Blood Menace

36- Comfortable

"I still can't believe you're alive. We used to cast spells in your mausoleum thinking we could get some extra strength. You know, ancestral power and all," ani Max habang nakaupo sa gray na couch habang nasa harapan naman ang tatlong founding fathers ng Hellville.

Ciro was grinning. Draven was frowning. Gregory was looking outside the window.

Minsan naiisip ni Cole na may problema itong si Gregory. Hindi ito masyadong nagsasalita pero hindi naman nakakatakot like his dad, Titus. Gregory was just there, existing, pero ang isip ay hindi nila kasama.

"It's not like we were on vacation," seryosong sabi ni Draven. Namamangha pa rin talaga si Cole every time magsalita itong si Draven. Wala talagang namana ang Tito Matteo n'ya at si Malik. Mas kaugali nito ang Daddy n'ya.

"Of course not!" agad na sagot ni Max na itinaas ang dalawang palad na parang sumurender.

Lumapit kay Cole si Thaïs sa kusina kung saan kita nila ang living room.

"You want some?" he offered a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Nasa counter pa ang tinapay at jars.

"Nah," sagot ng pinsan n'ya saka nito binuksan ang fridge sabay kuha ng isang blood bag. She inserted a straw and sipped like it was apple juice.

"Kailangan nating i-rewrite ang history books natin sa Hellville. May balak ba kayong bumalik doon?" tanong naman ni Rianah na nakatayo malapit sa bintana.

Hindi sumama sina Faizah at Lorenzo this time. Nanatili ang mga ito sa city ng Obis dahil kailangang may magma-manage ng Hellville Academy. Kailangang protektahan ang mga estudyante. Isa pa, Kray was putting the whole city under lockdown.

"Kanina pa nakatitig sa'yo ang girlfriend mo oh," mahinang bulong ni Thaïs at pasimpleng sinulyapan ni Cole si Kimber na nakaupo sa tabi ni Max sa couch.

"Stop," aniya sa pinsan.

Cole greeted Kimber a while ago and she rolled her eyes at him. Mukhang galit pa rin ito sa kanya since their encounter in the hotel n'ong pagkarating n'ya rito.

"Nag-update ba sina Tita Faizah?" he asked Thaïs intead, and his devil of a cousin grinned mischievously.

"Walang pwedeng lumabas ng mga bahay nila. Kray's private army will shoot them without question if they go out," buti na lang sumagot ito nang maayos.

"We will go back to Hellville, for sure. To visit," ani Ciro. "Kailangan naming hanapin ang pamilya at mga kaibigan namin from three hundred years ago. Kahit na mga descendants namin ang nakatira roon, we don't know you. No offense meant."

"No, no. None taken," ani Max.

Tumalikod si Cole, at kumagat ng kanyang sandwich. Iniligpit naman ni Thaïs ang mga ginamit niya sa sandwich.

Cole took his phone out and browsed for latest updates on Obis.

"Of course ang parents nanaman ni Kam ang nasisi sa mga nangyayari. According to these news updates, order ng mga Caedis ang lockdown. Reason unknown," aniya.

Thaïs finished her blood bag before using a spell to disintegrate the empty bag. "So, what's your plan to help your girlfriend."

Kumunot ang noo ni Cole. "She's not my girlfriend."

"Really?"

"Really," aniya saka sinamaan ng tingin ang pinsan na humagikhik.

"Seriously, Kuya Cole, ano'ng plano mo?"

"Still working on it. We just can't attack. We are outnumbered."

"Outnumbered but powerful," kumindat pa si Thaïs kaya natawa si Cole sa pinsan.