DANCING WITH THE VILLAIN

Rhysand Marfori 19:00 Montague Street   Kailanman, hindi siya natutuwa kapag ganito na ang panahon. It was gloomy, cold, at nanginginig ang kamay niya na nakasiksik sa kanyang bulsa. Mahina siyang napamura sa loob ng kanyang sasakyan. Kinuha niya ang kamay sa loob ng bulsa at sinindihan ang sigarilyo na nasa bibig niya. He puffed a smoke, his flesh still trembling with the cold. His fingers tapped impatiently to the steering wheel of his car habang nakatingin sa pocket watch na dala niya. But he can't wait for another minute. "For f**k's sake," mahina niyang sambit at lumabas sa kanyang sasakyan. He slammed the door of his car. Iginala niya ang mata sa paligid at inayos ang coat na suot. With one hand in his pocket and the other on his cigarette, naglakad siya papunta sa pinto ng isang bahay. Hindi na siya nag-abalang kumatok. He barged inside and roamed his eyes around. Wala siyang makitang tao ngunit nakakarinig siya ng ungol ng babae at ng lalake. Napailing nalang siya habang naglalakad papunta sa second floor ng bahay kung saan naroon ang kwarto ng nakababata niyang kapatid. Nang makita ang kwarto ng kapatid, agad niya itong sinipa dahilan para mabuksan ito. And his brother and some girl he probably picked on the streets are tangled in the sheets in the throes of their pleasure. Napasigaw ang babae nang makita siyang pumasok sa kwarto. The woman, wise enough to sense his mood, picked up her clothes from the floor at kumaripas ng takbo palabas. His brother groaned in frustration. "Timing, Rhys!" His brother exclaimed. "And isn't this too early? I thought we're going there at 9?" Reklamo nito habang dahan-dahang isinuot ang damit. "Change of plans. And I've been freezing outside for several minutes. Yet here you are." Nakatayo siya sa paanan ng kama habang nakasiksik ang mga kamay sa mga bulsa. He gave his brother a hard look and the latter just grinned at napabuntong-hininga nalang siya. Napairap nalang siya nang makitang mabagal itong nagbibihis. "Five minutes or this house burns," saad niya at naglakad palabas. Today is an important day. A very important one for the Ivory Skulls. He dropped the cigarette on the ground and stepped on it with enough firmness until it was nothing but ashes and a bunch of crumpled paper. Narinig niya ang yabag ng mga paa sa kanyang likuran. "Where's Marcus?" tanong ng kapatid. "We'll meet him there," he said and hopped into the car. Ganoon din ang ginawa nito. His brother looked at him, grinning. "Today's the day, brother." A smile tugged on his lips. "Today's the day, Sid," he said and drove off. When they arrived at the place, nakita nila ang isa nilang kapatid na si Marcus na kararating lang. Marcus straightened his suit and looked at them approaching. They nodded to each other and marched towards the club. Just the three of them. They have already planned what would happen and what to do. Pinagpaplanuhan nila ang bawat hakbang sa kanilang mga plano. Kaya siguro ay ni minsan hindi sila pumalya. At kung mayroon mang nagiging aberya, hindi iyon masyadong malaki at naagapan nila agad. Ivory Skulls are known for that. They just don't do the work. They do it cleanly and without holes.  One cold night in Sinclaire, a fight will break out. History will be made for the Ivory Skulls as they take out their guns and pointed it at the guards. Two shots were fired at bumulagta ang mga ito sa sahig. The other guards were quick to respond but they were quicker and shot them just enough to render them unable to move and fight back.  Nagsigawan ang mga tao nang marinig ang putok ng baril. They scuttled, trying to find a place to hide. But Rhysand and his brothers are already inside the club, roaming their eyes around. They won't hurt innocents unless those innocents turned out to be enemies.  Rhysand nodded in approval as he beheld the golden pillars, the expensive wines displayed on the counter, and the overall interior of the place. And right there, he has decided: he is taking this club and make it his own. One of the men in uniform had his gun pointed towards him. Unlike the others, fear isn't visible in his eyes. Yet Rhysand could see him trembling, his throat bobbing. The man was trying not to be scared. "Get out of this club, you Ivory bastards," the man said as he held his gun tightly. "It's Ivory Skulls," Sid pointed out habang sinisindihan ang sigarilyo nito. Nakaupo na ito sa isa sa mga mesa at umiinom ng alak sa isang basong naiwan doon. Rhysand inserted his hands in his pockets. "I'll spare your life so you can tell your boss my message," Rhysand said and walked closer to the man who had his gun towards him. But Rhysand wasn't fazed by it. Sanay na sanay na ito sa ganitong gawain. But the man just c****d his gun. "Fuck.you." Marcus clicked his tongue and sniffed. "Aight, why don't we settle this now?" He was about to march forward when Rhysand stopped him. Rhysand stepped closer to the man with the gun. Nilaro niya ang dila sa loob ng bibig niya while the gun's tip is now pointed at his head. He calmly took out his cigarette at sinindihan iyon sa harap ng lalake. One look at the man and Rhysand knows he's an amateur. Binugahan niya ito ng usok. The bobbing of his throat did not escape his eyes. "I think you're not holding it properly," he muttered, eyeing the gun. And the moment the man lost his focus on him, kinuha niya ang isang bote, hinampas iyon sa mesa at isinaksak iyon sa tiyan ng lalake. Marcus and Sid have their guns pointed at the other guards who were wise enough not to meddle in. The man groaned in pain. Rhysand chuckled. "Don't be too dramatic. I did not hit a vital organ. I told you I'm going to spare your life, didn't I?" The man grabbed his shoulders nang idiin pa niya ng husto ang bote. He could feel the warm trickle of blood on his fingers. He leaned and whispered to his ears. "Tell Neinhart not to f**k with us again." He puffed a smoke and the man whimpered in pain. "If I hear any news of him f*****g around Sinclaire, my territory, tell him I'm not very fond of a quick death. Stay the f**k away. Did you get that?" he asked ngunit tanging ungol lang ng lalake ang narinig niya. Mas idiniin pa niya ang bote sa sugat nito. "Did you get that?" ulit niya and the man just nodded, breathing hard. "Good," he puffed another smoke and tapped his shoulder. "Now go," saad niya and nudged his head to the other guards to help the man walk. He looked at the people, hiding. Only four guards died and the rest did not put up a fight. It was rather an easy one, he thought. He climbed the platform where there was a microphone. He stepped on his cigarette and looked at his brothers. "In the name of the Ivory Skulls," he said and eyed all the people inside. "This place is under new management," he said and fired his gun before he went down the platform and walked outside with his brothers. History has been made. * * *