CHAPTER TWENTY

CAITLIN is anxiously waiting. Hindi na niya mapigilan ang lakas ng tibok ng kanyang puso at ang panlalamig ng kanyang buong katawan habang hinihintay ang pagpasok ng kanyang ama sa loob ng kwarto. Nang makuha ni Basil ang permiso galing sa kanya, lumabas ito ng kwarto para tawagin ito. Sinasabi niya sa sarili na handa siyang makinig sa kung anuman ang sasabihin nito, ngunit hindi pala. Natatakot siya sa kung anumang maririnig na dahilan mula dito. Hindi niya alam kung paano aakto sa harap nito. And the last time they met, she was rude despite his obvious concern for her. However, the craziest emotion she's feeling right now wasn't one of those she first stated. It's because she misses him so much, and Selene couldn't accept that fact. And despite her denial, she wanted to hug him tight and never let go.

Caitlin groaned out loud. She's not even thinking right, anymore. Her emotions are blindsiding her that she felt stupid. It's definitely not okay! In an attempt to clear her mind and stomped on her nerves, Selene counted inside her head while doing her usual breathing exercise. Ngnuit agad namang naputol iyon ng bigla siyang makarinig ng marahang katok sa pinto, sumunod naman ang tunog ng pagbukas niyon. Sa sandaling muli niyang nasilayan ang pamilyar na pigura ng kanyang ama, hindi na napigilan ni Caitlin ang sunod sunod na pagtulo ng kanyang mga luha.

In between tears, Caitlin saw his father standing from across the room and in a blink of an eye; he is already standing beside her bed. Marahang umupo ito sa gilid ng kanyang kama at dahan-dahang pinahid ang luha na nagsisi-unahang bumaba sa kanyang pisngi. He is looking at her so affectionately that Caitlin couldn't help but have another bout of crying.

"Are you hurt somewhere? Show it to me," saad ng pamilyar na tinig ng ama. His voice is low but rough with a tinge of sadness in it. Caitlin doesn't understand herself. It's his usual cold voice but she felt unusually warm. Bago pa man niya mapigilan ang sarili, natagpuan niya ang sarili na niyayakap ito ng mahigpit. Tinumbasan naman nito iyon ng mas mahigpit pang yakap.

"Everything hurts, especially my heart" Caitlin murmurs while her face is slightly buried on his chest. Sa sinabi niyang iyon, marahan na hinaplos ng ama ang kanyang buhok.

She let out a shaky laugh. "Don't be mistaken. Hindi ko ito ginagawa dahil napatawad na kita. I'm just recharging. You still owe me tons of explanations,"

Naramdaman ni Caitlin ang marahang pagtango ng ulo nito. Feeling satisfied with his answer, she tightened her embrace on him until she calmed down. Hindi na namalayan ni Caitlin ang kung gaano sila katagal sa ganoong posisyon, ngunit dahan-dahang siyang kumawala mula sa pagkakayakap nito ng kahit papaano ay kumalma na ang nagra-riot niyang damdamin.

Diresto niyang tinitigan sa mga mata ang ama bago muling nagsalita. "You can start explaining now," seryosong saad niya dito,

Vladimir nodded while clutching her hand nervously. Bakas sa mga mata nito ang hirap na nararamdaman. For the first time throught those years, this is the only time she'd seen him vulnerable.

"I am not your real father. You're mother and I we—we're never married. While you were still in her womb, we decided to enter a contract,"

Vladimir swallows the lump that suddenly formed in his throat before continuing. "The contract states that I can stay with you until you grow up into an adult and in exchange I will protect both of you from danger. I just didn't realize that I have to leave so early, if I have known—" biglang natigilan si Vladimir sa naging takbo ng kanyang isipin.

Vladimir curses inside his head. He almost told her that he would have taken her away from her mother, damn it! He slowly let out a trembling breath.

