that we have collected is insufficient. We need to see it ourselves.

Just when I thought everything was going according to plan, Lord Reggar decided to mess it all up. May iba pala siyang plano na hindi sinabi sa amin. He captured a very important member of the Caligo Clan.

Kumuyom ang mga kamao ko habang nakatingin sa isang babae sa likod ng rehas. May mga pasa ito sa katawan at mahinang humihikbi. Nakaupo siya at nakayuko sa kanyang mga tuhod.

"W-why did you do this?" Hinarap ko si Lord Reggar. Masidhi pa rin ang pagkakapula ng kanyang mga mata kaya alam kong siya mismo ang gumawa nitong paghuli at hindi niya pinautos sa iba. "This is not part of our plan!"

"There are no concrete plans, milord." Bumalik sa dating kulay ang kanyang mga mata. Saka siya ngumiti na parang nang-aasar. "If anything, this is the best one yet."

"No." I shook my head. "You have only made them more agitated."

"I don't think so..." Lumapit siya sa rehas saka hinawakan ang mga bakal. "This woman is not a vampire. She almost got me. She is a witch."

Napalunok ako. Shit.

"Did you hear me?" he turned his head on me. "I managed to capture their witch. Hindi na nila ito magagamit laban sa atin ngayon."

"What the hell is this?" Pumasok din bigla si Lord Wenson. "They have a witch? You captured it?"

"I love the smell of her blood," Lady Mystique sniffed. Sinubukan niyang itulak ang pinto pero nakakandado ito. "Where's the key?"

"No. Keep your distance from her!" Tinulak ni Lord Reggar palayo sa rehas si Lady Mystique. "We are not going to touch her yet. She will be our source of information from now on."

"This just means there's no more peace talk." Lord Wenson sighed. "This is war."

"There's no peace as long as there's a potential clan that can match us!" madiin na sabi ni Lord Reggar. "Habang hawak natin siya ay hindi makakakilos ang Caligo Clan. But they will try to reclaim her. We won't let them take her back."

Napatingin ako sa babae nung tumahan siya sa pag-iyak. Gano'n pa man ay nanatili pa rin itong nakayuko. Hindi humihilom ang mga sugat niya.

"What can you say, Lord Oscar?" tanong ni Lord Reggar.

"Her skin looks flawless. I bet she's also beautiful." Lady Mystique groaned. "Now, I just don't want her blood. I also want her dead."

"We need to treat her wounds," I said.

Lord Reggar smirked at me. "You are still soft, Lord Oscar. Those bruises won't kill her easily. Hindi naman malala ang ginawa ko sa kanya."

"Why did you lay your fingers on her? Did she just manage to overpower you in some way that you had to resort to violence, Lord Reggar?" I asked. "Did you fail to take her without using force?"

Tumalim ang tingin sa akin ni Lord Reggar. Kumislap ang kanyang mga mata. I didn't intend to hold back this time. I didn't care if this would also spark a bad blood between us.

"If that's not the case, I don't see any reason for you to hurt her," I grinned at him.

"We will kill her after we get the information we need," aniya sa akin. "If you are too soft for this position, you might as well get an applicable job suitable for soft men like you? Maybe a waiter in Nightscape Club? Or a cleaner of the cellar?"

Hinawakan ni Lord Wenson ang braso ko nung mapansin na halos hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko. Ngunit nagpumiglas pa rin ako kaya sinandal niya ako sa pader para pigilan.

"No." Lord Wenson shook his head. "Don't lose your cool."

Humalakhak si Lord Reggar. "You are welcome, I guess? I did all your job. Now, it's your turn. Siguraduhin mong may mapipiga kang impormasyon sa babaeng 'yan. Try to be of some use for once. I'm out of here."

Hindi ako binitiwan ni Lord Wenson hanggang sa makaalis si Lord Reggar.

"Take is easy." Lord Wenson patted my shoulder.

I'm still shaking in anger. That man really got under my skin and pushed all of my buttons. I have high respect for them, Seniors. But if they are not going to give the same energy to me, I don't think they deserve any of mine. I'm still higher than them. Therefore, I can get rid of them if I want. Anytime I fucking want.

"W-water..." bulong ng babaeng nakakulong.

"I will get you one!" Lady Mystique excitedly volunteered. She flipped her long red hair and looked at me. "Where's the key?"

"We will get you water once you tell us something worthy of information," I said to the captured lady. "You will only receive what you deserve from now on. You are not in your territory anymore where you will get anything without giving first."

"Whoa." Lady Mystique bit her bottom lip as she looked at me alluringly. "I like how you can be ruthless sometimes, Lord Oscar. I really like it."

Lord Wenson cleared his throat. "Mukhang napuruhan siya ni Lord Reggar. Maybe a glass of water is not too much, is it? We can still deprive her of another thing. Like food?"

"We will only give her a glass of water after she spills something worthy of it," I insisted, still. "She's not here for a vacation. She's our prisoner."

