Pabagsak na naupo ng couch si Cole nang nakaalis si Kam at ang mga kaibigan nito.
He couldn't believe he was this exhausted dealing with her.
"Blood party! Freaking stupid vampires," sambit niya sabay hilamos ng kanyang mga palad.
Naramdaman niyang umupo sa tabi niya si Gregory at sa kabilang couch naman sina Draven at Ciro.
"Sounds fun actually," ani Ciro.
"Alam mo bang sinimulan ni Kam ang blood parties n'ya seven years ago?" ani Draven kaya nagtatakang tiningnan ito ni Cole.
"So?"
"That was the time she heard that you were in a serious relationship with someone else."
Natahimik si Cole.
Serious relationship? Seven years ago?
"It doesn't ring a bell," aniya. Isang beses lang siya naging seryoso. Kay Kam lang noong nasa academy sila. "Wait..."
Naalala na niya ang tsismis na 'yun. It even reached Deus, his older brother, during his exile in Ribenly.
"That wasn't true though. My great grandfather, Orpheus, kept bugging me to read him books. Sinabi ko lang na busy ako sa girlfriend ko para tantanan n'ya ako. That lie didn't last long. I was back in the library with him in a matter of weeks."
Napailing si Gregory. "And look what that little lie of yours got you and her into."
"So, wait, wait," ani Ciro na nag-buffer. "Ibig sabihin, Kam was hurt when she heard about the rumor of your serious girlfriend kaya niya sinimulan ang blood parties to... what? Numb the pain? Forget? Move on?"
Umiling si Cole. "Wag n'yo nga akong sisihin sa mga kalokohan na nagawa ni Kamdyn. She left me for another man. She started these blood parties five years after she left me. Wala na akong kinalaman d'yan."
"Well, her reasons are not our business," sabi na lang ni Gregory saka tumayo na. "I'm beat. Magpapahinga lang ako."
"Babalik na rin ako sa hotel," ani Cole.
"You can stay here. Pwede ka sa couch," ani Ciro.
"No, thank you," ani Cole. He needed his private space. He would gather evidence. He needed a room for that.
"If you changed your mind..."
"I know, I know, Ciro. By the way, thanks for helping me today. I will be asking you again for sure."
"No problem," ani Draven. "We'll help you as much as we can. But don't dismiss the help Kam Hayes can give. She has influence."
Tumango na lang si Cole. Totoo naman kasi. If Kam Hayes could make his work faster, then he would accept the help. He didn't want to stay here any longer.
Tumayo si Draven at nagpunta sa kusina at nasundan ito ni Cole ng tingin.
"Anyways, I have to visit some family and friends. Have you heard of the Hellville Academy?"
"Oh yeah. Bago lang. Last year lang 'yan nag-open, hindi ba?" ani Draven na nagsisimula nang mag-slice ng mga gulay. Open concept kasi itong condo nila kaya karugtong lang ng sala ang kusina at dining area.
"Bakit Hellville?" tanong naman ni Gregory na papasok na sana sa kwarto nito.
"Galing Hellville ang founders. Auntie ko ang isa, si Tita Rianah. Bunso nina Mom. Nandoon na rin ang isa pa nilang kapatid, si Uncle Max with his family. They're vampire-witch so, they teach there."
"More of my descendants huh," ani Gregory. "At nandito lang pala sila."
"Yeah. You can come with me kung gusto mo silang makilala."
"One of these days," noncommittal na sagot ng lalaki at tuluyan na ngang pumasok ng kwarto nito.
Alam ni Cole na gusto ng tatlo na mahanap ang mga kapamilya at kaibigan na naiwan nang ma-kidnap ang mga ito. Gregory, Draven and Ciro wanted to find familiar faces kaya hindi niya masisisi na ayaw muna ni Gregory na makakita ng mga bagong mukha sa pamilya nito. He just didn't have a choice when he met Cole and Linus.
Tumayo na si Cole.
"Where are you going? Kumain ka na muna bago ka bumalik sa hotel mo," seryosong sabi ni Draven.
"Nah. Next time na lang. I have to leave for Hellville Academy now. But thanks though. I'll be back later, guys," aniya saka nagtungo na sa pinto.
"Make sure to clear Kam's name para makatulong na siya sa'yo," paalala ni Ciro at tumango naman si Cole. Ano pa nga ba ang magagawa n'ya?
—-
Hellville Academy.
Napangiti si Cole habang nakatingin sa sign na nasa harapan ng malaki at mataas na modern building. Gawa sa glass ang bawat floor to ceiling na bintana ng mga silid. May fifteen floors ang building.
