CURSED

31- Dead Secret

Kunot na kunot ang noo ni Bleik habang nakatitig sa isang pahina ng isang napakalumang libro na nakita n'ya sa loob ng personal library ni Hanaleese.

It was a very old history book about the Vertex witches at hindi siya makapaniwala sa kanyang nababasa. This was written by a certain Frangle Galvier about two hundred years ago, before Hanaleese was born. Before Hanaleese's parents and grandparents were born. Written by one of Bleik's ancestors.

Naramdaman niya ang biglang pag-ikot ng kanyang paningin. She wanted to vomit.

Narinig niya ang pagbukas ng pinto ng library pero parang ang layo-layo niyun dahil sa pagkahilong nararamdaman niya.

"You shouldn't have read that this soon," malumanay ang boses na sabi ni Hanaleese na umupo sa tapat n'ya, the table between them. On it were stacks of books.

Bleik massaged her temples and forced herself to focus on Hanaleese.

"Is this even true?"

"Yes," simpleng sagot ng babae. Maputla ito ngayon at medyo nanlalalim ang mga mata.

Muling napayuko si Bleik at muli nanaman niyang nakita ang illustration sa pahinang 'yun. She shivered in disbelief.

"But you're the evil one," aniya kay Hanaleese at balewalang nagkibit-balikat lang ito.

"Where do you think did I get it? Saan ko ito namana?" taas-kilay nitong balik sa kanya.

"But... But this is too much. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Siguro ay ikaw lang ang gumawa sa librong ito."

"Believe whatever you want to believe, child. What I want you to do is continue reading your spellbooks. Tomorrow, I will give you your first big test. You better pass."

"Paano kung hindi ako pumasa sa test mo na 'yan? You will kill me! Just like what you did to many people."

"I will not kill you, Bleik," seryosong sabi ng babae. There was something on the way she looked at Bleik. Something she couldn't fathom na para bang napakalalim ng emosyon nito.

"What do you really want from me, Hanaleese? Why am I really here?"

Hindi ito sumagot. Tumayo ito but before Hanaleese left, she said something that made Bleik even more confused. "You're here for a reason. I don't do random things just because you're my daughter. I need you for something."

—-

Greg closed his cafe. Wala siya sa mood na magpaka-mortal sa panahong ito. He barely knew Deus but he felt their connection. The pull of the same blood in their veins.

It had been more than a hundred years since he'd been with family. Many Bloodworths left Hellville to escape the constant war of the place. Others went to different continents. Wala na siyang balita kung ano ang nangyari sa kanyang clan after that. He lived a peaceful life, with the mortals.

He was sharpening a dagger while sitting on Garren's couch. Nag-iisip lang siya ngayon kung paano siya makakatulong sa isang kapamilya.

It felt strange. Not bad, just strange. It didn't feel familiar. But family was family. It was time for him to be a Bloodworth again.

Napatingin siya sa pinto nang bigla iyung bumukas at pumasok si Garren na may dala-dalang box. Nakasimangot ito at halatang galit.

She was called to work this morning and Greg could just guess what happened.

"The Mayor fired me. He frigging fired me!" bulalas nito sabay bagsak sa box sa coffeetable. Nakasuot lang ito ng puting t-shirt, jeans at rubber shoes. Her hair was tied in a messy bun. She was beautiful. She looked delicious.