14: White Mask 2

Days quickly passed. Halos mag-kakalahating buwan na rin na pumapasok si Emy sa Grey Academy.

Seriously, school bored her to death. Even in her previous life. Mainly because whatever she was learning from school could be easily gain by her once she read a book.

But she had to attend school because it was a requirement. So she just entertained herself with another aspect of school.

Luckily, Grey Academy was an interesting place. It was very huge and one could easily "get lost" kung hindi ka pamilyar sa mga dapat mong daan.

And lately, madalas "maligaw" si Emy sa kung saan saan sa campus.

Kanina nga ay panglimang beses na niyang napadpad sa isang corridor ng campus kung saan ay dead end na. The weird thing about that corridor, kahit pa nga dead end na siya, may ilang estudyante ang palaging naroroon. Para bang may binabantayan ang mga ito doon.

At dahil panglimang beses na nga niyang naliligaw doon, ipinagdrawing na siya ng mapa kanina ni Bran.

Hindi mapagpasensyosong tao si Bran. Pero dahil maganda naman si Emy at mukha talaga itong maligawin, ipinagdrawing na niya ito ng mapa. Mahirap na kung iba pa ang makakita sa kanya sa corridor na iyon. Lucky for her, they were always the group of people na nagbabantay doon.

Because of that, Emy was able to get out of that corridor. But midway towards the exit, Emy crumpled the map and shifted her way. Well, she wanted to discover more about the academy's secret. Since she found quite a lot of them these past few days, then she might as well discover more of it.

She was walking casually when suddenly, someone grabbed the back of her dress.

"Just what are you trying to do?"

It was the Fifth Prince.

One day, she was also able to encounter this prince somewhere he was not supposed to.

Samantha was quite sure. That place was the same as the one in Marco's story.

He told her once that there was a place in Grey Academy where royal treasures were hidden. Marco was not interested in that at all. But she was. Hidden treasures interested her.

Ang kaso, hindi na niya nagawa pang puntahan ito noon because things got busy. Pero nabanggit sa kanya ni Marco noon kung nasaan ito. And when she tried to go there one day, she saw the Fifth Prince there.

Umayos ng tayo si Emy saka lumayo sa binata upang maalis ang pagkakahawak nito sa damit niya. Agad naman itong bumitaw. Then she faced him.

"What do you mean?" She acted innocently.

The prince sneered at her. "Don't use that act on me. I am not an idiot. You've been going around places you're not supposed to go. Do you want to cause trouble or get in one?"

"I don't know what you are talking about, Your Highness. It just so happens that I am not yet familiar around the campus."

Sebastian rolled his eyes. This lady dared to blatantly lie on his face. She really had guts.

"Just stay away on my way, will you? Don't even think of meddling or ruining my plans or else..." Ibinitin niya ang pagbabanta niya saka nginisian ang dalaga bago umalis na.

Emy just sighed.

Hindi naman talaga niya balak mainvolve sa Fifth Prince na iyon. Nagkataon lang talaga na yung iilang lugar na naiisip niyang puntahan ay pinupuntahan din nito.

Well, since binantaan na siya ng binata, she would surely be smart not to encounter him again.

But fate had other plans towards the two of them. Just that night, who would have thought that they would cross path again?

***

When the deepest of the night came, Emy executed her first move.

Earlier, Lia already completed those things she asked her to provide her.

It was just a perfect timing.

She had already gathered enough information about those members of the Black Council na nagbabantay kung nasaan ang White Mask niya.

The council members just knew kung nasaang corridor ito. But they had no idea how to access it. She was the only one who knew about it. After all, she was the owner of that White Mask.

Wearing the black overall cloth na prinovide para sa kanya ni Lia, she trodded silently to the wall of the backyards that led to the Grey Academy.

***

Kababalik pa lang ni Sebastian mula sa Purple Boutique. Calix and him were a bit busy these days.

He recently found the royal treasures na pinakakatago sa Grey Academy. At dahil sobrang mahahalaga ang mga iyon, he needed to find a way to hide it properly.

He wouldn't even risk inspecting the objects he had stolen. The royalty were still to find out those objects were missing. Palilipasin muna niya ang mga iyon.

He just entered their backyard nang may marinig siyang kaluskos and then a groan. Instantly, he became alert. Then slowly walking kung saan nanggaling ang tunog.

"Who is it?" He asked in stern voice.

He waited for several minutes. It was impossible na isa sa mga tauhan ang may gawa ng ingay na iyon. They were professional assassins and wouldn't be making that kind of noises. Isa pa, nanggaling na siya sa Purple Boutique, doon pa lamang sana ay sinabi na nila ang pakay nila kung saka sakali.

Nang walang sumagot ay inilabas niya ang kanyang blade at saka dahan dahang pinuntahan yung parte ng mga puno puno at halamanan kung saan niya napakinggan ang ingay kanina.

