Innamorata

*Chapter Six*

"Saan ka?" Tanong ni Montez kay Ceres nang makasalubong ang dalagang pababa naman ng hagdan. According to the grandfather's clock located at the living room, it was already past two o'clock in the morning.

"Papahangin, 'di ako makatulog." Sagot niya habang ipinuputong ang hoodie sa ulo.

"Okay, see you in the morning."

She waved while walking to the door.

Natagpuan na lang ni Ceres ang sarili na naglalakad sa kahabaan ng Central Park. Yeah, she knew it was closed during midnight until dawn, so technically no one was permitted in it during those hours. Born-and-bred New Yorkers would probably look at someone odd if they asked to go to that park at night. Okay, here was the thing, if you'd never been to Central Park, it was really, really big and completely surrounded by dense urban real estate so one can easily get lost in it at night, and there were lots of areas that just weren't lit, so it was very dark too. Plus, it has a reputation in the past that left bad image to New Yorkers. Usually crime related cases. Now, Central Park is nowhere near as bad as it once was but you'd still be an idiot if you want to walk around it at night.

Well, she was a lamia who possessed a supernatural strength, would that make her an idiot too? Guess not, so Central Park was her go to place at night. Ang lugar na yatang iyon ang pinakatahimik sa buong New York City tuwing gabi maliban syempre sa mga sementeryo sa Queens na isa pang tambayan niya. So far, wala pa naman siyang Maiores Letum na napatay doon kaya wala pang bahid ng dumi ang lugar sa isipan niya.

Both hands inside her jeans pocket, she walked and pondered until her steps came to an abrupt halt.

Blood... the raw smell of it struck her senses. It was overpowering, and she knew what that meant. May higit sa isang taong biktima.

"Dammit!" She cursed vehemently as her jaws tightened. Sa isang iglap ay agad niyang nahanap ang crime scene. Tatlong lamia ang agad niyang nakita, isang babae at dalawang lalaki ang may tig-iisang taong hawak. She was too late, those were dead people now. Agad siyang pumalakpak para ipaalam ang presensya. "Am I interrupting a feast?" She asked sardonically.

The woman with brunette hair passed her a scrutizing stare. Blood red eyes of the third kind, she thought as she looked back at her. Marahan nitong pinunasan ang dugong tumulo sa gilid ng bibig, ang mga mata ay hindi inaalis sa kanya. "Not really." Anito sa tinig na makatindig balahibo.

"Ang kapal n'yong pumatay ng mga taong inosente, haven't you heard about the rules?"

"Rules exempted." She smiled slyly. "And FYI fresh blood is a lot warmer, hunter, correct me if I'm wrong."

Ceres furiously stared at the woman who was sneering at her. "Saan kita itatama? Iyong tungkol sa mainit na dugo o 'yong doon sa hunter? Iklaro mo para magkaintindihan naman tayo."

"So, you're the hunter?"

She shrugged her shouders nonchalantly. "You're definitely talking to her, what do you want?"

"Were you that servus? Iyong tinulungan ni Lucan dati? Did that ring a bell?"

Ceres squared her shoulders as things were getting serious. Was that an ambush? A trap? Padala ba ang mga ito ng pamunuan ng congrego? Fuck. Paano siyang natagpuan ng mga ito? Sali't salitan niyang tiningnan ang tatlong lamia na kung sa paanong paraan na lang binitawan ang mga taong hawak.

"I presume your silence means yes. By the way, we knew you'd come one of these days. We knew you're here, remember the one you killed at Queens?" Walang anumang saad ng babae, kung makangiti ay akala mo kung sino.

She scoffed irritably. Ano ngayon kung kilala na siya ng mga ito? It wouldn't be for long though, they would die along with her secret. "Hence the pretty heinous crime here," aniya, saglit na sinipat ang tatlong bangkay sa damuhan.