✔ How To Tame A Succubus

[21] Vela

I was never an empathetic creature to begin with---I'm quite the opposite, actually. 

Hindi ko sinasabing naging makasarili at self-centered ako buong existence ko, but then again I can't recall the last time I've actually given a shit about anyone without expecting anything in return. That's how demon logic works: when we're required to give, we forcefully take something in exchange.

"Hindi ganito ang pagkamatay niya sa imahinasyon ko..."

Naramdaman ko ang paghigpit ng hawak ni Merlin sa kamay ko habang pinapanood ang huling sandali ng kapatid niya. A vice grip that I doubt he'll have any recollection later. No, he was too focused on uncovering the mystery before him to even notice his hand in mine.

I wanted to tell him that he doesn't need to talk.

No words needed.

I can feel his agony, a dormant fire that is bound to set this world in flames.

Huminga ako nang malalim.

'Breathe, Vela. It's just the stupid chain that binds you to him.'

"...it's a girl."

Agad akong napatingin kay Merlin. Hindi ko alam kung nagkamali lang ba ako ng dinig o nagdedeliryo na ang isang 'to. I know how grief can twist a mortal mind into something indistinguishable, into something that shields them from the trauma. Pero nang sinundan ko ang direksyon kung saan siya nakatingin, doon ko naaninag ang anino ng nilalang na umatake sa kapatid niya.

A flash of energy from the wand that killed Merlin's brother.

The blinding light resided.

No doubt a female figure.

Tahimik naming pinanood ang pagbagsak ng katawan ni Meric, blood pooling around him. I couldn't see his face because the ritual only allowed a reenactment of the past, but I know even if he's a faceless figure, Merlin would still be as vulnerable as he is now. Pero mabuti na rin siguro ito. Natatakot isipin kung anong magiging reaksyon ni Merlin kapag nakita niya ang buong pangyayari nang may mukha ang kapatid niya.

"Fucking hell," he cursed under his breath. His hand left mine. The empty space felt rather cold. "All this time, I thought the figure was Professor Greco! The residue of magic matched his wand... Pero mukhang may nagnakaw lang nito para gamitin sa krimen."

The edges of the black and white scene started to disintegrate before us. Isang pagtatapos ng lumang pelikula. Wala na ang atensyon ni Merlin sa kung paano hinalughog ng babae ang bangkay, ang mga kabinet at drawers, o kung paano siya tumakas nang marinig ang boses ng batang Merlin.

No. My wizard in training was too consumed by this new discovery.

'Someone stole a professor's wand? Well, that's a fancy trick.'

But what was she looking for?

My eyes darted towards the throw pillow, where Meric managed to hide the Grimoire of Forbidden Spells. At bago tuluyang maglaho ang imahe ng nakaraan, nahagip ng mga mata ko ang paglitaw ng isang anino sa kabilang gilid ng silid. The new figure started walking towards Merlin's body, staring at him as if in dismay, crouching down as if inspecting if he was really dead.

I can't help but sense another emotion on the new figure... Regret? Guilt? Indifference?

The film vanished, reaching its limit.

'Darling, did you see that?' I wanted to ask Merlin, but I already knew he didn't by the way he was still fixated on floor where the Grimoire of Forbidden Spells laid bare. He was glaring at the book as if it caused all his suffering.

And maybe it did.

Who knows? Wala naman ako sa posisyong magsalita, not with my inability to speak.

Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong magpasalamat na nawalan ako ng boses o mainis dahil para bang sinamantala ito ni Merlin. Bago pa man siya maka-recover sa paggamit ng ritwal, agad niyang dinampot ang libro at mabilis na naglakad pabalik sa pasilyo. He walked with a pace that told me he wanted to get away from more than just the living room where he found Meric's dead body.

Napairap na lang ako nang hindi man lang niya sinilip kung sumunod na ba ako sa kanya. The chain between us literally dragging me to follow him.

'Jeez. Talk about being a gentleman! '

He should really be thankful that I find his back sexy even with that coat on, tsk.

'Merlin!'

Little bastard.

No matter how loud I scream in my head, I know this stubborn wizard in training won't hear me. Well, I doubt he'll even listen to me, anyway!

I grabbed his wrist, urging him to stop in his tracks.

Inis na bumaling sa'kin ang wizard ang training. His jaw set hard, lips in a tight line. Iba ang anyo niya dahil sa pill pero hindi nito matatago ang kanyang mga emosyon. Right now, they were leaking out of his carefully crafted mask. Seeing this expression he rarely makes, it almost made me want to step back. Almost. Pero para saan pa't ako si Vela? I'm a succubus for lust's sake, not even male tantrums can scare me.

"Vela, bitiwan mo 'ko."

I dug my nails into his skin in defiance.

With his free hand, Merlin frustratedly ran it through his hair. His patience was running thin. As sexy as he looks, I hate seeing him like this.

"Vela..."

The Merlin I know wouldn't just act without a plan.

"Fuck. Hindi mo naiintindihan, lambkin! Kailangan kong bumalik sa Nightspell! I need to take down the person who did this to him... I-I can't calm down..." Merlin's voice faltered. Betrayal and shock still evident in his voice. "Not when the woman who killed my brother is my own ex-girlfriend!"

That's when my grip left his wrist. I knew who was referring to...

Geniana.

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