✔ How To Tame A Succubus

[16] Vela

Merlin went back to sleep.

Noong masigurado kong mahimbing na ulit ang tulog niya base sa kanyang kalmadong paghinga, dahan-dahan kong tinawid ang mga unan sa pagitan namin.

This time, the pillows didn't attack me.

I would never tell him that I now know that his enchantments don't work when he's in a weak state. Nang makalapit na ako sa wizard in training, sandali kong tinitigan ang maamo niyang mukha. Merlin was laying on his side, without bothering to put a shirt on---he was lean, the muscles on his torso were subtle but suited him well. An expanse of smooth skin marred with a few cuts and scars from wizard training. When the light from the window kissed upon his face, his perfectly carved jawline down to those regal lips that know no censorship when talking to me, I wanted to melt right then and there.

A fallen angel who traded his wings for this twisted version of revenge.

I wanted nothing more than to brush the dark locks of hair that fell on his forehead...

'Damn! Drool over him later, Vela.'

I sighed, realizing that this was the same man who woke up not long ago because he was having nightmares.

Reaching over him to the bedside table, I carefully opened the topmost drawer. Nang mapansin kong wala itong laman bukod sa mangilan-ngilang parchment papers at bote ng tinta, alam kong cover up lang ito ni Merlin. Using my long nails, I easily lifted the wooden panel on the bottom, revealing a hidden compartment. Bingo. I lifted the object and grinned.

"Now, what do we have here..."

It was a book.

Agad kong naramdaman ang mahikang nakapalibot sa librong ito. A powerful and cursed kind of magic. It felt like a small shock of electricity coursing through my veins. I almost dropped it for a second. 'Pero bakit pamilyar ang pakiramdam na ito?' Hindi ko maiwasang isipin nang tuluyan ko nang mahawakan ang libro.

Merlin snored and stirred in his sleep.

Agad akong bumalik sa bahagi ko ng kama, hawak-hawak pa rin ang libro. I stared at the leather cover and the century-old spine with words too faded to read. A spell book, maybe? Pero hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ito nakatago.

I frowned, knowing it's none of my business. Pero nang buklatin ko ang mga pahina ng libro, ginulantang ako ng mga imahe at mga salitang nakaimprinta rito. Naka-bookmark pa ito sa instructions para sa summoning circle na ginamit ni Merlin para tawagin ako sa Eastwood.

This isn't an ordinary spell book.

This is the Grimoire of Forbidden Spells.

*

"MERLIN! HOY, NANDITO KA BA?!"

Nagising ang kasama ko sa malakas na kalampag ng pinto. Mahinang napamura ang wizard in training, at bago pa man siya makabangon sa higaan bigla na lang pumasok si Johannes. He was still wearing those awful school robes, dawning a panicked expression on his face.

"Bro, have you seen the newspapers?! You're wanted!"

Merline groaned and sat up, the sheets slipping from his torso. I love when he looks disheveled like that.

"Good morning din," sarkastiko niyang bati. "You could've knocked, you know?"

"Wow? At bakit naman...oh, damn."

Johannes' eyes tripled in size when he saw me laying next to his friend. Nagpapalit-palit ang tingin niya sa'min ni Merlin, hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita. A moment later, Johannes cleared his throat, "Not to ruin the moment, pero masyado pa yatang maaga para maging uncle na a---ARAY! ARAY! FOUL!"

With a flick of his wand, Merlin magicked the lampshade to attack him.

"So, I'm a wanted man in Nightspell?" Merlin lazily stood up and grabbed the newspapers Johannes dropped.

Busy pa sa lampshade wrestling ang kaibigan niya nang sumagot ito. "Hindi lang sa Nightspell, kung hindi sa buong Eastwood! It's all over the news! I mean, hey, they could've chosen a better picture of you, but that's beside the point---ARAY! BACK OFF! BLACK BELTER AKO!"

To be frank, naaawa ako sa lampshade. Hindi niya deserve ng ganitong istorbo, umagang-umaga.

I yawned and peeked over my wizard's shoulder, eyeing the newspapers. Nasa front page pa mismo ang larawan ni Merlin at ang ilang realistic sketches ng nangyaring pagtakas namin kagabi. Whoever the artist was, they made a damn good job at capturing how we ran over the dining table and caused havoc at the academy.

"I agree, love. They could've chosen a better picture of you. Pero pogi ka pa rin naman sa paningin ko, if you'd ask me~"

"Too bad, lambkin. I'm not asking you."

Napanganga ako. The audacity?! Hmp! It seems someone isn't a morning person.

"Umm... Hey, Merlin? May kailangan ka ring malaman," Johannes added, suddenly sounding nervous. "They also found Professor Greco's dead body inside his office. Nagkakagulo na ngayon sa Nightspell. Ang balita ko nagsimula na sila ng imbestigasyon, at noong nakausap ni Headmaster si Sir Hamilton, err..."

Napapailing na lang si Merlin, para bang inaasahan na niya ito.

"Ako ang suspect nila?"

His friend nodded, seeming uncomfortable with the topic.

"Do I look like a murderer to you?"

"Of course not! Kaya nga nagtataka ako... Ano ba talagang plano mo? Maybe I can help---"

"You can't," the way Merlin said that held such a finality that even I won't question. "I appreciate the concern, but these are my problems to solve. Alone."

Bakas sa mukha ni Johannes ang iritasyon at pagkadismaya sa mga salita nito. Hanggang saan lang ba ang alam ni Johannes sa mga plano ni Merlin? Or maybe he doesn't even know that his friend was doing it for revenge? Anuman ang tiwalang ilang taon nang namuo sa pagitan ng dalawang wizards, tahimik kong pinagmasdan ang unti-unting pagkasira nito.

"Bahala ka na nga. Pero ano nang gagawin mo ngayon?" Tanong ni Johannes habang nakaupo pa rin sa katawan ng agresibong lampshade na pilit kinakain ang kanyang shorts.

Poor lampshade.

Merlin set the newspaper on fire and thought for a moment. Bago ko pa man ma-appreciate ang topless niyang katawan sa liwanag ng umaga, he (annoyingly) picked up his crimson robe on the floor and draped it over his shoulders.

"Gumawa ng panibagong plano. If a plan fails, plan again. Whatever shit happens, I can't afford to make rash decisions and let anything slow me down. Sa ngayon, kailangan ko na munang mawala sa radar ng Nightspell, and I know just the trick."

I crossed my arms over my chest. Honey, I know what he can do. Mula noong kinadena at kinontrata ako ni Merlin, alam ko nang maraming natatagong alas at pakulo ang wizard in training na ito.

'At mukhang hindi pa niya ako pakakawalan.'

He glanced at me, a wicked smile on his lips.

"Ready for a trip to Tartarus, lambkin?"

May choice pa ba ako?

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