✔ How To Tame A Succubus

[18] Merlin

Vela was in a sour mood.

Kinailangan ko pa siyang buhatin papalayo sa shop ng Supplier bago pa man niya atakihin ang nilalang o sunugin ang buong gusali. With me being wanted and accused of murdering a wizard professor, attracting the attention of the Tartarus fire department isn't a good move.

'But with how angry Vela is right now, she's more capable of murder than I am!'

I shifted the woman in my arms, she was still kicking and scratching me like a cat. Vela was furious with how the Supplier tricked her, but I admit that I'm also amused with the irony of her silence. Sinisigawan na ako ng succubus, pero walang lumalabas na boses sa bibig niya.

"Lambkin, if I were you, I'd save my energy for later. Wala rin namang saysay kahit magwala ka ngayon. Babalik din ang boses mo after 48 hours."

I always knew she was hot-tempered, so I wasn't really surprised with her (silent) outburst.

Dumako ulit ang mga mata ko sa marka sa pulsuhan ko, a red tattoo-like pentagram engraved on my skin. Nang mapansin ni Vela kung saan ako nakatingin, doon lang siya tumigil sa pagpupumiglas. Her eyes found mine, and for a brief moment they spelled out what she wanted to tell me...

'Is this really the price you're willing to pay for your revenge?'

I kept silent, even without a pill.

Matapos ng negosasyon namin ng Supplier kanina, alam kong nakita niya kung paano ko ibinigay ang braso ko sa nilalang. The Supplier tapped on my skin, piercing enough blood on that particular spot on my wrist until it bled. Until the mark reappeared. Alam kong naobserbahan ni Vela kung paano hinigop ng Supplier ang mga taon sa buhay ko, a year for a pill.

One favor for one.

Two years taken away today.

I usually keep track of how many years I throw away just for the supplies. I usually don't give a shit anymore, payment is payment. But right now, I fear it'll only keep me awake at night.

Especially with the pitied look Vela's giving me.

"Stop it."

An eyebrow raised. 'Stop what?' Her eyes asked me.

"Stop looking at me as if I'm doing something wrong, throwing away my life like this," I said. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nagpapaliwanag sa kanya o kung bakit parang may bumigat sa dibdib ko. Ang alam ko lang ay wala na akong magagawa.

Pinili ko ang landas na ito.

I stared at her eyes, urging her to understand. "Stop looking at me as if I should feel an ounce of guilt for everything I've ever done, lambkin. My life doesn't work that way."

Vela nodded, jaws set, finally avoiding my eyes.

Sa kabila ng katotohanang kanina ko pa siya buhat-buhat habang naglalakad kami sa magugulong kalye ng Tartarus, tila ba lalong bumigat ang mga pasanin ko.

*

A few streets away from the elevator that would take us straight to Eastwood, Vela tugged at my sleeve. Hindi ko namalayan na hindi ko pa rin pala siya binababa, kahit na matagal nang kumalma ang succubus.

After setting Vela back on her feet again, I noticed she was still frowning at me.

"What?"

She shook her head and started walking away, dragging me with her as the chain between us rattled.

Hindi ko alam kung anong oras na sa Tartarus dahil iba ang takbo ng oras at panahon dito. It wasn't as consistent as I first thought it would be. Noong unang punta ko rito, katumbas ng isang oras sa Eastwood ang anim na oras sa Tartarus. The second time, one day in Eastwood equated to three hours here. I don't know if this world is simply playing tricks on me or mocking my upbringing as a student of magic. Hindi nakatulong na hindi rin reliable bumase sa kalangitan dahil palagi namang matamlay ang liwanag dito.

Hanggang ilang ulit pa kaya akong makakabalik sa Supplier bago sumagad ang mga taon ng buhay ko?

May ibabayad pa ba ako sa oras na singilin niya ulit ako?

That thought left a bitter aftertaste.

The pills inside my pocket weighed heavier than I expected.

"Kailangan na nating bumalik, it takes an hour before the pill takes effect. Just enough time to..."

My voice trailed off. Napansin kong hindi na gumagalaw ang kadena sa pagitan namin. Vela stopped walking behind me. When I turned to look at what distracted her, I noticed the succubus was staring at the flowers on display. Abala ang florist (na isang dwende) sa pagkausap sa customers, pero nakatuon ang mga mata ni Vela sa mga bulaklak.

I couldn't read her expression.

Flowers, huh?

I stepped closer, standing beside her.

"I've heard that Tartarus imports flowers from the living. The undead still loves mortal flowers, or so they say... Ngayon ko lang napansing totoo pala."

Vela jolted away, as if being lost in her thoughts a while ago. But I still couldn't shake the fact that in that brief moment she was staring at these flowers, she looked... human. Vela looked vulnerable, like an average mortal girl, longing for a normal life.

'Was Vela once a human? Or by any chance, did she ever wonder what it's like to become one?'

Bago pa man siya tuluyang makapaglakad papalayo, agad kong nilapitan ang dwende at binayaran ang bulaklak na kanina pa tinitingnan ng succubus. Thankfully, I kept a few Tartarian currencies in my pockets for emergency purposes. Nakatitig lang sa'kin ang succubus nang bumaling ako sa kanya at ibinigay ang bulaklak.

When Vela hesitated, I took her hand and gently gave it to her, smoothing her slender fingers to accept it.

The white lily looked delicate in her grasp, between her sharp and red manicured nails.

Our touch lingered for an unnecessary second longer.

Vela remained silent, but her eyes were shooting me with a thousand questions at once.

Nagkibit na lang ako ng balikat, as if buying flowers for a succubus is a normal thing on a wizard's agenda in hell's marketplace.

"You made that flower look ten times prettier. I just did it a favor."

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