Dangerous Solace

CHAPTER 8

HINDI PA MAN nakakalabas ang lalaking binali ni Neriah ang braso, may tatlong pumasok na security at patungo ang mga ito sa lamesa nila. They were armed and fast-moving, approaching their table.

The atmosphere inside the auction hall changed immediately.

And Lucien recognized trained men when he saw them. They weren’t just ordinary security personnel. They were prepared for violence.

At patungo ang mga ito kay Neriah.

Apparently, breaking a guest’s arm was frowned upon. Who would’ve guessed?

Tiningnan ni Lucien si Neriah. Sa totoo lang, sa sitwasyon nilang dalawa, nakaramdam na siya ng kaba at takot, pero hindi siya nagpahalata. Even though he didn’t know anything about an underground organization except that they were doing something illegal, he wouldn’t let them harm Neriah.

The nearest guard was less than ten meters away.

“Neriah.” Tawag niya sa dalaga.

But she calmly took another sip of her drink. “Hm?”

“We have company.”

“I noticed.”

Neriah sounded entirely unconcerned, which was concerning.

The lead guard stopped several feet away. “Miss.”

They were polite, professional, but dangerous.

“You’ll need to come with us.”

Pumalibot ang mga security sa kanila para pigilan sila kung sakaling gusto nilang tumakas. Pero sa nakikita niyang ekspresyon ni Neriah, parang wala itong balak na tumakas.

Lucien’s expression hardened. He wasn’t about to let them drag Neriah away. Especially not in a place like this.

The nearest guard took another step forward. “Please cooperate.”

Nag-angat ng tingin si Neriah. She was not annoyed, not worried, but almost amused. Then she reached into her purse.

The guards immediately tensed. Agad silang humawak sa mga nakatagong armas nila.

Lucien prepared himself.

And then, Neriah fished out something from her purse. A token that was small and black. Itinaas ito ni Neriah bago nito inilapag sa lamesa.

The token was unremarkable at first glance, except for the lotus engraved into its surface.

Napansin ni Lucien ang pagkatigil ng lahat ng tao sa kanilang paligid.

The nearest guard stopped mid-step.

The second guard paled.

And the third visibly swallowed.

Silence spread through the auction hall like wildfire.

Lucien watched as the people didn’t want to be anywhere near their table. The transformation happens in real time, fascinating but alarming. Because moments ago, these men had been ready to arrest Neriah, and now, they looked as though they had accidentally pointed a gun at a bomb.

Napatitig ang lead guard sa token. Then he looked at Neriah. He immediately lowered his gaze—a gesture of respect, or fear. Possibly both.

“Ma’am.”

Biglang nagbago ang boses nito.

Ngumiti si Neriah. A smile that suggested she had expected exactly this reaction.

“Problem?”

Umiling agad ang security. “No, ma’am. No problem at all.”

The surrounding guards began backing away. As though remaining close might shorten their life expectancy.

Wala pang isang minuto, wala na ang mga security sa loob ng auction hall.

Then nobody attempted to stop Neriah, question her, or even look directly at her.

The entire room remained unnaturally quiet.

Tumingin si Lucien kay Neriah. “What was that?”

Sinulyapan ni Neriah ang token. “Oh.” As though she had forgotten it existed. “It’s just a token.”

“Just a token?”

“Mm-hm.”

“Neriah.”

Tumawa si Neriah. A soft, innocent sound.

The least innocent thing Lucien heard all evening.

Tumingin si Lucien sa loob ng silid at nag-iwas ng tingin ang ilan sa mga kasama nila. Others suddenly became interested in their drinks. And a few appeared genuinely terrified.

And a[r1] ll because of a small black token. The lotus engraving caught the light. It was simple, elegant, yet deadly. Whatever it represented—people feared it.

Nagtataka naman si Lucien kung ano ang mayroon sa token na inilabas ni Neriah.

“Neriah.”

