The Devil's Trap

Chapter 10: A Dance with a Devil

Chapter 10: A Dance with a Devil

Pinagmasdan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin. This is bad. This is so bad. I've never been this presentable my whole life. I've never been in a dress like this. There are only two kinds of garment I usually wear beside the basics; it's either jeans or a shirt. Not this— this silky piece of cloth.

"Did Landon already bed you?" Napanganga ako sa tanong ni Yllona habang pinagmamasdan niya ako sa salamin. "Cause you don't look like those girls he usually associated himself with."

"No!" I exclaimed. "Why would he do that?" Subukan niya lang. Matatapos ang lahat ng ito kapag ginawa niya yon.

"Cause he owns you?" she said in a 'duh' tone.

"It's a blood contract. Not a physical contract." I pointed out. "May mga rules kaming napag usapan."

"Like what?" Inayos niya ang strands ng buhok ko na naka-braids paikot sa ulo ko. To give me a feminine look to moderate the sexy outfit, she said.

"Three months. We only have three months. Kapag natapos na yon, palalayain na niya ako." And Elyse would be the next. My stomach made a deep caving motion as if severely guilty.

"And we will never have anything other than the process of blood contract." I pointed out.

Hindi siya mukhang naniniwala sa akin. "Then why are you here? This is not part of the contract."

Hindi agad ako nakasagot. "Hinila niya nalang ako at dinala dito." sinabi ko. "It's not like I have a choice."

"And that would be the same." she muttered. "Humans are losers when it comes to Landon's manipulative game. You'll eventually give in." Halos mapanganga ako sa sinabi niya.

Bakit ba para sa kanila napaka normal ng lahat? They are too open minded, it's not even funny. Maya maya pa, umalis na ako mula sa harapan ng salamin. Subalit natigilan ako nang muling magtanong si Yllona.

"How many times a week? The blood contract itself?"

"Is there a certain interval?"

Napataas ang kilay niya sa sinabi ko. "Of course. He's not going to do it every day. Manghihina ka."

"Oh." tanging nasabi ko.

Napatango si Yllona. "It seems like he's still going easy on you. Consider yourself lucky." she commented before opening the door for the both of us.

Consider myself lucky? I asked sardonically to myself. Is this the uttermost luck I can have? I'm in a household full of vampire. I don't even know if I will make it out alive. Should I feel privileged?

Napahawak ako sa kwintas na binigay sa akin ni Yllona kanina bago umalis si Landon sa kwarto. It was a long thin silver chain necklace with a huge red and blue crystal pendant. Sinabi niya na pang iwas yon sa mga hexes na pwedeng nagkalat sa paligid since every party has its own surprises.

"Don't worry, Denise. Mababait naman ang iba sa kanila." she assured me nang pababa na kami sa hagdan. Iba sa kanila? At least I know I have her, and Landon, and maybe her twin, River— that would be less three people to kill me in this eerie place.

Bumalik kami sa paglalakad sa dimly lit na loob ng mansion. They are already here. Ang tinutukoy niya ay ang kanyang mga magulang, ang magulang ni Landon, at ang Aunty at Uncle niya, who, according to her, are the hosts of the event.

Tumapat kami sa makapal na tela na naghihiwalay sa amin at sa labas. Ngayon ko napagtanto na isa yong theater style curtain na nakalagay sa glass door papunta sa maluwang na patio sa likod. Vampires, they love drama.