Chapter 12. The Mansion of Menace
The limousine enter the “Salamangca Subdivision” moments after they arrived at Quezon City. It looks a lot like other subdivisions but the houses were antique and seemed very expensive. Karen got scared of the idea living there. If one would exam the area, it gives off the ‘throwback” vibe as if they’re living in the past. Every house look the same, the windows are made of capiz but all the house were stones. The Spanish influence lingers on these houses. Oddly Karen can’t see any person in the subdivision. All the houses’ light were turned off even though it was already evening. It was as if Karen was entering a very dark abyssal dimension. Mercutio then turned left, Karen thought it was because the location of the mansion was there. But then after traversing for 5 minutes he turned left again, another 5 minutes and her turned left again. Karen was getting confuse.
“What are you doing? We’ve been circling this street for 2 times already!” Karen screamed. Mercutio didn’t reply, instead he continued his turning consistently to the left. Fauxnel took out his smartphone and started to dial.
“Yes master, we’re here. Just two turns and we’ll break through the dimensional fold.” Then he slid it down his coat once more. After the 6th turn instead of seeing the old ancestral houses everything seem to fade like they were being blurred until an image of a castle like structure appeared.
“We’re here. Fauxnel help the lady.” Mercutio commanded. Fauxnel took Karen’s suitcase first before assisting her out of the limousine. Karen’s mouth went agape when she saw the details of the castle like structure. It was enormous. Not to mention the space outside of the building is as wide as the football field that she had seen in the TV.
“Welcome to the Villaruel Estate. Seniorita Karen let us guide you inside your new home.” Fauxnel politely spoke. Karen got goose bumps from his words. After all Fauxnel seem nonchalant in their every conversation so the change of tone bothered her somehow. She looked straight ahead towards the gates. There were no guards that served as sentinels. There was just an iron gate. A gigantic one. Mercutio tapped Karen’s shoulder to stop her. Then he moved forward and chanted.
“Blood and bones. Crush the stones. Whisper tones,We do not atone.”
Then the gate slowly opened itself. Karen saw the vast gardens, she saw one part with roses of different colors, and then she move her vision to the ones nearer to her. There was a fountain with a woman statue atop of it. She was holding a book beaming towards their direction. Waters came out from the book as if she was casting a spell using it. But Karen got frightened when she took a closer look at the statue’s face. Tears were coming out from its eyes. Then she noticed two boys at the same age as her looking at her hiding behind the bushes. They were both shirtless and full of bruises and whip mark.
“Who are they?” Karen grasp Fauxnel’s sleeves.
“Oh them? New recruits. They’re warlocks whose families skipped 10 generations and thus they don’t know much knowledge of their powers. They must have mess up really bad for the master to punish them. They will sleep in garden till morning comes.” Fauxnel didn’t even bother to look at them.
“That’s so cruel…” Karen didn’t want to continue because the two boys were already glaring at her. Mercutio noticed that. He motioned his hand apart from each other. At the same time the two boys went flying opposite from one another. The hit the trees nearby and the lost consciousness. Karen realized those boys were naked.
“There they won’t bother you anymore.” The emotionless Mercutio cued Karen to just walk ahead. She was afraid of what she saw. She was supposed to tell him it’s wrong but her fears got the best of her. She tried summoning her diwa but she seemed disconnected from it. When they got closer to the door there was a woman in a maid uniform. She has black hair tied up in a ponytail.
“The masters are waiting for you Seniorita.” Then she bowed. Karen Followed. Behind her was Mercutio and Fauxnel.
“Say Ingrid, do you really need to wear that uniform?” said Fauxnel in a flirtatious manner.
