Chapter 2

                   

"Read these rules and sign them using your blood," 

"H-huh? A-akala ko ba hindi mo na kukunin ang dugo ko, master naman." Ungot nito sa akin. 

Yes, looks like he's trying to adapt to my presence now. It's good because if he faints again, I swear I will kill him. 

"Read it, stupid." 

He pouted like a duck and read the contract that Dust's made. 

"The first rule is I have to do everything that you will say?" 

"Of course, I'm your master and it means you have to obey everything that I will say." 

Tumango ito.

"It's okay but I have a question," 

"What?" 

"You're not going to ask me to give you my body, right?" 

"What the heck are you saying, human?" 

He's obsessed with his body, doesn't he? He touched his lips, and because of that, I remember sealing the deal. 

"Y-you took my first kiss!" 

"It's about sealing the deal, dumbass. Don't argue with me and sign the rules, I'm hungry." 

Napakamot ito sa batok at sinimulan basahin ang kontrata ulit.

"I am Diamond Nyx Baudelaire's slave, my life is yours?" His eyes are amused. "Wow, your name is Diamond?" 

It's because my eyes are cold as winter and I was born in winter. Tumaas ang kilay ko. "I only have two rules from now, hurry up and sign the paper. I want to drink blood," 

"What?" What's wrong with him, he's screaming every damn time.  

I smiled and pulled his hand.

"H-hoy, a-anong gagawin mo?" 

"Don't move," kinuha ko ang hinlalaki nito at kinagat.

"Aray!" 

I bit my lip to hold myself, I agreed with this human. I won't drink his blood but f*ck, this is addicting. 

"G-go and f*cking sign it with your blood." 

Tumayo ako at lumabas para hindi ko makita ang dugo nito. What kind of blood was that, it's so pure and addicting. I never tasted blood like his, that will make me crazy. From now on, I should tell him not to hurt himself, or I won't promise that I will hold myself back from drinking his blood. 

"Crimson, nandyan ka ba?" 

"There's a human, magtago ka." Dust whispered to me. 

"Why would I hide?" 

"Master! Tapos ko na!" Tumingin ako sa daliri ni Crimson when he showed me our contract.

"Are you tempting me?" His eyes are glaring at me and he looks nothing but a pure baby. His innocence, I mean.

"H-huh?" 

Nakasandal ito sa pader ngunit hinarang ko ang kamay ko rito. I cornered him, and he gulped.

"A-are you going to kiss me again?" He whispered.

I stare at his lips, it's like his name, it's deep red. 

I smirk.

"Why? Do you want me to kiss you?" 

He covers his mouth. "Y-yah, you said you won't kiss me anymore." I can hear his heart beating too fast.

Is it because of fear?

"Tsk, I won't." I rolled my eyes and took the paper in his hands and it vanished in the air. "Use a band-aid on your finger or I will suck your blood," 

He was about to answer when the door opened.

"C-crimson?" 

"Hala,"

"N-nag-asawa na pala si Crimson?"

"Crimson?"

Nilingon ko ang mga babae na nakatingin sa amin ni Crimson. They have shocked faces, what's with these people? 

"Ha?" Tila nabigla ang lalaking ito dahil sa dami ng tao na nakatingin sa amin. When reality hits him, tumingin ito sa akin at tinulak ako.

Sh*t.

I lose my balance, akmang babagsak ako sa lapag when Crimson pulled my hand. And because he's freaking weak, natangay ito sa pagbagsak ko.

F*ck.

"Ay!"

"A-anong ginagawa nila?"

I stopped breathing and clenched my fist. Crimson was on top of me and our lips are f*cking touching. Before I could react, Crimson immediately stood up and ran outside. 

"What the f*ck," 

"Saan ka nakatira?"

"Bakit kasama mo si Crimson?"

"Oo nga, akala ko pa naman may pag-asa pa ang dalaga ko."

I seriously want to twist their necks, these humans are asking endless questions. Tiningnan ko si Crimson na nasa tabi ko, mabilis naman nitong nabasa ang nasa isip ko.

"Sorry po, pero pagod na po si Master." 