Nakangiti pa rin ito. “Yes?”

“What exactly does that token mean?” tanong ni Lucien.

For the first time all night, Lucien saw the hesitation in Neriah’s eyes. Then she picked up the token and slipped it back into her purse. “Sabihin na lang natin…” Lumawak ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi. “…it’s from a very influential organization.”

Lucien stared at Neriah. That wasn’t an answer to his question. Pero hinayaan na lamang niya ang dalaga. Hindi na niya pinilit pang alamin ang tungkol sa token na hawak nito. At least, she wasn’t dragged away.

Nagpatuloy ang auction.

The conversations of the guests returned, and the bidding continued.

Pero nakikita ni Lucien na may nagbago. Napansin niyang napapatingin na ang ilan sa kanilang dalawa ni Neriah. But not in an arrogant way. It was respectful. As though crossing paths with them had suddenly become a dangerous proposition.

Tuminngin si Lucien kay Neriah. Kalmado lamang itong umiinom ng inumin nito na parang walang nangyari. Parang normal lang ang lahat.

Lucien exhaled slowly.

The list of things he didn’t know about Neriah was becoming increasingly concerning, and somehow, his curiosity only grew.

Then Neriah did the unexpected.

She intertwined her hands with his.

Lucien looked at Neriah. “Anong ginagawa mo?” tanong niya.

Matamis na ngumiti si Neriah. “Claiming what is mine.”

For Lucien, Neriah was just messing with him.

But as for Neriah, she wanted the world to know who Lucien was to her. Hindi man nakita ng mga tao sa loob ng auction room ang mukha niya, batid niyang kilala na siya ng mga ito—the only daughter of the former Chief of Black Lotus, Neriah Autumn Laurent-Rios.

Across the room, one elderly bidder discreetly whispered to another.

The words barely reached Lucien’s ears, yet he heard them.

“Black Lotus…”

Nawalan ng kulay ang mukha ng isang bidder na nakarinig sa pangalang binanggit.

Lucien’s gaze shifted toward Neriah, who was now pretending not to her, which told him everything he needed to know. Not about Black Lotus, but about her.

Because whatever connection Neriah had to that name—it was significant. And judging from the fear visible throughout the room… very few people in the underworld were foolish enough to challenge it.

Tiningnan ni Lucien ang kamay ni Neriah na nakahugpo sa kamay niya. Gumuhit ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi. Hindi niya alam, pero natutuwa siya sa ginawa ni Neriah. Malambot ang palad nito at gustong-gusto niya ang init ng palad ni Neriah.

“Won’t you bid?” tanong ni Lucien.

“They were not retrieved legally. Why would I?”

Ngumiti si Lucien. “So… they…” he looked at those wealthy people who were bidding like money was nothing.

Neriah let out a small sigh. “Just let them. It was already none of our business what would happen.”

Napatango si Lucien.

Balak lang ni Neriah na manood hanggang sa makatanggap siya ng tawag mula sa kaniyang Kuya Evron. Mabuti na lang at naka-silent mode ang cellphone niya dahil baka nakuha na niya ang atensiyon ng mga tao sa loob ng auction room.

“Do you have a wireless earphone?” she asked Lucien.

Tumango si Lucien saka may kinuha sa loob ng breast pocket ng suot nitong coat. Then he gave it to Neriah.

Neriah connected the call to the wireless earphone before she answered it.

“Kuya?”

“Bid for item 15.” Agad na sabi ni Evron.

Bahagyang kumunot ang nuo ni Neriah. “Akala ko ba nandito lang ako on your behalf, Kuya?” mahinang sabi niya.

Evron sighed from the other line. “I know, but those kids… they will have a bright future.”

“Kids?”

“Oo. Ilan sa kanila ay mga batang kalye at basta na lang kinuha ng auction organization at balak ibenta. They will be subjected to organ harvesting. So, we must help them.”

