Beneath the Armor

Chapter 4: The Secrets

Chapter 4: The Secrets

Serriene's POV:

As soon as we arrived at our destination, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the place before me. Hidden deep within a lush forest, the mansion looked like something out of an old storybook massive and dignified, with ivy creeping up its stone walls, giving it an ancient charm. The building was slightly weathered, with towering, arched windows and a grand entryway that hinted at its grandeur. But even with its aged appearance, it radiated an undeniable elegance, standing proud amidst the trees that seemed to guard it from prying eyes.

It was as if this mansion had secrets to keep, secluded in a way that made it the perfect place to hide away from the world.

Pagpasok namin sa loob, lalo akong napamangha sa nakita ko. Kahit sa labas pa lang ay mukhang elegante na ang mansyon, iba pa rin ang itsura nito sa loob. Parang nasa ibang panahon ako dinala, sa gitna ng mahahabang pasilyo at matataas na kisame.

The entry hall was adorned with a grand chandelier, its crystal pieces casting a soft glow that reflected off polished marble floors. Velvet drapes hung from tall windows, deep red and rich, as if carefully chosen to match the dark mahogany paneling along the walls. The furniture was both elegant and antique, with intricately carved designs and soft, plush fabrics that looked too fine to sit on. Paintings in gilded frames lined the walls, each depicting scenes of grandeur and history.

Halos hindi ko mapigilan ang pagtingin sa bawat sulok; lahat ng bagay ay parang perpekto, mula sa mga piraso ng antigong kagamitan hanggang sa mga malalaking pintuang mukhang gawa sa matibay na kahoy.

Napaisip ako bakit nga ba nakatayo ang ganitong kagandang mansyon sa isang lugar na tila walang ibang tao sa paligid?

The mansion stood isolated in a secluded clearing, surrounded by dense, towering trees that seemed to block out the sun, casting long shadows across the overgrown path leading up to it. The forest around was quiet, almost unnaturally so, with only the occasional rustling of leaves or distant call of an unseen bird breaking the silence. Fog drifted low along the ground, adding an eerie stillness to the air, and the twisted, gnarled roots of ancient trees seemed to creep up towards the house as if drawn to it. The whole setting felt haunting, like the mansion was a forgotten relic of a world long past, shrouded in mystery and secrets that time itself had left behind.

Sa kabila ng ganda ng mansyon, may hindi maipaliwanag na bigat sa paligid, parang may nakatagong kwento na hindi basta-basta dapat malaman.

Biglang nagsalita si Kane, ang boses niya malamig at seryoso. "Ang mansyon na ito... ito ang tinatawag na La Sombra Estate. Pag-aari ni Iluhan Devereux." Huminto siya saglit, tila sinisiguradong nakikinig ako, bago nagpatuloy. "Sa lugar na 'to, dito isinasagawa ang pagpatay sa mga nahuhuli nilang kalaban. Isolated and silent, far from prying eyes; not a soul to hear a scream, nor a witness to bear it."

Napalingon ako kay Kane, pilit iniintindi ang mga sinabi niya. Tumango siya, seryoso pa rin ang tingin. "Limitadong tao lang ang nakakaalam ng La Sombra Estate. Tanging mga pinagkakatiwalaan ni Iluhan Devereux mga assassin at mga tauhan na matagal nang naglilingkod sa kanya. Ito ang huling hantungan ng sinumang nagtatangkang tumaliwas sa kanya."

Sa mga sinabi ni Kane, ramdam ko ang bigat ng responsibilidad at ang panganib na dala ng pamilyang kinalakihan ko. It was as if the surroundings tightened around me, and the once beautiful and elegant mansion suddenly felt like a nest of secrets I never expected to uncover.

Napatitig ako sa kanya, pinoproseso ang bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig niya. Ang tahimik niyang anyo ay biglang nagkaroon ng ibang kahulugan. The Kane with me now is more than just a personal bodyguard. He's a man burdened with a heavy duty, driven by a dark mission.