End Game

Chapter 3 - Welcome To The Real World

WHEN ISABELLA woke up, she found herself sitting on a wooden chair. Parehong mahigpit na nakatali ang mga kamay at paa niya sa upuan. Nahihilo siya at nanghihina. Her entire body ached  like she had been through a marathon and her wrist felt numb. Pero na-realize niyang hindi iyon dahil sa mga tali na nakapaikot sa katawan niya kundi dahil sa dugo na kinukuha mula sa kanya.

Nanlamig si Isabella nang makita ang napakaraming blood bag sa sahig. Nagpa-panic na iginala niya ang tingin sa paligid. She was alone inside the room. Maliban sa mahogany na mesa at mga de-kalibreng baril sa ibabaw niyon, wala nang iba pang makikitang gamit sa kuwarto.

Isabella had been kidnapped. And for some strange reason, the kidnappers seemed to be after her blood judging by how much blood they took from her. Sigurado siyang iyon ang dahilan kung bakit siya ngayon nahihilo. Why are they doing this to me?

At this rate, if they were to take more blood from her, she could no longer tell if she would survive. Was this how she was going to die?

Namasa ang kanyang mga mata. Why couldn’t the world give her a break? All these in one night were just too much for her. For Pete’s sake, she just had her heart broken by the man she had loved the most. Now this? And what about Luke and Jackson? Where were they?

“So, the Sleeping Beauty is finally awake. Hello, Isabella. We meet again.”             

Muntik na siyang mapasigaw sa gulat dahil sa pamilyar na boses na bigla niyang narinig. Sarado ang pinto at hindi niya iyon nakita o narinig man lang na bumukas kaya kumabog ang dibdib niya sa pagkabigla. Nang mag-angat siya ng mukha, nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata nang makita si Marcus.

His family, the Morans, were one of the most prominent families in the business world. Magkakilala ang mga pamilya nila mula pa pagkabata. In fact, madalas silang magkita ni Marcus tuwing may gathering. Hindi sila nagkaroon ng chance para makapag-usap nang madalas, but she knew him as a very courteous man. Just like Jude, Marcus’ older brother, he had a kind glow in his eyes.

Or so she thought.

Hindi mukhang na-kidnap ang lalaki. Masyadong mukhang komportable ang itsura nito para ma-kidnap. Hindi rin nakatali ang mga paa o kamay nito. And his eyes were sparkling as if he was having the best time of his life seeing her that way. Still, Isabella had to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“How come you are here, too?” tanong niya sa namamaos nang boses.

Amused na tumawa ang lalaki. “So, you really did not know? Your family did not tell you anything?”

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. “What are you talking about? At bakit mo isinasali ang pamilya ko sa usapan na ‘to?”

Lumapit sa kanya si Marcus at basta na lang hinatak ang karayom sa kanyang palapulsuhan. The blood gushed out. Gusto niyang humiyaw sa sakit pero wala na siyang sapat na lakas para gawin pa iyon. Why… why did she have to suffer like this?

“This, my dear Isabella, is what I am talking about,” sinabi ni Marcus bago dinilaan ang dugo sa kanyang palapulsuhan. She broke out in cold sweat when she witnessed how his eyes had changed. Mula sa pagiging asul ay naging kulay dilaw ang mga iyon. Nagkaroon din ito ng mga pangil. Ang mga kuko nito ay humaba at naging mas matulis kaya lalong sumakit ang bahagi ng katawan niyang hawak nito.

Marcus just transformed right in front of her. Kung hindi lang dahil sa mukha at boses nito, pagdududahan niya kung totoong si Marcus nga ang nasa harap niya.

“I-I don’t understand. A-anong nangyayari sa ‘yo-“bago niya pa man matapos ang mga sasabihin, bigla na lang siyang kinagat ni Marcus sa palapulsuhan. She could feel his fangs sinking deeper and deeper in her skin. Sa sobrang sakit, bago niya pa man mamalayan ay bigla na lang pumatak ang kanyang mga luha. Marcus even closed his eyes as if he was savoring the taste of her blood on his mouth.

Nagsimula nang manlabo ang paningin ni Isabella dala nang tumitinding pagkahilo nang sa wakas ay pakawalan ni Marcus ang kanyang palapulsuhan. He licked the blood off his lips before he lifted her chin with his hand. “Lucky for you. You’ve been protected all your life that you knew nothing about the real world. Pero magbabago na ang lahat ng iyon mula ngayong gabi. Welcome to the real world, Isabella, the world where the Night Creatures rule.”

“N-Night Creatures? Ano ba’ng pinagsasabi mo? Hindi kita maintindihan!”

Umangat ang isang sulok ng mga labi ni Marcus. She could tell that he was enjoying this based on the nasty glint in his eyes. “You are so damn innocent. Is this the reason why McNiall is into you so much? Don’t tell me you haven’t heard about Vampires once or twice in your life?”

“A-are you s-saying that… y-you are a Vampire?”

“Bingo.”

Tonight’s events were beyond revelation that Isabella would not have believed them if only she did not see and experience them herself. So, Vampires… exist? Minsan niya lang narinig ang tungkol sa mga bampira mula sa kuwento ng kanyang ama noong bata pa siya. Dahil walang alam na fairytale story ang ama, ikinuwento na lang nito ang tungkol sa legend na narinig umano nito noon pang binata ito. Iyon ang nagsilbing bedtime story nito sa kanya. And it was about a Vampire who singlehandedly subdued all the Rogues.