“Are they all in item 15?” tanong ni Neriah, saka tiningnan ang platform kung saan nakalagay ang papel ng item 15. Walang nakalagay doon na alahas o artifacts. Hindi na siya nagtaka nang malaman na pati tao ay ibebenta sa isang auction organization. This was an illegal auction, so humans are also being auctioned.

“It was confirmed by Nivan. Those kids are all in item 15. Kaiden was already waiting for those kids. You bid. I’ll cover the money you will spend.”

“If this was about saving those kids, then let’s split, Kuya.”

“May puso ka naman pala.”

Neriah clicked her tongue. “I already have a heart since I was still being developed in our mother’s womb, Kuya. It’s just that some people are born with a dark heart.”

After the call, Neriah removed the earpiece and returned it to Lucien.

“Next is for item 15. In this item, this item was a bit special…”

May isang staff na lumabas at isa-isang binigyan ng folder ang bawat table.

Nagtataka naman na kinuha ni Lucien ang folder saka binuklat. “This…” he looked at Neriah.

Tumango si Neriah.

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Lucien. “They’re heartless.” Hindi niya akalain na pati bata ay i-auction pa nila.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Neriah.

The bidding had already started, at nagsimula ang bidding mula sa isang milyon at pataas ito nang pataas.

“Five million dollars!”

“5.1 million dollars!”

“5.2 million dollars!”

“They’re so noisy. Annoying…” Neriah muttered and raised her number. “Ten million dollars! I’ll take them all.”

Gulat na napatingin si Lucien kay Neriah.

Ngumiti lang naman si Neriah.

“Ten million dollars! Going once!”

“Going twice!”

“Sold!” the host announced.

Inilabas ni Neriah ang cheque na inihanda niya at ibinigay ito sa staff na lumapit sa kaniya.

“Anong gagawin mo sa mga bata?” tanong ni Lucien.

“My family owns a foundation. Don’t worry, they will have a bright future.” Ani Neriah. She squeezed Lucien’s hand. “The call earlier was from my brother, and he called me to ask me to bid.”

Napatango si Lucien at hindi na masyadong nagtanong.

Nang matapos ang auction, may lumapit kay Neriah na isang staff.

“Ma’am, please come with me.”

Hindi binitawan ni Neriah ang kamay ni Lucien. “Let’s go.”

Sumunod si Lucien kay Neriah.

Dinala sila ng staff sa isang silid kung saan ay naroon ang limang bata.

Neriah closed her eyes. “Are they all here?”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Tugon ng staff.

Inilabas ni Neriah ang cellphone saka tinawagan ang kanang-kamay ng kaniyang Kuya Evron.

“They’re all here, Kuya Kai.”

“We’re on our way, Young Lady.”

Tumingin si Neriah sa staff. “My staff will come and get those kids. They’re on their way.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Pagkalipas lamang ng ilang minuto, dumating si Kaiden kasama ang ilang Black Lotus operative.

“Young Lady,” bati ng mga ito kay Neriah.

Tumango si Neriah saka tiningnan ang mga bata. Pero halatang natatakot ang mga ito.

Neriah looked at Lucien. “I’m good with money, but I’m not good at comforting other people, especially kids.”

Lucien chuckled softly. He removed his mask and approached the kids slowly so he wouldn’t scare them. Kinausap ni Lucien ang mga bata hanggang sa tumango ang mga ito.

“Young Lady, is he your boyfriend?” Kaiden asked teasingly.

“Soon,” sagot naman ni Neriah.

Kaiden smiled. He didn’t expect that someone would catch the attention of the second child of the Laurent-Rios family. It seems that this man was no ordinary man.

Kaiden took the kids with him.

Sunod naman na lumabas sina Neriah at Lucien sa auction event.

Stepping out of that auction room, Lucien had just realized something—the world was really dangerous.

But Neriah was more dangerous than anything dangerous in the world.