MAGNUS: The Vampire King of Xenyth

Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Alone Together

Luna's Point of View

"How did you see this place?" Tanong pa niya sa akin at naramdaman ko ang kanyang paglapit. Tumayo ako mula sa pagkaupo.

"I just follow the path." Mahina kong sabi sa kanya. Why does my heart beating loudly on my chest? Kausap ko nga si Luccio pero bakit sa simpleng usap lang ay halos gusto nang kumawala ng puso ko sa aking dibdib. Hindi naman ako madaling ma attract sa ibang lalaki, why now? And why Luccio? Everything about him is intriguing.

He just nodded his head and walk pass through me. Nanatili akong nakatayo habang sinusundan siya nang tingin. He walks without any sound. Para siyang isang assassin kung kumilos ay walang tunog.

"Beautiful..." I heard him said while looking at the tree full of fireflies. Nakikita ko ang kanyang likuran. Even his back looks sexy!

"It is." I muttered next to him. Naglakad ako hanggang makapwesto ako sa tabi niya. And this is the first time I actually agree with his statement.

As we both stayed quiet while looking at the beautiful tree, no one dares to talk.

"What have I done wrong, Miss Morris? You seems distant." Bigla akong hindi makapagsalita dahil sa sinabi niya. Napansin niya palang umiiwas ako sa kanya.

"Cat got your tongue, eh?" Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago humarap sa kanya.

"You intrigued me, Mister Salvatore. You intimidate me. What am I supposed to do?" I mustered up my courage just to say that. Pero mukhang ibibigay ang mga tuhod ko dahil sa mga titig na ibinibigay niya sa akin. Hindi na maipinta ang mukha ko nang bigla ko na lang siyang tumawa sa sinabi ko.

"Drop the formalities, just call me Luccio. And don't worry about me, I don't usually bite." He said with a double meaning. Lalo lang akong naintriga sa sinabi niya.

"What do you mean you don't usually bite?" He chuckled once again and that made my heart flutter. Kahit ang mga tawa niya ay ang sexy pakinggan! Luccio, what have you done to me?

"Oh god, Luna. That was supposed to be a joke. Don't take it too seriously." He frowned his thick brows. Luna... he just called me Luna! Hindi ko alam pero bakit mukhang kinikilig ako dahil tinawag niya ako sa sarili kong pangalan?

"Anong ginagawa mo dito," tanong ko sa kanya dahil wala na akong maisip kung anong pwedeng sabihin. I just wanted to change the topic right away.

"It's my land, remember?" He shrugged his shoulders. Ohh. Nagtanong pa ako kahit alam ko naman ang sagot.

"Thank you for inviting us here." Masyadong lumalalim na ang gabi. I just want to finish the conversation and leave the place. I want to go back, I don't want to be alone with Luccio.

"It's my pleasure to have all your team in my place." He smiled a little, I smiled back. Aalis na sana ako nang magsalita siya. "Gusto mo bang lumapit sa puno?" Ibinalik ko ang aking paningin sa puno na puno ng alitaptap.

"Can we?" I got curious and excited at the same time. Tumango siya sa akin at iginiya ako papunta sa malaking puno. Tanging ang mga ilaw lang ng alitaptap ang nagsilbi naming ilaw.

At dahil malaki ang puno, malaki rin ang mga ugat nito. But what shock me the most was when I got nearer, the light becomes more shining.

"Wow! This tree is awesome!" I said as I touched the thick trunk.

"They said that this tree lives for many years now." Kwento niya sa akin. "Talaga?" May isang alitaptap ang dumapo sa aking daliri. I lift my finger as it helps me to see what I'm touching. The trunk was so rough but what caught my attention was the words engraved on it.

"Et sta bis?." (I'm waiting) Tumingin ako kay Luccio na hanggang ngayon ay nakatingin lang sa akin. Okay, that's weird.

"Et stabis," basa ko ulit sa nakasulat. "What does this means?" Itiniaas niya ang kanyang mga balikat na parang sinasabi niya na hindi niya alam ang ibig sabihin nito.

Ibinalik ko ang paningin ko sa malaking puno. The firefly was still on my finger. Umikot ako sa puno at mula sa likuran ay mayroon na namang nakasulat.

"Pae ni tet?" (I'm sorry) I whispered. There's another one. "Ecce ego usque ad mortem." (I want to die)

The way the words are curved was so refined. This can be considered as an art. May mga ilang characters na naka-ukit ang hindi ko maintindihan. They are symbols that you can find in the early caves. 

I was about to go leave the back part of the tree when I saw Amarfi's name curved on the sturdy trunk.

"Amarfi," Bigla akong nakaramdam nang pagkalamig nang mabasa ko ang kanyang pangalan. Binundol ng kaba ang aking dibdib. I don't know what to react. Parang gusto kong tumakbo papalayo. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng takot.

"I want to go back..." nanginginig na sabi ko kay Luccio. The firefly flew out from my finger.

"Okay, but remember to be up close. There are more dangerous things out there." I didn't bother asking him what does he meant by that. I just wanted to run away from this place, from this tree.

Amarfi...

That's the girl's name in my dreams. It's so weird to think that I actually saw that name curved on the old tree!

I'm thinking that it was only a coincidence but I can't convince myself. There's something mysterious happening to me since I started dreaming about her.

Naglakad kaming dalawa ni Luccio sa madilim na gubat. I'm holding his shirt. I don't know why but I automatically hold his shirt. Hindi naman siya umangal at diretso lang naglalad sa madilim na daan. Ang tanging ilaw lang namin ay ilaw na nagmumula sa buwan. Kahit na walang sariling ilaw ang buwan.

I wonder how he can walk straight without even bumping on the trees. Siguro ay dahil sanay na siya sa lugar na ito.

Sinusundan ko lang ang bawat yapak ng kanyang mga paa.

"Are you okay, Luna? You looked so pale." Iyan agad ang una niyang tinanong sa akon nang makarating kami sa loob ng mansion. Napakatahimik pa rin ng buong lugar. Mukhang hanggang ngayon ay nagkakasiyahan pa din ang aking mga kasamahan sa resort.

"I'm fine...just tired." I said. Bigla na lang akong nakaramdam ng pagod. But I don't want to rest, I don't want my dreams to hunt me again.

I suddenly become afraid.

Biglang lumapit sa akin si Luccio at hinawakan ang aking noo. His hand was so cold but I can feel the heat on my face.

"I think you're going to be sick." Napakalapit niya sa akin. Kaunti na lamang ay magkakadikit na ang aming mga katawan. I can smell his manly scent.

"I'm fi—." And I blackout.

****