That was the only thing Isabella had heard about the Vampires. Hindi na natapos pa ng kanyang Daddy ang kuwento dahil dumating ang kanyang Mommy at agad na pinahinto ito. But Isabella could still remember the anxiety on her mother’s face that night as if the latter did not want her to hear more about that story. So, that was not a legend at all? Ibig sabihin ba nito ay aware ang kanyang mga magulang tungkol sa existence ng mga bampira?

Pakiramdam ni Isabella ay sasabog ang kanyang ulo sa dami nang mga natuklasan sa loob lang ng isang gabi. Sa sobrang dami ng mga impormasyon, hindi niya alam kung kakayanin ng isip niyang iproseso ang mga iyon nang sabay-sabay.

“I don’t get it. Were you the one behind the ambush earlier? Bakit mo ‘to ginawa? Ano’ng kailangan mo sa ‘kin? And what about my husband? Saan mo siya dinala? Is he safe?”

How she wanted to hate herself for still worrying about Luke even in that situation.

Nagkibit-balikat si Marcus. “Don’t worry. If he’s lucky, he will live. I will give you a chance to save your life, human. Pledge your allegiance to me and I will stop this at once. Be my ally and I will show you mercy since my team needs you and your blood. Kakaiba sa lahat ang dugo mo. I’ve never had a blood as fragrant and as tasty as yours. And it has the ability to heal Vampires. We would have found out about you earlier if not for your stupid necklace!” Tumigas ang anyo nito. “Wala sanang namatay sa mga kasamahan ko kung mas maaga ka naming natagpuan.”

That was when Isabella realized that her necklace indeed, was missing. It was a beautiful white gold necklace which had a pear-shaped diamond pendant on it. Binigay iyon sa kanya ni Claude noong nineteenth birthday niya. Mula niyon ay hindi niya na iyon inalis. She had grown fond of the necklace over the years. Besides, for some unknown reason, wearing it made her feel protected and it gave her comfort. Not to mention that Claude had never really asked her for anything except for one. And that was to never remove the necklace no matter what happens.

Pero minsan nang naiwala ni Isabella ang kuwintas. Nangyari iyon mahigit dalawang buwan na ang nakararaan. Na-snatch iyon sa kanya noong nagpunta siya sa isang kilalang mall. Luckily, Luke was able to find it for her. He brought the necklace back. But now, it was missing again.

Naipilig ni Isabella ang kanyang ulo. Habang tumatagal ay lalo siyang nahihilo. But she needed to stay awake. Napakarami niya pang gustong malaman at maintindihan. “What’s my necklace got to do with this? And where is it? Give it back to me!”

Suddenly, fury flashed in Marcus’ eyes. “And why would I? That goddamn thing hides the scent of your blood from the Vampires!” Tumuwid ng tayo ang lalaki. “I will get straight to the point, human. My team needs your help to win against the McNialls. But if you say ‘no’ to me, then I would not mind losing a rare human like you if I wouldn’t be able to use you in the end.”

“Against the McNialls? Are you talking about the same McNialls that I know? But why? They are good people!”

“They have been really keeping you in the dark all this time, huh? After spending so much time with your family and with your precious best friend, you still don’t know anything about who they really are. You still don’t know what they are capable of, especially that f*****g Claude McNiall!” Dumilim ang anyo ni Marcus.

Nanginig ang kanyang mga kalamnan nang bigla na lang siyang sakalin ni Marcus. Gamit ang isang kamay ay nagawa siya nitong iangat sa ere.

“That son of a b***h killed my brother and my friends. And he stole the only woman that I have ever loved only to kill her after he got what he wanted from her!”

“You must be mistaken! Claude would never do that!” pilit na depensa ni Isabella sa kaibigan kahit pa nahihirapan na siyang huminga. She may have misjudged many people in her life just like Luke and Jackson. And Marcus, too, but she was sure about one thing. She was sure about one person. And it was her best friend. Claude had the gentlest heart she had ever known. Ni minsan ay hindi niya pa nakitang nagalit ang kaibigan. Ang gaya nito ay hindi magagawang manakit ng iba, lalo na ang pumatay.

And as for stealing women, Claude would never do that. Women would willingly throw themselves to him. He never needed to steal one. The people around him could testify that. “I-I am sure that this is all just a misunderstanding and-“

“Nakikita mo ba ito?”

Habol ni Isabella ang hininga nang sa wakas ay ibinaba siya ni Marcus. Pero ang kamay nito ay nanatili sa kanyang leeg. Itinaas nito ang suot na damit at ipinakita ang dibdib. Napasinghap siya nang makita ang malaki at mahabang pilat nito mula sa kaliwang balikat pababa sa pusod.

“This scar is because of your best friend!” he snarled. He was so furious that she could see the veins pulsing in his neck. “Noong una, hindi rin ako makapaniwalang kaya ni Claude na manakit ng sarili niyang mga kalahi. But I saw it with my own two eyes. He gave me a firsthand experience of his sword. I almost died four years ago when that asshole suddenly attacked us in our mansion. I would have died if only my friend did not sacrifice his life to help me escape. Believe it or not but between the two of us, Claude is the real devil. He had mercilessly killed countless of Vampires. And guess what? They were all non-Rogues!"