Chapter Twenty-five: Burn
- Enzo Alexander -
Patuloy na iniisip ni Enzo ang sinabi sa kanya ni Asher nang bumalik ito kagabi kasama si Zeus at Seige galing Town Square. His cousin told him about their encounter with Callie, ngunit mas nabagabag siya sa sinabi ni Zeus.
Zeus told him how she looks so drained.
Iniisip niya kung paano iyon nangyari. Was his blood enough to quench her thirst? After effect ba ito? Was she starving herself?
Gusto niyang masagot ang kanyang mga tanong.
What if Callie was slowly dying? He's the only one to blame. Pwedeng masira ang buhay niya sa ginawa niya dito.
Maybe he's just over thinking things...
He was slowly changing her personality. Nagpapakita naman ito ng signs ng pagbabago but it wasn't enough for him. He wants to control her mind too--- tap in her thoughs and change the way she thinks. He wants to do it in a snap not just slowly, ayaw niya ng slow change.
He won't stop until he's satisfied, even if it means she'll be ruined over and over again.
Humigpit ang hawak niya sa manibela at mabilis na pinaharurot ang kanyang sasakyan patungong Patridge Manor. Wala namang pupuntahan si Callie kundi ang Town Square. Kakaonti rin lang naman ang kakilala nito dahil sa ibang bansa ito lumaki, dumadalo lang naman ito sa mga events tuwing kasama nito ang mga magulang o kaya ay nautusan na pumunta sa event on behalf of her parents. He avoids her at parties or any social event for that matter. He had to break their ties after the training/torture session. Kailangang walang bakas ng nangyari sa kanila. But that doesn't mean hindi na siya nag aalala dito.
Para kasing isa na responsibilidad niya si Callie. Kahit na mas matanda pa ito sa kanya.
He bet the last time she fed was when they were together. Ginugutom ba talaga nito ang sarili?
He let out a string of curses nang lumabas siya ng sasakyan when he realized that Callie might've planned all of this to get his attention. Nonetheless, tumuloy parin siya sa Manor.
Pumupunta talaga siya dito tuwing palubog pa ang araw o kaya ay gabi na talaga para walang maka kita sa kanya. It's easier for him to sneak in and out when it's dark.
Patay ang lahat ng ilaw nang tumapak siya sa malawak na living room. Ang tanging nagbibigay ng ilaw sa buong mansyon ay ang sinag ng araw sa labas. The mansion was mostly made out of glass, unlike sa Sinclaires na may pagka antique ang style ngunit modern rin. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang ginagawa dito ni Callie habang nag iisa lang ito dito.
Maybe that's why she lured him to come, she's probably bored.
His eyes hardened at the thought. Hangga't sa maaari ay lilimitahan niya ang pagkikita nila. Pupunta lang siya dito kapag gutom na gutom na siya because only her blood can quench his thirst.
He's slowly getting addicted to a Pureblood's blood.
Blood bags weren't enough.
Tuwing nag te-training sila, nasasaktan niya ito. Being badly wounded, inside and out, she needs blood to regenerate and he's the closest blood source. He feeds on her too for the same reason.
They feed on each other as their give and take relationship.
It's more complicated than Asher's 'No Strings Attached' plan.
He found her standing by the floor to ceiling window at the second floor of the mansion staring at the red-orange hue sky outside with a wine glass in hand.
She's wearing a tight gray turtle neck shirt paired to a black skirt and nude pumps. He could imagine his twin sister wearing the same thing. He kind of saw a bit of Ezra in Callie. They somehow had the same personality but still different in some ways. Siguro iyon ang dahilan kung bakit palaging nagka-clash ang dalawa.
"Bakit ganyan ka palagi kung makatingin? Para kang papatay" Malumanay na saad ni Callie at sumimsim sa hawak nitong wine glass.
He gave her a once over, his eyes darting from her head to foot. There was nothing wrong with her body but then...
Her face seemed thinner. Like life was sucked out of it. Her cheeks were hollow that emphasized her cheekbones, it did not look good on her. The look would've been normal sa mga hindi nakakakilala dito but he knows every inch of her--- her mind, body, and soul. Alam niya lahat.
"Are you starving yourself, Calista?" Diretso niyang tanong dito.
She let out a laugh without humor. "I can hunt whenever and wherever I want to satisfy myself but you know what? Fresh animal blood isn't satisfying for me anymore even human blood doesn't sound so appealing. My blood chose you, Enzo."
Mabilis nitong binasag ang hawak na kupita at tinignan siya with blood gushing down her hand because of the broken glass.
