A The Mark Of A Stallion Novel:CLAIMING THE VIRGIN'S BLOOD (Published)

Chapter 14.1

"Pero paano nga natin papatayin ang taong tila matagal nang patay?" Sandro's knuckles hit the table. They were now in the hospital. Ipinasya nitong patingnan ang mga sugat at bugbog nilang dalawa sa katawan. Mabuti na lang at wala silang bali sa buto, ayon sa resulta ng x-ray.

"I have plan in mind, Mr. Montreal, iyon ay kung mamarapatin mo," si Police Chief Inspector Troy Mondragon ang nagsalita, nakatayo ito habang nakasuot ang dalawang kamay sa bulsa ng suot na denim pants. Nakasuot ito ng patrol uniform na pinatungan ng itim na jacket. Mula sa mansion ay sinamahan sila nito sa hospital. "We must be prepared the next time he strikes again. But this time, we will make sure of when will be his next attack."

"How?" si Sandro.

"I think he likes Ms. Mitchell. If it's okay with her, we can use her as a bait for the Viking." The police officer threw her a meaningful glance.

"Halvar, his name is Halvar," she replied coldly.

"How did you know? Did he speak to you?" maang na tanong ni Gab. Nakaupo ito ilang dangkal ang layo sa kanya.

"Actually, yes. He called me Thora several times. Then, he introduced himself as Halvar. He looked at me as if he knew me. He was even fascinated with my..." Wala sa loob na kinapa niya ang tapat ng dibdib, pagkuwa'y nagulat. "Ang pendant ng kuwintas ko, kinuha nga pala niya."

"Iyong Viking key pendant?" si Gab uli. "My God, he might mistakenly identified you as his wife."

"What?" Napaangat mula sa kinuupuan ang nakikinig na si Sandro.

"If that Viking, I mean, if Halvar really came from the past, the Middle Ages to be exact, though we do not know why and how he came to our present time, he must be looking for something or someone, and it might be his wife. Ang problema, malamang ay napapagkamalan niya na ikaw iyon dahil sa physical features mo, Yvonne. And considering the number of years he had died or slept, it would be really hard for his brain to recall the facts and details of his past life," namamanghang litanya ni Gab.

Sandro nodded his head. "You maybe right, Gab. Kaya pala..." Makahulugan itong sumulyap sa kanya. Nabasa niya ang nasa isip ng binata. Kaya pala, kahit na-devirginize na siya ng mokong na ito ay pilit pa rin siyang kinuha ni Halvar. He was not after her blood, he was after her.

"We can use your theory, Gab," si Major Mondragon naman ang nagsalita. "Kung may katotohanan ang sinasabi mo, malamang na babalik-balikan ng Halvar na iyon si Ms. Mitchell, at iyon ang kailangan nating paghandaan."

"Palagay ko ay dapat nyo nang malaman ang natuklasan namin ni Yvonne two days ago." Hindi na nakatiis si Sandro. "It sounds absurd, and it's up to you if you will believe or not pero baka sakaling makatulong ito. Malaki ang kutob namin ni Yvonne na nabuhay ang Viking na iyon noong hindi sinasadyang napatakan ng dugo niya ang drinking horn. Maaaring nakakulong ang espiritu niya sa loob ng horn bunga ng isang sumpa. Sa rim ng horn ay may nakasulat sa Rune alphabet na ang ibig sabihin ay "Only a virgin's blood can bring him back to life."

Major Mondragon laughed shortly. "Strange. Pero wala namang mawawala kung paniniwalaan natin, hindi ba? Sa dami ng kakatwang pangyayari kaakibat ng Viking na iyon, ano pa ba ang hindi natin paniniwalaan sa ngayon?"

She closed her eyes when she suddenly remembered something. "He also mentioned names when he saw you. Ansgar, Rangvald, Hildebrand. At parang galit na galit siya pagkakita sa inyo."

"Malamang may kinalaman ang tatlong iyon sa pagkakakulong niya sa Viking horn."

"Okay." Sandro stood up. "Now we know at least, half of the story. He is Halvar, a Viking warrior who was trapped inside a drinking horn by a curse. He was brought to life again because of a virgin's blood, Yvonne's blood to be exact. He had a wife named Thora, and he is looking for her, and perhaps looking also for another men to exact his revenge. And now, what's next? Our main problem is how to get rid of him. How to kill a man who's already dead?"

"Tulad ng nasabi ko kanina, may naisip akong plano, and it will include you and Miss Mitchell."

"What is it, Major Mondragon," she butted in. "I am very much willing to do anything just to stop this mystery."

"If we cannot kill him, we may at least, able to catch him until such time that we are able to think of a possible way to return him inside the drinking horn or to hell."

"Say it, Major Mondragon."

"You know that he attacks during the time that we are unprepared. We are always caught flat-footed by him. But if we can anticipate his attack, we maybe able to outwit him. He maybe invincible, but our number coupled with preparation and strategies can somehow bring him trouble."

"So, what's your plan?" Sandro asked impatiently.

"If we cannot kill him, then, we will catch him alive. How? Through a tranquilizer. Magpapagawa ako ng matibay na lambat para sa kanya at kung kinakailangan, itatali ko pa siya sa kadena."

"At ano naman ang magiging papel namin ni Yvonne?"

"You will pretend as lovers. Kapag inalipin na siya ng matinding selos, mas madali na

natin siyang malilinlang."

"What?" She rolled her eyes in disbelief.

"Blue eyes," Sandro's playful eyes gawked at her. "Does it matter anymore? Few hours ago, we acted as lovers..."

"Stop it!" Her cheeks turned rosy.

"I thought you will do anything to stop Halvar," si Major Mondragon uli. "Are you changing your mind, Miss Mitchell?"

"O-of course, I'm not." She felt a hot blush on her face. When she glanced at Sandro, she saw him mischievously smiling.

*Ops, mukhang makaka-score na naman si fafa Sandro. Ha ha ha Your votes and comments pliit!!!

ARA