“I am a servant here. Not foreign students like you two.” Said Ingrid. Karen noticed how beautiful she is. Hazel eyes, firm nose, and a full lips. She has light brown complexion. However, despite her beautiful features she looked very sad. Her eyes were but empty stares. Karen halted her scrutiny of the maid. She somehow felt that this woman is also a witch. Maybe everyone in the house knows witchcraft. She focused more on the interior of the house. It was spacious, the object around it were antique. Cabinets, vase, jars, statues, the furniture were also antique looking but Karen can tell from the designs that they were newly crafted. She one of them on TV, a feature on fairy tale inspired furniture. Then she decided to look at the paintings on the walls. All depicts witches, doing rituals, orgies, and human sacrifices. She almost puked at one were a woman tore a baby’s belly. The largest painting before they can reach the stairs was beautiful painting. A man and his wife with a young boy sitting at the lap of the wife. All were wearing black as if they were mourning. But they were all smiling like one happy family. Karen needed no one to explain who they were. It was the Villaruel couple and her dad. There was another painting besides it though it is a bit smaller. An old fat man in his 80’s sitting on a couch and behind him are two girls. Both having the same curly hair. The one of the left side wore a white dress and let her long hair loose and the one on the right side wore black and donned her hair in a bun. The one wearing white reminded Karen of Sophia.
“Seniorita we’ll add an updated portrait of you as soon as possible.” Ingrid wasn’t even looking at her. Karen blushed out of embarrassment. Upon reaching the top Ingrid led them to the room nearest to them. Just outside the door, there was a sign ‘Senior Villaruel’ on it. Ingrid knocked three times. Just like Fauxnel and Mercutio she appears emotionless. The door was opened by another woman, an older one. “Greetings Oktavia, the Seniorita is here.” Oktavia opened the door for them. She wasn’t wearing a uniform like Ingrid. But she looks more of a secretary complete with eye glasses. Ingrid and Oktavia both moved backwards together with Mercutio and Fauxnel leaving Karen to face her grandfather. He was sitting like an attorney and in front of his the desk. The only separation that Karen has from him.
“So how’s my heiress? Did you enjoy your travel?” Senior Villaruel smiled. Karen then remembered the assassins. She summons all her strength and unexpectedly she was able to summon two kampilans. Looking armed the others behind her seemed ready to cast a spell but their master signalled them to stop.
“I’m no heiress of yours. You have sent murderers to my friends. We could have talked about it but you brought those vile spirits with my escorts. You should die!” Karen’s hair was floating as if they were alive. Her entire body shines like a luminescent figure. She charges towards the Senior. He just smiled. The moment Karen’s blade almost hit him the desk flew up pinning Karen to the ceiling.
“Nice. Whoever taught you this priestess stuff sure knows a lot but haven’t I mentioned I’m a priestess killer?” with a snap of his finger Karen and the desk fell to the ground. Karen’s fall was so bad she had some of her joints dislocated. She screamed in agony. Then she looked around. Ingrid seem ready to help her but she was looking at the senior for approval. Karen looked at Mercutio and Fauxnel. Fauxnel extended his hands. As Karen took it he produce a bracelet with a scorpion design and put on Karen’s wrist. Karen doesn’t understand his intentions. Then he felt the tip of the scorpion tail from the bracelet prick her skin. She began experiencing seizures. Then slowly she can see her diwa going deep within her as if they were being sealed inside a net. She looked up at the people surrounding her. They all appear to be looking down on her. Their cruel indifferent stares had her heart broken. The worst feeling of having her heart broken by people she doesn’t even give a damn a about.
“I hate you! You’re not a human being!” Karen screamed as she cried so hard. Her sobbing made her whole body shake. Finally Ingrid approach her. She whispered something in her ears and suddenly she felt numb. Her entire went limp. Ingrid carried her as if she was a light rag doll. Her glare lingers on her grandfather who just grinned as if he was really taunting her. In her mind Karen thought, so this is hell.
………
In a hidden village, were all houses were made of bamboo, a ceremony of hospitality is being held. A petite girl with short hair is bathing in a hot spring right at the back of the Datu’s house. An old lady was with her but she wasn’t there to clean herself. The petite girl scrub her skin with a smooth rock. The old lady chants along with the breeze. The petite girl moved her head in a circular motion feeling the energy that surrounded her. She was full of bruises and wounds but as she cleanse her body with each stroke of her hands and splash of water they faded slowly as if they never existed.
