Masked Glamour

Chapter Fourteen

Ferula

I spent my entire night with nothing in me but the feeling of anxiousness. Hindi ko rin alam kung ilang beses ba akong nagpabaling-baling sa aking kinahihigaan hanggang sa tuluyang igupo ako ng antok ang aking diwa. Subalit wala rin iyon halos isang oras at muli rin akong nagising.

I was so anxious with the idea of staying in the same place with the beast. Though, I did not see him since yesterday. Wala rin namang nababangit ang mag-asawa kung nasaan ba siya. But I guess he was just around the cave. It was a huge place and through my past encouters with him, I could tell he was so used to being alone and isolating himself everytime and to everyone.

Hinila ko ang kumot hanggang sa aking leeg. Sa antigong orasan na nakasabit sa likuran ng pintuan ay nakasaad na ang oras ng alas singko ng umaga. Bahagyang mahapdi ang mabigat ang talukap ng aking mga mata dahil sa walang maayos na tulog kagabi.

After a couple of minutes, I finally slipped out of the white comforter. My feet immediately came contact to the rough yet cold surface of the cave's floor.

The room given to me was the same to the room where I was brought by Mr. Krion before when I lost my consiousness the last time I was here.

After fixing myself inside the small bathroom, I walked my way out of the bedroom. I couldn't help but to felt nervous again while I walked to the kitchen. I was worried I might just came face to face again to the beast. He looked huge and terrifying specifically his sharp horns.

Matapos kong batiin ng magandang umaga si Mrs. Laurette ay agad ko na rin siyang tinulungan sa paghahanda ng agahan.

"You look like you did not get a good sleep last night," aniya. "Are you still worried about those who are hunting your kind? You are safe here, Ferry. You don't have to worry," dagdag pa niya.

Bahagya akong napakamot sa aking kanang kilay. "Maraming salamat po ulit sa tulong n'yo."

"You are more than welcome, Ferula." I felt the pure sincerity in her voice. Ngumiti ako pabalik saka pinagbigyan ang alok niyang kumain na ng agahan kasabay ang kanyang kabiyak.

Noong sumapit naman ang hapon ay nanatili lamang ako sa aking silid. Wala sina Mrs. Laurette dahil nagpunta sila sa bayan. The least thing in my mind is to crossed path with the beast again. If ever, it would be too dangerous since I was the only one left here and no one would save me again if ever the beast finally decided to end my life.

I patiently waited for the couple to returned back home. Nagpasya ako na maupo sa may malapit lang sa pintuan ng aking silid para kaagad ko'ng marinig kung ano man na ingay ang magmula sa labas.

No matter what I do and how I tried, I still couldn't made myself comfortable in here. Kahit pa nga sinabi na ng mag-asawa na ligtas ako rito, ay hindi pa rin mawala sa akin ang pangamba.

Maybe I am safe around them but not around the beast.

Kanina matapos ang aming pananghalian ay naipadala ko na ang sulat ko para kay Mystia sa tulong na rin ng aking mga kaibigang ibon. Ganoon din ang ginawa ko sa aking sulat para kay Mrs. Grace.

I also included to my letters to both of them that they don't have to worry about me anymore for I am safe-somehow. Though in my letter to Mystia, I asked her to send me a letter back so I could know her whereabouts in this time where, we, witches are being hunted for unclear reason.

Para ko na rin siyang kapatid kaya naroon ang parte sa akin ng pag-aalala sa kanilang kalagayan. Pamilya na ang turing ko sa kanila.

Tinupi ko ang ginamit ko'ng kulay dilaw na pamunas para tuyuin ang mga plato at kutsara. Si Mrs. Laurette naman ang nagtuyo sa mga baso at kutsara. Tapos na kaming maghapunan at tinulungan ko na lamang siya magpunas ng mga kagamitan bago iyon itago.

"He is a packless wolf. At his very young age, he was sold to different kind of buyers. From those who treated him well to those cruel men who treated him like a useless pet," she said with her lips pursed tight, "I met Krion in a worse case scenario. He was beaten and seconds to death when our pack found him. It was a twenty years of nightmare for him. It only ended when he was rescued by our pack from the black market, together with other packless and tortured werewolves."

My heart silently ache for Mr. Krion. "T-That was a n-nightmare," nanginig ang aking boses.

"A nightmare and hell."

"Does it have something to do with Mr. Krion's unability to shift like other wolves?"

Her lips streched to a forced smile before she nodded. "He was forbid to shift by those cruel men in the black market. Whenever he tried to shift he will be beaten and tortured." Her voiced was laced with sadness.

Tila biglang uminit ang dugo ko ng marinig ang iba pang karahasan na napagdaanan ni Mr. Krion. Hindi na nga talaga mawawala sa mundo ang mga taong nakakikita at nakararamdam ng kasiyahan sa pamamagitan ng pananakit sa iba.

Mga walang puso.

"That's a tough part on Mr. Krions life. He's so brave to be able to conquered everything that happened in his past."

Mrs. Laurette nodded un agreement. "At nagpapasalamat ako na mas malakas siya sa lahat ng mga paghihirap at sakit na pinagdaanan niya."

Parang nabuhayan ako ng lakas ng loob ng malaman ang mga bagay na iyon. Sobrang layo man at hindi magkapareho ang aming pinagdaanan, naniniwala pa rin ako na muling babalik sa dati ang takbo ng buhay ko.

At katulad ni Mr. Krion, malalampasan ko rin kung ano man na klase ng pagsubok itong kasalukuyan ko'ng hinaharap.

Before bedtime I spent sometime lazily flipping my mother's book of potion. Sa tahimik na paligid ay bahagyang naririnig ang tunog sa bawat paglipat ko sa mga pahina ng libro. Itinigil ko ang pagbabasa ng unti-unti akong nakaramdam ng antok.

Humikab ako saka isinara ang libro ng aking ina bago tumayo at tinungo ang aking higaan. Akmang mahihiga na ako ng makarinig ako ng mabibigat na yabag mula sa labas.

I sucked on my breath and stilled in my position. My room's door was locked. I locked it for precaution. But I know it would be useless if it's the beast who's just outside the room and tried to come in.

Mas lalo akong nanigas sa aking position ng huminto ang yabag sa mismong pinto ng aking silid. Tutok ang aking mga mata roon lalo na sa seradura. I did not withdraw my eyes to it, anticipating if it will move because it will only means something- he's trying to open the door.

Pero ang mga bagay na iyon sa aking isipan ay hindi nagkatotoo. Makalipas ang ilang sandali ay muling nagpatuloy ang mabibigat na yabag. Sandali iyong nagtagal sa labas hanggang sa muli kong narinig na unti-unti na iyong lumalayo. Bumuga ako ng hangin at doon ko lamang napagtanto ang pagpipigil ko ng hininga. I am sure that's him.

Sa isang kisap mata ay nawala na ang kaninang antok na naramdaman ko. Muli ay lumipas ang aking buong magdamag na puno ng pangamba para sa aking kaligtasan.

The beast is back again.