He resisted the urge to grab her by the neck and push her against the wall. The smell of her blood filled the whole area. Alam niya kung gaano ka tapang ang amoy ng dugo ng isang Pureblood, delikado ito dahil baka may maka amoy pa bukod sa kanya. Someone could burst in here and attack her.
"Kung wala pang mag iiba sa'kin hindi ka pa pupunta?"
"Diba pinag usapan na natin 'to? It's not as easy as come and go---"
He was cut off by the sound of breaking glass. Ang chandelier na nasa itaas nila ay unti-unting pumuputok ang ilaw. Napa awang ang bibig niya dahil sa nangyayari kay Callie. Hindi naman ito madalas magalit to the point na mababasag na ang lahat. She doesn't lash out like that.
Naisip niya na siya ang dahilan kung bakit ganito si Callie ngayon.
The only girl he knew to lash out like that was Ezra. Nagbabasa ito ng gamit tuwing galit na galit ito. And Ezra demands attention. Was he turning Audrina Calista like Ezra Alexandra?
The question he asked himself was Why?
Hindi naman si Ezra ang naiisip niya tuwing pinag e-eksperimentuhan niya si Callie.
He lifted his gaze to meet her. Iyong tingin na sinabi nitong nakakamatay.
Callie stepped back in shock, like she snapped out in some trance.
"This is pointless," angil siya at sinamaan muli ito ng tingin. "Don't starve yourself, Calista. Hindi ako palaging nandyan to satisfy your thirst. You have to compromise without me"
Tinignan niya muli ang kamay nito. The wound already healed but the fresh blood still sticked to her porcelaine skin.
Hindi niya sinasabi dito ang napapansin niyang pagbabago. He keeps that information only to himself. Callie was the experiment who doesn't know what's happening to her. She's suffering the effects of an Alter's cruel ability of change and manipulation. The dummy. The pawn of his game.
"Aalis na ako. Don't wait for me, pupunta ako dito kung kailan ko gusto" And with that, he turned his back to leave. Questions were swarming his head.
Bilang Alter malayo na ang narating niya. He's propbably the best there is. Even Ezra, his very own twin, can't beat him. Siya lang ang makakasagot sa tanong niya dahil wala naman siyang pwedeng mapagtanungang iba. He had to figure this shit out alone.
Noon, Callie will show out of character actions. He had to get to know her first, know her every action bago niya mapagtanto iyon. Isa na doon ang pinakita nito ngayon. Callie's usually silent when it came to seeking his attention. Hindi ito nag de-demand na magkita sila. She would just wait there for him like the good girl she is tuwing silang dalawa lang.
But then there are times na magpaplano talaga ito para magkita lang sila.
Habang nag da-drive pabalik ng SA, naisip niya kung posible ba talagang maging katulad ng ugali nito ang ugali ni Ezra. He had to keep tabs on her every move to find out and confirm it himself.
She also said her blood chose him. Hindi siya naniniwala sa sinabi nito. She can't possibly want just his blood.
Sumasakit ang ulo sa kakaisip ng ginawa niyang ito.
Nang bumaba siya ng sasakyan, napansin niyang wala roon ang sasakyan ni Asher ngunit ang kay Zeus ay naroon na muli.
Binalikan niya si Gianna sa library at nakitang naroon parin ito katulad ng sabi niya.
"Kuya hinahanap ka ni Ate Ezra," sabi nito nang hindi man lang siya tinitignan. "Nagmamadali siya kanina"
Bumuntong hininga nalang siya. He feels bad dahil wala na naman siya sa tabi ng kanyang kambal nang kailangan siya nito.
Maybe that was why he was changing Callie to be like Ezra. Deep down he knows he misses his twin sister. He wanted to be with her but his choices in life restrict him to do so.
He had to keep a certain part of his life a secret.
------------
- Zeus Achilles -
"Psst pangit wake up! Aria's here!" Muntik nang mahulog sa kama si Zeus dahil sa pag sipa ni Ezra. Mabilis rin itong lumabas ng kwarto pagkatapos siyang sipain, sumunod naman ang katok ni Asher sa naka bukas na pinto.
"Pare baba na! Andito na si Aiane at Aria!"
Tamad niyang sinuot ang kanyang t-shirt. Hindi sila umuwi ng weekend, akala nga niya ay siya lang ang maiiwan sa dorm but The twins and Asher went along with him. Ngayon ang uwi ni Aiane at ang dating ni Aria.
