Marionette's Slave

PROLOGUE

Prologue: The Bet

"Stop, Meg."

Her voice is echoing in huge room seem full of repeating, reflected sound. She looks at me with storms in her eyes but I don't seem to care at all.

I've come this far, I'm going to win it.

I tap my fingers at the corner of the table and said, "1 Million."

Before the speaker could respond, I hear someone shouted, "2 Million."

Suddenly, the room was filled with booming claps and I was dumbfounded.

She's really up to something.

Inangat ko ang tingin at nagtama ang paningin namin. Mapanukso ang kaniyang mga ngisi.

"5 million for Mr. Miller."

"5"

"4"

"3"

The girl raised a brow at me- nanunukso, mapagmaliit ang kaniyang mga tingin.

"2"

With a pinch of frustration, "6 Million," I muttered.

"10 Million"

I grinned and said, "a hundred million for his head alone."

"Ano ba?!" pigil ang inis na singhal sa akin ng kapatid ko.

Lumakas ang bulung-bulungan. "Or I'll be more generous ladies and gentlemen man," i gave them a smirk, a steel one. "how about a hundred million with Kiara's head," i sarcastically added.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng dilag dahil sa sinabi ko. Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata at bahagyang binasa ko ang pang-ibabang labi. I took the glass of champagne and run my fingers against the edge of the glass, creating a high-pitch noise.

The taste of blood mixed in this champagne is exquisite. It makes me crave for more.

"Who do you think you are tryin' to win another bet with me?" dahan-dahan akong nag-angat ng tingin. "You never won, Kiara. Ilang beses ko bang kailangang ipamukha sa 'yo na kaya mong manalo sa lahat pwera lang sa akin?"

I was surprised when she laughed. "I did." Nang magtama ang pangingin namin ay naroroon ang pangmamaliit at pang-aasar. "Once," she added. She turned around to face him and then gave me her teasing glances. "Remember, Meg?"

That made me even furious. The nerve of this girl to brag about what i loathed the most.

Ayokong ipahalata na gusto ko nang hilahin ang dila niya, sipsipin ang natitirang dugong dumadaloy sa kaniyang katawan at paghiwalayin ang kaniyang ulo mula sa kaniyang katawan. As much as I wanted her dead right now, I stayed calm. I don't wanna show her that her words struck something in my stone-cold-heart. Bagkos ay ngumiti ako at pinukol siya ng tingin. Dama ko nag panginginig nang ibinaba ko ang hawak saka pinunasan ang gilid ng aking labi.

"Oh, did I ring a bell?" Pabiro pa siyang napatakip ng bibig gamit ang mga palad.

Nanginginig ang kalamnan ko at batid kong hindi iyon dahil sa aking iniinom. Kusang humigpit ang pagkuyom ko ng kanang kamao ko bago nagpakawala nang mahinang buntong hininga.

"Y-your eyes, Meg." I can sense fear from my sister's voice. "They are r-red. And the other one is like a-amber."

Mas lumakas ang bulung-bulungan sa paligid, may ibang nagtangkang lumabas ng silid ngunit isang lingon ko lang sa mga nagbabantay ay agad nilang isinara ang mga naglalakihang pinto, dahilan upang bahagyang mag-panic ang mga naririto.