Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 21 Blank Check

OTTILIE VIRSES POV
 
 
The stranger’s lips curled into a smirk, his red eyes glinting in a way that sent a thrill down my spine. I felt heat creeping into my cheeks, but I kept my gaze steady, refusing to let him distract me.
 
"So, you believe in legends, do you?" he asked, an eyebrow raised. His voice was laced with amusement, yet there was something sharp in his tone. "And yet, legends don’t simply exist, they’re born from truth, twisted over time. It’s easy to forget that part."
 
The smirk remained on his lips as he leaned forward, closer, his eyes catching the low light of the workshop. "Every legend has a backstory. It’s how they’re created. The Red Room isn’t just a myth, nor is it just a room."
 
I shivered, the implications settling into the pit of my stomach. "If that’s true," I whispered, "then…"
 
"Then you shouldn’t believe everything you see and hear," he interrupted, his voice turning serious as his gaze bore into mine. "People twist the truth. They add fear, they decorate it, until a grain of reality becomes an entire story. That’s what legends are."
 
I swallowed, nodding despite the nervousness blooming inside me. His words were chilling, and the way he looked at me made me feel like I was holding a secret I wasn’t yet prepared to understand.
 
So, I diverted my gaze into what I'm doing to calm myself. What's the deal with him? Bakit parang ang daming alam nito sa nangyayari sa lugar namin? Baka siya talaga ang killer? Pero hindi eh, hindi ko nararamdaman sa kan'ya 'yong familiar magic aura na naramdaman ko sa dalawang bangkay. Habang napupuno ng tanong ang isipan ko, pinilit kong tapusin na lang ang ginagawa ko.
 
I placed a sprig of lavender into the potion, the last ingredient. The calming aroma mixed with the stronger, unknown scent of the red liquid, filling the room. The potion was now a deep golden color with a faint red glow.
 
The healing potion, now enhanced with the mysterious red liquid, shimmered softly, ready to strengthen and heal a weak heart. Then, I carefully poured the potion into a small glass vial, sealing it tightly before handing it over to the stranger. 
 
"Here," I said, watching him take it with a strange, almost admiring expression. "One tablespoon daily for seven days. After that, just once a week should be enough for maintenance."
 
He studied the vial, his intense gaze fixed on it as if he held something far more precious than a simple remedy. His face softened for a moment, a glimmer of something almost vulnerable passing over his features.
 
"Don’t worry," I said, hoping to ease the tension that clung to him. "This will work, it’ll help the person you’re giving it to."
 
He held the vial, studying it with such focus that I couldn't help but feel a bit nervous myself. Finally, he looked up at me. "You know," he said, his voice calm and low, "you can keep the rest of the red liquid. It’s a rare ingredient, it amplifies the effectiveness of any potion tenfold."
 
Nagulat ako sa sinabi nito at napakurap-kurap pa. "Tenfolds? Just for the potions?"
 
"Not just potions," he replied, a slight smirk tugging at his lips that made me momentarily forget what he’d just said. "It can be used in almost anything, if you know how."
 
Sunod-sunod ang naging pagtango ko na parang naiintindihan ko lahat ng sinabi nito. "Salamat! I’ll make sure to use it wisely."
 
He nodded, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a white envelope, which he handed to me. "Take this," he instructed, "but don’t open it until I’m gone."
 
I slipped the envelope into my apron pocket, glancing back up at him as he stood and moved toward the door. I led him to the gate without breaking the silence. Before he left, he turned back, fixing me with that intense stare.
 
"One last thing," he said softly. "Be careful who you trust. Not everything is what it seems."
 
Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nito, tatanungin ko pa sana siya ang kasi nakalayo na ito. Ang weird naman ng lalaking iyon, pero ang gwapo niya. Baka taga city din ang isang iyon katulad ni Granny. 
 
Nang ilabas ko sa bulsa ng apron ko ang sobre na iniabot nito kanina sa'kin, halos manlaki ang mga mata ko sa nakita ko. 
 
"Holy freaking cow..." I whispered in disbelief. "It's a freaking blank check!" 
 
Bigla akong pinagpawisan ng malamig habang titig na titig sa manipis na papel. Are you kidding me? Paano ko tatanggapin ito? Napatampal ako sa noo ko nang marealize kung bakit ayaw nitong buksan ko ang sobre hanggat hindi siya nakaka-alis. 
 
Napabuga tuloy ako ng hangin para maglabas ng kaba sa dibdib. Ang lakas naman ng loob niya na bigyan ako ng nito. Hah! Huwag niya akong sinusubukan, baka bigla kong maisipan na bilhin lahat ng potion books sa buong mundo. 
 
At dahil wala na akong magagawa pa sa bagay na ito, ibinalik ko na lang muna ito sa loob ng sobre at saka sinuksok sa bulsa ng apron ko. Magagamit ko din ito kapag talagang naghihirap na ako, o kaya maisipan ni Plutus na pabayaran ang lahat ng ginastos niya sa bahay ko. 
 
Napagpasyahan kong bumalik na lang sa ginagawa ko na hindi ko natapos kanina. Habang nagtatrabaho nga ako ay hindi ko mapigilang mapaisip sa mga ipinayo nito sa'kin. If there's really a pattern in this murder case, then I should hurry in finding the link between them. 
 
Hours must have flown by because the next thing I knew, Plutus was in the doorway of the workshop, arms crossed and a stormy look on his face.
 
"Ottilie!" he snapped. "Do you even realize what time it is?"
 
Nakakagulat naman itong si Plutus, kauuwi lang pero naninigaw na agad. Nang mapatingin ako sa wall clock doon ko lang napansin ang oras. Natawa ako ng hilaw bago ibinalik ang tingin sa prinsipeng may topak. 
 
"Sorry, hindi ko napansin ang oras," napapakamot sa batok na sabi ko. "Tapos na practice mo?" Turo sa gitara na nakasukbit sa likuran nito para ilihis ang usapan. 
 
Ngunit hindi man lang nagbago ang masamang tingin sa'kin ni Plutus. Mukhang mainit na naman ang ulo nito. 
 
"Nice try. Clean your mess here and get inside," he scolded. "I’ll go cook dinner, but if you’re not done by the time I’m finished… I’ll burn this whole place down myself."
 
"Huwag naman! Eto na magliligpit na!" Taranta kong asik kay Plutus saka iniligpit ang mga pinaggamitan ko. 
 
Samantalang nauna nang lumabas sa workshop si Plutus pero sinamaan pa ako nito ng tingin bago ito tuluyang pumasok sa bahay. Dahil sa pagkainis ko sa kan'ya pinagsusuntok ko ang direkson kung saan lumabas si Plutus saka umakto na sinisipa ito. Kainis nang lalaking iyon, dalawang araw na nga lang walang pasok sa isang linggo, hindi ko pa 'to masulit. Dati nga kaya kong magtrabaho na water break lang ang pagitan eh.
 
Napaka-epal talaga ng prinsipe na 'yon!
 

To be continued...