"You looked so enraged with Lord Reggar earlier for being violent to her only to end up mimicking the same style," Lady Mystique smirked at me. "It's not like it's a bad thing. I actually like it."

"I think we should leave her for now," ani Lord Wenson. "Mas pahihigpitan ko ang pagbabantay sa selda na ito. She won't be able to escape even if she used her power."

"Good. I don't want to confirm that she's beautiful. I'm out of here!" saka na ring umalis si Lady Mystique. Sumunod sa kanya si Lord Wenson.

Bago ako umalis ay binalingan ko ulit ang babae. Nanatili pa rin siyang nakayuko. She put back the hood of jacket on her head.

"Don't make it hard for both of us. Hindi ka matutulungan ng mga kasama mo rito," sabi ko. "You are a witch. They are bloodsucking vampires. I hope you know that you will never get along."

I tried to push a sense of enlightenment to her. Hindi kailanman magiging magkaibigan ang isang manggagamot at isang bampira, gaya na lang sa mga tao. We all live in different worlds that's why colliding can lead to destruction of both.

"W-water..." she mumbled.

"You don't deserve it yet."

I left that place after.

Pagkaakyat ko sa kwarto ko ay agad akong naligo. Nagpupunas na ako ng towel nung biglang bumalik sa akin ang pagtatalo namin ni Lord Reggar.

Maybe he's right. I am too soft for all of this, after all. If only I were not, he would have lost his place in this clan a long time ago. He should be glad I'm still tolerating his behavior.

Pagkalabas ko ng shower room ay naabutan ko si Callum na papasok mula sa balkonahe. May hawak siyang dalawang bote ng alak. Ngumisi siya sa akin.

"Would you mind celebrating with me?" Tuluyan na siyang pumasok sa kwarto ko. "I am officially a member of Nightfall Clan again."

"When will you learn to use the door?"

Dumiretso ako sa closet para kumuha ng mga damit. Saka ako bumalik sa loob ng shower room para magbihis. Pagkalabas ko ay narito na rin si Braun.

"I didn't invite him. I swear!" Callum immediately reacted.

"Well, that hurts. Am I not invited then?"

"You are obviously not!" Callum answered.

"That's fine." Braun smiled. "I'm here now so..."

"I have loads of work to do," I said to them. Dumiretso na ako sa table ko para ayusin ang mga dokumento. "Just drink on the floor and stay quiet if possible."

Nag-umpisa na ako sa aking trabaho. Naririnig ko ang bulungan nina Braun at Callum at ang mahinang pagtawa nila. Ilang beses nilang nabanggit ang pangalan ko, pero kadalasan ay tungkol sa mga babae ang pinag-uusapan nila.

"Are you serious?" Callum whispered. "You made out with a human before?"

"I did," Braun said with such a proud tone. Napailing na lang ako. It was so bold of him to admit it in front of me. "She didn't know I was a vampire. I didn't tell her, of course. I wanted more from her, but she started to talk about her life. It sounds gay, but she got me mesmerized. I even forgot how much I had been craving fresh human blood."

"Shit." Callum chuckled. "You made it through without tasting her blood? You are kidding me!"

"Uh, no? I'm telling the truth. Although, I had already forgotten her face. But I still know her scent. I will recognize her through the smell of her blood."

"Well, that was a first time. Lahat ng babaeng kinakausap mo ay bumagbagsak sa kama." Humalakhak si Callum pero mabilis din na tumahimik nung maalala ang paalala ko.

Natigilan ako at napatingin sa labas ng balkonahe nung bumuhos ang malakas na ulan. Ito ang unang pagkakataon ngayong buwan na umulan. Malakas at malakas ang hangin.

"Is it true, Lord Oscar?"

Napabaling ako kay Braun. "What?"

"That you captured a witch?"

I cursed under my breath. This is getting out of hand. Who would leak such sensitive information? Sa katunayan nga ay dapat kami-kami lang ang nakakaalam tungkol sa bagay na ito!

"A witch?" Kumunot ang noo ni Callum. "Is that the red woman we saw in Nightscape Club? Iyong babaeng mag-isang umiinom at pinagbubulungan niyo?"

"That's Lady Mystique. One of the Seniors," sagot ni Braun. "Mukha siyang mangkukulam pero isa rin siyang bampira. Feeling ko nga nagpapapansin 'yon kay Lord Oscar."

I cleared my throat. "Put your noses somewhere else. This is none of your business."

"So... meron nga?" manghang tanong ni Braun.

I shook my head and refused to give further details. Sinubukan ko na lang bumalik ulit sa trabaho. Alas tres na rin ng madaling araw nung magpaalam ang dalawa. Hindi pa rin tumitigil ang ulan.

I managed to finish my work earlier than usual. Madilim pa rin sa labas at tila walang senyales na hihina ang ulan. Kinuha ko ang jacket ko saka ako lumabas.

Pumasok ako sa selda kung saan nakakulong ang dinakip na babae. Nakahiga na siya ngayon ngunit nakatalikod sa akin at paharap sa pader. Nakabaluktot ang katawan nito na tila nilalamig.

