CHAPTER 6: THE WOLF

The Mortal Realm

Freewoods City, Reardon's Residence 

A surge of pain on my left arm snatched me out of my sleep. I reached for it but I felt a gauze on it, I jolted up right. Mabilis akong napaupo mula sa aking pagkakahiga at nagmasid sa paligid.

The black and dark grey walls with specks of navy blue stuff made me think I was in a guy's room. The smell inside was masculine and minty, no sign of filth. My gaze turned right and there was a faint sunlight from the slightly open window.

A collection of scenes erupted in my head but I disregarded it. 

"Did I pass out that long?"

Everything is tidy, the black shelf next to the window is full of books. And beside it is a closet. Across the bed was a square-medium-size mirror plastered on the wall.

"My hair looked like a nest of birds." Isinuklay ko ang aking kamay sa mga buhol na hibla ng aking pulang buhok.

Naagaw ng sugatan kong braso ang aking atensyon mula sa salamin. Ang puting benda na nakapulupot dito ay halos lamunin na ng aking pulang dugo. Hindi na nakapagtataka ang mantsa nito sa asul na tela ng kama.

"I must heed to reach for the Nectar," my voice was raspy and the need to taste the velvety liquid burned my tongue even more. 

"But first, I need to confirm it. I must see that guy."

I pushed myself to stand up and my sight was greeted by blurriness and static lines. I shook that off and was about to reach the door on the left when it opened. Our eyes met and his sapphire blue eyes scanned me from my head down to my toes. Nanatiling tikom ang aking labi sa pagkabigla nang dumating siya.

"You're about to leave, aren't 'ya?" 

Nang mapansing wala akong balak sumagot ay pumasok siya sa loob ng silid at nilampasan ako. My gaze never leave his face. I watched how he went to his bed and rolled the tainted sheets and put it aside to clean his bed.

"I won't tell anyone what I saw yesterday," he said in a cold manner. 

"What d-do you m-mean?"

"Was your fall really that bad for you to forget the incident yesterday?" there's mockery in his tone.

My eyes twitched. "Mind your words towards me mortal," I warned.

His face remained still, no flicker of emotion can be seen on his fine features. "That's a nice threat to the guy who saved you."

My brow knotted. "You just put me in that bed and somewhat tried to treat my wound. There's no honour for it."

Hindi niya ako iniligtas–walang makapagpapagaling sa sugat na aking natamo. He did try but failed. Therefore, he has no right to brag about saving me. No mortal can save me even their so-called kindness won't sit well in my memories as it will remain false in my heart.

"You passed out before you got to see them."

"Them?" that caught my attention.

He turned his gaze at me like a dead stone. It was really hard to see, nor even catch a glimpse of emotion from his nicely framed face. But he is something, my instinct knew it.

It was faint like a whisk of an old scent that was nearly forgotten, but it is still there. I get anxious when he is around like a fallen thunder wanting to strike someone. And for me to get that feeling, I need to be threatened or scared.

Why does a mere mortal have this aura?

"I don't want to involve myself with the kinds of you miss. But my conscience wouldn't let me sleep if I left you there alone, almost half dead," he explained.

I was about to argue but he looked at me with those bored eyes of his. As if having a conversation with me and the situation from yesterday is like a dead fantasy-no one cares about.

"If you get back into your senses and want to thank me for what I have done for you, save it."

Maybe... he was right but his arrogance made me want to punch him instead of giving him my gratitude.

"Sivanto," I replied instead.

"What?"

A haughty smile appeared on my lips. "I just called you imbecile."

His face was stern and as seconds passed by it became darker as if there was a storm coming. His eyes devoured the little light in it as if the depths of the ocean tried to surface.

"Get out," he said in a flat voice.

Ang akala ko ay susugurin niya ako dahil sa pagguhit ng galit sa kanyang mga mata. But he just wanted me out of his sight? My pride wouldn't let me leave without a retort.

"Well, I will take my leave then. And I pray to the gods our paths won't meet again. Oh, and I do not regret what I said—sivanto."

Hindi ko inintay ang kanyang pagsagot. Lumabas ako ng kuwarto at ilang hakbang lang ay narating ko ang kanyang salas. Sa kaliwang bahagi ay naroon ang kanyang kusina.

