✔ How To Tame A Succubus

[19] Vela

I kept a mental note of sending that Supplier to the deepest pits the next time we go to Tartarus.

Nakakairita. Kahit na anong sabihin niyang excuse kay Merlin, alam kong sinadya niyang ibigay sa'kin ang maling pill! This is exactly the reason why it is an unspoken rule to never, and I mean NEVER, trust anyone and anything in Tartarus!

Tulad ng sinabi ko, wala lang talaga akong choice kung hindi samahan si Merlin dito dahil sa kadena namin. If given the choice, I'd never step foot on this land ever again.

'And yet no one has ever given me a choice or even a flower before.'

Napailing na lang ako nang maalala ko na naman ang bulaklak. Bakit ko ba naisip 'yon? At syempre hindi ko aaminin kay Merlin (not like I can talk anyway), but I've carefully kept that flower preserved in one of my crystal orbs and hidden it somewhere safe using what little demon power I have left.

What? The petals were so damn delicate that I had to do something! I know I'm a succubus and I'm not capable to taking care of such nonsense.

That's why I hate flowers.

They're fragile and dependent on another person's attention. They're temporary ornaments that wilt in a few days' time. Most mortal girls swoon when they receive one, I'll never understand that and I hate it... but I can't seem to hate the one Merlin gave me.

No, I am never admitting that.

Not that he cares anyway, it's just a stupid flower.

Ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit ako huminto sa tapat ng flower shop kanina at nagkunwaring pinagmamasdan ang mga nakadisplay na bulaklak doon ay dahil kanina ko pa nararamdamang may sumusunod sa'min. Hindi ko ma-pinpoint ang energy signature ng nilalang na ito, kaya hirap akong matukoy kung isa ba itong wizard o troll o kung sinumang may interest na ipahamak kami ni Merlin.

"Vela?"

Merlin looked me over his shoulder, a worried expression gracing his (handsome) features.

'At least I have an excuse to not answer anything since I can't talk,' I thought in relief.

Napangiti na lang ako at mabilis na kumapit sa braso niya.

"Well, looks like you're fine."

Kapansin-pansing bumalik ang iritasyon ng wizard in training, akala minamanyak ko na naman siya dahil sa pagkakadikit namin. Magrereklamo pa sana siya pero siksikan rin sa elevator nang pumasok kami. Several creatures (human and not-so-human) were jammed inside. Rush hour na naman. Beside me, Merlin was struggling to put space between our bodies. Poor baby! I wanted to laugh, convinced that he'll never get a lover at this rate.

Not that I'll ever allow him to as long as he's chained to me.

*

We took the pills as soon as we got back to his room. Katulad ng inaasahan ko, nakaimpake na agad ang mga gamit niya. That was enough to make me roll my eyes. Ever the boy scout. Ayaw ba talaga niyang magpalit ng career? Since he's now seen as a criminal on the run, might as well change his job. "New life, new me" sabi nga nila.

"The pills will modify our appearances in about an hour. Mag-iiba ang kulay ng mga mata, buhok, at iba pang physical traits natin. Our voices might change, too... Well, my voice since you can't talk---"

I glared at him.

"---maybe we won't even recognize ourselves." Merlin started securing the Grimoire of Forbidden Spells inside his backpack. Sinundan ko ito ng tingin, hindi nakaligtas sa'kin ang hesitasyon sa paghawak niya nito. As if it shouldn't be his in the first place. How strange. "Keep your hood down. Nightspell's trolls can move even in the daylight. I wouldn't even be surprised if they send a few assassins after us."

But who am I kidding?

Merlin is the kind of human who pursues his goal no matter what.

No matter what the cost.

When the sun bid farewell and left a blanket of stars in its wake, the wizard in training led us outside the window. Muntikan na akong mawalan ng balanse nang sumakay ulit kami sa magic walis tambo niya. I silently screamed at him and glared.

Heck, he knows how much I hate riding this cursed broomstick!

Merlin chuckled at me. "HAHAHA! Maybe the Supplier did a good thing, after all. I should give him a tip next time."

Jerk! Since I was behind him, I clutched his arm, my nails digging into his skin...

"SHIT! Vela, stop that!"

'Hindi lang ikaw ang mahilig gumanti, Merlin.' I grinned and inched close enough to playfully bit down on his neck. My lipstick leaving marks on his skin.

Nagpaikot-ikot kami sa ere, nahirapan nang kontrolin ang walis. Muntikan pa kaming mag-crash sa isang television station kung hindi lang nakabig agad ni Merlin. He cursed under his breath. I silently laughed as we soared up in the night sky, the cold breeze sweeping my black hair. We were far beyond the city lights and far below the heavenly bodies.

In between, two worlds meeting in the middle.

A wizard and a succubus.

"Never do that again, lambkin."

I smiled innocently and kissed his cheek, earning a frustrated groan from Merlin.

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