Kagabi pa ito umuwi at nag stay muna sa Sinclaire Manor at ngayon na lilipat sa SA.
"Pare bilis!" Rinig niyang sigaw ni Asher galing sa staircase nang maka labas siya ng hall. Hinihintay siya nitong bumaba habang si Enzo ay naroon na sa lobby, hinihintay rin sila. Si Ezra ay nauna na sa labas.
Nang makarating sila sa parking lot, naroon na ang itim na Escalade. Ezra was excitedly standing a safe distance away from it.
Unang lumabas ng sasakyan si Aira dala dala ang isang malaking bag kaya inalalayan agad ito ni Asher.
"Welcome to SA Aria!" Masayang sambit ni Ezra at ngumiti lang si Enzo.
"Welcome to Sinclaire Academy my favorite human!" Asher gave Aria a side hug.
Napa ngiti naman si Aria sa warm welcome ng mga ito. Zeus just winks at her before turning his attention his little sister na halos mag lambitin na sa leeg ng Papa nila.
"Papa ayaw"
"Aiane kailangan mo nang pumasok" Pilit na tinatanggal ng Papa nila ang mga braso ni Aiane na nakapalupot sa leeg nito.
"Ayaw ko na mag aral. Sa bahay nalang ako"
"Kami din Aiane, ayaw na namin mag aral" Natatawang dagdag naman ni Asher, watching the scene too while holding Aria by the shoulder.
"Mami-miss ako ni Mama, Papa. Dapat sa bahay lang ako" pag pupumilit muli nito.
Natawa naman siya sa inaasta ng kapatid ngayon. Mukhang masyadong nag enjoy ito sa bahay nila at ayaw nang bumalik.
"Hindi mo ba naisip na nami-miss din kita? Paano na si Kuya?" Nanlulumo niyang sabi para makuha ang atensyon nito.
Nilingon naman siya ni Aiane, a wide smile took over her lips. "Kuya!"
Natigilan ito sandali nang tinignan ang buhok niya ngunit tuluyan na rin itong bumitaw sa Papa nila at sa leeg naman niya nag lambitin. "Kuya na miss kita!"
He gave his Father a thumbs up habang naka yakap na si Aiane sa kanya.
"Kuya ang pangit mo kamo nung bata ka. Nakita ko! Andon kayo ni Mama namimili ng damit para sa'kin tapos binigyan ako ng nickname ni Kuya Ash!" Naguluhan siya ng kaonti sa sinabi nito but then lumapit na ang Papa nila to explain the situation.
"She traveled back when Asher gave her the nickname"
Zeus nods in understanding. Mukhang maraming baong kwento si Athena.
"We'll help Aria get settled in Papa," sabi naman ni Ezra, dala naman ni Enzo ang ibang gamit ni Aria.
Tumango lang ito sa sinabi ni Ezra at bumaling na muli sa kanya.
"Aiane, sumama ka na muna kina Aria."
Ngumuso pa si Aiane bago tumango at humalik sa pisngi ng Papa nila. "Bye Papa! Sabihin mo kay Mama miss ko na agad siya!"
"Baka iyakan pa ako ng Mama mo kapag sinabi ko 'yon"
Aiane giggled before following Asher and the others.
"Kamusta Pa?" Zeus asked while watching Aiane's back.
"She's doing okay. Sa ngayon ay hindi magkaka konekta ang mga napupuntahan siya. She just travels to different times and places at wala siyang kontrol doon. I want you to keep the time intervals monitored, kung kailan siya mawawala at kung kailan siya makakabalik. Report it back to me when you guys go home. Kailangan natin malaman kung ang oras na itinatagal niya doon ay katulad rin ng pagkawala niya dito or if her travels affect the present time which is I highly doubt. Keep an eye on her future self too, sooner or later she'll pay us a visit"
Tumango lang siya sa lahat ng sinabi nito. Looks like Aiane is going to be handful more that she already is.
Sumunod rin siya sa Dusk kung nasaan ang lahat para tumulong kay Aria.
"Si Flame nalang ang kulang kumpleto na tayo!" Masayang sambit ni Ezra nang magsimula na ang lunch hour. He inwardly cringe at the mention of the girl he had been avoiding, kahit na sa pag isip dito ay iniiwasan na niya. Which is good dahil ngayon nalang muli pumasok sa isip niya si Flame. Naalala niya na ngayon na nga pala ang uwi nito kasabay ni Aiane at Aria to start the week properly.
