BLOOD BOUND: THE HAWTHORNE'S FALL ( Book 1)

🗡XVIII. Groove Prague🗡

Early in the morning, nasa labas na kami ng palasyo ng Callahan. Nakahanda na ang isang marangyang carriage na magdadala sa amin doon. Dalawa ito. The first one, si Alaric, ako at Ambrosia, kasama ang dalawang lalaki na bodyguard namin. The other one is Aphasia, Amadeus and Aeneas with the other two men in black.

Ng makasakay na kami ay kaagad na kumaway sa kay Lolo namin na nasa hagdanan sa harap ng palasyo. We wave goodbye and he smiled at us. May iilan kaming kasama maliban sa coaches.

Medyo may kalayuan ang byahe. Tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana. Large green trees covered the road. The rays of sunlights went through the branches na nagsisilbing mumunting ilaw sa daan. Medyo magaan ang byahe dahil sementado naman ang daanan.

"Are we near?", tanong ni Ambrosia na halatang nalilibang rin sa tanawin sa labas. It's been ten long years since we've been outside.

"Malayo pa. Will get there at twelve", sabi ni Alaric at napatingin sa kanyang wristwatch. It wasn't just a normal watch. I know what it is. More like a compass that helps him in the hunt.

Mas lalong lumiwanag ang araw ng makalampas na kami kakahuyang daanan. The road is now clear. May iilang mga carriages rin kaming nakakasalubong. It has many humans but not too crowded.

Ramdam ko ang pagtirik ng araw. Sakto ay lumiko ang carriage na sinasakyan namin. Dumungaw ako sa labas at tinanaw ang carriage nila Aphasia na naka sunod sa amin. Pumasok kami sa isang metal na gate. Painted in black. The place is silent. Cemetery is so peaceful, huh?

Huminto lamang kami ng tumapat kami sa isang burol. Naunang lumabas ang dalawang lalaki kasunod si Alaric. The two men helped me and Ambrosia get down.

"So we need to climb that", sabi ko naman.

"Yes, mama's grave is inside the Callahan's grave temple", sagot naman ni Alaric. "Shall we?", nilingon niya sila Aphasia kaya sabay kaming umakyat doon. The four men is following us. While the coaches and others remain with our carriages.

Ng nakaakyat na kami at nasa plain na at puro mga lapida na ang nakikita ko. Normal. It's a cemetery. Para itong talampas na may malaking plain sa ibabaw kung saan nilagay ang mga namatay. There are lots of temples there from different rich families. Hinanap namin ang sa Callahan at mabilis din namang natagpuan.

Alaric opened the metal gate na nagsisilbing pinto papasok sa loob. Ng makapasok ay hindi namin inaasahang malaki ang espasyo sa loob. Sa labas ay maliit lamang it tingnan.

"It's a cave owned by the Callahan's", sabi ng isa sa kasama namin na naroon.

Tumango si Alaric. Hinanap namin ang pangalan ni mama.

"Rowena Callahan, Pandora.... Victoria.....", basa ni Ambrosia sa mga pangalan na nadaanan namin. "Ulric.... Edric.... Alcesta...", she continue.

"Vashti Callahan. Here!", sabi ni Aeneas at pinagpagan ang isang lapida na naroon. He cough. Mama's grave covered with spider web. Aphasia wiped it with fabric.

"The flowers, Art", sabi ni Amadeus kaya nilagay ko ang bulaklak na kanina ko pa bitbit.

"Mama", Ambrosia whispered as tears escapes her eyes. Ganoon din si Aphasia. Amadeus tried to calm the two.

Si Alaric ay naupo sa upuan na gawa sa semento doon. Nakatitig lamang sa pangalan ni mama. Aeneas walk towards me and hug me from the back. I hold on to his arms and cry silently.

"Why mom? I really have no idea how she died. That night.......", Aphasia sobbed. ".....we shouldn't have left them. We could be of help".

