Chapter 5
Dashiell Edger Arrowood
Dash arrived at the conference room and he sighed in relief when he saw that someof the member of council are not yet there. Akala nya sya lang ang late, umupo sya sa tabi ni Wilder kung saan nakalagay ang pangalan nya, may kanya-kanya silang upuan. Bawat upuan ay nakaraserba sa isang council, kaya naman kung may isang upuan na di okupado ay alam nila kung sino sa council Ang absent.
Ilang minuto lang ay kompleto na ang bawat council. Tumikhim si Wilder at tinapat ang bibig sa microphone sa harap nya, "Time Check, 10:00 pm. I am glad that you all are sitting in your designated chairs, You all came on time congratulations." Panimula ni Wilder may bahid pa rin ng pagiging seryoso Ang tono nito ngunit isang tipid na ngiti ang nagpakalma sa council. "Samuel is on the move. We can't continue the classes at this point that is why I am ordering to cancel the opening of classes." Natahimik ang council nakadama sila ng takot para sa mga anak nila na isa sa mga estudyante. Ilang minuto pang namayani ang katahimikan at saka nag taas ng kamay si Ms. Evangeline para magsalita. "I suggest that even the classes are cancelled we must strengthen the security around CAU. We need to tell the students to be careful. Wala dapat makapasok o makalabas pa ng CAU. Malaki ang maitutulong ng anak ni Dahlia at Howard sa atin panigurado." Napatigil si Dash at Wilder sa huling dalawang pangalan na binanggit.
Ang dalawang 'yon ay patay na sa pagkakaalam nya pero dating myembro ng council at teacher sa CAU. "Ano bang sinasabi mo Evangeline? Matagal nang patay ang mag-asawa at ni hindi man lang natin alam kung nasaan ang bata!" Napapailing na wika ni Demi, umiling si Evangeline at tinuro si Dash na ikinagulat naman nito. "Inuwi nya sa CAU ang anak ni Dahlia at Howard." Nanlalaki ang mata ni Dash na umiling nang makita na nakatingin ang lahat ang myembro ng council. "I don't know what you are talking about Ms. Evangeline with all due respect I think you're mistaken." Umiling si Evangeline kay Dash. "Ikaw ang nagkakamali Iho, Ang dalagang dinala mo dito ay ang anak ni Dahlia at Howard wag mo sabihing Hindi mo ALAM?" Nakangiti pa ring tanong ni Evangeline.
Umiling si Dash at magtatanong na sana ngunit naunahan sya ni Wilder. "What proof do you have to tell us that She is the missing daughter of the former council members Sir Howard and Miss Dahlia?" Ngumiting muli si Evangeline at pinatayo si Wilder.
"Ipakita mo ang marka sa kamay mo. Ang markang 'yan ay Marka ng ating lahi. Makikita mo 'yan sa lahat ng kabilang Sa ating lahi. Nakita ko ang palad ng dalagang dinala ni Dash dito. Ang palad nya ay may marka ng pinagsamang simbolo ng pagkakakilanlan ng dalawang lahi. Sya Lang ang may ganoong marka. Nang ipanganak sya ni Dahlia ay ganoon ang markang ipinalagay nilang mag-asawa.Isa ako sa nagpaanak kay Dahlia kaya alam ko." Napakunot ang noo ni Wilder at tinitigan ang nakatatandang babae. "We'll talk about this matter later Miss Evangeline, I am ordering all the councils to be careful in every communication you will do outside CAU. There might be a mole with us and all of us are suspects. Have a good night everyone and Miss Evangeline and Mr. Emmanuel come with me and Dash." Dash stood up to comply he thinks Wilder woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.
