Mist and Moonlight

CHAPTER 58: Pillars

Salem's POV

"Anong nangyayari sa inyo?! Maliit na bagay nagkakagulo kayo?!" halos lumabas na ang litid ni Lolo Marco sa harap namin.

"I—It's a misunderstanding." nakayukong sagot ni Justin.

"I'm not sorry at all." prenteng nakaupo si Lincoln sa couch. Walang paki sa sinabi ng huli.

"She's toying with us." finally some sense. Jared crossed his arms.

"Sino naman?" ngumiwi sa sakit si Justin may pasa ang panga at putok ang kilay nito.

"Naia." He firmly said it "I have my doubts about her."

"Nagbibiro ka ba?" Lincoln tried to defend her but failed to do so.

"No. I am not." his voice is more serious. "You can ask him if you want to." nalipat ang tatlong pares ng mata sa akin.

"Spill." the old man seat on his chair habang hinihilot ang sentido.

"Lucian our pet dog notice it first." Sinimulan ko ang pagkukwento. "Normally he would jump on people imbis na tahulan ito."

"Anong kinalaman ng aso dito?" Justin does not get it at all.

"Shut up!/ Makinig ka na lang nga." sabay na reklamo ng dalawang lalaki. Daggered glares. Are on him already.

"Okay. You're too hot!" pagsuko nito.

"She visited one time. Narinig ko ang asong tumatahol. Angry as he is. Sinaway pa siya ni Artemis but he did not stop." I continued. "Kahit lumapit na ito sa akin ay nagagalit pa din ito. That's when I started observing her."

"The letter Lindsey recieved came from her. Nagaya niya ang sulat kamay ni Justin" Jared explained.

"She even tried doing it to my mother. By saying a taboo name." I seconded "Damian."

All eyes are on me. He almost married her. He wants the highest seat on the council. Kapag nanalo siya kay Lolo ay makukuha niya ang pinakamataas na upuan pati si Mama.

She buried that memory a long time ago muntik na siyang pagsamantalahan nito. He forced himself to her so much Papa almost killed him.

It was not written in the record dahil magiging kahihiyan ito sa angkan nila Lolo. They protected her by exiling him.

"Grandpa can we talk later?" Jared ask "Privately. May ipapakilala ako sa inyo." tumingin ito sa direksyon ko.

"Sir may naghahanap po sa inyo." the maid pop her head on the door.

"Sino?" seryosong sagot ng matanda.

"Si Ma'am Artemis po." hindi alam ng dalawa ang gagawin tatakbo o magtatago. Justin is sweating profusely, Lincoln is afraid that his sister will know about this.

Pumasok si Artemis sa loob. Nabato ang dalawa sa kinauupuan nila, nagulat ang kapatid kong dala si Lucian. Her eyes turn to slits while the dog goes to the old man.

"Got anything to say?" She ask. Hindi ko siya pinaupo sa tabi ni Jared.

"Please don't tell this to my sister." Lincoln pleaded. Looking at her.

"Ikaw paano ka naging reaper?" pagmamaldita nito sa kaibigan "All you do is woo girls into your likings. Can you even land a punch?"
Artemis and her uncontrollable mouth.

"Gusto mo ba akong subukan?" he's trigerred.

"Can I?" permission to hit Justin?

"Sure. But not today." answered the old man "Maybe later after the dinner." napasign of the cross Si Justin.

We told him the dinner part after she came. They will tell the truth with our parents.

"He is my mate." the silence is deafening.

They are shocked except the three of us. Halos malaglag ang panga ni Justin, Lincoln stares in disbelief.

"How?" Lolo Marco ask her. His grandson is actually a wolf 's mate. The chosen one to be axact.

"Hindi din po namin alam." She honestly told him. "We just felt the sudden connection. Kaya po siguro naiinis ako sa kanya noong una."

"It's true Lolo. Noong niligtas ko siya sa building na iyon parang may magnet akong naramdaman." tahimik na nakikinig ang iba lalo na sila Mama "My gut tells me I have to save her. I tried to avoid her but I can't."

"Does he stay in your room?" Mama ask. It's all yours sister.

"Y-yeah. Sometimes." walang pagtanggi niyang sagot. The dog whimpered answering also.

"We should nail her window. Don't you think?" she mumbles looking at Papa. "The perfume I smell on you that day belongs to him."

"Yes, it's mine." so honest Jared "Sorry about the window sneaking business." he apologizes.

"Kaya pala ngumingiti ka na." Justin speaks "Akala ko gagaya ka na sa taong bato eh." Papabugbog ko ito mamaya.

"I'll let you hit on him. TONIGHT." my voice cold. Lincoln recovered already.

"The pleasure's all mine." her eyes shine so bright. She's excited. "Good thing I have extra clothes in here."

"Don't kill him yet." Jared reminded her. Napalunok si Justin sa sinabi ng kasama namin. These two really has it.

"I'll make him limp." she smiled sweetly "And Lincoln's secret will be safe."

"Thank you, Artemis." He has his reasons. To protect his sister.

After the dinner we headed to the training room. Nagbihis si Artemis sa kwartong ginagamit niya. I let Jared escort her basta sa labas siya ng kwarto maghihintay.

Nagsimula sa sparring ang dalawa—Artemis and Justin—she's toying with him. Honestly.

"Ayaw kong manakit ng babae." He reminded her. She wouldn't mind landinga scratch or punch on him either.

"He wouldn't die right?" Lincoln is concerned. Justin plays when training pero pagseryoso he does his best but I think he thinks my sister's joking.

"Baka hindi lang siya makapasok bukas. You want a bet?" hamon ko.

"Kay Artemis ako." nangungunang sagot ni Jared.

"I'm betting on the lady, nakakaawa naman." I emphatetically answered. Pero mas naawa ako sa kaibigan nila.

"Justin. I know him." Really? Watch him go limp before going home.

The result didn't really go well. He looks mugged after their session. Bruises form on his face, his lips has cut and wounds  beacuse of the dagger.

"He can't do to school tomorrow." Lolo Marco announced to us.

"I'm sorry. I'm got carried away." Artemis apologized, teary eyed.

"He deserves that anyway." Lincoln consoled her.