Howling Marionette

Chapter 1

"Valentina! You're stepping at the bomb!"

Bigo akong marinig ang sinabi ni pogi at naigalaw ang paa kaya sumabog ito.

"The bomb!"

napadaing ako nang bumagsak ako mula sa kama, impit akong napa-aray dahil sa sakit ng katawan ko na parang nirolyo sa carpet ng ilang beses dahil sa sakit.

Napabangon ako at napahawak sa ulo ngunit napahinto ako dahil sa tuyo ng buhok ko na para bang lubid na dinikit-dikit.

Napangiwi ako nang marealize na namatay pala ako dahil sa bomba sa gitna ng digmaan, kung dilang ako tanga tangang umapak sa bombang nakatago sa damuhan edi sana buhay pa ako ngayon.

Let's celebrate my 59th life, horay!

Napasimangot ako at bumalik sa kama upang humiga muli rito, the bed was full of rotten roses na para bang pinaghandaan talaga ang kama ko sa kamatayan.

Oh come on, let me rest first from dying. Pagod na ako at kailangan kong magpahinga, mapaniginipan ko sana ang abs ng mga sundalong ginamot ko.

I was a Doctor last time-no it's a past life now so in my past life I was a Doctor assigned in a dangerous area, a war broke from South Africa at isa ako sa ipinadalang Doctor galing sa America. I don't exactly remember what era was that, I'm too tired to think about it again.

Humaba ang idlip ko at nagising ako dahil sa iyak mula sa babaeng nakayuko habang nakahawak sa kamay ko, ano to death anniversary?

Napahikab ako at tinaasan siya ng kilay dahil sa gulat ng mukha nito, natulog lang ako iniyakan na agad ako.

"My Lady!!!" sigaw nito at mahigpit akong niyakap.

Nasakal ata ako sa yakap nito dahil mamatay-matay akong nawalan ng hininga. Humingi ito ng pasensya ngunit hindi pa din nawawala ang luha nito sa mga mata.

Saka lang nagsilabasan ang mga memorya ng dating may-ari ng katawang to.

She's Aurora Catastrope, the first daughter of Duke Nicholas Catastrope. She had a step mother not long after her mother died. Her father really did want to maintain the power of the house so he married again to avoid further failures.

The step mother have two sons, it wasn't her father's sons but still they have power because both of them have achievements than Aurora who was just living and trying to be a good daughter.

Her step mother started to treat her like a trash when she was still six years old, she was tortured and being controlled by the step mother until she turned eighteen and drank the poison that her step mother prepared.

Ha! What a sly fox, pinakaayaw ko sa lahat ng buhay ay yung binubully ang katawang pinasukan ko. Is there any good life out there that will make me rest forever?

So this maid in front of me is Melisa, her personal maid. The only one who cared for Aurora, well it's good that there's still one person that can be a good use for my daily life.

So the owner's body died from poison, kaya pala ang sakit ng katawan ko kanina. Napabuga ako ng hangin at tamad na tinignan ang nakangiting katulong.

"How many days was it?" tanong ko, tinutukoy ko kung ilang araw akong nakahimlay sa kama.

"It's already been a week since you drank the poison my lady, I thought I'm not going to see you again." akmang yayakap ulit ito ngunit pinigilan ko ito, walangya kung makayap akala mo papatayin ako.

Nakarinig kami ng katok mula sa labas at narinig ang boses ng katulong, "the duchess is going to enter my lady."

Hindi pa nakakapagsalita si Melisa ay pumasok na ang babaeng akala mo ay galing sa sinulog dahil sa suot nito. Akala mo kung sinong Santo Niño ang binibitbit, pamapaypay lang naman ang dala.

"Oh my, I'm so happy that you're fine now my dear. Sobrang nag-alala ako dahil hindi ka manlang nagising." lumapit ito sa'kin at hinaplos ang mukha ko.

Nakagloves pa ito na akala mo may mga uod ang mukha ko, kapal ng budhi mong mag-sayang ng gloves para lang hawakan ang mukha ko.

"You should prepare a tea, go, go." pagtataboy nito kay Melisa, nag-aalangang lumabas si Melisa dahil siguro nag-aalala ito sa'kin.

Nakaharap ito sa'kin at nakaupo sa eleganteng upuan na binibitbit pa ata ng katulong nito papasok sa kwarto ko, may pabilog na lamesa sa gitna ng pagitan namin para ata sa tsaang pinadala nito.

I don't know what she's up to, baka mamaya ay buhusan niya ako ng tsaa dahil sa galit. Ikaw ba naman pinatay mo tas nabuhay ulit.

"Don't be scared my dear, I'm just here for a little chat." nakita ko ang kakaibang ngiti nito, ngiting may binabalak katulad ng mga ngiti ng mga lasing sa kanto.

Hinawakan nitong ang kaliwang palad ko at hinimas-himas ito, "bumaba ka sa pwesto mo Aurora, Deitry is a better for that position. You're too young to have it my dear."

Hindi niya manlang pinatagal ang kati ng budhi niya, napangiwi ako at napadekwatro. Nagulat ito sa ginawa ko kaya napangisi ako.

"Why would I?" nang-iinsultong tanong ko.

wag ka masyadong magulat mother, hindi pa ako nagsisimula. This is my body now so I'm not just going to sit and relax while my power is being taken away.

That's why she poisoned Aurora because the destined power which is the heir for the throne of the house will be going to Aurora.

but sorry not sorry mother, I'm still alive and kicking.

"Wh-what?! How dare you?! Are you trying to disrespect me Aurora?!" galit na saad nito at pabalang na isinara ang pamaypay nito.

I crossed my arms and smirked, "You're misunderstanding something mother, I didn't just disrespect you but I am insulting you. Is that what you wanted to hear mother?"

Tumayo ito muli sa kinauupuan at binigyan ako ng malutong na sampal, napatawa ako ng pagak at nakangising nilingon ito. Kita ko ang galit sakanyang mga mata at akmang sasampalin ulit ako ngunit nasalo ko ang kamay nito.

"Have you forgotten mother? The power you wanted, I still have it. Not until I die, you.can.never.have.it." pabalang kong binitawan ang kamay nito.

Nanginginig ito sa galit at pinipigilan ang sariling huwag gumawa ng masamang bagay, she knows how to play her cards well but she didn't even know that I master all the game of cards even the puzzles of face cards.

"Aren't you gonna leave my room mother? It's fine sleeping with you though, but I'm not quiet when I'm sleeping. Usually, humihilik ako na nakakabasag sa tenga-"

"Enough! Let's go! Don't ever think of this as a win Aurora, I'm not going to let you go from this!" sigaw nito at mabilis na tumalikod at nagpapadyak na lumabas sa kwarto ko.

Nabangga pa nito ang kakarating na si Melisa na nagtatakang napatingin sa'kin, kinuha ko sa tray na hawak nitong ang cake at sinimulang kainin.

"Sweet really is refreshing," I murmured.

Knowing that I have the power to be the next Owner of the Catastopre is a good one, hindi na ako mahihirapang umakyat ng sobra para makakuha ng kapangyarihan.

I only need to earn more people that can help me in the future, I still need to know what are the capabilities of my step brothers para malaman ko kung anong kulang sa'kin at kung ano ang kaya kong baguhin maliban sa ugali ko.

Nah, I'm just going to use my attitude as a power. I'm a Lioness after all, I can just rawr at them and be a good ruler of the house.

That's two in one.