"Let's play..little one..."
I gasped for air. Nagmulat ako ng mga mata at nakasiguradong mag-isa lang ako kwarto. Napaupo ako sa kama kasabay ng pagsuklay ko ng basang buhok dahil sa pawis.
"Not again.." I whispered.
I dreamed about that demon. The one with the white hair. And I was on that dark room again. Chained and helpless. And he--
Napayakap ako sa sarili at napailing. Ayoko nang maalala. Ayoko ko na talaga.
Ilang gabi na akong paulit-ulit na nangyayari ito. Akala ko na kapag nalaman ko na ang lahat, titigil na rin iyon.
Marahan akong umupo at huminga nang malalim. Tumingin ako sa paligid.
Malaki ang kwarto kung saan ako naroon. Mas malaki nang di hamak sa tinutuluyan ko noong na kina Van pa ako. Pero halatang hindi pa natatapos ang buong lugar. Hindi pa naayos na nakakabit ang wallpapers. Kulang pa nga ang mga gamit.
Paradiso. It was the name of the place. Alam ko, ito ang center ng huling gera noon. Marami ang naglaban ditong mga bampira. It seemed like they secretly renovated the place lingid sa kaalaman ng High Council. Maski ang Valeruis Coven, hindi alam na unti-unti na itong naitayo uli.
Dapat umuwi nalang ako ng diretso. Ayoko na dito.
Pero hanggang ngayon, hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin sa mga magulang ko ang lahat nang nangyari sa akin. Lalo na kay Rafael.
I was promised to him. The union would be pragmatic though, it would just strengthen the ties between our Covens. Pero para sa kanya, mahalaga yon.
Pero paano ko na siya haharapin ngayon? Paano ko ipapaliwanag ang lahat. I was marked by someone else. And I already gave mine.
Then si Mama. How can I say to her that I slept with his brother? And Papa would be outraged if he found out that I've fallen for the same man all over again.
Hindi ko naisip noon mapupunta ako sa ganitong sitwasyon. Gusto ko lang naman noon na malinawan kung bakit ako nagkakaroon ng visions. Kung paano titigil ang lahat. Para hindi na ako mahirapan pang kontrolin ang psych ko. Pero mukhang balewala lang ang lahat. Lalo lang lumala.
Helena's right. I should have stayed instead. They were just trying to protect me from everything.
I heard the door opened. I sighed again.
"Natalya?" Tawag niya sa akin on her highly accented tone. "Is there something wrong?"
Everything. I wanted to say.
Pero nakita ko ang paglapit niya nang dahan-dahan sa akin kaya itinikom ko nalang ang bibig ko.
"Nothing, mother." I said instead. Umiwas ako nang tingin sa kanya.
Yulia Orlova. Heiress to a once powerful Orlov Coven. My father's mistress.
She was beautiful indeed. Her nightgown hug her voluptous figure so well, I thought. No wonder Papa fell on her trap, no man could ever resist her.
"What do you want now?" I spoke. Almost silently. I've been careful with my words, I know what my voice can do. I never liked her. Siya ang parin ang dahilan kung bakit nasira ang relasyon nila Mama at Papa but she's still the woman that gave birth to me.
"My sweet child," Mother said. Hinaplos niya nang marahan ang buhok ko. "I've long to have you by my side."
I tried my best to hide my contempt. Kung wala akong alam sa pinagagawa niya, I would believe her.
She tried to kill me when I was still on her womb. Pinili kasi ni Papa na pakasalan ang mate nito kaysa sa kanya. My father found out and she was ordered to be restrained till she gave birth. Then the Queen took me as her own when one of her twin died.
