The Last Enchantress

33

33 Kabanata: Magical Circle

Velvet Victoire, the point of view.

Athena guessed it right. I will be meeting with the Blacke family this evening as per Therese for a formal dinner.

Since it's a formal dinner this evening, I was asked to choose a formal attire.

Ang pamilya Blacke ay isa sa mga makapangyarihang pamilya ng bampira noong mga nakaraang siglo. They went here a few weeks back. Hindi ko lang sila nakaharap at nakilala. Ayon pa kay Athena ay pabalik balik lamang sila dito sa bansa at sa Amerika. They visit here as often as they could dahil may properties sila dito and they want to make sure everything is still under their name.

Though I remember one. Camille Blacke. 

"Pupunta ba si Athena mamaya?" I asked Therese while she help me find a dress.

"Oo, Velvet. Sa tingin ko ay ngayong gabi na paguusapan ang kasal nila ni Jake. Kukunin nilang sponsor ang Blacke."

Tumango ako. I continue pushing the hangers on the cabinet while carefully choosing for the right formal dress aka the dress. When I push the very last hanger, I find a fit knitted red dress that has no sleeve but has a turtle neck. It's ends looks like a mermaid tail that falls all the way to the ground. It looks perfect for tonight.

"I will wear this." 

Lumapit si Therese sa 'kin at kinuha 'yon mula sa kamay ko para ihanda ito mamaya. Matapos no'n ay muli siyang bumalik habang may tulak na cart na may mga jewelries na nakapatong sa itaas.

"Binibining Velvet. Nais kong ipakita sa 'yo ang mga kwintas na pupwede mong gamitin sa kasal sa susunod na kabilugan ng buwan." 

"Velvet. Pumili ka lang ng gusto mong alahas at ihahanda ko ito sa 'yo ngayon."

Hindi kaagad ako nakakilos. It was as if I heard two phrases from Therese's voice. The one from the past, and the one now. Ang kaibahan ay ang dati ay para sa kasal ko. Ngayon ay para sa usapan ng kasal ng iba. Jake and Athena.

"Velvet?"

I blinked my eyes and immediately pointed the set of ruby jewelries. It has a bangle bracelet with tiny ruby stones around it, a ring with a coin sized ruby stone on top of it, a pair of dangling earrings with ruby stones dangling on the gold wire, and a necklace with big chunk of ruby stone on the center.

"At yung sapatos mo?"

I turn around and started walking towards the library.

"I'd like the glossy black stilettos, Therese."

I know who my enemies are. And I don't want to think Therese is one of them, too.

I wonder what was her reaction when they said I died? 

-

Just as I thought it would be a very long table for tonight, tatlong Blacke family lang pala ang bumisita para sa gabing ito. But everyone in Mortimer dressed like there was a certain occasion tonight. A grand event. Pero hindi. Isa lamang itong salu-salo para sa pag-welcome ng pagbabalik ng Blacke sa bansa at ang pagtalakay sa paparating na kasal ni Athena at Jake.

Pinakilala ni tita Bella ang tatlong Blacke. Si Kray Blacke, Fiona Blacke, at Camille Blacke. Ayon pa niya ay si Camille ang siyang anak ni Kray at Fiona.

While I sat quietly on the very end of the table - Jake on the center which happens to be on my right side, and Lily on my left side na katabi naman ni Althea, ang kapatid ni Athena - Kray Blacke cleared his throat and pointed a finger at me - didn't mind about how his actions look so rude to me.

"Hindi ba anak ito ng pumatay sa mga kapatid mo, Edward?"

Tumahimik ang lahat. Pati ako'y natigil sa paghihiwa ng steak dahil sa sinabi niya. And I guess everyone stopped eating their food except for the Blacke.

Tinaas ko ang tingin ko sa tapat kay Athena na siyang nakatitig din pala sa 'kin. 

"Oo," tanging sagot lamang ni tito Edward.

"If I were you I would've made her a prisoner!" Dinagdagan pa ng malakas na tawa si Kray habang nakatingin sa akin. "Or perhaps... killed?"

"Mawalang galang lang po. We are here to celebrate your presence and to discuss the matter with our wedding." Tumingin saglit sa 'kin bago muling nagsalita. "Jake and I want to make it a grand wedding if possible. I doubt aunt Bella wanted to make it simple but my family don't want any simple things."

"Thank you. Baka bigla ko nalang itapon yung kutsilyo kay Kray, e." Sabi ko kay Athena sa isipan niya. Bahagyang kumurba ang dulo ng labi niya pero agad ding nawala nang magsalita na si Kray.

"Yes, just as expected for the La Croix! Talagang engrande ang mga nais."

They went on talking about the wedding. While I, on the other hand, finished the food as fast as I could para makatakas mula sa kanila. 

Nang lunukin ko ang pinakahuling slice ng steak ko ay bigla ulit akong tinuro ni Kray.

"I remember you."

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "And I don't remember you."

"No. You were my daughter's friend, weren't you?"

Daughter? Camille?

"I don't quite remember her, Sir."

"So it was true..." sinabi niya habang sinusuri ako. Napatingin ako kay Camille na kanina pa tahimik na kumakain. "Talagang nawala ang alaala mo."

Ngumiti ako. I look down to see the fierce red dress that I'm wearing.

"Yes. Ikaw ba naman paliguan ng asido sa ulo."

Biglang tumahimik ang lahat. Everyone seems to be shocked. Ang kaninang nakangising si Kray ay biglang sumeryoso. 

Tumayo si Tita Bella at sa isang kurap ay nasa tabi ko na siya. Hinawakan niya ang braso ko at kinaladkad ako palayo.

"Ma!" Jake stood up but tita Bella did not mind her. Galit na galit ata siya dahil bigla na lamang niyang kinumpas ang kamay niya at sumarado ang pintuan sa likod ko.

"That's our visitor out there, Velvet!"

"And?" patay malisya ko. "You have the audacity scold me just because I told him the truth and in front of you all. Pero no'ng dinuro-duro niya ako, patay malisya kayo?!"

"That's because he is the most powerful vampire that ever lives!" 

Galit na galit na si tita Bella. Ang noong tahimik at mahinhin na babaeng nakilala ko ay bigla na lamang nagliliyab sa galit. I can see it because her eyes turned red.

Pero hindi ako natatakot. Several months ago, I'd freak out. 

Hindi ako nagpapahuli at pinakita ko sa kaniya ang kakayahang naipakita ko ni Leona. The magical circle - in which I still don't know how it works. Pero tila nakuha ko na ang ibig sabihin nito nang biglang nawala ang namumulang mga mata ni tita Bella at napalitan ito ng gulat.

"B - Bakit nasaiyo 'yan..."

"I remember you now, Bella. And everything you did to me and my family... my legacy."

I didn't want to play the villain in their lives. What I want is justice.