Strings and Chains (The Frey, #1)

24. I Have a Plan

"How about Joseph?" tanong ko.

Tumingin sa akin sina Mama't Papa. "We were there for minutes. Hindi namin nalibot ang buong warehouse."

If Joseph still couldn't find at hindi pa rin siya nagpapakita hanggang ngayon, there is a possibility na nakuha na rin s'ya ng mga incubi. Great.

"We were attacked because of that. Maraming namatay sa mga tauhan ko. I don't know if we could still help Liverton in our case," wika ni Mama.

"So this time, I leave the rest to you George and Maria," dugtong pa niya.

I sighed. Kung maraming mga hunters ang namatay, then wala pang laban sina Mama sa ngayon.

"Gaano sila kadami?" tanong ko.

"There were at least seven incubi who attacked us."

"At natalo kayong lahat? Ilan kayo sa bahay that time?"

"At least twenty," sagot naman ni Papa.

"They're strong. And we couldn't find a way to kill an incubus," sagot naman ni Mama.

"I tried reaching out to my family, but I couldn't take the risk to endanger all of you here, so no. We don't need their help. It will only get worse."

Natahimik ako ng matagal habang nag-uusap silang apat. They're trying to strategize how to kill the incubi while protecting the whole town and the Liverton at the same time. I think this is a bit unfair. Bakit hindi kayang lumaban ng mga Liverton? We all know who has a power to kill an incubus. Witches can.

"What's our main goal here?" tanong ko sa kanila kaya huminto sina Mama sa kanilang ginagawa.

"It's clear for us na it's to protect the town. How about the Livertons? What's their goal?"

"It is to protect the orb," sagot ni Tita Maria.

"Then why they couldn't fight too? Why leave the rest to us?" tanong ko.

Natahimik ang apat. Mom and dad looked solemn as if they remembered something.

"Liverton is the last family of white witches," sagot sa akin ni Mama kaya kumunot-noo ako.

"Bukod sa nangyayari sa bayan na 'to, they're also the only one who can fight against their own," dugtong ni Mama.

"Black witches," wika ni Tita Maria. "There are black witches too and they are evil. The Liverton bowed that they will stop the black witches at all cost but black witches are too powerful. Muntik na silang tuluyang maubos ng mga ito but luckily, your parents saved them on time."

I looked at my parents. They are still in thoughts as if they're remembering what happened during the old days.

"We can't take a risk and let the last descendants of the Liverton to join this. Their blood is too precious and pure. There's a reason why they're preserving and hiding," sagot naman ni papa.

Though hindi ko ma-gets kung ano ba talaga ang mayroon sa mga Liverton, white witches at black witches na 'yan, I decided to drop the issue about them. I just focused on what's happening right now. At iyon ang nangyayari sa bayan na 'to, us against the incubi.

"I talked to Raiden," pagsisimula ko kaya agad na tumingin ang apat sa akin. "He said one thing."

"What did he say?" tanong ni mama sa akin.

"To leave the rest to them," sagot ko. Kumunot-noo ang apat.

"Leave the rest to them?" tanong ni Tita Maria.

"He said that there is more about the incubi getting the orb for their selfish deeds. There's bigger problem beyond this. I don't know anything. Rai refused to answer any of my questions," paliwanag ko.

Nagkatinginan ang apat. "Vampires are on the move," wika ni Tito George.

"Do you think they want to get the orb too?" tanong ni Tita Maria kaya kinutuban ako ng masama.

You'll hate me.

You'll hate me.

You'll hate me.

Oh shit. Ito na ba 'yon? Is this going to be the reason why I will hate him? Did his master order him to get the orb?

"But why?" Naguguluhan kong tanong.

"Maybe for the same reason why the incubi need it," sagot ng mama ko kaya mas lalo akong kinabahan sa pinag-uusapan namin.

If that's the case, if the vampires and incubi want the orb, then what's the damn reason?

I need to know. I need to know the effin truth.

Napapikit ako at kinilabutan sa sinabi ng papa ko.

"Let's pray that the vampires are not also aiming for the orb or else it will be the end for us."

Raiden.

Please tell me this is not your dumb task or else I will definitely cut your dick.

Damn it.

"Then what should we do?" tanong ni Tito George.

They were silent for a minute, thinking about the next move or plan not to get ourselves killed without both of those creatures get the orb. Nagpa-panic ako. I can hear the clock ticking while I'm also thinking kung ano ang gagawin namin. What should we do? How can we get ourselves out of this without getting any of us killed?

Tik tok tik tok tik tok

I'm in a situation where I have to cut the right cord to stop the bomb from exploding.

Tik tok tik tok tik tok

Think, Maru. Think.

Tik tok tik tok tik tok

What does my heart says?

What does my brain says?

What does my vagina wants? Of course, Raiden's.

Huminga ako ng malalim. Okay for one last time I will follow my guts and trust Rai.

"I have a plan."