Everything is in the touch of grey, blue and white. Compared to his dark room, the ambience in the living room is lighter despite the limited space. Only a partition wall separated the two areas.

"Jared! Tara na baka ma-late na naman tayo sa school!" a voice from outside boomed loudly.

Hindi nagtagal ay bumukas ang pintuan sa harapan at gulat na napatingin sa akin ang bagong dating na lalaki. Nakasuot ito ng itim na polo at kulay abong pantalon. May nakasukbit na bag sa balikat at pulang lace sa kanyang leeg.

The werewolf.

"Sino ka?"

Pinakalma ko ang aking sarili bago marahang tinungo ang kinaroroonan ng pintuan palabas. Ramdam ko ang pagtulo ng dugo mula sa aking braso ngunit hindi ko iyon ikinakahiya.

Malalampasan ko na sana ang nakaharang na taong lobo ngunit hinawakan niya ako sa balikat. His grip was quite tight and he is lucky my left arm is paralyzed. He will be spared from ice spikes.

"Your scent... is quite familiar."

"Let go of me."

"Ikaw yung babae sa mall. Bakit ka nandito? Si Jared ba ang may gawa ng sugat na—"

"Shut it moron, just let her leave."

"Gago ka talaga Jared—"

I brushed off the guy's hand and walked past him in haste. Their presence is suffocating and it doesn't sit well in my mind that I was injured and was aided by a mortal guy.I shook my head to clear out the clouds in my head.

That guy... decided to bring me to his place knowing whatever he saw is too unreal and unusual for any mortal's eyes. Is he that dumb? 

"Indeed, a mortal's curiosity is quite dangerous for their own good."

×××

Freewoods City, Zana's House

"Lady Zana, where were you yesterday? Hindi ka namin makita ni Apollo."

Napairap ako sa hangin habang inuubos ang huling Nectar. Hindi ko inakalang apat na baso ang aking kakailanganin para maghilom ang aking sugat. Napakamapanganib ng pinsala mula sa mga sagradong sandata. Kung hindi ko iyon inagapan gamit ang Nectar ay maaaring maubusan ako ng dugo.

"Hmm? But Apollo is the Sun god and for the most part, he can see everything and everyone—if he is not busy with his job or with his lovers."

Natawa saglit si Hermes bago lumapit sa akin at naupo rin sa mahabang siya sofa. I didn't expect he would pay me a visit this afternoon as we just hung out not too long ago. The thoughts that their eyes were on me, the moment I entered the Mortal Realm never left my mind.

"Zana, seryoso ako. Kahit si Apollo ay hindi ka makita kahapon."

"You must be joking."

"I present my head to the serpent of the abyss if I am lying."

Napakunot ang aking noo. "Totoo ba talaga?"

Tumango si Hermes at kasabay no'n ay ang bahagyang pagtalbog ng kanyang kulot na buhok dahil mahaba na ito ngayon. Kahit ang pagiging pilyo at mapaglaro ay nawala sa kanyang mukha.

Napalunok ako. "I have no idea. I was just in the park..."

Silence enveloped us like a cold blanket. The sound from the T.V was loud enough to fill the living room. Kahit ako ay hindi makapaniwala kung paano iyon nangyari. Maybe it has something to do with the drows I fought yesterday? But as I could remember, those creatures cannot possess the power to conceal themselves against the gods.

Was it the divine weapon?

"Oh, styx!" 

Napatayo ako sa pagkakaupo nang maalala ang bagay na iyon. Sa aking pagkakatanda ay hindi ko na ito hawak ng ako ay mawalan ng malay!

"What's with the scream?"

"Hermes!" the agitation completely ate up my manners towards a god.

Bumilis ang t***k ng aking puso dahil sa pag usbong ng mga maaaring mangyari dahil sa aking naging kapabayaan. Paano kung may ibang nakakuha ng bagay na iyon o bumalik ito sa kamay ng mga drows? 

"Zana? Snap out of it, nanginginig ka. Ano bang nangyayari?" nag aalalang tanong ni Hermes. 

Gusto kong sabihin ang dahilan ng aking pagkataranta ngunit parang hindi tama. Dahil iyon ay aking kasalanan at responsibilidad. Hindi ko rin nais pang dagdagan ang mga bagay na siyang kanyang inaalala.

