Battlefront

34- Stay

Isang malakas na sampal ang tumama sa pisngi ni Lois mula kay Nemorah. Nakagapos ang una sa isang silya at nanghihina na ito dahil sa pagod at gutom.

"Why? Why did you betray us? Isinama ka namin dito dahil naawa sa'yo si Tatiana. But here you are, plotting to kill her," nanggagalaiting sigaw ni Nemorah. She was limping. She just started using a prosthetic leg and it was so uncomfortable.

"Ilang linggo na ba kami rito? She's still alive, isn't she? If I really wanted to kill her, she would be dead already!" ganting sigaw ni Lois kaya nakatanggap nanaman ito ng sampal.

"Lois, ano ba talaga ang balak mo?" mahinahong tanong ni Bryce na nakakrus ang mga braso sa dibdib habang nakasandal sa pader. Nasa isang lumang bodega sila, sa likod ng mansion nina Nemorah. The place was dusty and dark. Wala iyung bintana at isang yellow bulb lang ang tanging source nila ng liwanag.

"You better tell us the truth," segunda naman ni Keira na nakatayo sa likod ni Lois. Sa belt nito ay nakasabit ang isang dagger. Keira was always armed no matter where she was.

"Ano pa ang hinihintay mo? Bakit hindi ka pa kumikilos? Why haven't you attempted to kill her yet?"

"Because I don't plan on killing her," taas-noong sagot ng babae.

"Liar!" sigaw ni Nemorah saka sinampal nanaman ang babae. "Tiana saw you talked to Tamara's minion."

Saglit na nag-isip si Lois at agad namang nagliwanag ang mukha nito nang ma-realize kung ano ang ibig sabihin ni Nemorah. "Ah. She used the spell huh. Gusto n'yo ng totoo? Pwes, makinig kayo. Iyung lalaki na kausap ko sa limbo, iyung nagbigay sa akin ng threats? Hindi lang 'yun basta-bastang minion lang ni Tamara."

"Wala akong pakialam kung sino 'yun," Nemorah interrupted.

"Nemorah, let her talk," saway ni Bryce sa babaeng namumula sa galit.

"Two years ago, Tamara attacked us in our home. My mother was a Pureblood who was a member of ISOP. My father was a witch. Kahit na hindi na bawal ang gan'ong relasyon, thanks to the Bloodworths, medyo taboo pa rin iyun kaya mas pinili ng mga magulang namin na itago ang mga anak nila mula sa publiko."

The three listened eagerly.

"Tamara had been looking for vampire-witch to work for her. She knew about the Bloodworths but they're too strong for her at marami sila so she didn't go after them. Then she heard of Arra..."

Napatayo ng tuwid si Bryce nang marinig ang pangalang 'yun kaya napatingin dito si Keira.

"Arra was Bryce's girl. Did you know that?" tanong ni Lois kay Keira.

"Yeah. He told me about her."

"Who is Arra?" sabad nanaman ni Nemorah.

"Dating girlfriend ni Bryce na vampire-witch. She joined Battlefront just like Tiana but she died during a fight. Tamara didn't have the chance to get to her," ani Lois.

"So, anong kinalaman nito sa pagtatraydor mo sa amin?" taas-kilay na sabi ni Nemorah.

Bumuntung-hininga si Lois, trying to calm herself down. Nakakairita na kasi si Nemorah. "Like I said, naghahanap s'ya ng vampire-witch. Ang hindi alam ng lahat, may nahanap na siya two years ago. My family. She, Malachi Cush and their army of Turned killed our parents and our young siblings. Tanging ako lang ang hindi niya pinatay."

"Why? To use you?" ani Keira.

"That was her plan. But then, we heard footsteps coming. Sentries arrived and since Tamara was the Mayor of the city, they believed her when she told them that I killed my family. She was such a good liar," nanginginig sa galit si Lois habang binabalikan ang masakit na alaalang 'yun. Ramdam ng iba ang galit nito kay Tamara.