"Anyway, Millicent agreed. Iyon ay dahil habang nasa sinapupunan ka pa lamang niya, maraming kakaibang pangyayari ang paulit-ulit na nangyayari sa kanya. Noong una hindi niya alam kung epekto lamang ba iyon ng pagbubuntis niya o dahil sa stress but you see it's normal. It's because you were in her womb,"

Caitlin looks at him with a troubled expression on her face. "What sort of things happened?"

"Millicent told me that it felt like she's being constantly followed by someone wherever she goes. Makailang ulit na din siyang lumilipat ng bahay dahil sa tuwing umuuwi siya galing sa trabaho, nadadatnan niya ang loob niyon na animo'y may nanloob. Of course, nothing was missing that's why the police didn't go through with the investigation. Other things also happened like she felt she's being attacked in her sleep and she's seeing living beings that are not quite human. It was only until I saved her from being attacked by a rogue vampire that we met for the first time,"

Marahas na napahugot ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga si Caitlin. "And then, both of you just decided to go through a fake relationship. How did you even find my mother? Don't even tell me it's just a coincidence,"

Vladimir suddenly felt embarrassed. If he can blush like a normal human, Caitlin would have figured him out. "You're right. It was not a coincidence. With Basil's help and by….by following your scent I was able to track you,"

Caitlin stares at him, utterly dumbfounded. "You followed my scent?" hindi makapaniwalang ulit nito sa sinabi niya.

Vladimir nodded. "Well, you are the food for us monsters. Of course, you will emit a strong intoxicating scent that any monsters would kill to have you. I mean, until I hired a witch to put a seal on your body to mask your presence until the opening day. That is also the reason why unusual things keep happening around Millicent,"

"At naniwala agad si Mama sayo?"

"A short while after she learned that she is pregnant, Millicent told me that she has been warned by a strange old woman not to go through with the pregnancy. That while it's still early, she should get rid of the baby,"

"Pero hindi sumunod si Mama sa payo sa kanya, that's why I'm still alive. Did my mom tell you why that woman said that?"

Umiling si Vladimir at mariing pinagdikit ang mga labi, "I think you should you ask your mother. I'm not in the position to tell you that."

Napapagod na napasandal si Caitlin sa headboard ng kama. "Am I even allowed to go home, right now? Dahil sa sinabi mo at ni Basil, going home will only put my family at risk. What you said about the opening day, is that related to my birthday?"

Marahang tumango si Vladimir, "Yes, the seal can only protect you until your eighteenth birthday. Once you leave this place, there's no telling what kind of monsters will come after you. They will immediately recognize your scent, and they will come after you,"

Matiim na tinitigan ni Caitlin sa mga mata ang ama. "Is that also the reason why you came back after pretending to be dead for so many years? If you're not my real father, then why are you doing this? What do I even call you?"

A pain flashes in his eyes and Selene watches as his Adam's apple bobs repeatedly. Hinawakan nito ang kanyang mga kamay at marahang pinisil iyon, "I know that I've been selfish with my decisions but never once did I regret it. All I wanted is to be with you every moment of your life, and being with you is the only thing that keeps me alive. And I will do it again in a heart beat. Just know that you are always my priority,"

Mayamaya lamang ay naramadaman ni Caitlin ang malambing na paghaplos nito sa kanyang pisngi at awtomatikong lumipat ang kanyang kamay sa ibabaw ng kamay ng ama para hawakan iyon. His hand feels cool and familiar, it's soothing her.

"I may not be your real family but I lo—" naputol ang iba pang sasabihin ni Vladimir ng biglang may kung anong matigas na bagay ang sumira sa salamin ng bintana at lumipad sa iba't-ibang direksiyon ang basag niyon. Then, a familiar face stuck out of the broken window and Vladimir gritted his teeth in anger. Paano nito nalaman kung nasaan sila ng mga sandaling iyon? Agad siyang tumayo at tinakpan si Caitlin gamit ang kanyang katawan.

Nanlalaki naman ang mga matang natulala si Caitlin sa bagong dating na bisita dumaan sa bintana. He looks familiar, but she couldn't remember where he'd seen him. Caitlin cocks her head, while thinking. Though, both seem to know each other especially with how they're glaring at each other. Kulang na lang ay tusukin nila ang mata ng bawat isa.

