Blood Menace

32- Omelette

Nakakunot lang ang noo ni Cole habang nakatingin sa matandang witch na nakaupo sa magarang couch sa loob ng library ng mga Caedis.

May isang malaki at puting crystal ball na nakapatong sa coffee table at kasalukuyang nakatitig doon ang witch habang may ibinubulong sa hangin.

Scrying was not Cole's thing. He didn't know any witch who used this so, he really didn't have an opinion.

"How long has she been doing this?" mahina niyang tanong sa katabing si Mrs. Caedis.

"One and a half hours," sagot ng babae.

"Hmm..." Too long. If scrying worked in this situation, may nakita na sana ang witch in a matter of minutes.

"Malabo ang buong kontinente. Sa tingin ko ay may witch din ang kidnappers. Their hiding spot is obscured from any scrying instruments," sa wakas ay nagsalita na ang witch. Matandang babae ito, puti ang buhok na mahigpit na nakapusod, itim ang kanyang makapal na eyeliner at lipstick, scarlet red naman ang kanyang velvet robe at mahahabang kuko.

She had a lot of props. The woman's setup looked very theatrical and staged. It looked like it was a show.

Cole was a little suspicious.

He knew that the woman was a real witch. He could smell the blood in her veins.

Bakit patuloy nitong ginagawa ang scrying sa loob ng ilang oras kahit wala naman itong nakikita?

Pumikit uli ang witch at itinaas nito ang dalawang kamay sa ibabaw ng crystal ball. She started chanting under her breath, it was barely audible.

But Cole was not a rookie witch. He knew when a spell was not a spell.

He hissed, his fangs started to grow. Gulat na napasigaw si Kenia Caedis nang sunggaban ni Cole ang witch. She started chanting a real spell, but Cole threw her to the wall.

The witch stayed stuck on the wall, hands and legs wide apart and lips sealed.

"Sentry Bloodworth, what the hell is going on?" ani Kenia na nakahawak pa rin sa dibdib nito.

"She wasn't scrying. She wasn't chanting a spell. She was reciting an omelette recipe," tiim-bagang na sagot ni Cole. His right hand was raised at the witch's direction.

"What? So, nasayang lang ang isa't kalahating oras na hinintay nina Kenia para ma-locate si Kam?" Kray growled.

"She is here to buy the kidnappers some time to set up their hideout," ani Cole. "One and a half hours are enough to block their location."

Napasabunot si Kray sa sariling buhok at pabagsak na naupo sa couch.

Umiyak nanaman si Kenia.

Cole raised his left hand and started casting a spell.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng witch na halos lumabas na ang mga 'yun sa eye sockets.

"W-What are you doing?" ani Kenia.

"I'm removing her ability to cast a spell," sagot ni Cole at naglabasan ang mga ugat sa leeg at noo ng witch. Halos sumabog ang mga 'yun. "This is temporary. Just enough time to get answers."

And the spell was completed. The witch gasped and started casting a spell.

Walang nangyari.

"Ahhh!!!" she screamed in anger. Nakadikit pa rin ito sa dingding at nakadipa.

"Where is Kamdyn Caedis?" ani Cole.

Tumawa ang witch. "A Bloodworth. It's nice to finally meet one," her voice was hoarse. "And a witch! Fascinating. Sana ikaw na lang ang dinukot namin para mapag-aralan ko sa laboratory."

Cole clenched his teeth. "Where is Kamdyn Caedis?" ulit niya.

Akmang tatawa uli ang witch but Cole tightened her throat without even touching her.

She started struggling. She was gasping for air.

"Sentry Bloodworth, you'll kill her before we get useful information," ani Kray kaya itinigil ni Cole ang pagsakal sa matandang witch gamit ang psychokinesis niya.

"Nasaan ang anak ko?" garalgal ang boses na tanong ni Kenia. Napansin pa ni Cole ang panginginig ng mga kamay nito.

He still couldn't believe this was the mother that Kam described as awful. Kenia looked so... fragile.

"Buried six feet under the ocean," the witch growled.

Napansin ni Cole na nakatiim-bagang si Kray habang nakatitig sa witch. Nakakuyom pa ang mga kamao nito.

Akmang magsasalita uli si Kenia pero biglang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang isang babae na siguro ay nasa fifty years na ang edad.

Kumunot ang noo ni Cole. A mortal!

"Varci!" palatak ni Kenia at sinalubong ang babae.

Varci? The personal assistant?

Relief ang nasa mukha ni Kenia. "Tumawag ba ang mga kidnappers? Do you have information?"

Lukot ang mukha ni Varci habang nakatingin sa mga kamay ni Kenia na nakakapit dito.

Ang daming tanong sa utak ni Cole. Ano ba kasi ang nangyayari?

"Wala pong tumawag, Mrs. Caedis. Pero nabili ko na po ang vitamins ninyo," monotone na sabi ni Varci. Tumingin ito sa paligid at saka lang nito napansin si Cole at agad na nagbago ang expression nito na para bang bigla itong naging tuta.

"That's Sentry Bloodworth. She's helping us find Kam."

Tumango si Varci saka binalingan si Mrs. Caedis. "Mukhang pagod po kayo. Gusto n'yo bang magpahinga?"

Bagsak ang mga balikat na tumango ang babae. "Please, find her," sabi nito kay Cole bago lumabas ng library habang inaalalayan ni Varci.

"I need a tape to cover her mouth. And find something to tie her hands with," ani Cole kay Kray at agad naman itong naghanap ng tape sa desk na naroon.

"Got it," anang lalaki at ito na ang nag-tape sa bibig ng witch. Tinanggal din nito ang lubid na tiebacks ng drapes at ginamit iyun upang igapos ang mga kamay ng witch sa likuran nito.

"The Police station is still in chaos. Wala akong mapagdalhan sa kanya," ani Cole.

"I-I can't take her anywhere. I'm a civilian."

Saglit na nag-isip si Cole habang nakatingin sa witch na masama ang tingin sa kanya.

"I'll let my friends have her then. They can get information from her without the need of talking," aniya at gumuhit ang pagtataka sa mukha ni Kray.

"How? Wala ka ngang makuhang information sa kanya kahit may kapangyarihan ka."

"I know a Brigham who can read her mind. He can even dive deeper into her subconscious mind."

Napakunot ang noo ni Kray pero tumango naman. "I didn't know there's a Brigham vampire here."

"Oh, you'll be surprised."

Hindi lang basta-bastang Brigham, but the ancestor of all Brighams with telepathy.

"Alright. I can take you there. We can use my car," ani Kray.

Pero wala sa mood si Cole na magtiwala sa kung sino. He'd seen a lot of suspicious things today.

"I can handle it. Thank you though," aniya saka itinayo na ang witch.

She felt so fragile. Bakit inilaan pa nito sa kasamaan ang natitirang mga araw nito? Cole couldn't find the answer to that question.

Tumango si Kray. "Alright. Ikaw na ang bahala. I'll also send my men to look for Kam."

"Hey, let me give you my number. Call me if you found something," aniya at agad namang ibinigay ni Kray ang phone nito sa kanya.

Cole dialed his number and called his phone. He let it ring three times before hanging up. "Update me," aniya saka ibinalik ang phone ng lalaki.

Tumango si Kray at iniwan na ito ni Cole habang hila-hila ang matandang witch.

***
@immrsbryant