✔ How To Tame A Succubus

Epilogue

The empty space buzzed with a familiar energy.

The beat of a heart matched the rhythm of a tribal drum, awaiting travelers in the distance. In tune with the music of heavy breathing and the noise of silent promises.

The atmosphere felt lighter than anything she had ever encountered before.

Hindi niya maalala kung ano ang ginagawa niya bago siya higupin ng kawalan, bago siya hilahin ng kung anunang lubid na nagbibigkis sa kanya sa kung sinuman. Hindi niya magawang mainis, lalo't ilang buwan na rin ang nakakalipas mula noong naramdaman niya ang sensasyong ito. At sa ilang buwan na iyon, aaminin niyang walang interesanteng nangyari.

Ilang sandali pa, nagmulat mga mata si Vela.

She was standing inside a familiar summoning circle that is inside an unfamiliar room.

'Am I gonna be a side character to someone's story again? Oh, please,' she thought and fixed her hair. "Sana man lang nag-heads up ka sa'kin bago mo ako tinawag. Hindi pa ako nakaayos nito!"

Kung sinumang hudas ang nang-iistorbo sa pagmu-move on niya, Vela doubts she can forgive---

"Forgive me, lambkin. But you never left me a phone number to call or an address to send love letters to. How else can I reach you?"

She turned around, hearing his voice. His deep and baritone voice that is excellent in chanting spells and chanting her name in bed. Hindi makapaniwala si Vela nang masilayan niyang muli ang mukha ng wizard in training na ito.

Merlin laughed and crossed the summoning circle, not minding the mess.

"I'm not a wizard in training," he corrected. "I'm a wizard now. I graduated a month ago."

Napangiti si Vela. "Reading my mind again? You should really stop that. At ano naman ang maiseserbisyo ko sa isang wizard na kagaya mo?" Gusto na lang magwala ni Vela nang mapansin ang suot ni Merlin. He was wearing a white button-down shirt with half of it doing a bad job at covering his toned torso.

Napalunok ang succubus at pinilit ibaling sa ibang bagay ang atensyon niya. What in the name of the seven sins?! Bakit ba siya kinakabahan? This is so unprofessional of her as the top succubus in Tartarus! Scratch that, in all of Eastwood!

But as her eyes roamed the room, she noticed a framed picture of Merlin and another familiar face. One that Vela doubts she'll ever see again.

Merlin noticed this, a pang of guilt and pain still present in his eyes.

"We took that picture during freshman year. Biro dati ni Johannes na dapat magpa-picture ulit kami pagka-graduate namin at itabi riyan. I decided to just leave an empty space," his smiled sadly. "There's always a space reserved for him... and for you, Vela."

Ibinalik ni Vela ang tingin niya kay Merlin.

Hindi na niya namalayang iilang pulgada na lang ang layo nila sa isa't isa. Her breath hitched as Vela felt how warm he is, how good he smelled, and how his eyes focused only on hers. Only on hers. As if she was a main character in her own story.

"What about the grimoire?"

"Master Zephir locked it away in the deepest level of Nightspell."

'Woah. Glad that's taken care of,' she mused. 'Salamat, Master.'

"I thought you were immune to my charms?"

"I was never immune, just had a different priority back then."

"But your scholarship abroad? Hindi ba ikaw si Mr. Iskolar ng Mahika---!"

Vela couldn't finish her sentence when Merlin decided to keep her mouth busy with something else. His lips will be the end of her. Tuluyan nang gumuho ang anumang pag-aalinlangan ni Vela nang pumulupot sa kanyang baywang mga braso ng wizard, pressing her body against his as they stood at the border of the summoning circle. Wizard and succubus titles long forgotten.

Merlin pulled away and rested his forehead against hers, softly touching her cheek.

"Never do that again, lambkin."

"Do what?"

"Leave me. Never do that again, please?"

Vela had never been touched like this, with such tenderness and love... as if he worshipped her like a goddess and not a demoness. She never thought such affection and adoration existed in Eastwood, until Merlin.

For the very first time since her existence...

Vela felt loved.

"I'm sorry for leaving you on our first night back then," Merlin blushed even though he had a serious expression. It was cute. "I wanted you to know that everything about that night was genuine. It wasn't just to give you energy or to protect the grimoire, Vela. Ayoko lang na madamay ka pa sa magulong buhay ko noon."

And that's what she longed to hear from him. Hindi na niya napigilang ngumiti. "Forgiven. Hmm, but you didn't answer me, wizard. How can I be of service to you now?"

The wizard acted like he was deep in thought, "Well, I want another contract with you. One that never ends. No expiration."

"Really?"

He shrugged. "I declined that scholarship. Ayokong malayo sa Eastwood. In fact, magsisimula pa lang ang buhay ko bilang newly assigned professor sa Summoning Spells Course ng Nightspell, and I believe your expertise is much needed. No, screw that..." Merlin's eyes communicated everything. "I need you, Vela."

"Are you seducing me, Merlin?"

She cried and smiled through every tear rolling down her cheek.

"So is it a deal?" Merlin nervously tried to enchant her. "I... I already prepared dinner in the kitchen, this house we'll live in, a ring, and the bed if umm..." napakamot siya ng ulo. Nang hindi sumagot si Vela, he hurriedly casted a spell so that rose petals and floating candles decorated the room. "Sorry, lambkin. I'm not good at this seduction thing. Maybe you can," he smiled. "Teach me? Or tame me? Whichever you prefer."

Nakakapanibago, at nakakatuwang makitang ganito si Merlin. It warmed her heart to no end, knowing how much of a boy scout he is.

"A demon taming a wizard? That's new."

Vela laughed and pulled him closer, her eyes alone answered the question.

Never the less, she replied...

"It's a deal."

THE END.