"Papasok ka ba o tutunganga ka lang dito sa labas?"
Nakangiting lumingon si Cole nang marinig ang astig na boses ng isang babae mula sa kanyang likuran. It was Thaïs. Anak ito ng kanyang Uncle Max na kapatid ng Mama niya at ng asawa nitong si Raye.
"Cousin," aniya saka niyakap ang babae nang sobrang higpit. May pa-sayaw-sayaw pa siya kaya sinuntok siya nito sa tyan. "Ugh!" he groaned. Ang lakas kaya.
Inayos ni Thaïs ang mahaba nitong buhok na sobrang itim at tuwid. May straight itong bangs at ang pula ng mga labi nito. May itim itong choker, naka-black bandeau crop top kaya kita ang manipis nitong tiyan, naka-black ding flare jeans at black high-heeled ankle boots.
"Who died?" palatak ni Cole.
Ngumisi si Thaïs saka hinawakan ang straps ng backpack nitong maliit na black and white.
"Ikaw. You want?" anito saka humakbang na papasok ng main entrance. Kilala naman ito ng guard na naroon kaya nakapasok ito ng walang problema. "He's with me. Family."
Tumango lang ang guard.
Sinalubong sila ng ingay nang makapasok sila sa building. Ang daming mga palakad-lakad na mga estudyante. Mula seven to twenty-one years old ang mga estudyante rito.
"Bakit ba ang sama mo sa akin? Tsaka malamig na ang panahon ah. Hindi ka ba nilalamig d'yan sa suot mo?" inakyaban ni Cole ang pinsan na hindi niya masyadong nakikita dahil busy sila masyado at lage namang nagbibiyahe ang pamilya nito.
"Kasi hindi tayo close? And why would I get cold? I'm a vampire-witch just like you," anito saka tinanggal ang pagkakaakbay niya pero agad din naman niyang ibinalik.
"Ito naman. Nagtatampo ka na n'yan? Tsaka giniginaw kaya ako."
"What are you doing here, Kuya Cole?"
"Gusto ko lang kayong bisitahin."
Pumasok sila sa elevator at pinindot ni Thaïs ang 15th floor saka muli nitong tinanggal ang pagkakaakbay n'ya.
Cole chuckled pero hindi na nangulit.
"Dito sa Chilakest, I mean."
"Well, may mission ako rito. The Obis massacre."
Patagilid siyang sinulyapan ni Thaïs at nakita ni Cole ang pagkislap ng mga mata nito.
"Nope. You're not going to tag along with me. Nah uh! Your parents are gonna kill me."
Umikot ang mga mata ni Thaïs. "I'm twenty. I can handle myself."
"I know, but the answer is still no."
Sumimangot na lang ang pinsan n'ya.
Ang bilis talaga ng panahon. Dalaga na ito at hindi man lang niya namalayan. Ibig sabihin lang nito ay matanda na siya.
Tumigil ang elevator sa 1oth floor at pumasok ang tatlong babaeng estudyante na puro fashionista. Meaning, mamahaling coats, skirts, blouse at boots. Mamahalin din ang mga bags, buhok at kuko ng mga ito.
Napaatras sina Cole at Thaïs nang pumasok ang tatlo na para bang pagmamay-ari ng mga ito ang eskwelahan.
Tumaas ang kilay ni Cole nang makita na inirapan ng tatlo si Thaïs. Nagtatakang napatingin siya sa pansin na may pagtatanong sa mga mata pero nagkibit lang ito ng balikat.
"Press 11th floor, Leanne. I don't wanna be in the same elevator with a skunk," anang nasa gitna na may wavy na buhok na kulay dark brown na sinulyapan si Thaïs.
"Hey, handsome. Are you a new student?" biglang baling naman ng may pulang buhok kay Cole na nakasandal lang sa sulok ng elevator at nakapamulsa.
Tumaas ang kilay ng binata. Seriously? Napagkamalan pa siya na estudyante ng mga 'to?
Before he could answer, the elevator door opened.
"Let's go," anang parang lider-lideran na padabog na lumabas. Nag-flying kiss na lang kay Cole 'yung nagtanong sa kanya bago lumabas.
"What the hell was that? Bakit gan'on ka tratuhin ng mga 'yun? Hindi ba nila alam na pamangkin ka ng founders ng school?" aniya sa pinsan nang sumara uli ang elevator.