“Are you feeling well my dear?” Said the old woman. She was wearing an old babaylan dress. On her head she donned a golden headdress with dangling parts that looked like leaves.
“Yes grandmother. Let us hurry. The people are probably waiting for us.” Thea went out of the water exposing her naked body. Her Grandmother stood up and handed over a white dress with gold embroidery. The dress was simple. The only revealing part was that of the neckline. The sleeves were long and flowing. The skirt was long and fluid. The moment Thea walked alongside her grandmother it was as if she was being followed by cloud because of the long flowing skirt. The walk along the long bamboo bridge that connects the spring to the Datu’s house. Her grandmother guided her to the Datu’s room. There the most respected man of the village seat. He was surrounded by ladies wearing revealing tribal clothes. Beside him was his wife. She was a bit older than the other girl that surrounded him but nevertheless she was beautiful even though half of her face was hidden by a strange mask.
“Datu, this my daughter. Thea pay your respect to the Datu.” Thealona commanded her granddaughter. Thea kneeled before the Datu. The Datu or the ruler of the village is an enigmatic figure. He wears a mask to conceal his face. There several tattoos all over his body. Each were symbol of the other Datu’s he had defeated. He is the only Datu that has been given immortality by the diwatas. Thea tried to get a glimpse of the Datu’s appearance, his body was a perfect sculture of Adonis.
“Welcome little priestess. Welcome back to our Banwa.” The Datu’s voice was very calm and yet it has the power of command. “Stand up.” Thea did as she was told. The Datu stood up and come over her. He looked at her from head to toe. Then he gesture for Thea to hold his hands, specifically his right hand. Opposite to the Datu her grandmother took her other hand and together they walk another bridge. This time it will lead them to Great Terrace were the people are waiting for her.
As expected even with the doors closed they can hear the singing and the musical instruments played outside. The servants opened the doors pulling it with their full strength. It then revealed what’s outside. People are gathered in a circular pattern. There are people who are seated just in front of the terrace.
“My people. Please ne silent.” The Datu effortlessly silenced the entire community. “I would to present to you our newest priestess. Please welcome her with all your hearts.” The Datu raised the hands that was holding Thea’s. Thealona did the same. Then the Datu spoke once more. He cleared his throat before he spoke. “I will leave the rest of the ceremony to you Grand Babaylan.” The Datu tapped Thea’s shoulder before letting go of her. He went back inside to his palace without looking back. Thea’s grandmother then started her speech.
“My people. Now that I’m at a critical age I would like to express my desire to retire. My six grandchildren here, despite their young age, had evolve into powerful priests and priestesses. This is a hard decision but I need a successor. Soon the dark powers will strike us. And when we fall, this country will be no more. My daughters and my son are not qualified anymore because their age had lapsed those of the requirement of the trials. So I would like to inform all of you that I will choose the successor to whoever among my grandchildren succeed in the trials. Two weeks from now the other grand priestesses of the other regions will be our guest to witness the succession. Please bear this task with me. I am hoping we can do this in short period of time. Ethan, Irene, Ansel, Thea, Edson, and Olivia. One of you will take my place and utilize the powers of the great Kan-Laon.” After that the cousins looked at each other with intense feeling of challenge. “Oh I forgot. I have another visitor. Thealona dance and before anyone can noticed she had already changed into a younger version of herself. Have the exact face as Thea. She appeared youthful but her white silver hair remained unchanged. She took out a huge bell out from her dress. The moment it produce a sound the bonfire in the middle of them all swelled up like a tower. And then a shadow of a man came out of it.
“Oh? That’s why it’s hot.” Said the man. That voice was familiar. Olivia stood up and shouted
“Tatay!” Mang Kado smiled. He looked fine but wears the same clothes he was wearing when he got sucked into the underworld.
“Long time no see anak.”