✔ How To Tame A Succubus

[23] Merlin

"VELA!"

Hindi na siya umiwas.

She was chained to me, too weak to even stand up.

Buhat-buhat ko pa rin si Nian at napapalibutan kami ng mga ogre. I gritted my teeth in anger. Damn it! I haven't recovered yet from the ritual and shielding the place with glass nearly drained all my energy. Pinuno ng nakabibinging tawa ni Arthur ang pasilyo, at tulad ng sinabi niya kanina, alam kong wala na siyang pakialam kung bangkay na lang namin ang ibabalik niya kay Master Zephyr.

I tried casting a spell, but my hands trembled. The adrenaline earlier was quickly replaced by fatigue...

But the look of defeat in the succubus' eyes made my body act on its own.

"GAAAAAAAHHHH!"

Trembling, I bit hard on my lower lip to contain another wave of scream that threatened to rip from my throat.

Nararamdaman ko ang pagbulusok ng sakit mula sa likod ko sa iba pang parte ng katawan. The attack burned my coat off and I won't even be surprised if it melted my flesh in the process. Mula sa pagkakaluhod ko sa sahig, with Nian still cradled in my arms, Vela stared at me wide-eyed.

The chain between us gave off a faint glow, a bitter reminder of our forced bond.

"How heroic," Arthur commented in disgust. "Binding yourself and even saving that sex demon? Hindi ko alam na ganito ka na pala kababa."

As much as I wanted to shoot back a witty response, I can't.

Maya-maya pa, sinimulan na kaming lapitan ng mga ogre. Before Vela could even try to stand up and defend us from them, I held her wrist to stop her. Nagkatinginan kami, at alam kong naunawaan niya agad ang gusto kong sabihin.

We're outnumbered and we're both injured.

We can't fight them in this state.

'It would take a miracle to get out of this one,' I thought.

Huminga ako nang malalim at hinanda ang sarili sa susunod na mangyayari. Hindi ko alam kung anong protocols ng Nightspell para sa mga traydor at "mamamatay-wizard" (even though I didn't even kill Professor Greco), but I knew for a fact that it's far better than dying in the hands of this reckless nuthead Arthur. In fact, I won't even be surprised if this idiot accidentally killed himself one day because of his own actions.

Hinihiling ko na lang na pakinggan man lang sana ako ni Master Zephyr bago niya ako hatulan. Hinihiling ko na lang na hindi niya idamay si Vela sa mga kasalanan ko sa academy. 

She has nothing to do with my sins. If given the chance, I'll gladly unchain her---from the contract and from me.

Patiently, I waited to be dragged away...

It never came.

Instead, we heard a buzzing sound from underneath us.

'What?'

Ilang sandali pa, napagtanto kong bumukas ang isang portal sa ilalim namin. Bago pa man rumehistro sa'min ang mga pangyayari, narinig ko na lang ang natatarantang sigaw ni Arthur. He was ordering the guards to capture us, but they all froze---quite literally! Namuo ang makapal na yelo sa kanilang mga paa, sanhi para hindi sila makakilos o makalapit sa'min.

Soon enough, we were sucked into the swirling portal. It was a dizzying experience, but relief washed over me when we were transported back to the park in Eastwood

'Pakiramdam ko literal kaming nilamon ng lupa!'

But who could possibly help us? Wala na akong ibang maisip kung hindi---

"Hoy, Merlin! The next time you go on an adventure, can you at least tell me where the fuck you're going?! Kung hindi pa ako gumamit ng tracking spell! Damn, alam mo namang may singko ako doon last sem, 'di ba?"

I turned to the familiar voice and almost laughed. What in the name of wizard hats is he doing here?

"I didn't ask you to find us."

Johannes flipped a middle finger at me. Halatang gigil pa rin sa inasal ko sa kanya noon. "Fuck you, dude! I just risked my life trying to save your ass from those ogres and---"

"I know. Thank you."

Napabuntong-hininga ang binatang itinuturing kong kapatid. Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang walang malay na witch sa mga kamay ko at ang succubus na tahimik lang na nakamasid sa amin. His eyes momentarily drifted to my burnt back. Johannes shook his head, pulled the hood over his head, and extended a hand to help me up before taking Nian to relieve me of her weight.

"You can either repay me with all the casino money you've won in the past three years or explain every detail of what the hell's going on here. And I mean EVERY DETAIL," he glared. Mukhang hindi niya talaga ako titigilan, tsk!

I shrugged, Vela supporting me with walking despite being in a weak state herself.

"You know I've spend all my savings already, bastard."

Johannes laughed. "Exactly, you self-centered asshole. And you're welcome."

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