"And this is the perfect time to interrupt your retching speech. I never peg you to be so… charming," mapanuyang saad ni Cain habang tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng kwarto. Walang takot na humakbang ito papalapit kay Vladimir hanggang sa maikli na lamang ang pagitan nila sa isa't-isa.

Cain's words may sound playful but his amber-coloured eyes is nothing but. He looks at him in fury, barely restraining himself. "Cain, anong ginagawa mo dito?" pilit pinapakalma ang boses na tanong ni Vladimir.

Lalong nanlisik ang mata ni Cain dahil sa tanong niya. "Why do you think so, Vladimir? I just let you go to save her but I didn't say you can have her all to yourself. It's my turn now,"

"Cain!" nagngagalit na singhal ni Vladimir dito.

Marahas na hinablot ni Cain ang kwelyo ng kanyang damit at walang pag-aalinlangan na hinila siya nito palapit sa kanya. Cain really has no fear, even with someone older and more powerful than him. Maybe, that's one of the reasons why Keirran doesn't like him. He's utterly brazen! Nagbabaga ang mata na tumitig ito sa kanya.

"Vladimir! I will never let her go," mariing saad nito bago siya nito tuluyang binitawan at binaling ang atensiyon kay Caitlin.

Nang madinig ni Vladimir ang mahinang pag-singhap ni Caitlin, lumipad ang kanyang atensiyon dito na kasalukuyang hawak-hawak ang leeg nito habang hindi mapalis ang tingin kay Cain. As if she recognizes him. Cain looks at her adoringly.

"You're the one who bit me, from the party last time!" nanginginig na bulalas ng dalaga. Nagtangis naman ang bagang ni Vladimir dahil sa narinig. Romulus didn't report something like that to him!

Cain chuckles in delight and his eyes sparkle in hunger as he looks at Caitliin. "I'm ecstatic to hear that you remember me,"

Lumapit ito sa dalaga at dahan-dahang hinalikan ang ilang hibla ng buhok nito na nabihag ng kanyang palad. "If only Basil didn't take you away that night I would have ravished not just your lips but also your body."

Naeeskandalong inilayo ni Caitlin ang sarili mula kay Cain at awtomatikong napakapit siya sa damit ni Vladimir.

"Don't try to run away, you're hurting my feelings. You were writhing against my body when I kiss—"Cain chokes out a strangled laugh ng marahas na hinawakan ni Vladimir ito sa leeg, at madiin niyang pinisil iyon. Sa kabila niyon ay nagawa pa nitong tumawa sa kanyang harapan.

"Why are you ge-tting ang-ry? Did I be--at you into it?"

That did it. Vladimir just busts a fuse. His blood roared in anger and his fangs automatically slid down after hearing what Cain said. This vile creature shamelessly touched Caitlin's skin! The feeling of possessiveness that he's been trying hard to to hide has burst forth without warning. Caitlin only belongs to him!

Malakas at marahas na sinipa niya si Cain palabas sa basag na bintana na pinanggalingan nito. Nang ibinalik niya ang atensiyon sa dalaga, kitang-kita ang takot na bumahid sa mukha nito. He must have truly looked like a monster in her eyes, right now. However, his wrath will not be bated until he beat the shit out of Cain!

"Stay here. I will teach that bird-brain a lesson he will never forget,"

Sa isang iglap, animo'y kidlat na nawala sa kanyang harapan si Vladimir at naiwang tulala si Selene sa loob ng kwarto hanggang sa basagin ni Basil ang katahimikan. He was casually leaning in the door like just nothing happened.

Animo'y nabasa nito ang nasa isip niya. "You should get used to it. That will be a normal occurrence once everyone learned about you. They will fight to the death just to have you,"

Nanginginig ang katawan na napayakap si Caitlin sa sarili. There's no way she should get used to it! Hindi niya kailanman pinangarap na pag-agawan ng mga halimaw na ang totoong intensiyon ay kung hindi kainin siya ay gawin siyang palahiang baboy! There's no way she will do nothing and accept this damn fate!