Ngumisi si Thaïs. "Nope! Ang alam nila, isa lang akong ordinaryong estudyante. They don't even know that I'm a vampire."
"But why?"
"Because I want a challenge, Kuya Cole. Kapag nalaman nila kung ano ang relasyon ko sa mga founders, then everything would be easy. Hindi rin nila alam na anak ako ng dalawang faculty members."
"But your family name..."
"I'm Thaïs Simmons... unofficially."
Napailing na lang si Cole na mga pakulo ng kanyang pinsan.
Nasa 15th floor ang offices ng founders at administrators ng Hellville Academy na sina Rianah Gerhardt, Faizah Atwood at Lorenzo Atwood. May opisina rin doon ang dalawa pang staff/teachers na sina Raye at Max Gerhardt.
"Cole," bati ng lahat sa kanya nang makapasok siya sa napakalaking opisina na shini-share ng lima. Isa-isa niyang niyakap ang mga nadatnan nila roon.
"Kumusta mga ancient people?" malakas niyang tanong. "At ayaw n'yo pa talaga ng private office ha. Nagsama-sama talaga kayong lahat para mag-tsismisan."
"Siempre naman 'no. Ang boring kaya ng private office," anang Tita Faizah niya. Kaedad lang ito ng Mommy Savannah niya at bestfriend din. May gray hair na ito at iilang wrinkles unlike his mom who still looked like in her thirties.
"Sila lang ang mahilig mag-tsismisan. I'm not guilty," itinaas ni Lorenzo ang mga kamay habang tumatawa. Nakakatandang kapatid ito ni Faizah. May witch wife ito at tatlong anak. Hindi alam ni Cole kung ilan na ang apo nito.
"Haay naku. Kuya Lorenzo, ikaw ang pinaka-gossiper dito," pagsali ni Rianah sa usapan. Ito ang bunsong kapatid ng Mom ni Cole. Nasa early forties na itong Tita niya pero mukhang nasa twenties pa rin ang itsura. A perk for being a vampire. Vampire-witch like them aged, but the process was very slow. They could live up to three hundred years.
"Sina Mom at Dad?" ani Thaïs.
"Oo nga. Nasaan sina Tita Raye at Tito Max?" ani Cole na hinanap ang isa pang kapatid ng ina n'ya at ang asawa nito.
"May classes sila. Mamaya pa babalik ang mga 'yun," ani Faizah.
"Kung babalik. Baka magdi-date nanaman ang dalawang 'yun. Lage na lang nakakalimutan na may anak sila," pagmamaktol ni Thaïs.
"Ano'ng anak? 'Di ba sabi mo hindi ka namin kaanu-ano rito sa school?" taas-kilay na sabi ni Rianah.
"Oo nga. Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito, student? Hindi ka dapat basta-basta pumapasok sa opisina namin. Knock and wait for permission," segunda naman ni Faizah kaya napahagikhik si Cole.
"Tigilan n'yo nga ang pamangkin ko," agad na pagtatanggol ni Lorenzo kay Thaïs. Pinsan nina Faizah at Lorenzo ang ina ni Thaïs na si Raye kaya pamilya rin nila ito.
"Tito," nag-inarte naman agad si Thaïs at yumakap sa tiyuhin. "Inaaway nila ako."
"Oh, shut it," ani Rianah na nakangiwi kaya ngumisi si Thaïs.
"By the way, napadalaw ka, Cole?" ani Faizah na gumagawa ng kape sa coffee station ng office.
"Oo nga. This is so not you. You don't visit us anymore," may pagmamaktol pang nalalaman ang Tita Rianah niya.
"Busy lang naman. Ano ba 'yan?" sagot ni Cole.
"Saan ka tumutuloy? Doon ka na sa condo ko. May guest room naman ako," anang Tita Rianah niya.
This was another invitation for a place to stay. What was wrong with hotels?
Naalala niya na hindi pala alam ng mga 'to na nandito rin ang founding fathers ng kanilang lupang-sinilangan. Pero ayaw nina Gregory na malaman ng iba na nandito sila kaya hahayaan na lang niya. Magkikita rin ang mga ito, eventually.
"Sige para makatipid ako," ani Cole. He didn't have to save money. Bayad ng ISOP ang lahat ng expenses niya pero sa bulsa niya mapupunta ang pera kapag nakatipid siya.
"So, bakit ka nga nandito?" untag ni Faizah.
"I'm here for the Obis massacre."
"Ohhh. Kaya pala. Makes sense. Those murderers are still not in jail."
"You know who the murderers are? Or may clue kayo?"