"I will help you get out of here alive if you will also help me in return. I just have a few questions," I said calmly. "You have my words."

Ilang minuto ang lumipas nang hindi siya sumagot. Bumuntonghininga ako at tumango. Mukhang mahihirapan kaming pagsalitain ang babaeng 'to. Pero hanggang saan siya tatagal?

"I have no idea why you are helping them out, but you look so young just to side with vampires. I will help you go back to your coven after. We have a deal."

I tried everything to convince her, but she's not even responding. I guess she needs more time. Paalis na sana ako nung mapansin kong bumagsak ang isa niyang kamay. Mula sa pagkakakuyom ay bumukas ang palad nito.

Shit.

Mabilis na umalis ako roon para hanapin ang tagapagbantay ng susi. Nung makuha ko 'yon ay bumalik ako agad para buksan ang selda.

We cannot lose her.

Nung makapasok ako sa loob ay tila nagdalawang-isip ako kung lalapitan ko ba siya. Lumunok ako bago dahan-dahan na lumapit sa kanya. Hinawakan ko ang balikat niya at bahagyang niyugyog.

She didn't respond. Sunod na pinakiramdaman ko ang pulso niya. Mahina. Mainit din masyado ang kanyang katawan. Pansin ko rin na hindi humihilom ang kanyang mga sugat. She's not in a good condition.

"You are still soft, Lord Oscar," I suddenly heard Lord Reggard's words for me earlier.

No. This is not being soft. If this woman dies, things will get worse for us. Hindi na nga namin siya napakinabangan, mas lalo pang sisidhi ang galit ng mga kalaban. Nag-aalala akong baka makarating din ito sa mga manggagamot.

I shut my eyes for a second as I slowly release a sigh. Tuluyan ko nang hinarap sa akin ang babae. It was a relief that her eyes were shut.

Binuhat ko siya saka ako dumaan sa likod. Walang bantay roon, pero may nakaabang. Mataman akong tiningnan ni Lord Varnes. Nauna siyang umalis kaya hindi ko na lang pinansin.

Inakyat ko ang babae sa aking silid para walang makakita. Wala pa rin siyang malay. Sa tingin ko ay kailangan niya ng tubig kaya sandali ko siyang iniwanan para kumuha ng tubig.

Pagbalik ko sa kwarto ay wala na siya sa kama ko.

Kumabog ang dibdib ko dahil akala ko ay tumakas siya. Nahulog pala siya sa kama. Napailing na lang ako. Binitiwan ko muna sa lamesa ang baso ng tubig para buhatin siya ulit sa kama.

When I successfully laid her back in bed, I just stood there. Hindi ko alam kung paano siya makakainom ng tubig kung wala siyang malay.

But she needs to drink. I think it's essential for humans to drink water, just like how essential blood is for us. I decided to forcefully part her lips using my fingers. I slowly poured water into her mouth. Napapikit ako nung inubo niya palabas ang tubig at sumaboy sa mukha ko.

I heard a knock on the door. Shit.

Nataranta ako sa mga pagkakataong ito. What if it was Lord Reggar?

"It's me. Lord Varnes."

Dali-dali akong lumapit sa pinto para pagbuksan siya ng pinto. Pumasok siya sa loob bitbit ang isang tray. Sumilip ako sa labas para masigurong wala nang ibang nakakaalam dito.

"I'm alone," Lord Varnes said when he noticed how frantic I was. "Don't worry. They won't hear it from me. I prepared her a hot soup."

"I just think she's dying..."

"She's not, milord. Pero mataas masyado ang lagnat niya."

Pinanuod ko lang siya na mag-asikaso sa babae. Sinandal niya sa ulunan ng kama ang babae at dahan-dahan na sinubuan ng mainit na sabaw. Hindi gaya ng sa inalok kong tubig, ininom niya ang mainit na sabaw.

"I will treat her wounds." Tumingin sa akin si Lord Varnes. "Ikaw ang magpakain sa kanya."

I took the bowl of hot soup from his hand. Umupo ako sa tabi ng babae at dahan-dahan na pinainom siya ng mainit na sabaw. Nakapikit pa rin siya. Nanunuyo ang labi nito.

"You should bring her back to the cellar before the dawn breaks," ani Lord Varnes. Pinunasan niya ng towel ang mga braso ng babae na may sugat. May pinahid din siyang gamot doon.

"I will." Nung maubos ang sabaw ay tubig naman ang pinainom ko sa kanya. "We need her alive for us to gather some information."

"I know that. It's not the wisest thing to let her die in our own land, is it?"

I shook my head. It really is not.

Nung matapos namin siyang pakainin at gamutin ay tinulungan ako ni Lord Varnes na ibalik ang babae sa kanyang selda. Nauna siyang umalis. Naiwan ako para ikandado ang kulungan.

"You should remember this night. You owe me something," I said to her. Hopefully, even in her current condition, she heard me.

I left the place without a trace that I helped our prisoner.