The Immortal Blood [Taglish Version]

CHAPTER 26 - ROSE

Jade Cardwell

SEATTLE became my home for a few days. Hindi mawala sa isip ko ang suggestion ni Christian tungkol sa tita niya. I finally decided to call him and accepted his proposal.

I am skeptical about this, pero kailangan ko lahat ng tulong na makukuha ko para malaman ko kung bakit may killer ghost na gusto ko patayin. Ang walang hiyang si Raphael Lancaster ay bigla akong iniwan at hindi man lang nagbigay ng kahit anong explanation tungkol dito.

I am expecting that Christian's aunt lives in cottage outside Seattle. Isang maliit na bahay na napapalibutan ng maraming halaman, pero hindi ko inaasahan na nakatira siya sa isang high-rise condominium unit.

New age witch living in a new age world.

"Walang anak ang Aunt Rose ko, pero parang anak ang turing niya sa mga pamangkin niya. Medyo weird lang, pero lahat naman ng witches weird, 'di ba?" sabi ni Christian pagpasok namin sa elevator.

Tumigil kami sa tapat ng isang white wooden door sa 26th floor. Kakatok pa lang sana si Christian pero biglang bumukas ang pinto. A woman in her late fifties is now filling the door.

"Please come in. Nabanggit na ni Christian sa akin na interesado ka daw sa ghost and all sorts of paranormal para sa novel mo. Take a seat. I prepared some tea for you," sabi ng babae sa amin.

Buong akala ko, dark purple-themed room with candles na may weird books ang makikita ko, pero isang modern minimalistic room ang tumambad sa akin. All walls are painted in white including the chairs and tables.

"My name is Jade Cardwell po. Thank you for inviting me here in your place. Ang ganda po ng bahay niyo," nakangiti kong bati sa kanya sabay bigay ng kamay ko for a handshake.

"Rose Almonde. Call me Aunt Rose."

"Jade here is a writer. Auntie, gusto po niya ng materials para sa novel niya. Interested po siya tungkol sa mga ghosts at sa mundo ng supernatural."

"Ghosts? Bakit ka interesado sa multo, Jade?" curious na tanong ni Rose sa akin.

"Gusto ko po na ghost ang maging topic ng next book ko. Is it possible na mag materialize ang isang ghost? May incident na ba na nakapatay ang ghost ng isang tao?" direct to the point na tanong ko sa kanya.

"Ghosts are lost spirits. For them to appear in our world, it will take an enormous amount of magic. However, for ghost to both materialized in flesh and kill you, it involves pure dark magic and top-level skills in necromancy."

"Do you think it is possible? I mean, do killer ghost exists? I want to focus on the idea of killer ghost for my novel."

"Definitely possible, pero ang mga ganitong klaseng magics ay tinatawag na forbidden. These ancient magic is long forgotten. We just simply don't touch those spells as these are too dangerous."

"If you don't mind me asking, ano po ang specialty niyo na spells?" curious kong tanong kay Aunt Rose.

"Witches like me are more on divination, healing and positive energy. Ipinagbabawal sa witch community namin ang pag gamit ng dark magic, specially kung may communication sa other side. I can somehow feel that you were touched by an unclean spirit. Don't get me wrong, you are indeed a pure soul Jade Cardwell, but the specs of dark spirits still lingered around your past."

"Whooah! Totoo ba 'yon, Jade? May na encounter ka na ba na killer ghost?" gulat na tanong ni Christian.

Tumango lang ako kay Christian at kay Aunt Rose. I narrated to them kung ano ang nangyari sa akin bago ang graduation day. I need to let it out as this has been bothering me for the longest time.

"Interesting. Where is the boy now, your ex-boyfriend?" tanong sa uli ni Aunt Rose sa akin.

"Huling balita ko po ay nasa South Africa na siya. Wala na akong balita sa kanya pagkatapos niya kong iwan."

"Jade, do you think coincidence lang na naging boyfriend mo siya? Ghost buster ba ang boyfriend mo? Baka naman real life Sam and Dean Winchester siya, pero kahit na, wala pa rin siyang karapatan na saktan ka. He even left you with too much mystery," galit na sabi ni Christian.

"Jade, nakita mo ba ulit ang sinasabi mong killer ghost? " tanong ni Aunt Rose.

"That is my first encounter and hopefully the last. Sobrang takot na takot ako sa nangyari. Kahit si Ninong George ko, hindi ko nabanggit ang tungkol dito."

"Do you remember anything prominent about her like the type of dress she was wearing when she attacked you?"

"Aunt Rose, hindi ko makalimutan ang pula niyang mata. Para siyang galit na galit sa akin at gusto ko balatan ng buhay. Sa pagkakaalala ko, she was wearing a plain dirty white clothes, a bit old-fashioned if you will ask me. Meron din siyang black beads sa leeg niya na parang isang choker necklace."

"Sa pagkakaalam ko, a ghost will reflect its last physical appearance when it was still human. Ano pa ang napansin mo sa sinasabi mong black beads? Can you describe it in detail?"

"Familiar po ba kayo sa mga Buddha beads na may carvings ng letters? Parang ganun po ang hitsura, pero kulay itim. May glowing green runes na parang may sariling buhay."

Tumayo si Rose sa upuan at binuksan ang isang hidden compartment sa kanyang bookshelf. Nilabas niya ang isang old and tattered spell book at ipinakita sa amin ni Christian.

"Jade, are you referring to this kind of beads?" tanong ni Aunt Rose nang makita niya ang illustration ng beaded necklace.

"Yes, ganyan nga po. Ano po 'yan?"

"This necklace is believed to be used by shamans in the ancient times to raise someone from the dead using pure and unadulterated black magic. It is categorized as a lost and mythical relic. Jade, you witnessed something evil. Mas mabuti pa na itago mo ito para sa protection mo," sabi ni Aunt Rose sabay bigay sa akin ng isang maliit na tear-drop shaped crystal na kulay light blue.

"Para saan po ito?"

"This crystal will ward off the bad spirits, though, I cannot guarantee your safety, my child. What you have encountered is a product of dangerous dark and archaic magic. Mag-ingat ka, Jade. Kailangan mo magdasal palagi para sa kaligtasan mo."

Medyo natakot ako sa sinabi ni Aunt Rose, pero umalis ako ng condominium unit niya na may peace of mind. Christian and Rose are both strangers, but I felt that I can trust them.