Glistening Lantern (Gazellian Series #7)

Chapter 24

Dedicated to: Criser Joy Atienza

Chapter 24: Joined

What's good about vampires? Night is really a convenience for them. Isa pa, hindi nila kailangan nang mahabang tulog sa gabi para manatiling malakas sa susunod na araw.

The night is literally their time. It's not necessary for Caleb and Tavion to sleep with us, they could possibly devise some plans for us to proceed for tomorrow, but what we were witnessing right now made our brows arch in annoyance.

Kapwa kami nakatitig ni Iris kina Caleb at Tavion na naghahanda na ng aming hihigaan na parang sila rin ay magpapahinga katabi namin.

"Aren't you going to plan for our movement tomorrow?"

Nanghaba ang nguso ni Caleb. "Of course, we need our sleep as well."

I huffed. "Seriously, Caleb? You're vampires. Hindi ninyo kailangan ng tulog sa gabi. You're even more active at night."

Sabay umiling ang dalawang Gazellian sa harapan namin. Ilang beses pa silang nakarinig sa amin ni Iris ng reklamo pero parang wala na silang naririnig hanggang sa maayos na nila ang higaan namin.

In the end, we found ourselves lying on the bed of straws. Iris and Tavion on the right side, Caleb and I were on the left side. Sa halip na apoy ang siyang gamit naming liwanag ay inilagay ko sa pagitan namin ang aking lampara.

The dim light of the lamp made us stare at the unnoticeable natural art of the cave. Iba't ibang hugis ng naglalakihang mga batong nakadungaw sa amin na may kakaibang mga kulay.

"Both art and treasure. . ." usal ni Iris.

"The Attero is all focused with the threat given by the old ruins, but they failed to see this— the hidden treasure," ani ko.

Bigla akong napaisip kung ang mapanganib na lugar na iyon ba talaga ang pinuprotektahan ng usok na humahabol sa amin o ang nakatagong mga diyamanteng ngayon ay nakadungaw sa amin.

"This is really a treasure worthy of an empire," kumento ni Tavion.

Biglang natawa si Caleb.

"Not really. It's not even a half of my empire. We have a tree in Parsua Sartorias, iyong kamay mo na lang ang mapapagod na pumitas ng mga mamahaling bato. We have that Tree of Prospertity that every empire wishes to have."

Napalingon ako kay Caleb. I'm used to hearing absurd things from him, but when I glanced at him while I didn't see any glint of his usual silliness, instead I saw how genuinely proud he was like he's talking about something else.

Hindi ko na napansin ang matagal kong pagtitig sa kanya habang pinagmamasdan ko ang ngiti niya sa tabi ng malamlam na liwanag ng lampara. I've seen Caleb in different situations, and I couldn't deny the fact his extreme attractiveness, but his smile shines brighter every time he speaks about his family.

Sa tuwing nakikita ko siyang ngumingiti nang ganoon, na walang halong pang-aasar o kaya'y pagsisinungaling, napapatanong na lang ako sa sarili ko kung bakit ganoon na lang kakisig ang isang bampirang katulad niya. I hate Caleb's silly smiles. Iyong mga ngisi niya na parang wala nang magandang tumatakbong maganda sa utak niya, but when he smiles like that, in a very rare circumstance, halos marinig ko na ang malakas na tibok ng puso ko.

Nanatili akong nakatitig sa kanya hanggang sa unti-unti siyang lumingon sa akin.

"It's my brother's tree of symbolism. Evan's tree is one of Nemetio Spiran's favorite treasures," he whispered with a smile.

And that's it, the tree he's talking about is connected with his brother. Hindi ko na napansin na nakangiti na rin ako sa harapan niya. We were both lying on the bed of straws as we stared at each other.