"Hindi ba si Kam Hayes ang salarin? Oh! And her Turned friends," ani Lorenzo.
Napailing si Cole. Deflated. "Nah. I already had them tested. They didn't kill them."
Nagkatinginan ang mga kasama niya- except Thaïs na mukhang wala nang pakialam sa kanila. Nasa snack bar na ito at pinakialaman na nito ang donuts na naroon.
"What?" ani Cole. They looked suspicious. Mukhang may alam.
"Well," panimula ni Rianah na tumayo at sumandal sa gilid ng desk nito, "we want the city to be safe. We want to make sure that our students live in a safe environment. So, we secretly did our investigation after the massacre."
Napanganga si Cole. Seriously? So, ano pa ang ginagawa niya rito? These people were competent and reliable. Their investigation should be enough.
"So, ano'ng resulta?"
"We gave it to Mayor Ridges," ani Lorenzo. "We suggested that she ask the assistance of ISOP since your organization is pretty good in handling situations like this. Now we know that ISOP sent you."
"Kayong mga gorang ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito?" palatak niya. "Bakit hindi n'yo na lang tinapos ang investigation n'yo? Hindi n'yo ako kailangan dito. Ano ba ang resulta?"
"We can't do anything. We are a private institution."
"And not connected to law enforcement," dagdag ni Faizah sa sinabi ni Rianah.
"So, the information given to you by the mayor is from us. Our investigation, all the evidence, point to Kam Hayes and her friends as the killers. We wanted the ISOP, you in this case, to conduct your own investigation that will prove their guilt. Pero iba ang naging resulta ng investigation mo huh?"
Napatango si Cole sa sinabi ng kanyang Tita Rianah. Mukhang mas naging komplikado pa yata ang kasong ito.
"I need to review the file given to me by the Mayor. Kung galing sa inyo 'yun, it means it's reliable."
Napatango ang tatlo.
"Bakit sigurado kayong sila nga ang may kagagawan?"
Was Kam really capable of killing helpless mortals?
"We had help from a witch who can read the history of a place with just a simple visit," nakangising sagot ni Rianah na sinulyapan si Thaïs.
"No!" nanlaki ang mga mata ni Cole at hindi makapaniwalang napalingon sa pinsan na naka-smirk. "You have retrocognition?"
Isa ito sa abilities ng kanilang ancestors na si Otillie Simmons na nakuha rin ng ina ni Cole na si Savannah. At dahil descendant ni Otillie si Thaïs, hindi nakapagtataka na may nakuha rin itong uri ng clairvoyance. Retrocognition was an ability that allows the user to see the past.
Cole and his older brother got a Bloodworth ability, psychokinesis. While their sister, Tiana, got a weird type of precognition. She can see how her loved ones die.
Sa pagkakaalam ni Cole, his Tita Rianah could see random glimpses of the future, but each glimpse only lasts for a second... or less. Rianah decided this power was useless since it was impossible to control what she saw. Everything was random.
Cole's Uncle Max didn't get any Simmons power. As a matter of fact, no male descendant of Otillie Simmons got any clairvoyant ability. They thought the power only runs in the female bloodline. Until Linus. His younger brother had remote viewing. He could see what was happening around him even if his eyes were closed.
And now... Thaïs. "What kind of retrocognition did you inherit?"
"Naririnig ko kung ano ang nangyari sa isang lugar. All I have to do is focus to get the exact time and date."
"And you went to the hotel suite where the massacre happened?"
Tumango si Thaïs. "I heard the victims screaming. They begged Kam and her friends to stop."
"You heard. You didn't see?" pigil ang hiningang tanong ni Cole.
This couldn't have happened. Kam was not a murderer. It just wasn't possible. Was it?
"I heard them begging, Kuya Cole. Kam, please stop. Kam, don't kill me. Kam, maawa kayo," tiim-bagang na sagot ni Thaïs habang inaalala ang narinig.
Tila nanghina ang mga tuhod ni Cole. Parang hindi n'ya matanggap na kaya itong gawin ni Kam. Now that there was a clear evidence of her involvement, he couldn't seem to accept it.
At paano nito nagawang itago iyun mula sa mind dive na ginawa ni Draven? Paano nito nagawang ibahin ang memory na nabasa ng isang Brigham vampire?
Everything had become so complicated.
Mukhang si Kam at mga kaibigan nito nanaman ang kanyang suspect. He had to be smart on this one.
The Kam that he knew twelve years ago was definitely not the same Kam he met a few moments ago.
***
@immrsbryant