I closed my eyes, is he stupid? How can he say that I'm his master in front of everyone?

"Master?"

"Remind me to drink their blood later," I whispered to him.

"That's not a good joke, master." 

"I don't want to talk to them anymore," tumayo na ko ngunit huminto ako dahil sa sinabi ni Crimson.

"A-asawa ko po s'ya, ang pangalan niya ay Diamond." 

"You-"

The f*ck, mabilis nitong tinakpan ang bibig ko.

"Mahiyain pa s'ya, pasensya na po kayo. Wag kayo mag-alala, dadalo po kami sa kasiyahan mamayang gabi." He said at hinila na ko pauwi sa bahay.

Nagpumiglas ako habang naglalakad.

"Ssshhh, please cooperate." 

"You slave!" I hissed. I've never been treated like this before, how dare he? 

He just gave me a weak smile. "I did that to protect you, master. Please, don't be mad." 

Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin. "By saying to them that I'm your wife?"

"Tsk, di ka na lugi. Ang gwapo ko kaya, masipag at habulin pa ng mga babae." Mayabang na ani nito.

I clenched my fist.

"You darn wench!" 

His eyes widened when all his things floated in the air. 

"M-master!" 

I'm so mad that I'm about to explode.

"Those people, don't you think I can't read their minds? They're judging me because you said I'm your wife. I'll kill them if I have a chance," I said coldly. 

One thing I hate about humans is their judging nature. They call me names, which is a sign of disrespect. 

"Crimson may dala akong prutas. Nasaan nga pala ang asawa mo? Pasensya na sa inakto namin kanina." 

"Sh*t," 

I grinned when I heard someone knocking.

"Should I kill her first?" Umikot ang mga gamit na nakalutang. 

"Calm down, Diamond." I heard Dust's voice but I don't care. The door opens and the next thing I knew I was in Crimson's arms. He's embracing me in his arms and I don't know how but the fire inside me has started to calm. 

"Crimson?"

My red eyes turn normal again, nakatingin ako sa matanda na gulat na nakatingin sa amin ni Crimson. 

Damn it.

—--

"It's animal blood," 

Crimson nodded and smiled.

"I get them in the market, it's fresh!" Tila masaya pa ito sa ginawa.

"I don't like animal's blood, I want a human's blood." I hissed.

Because of what happened earlier, I feel like my energy is drained. Crimson's neighbors are f*cking annoying. When Crimson announced to them that I am his wife, I read their minds and some insulted me. Since then, they've been coming here to give us food but the truth was, they just want to gossip about me. 

"At saan naman ako kukuha non?" 

Ngumiti ako.

"How about the lady who brought us mangoes?" That's the lady who calls me bitch. 

Umiling ito. "I'll ready this animal's blood for you, master. Wait for me," mabilis itong pumunta sa sala.

Inis na sinundan ko lang ito ng tingin. That man, sumimangot lang ako. I hate animal blood, they're not as refreshing as humans. 

"I never see you like this, Diamond. You're always calm and collected, Crimson can bring out your patience and emotions." 

Lumabas si Dust at nakangiti sa akin.

"He's hard to deal with, I underestimate him. His neighbors are killing me, I will let this slide but once they did something again. Visit them for me," 

"They adore Crimson, that's why when they see you with him. Their first impression was hate, they wanted him for their daughter." 

Humans are stupid. How can they force someone, they think love is something that you should force with. Love is a natural thing that needs to happen between humans. 

"Ta-da!" Dust vanishes again when Crimson shows up with a smile on his face.

Sumimangot ako, nasa baso ang dugo at may straw pa. He designed it like summer juice. May umbrella stick pa at lemon sa gilid ng baso. 

F*ck, this man is something.

"What is this?" 

He smiled widely, he looked proud of what he did.

"I call it bloody juice!" 

I closed my eyes.

"Fine, I will drink this animal's blood but this is just for now. Next time I will drink your neighbor's blood." I said and took the glass of blood. Sinundan ako nito. Huminto ako sa bintana kung saan tanaw na tanaw ko ang mga taong nagkakabit ng ilaw malapit sa dagat.  