I must calm down.

"Hermes, my apologies but I need to go."

His brow knotted and I could still see his worries for me. "Where?"

I bit my lower lip as my heartbeat started to race. "To the park. I dropped something quite important."

Pinakatitigan niya ako bago tumango habang may pag aalala pa rin sa kanyang mga mata. Kailangan kong mahanap ang punyal bago ko ipaalam sa kanya para madala niya ito kay Hephaestus.

"Alright," he replied, conflicted but he vanished before my eyes.

"Sorzencia, Lord Hermes..."

I nervously chewed the inside of my cheek as I recalled everything I could remember yesterday. Before I passed out, the drows were killed. Then, I dropped the dagger... and that guy came to my view before everything went black.

"I hate to think of it this way. But I have to see him again."

Hindi na ako nag aksaya ng oras at mabilis na tumayo. Nagmadali akong lumabas ng bahay at tinungo ang daan papunta sa bahay ng lalaking iyon.

How careless can I be?

I ran my fingers through my hair as my frustration grew wider. Hindi ako mapakali at sa aking palagay ay  pinaglalaruan ako ng tadhana. Ngayon na lang ako nagkaroon ng misyon ngunit parang humahabi pa ito ng iba't ibang problema.

"Kung hindi man hawak ng mortal na iyon ang punyal... saan ko 'yon hahanapin?"

I still remember the way to his house. Hindi ganoon kalaki ang bayan ng Freewoods. Ilang lakad lang palabas ng subdivision ay maaari ng mag isang sakay papunta sa bayan. Sa aking pagkakatanda ay dalawang subdivision ang layo ng tinitirhan niya sa akin. Madaraanan ko muna ang isang maliit na simbahan at isang paaralan.

After a couple of minutes walking my eyes shifted at the big white sign across the road. From its huge black gate to the words engraved on the sign board.

Freewoods University.

"Sino 'yang babaeng 'yan?"

"Feeling maganda 'no?"

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad dahil sa mga narinig ko. My gaze landed at the four girls in front–not far from where I stood. The way their eyes roamed from my head down to my toes, they are judging me already.

Girls of the Mortal Realm are just too weak as they let themselves drown from their insecurity and jealousy.

"Look at that hair."

"Why did she dyed her hair like that? Nakakairita sa mata."

"Siguro half-half 'yan."

Oh, they are really talking about me. 

Hindi ko napigilang mapairap at sinigurado kong makikita nila iyon. Maglalakad na sana ako para umalis nang mahagip ng aking mga mata ang lalaking may nakakainis na ugali sa kabilang kalsada. 

I eyed him as he walked out from the university's gate. His stern face and that well body against his shirt earned a few salivating looks from those girls around him.

"The mortal's desires are too obvious."

Patakbo akong tumawid ng kalsada para siya ay masundan. Deretso lang siyang maglakad na parang walang pakialam sa kanyang paligid. Nagkibitbalikat ako habang tinatahak niya ang daan patungo sa kanyang bahay.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin niya napapansin ang aking presensya kahit nakasunod ako sa kanya mula sa likuran. Ngunit nang malapit na siyang lumiko sa kanto ay bigla na lang may humigit sa akin!

"Bakit mo siya sinusundan?" madiing tanong ng lalaki sa aking likod.

"Who?" itinago ko ang pagkabigla ng magtama ang mga mata namin.

"Bakit mo sinusundan ang kaibigan ko?" ulit niya. 

I arched my head a little. He is a werewolf and their kinds are always with their pack, not unless he didn't belong to any of the packs. It is hard to tell. I still wonder why he decided to blend with the mortals. 

"I am not," I lied as I avoided his stare.

"You can't fool me. You are not a good liar."

There is something in me snapped with the way he delivered his words. I looked at him straight into his face. His light brown eyes met my hazel one. I can clearly see the gold ring around his iris glowed with suspicion.

"If that's the case, then you're not good at judging people."

I heard that werewolves have a very bad temper. I wonder if I taunt his patience, will he turn into his wolf to teach me a lesson? That I shouldn't provoke him?

Werewolves are beings that emit power and respect. They highly valued their rank or position higher than any being walking in this realm. But I still have no idea what kind of wolf he is.

A rogue perhaps?

