CURSED

25- Her Secret for Success

Naramdaman na lang ni Bleik ang paghila ni Deus sa kanya saka ito tumayo sa harapan n'ya.

"How did you get out?" pantay ang boses ni Deus. Ni hindi iyun mariringgan ng kahit na konting takot.

"I'm a very powerful witch, Mister...?"

Hindi sumagot si Deus kaya humalakhak si Hanaleese. She looked a lot better now than this morning. Her dark hair turned to red and dark eyes were now green. Just like Bleik's.

"Mr. Nicholas Thaddeus Bloodworth, a vampire-witch, Sentry. Belongs to two very powerful Pureblood clans in Vergaemonth. The Bloodworth and the Gerhardt. At hindi lang 'yan, your witch side is from the Simmons line. I heard about the Simmons witches. They're powerful but not as powerful as me."

"Oh, really? You mean the power that you stole from others? You're nothing, Hanaleese. You're just a weakling driven by evil desires," ani Bleik na akmang lalapit sa babae pero agad siyang pinigilan ni Deus.

"What do you think you're doing? Why are you provoking her?" bulong ng lalaki sa kanya.

"Ang yabang eh hindi naman sa kanya 'yang kapangyarihan na ginagamit n'ya."

Ngumisi lang si Hanaleese na para bang hindi man lang nainis sa sinabi n'ya. "I heard that statement like more than a thousand times already, Bleik. It does not affect me anymore."

"Because you're evil."

"In order to reach your goals, you have to do something and not just sulk in the corner. They say you're weak? Do something to be strong. In my case, I do sacrifices and they paid off."

Tumingin si Bleik sa paligid. Nawala na ang mga customers at ang barista. Wala na rin siyang marinig na mga boses mula sa kitchen. Sana naman nakaalis sila nang ligtas. Kung bakit kasi hindi pa tuluyang nag-close si Greg.

"We are here to talk. What do you want from Bleik?" kampanteng tanong ni Deus.

"How about you sit down first? I'm sorry, wala man lang tayong mainom. The barista ran so fast when he saw me arrive. I used an effect, you know. Parang pa-smoke. Akala ko masusurpresa kayo. But dang it, why were you outside? Hindi n'yo tuloy nakita."

Gustong matawa ni Bleik sa inis. May gana pa talaga itong magbiro?

Pero wala siyang nagawa nang hilahin siya ni Deus at naupo sila sa harapan ng babae.

"You wanted this so ask her what you wanted to ask," mahinang bulong ni Deus kay Bleik kaya huminga siya ng malalim.

"Ano'ng kailangan mo sa akin?" she started.

"I want you in Silent Magic," parang balewala lang na sagot nito. May ngiti pa ito sa mapupula nitong mga labi.

"I joined Silent Magic. I didn't get any power. I was thrown away. So, what changed?" tanong niya sa babae.

"I changed," anito na biglang nagseryoso.

"Did you even know that I joined?"

"Of course I know. But that time, hindi kita kailangan."

"So, ano nga ang nangyari? Bakit nagbago ang isip mo? Kailangan mo na ako ngayon?"

"Yes. But first, you have to know something about me... and you."

Bleik held her breath. Ito na ba? Was Hanaleese going to say what Bleik had suspected all this time?

Naramdaman niya ang marahang paghawak ni Deus sa kamay niya sa ilalim ng mesa. Ni hindi niya napansin na nanginginig na pala s'ya, and man, was she glad that he did that. At least alam niyang hindi siya nag-iisa.