Aldeheid

Chapter 22

Provoked
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Callum stood sternly in front of a millinery, his brows intertwined. Ipinaglakbay niya ang mga mata sa kabuuan nito bago maingat na naglakad palapit.

"I discovered through my subordinates that this was abandoned for a year before the current owner bought this place," Romeo explained behind him.

Hindi niya ito nilingon at pinatuloy lang ang pagmasid sa loob nito. The millinery store was made of wood. Despite being in the heart of Malcolm, the exterior was overgrown with figs—a sort of vine favoured by witches—which was a clue that whomever owned it practised magic.

But the crawling figs were no longer alive. They were withered, but as if something was holding them together that allowed them to stay intact on the wall.

Callum suspects that whoever owns this hasn't completely let go of the store.

Nilapit niya ang mukha sa malinis nitong salamin atsaka sinubukang tingnan kung ano ang mayroon sa loob. There was a lighted lamp next a mirror, and hats were stacked on the other side. Callum came to the conclusion that the business is still operating even if there's no customer that is coming in anymore.

He then turned to Romeo and saw what he's holding, "You needn't have to bring your things with you. Sabi ko naman sa'yo na magpapasama lang ako." ngiwi niya nang makita ang mga armas nito sa bewang at binti.

"As per request of the alpha, I'm responsible for the beta's safety. Also, I'm here for my job." aniya ng kaibigan nitong dedikado sa trabaho.

Hindi niya nalang ito pinansin at iminuwestra ang kamay na papasok siya. Sumunod naman si Romeo dito habang nanatiling alerto.

Kung hindi lang sila kilala sa Malcolm ay aakalain ng mga lokal na magnanakaw ang mga ito.

When they entered the shop, an elderly man in his eighties caught their attention. Nahagip nilang may tinatahi itong isang lumang sumbrero bago sila napansin ng matanda. Bahagyang nagulat pa ito sa ibang kadahilanan bago sila pinatuloy. Ngunit wala na sa pasensya ang beta nila at hindi natiis ang itanong kung saan ang dating may-ari nito.

"Si Cartenia ba?," mapaos at mababa na boses ng matanda.

When Callum heard that name, he instinctively tightened his jaws. Romeo responded to the older.

The old man answered with a few coughs and a stroll back to his chair, "Ibinigay niya ito sa'kin kapalit ang bahay ko sa labas ng Malcolm. Aniya na mas ligtas raw ako sa Malcolm kaya nagmabuting loob siyang ibigay sa'kin 'to."

It was as if the old man expected them. Kasi ni hindi man lang ito natakot nang malaman nito kung sino sila.

"Where specifically did you live before?," tanong ni Romeo.

"Sa likuran ng Malcolm, kasunod ng ilog nito." at para bang tapos na siya sa pagsagot dahil tinalikuran niya na ang mga ito.

Callum and Romeo felt that, kaya naman ay sa halip na magtanong pa ay ipinagliban na muna nila. This elderly man may have known something but was unable to express himself; perhaps he's wrapped inside Cartenia's finger?

Nang makalabas ay tahimik silang pumasok sa kotse at nagmaneho paalis sa centro ng Malcolm.

They are both aware of how perilous it is to go to the back of Malcolm. Creatures in that area are capable of killing hybrids. Kaya nga pumupunta lang sila doon sa tuwing sisikat ang pulang buwan. Aside from the fact that they are stronger at that time, the animals who live out there are also terrified of the blood moon.