He's nervous because even he hates to admit it Wilder got that aura that shouts authority in him that will make your knees weaken. Everyone thinks Dash and Wilder are both intimidating but to Dash, Wilder is the one who's more intimidating. "Miss Evangeline, if what you're saying is true then we can't let the girl go. I need you to confirm this matter to her and train her, I am leaving this matter to you and Mr. Emmanuel because I trust the two of you. You can go back to your rooms already, Dash stay with the girl. Meeting is dismissed." With that, iniwan ni Wilder Si Dash, Evangeline at Emmanuel. "I remembered that this is the day kaya sya ganyan," naiiling na wika ni Emmanuel, tinapik nya sa balikat si Dash at malungkot na ngumiti. "Just stay there with him, we have to go. Bukas ay kakausapin namin ang babae na dala mo." tumango na lang si Dash at tinahak ang daan pauwi.
Pinili nyang maglakad Mas makakapagmasid kasi sya sa paligid sa ganitong paraan kaysa gumamit ng Sky Board. Nang marating nya ang bahay nya ay nakita nyang lumalabas si Jack. "Bro," tawag nito sa kanya. Ngumiti si Dash at lumapit sya rito. "How is she?" Ngumisi si Jack at tinapik sa balikat Ang binata. "You've got a pretty girl man, bloody hell where'd you find her?" Dash rolled his eyes, why does everyone assumes that Azaria is his girlfriend? She's pretty yes but he just met her.
"She's a victim of DBV, she's my responsibility." Jack shook his head as he snorted. "We'll see about that, anyways I'm heading to the Teacher's building. Good night man," napailing na lamang si Dash habang pinapanood ang kaibigan palayo. Tumingala sya at natanaw ang bintana ng guest room. Nakabukas ang ilaw, napangiti sya ng maalala na takot si Azaria na matulog sa madilim.
Mabilis nyang tinungo ang pinto at saka pumasok pagkatapos ilock Ito. Tinunton nya ang daan pataas at huminto sa tapat ng guest room kung San natutulog si Azaria. Bahagya syang kumatok rito, "Azaria?" Wala syang narinig na sagot pero ilang sandali pa ay bumukas ang pinto. Nagtama ang paningin ng binata at ni Azaria. Pinagmasdan ni Dash ang kabuuan ni Azaria, gulo-gulo ang buhok nito ngunit Hindi nabawasan ang ganda nya.
"Y-you're back," nakangiting usal ni Azaria nang makita ang binata. Labis ang kaba nya nang wala sa tabi nya si Dash, kahit na ngayong gabi lamang sila nagkakilala ay komportable sya pag malapit sya rito. Nararamdaman nyang ligtas sya. "So how did it go? Jack didn't bother you nor made you uncomfortable right?" Ngumiti si Azaria at umiling, natutuwa sya sa pag-aalala nito sa kanya. Pakiramdam nya na ngayon lang nya naramdaman. "He just entered the room for some minutes to announce his presence. After that lumabas na sya dahil dun daw sya magbabantay," kwento pa ng dalaga, Tumango si Dash at saka humakbang papasok sa kwarto. Umupo si Azaria sa gilid ng kama samantalang pinili ni Dash ang umupo sa sofa. "I hope you're feeling well Azaria," he let out a deep breath before speaking again. "Babalik si Miss Evangeline bukas to ask some questions to you." Tumango si Azaria at tiningnan ang mga kamay na nasa kandungan nito.
He chose to wait for her to speak, ayaw nyang biglain ang dalaga. Sa tingin nya ay di pa rin ito makapaniwalang may mga bampirang nabubuhay. "D-Dash I don't want to offend you pero pwede ba magtanong?" Nauutal na tanong ni Azaria. Kagat nya ang pang-ibabang labi habang nakatingin kay Dash. Base on her body language she's nervous and hesitating to say what's on her mind. "Go ahead and please be comfortable with me Azaria, I don't bite." Ngumiti si Azaria at muling tumingin sa binata."I saw how strong you are. I-isa ka rin ba sa kanila? Are you a vampire?" There was a stunned silence between the two.
Dash' eyes went cold as he stare at her eyes. "What if I am?" He asked her. Azaria's eyes widened at his question. She opened her mouth and tried to speak but no sounds came out. Dash looked straight into her eyes before speaking again.
"Yes I am a vampire Azaria. Are you scared of me now?"