He tried to search for Seige ngunit naalala niya na may shift ito sa diner ngayong umaga at mamayang hapon pa ang balik. They went to the diner last night nang walang third wheel. Kumain lang sila and watched a baseball game along with the locals.
"Anong oras uuwi si Flame, Ash?"
"Dunno," Asher answered before munching on his burger.
"Walang kwentang kaibigan" Napa irap naman si Ezra sa sagot nito at bumaling nalang muli kay Aria.
"Patingin ako ng sched mo mamaya, baka may advanced class kang kasama kami"
Since Aria was a year younger than them, hindi nila ito kasama sa klase but if she has advance classes then baka maging ka-klase rin nila ito.
Kumain nalang siya habang nakikinig sa usapan ni Ezra at Asher tungkol sa susunod na social night na gagawin para kay Aria. He can see her scrunch her nose from time to time ngunit wala rin naman itong magagawa. Game na game si Asher sa lahat ng plano ni Ezra.
All of them really adored Ariabella Laine.
"You know Kuya, Hangrove and SA looked so different sa time nila Papa," kwento ni Aiane sa kanya nang maiwan silang dalawa sa kwarto nito. "I saw the true form of SA too. Mama said they were 17 back then, it was before the war. It looked like a medieval castle!"
Patuloy lang siya sa pakikinig sa kwento nito. Looks like she's been to different times and places habang under monitor sa bahay nila.
"Hindi ka ba nila nakikita?" Curious na tanong naman niya dito.
"I don't let them see me though kahit na makita naman nila ako hindi nila ako kilala but still. Seeing familiar faces are enough for me. Ang sarap ng feeling pag na relive mo ang isang moment na kinikwento lang sa'yo noon"
Athena is completely in love with her ability. Kitang kita niya sa mata nito. They her eyes twinkled showed passion everytime she tells a story.
Nakinig lang siya sa mga sinabi nito hanggang sa makatulog ito noong hapong iyon. Tinignan niya ang kanyang relo at nakitang tapos na ang shift ni Seige, baka naka uwi na rin ito.
Hinalikan niya muna ang noo ni Aiane bago lumabas sa kwarto nito.
The others went out to tour Aria in Hangrove kaya tahimik ang buhay niya. Hindi na siya sumama dahil hindi pa daw pwedeng lumabas si Aiane sa public place dahil baka mag laho ito bigla at may maka kita.
Unti-unti na ring bumabalik ang mga students after spending the weekend at home. Kaya nang bumaba siya may mga students nang naka tambay sa lobby at common rooms. Usap usapan na rin ang pag dating ni Aria. Of course her arrival wouldn't go unoticed.
He was walking out of Dawn nang mapansin niya si Seige, papasok naman ito kaya sinalubong na niya. "Seige!"
Hindi lang ang atensyon ni Seige ang nakuha niya kundi ang ibang nalalakad rin papasok.
"I brought Athena burgers and fries," winagayway nito ang paper bag sa harap niya.
"Yung kapatid ko meron tapos ako wala? Unfair!" Natatawa niyang ninanggap ang mainit pang bag.
"Oh come on, kagabi lang iyan rin ang kinain mo. Magsasawa ka agad" Seige rolled her eyes.
He laughs again dahil sa bagong ekspresyong pinakita nito. She's really improving when it came to expressing her feelings. Mas nagiging vocal na rin ito. She was still a bit cryptic but it was better than the first time he met her. Gone was the emotionless violet eyed girl.
"I think maganda ang epekto ko sa'yo," he teased her with a smirk.
Seige just smiled. Walang bahid ng malisya o kung ano man.
"Tara na nga! Aiane's asleep kaya iwan ko nalang muna ito sa kwarto niya. Where do you want to go today?" Dahil maaga pa naman pwede pa silang lumabas. He feels like the walls of the Academy are too small kaya mas gusto niyang lumabas.
Bahagyang nawala ang atensyon niya kay Seige dahil sinundan niya ang tinitignan nito.
Cassandra Flame just entered the gates of Dawn. Hinihipan pa ng hangin ng pula nitong buhok.
He immediately closed his eyes. And then opens it again with a sigh. "Seige saan mo gustong pumunta?" Ulit niya.
Naka tingin na sa kanya si Seige. Her violet eyes bore into his.
He solely locked his attention to her than the girl with green eyes who was walking closer to them each passing second.
He knew from the back of his mind, he wasn't ready for her return.
But then he found himself not wanting to reignite the flame katulad ng ninanais niya noong sa segundong makita palang niya ito. She left him hanging and this time he was going to pull himself up without her help. He's not going to let her burn him again.