Habang nakikipagtitigan sa kanya ay bigla na lang siyang napangisi. May sumilay na biloy sa kanyang kaliwang pisngi at sa baba nito ay napansin ko ang isang nunal doon. 

He must be amused by my retort.

"But that doesn't mean you can follow my friend. Ano ka stalker?" pinutol niya ang kaunting distansya sa pagitan namin.

Itinaas ko ang aking kamay. "Hold it. If you step any closer to me, you might see the angels above the moment you dare to."

"Sinasabi mong babae ka?"

Naikuyom ko ang aking kamao dahil sinasayang ng lalaking ito ang aking oras! Kung hindi niya ako inabala, nasundan ko na sana ang mortal na may asul na mga mata.

"It's none of your business."

His eyes flickered with danger. "It is. Anong kailangan mo kay Jared?"

The sudden change in his voice gave me the chills. That was just a simple question but it was laced with sharpness... a threat. His mood is like a switch. He can be frisky but he also has a dangerous side that can be flipped in an instant.

Napahawak ako sa aking sentido. Bakit ba desidido ang lalaking itong may malaman? Hindi ako makapaniwalang nag aaksaya ako ng oras para sa lalaking ito. I can freeze the air he breathes, the circulating blood and water inside of his body. But I restrain myself from doing that even though he is getting on my nerves.

"Are you really this annoying?" I hissed.

"Patch?"

Sabay kaming napalingon sa kanyang likuran at nakita ko roon ang isang babae. May pag aalala sa kanyang mga mata habang nakatingin sa amin.

Nakasuot ang babae ng simpleng pantalon at kayumangging blusa habang may kipkip na libro sa kanyang bisig. May lampas balikat itong buhok at may maamong mukha. Maybe they knew each other the way this werewolf had a shock expression on his face.

Hahakbang na sana ulit ako paalis ngunit naramdaman ko ang kamay ng taong lobo sa aking balikat.

"Ah... okay," ang tanging sabi ng babaeng iyon.

Nagtama ang aming mga mata bago siya tumalikod at umalis. Hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang lungkot sa mukha ng babaeng iyon. Kahit walang palitan ng salita ang nangyari ay tila ba alam na niya ang nais iparating ng lalaking katabi ko. 

Weird girl.

"What was that for? And would you stop touching me?"

This guy really had the audacity to touch me even though he didn't even know me. If my father saw us, even a small touch from the annoying werewolf... he would be punished for it. No one is allowed to hold a Lady if they are in the low class... and he is one of those.

"Ano ka, gold?" inalis niya ang pagkakaakbay sa akin.

"What?" I hissed and glared at him.

He tsked as his mood suddenly shifted. His face was like a crumpled paper as he tried not to look at the girl's direction.

"Ah—gago talaga."

Iyon ang huling salita na galing sa kanya bago niya ako iniwan at tumawid sa kabilang kalsada. Walang lingon na naglakad siya palayo.

"Every being that breathes in here pisses me off! I wish to finish my mission as soon as possible."

Ilang malalim na paghinga ang aking ginawa bago tinungo ang daan sa bahay ng mortal na sinusundan ko kanina. Hindi pa rin mawala ang inis ko dahil sa pagiging sagabal ng werewolf na iyon.

After a few turns, I got to see the familiar white structure of the house I was at early this morning. Napalunok ako habang nakatayo mula sa labas at nakaharap sa itim na gate ng kanyang bahay.

"What face should I make when I ask him about the dagger?"

If staring at the white front door would make a hole in it, I would start praying for it. Even if I could just barge inside, I am a decent Lady, there is no need for me to do that.

"Oh, bakit bukas ito?"

Hindi ko napansin na bukas ang gate dahil ang aking atensyon ay nasa pinto ng kanyang bahay.

"I guess my luck is still with me."

Mabilis kong tinungo ang kanyang bahay at kumatok ng doon ng tatlong beses. I tried to form a small smile to announce that I do not bring harm or anything bad. Maybe this will do? I must show him a nice smile from a Lady.

"The f**k you doing here?"

I was baffled by what he said. No one has ever cursed me straight into my face but this guy. His face was calm but I could feel his aversion as he saw me.

"Vermoon dei," I dismissed his ill-mannered approach. "Hand me the dagger," I demanded instead. 

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