Masked Glamour

Chapter Thirteen

Ferula

I watched Mrs. Laurette put the bowl of hot soup in front of me. The combination of all the ingredients made delicious smell which immediately caused my hungry stomach to grumbled. I bit the inside of my cheeks and felt the heat in both of my cheeks.

I'm so hungry.

I don’t remember when was the last time I put something inside my stomach. Mrs. Laurette handed me the spoon and encourage me to strart eating the food she prepared. I silently ate the food while she fix something on the sink. Again, for the nth time I was here at the beast's cave.

I wonder if fate really hates me for making me suffer these things while all I ever want is to live my life as simple and peacedul as it can be. But how can I have that kind of life when it alwasys gave me no other choice but to end up to the things I kept on avoiding.

Mas lalo pang gumulo dahil ngayon ay sigurado na akong utosbnga mismo ng higher rank, ang ipadakip ang mga katulad naming may kakayahan sa mahika.

Ibinalik ko ng atensyon sa pagkain sa aking harapan. Halos mangalahati na iyon at hindi ko man lang napasin. Nag-angat ako ng tingin ng maupo si Mrs. Laurette sa aking harapan. Mayroong ngiti sa kanyang mga labi habang nakatingin sa akin.

“Kamusta ang pakiramdam mo? Dalawang araw kang hindi nagising,” aniya sa malumanay niyang tinig.

Hindi ko inasahan na ganoon pala ako katagal bago muling nagkamalay. Ibinba ko ng hawak na kutsara saka nilunok muna lahat ng nasa aking bibig bago nagsalita.

“M-Maayos naman na po ang pakiramdam ko. Maraming salamat sa tulong niyo.”

I couldn’t help my gratitude towards them for always saving me. I couldn’t imagine where I would end up again if ever I did not stumble on Mr. Krion when I escaped the higher rank's dungeon.

Kung hindi ako nakita ni Mr. Krion ay marahil nasa gubat pa rin ako ngayon at ang mga mababangis na hayop naman sa ang aking nakaharap. Tiyak ko na wala na akong magiging laban sa mga iyon dahil naubos ko na lahat ng lakas para lang makatakas.

“Kumain ka lang. Tiyak ko na gutom ka.” Ngumiti siya. “Para na rin bumalik na ang dati mong lakas.”

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Laurette,” I answered which she returned me back with a warm smike.

I couldn’t help my heart but swell in so much happiness that I was able to meet someone like them. They were so kind even though they aren’t known me so much.

I looked up when the back door swung open. Holding a basket of fruits and vegetbles, Mr. Kryion walked in.

“Good morning, ladies!” ani Mr. Krion.

Katulad ng mga araw na nagpupunta siya sa shop ay sobrang aliwalas ng kanyang mukha. He looks older than his wife but he was able to maintain his good physical apperance same goes with Mrs. Laurette who looks a bit younger than her real age.

While eating breakfast, they asked me what had happened before I came crossed with Mr. Krion. So I told them that I was caught by the higher rank’s soldier and was put to dungeon.

“The higher rank are clearly abusing their power and position.”

Bitterness coated Mrs. Laurette's voive as I finished my story. I highly agreed with her, though. Just thinking what happened in the dungeon, I even thought they want to get rid our kind. Why would they took us and kept on the dungeon? Why are they hurting those witches? Why are they taking everyone? Even the innocent children? Where in fact they can do searching even without taking every witch in the town.

Their actions doesn’t just justify their goal to capture the witch who casted a curse in one of the higher rank.

And why would that witch curse them in the first place? Probably because they caused harm to her too. We, witches doesn't just use our magics without a concrete reason. Not unless it's a witch who uses black magic.

Pero kahit na ganoon man, hindi pa rin iyon sapat na dahilan para gawin nila ang ganitong hakbang.

Mrs. Laurette lend me a dress and let me use the bathroom. I use that opportunity to washed all the dirt in my body. I saw some scratches on my arms and feet while I took a bath.

I could cast spell to heal my wounds but being a half witch and a half human, my strength doesn’t match to those who are purely witch blooded. I am still a human after all.

I leaned on the edge of tub and played with the bubbles. The warm water soothed my tired nerves almost giving me a sleepy feeling. I roamed my eyes around the bathroom. The cave's wall was white in color and has rough and uneven surface. There was hanging lighted chandelier and its light reflected on the entire room giving the place a whole brightness.

May mga larawan din na nakadikit sa pader. Sa kanang bahagi ko ay ang gawa sa makinis at makintab na kahoy na kabinet. Sa ibabaw niyon ay nakapatong ang ibat-ibang gamit sa paliligo. Sa itaas naman niyon ay ang may kalakihang bilog na salamin at napalilibutan ng kulay ginto na manipis na kahoy.

Inabot ko ang tuwalya na nakapatong sa mesa sa aking kaliwa saka tumayo at ipinulupot sa aking basang katawan. Ang isa naman ay sa buhok ko inilagay. Matapos tuyuin ang katawan ay isinuot ko na iyong damit na ipinahiram ni Mrs. Laurette.

Kulay asul iyon na abot tuhod na bestida. Maayos kong isinampay ang ginamit kong tuwalya. Hindi ko na pinakialaman ang suklay na naroon at ang kamay nalang ang aking ginamit sa aking buhok.

Lumabas na agad ako ng banyo pagkatapos saka tinungo ang kinalalagyan ng dala-dala kong bag. I opened it and took the bottle which Mrs. Grace gave to me. I whisk the liquid in my body again to hide my witch scent if ever I'll 3ncounter some of the higher rank's soldiers on my way home.

I'll make sure not to forget making my own when I returned home. Sukbit ang aking bag ay lumabas na ako ng silid saka tinungo ang kusina. Kaagad nabaling ang tingin sa akin nila Mr. Krion. Agad lumitaw ang mga guhit sa kanilang mga noo pagkakita sa akin.

“Bakit dala mo iyang bag mo?” tanong ni Mr. Krion habang tinutulungan sa paghihimay ng mga dala niyang dahong gulay ang asawa. Kapwa sila natigil sa ginagawa at pinagmasdan akong naglakad palapit sa kanila.

My lips formed into a half smile as I stood beside them. “I think I can go home now.”

Mrs. Laurette eventually drop what she’s holding and walked towards me. Hinawakan niya ang aking braso saka marahang pinisil.

“Alam kong nabanggit ko sayo noon na huwag ka na sanang tatapak pa sa lugar na ito. Pero sa sitwasyon mo ngayon, mas makabubuting manatili ka na lamang dito.”

“Pero—”

“Right now, this is the safest place you can have,” she said.

My chest swelled in hapiness. The corners of my eyes watered as I tried to smiled.

“T-Thank you so much.”

I actually don’t know what to do and where to go. Ayaw ko rin naman magpunta kina Mystia dahil nag-aalala ako na baga madamay pa sila at ang pamilya niya sa gulo na ito.

The couple generously offered to get some of my belongings at home. Before the sun completely hide in the horizon, my things was brought to me.

Uncousiously, I bit my left hand’s forefinger as I flipped the pages of my mother’s book of spell. I was looking for the spell which would completely hide my witch’s scent.

My eyes slightly widen as I finally found it. After uttering the spell, I closed the book and returned it inside the box again. Kinuha ko ang lalagyan saka inilagay sa ilalim ng aking higaan. Pinatay ko na ang ilaw sa tabi ng aking kama para makatulog na.

I slipped on my warm blanket and closed my eyes. I filled my mind with positive thoughts as I tried to driff off to sleep. Hopefully, everything will fall back to normal again.