Battlefront

15- Dried Blood

Nanginginig ang mga kamay ni Xandros dahil sa galit habang sinusundan ng tingin si Tiana na kinakaladkad ng mga Sentry pabalik sa loob ng manor.

Mortification Process was cut short because he intervened. 'Yun ang stage ng disgarbing kung saan ipapahiya ang ex-Sentry sa harap ng vampire community. Sa labas ng manor ay ang maraming vampires at maging ilang witches na panay ang sigaw ng mga masasakit na salita. They even threw things at Tiana like rocks, small knives, trash at kung ano pang mahawakan nila.

"Your so called organized vampire government sucks. Hindi makatarungan ang ganito," komento ni Xandros and he wished he didn't say that. Nasa tabi n'ya pala si Keira who suffered the same fate five years ago. This scenario must had triggered some memories dahil namumula ang mga mata nito.

"We have to get her out of there. She didn't kill Antoine," matigas na sabi ni Bryce. He didn't do anything wrong kaya hinayaan itong makalaya. And as for Xandros, hindi s'ya sakop ng batas ng ISOP kaya pinalaya na rin siya kahit na isa siyang sponsor. Kasama na roon ang kanyang mga bodyguards na karamihan ay mga outcasts ng ISOP.

"Find him and kill whoever took him," mahina ngunit matigas na utos ni Xandros kaya napatitig sa kanya si Keira.

"I heard na baka si Mayor LeBlanc ang kumuha kay Antoine," pabulong na sagot ng babae.

"I know that."

Hindi na lamang nagsalita si Keira. Naintindihan nito ang ibig niyang sabihin. Umalis na ito kasama ang dalawa pang ex-Sentry.

"Let's go find a hotel, Bryce. Hindi tayo pwedeng umalis ng Graviville nang hindi kasama si Tatiana."

"You won't take her with you. I will take care of my daughter," sabay silang napatingin sa lalaking biglang nagsalita sa likuran nila.

"Mr. Titus Bloodworth," isang ngiti ang sumilay sa mga labi ni Xandros. He would admit that he liked everything he heard about this family especially the head of it. Malakas ito at makapangyarihan. .

"And you are?"

"I am your daughter's friend. Don't worry. I want what's best for her too."

"Appreciate that but like I said, I will take care of my daughter."

"With due respect, Mr. Bloodworth, but how can you do that? You were ordered to disown her."

"I know that but I can always do something."

"T, pinapauwi na tayo ni Papa sa Hellville," biglang lumapit sa kanila si Savannah Bloodworth. She looked like she was in her early thirties pero alam ni Xandros na almost fifty na ito. Napakaganda nito at dito nagmana si Tiana.

"Why?"

"He said that's what the Senate wants. We don't have any business here anymore."

Huminga ng malalim si T Bloodworth saka muling binalingan si Xandros. "You said you want to help my daughter."

"Yes," sagot naman niya. He may be four and a half centuries older than T Bloodworth but he still showed him respect.

"Get her out of jail then take her to Hellville. Please. Just save her. We can't do anything right now."

Inilahad ni Xandros ang kanang kamay at tinanggap naman iyun ni T. "Deal."

Nang makaalis ang mag-asawa ay binalingan niya si Bryce na tahimik lang na nagmasid.

"You heard him. We have to get Tatiana out of jail."

"Ano'ng gagawin natin?"

"Sa ngayon, hintayin na muna natin kung ano ang magiging resulta ng lakad nina Keira."