"There must be a reason, Sia. There's a reason why our parents left us early", si Amadeus na pilit pinatahan si Aphasia.

"What reason? What exactly, Deus? Really, I don't understand. We need to figure it out", aniya.

"Why is dad's name isn't here? Where is his body?", si Alaric. He seemed calmed.

"He may be alive", si Aeneas na nanatiling nakayakap sa akin.

We're the closest sibling now. Maliban sa kay Ambrosia ay malapit na rin ako kay Aeneas. Alaric seem distant this oast few years. He's my closest brother way back but now, he's different.

Umiling ako. "If he is, where could he be? He should be looking for us", sabi ko.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Alaric. All of them looked at me like I made a point.

"Artemis is right. If he's alive, dapat ay hinanap niya tayo", si Amadeus. "Then why all these years, we didn't see him? Could it be he's dead too?".

"Amadeus, no. Dad's may be out there. Alive", si Ambrosia.

"I'm just hitting point here, Ros. What ifs", aniya sa kapatid. "If he is alive, then we should find him".

"Where?", si Alaric.

"Anywhere? We have a lot of time. We can still stroll around the town and ask who knows Abraham Balkan is", Amadeus said like he got an idea.

"That's dangerous. We need to go back home before sunset, Deus. You've been with me for hunting. You know what's out there when the sun goes down", mariin na sabi ni Alaric.

"We'll find some house to stay in or a sleep inside our carriage while staying inside this town and leave tomorrow morning".

"That's fine. We can find papa", si Aphasia. "Please, Ric. This might be the chance. Please?", she pleaded to Alaric.

Wala namang nagawa ang kapatid ko. He just sigh and nodded.

"But with condition. Each one of you should foll my rules. I'll do it my way", aniya sa amin.

Bumaba na kami sa burol. Nauna si Alaric at Aphasia dahil may pinag-uusapan sila. Amadeus and Ambrosia ay nakasunod naman sa kanila at may sarili din'g pinag-uusapan.

Palingon-lingon ako sa paligid at nakitang may iilan din na mga tao ang naroon. On the other side, below the tall and huge tree. May dalawang lalaki ang naroon. Nakatayo. Ang isa sa kanila ay naka squat sa lupa at may tinutingnan. Ang isa naman ay nakatingin sa mga taong naroon. I keeo on staring at them hanggang na nagtagpo ang mga mata namin ng lalaki. Kahit na malayo ay nawari ko ang kulay ng kanilang damit. The one who's squatting is wearing white traditional clothes. More like gothic clothes. Iyong isang nakatingin sa akin ay kulay pula naman ang kanyang damit.

"What are you looking at?", Aeneas interrupted me.

Napabaling kaagad ako sa kanya. "N-Nothing. Marami palang mga tao dito", sabi ko at nagkunwaring bumaling sa mga taong naroon. But I'm actually looking for the two boys under the large tree who is now gone.

"Let's go", hinigit ako ni Aeneas ng nasa paanan na kami ng burol. We only separated when I enter the carriage with Ambrosia.

Palabas na kami ng Groove Prague. Medyo malayo pa kami sa gate ay bumaling muli ako sa bintana. At doon ay nakita ko muli ang lalaking nakita ko kanina. Medyo malapit na siya sa amin. Iyong nakapula ang una kong nakita. My eyes narrowed at him. Napatitig ako sa kanyang madidilim na mga mata. His skin is pale like mine. His hair is pitch black and it's long. It's design like the traditional hair styles for men in old ages.

"What are you looking at?", sumilip din si Ambrosia sa bintana ng siguro ay napansin na nagtagal ang tingin ko sa labas.

"J-Just the view outside", sagot ko sa kanya. Hindi na ako muling lumingon pa sa labas. I don't want her to find out what I've seen earlier. Those two men I've seen. I've feel a different energy from them like I've never felt before. Their spirit, energy and air are just way too different.

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