I drink the blood and I swear, I hate this taste.

"What's going on there?" I asked at tinuro ang mga tao.

"May kasiyahan mamaya, they will worship the sea to bring more fish. They will pray and after that, people will celebrate. Let's come later!" 

Worship the water? Humans have many beliefs. They believe in everything, maybe that's why they're too gullible. 

"I don't want to," I sip the blood and stare at Crimson who's pouting like a duck again. "You look stupid," 

"They're expecting us to come, let's come!" Pilit pa nito sa akin at tinitigan akong mabuti.

"What?" 

"There's blood," he wiped my lips. "The theme was white, I should buy you clothes since you are my master." 

What's wrong with his smile? I suddenly feel irritated.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"I have clothes, don't bother." Inabot ko rito ang baso.

"Ha? Asan?" Nagtataka na tanong nito.

"I want more blood, give me some." 

Napanganga ito.

"But you already drank one glass,"

Hinawi ko ang mahaba kong buhok. "It's an animal's blood, it's not that fulfilling." I groaned. "What if we attend that celebration and I will drink their blood?" 

Umiling ito at pinitik ang noo ko.

"Stop thinking that, master, tsk. I'll get you another one," he said at umalis na.

Did he just?

"Yah!" I heard him laughing from outside. 

That jerk.

***

"They're here," Pinagmasdan ko ang mga bangka na may dala-dalang iba't-ibang klase ng mga isda. The whole island was full of light, all people were wearing white clothes like us. I'm wearing a white dress, tsk. It's not that interesting at all but I should learn about their culture if I want to stay here. These people can find me suspicious if I just stay at Crimson's house. All the old ladies on the island start to line up and sit near the ocean. They started to pray, it was quiet for a while. I looked at Crimson who was wearing a white polo, his eyes were closed and he was praying too. 

Umiling lang ako at akmang pupunta sa ibang parte ng dagat when Crimson held my hand.

"Don't move while everyone's praying." He opened his eyes and smiled at me.

I stopped, here he is again. Smiling like a fool, tsk. 

"It's boring," 

"If you behave tonight. I'll buy you an ox's blood when I come home tomorrow," 

Sumimangot ako.

"Are you saying that it's better?" I want human blood but I can't find the motivation to drink someone else's. Since I smell his blood, I crave it, damn it. 

He chuckles. 

Napapitlag ako dahil nabasa ako ng tubig, everyone are splashing water on us. 

"What the!" 

"It's a tradition, after praying everyone should be splashed by water." He explained.

"Too many traditions!" I hissed because I'm now wet because of the water. 

He leans on me to whisper. "Even vampires have traditions," 

I rolled my eyes,

"Yeah, and that includes drinking blood." 

"Tsk, you do love threatening, master."

"I don't do threats, slave." His eyes widened in fear when he saw my eyes turning red, he easily pulled me and covered my eyes with his hand.

"What the heck, let me go, slave!" 

"Y-you can't do that here. Someone might see you and I might faint again." 

Psh, he's a killjoy. I'm just teasing him. "So? If someone sees me, they can be my meal tomorrow." 

Tinulak ko ito at bakas ang takot sa mata nito.

"Y-you should stop joking like that," 

Tumaas ang kilay ko.

"Who said I'm joking?" Napunta ang tingin ko sa kulay pink na candy na hawak ng bata. "I want that,"

"Huh? A cotton candy?"

Cotton candy? 

Tumango ako.

"I want that," 

Humalakhak ito.

"Are you laughing at me?" 

"I thought vampires only drink blood?" 

Tsk, ano ba ang alam nila? I studied humans before but them? They don't know about us. 

"Who said that? We also ate foods like you, stop asking questions." 

Sumimangot lang ito. 

"Let's go and get that cotton candy, master." Hinila na ko nito papunta sa bilihan. 

Vampires are like normal people too, we eat and we sleep but the only difference was, that we're immortal and we drink blood instead of water. 

"Pabili po, Manong."

Ngumiti ako at inabot ang cotton candy. It's so soft, I have never seen something like this in my entire life. 

"P-patay! May patay!"