Maingat niyang hinawi ang mga iyon. He was expecting that someone would land in front of him to attack him pero walang nangyaring ganoon. Pabalik na sana siya ng may masipa ang kanyang mga paa kasunod noon ay isang ungol.

He looked down at nakita ang isang nakahigang tao doon. Hindi maaaninag ang taong iyon dahil naka black overall ito. Only its eyes were not covered.

Wala itong malay pero itinutok pa rin niya ang kanyang blade sa leeg nito, just in case. Saka niya dahan dahang inalis ang takip nito sa mukha.

***

Nagulat pa si Serafina ng pumasok sa bahay nila ang kanyang anak na may buhat buhat na tao. Kanina pa niya ito hinihintay. Gaya ng dati, madaling araw na ito nakauwi.

"Ma, help me." Bungad agad sa kanya nito.

Dali dali niyang pinagbuksan ng pinto ng kwarto ang anak. Saka nito inihiga sa kama ang buhat buhat niya.

Sebastian removed the head cover of that person completely at napasighap si Serafina nang makita niya na babae iyon.

Her son started to inspect the lady's body but she immediately stopped him.

"Ako na."

Agad namang gumilid si Sebastian. He looked at his hands and saw blood there.

"Ask Luna to come here and gather the things I need. Ikaw naman ay magpalit na muna ng damit."

Sebastian had a moment of hesitation. Kaya tinaasan niya ito ng kilay.

"I am your mother, Sebastian. Do you doubt me now?"

Umiling lang ang binata bago lumabas na ng kwarto.

Siya naman ay tumitig sa dalagang nakahiga sa kama. She was beautiful with angelic and soft features. But the way she dressed was totally unexpected for Serafina. Just who was this lady who could ellicit a bit of concern out of his son?

Napailing na lang siya saka inumpisahang suriin ang mga sugat ng dalaga.

Maya maya lang din naman ay dumating na si Luna.

***

"How is she?" Tanong agad ni Sebastian kay Serafina ng buksan na niya ang pinto ng kwarto. It took her more than an hour to treat Emy. Ganun ba kalala ang injury nito?

"She is okay now. I habe to clean some of her wounds bago pahidan ng ointment. She also sprained her left foot. I did my best to make her condition better but she still has to take medication to immediately heal herself.

"And of course, she has that arrow wound at her back. It was a bit deep kaya naman kinailangan ko pang tahiin iyon."

"She has an arrow wound?" Gulat na tanong ni Sebastian sa ina.

"Don't you know?"

Umiling ang binata.

"Then does it mean siya ang bumunot nun?"

"Probably. I found her already like that." Then he looked at Emy. Her clothes were already changed and she was sleeping soundfully. But her face was paler than her usual complexion.

Napailing na lang siya habang pinagmamasdan matulog ang dalaga.

This girl... She had her maidservants. Calix and his people were also at her disposal. Just what was she thinking by doing a dangerous task on her own?

And where did she come from?

"I found these things."

Saka itinuro ng Mama niya ang isang itim na bag. Maliit lang ito.

He inspected it and found small cans na sa hula niya ay naglalaman ng chemical na pampatulog.

There was also a leather pouch para sa mga blades. Some of it were already missing. He took one of them and smelled it. He confirmed that they were poisoned.

Lastly, there was a White Mask there.

Nangunot ang noo niya saka chineck ulit ang bag ng babae. Pero yun lang talaga ang laman nito.

"Is she one of your people?"

"No. My assassins are all professionals. They won't be this messed up doing a task I ask them to do."

"I figured that much already. But I had to confirm. Yung mga gasgas niya sa braso, hita at paa ay patunay na hindi siya sanay gawin kung ano man ang ginawa niya.

"And I am seriously shocked at you. You have never brought a girl home before."

"I just helped her."

Serafina laughed. "My son, I have seen hundred ladies who were in need of your help before but none of them were lucky to get helped by you."

"She is not like those pretentious ladies. I even doubt if she will appreciate me helping her."

Hindi inaasahan ni Serafina na sasabihin yun ng binata. For a moment, she was stunned. Then slowly a smiled formed on her lips. Pero sandali lang yun.

She made her expression serious again bago naupo sa tabi ng dalaga. Hinawi niya ang buhok nito na napunta sa mukha niya.

"Why won't she appreciate your help, aber? Anyway, what is her name?"

"Ma..."

"What? I deserve to know who she is. I treated her wounds. Do you realize how dreadful looking she was earlier?"

"I could have treated her by myself but you volunteer to do it."

Serafina acted as if she was shocked.

"How could I let you touch the body of this young lady? Kahit anak kita, I won't let that kind of perversion to happen."

"Ma, I can't believe you are treating me as a pervert now."

She could tell that she annoyed her son.

"Sabihin mo na lang kasi sa akin ang pangalan niya."

"Tch. Fine. Her name is Emerald Hans."

***