✔ How To Tame A Succubus

[11] Merlin

Sa apat na taon ng pananatili ko sa Nightspell, wala akong ibang pinagkaabahan kung 'di ang paghahanap ng lead sa nangyari kay Meric. Of course, there was a reason why I choose to apply for a wizarding academy among all other magical campuses in Eastwood.

Aside from the potent magic in my veins that roots back to our ancestry, by the time I saw Meric's mangled corpse inside our living room, I was old enough to identify traces of magic from the murder scene.

Mula noon, nagkaroon na ako ng hinala na may kinalaman ang wizards ng Eastwood sa insidente, at hindi naging madali para sa'kin ang tanggapin ang excuses ng police reports na isang mortal na magnanakaw ang may sala.

It was a cover up, that much I was sure of. They tried to assure me that they're working on it, that they won't stop until the person behind the robbery rotted in prison...

It has been a lonely decade since then.

'At alam kong wala ring magagawa ang Eastwood police. Ayaw lang nilang aminin na mali ang imbestigasyon nila, at hindi na sakop ng kanilang mga batas ang mga krimeng may kinalaman sa paranormal.' I unconsciously balled me hands into fists, the memory of my brother's death still an open wound from the past. I'll stop at nothing to uncover the details and eliminate the people behind Meric's murder...

Hindi ko na namalayang lumapit na si Vela sa natutulog na Professor Greco, probably to start her work. Pero nagulat ako nang lumingon siya sa direksyon ko.

"I can't seduce him."

"And why not?"

"He's dead. Expert ako, pero hindi ko naman kayang mang-akit ng patay, aba!" She huffed.

What the hell...?

I rushed out of my hiding spot and stalked towards them. Para bang nawalan ako ng hininga nang makita ang propesor. The gaping stab wound on his chest painted his white robes a deep shade of red. Blangko na ang mga mata nito habang walang buhay na nakaupo sa kanyang office chair. I closed my eyes and strained to listen to his heartbeat.

Pero wala akong narinig.

Huli na ang lahat para iligtas siya.

Shit. Sino naman ang may gawa nito? Hindi pinahihintulutan ang pagpasok ng ibang nilalang sa Nightspell, except a few tradesmen and part-time magical creatures instructors. My blood ran cold at the idea. All along I thought Professor Greco was involved in my brother's murder, unless...

Unless someone else is behind this.

"Merlin?"

I ignored the succubus and took out my Elvian wand. Huminga ako nang malalim at bumulong ng mahika sa hangin. The words stumbled out of my mouth, and I dare hope that the tremor in my voice is unnoticeable to Vela. Soon enough, the air became charged and the room a tad bit colder.

In a split second, I was inside the body of my twelve-year-old self, staring at a murder scene.

Recognizing the traces of magic behind it.

Pero imbes na mukha ni Meric, ang mukha ng kanyang adviser, si Professor Graciano Greco, ang nasa harapan ko. This just became even more complicated.

Tama ang hinala ko.

"Vela, we need to get out of here."

"Obviously. There's a dead body here! Anong gagawin natin dito, tititigan?"

I sighed and just took her hand, dragging her out of the office. Nagmamadali kaming lumabas ng pasilyo, making sure nothing is out of place. Kung sinuman ang pumatay kay Professor Greco, that person was clearly sending me a message: Mali ka ng suspect sa pagkamatay ng kapatid mo.

The similar traces of magic in both deaths proved that.

'Nandito pa ba siya? Nanonood ba siya sa bawat kilos ko?'

Anxiety swelled in my chest at the thought. Hindi nakatulong ang mapang-asar na bulong ng mga pader nang madaanan namin ulit ang Walls of Secrecy.

'...natatakot akong lamunin ako ng galit at paghihiganti...'

'...natatakot akong ako ang sumunod sa kamatayan nina Meric at Professor Greco...'

'...natatakot ako sa sarili ko...'

Fuck these walls.

Behind me, Vela looked unhappy with the turn of events. Kanina pa siya nakatitig sa'kin na para bang may gustong sabihin. But instead, she asked, "Saan tayo pupunta, to the moon? Roadtrip?"

"What?"

"Wala. Di ka updated sa mortal na mga kanta, 'no?" She laughed. "Ignore me. Saan nga?"

Sandali kong pinag-isipan ang isasagot ko.

"We need to get back to the dining hall and blend in with the others. Mas mabibigyan ng rason na paghinalaan tayo--ako--kung mapapansin nilang may kulang sa batch."

Thankfully, she was still invisible. The last thing I needed was the entire academy discovering I chained myself and bargained with a succubus. Paniguradong tatanggalan nila ako ng karapatang maka-graduate sa susunod na buwan kapag nalaman nila ang mga pinagkakaabalahan ko.

But as we rounded a corner, I froze on the spot.

Vela bumped into my back, thankfully she remained quiet after sensing someone else's presence.

"Merlin! Anong ginagawa mo rito, hindi ba dapat nasa dining hall ka?"

To my misfortune, Sir Hamilton, the school's disciplinarian, eyed me with suspicion.

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